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Mapping Your Reading
I'm in England with Mariana, in between England and Ireland with Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life and in the former US with Into the Shadows.
I have been reading stuff that's taken me to places projects required me to visit, rather than on routes I'd ordinarily choose.I found Martha's Vineyard and such places in the company of wealthy, Ivy league African-Americans an interesting view of a slice of life I'll never inhabit, but found The Emperor of Ocean Park too dull and vastly too long, not the thriller it was billed to be at all.
Work then required me to visit the spaceship of the Oankali people, with Octavia Butler's Dawn. Again, not a visit I would have made by choice and one that I couldn't really recommend. I don't know why the scholar whose book I'm supposed to be reviewing thought it worthy of study--up there with Flannery O'Connor short stories and Virginia Woolf's Orlando! Er, no. The emphasis was very much on displaying the complex alien society (the best part of the book) rather than on the human story, which was largely emotionless. It is the first (of course!) of a trilogy. I don't plan to read the others
Now I'm happily visiting NY with A Visit from the Goon Squad, which was engaging from page one--an oasis after the dry hills of books read out of duty.
I'm about to leave Naples for the last time being almost finished the 4th book of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan series: The Story of the Lost Child While I haven't enjoyed the final book as much as the first three, this has been one of the most intense reading experiences I've had in ages. Highly recommended.
Mod
I'm 4 hours on the train away from Melbourne in "Down to the River" by the author of This Too Shall Pass by S.J. Finn .. Will finish, but the most realistic landscape and characters aren't enough to make this more than a 2 1/2 to 3 star book.. Pity.
mef wrote: "Now I'm happily visiting NY with A Visit from the Goon Squad, which was engaging from page one--an oasis after the dry hills of books read out of duty. ,..."I read A Visit from the Goon Squad last month - really enjoyed it.
If memory serves me correctly, I recall not being terribly impressed with The Emperor of Ocean Boulevand - 3 maybe 3.5 stars. I remember liking a quote starting (loosely quoting) Time runs in one direction, Talbot (or perhaps another name?) I can't remember the rest and searching Stephen Carter quotations brings me to the conclusion that it didn't resonate with others as I found no mention of it.
Storyheart wrote: "I'm about to leave Naples for the last time being almost finished the 4th book of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan series: The Story of the Lost Child While I haven't enjoyed the final b..."I've been following your progress with the series. Life after Life is next on my plate and then it will be off to Naples. Looking forward to it!
Den, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. One of my friends had the same reaction as me while another was stopped after book one.
I moved to Newfoundland - Sweetland by Michael Crummey. The narrative voice lends itself to audio so definitely enjoying the early part of the novel. It is, however, one of those books with passages you want to underline and can't because you're listening.
Storyheart wrote: "I'm about to leave Naples for the last time being almost finished the 4th book of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan series: The Story of the Lost Child While I haven't enjoyed the final b..."I've just picked up the first book in an Audible sale. Looking forward to getting into it in a little while. Sounds like a good series.
I am in New Hampshire in Louise Erdrich The Painted Drum.. Only just started but love her 'voice'.. Great line : "Is it proper for the young to be so disappointing? "...
We too, ask this, often..haha
I keep flipping between England and the US in book after book. Aargh! So many of this month's books for me are set in those two countries.
I'm in Paris reading So You Don't Get Lost in the Neighborhood by the guy who recently won the Nobel Prize for lit, Patrick ModianoIt's eerie and mysterious and I'm enjoying it quite a bit so far. It's about a reclusive author living in Paris who gets a call from a man who has found his address book. When he meets the man to get it back, he quickly gets entangled in a weird, vaguely threatening situation.
Lesley wrote: "Lesley wrote: "I am in Berlin in A Guide to Berlin Gail Jones ..heard an interview on our Radio National, and figured I liked her 'voice'... Thrilled to have 'found'..."Glad to hear you liked it. Her book Sixty Lights was a huge favourite of mine.
Storyheart wrote: "I'm in Paris reading So You Don't Get Lost in the Neighborhood by the guy who recently won the Nobel Prize for lit, Patrick ModianoIt's eerie and mysterious and I'm..."
Is this the first you've read by Modiano?
Denizen wrote: Is this the first you've read by Modiano? Yes.
I'm near Lancaster, PA with Terri Roberts in Forgiven. Ms. Roberts is the mother of the Nickel Mine Amish school shooter almost ten years ago.
Pakistan at the end of the first part of I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban and the UK in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Mod
It is a Crispin Guest mystery of which I am quite fond.
I'm in London with Becky Bloomwood. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
This poor girl is clueless when it comes to finance and her bills. What's so funny or disappointing (demanding on your view) is that she works for Successful Saving magazine. Telling others how to be free of financial debt. So far, its funny, but come on Becky "Snap out of it" and control yourself.
I am in Vermont , but doubt if I'll finish this book with several ordered ones, on the way. Anita Shreves is not a bad writer, but not my favourite. Reading Rescue will only be worth the first 50 pages, and maybe the last 10...
Mod
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella."
I'm interested to see how you like it. I've heard that this can work well for a light book after heavy reads.
Mod
I read one of hers and quit at that point....I didn't love it. If there was someone who could convince me I might read another one.
