What I'm Reading DECEMBER 2013

[Robert]

I read the early Perry Mason novels from the author's personal copies ;)

[Charles]

It's spelled Tucson and pronounced Two-sahn. The others were made up to capture the spirit of local names which bolix up outsiders.

[Book Concierge]

A Christmas Memory - Truman Capote
5***** & a ❤

This autobiographical story is based on Capote’s own childhood, living with relatives in Alabama. It’s a memory of the innocence of childhood and the anticipation of something special. It is also a story of love and respect, as well as of loneliness and want.

Capote's writing is never so brilliant as when he is mining his childhood for stories such as this. The emotion is evident and genuine. His descriptions are gloriously vivid without overwhelming the story. The reader feels the anticipation of a child, smells the piney woods, shivers in the crisp morning, and is comforted in the warmth of love. The lessons learned – about kindness, tolerance, family, love and forgiveness – are gently told but ring loud and clear in the reader’s heart.

[Sheila]

Tx Charles

[Jane]

I love it, Charles. I've had to bite me tongue when people pronounce Tucson that way, but it makes sense, right?

[Larry]

Robert wrote: "I read the early Perry Mason novels from the author's personal copies ;)"

Any marginalia, Robert?

[Larry]

Charles wrote: "I won't tell you what I said, but it was similar to saying Tuckson when I first moved to the West Coast. ..."

Uhh, my pronunciation of La Jolla elicited once a broad smile from a California girl. She was kindly trying not to laugh, I think.

[Ruth]

Book Concierge wrote: " A Christmas Memory - Truman Capote
5***** & a ❤

This autobiographical story is based on Capote’s own childhood, living with relatives in Alabama. It’s a memory ..."

It's a winner, all right.

[Kat]

Larry wrote: "Charles wrote: "I won't tell you what I said, but it was similar to saying Tuckson when I first moved to the West Coast. ..."

Uhh, my pronunciation of La Jolla elicited once a broad smile from a C..."

I made the opposite mistake,sort of. As one who grew up in Northern Calif. I had heard the town name La Jolla often but had not seen it. So naturally I spelled it La Hoya.

[Cateline]

Last night I finished The Penultimate Truth by Philip K. Dick. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I was happy to enjoy it, I'd tried one other, years ago, by Dick, and didn't finish it. I can see now that one has to just march over the first part..... :)

[Larry]

Kat wrote: "I made the opposite mistake,sort of. As one who grew up in Northern Calif. I had heard the town name La Jolla often but had not seen it. So naturally I spelled it La Hoya.
..."

Kat, much less ignorant than me saying "La Jalla." Around here (the DC area), your spelling would be taken to be a creative way of referring to a Georgetown University female student.

[Cateline]

Started Purge by Sofi Oksanen.

[Charles]

I think I mentioned somewhere above that I was reading Consider the Fork: How Technology Transforms the Way We Cook and Eat. Early on the author talks about pottery and it's personal nature, and my thoughts went to story-telling, also one of the oldest arts. My wife is a potter. I can't tell you how many happy hours I've spent in studios watching pots grow.

All my life, but especially recently (it may be a gerontological thing) I've been conscious of the origin stories and mythology present in the most enduring tales, and what is asked of authors to tap and incorporate this half-conscious material. I realize I'm not the first person to go there, nor do I claim this is a peculiarity of story-telling. But I wonder about the numinous world of the first humans, and their relation to it, and the importance of story-tellers in keeping this memory alive.

Happy holidays.

[Robert]

No marginalia, unfortunately!

[Robert]

I really want to sell T-shirts that say, "Save Western Civilization" followed beneath by "Read a Book Today."

[Book Concierge]

Finished reading Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner – 4**** (Audio book performed by Richard Poe)
This is a work of literary fiction that explores themes of friendship, love, forgiveness and vulnerability. The framework is the decades-long friendship of two couples who meet in 1937 when both husbands are on the English faculty at University of Wisconsin. The writing is elegant and the prose simply beautiful (and beautifully simple). If you are a reader who needs a strong plot, with a dramatic storyline, this is not the work for you. The lives of these two couples are like the lives of most of us – without epic drama, but full of the joys and sorrows of a decades-long existence.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Book Concierge]

Robert wrote: "I really want to sell T-shirts that say, "Save Western Civilization" followed beneath by "Read a Book Today.""

I'd buy one!

[Mary]

Crossing to. Safety sounds like a wonderful book. I just added it to my list of books to read. As a UW grad and someone who's loves Vermont as well I'm particularly looking forward to reading the descriptions of the various settings.

[Sherry, Doyenne]

Here's a discussion we had many years ago for Crossing to Safety:

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

[Marjorie]

Capote's A Christmas Memory was one of my favorite stories. I don't usually care much for Christmas stories.

Marge

[Ruth]

Marjorie wrote: "Capote's A Christmas Memory was one of my favorite stories. I don't usually care much for Christmas stories.

Marge"

My feelings exactly.

[Donna]

Book Concierge wrote: "Finished reading Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner – 4**** (Audio book performed by Richard Poe)
This is a work of literary fiction that explores themes o..."

Sounds wonderful - thank you!

[Mary]

Sherry, thx for the link to previous discussion of CTS. skimmed through quickly and I'm looking forward to reading it.. I'll particularly pay attention to the tea bag scene

[Jane]

Just finished Embers by Sandor Marai and now reading Fires in the Dark by Louise Doughty--Roma [Gypsies] in the Holocaust.

[Cateline]

Jane wrote: "Just finished Embers by Sandor Marai"

I read Embers a few years ago and loved it. I can also recommend Casanova in Bolzano.

