Challenge: 50 Books discussion
Finish Line 2014
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s00z ~ another 50 to the read shelf
Mod
If you like historical fiction and mystery, I recommend Maisie Dobbs, if you've never checked out those books. They're set in England soon after WWI (especially the first one), but there are flashbacks to before and during the war, as well.
thanks Tiffany! I am definitely looking for recommendations for both the w.w. 1 reading challenge and the authors of colour challenge.
Another good post-WWI series is by Charles Tood, featuring Insp. Ian Rutledge. The first few are especially good.
LOL, sorry, that should be Charles Todd, not Tood!
Linda wrote: "LOL, sorry, that should be Charles Todd, not Tood!"thanks Linda I will add that to the list of considerations!
2. Goodbye to all That by Robert Graves. a memoir of a soldier -also considered to be one of the great world war one poets-
it took me a bit to get into it -especially as the first few chapters are about his private boys school in Britain- but once i found my reading groove, i found it very affecting, and a good introduction to the war as it was a personal -rather than a military, political or historical- account.
3. Transatlantic by Colum McCann.i loved McCann's first novel, Let the Great World Spin, so i was really looking forward to this one. the first two-thirds are very enjoyable, but a switch in writing tactics for the final third, just didn't work for me.
4. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozekihighly recommended to those who like just a smidge of fantasy or magically-realism in their stories. to those who have the capacity to take a leap of faith ... to those who can imagine we have more influence in our lives than appears on the surface .... to those who can imagine we are all connected in ways we can't even begin to understand.
Sooz wrote: "thanks Tiffany! I am definitely looking for recommendations for both the w.w. 1 reading challenge and the authors of colour challenge."Sooz, for your Authors of Colour challenge, have you read The Known World, by Edward Jones? It's very good.
Linda: thanks again! i haven't read Jones. i just added The Known World and Lost in the City.i love getting these suggestions!
5. Regeneration by Pat Barkerthe regeneration trilogy seems a very well respected series about world war one, and given that I had been introduced to Sassoon in the Robert Graves memoir, I thought it perfect to carry on my world war one reading with the first of this series. it is an incredible look at the 'shell-shocked' soldier, and an insightful exploration into the madness of war, the 1914 definition of a 'real' man, and the morality of warfare on this scale - a scale no one had ever seen before. great read.
6. The Wine of Solitude by Irene Nemirovskyi love her writing. this particular novel i liked less than Dogs and Wolves or Suite Francais ... but i think that might have to do with the fact i was looking for a story that explored the effects of World War One on this Russian family than a personal "Anna Karenina" like every-unhappy-family-is-unhappy-in-it's-own-unique-way" story.
oh well. i have the second of the Regeneration trilogy to read next. so it's back to the trenches for me!
7. The Eye in the Door (#2 of the Regeneration trilogy.world war one wages on ... even though we don't actually visit the front lines in this one ... it focuses more on society and the ripples the government and military's focus on the war effort causes. a little disappointed that it didn't focus as much on the pacifist, the Suffragettes and the gay back lash as i had hoped.
8. Maisie Dobbs.I'm not much for mysteries. I know a lot of people really really enjoy them and I can't even say for sure why I don't .... but I don't ....so this book was coming in at a disadvantage to begin with. if I had not just finished reading the first two of the Regeneration trilogy, I think I would have enjoyed this book more. after reading the searing accounts of damaged soldiers back from the front ... well .... anything less feels a little fluffy.
Mod
I'm not much for mysteries. I know a lot of people really really enjoy them and I can't even say for sure why I don't .... but I don't ....so this book was coming in at a disadv..."
Aw, sorry you didn't like it.
But after all the searing accounts, isn't fluffy a bit of a relief?
Donna wrote: "But after all the searing accounts, isn't fluffy a bit of a relief?"Donna ... yup there is something to be said for 'a little relief' .. you are absolutely right there.
Tiffany wrote: "Sooz wrote: "8. Maisie Dobbs.I'm not much for mysteries. I know a lot of people really really enjoy them and I can't even say for sure why I don't .... but I don't ....so this book was coming i..."
Tiffany: i really do blame timing.
