What I'm Reading - March 2013

[Cateline]

Kat, some titles honestly put me off as well. But not if they are only quirky such as Hedgehog... :)
Anything to do with voodoo or satanism I won't pick up, or something deliberately gruesome.

[Book Concierge]

Laura wrote: "The trouble with reading this kind of thread is that it just contributes to the exponential growth of my reading list. Sigh. I try to resist, but here I've just added The Hummingbird's Daughter; St..."

Absolutely agree, Laura ... my tbr keeps growing exponentially. No matter how fast I read, the list gets longer. I look at it as my plan for immortality. I cannot die until I finish my tbr!

[Book Concierge]

John wrote: "I'm nearly finished listening to The Elegance of the Hedgehog, which has turned out a different experience than I recall from reading it. Not worse, just different."

I really enjoyed the audio version of this book.

[Book Concierge]

Finished listening to the audio of The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes (narrated by Richard Morant)
4****

A middle-aged man faces the past he thought was behind him. The novel focuses on one man’s decisions and moral compass. Our hero is likeable but really doesn’t get it; until, suddenly he does. I do not want to give anything away, but I was completely caught off guard when Tony realized the significance of certain events.

Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Creolecat]

I'm finishing up In Transition: A Paris Anthology. Its a collection of poems, short stories, manifestos, dreams, protest letters from Transition magazine from the late twenties- early thirties. It has work by Hemingway, Man Ray, Kafka,Robert Graves,Paul Bowles,and the like. There's a "treatment" of a silent film, that I would rather have watched than read by the poet Robert Desnos, who I had never heard of before - but I would like to read more of him. I just finished reading a short story (if you can call it that) from Erskine Caldwell. The story started out fine and then it just got weird - kinda like the rest of the book. ~ Marie

[Geoff]

Read another couple great J.F. Powers stories last night: "The Prince of Darkness" and "Dawn."

Reread Heart of Darkness over the weekend and was pleased to find that I still liked it as much as I remembered.

[Yulia]

Kat, titles can turn me off, especially when they strike me as pretentious. I immediately suspect that the writer is trying too hard and that the writing will be self-conscious if even the title doesn't come off as effortless. I'm also wary of titles that are too cute.

[Book Concierge]

Finished by Eva Rice - 4****

I really enjoyed this novel. I connected to the characters. They felt real to me, and while I have no desire at all to relive my teens, I was happy to go along with them on their journey towards adulthood.

Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Dottie]

Kat wrote: "Lots of titles intrigue me. Lots of titles put me off. Same as covers do for other folk. (I never look at them.) I'm really the only one who has ever been put off by a title? (Not necessarily THIS ..."

I doubt you need analysis -- as I'm sure others have been put off -- I personally would have to think about it but I'm sure I've avoided a book because of the title -- oprobably in such a case I would rapidly relegate the whole to the don't remember file in my brain - heh.

[Carol]

I am engrossed in India at the moment. Two stories one hundred years apart, and India's struggle for independence , religious srife , resulting in partition in 1947. The Sandalwood Tree

[Sue]

Ann wrote: "I just finished my first Simon Serrailler mystery, THE RISK OF DARKNESS by Susan Hill. Actually this book is the third in the series. A big thank you to Sue who recommended this series to me. I h..."

Glad you liked it Ann. I always hope my recommendations work out OK. The one you read is the next on my list to read of this series.

[[deleted user]]

Carol wrote: "I am engrossed in India at the moment...

If you are not averse to young adult novels, I recommend A Beautiful Lie. It's set at the time of the partition. It's not a spoiler to tell you that the "lie" is the attempt of a teenage boy and his friends to keep the truth of what is happening to their country from his dying father. It's a lovely book.

[Sue]

Tina wrote: "Carol wrote: "I am engrossed in India at the moment...

If you are not averse to young adult novels, I recommend A Beautiful Lie. It's set at the time of the partition. It's not a spoiler to tell y..."