I'm in Kiev, with a lonely writer whose only friend is a penguin. Then one day, he's hired to write obituaries for well-known figures who aren't dead...yet. Death and the PenguinReally enjoying this. From the description I was expecting more of a hi-jinx style thriller but it's more like The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry in tone.
Mod
It sounds like something I might like. I'm in Western Australia readingFloundering. It is a short coming of age book. At this point, I'm questioning if I should put it down and move on to something else.
Booknblues wrote: "Lesley wrote: "This is a 5 star book, for fussy me. Will we start a thread for our 2016 faves, BnB.."I usually do it a little further into the year. But maybe we can try a new way to introduce th..."
I am in Virginia in The Kitchen House This book is so good. I am reading as a March group read. I started it a bit early and Wow!
Mod
That book has been on my radar, so I'm happy to know that it is so good.
I'm on the moon with Fairest on audiobook (the Cinder prequel), but also hopping down to earth to the US with A Prayer for Owen Meany and England with La's Orchestra Saves the World.
Mod
I really like Prayer for Owen Meany when I read it last year.
Booknblues wrote: "Karin wrote: "I'm on the moon with Fairest on audiobook (the Cinder prequel), but also hopping down to earth to the US with A Prayer for Owen Meany and England with [boo..."I'm quite surprised by how much I am enjoying this book so far, because I really didn't like The World According to Garp
Mod
I loved Garp and after reading it I thought Irving is an author I want to read everything he wrote and then it took me forever to get to Owen.
Booknblues wrote: "Karin wroteI'm quite surprised by how much I am enjoying this book so far, because I really didn't like The World According to GarpI loved Garp and after reading it I thought Irving is an author ..."
I too love Garp and all the other books up to Meany, not liking his style, now.
I am in England in Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and it's pleasant enough but I do think I will only devote one more reading time to it.. Very old-fashioned and while I admire the authenticity, prefer contemporary era..
I was happily in Sweetland Newfoundland only to be shut out when I only had two hours to go. Deleted and reloaded and think I am good for tomorrow. In the meantime, I am off to Life After Life but am still unclear as to where I am. Time will be split between this and Sweetland for the next few days. I continue in New York with The Goldfinch but am also on vacation so , hey, not sure when I'll finish. Spending tons of time in museums and have the occasional fleeting thoughts about bombs. Timing not the best.
Booknblues wrote: "Karin wroteI'm quite surprised by how much I am enjoying this book so far, because I really didn't like The World According to GarpI loved Garp and after reading it I thought Irving is an author ..."
So far I like Meany much better than Garp, but am not yet half way through (I have to finish before the end of the month, though).
Booknblues wrote: "Diana S wrote: "I'm in London with Becky Bloomwood. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella."
I'm interested to see how you like it. I've heard that this can work well for a li..."
....Sophia Kinsella's books are great if you need a light read. I've read two of her others books The Undomestic Goddess and Twenties Girl. I enjoyed them so much, especially "The Undomestic Goddess". I had tears from laughing so much.
Started in Somalia, then moved to Saudi Arabia, then Kenya, eventually I think I'm going to end up in England. Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. It's for my f2f bookclub.
Mod
I need to get some into the rotation of light reads.
Blueberry wrote: "Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. It's for my f2f bookclub.."
That has been on my radar for a while. I'm interested in your final reaction.
I am in Southeastern US shortly after independence reading Free Men by Katy Simpson Smith. It is a really compelling read. I think the ending is going to determine how much I like it.
Blueberry wrote: "Started in Somalia, then moved to Saudi Arabia, then Kenya, eventually I think I'm going to end up in England. Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. It's for my f2f bookclub."Well worth the time, IMO. There should be much to discuss with your f2f club. I'd like to read her next book, Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now
I'm in New York City with Truman Capote and his swans and in Chicago
with an assassin, a serial killer, and the world's best architects.
I'm in New York City with Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin and in Virginia with The Kitchen House.
Mod
And here I thought she grew up in Detroit! I love her music.
She did grow up in Detroit, but her career begins in NYC.
Jgrace wrote: "I'm in New York City with Truman Capote and his swans and in Chicago
[bookcover:The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair ..."
Jgrace, How are you liking it? I keep waffling on this book.
Mod
Ok, makes sense.
Blueberry wrote: "Jgrace wrote: I'm in New York City with Truman Capote and his swans
I can't say I admire the Swans and their self-obsessed privileged lifestyles, but it was a very good book.
Well, I'm flipping back and forth between New Orleans and Africa in Twelve Bar Blues. I'm also visiting Virginia in A Sound Among the Trees and travelling through the south during the civil war in Fallen Land.And, I am so thrilled that one of these books is shaping up to be my first full 5 star read of the year (not 4.5 stars rounded up).
Mod
I want to hear about all of these , but a book with the title of Twelve Bar Blues is almost a must read for me..
Booknblues wrote: "Karin wrote: "I want to hear about all of these , but a book with the title of Twelve Bar Blues is almost a must read for me.."
It's definitely the best of the three novels I'm reading at the moment, and I hope to read more by the same author this year.
Crossroads
Books mentioned in this topic
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Mark Sakamoto (other topics)
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I usually do it a little further into the year. But maybe we can try a new way to introduce th..."
Mind you, I'm sure once I get all my books 'fixed' (read books showing as to read', etc, ) I might be able to use the sort options to find them...