9. February by Lisa Moorethis is another one i had to reread for bookclub. well, i didn't 'have to'. i choose to. i don't typically reread books unless i consider them truly outstanding in some way. Lisa Moore is a wonderful writer ... she has a fabulous way with language but over all the novel wasn't outstanding. and i know part of it for me is the ending. i am a hard critic when it comes to endings. a satisfying ending can make an okay book good and a good book great i.m.o. conversely a so-so ending leaves me feeling disappointed and colours my opinion of the story as a whole.
10. Wild Ones: A Sometimes Dismaying, Weirdly Reassuring Story About Looking at People Looking at Animals in America by Jon Mooallemthis book was recommended on a podcast i listen to and i really liked the title .... well, mostly i liked the tag line. the word weird attracts me like a moth to flame.
Mod
Tiffany wrote: Aw, sorry you didn't like it.
Tiffany: i really do blame timing."
Completely understandable. Normally I'd tell you that the majority of the rest of the books aren't as war-related (there are some flashbacks, and some amount of talking about how the characters are dealing with the aftermath and aftereffects of the war), so maybe returning to the series in a year or two, after cleansing your pallet with other books, would be good; but if you're already not a big fan of mysteries, then a mystery series probably isn't going to float your boat, no matter *when* you read it!
11. The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared.so many distractions. it's all well and good to declare a goal of reading something particular (in my case 1. authors of colour and 2. world war one books.) but there are soooo sooo many other books that pop up and demand my attention. case in point: this book. a fable ... it is quirky and fun and entertaining. written by a white Swedish man and has absolutely nothing to do with world war one.
12. Son of a Certain Woman.not an easy book to love .... and it feels deliberate on the part of the author. it's as if he wants the reader to be one of those judging the two main characters and so added an element sure to make that happen. i can't know for sure if that is the case, but it's an interesting thought.
13. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque
i'd read this many many years ago, but as it is probably the best novel of W.W. 1 AND was written right after the war -by someone who was in it- it seemed a reread was in order. what a book ..... it surely deserves it's place in history.
14. Y by Marjorie Celonareally enjoyed this one. would recommend it and definitely would check out future books by this author.
15. Americanah This is a good good book. I highly recommend it as it is hugely insightful AND enjoyable reading.
Sooz wrote: "11. The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared.so many distractions. it's all well and good to declare a goal of reading something particular (in my case 1. authors of colo..."
Sounds good. I just put it on my to read-list and after seeing it appear in your list I simply cannot leave it at the library the next time I go.
Oriana wrote: "Sooz wrote: "11. The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared.so many distractions. it's all well and good to declare a goal of reading something particular (in my case 1. au..."
Oriana: It is an odd little book. fable-like and satirical ... or perhaps it's a parody ?? not sure of the difference, and I'm not sure exactly what the author was going for. so it left me a little uncertain what to say in my review. I'm perfectly okay with a little uncertainty - .... it's good for my soul!
16. The Autobiography of Malcom X as told to Alex Haley. i'd read this one many years ago and remember it being hugely impactful. second time around and i found it kind of long-winded ... could have used some editing. still an important book in American history.
17. A Constellation of Vital Phenomenon by Anthony Marra.
this is a gem of a book. nearly perfect.
18. On Such a Full Sea by Chang Rae Leetook a little bit of work to get into - the author creates an interesting but a little stand-offish approach to telling the story. once i got comfortable and just settled into reading the story, i liked it well-enough. the ending was very abrupt. not sure if there is a sequel coming or not .... if not i'm not entirely sure what the author was going for.
19. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salingeri'd read this twice before once around 18 once around 22-23-24 ish. now at 56? i would never have picked it up again but one of my book clubs chose it and so ....
it is incredible how much one's perspective can change ... but then again, it would be rather disheartening to think of living 25 or 30 years AND NOT CHANGING. i mean what would be the point in that???\
anyway, i have so so so much more compassion for Holden this time around. i don't just see the obnoxious exterior but also the suffering he is hiding beneath it.
That is exactly how I felt when I reread it!
Donna wrote: "That is exactly how I felt when I reread it!"there are wonderful -and surprising- benefits to the aging process. too often we focus on the down side ... the physical downhill slide to the inevitable ! but the emotional and intellectual gains we accumulate over time are really something to celebrate!
lucky # 20 (and no there is absolutely no reason to believe 20 -or any other number- is particularly lucky) is Savage Harvest: A tale of cannibals, colonialism, and Michael Rockefeller's tragic quest for primitive art. whew. long title. good story. good mystery. but like the title the book could have been edited down a bit.