Sounds good. I'm going to see if my library has it.

[Carol]

Thanks, Tina. Sounds good.

[Lyn]

Just finished The Rules of Inheritance and found it to be a candid and sincere memoir about losing her mom and then dad, and parts of it very much hit home for me.

[Jennifer]

I'm about halfway through My Forbidden Past which is one of those melodramatic old historicals written in the 40s. I picked it up because an old Ava Gardner movie I saw recently was based on it. Also almost done with Landay's The Strangler , my first foray into Landay since Defending Jacob. Finished Double Life: A Love Story from Broadway to Hollywood and A Box of Darkness: The Story of a Marriage the latter of which was irritating.

[Book Concierge]

Carol wrote: "I am engrossed in India at the moment. Two stories one hundred years apart, and India's struggle for independence , religious srife , resulting in partition in 1947. ."

An excellent novel that deals with partition is Shauna Singh Baldwin's
What the Body Remembers: A Novel

[Carol]

Thanks, B C. Right now I have moved on to Pakistan with Basti. My husband says Intizar Husain is a well-known writer from there.

[Greer]

Finished The Round House which I'd highly recommend. Also The Titanic Murders, an entertaining mystery about real-life Titanic passenger and mystery writer Jacques Futrelle solving some murders aboard the Titanic. I'm interested in reading Futrelle's "The Thinking Machine" stories now. Also has me itching to reread some of my favorite Titanic books (A Night to Remember, The Titanic: End of a Dream).

[Joan]

Finished Frank Lloyd Wright: A Biography
This is the definitive Wright biography. Secrist writes well and thoroughly of Wright’s professional and personal life. What struck me is how, due to “Loving Frank” so much is made of Wright’s romance with Mamah Cheney (which was short-lived due to her murder)—even Taliesen offers a “Loving Frank” tour, when his attachments to his first wife Catherine, his second the venomous Miriam Noel and his final to Olgivanna were of greater duration. Olgivanna probably had the strongest effect on Wright’s career and certainly was his helpmeet. Secrist maintains objectivity towards Wright’s mercurial character and doesn’t gloss over his failings any more than she diminishes his accomplishments.

[Kat]

Greer wrote: "Finished The Round House which I'd highly recommend. Also The Titanic Murders, an entertaining mystery about real-life Titanic passenger and mystery writer Jacques Futrelle solving some murders ab..."

Have you read Every Man for Himself by Beryl Bainbridge, also about the Titanic? I thought it was very good.

[Susan from MD]

In March, I finished The Great Gatsby and The Hound of the Baskervilles and am now reading A Prayer for Owen Meany.

It's been a busy month at work, so a lighter reading month.

[John]

At the moment, I'm juggling a bunch of stuff:
Country Driving: A Journey Through China from Farm to Factory, exactly what it implies - author's observations driving around the country.
French Fried: one man's move to France with too many animals and an identity thief, first half was about the animals, not all that interesting - here's hoping the identity theft is more exciting.
Trail of the Spellmans - fifth in the series about San Francisco P. I. Izzy Spellman, and her eccentric, dysfunctional life.
Touching the World: A Blind Woman, Two Wheels and 25,000 Miles - a bit of a slow start, but once the journey got underway an okay, if not compelling, story.
Brideshead Revisited - I'll save comments for the discussion, just to say that the book drags a bit, in spite of Jeremy Irons' narration; nearly done, and glad it's not any longer.

[Susan from MD]

Brideshead Revisited is on my list for this year - the print version, though. I hope it's good!

[John]

I'm reading it for the discussion here that begins soon. I had read it years ago, but recalled essentially nothing. Parts of the book are fairly funny or light, while others are more serious.

[Creolecat]

I started The Stories of Fannie Hurst. She’s better known for writing Imitation of Life. ~ Marie

[Sue]

I find I'm enjoying Brideshead more than I even thought I would. Every once in a while I get caught up on the complicated and outdated prose then it just carries me away and I find I'm loving it. so overall its a very rewarding experience.

