June 2016 - what will you be reading?

[Leslie]

Considering that I spent the first 2 weeks of June reading books from last month's list, I am doing pretty well on my list!

[Colleen]

Leslie wrote: "Considering that I spent the first 2 weeks of June reading books from last month's list, I am doing pretty well on my list!"

Lol - at least you're still plugging away at it! (Me too, somewhat)

[Pink]

I'm halfway through my last book for the month, The Collector which is so incredibly atmospheric and realistic that it's totally creeping me out and making me very angry!

[Leslie]

Pink wrote: "I'm halfway through my last book for the month, The Collector which is so incredibly atmospheric and realistic that it's totally creeping me out and making me very angry!"

I am still creeped out by it and I read it over 30 years ago!

[Chrissie]

Leslie, is The Collector a book for me? I feel I ought to at least try a thriller. .... and it is a classic. And Pink says it is realistic.

[Leslie]

Chrissie wrote: "Leslie, is The Collector a book for me? I feel I ought to at least try a thriller. .... and it is a classic. And Pink says it is realistic."

After the debacle with Scaramouche, I am hesitant to make any recommendations for you Chrissie but if you could get a copy from the library instead of buying one I would say try it.

[Chrissie]

Leslie, don't worry about Scaramouche; I like trying different authors and kinds of books!

Is The Collector really scary? this would be a new kind of book for me. It has to feel as if it really could happen though.

[Cathie]

I read The Collector a few years ago. I came in with high expectations so I was disappointed it wasn't more "scary". Perhaps because I was measuring this against Silence of the Lambs.

I would have to say it was disturbing, especially the ending.

[Chrissie]

OK.

[Pink]

Chrissie, it isn't scary in a horror or graphic way, but really creepy in how realistic the events are portrayed. The first half from the man's point of view is actually like reading a real life confession. I'm now in the second half from the woman's point of view. It's the sort of book I could equally rate 1 star or 5 stars right now.

[Chrissie]

Pink wrote: "Chrissie, it isn't scary in a horror or graphic way, but really creepy in how realistic the events are portrayed. "

That sounds better than the other. I will wait and see how you feel at the end. I have been thinking of trying a thriller/myster, and hen you say this is realistic I became interested.

[Petra]

Chrissie, I wonder if you might like The Alienist. I read it pre-GR, so am a bit foggy on the details. It's a historical mystery, which may appeal to you, and it tells of the early days of evidence collection & analysis.
From what I remember, the murder investigation is detailed and focusses on new forensic and psychological methods of catching a killer.
Sorry that I can't say more. It's been awhile. I remember enjoying it a lot, if that helps. :D

[Chrissie]

Petra, yes, I think that would be a good one for me, but I can only get it abridged so I haven't chosen it. I agree - good suggestion. Thanks, Petra.

Actually I almost picked it up about ten years ago when I was reading paper books. I had it in my hands in an antikvariat and then put it back. Stupid me.

[Petra]

Petra wrote: "Greg, I hope to get to Angle of Repose as well. I read another of Stegner's books, The Big Rock Candy Mountain, a few years ago and quite enjoyed that one.
Like Pink, I plan on finishing Ulysses.

Other books I hope to read in June:
Go Down, Moses
Finding Nouf
In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A Savannah Story..."


I failed miserably in my plans for June:
- I did finish Ulysses (high five!)
- The Angel of Repose was not available; still plan on reading it soon.
- I jammed out on the Faulkner read-along
- Finding Nouf was a bust and I put it aside. Not interesting at all and I'm sure I figured it out in the first couple of chapters.
- In The Shadow of Young Girls in Flower is postponed until next year
- I haven't reached for In the Garden of Good & Evil yet.

[Petra]

Chrissie wrote: "Petra, yes, I think that would be a good one for me, but I can only get it abridged so I haven't chosen it. I agree - good suggestion. Thanks, Petra."

Abridged!!??? An abridged murder mystery?! That's an awful idea for a publisher to have. I don't blame you for not wanting to read that.

[Chrissie]

Petra wrote: "Abridged!!??? An abridged murder mystery?! That's an awful idea for a publisher to have. I don't blame you for not wanting to read that.."

Abridged anything makes me cringe. I want to get all the words; how else can you judge the writing?! I didn't even want to do Les Misérables in an abridged form.

[Petra]

I agree, Chrissie. I would wonder what details and plot segments I missed out on.
Les Mis is wonderful, just the way it is written.

[Pink]

Chrissie, I wouldn't say The Collector is a thriller or a mystery at all. Almost the opposite. It's difficult to explain exactly how I feel about it, but two other books spring to mind.

Lolita, for the disturbing content, although for some reason I can't fathom, this subject matter is disturbing me even more. I think it's because in Lolita the language is so beautiful and Humbert Humbert such an unreliable narrator that I never forgot I was reading a work of fiction, no matter how plausible the events. In The Collector, it really does seem like I'm reading a real life account, it doesn't have the same beauty of language but it is very compellingly written.

The other book it reminds me of is Wuthering Heights. I hated that book with a passion, I hate the characters and everything that unfolded, but the fact that it gave me such strong emotions made me appreciate and in some ways love it. This is a completely different type of book, but it's given me the similar conflict of emotions.

Sorry for the long detailed post, but I know you like to learn as much as you can about a book before tackling it. Though I honestly have no idea whether you'd like it or not!

[Chrissie]

Pink, I personally appreciate your detailed response! Thank you. I hated Wuthering Heights and loved Lolita. .... like you. I do agree about the language in Lolita. It is exceptional, intelligent and funny and beautiful all rolled together.

I also feel others skimming the thread may be piqued to pick The Collector up as a result of your clear information.

I am going to wait and see how you rate it before finally deciding if I should pick it up soon.

[Pink]

I've finished The Collector now. The second half, narrated by the female fell short of the male narrative for me. Her voice didn't ring as true, or her story feel as plausible, but it was still good. Overall I'll be rating this 3.5 stars, probably rounding up rather than down. Although I had problems with it and it infuriated me at times, I thought it was a very well crafted and scarily real portrayal of what could (and does) happen. Chrissie, I think you could go either way on this one.

[Chrissie]

Thanks, Pink. I put The Collector on my wishlist but will have to decide again when the time comes around to picking from it. All you comments have been appreciated.

[Pink]

No problem Chrissie :)