21. The Word Exchangethis one started off so so good. the first few pages really had me excited in a Jonathan Lethem kind of way. the author wasn't able to sustain this level of brilliance (imo) but this is a first novel -and as such- is a pretty damn good book. I expect big things in the future from her!
22. another pretty damn good book! i'm on a role (thank you New York Times Book Review podcast)Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi
23. Burning Paradise by Robert Charles Wilson I was itching for a sci fi and the there is nothing better than a Robert Charles Wilson novel to scratch that particular itch for me. sci fi that is juuuuuuust right.... not too hard .... not too soft.
24. Strange Bodies by Marcel Theroux.this one took me completely by surprise. i had read an earlier novel by the author but this new one is so superior in every way that it hardly seems possible the same person wrote both these books. Strange Bodies got me excited in a way really good sci-fi can .... when there are lots of ideas and moral considerations presented in a damn good story. well done Mr. Theroux.
I'm adding this to the ever expanding tbr list. Thanks. That is both sincere and sarcastic.
which Donna? Strange Bodies? sincere AND sarcastic ..... lovely!
Yes, Strange Bodies, sorry. I'm always looking for s/f that's more than aliens or space wars or, lately, zombies. I've always felt s/f uniquely suited to addressing moral and social issues.
Donna wrote: "Yes, Strange Bodies, sorry. I'm always looking for s/f that's more than aliens or space wars or, lately, zombies. I've always felt s/f uniquely suited to addressing moral and social issues."agreed .... I love how good sci-fi asks us to look at our moral values and try to imagine what we would do - how we would act -how our morality would play out- if something really big impacted our society.
25. The Martian okay this sci-fi? not the kind that addresses humanity's moral or social evolution. three letters describe my reaction to it ..... meh.
26. Medicine WalkA First Nation Canadian writer - I like his books and this is no exception. I really appreciate it when an author knows how much story s/he has to tell and edits accordingly.
27. The Best of all Possible Worlds by Karen Lordreally liked this sci-fi. the ending is a little weak unfortunately, otherwise it was good.
28. The Lie by Helen Dunmore
I've read 3 others by her and this one is very similar in style and content. a British soldier home from W.W.I and nothing will ever be the same. the title works on multiple levels which makes it interesting.
29. Vimy by Pierre Berton .... kind of must reading for a Canadian who is studying up on W.W. 1
30. The Bees
s000 ..... new reading challenge, means i will have to hold off for a bit on my W.W.One and writers of colour reading challenge for a bit. a trip to Turkey in October means i am on an all-things Byzantine, Ottoman, Turkey reading blitz.31. Istanbul: memories and the city is first.
I was about to rec Pamuk, but then scrolled a little farther to find you way ahead of me. Have you read any historical fiction by Gillian Bradshaw? She wrote "The Bearkeeper's Daughter" about Theodora of Justinian and Theodora, sixth century Byzantine rulers, which I enjoyed. Surely there must be a book that let's you do a challenge twofer, say WWI and Turkey.
Donna: you are absolutely right- there is definitely WW1 overlap .... the middle-eastern countries of Iran, Iraq, Syria .... they were all created (by Britain and France) at the end of W.W.1. Lawrence of Arabia etc. there is lots of overlap. and you are also absolutely right that I will be diving into Pamuk's novels. I don't know Gillian Bradshaw ... I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but I will certainly look for this one. thanks for the tip! and glad you found an avatar! yummy avatar.
Triple Chocolate Cupcake from Cupcake Royale in Seattle, and, oh it was exceedingly yummy.
Challenge: 50 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Tigerman (other topics)The Ploughmen (other topics)
The Secret History of Wonder Woman (other topics)
Wolf in White Van (other topics)
The Book of Strange New Things (other topics)
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this remains my goal for 2014. given that it is the 100 year anniversary of the beginning of w.w. 1 i aim to read some novels set in that time, novels written in that time, autobiographies and history books not just on the war itself but in the times. the end of the Victorian era and the ushering in of the modern era.
another goal is to read more authors of colour and/or authors whose first language is something other than english.
that said ..... my first book of 2014 is neither. it is also a disappointment in and of itself. i have read and loved many of Jonathan Lethem's novels, alas this one is not joining the ranks of his last masterpiece, Chronic City.
1. Dissident Gardens by Jonathan Lethem