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What I'm Reading AUGUST 2014
Oh dear, I didn't see this book on the reading list for the last part of the year and didn't realize that it would be the CR read for January. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been so negative. I will be very interested in others' opinions of the book. The Mann-Booker people who gave this their top prize probably know better than I do.
Ann wrote: "Oh dear, I didn't see this book on the reading list for the last part of the year and didn't realize that it would be the CR read for January. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been so negative.I think it's good that you said what you think. I am trying to decide whether or not to track it down and read it, and I find having honest opinions helpful. You're always careful to say why, and that's what makes a book review useful.
Also, the Booker people do not necessarily know better than you do. Pft.
My library system only has the book, so I will probably skip it also.
Ann wrote: "The LuminariesI can't believe I read the whole thing.
I think the majority of readers on this one will join Cateline, Carol, and Jane in abandoning it early on. I persisted, beca..."
OK, I'm reading it now. We'll see how long I last.
We're giving two months to The Luminaries. I hope that gives plenty of time for the reading. I'll start it and try to finish it close to the discussion date. Ann and I have similar tastes, so who knows if I'll like it or not.
Ann asked, "I have enjoyed Fannie Flagg's books. Have you ever seen the movie FRIED GREEN TOMATOES?"Yes, I saw it -- very good! With good cast including Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary-Louise Parker, et al. It still gets a good rating of 7.6/10 at IMDB.
I loved to watch Fannie Flagg when she was a panelist on the 1970's game show, Match Game. The panelists had to write their answers on a card which they showed to the audience. Fannie, a great writer, was a horrible speller. Even she laughed at the way she spelled some of her answers. Great personality.
Marge
Jane, I'm sure that the Booker people really prize innovation, and The Luminaries certainly has that. The New York Times, which is very stingy in its assessments, gave it a rave review.
I just finished A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. This was a great book. Dickens' characters were wonderful, except for Lucie. She was just too passive, too gentle, too emotional and too weak to be taken seriously. But Madame Defarge and Sydney Carton were great. Even Miss Pross got feisty at last.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera – 3*** Audiobook performed by Richmond Hoxie. There are passages with luminous writing, passages which forced me to think and some that really resonated with me. But I kept losing my way in all the ruminations and dreams and philosophical treatises. I usually enjoy novels with a philosophical bent. Unfortunately, this is the wrong time for me to read a book of this nature (especially in audio format). My lack of concentration simply didn’t allow me to give the work the attention it deserved. I’ll give 3 stars for now – good but not great – and reserve the right to change my rating after I re-read it.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Gina, what a lovely classic to choose to re-read/read. It's been probably 50 years since I read it but it has a warm place in my memory.
Book Concierge wrote: " The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera – 3*** Audiobook performed by Richmond Hoxie. There are passages with luminous writing,..."
I read it years and years ago, but remember liking it a lot.
We discussed it years ago on Constant Reader. I think it would be hard to enjoy as an audio book, as you pointed out BC. I liked it a lot, but the discussion had a lot to do with that.
Book Concierge wrote: " The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera – 3*** Audiobook performed by Richmond Hoxie. There are passages with luminous writing,..."
There's a lot of politics in the book too, and I didn't really get that until my in person book club discussed it. I enjoyed re-reading it.
Just finished James Rollins' The Eye of God, his 9th in the Sigma Force series, and a breathless romp through his imagination. Although it belies credibility, it is a thought provoking speculation on the implications of current theories and knowledge in the world of physics. I enjoyed it.
I've finally gotten to John Banville's latest Benjamin Black novel, Holy Orders, going along a treat. :)Also reading chapters at the time of Dale Carnegie's How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. Really great advice, practical advice.
Am reading Airframe by michael crichton Very interesting
Elaine wrote: "Am reading Airframe by michael crichton Very interesting"I read it several years ago, and enjoyed it. I appreciated the technical details. Don't remember much else aside from general enjoyment.