[Book Concierge]

Sherry wrote: "Here's a discussion we had many years ago for Crossing to Safety:

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

Thanks for that link, Sherry. Wonderful discussion!

[Sherry, Doyenne]

Book Concierge wrote: "Sherry wrote: "Here's a discussion we had many years ago for Crossing to Safety:

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

Thanks for that link, Sherry. Wonderful di..."

It's much shorter than I remember it being. I didn't participate because I decided not to do a re-read. I did participate in our discussion of
Angle of Repose. I liked that one even better. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it.

[Lyn]

I also really enjoyed Crossing to Safety, and agree with your review, Book Concierge.

[Ruth]

I'm about halfway through Arthur and George by Julian Barnes. Enjoying it a lot.

[John]

I'm listening to Jeeves and the Wedding Bells, which is a good followup for Wodehouse fans wanting more.

[Carol]

John wrote: "I'm listening to Jeeves and the Wedding Bells, which is a good followup for Wodehouse fans wanting more."

I love Jeeves, I wasn't sure if this was faithful to Wodehouse's character, but I added it on your recommendation, John.

[Paakhi]

hi there I just finished Aristrotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. . wondering what to read next.. wish to read something intriguing n fantasy fiction.. any recommendations??

[Book Concierge]

Ruth wrote: "I'm about halfway through Arthur and George by Julian Barnes. Enjoying it a lot."

I read Arthur & George a few years ago for my F2F book club. I really liked it. Great book for discussion.

[Cateline]

Paakhi wrote: "hi there I just finished Aristrotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. . wondering what to read next.. wish to read something intriguing n fantasy fiction.. any recommendations??"

Maybe something like The Rook by Daniel O'Malley. I read it earlier this year and loved it. Here is the review I wrote then. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Or. Replay by Ken Grimwood.
Here is my review for that one. :) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Paakhi]

Thank you Cateline!! I will pick The Rook first hope to find a copy in my library or bookstore..

[Robert]

I'm up to the appearance of Arnold Zeck in the Nero Wolfe series, which will bring my re-read up to #16. Fortunately, my local library has invested in the missing volumes from several years ago, when I first read them -- as ebooks! Very grateful for the chance to do a complete read-through this time!

[Ann D]

I recently finished Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I liked this very much. It is set in Nigeria and revolves a young girl and her family. The father is rich and abusive. He has a very twisted sense of religion and enforces it with harsh physical punishment for his wife, son and daughter. This book takes some unusual twists. The Nigerian setting was very interesting.

Adchie is also the author of the highly praised Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun. I am feeling sad that I have now read all of her novels. I guess I will have to progress to her short stories.

[Marjorie]

Ruth wrote, "I'm about halfway through Arthur and George by Julian Barnes. Enjoying it a lot."

Perhaps I should try again to read this. I read a few chapters of this book back in 2006, but did not finish, as I had trouble telling who was talking, Arthur or George. My notes say "perhaps I'll check it out again soon and see what the "suspenseful drama" (as one reviewer said) is all about."

Marge

[Ruth]

In my copy each section is headed by the name of the character.

[Kat]

Marjorie wrote: "Ruth wrote, "I'm about halfway through Arthur and George by Julian Barnes. Enjoying it a lot."

Perhaps I should try again to read this. I read a few chapters of this book back in 2006, but did not..."

Funny, I read the first few chapters a few yrs. ago and didn't finish either--though I think it had more to do with what was going on in my life at the time. It's still on my shelves, maybe I'll give it another try.

[Kat]

Ann wrote: "I recently finished Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I liked this very much. It is set in Nigeria and revolves a young girl and her family. The father is ri..."

There are some interesting novels around about the dark side of religion. For a very different example: Has anyone read Bee Season by Myla Goldberg? I thought it was fascinating and complex.

[Ruth]

Hmm. Now it seems to be slowing down. Caught myself skimming this morning.

[Ann D]

Yes, Kat, I have read THE BEE SEASON. In fairness to Adichie, I should point out that PURPLE HIBISCUS also has characters who have a very healthy sense of religion. It adds joy and meaning to their lives. Although I am not religious myself, I can still appreciate that.

Ruth, I read ARTHUR AND GEORGE. I liked it, but didn't love it.

[Beth]

Kat wrote: "Ann wrote: "I recently finished Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I liked this very much. It is set in Nigeria and revolves a young girl and her family. The ..."

I read Bee Season a few years ago. I remember it being quite compelling.

[Beth]

I'm about to start Hild by Nicola Griffith. I was in the mood for a little historical fiction and I saw it on a friend's TBR list.

[Jane]

My 'update book' and my add book/author are not not working, so I thought I'd update here: p. 275 of [book: Mulberry empire

Boring for a long stretch, then interesting again with Bella's story. With the Russian family in the Crimea, I feel like I'm reading [book: Fathers and sons by Ivan Turgenev, it's so close.

[Kat]

Ann wrote: "Yes, Kat, I have read THE BEE SEASON. In fairness to Adichie, I should point out that PURPLE HIBISCUS also has characters who have a very healthy sense of religion. It adds joy and meaning to thei..."

Good to know. Maybe I'll give it a try. Kat

[Geoff]

Started re-reading Alexsander Hemon's Nowhere Man. I'm not quite as stunned by it as I was the first time, but it's still pretty good.

[Diane]

The Solace of Leaving Early

[Hilary]

Hunger Games...I know, I know....I'm probably one of the last people on Goodreads who has never read it OR seen the movie...