I'm also reading A Death in the Family. Very different style, fantastic prose, amazing characterizations.

[Greer]

Kat wrote: "Greer wrote: "Finished The Round House which I'd highly recommend. Also The Titanic Murders, an entertaining mystery about real-life Titanic passenger and mystery writer Jacques Futrelle solving s..."

Good suggestion, Kat. I found Every Man for Himself in the used bookstore awhile back - it is sitting in my (admittedly huge) TBR pile but I think I'll have to get to it soon...

[Ann D]

I finally finished Natasha's Dance: A Cultural History of Russia by Orlando Figes. I studied Russian history when I was young and have read quite a few of the Russian classics, but this book covered a lot of unfamiliar ground for me. Parts, particularly those covering Russian music and art, were slow going for me because I didn't have the proper background to appreciate them. However, other sections really held my interest, particularly those about the Russian peasants who were so frequently idealized in Russian literature and politics. The last part of the book covered the Soviet era and Russian emigre writers. This was a truly tragic period for Russian culture and artists in almost all fields. It was sad to read, but very compelling.

Last night I started Brideshead Revisited.

[Robert]

Still working through research for the next book, but enjoying it: in the middle of a great group of film interviews by Patrick McGilligan, Film Crazy.

Wlaso enjoying Marc Norman's history of screenwriting, What Happens Next. He wrote Shakespeare in Love.

[Sherry, Doyenne]

Sue wrote: "I find I'm enjoying Brideshead more than I even thought I would. Every once in a while I get caught up on the complicated and outdated prose then it just carries me away and I find I'm loving it. s..."

We discussed A Death in the Family in 2000. Here's a link to the discussion if you would like to see what we thought of it back then. I remember really liking it a lot. Although at this point I couldn't tell you a thing about it.

http://constantreader.com/discussions...

[Greer]

Reading The Mayor of Casterbridge and have just started Brideshead Revisited. I adored the Brideshead Revisted miniseries on PBS when I was a kid....

[Susan_T.]

Greer wrote: "Reading The Mayor of Casterbridge and have just started Brideshead Revisited. I adored the Brideshead Revisted miniseries on PBS when I was a kid...."

Oh, yes, swoon! I wasn't a kid, but loved that Brideshead series back in the early eighties. My roommates and I watched it every week.

[Lyn]

Just finished Heading Out To Wonderful, just a book I grabbed off the New Fiction section at the library. Fairly enjoyable until near the end, where the author turns pretty much the whole story dark and gloomy.

[Book Concierge]

Finished the memoir When a Crocodile Eats the Sun by Peter Godwin – 3.5***

There really is no way for Godwin to tell his family story without also telling the story of Zimbabwe. I think he does a respectable job of journalistic reporting on the country and its issues, while still giving us a very personal and intimate look at his relationship with his parents and his home.

Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Book Concierge]

Finished listening to the audio of Life of Pi by Yann Martel – 4****

I had previously read this book in 2003. In March 2013 I listened to the audio performed by Jeff Woodman. He does a marvelous job. I was immediately and completely drawn into Pi’s story.

Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Kat]

Reading Royal Charles, by Antonia Fraser. Charles II's escape from England after the Battle of Worcester makes for exciting reading.

[Carol]

Kat wrote: "Reading Royal Charles, by Antonia Fraser. Charles II's escape from England after the Battle of Worcester makes for exciting reading."

I am slowly reading The Weaker Vessel by Antonia Fraser. I haven't read that one yet.

[Kat]

I liked The Weaker Vessel a lot--so dense with information about what life was like for women in the 17th century. But I read nf terribly slowly. Those are the only 2 nf titles I've read by Fraser.

[Sue]

Sherry wrote: "Sue wrote: "I find I'm enjoying Brideshead more than I even thought I would. Every once in a while I get caught up on the complicated and outdated prose then it just carries me away and I find I'm ..."

Thanks Sherry. I made a note to read this after I finish the book.

[Geoff]

Finally finished William Trevor's Selected Stories. 5 stars. If anyone's not read Trevor and is looking for an example of what he can do at his best, I recommend the story "The Hill Bachelors."

[Brian]

Geoff,
Trevor's "Selected Stories" is one of six collections of short stories that I rotate through when I'm traveling and don't want the commitment of a full-length book. (The others are collections of John Cheever, Raymond Carver, Walter Mosley, Elmore Leonard and Javier Marias.)

Trevor, along with Carver, is able to create works that appear simple and straight forward, but are so full of subtlety that I'm constantly in awe of their craftsmanship. For me, they're much like another passion of mine, Bill Evans, Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian--the complex disguising as simplicity.

[Geoff]

Brian wrote: "Geoff,
Trevor's "Selected Stories" is one of six collections of short stories that I rotate through when I'm traveling and don't want the commitment of a full-length book. (The others are collectio..."

Brian,

Thanks for that comment--I was just listening to Bill Evans on the way to school this morning! I wouldn't hvae thought of that comparison, but yes, I do think both are similarly subtle and understated. There's as much complexity there as you could want, if you're willing to listen close enough.

[Barbara]

Geoff wrote: "Brian wrote: "Geoff,
Trevor's "Selected Stories" is one of six collections of short stories that I rotate through when I'm traveling and don't want the commitment of a full-length book. (The others..."

Trevor is one of my favorite short story writers as well, along with Raymond Carver. And, I like Bill Evans. This conversation is ringing many bells.

[Creolecat]

Geoff wrote: "Read another couple great J.F. Powers stories last night: "The Prince of Darkness" and "Dawn.""

I apologize if I'm wrong, but didn't you mention a J.F. Powers story called The Valiant Woman? I read the title here on CR while I was at work and couldn't really read everything, so I jotted down "priest controlled and overwhelmed by housekeeper." Is that right? I've never heard of J.R. Powers and where can I find that story? I like stuff like that (The Monk is one of my favorite books so maybe that explains the interest).

[Lyn]

I absolutely LOVE Bill Evans and especially with Scott LaFaro!!! Fun to know another enthusiast of how very, very good they were. You guys have definitely gotten me to add William Trevor to the top of my to-read list!

[Geoff]

Creolecat wrote: "Geoff wrote: "Read another couple great J.F. Powers stories last night: "The Prince of Darkness" and "Dawn.""

I apologize if I'm wrong, but didn't you mention a J.F. Powers story called The Valian..."

Yes, "The Valiant Woman" is the story I mentioned. I just checked Googlebooks, but they leave out some of the pages. That story, and a number of other really good ones, can be found in The Stories of J.F. Powers, which I bought used on alibris.com.

[Bridgette]

Jane wrote: "I am an Irving fan, and I have his latest on my TBR pile somewhere. The title is IN ONE PERSON."

Oh, Jane - if you like Irving, it's one of his better books. I bought it on a long trip and devoured it. Similar to a few of his others (they all have such a common link), but I loved the characters in this one. All of them. :) Hope you enjoy it!!

[Bridgette]

Cateline wrote: "I didn't find A Widow for One Year to be depressing or bitter, in fact, finally, it was quite uplifting. Truly spoke to the power of love.

But, to each their own kettle of fish. :)"

I think I'd call it one of my favourites by him... :)
That and Garp. I'm so surprised how many people here aren't his fans, but I can see it. I didn't really like Owen Meany as much either ....

[Lyn]

Currently feeling engrossed in In the Woods, just started, and have picked up The Stories of J.F. Powers from the library, so it is in waiting.

Apologies for having first put this comment in the wrong thread (must have been thinking about your poem, Ruth, which was v. nice)