I too liked it ,Elaine. The technical aspect of putting a plane back together after a crash intrigued me, as well as the cheap workmanship on some planes. I recall my sister working on the electrical in some planes, and the soldering that was passed. She refused to fly in those planes.
Finished the Benjamin Black book Holy Orders. A slight mystery couched in Banville's gorgeous prose. Probably 85% character development and 15% mystery, but that's fine with me. It's Banville fer cryin' out loud! :)My review, here. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Hahaha, I recieved The Luminaries on my kindle for my birthday. So I guess I am reading it. (giggle)Never say never. I started it, I am hooked by the mystery and the ghost
A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman – 4****A young Indian dancer loses a leg in an accident, and has to find a new path to her dreams of being the best interpreter of the Bharantanatyam style. Venkatraman packs a lot of emotion into a few words in this novel told entirely in verse. It is an inspiring story of one young woman’s courage, grace and spiritual awakening. Veda is a wonderful heroine. Over the course of the novel she comes to realize the true meaning of friendship, love, and sacrifice. I really liked how the author portrayed the relationships Veda had with family, friends, and teachers. The cultural framework may be very different, but the interpersonal dynamics are universal.
This is a Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just started Americanah on my Kindle. It says I have like 9 hours of reading left, oy! Just finished The EveryGirl's Guide to Diet and Fitness: How I Learned to Eat Right, Dropped 40 Pounds, and Took Control of My Life-- And How You Can Too!. Actually had a few good practical suggestions and a nice spread of suggested stretches with pictures. I did have to get over wanting to bitch slap her at the very beginning of the book when Maria laments that at 160 pounds and 5 feet, 7.5 inches tall, she was once "dangerously overweight." (I aspire to her version of dangerously overweight.)
Lyn wrote: "Maria laments that at 160 pounds and 5 feet, 7.5 inches tall, she was once "dangerously overweight." (I aspire to her version of dangerously overweight.) ..."Me, too, Lyn.
Lyn wrote: "I just started Americanah on my Kindle. It says I have like 9 hours of reading left, oy! Just finished [book:The EveryGirl's Guide to Diet and Fitness: How I Learned to Eat Right..."
Poor baby!
Robert Parrish's Growing up in Hollywood is wonderful -- working with Chaplin and John Ford was spellbinding. Richard Fleischer's Just Tell Me When to Cry was worth reading too. He directed 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, Tora Tora, The Vikings, Dr. Doolittle and more. Insider memoirs are rarely this entertaining or informative.
I read Silk Fish Opium by Jaina Sanga. This was a nice read that covered politics, music, romance and commerce. A wealthy Hindu girl marries a middle class Muslim and deals with the end of her Hindu life as she transforms into the Muslim religion. The story is told against the partition of Pakistan and India after the British leave. I know Jaina - she was in my husband's writing group in Dallas, so it was nice to read her book.
Interesting, Gina. I would think that kind of mixed marriage didn't happen much.
Ann wrote: "Interesting, Gina. I would think that kind of mixed marriage didn't happen much."Technically no. According to Muslim canon law, Muslim men can marry Christian or Jewish women; as 'People of the Book' theses women do not have to convert, but women from other religions are strongly encouraged or forced to convert.
I am anticipating my arrival of two new books out in September.The Paying Guests and The Bone Clocks. Mitchell is a special favorite of mine, I hope this one does not disappoint, and I always enjoy Sarah Waters books. Her book will be just in time for spooky season, it sounds scarey; a book where the house is one of the characters.I have a confession to make, I am thoroughly enjoying The Luminaries. I am not finding it difficult to read, just shows you how weird I am. I am not even bothered by the length.
Good. I am glad that you are enjoying The Luminaries. I think it might best be approached as a puzzle. It is certainly successful as that.
Started We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. I am enjoying the author's sense of humor. I am also enjoying the fact that the book isn't too heavy to lift :)
I'm rereading Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time, in which she has her detective unravel the mystery of Richard III. I'm seeing the Shakespeare play while in London in a few weeks, so I thought it would be fun to revisit this take on him.
I read that years ago, Kat, and loved it. Let me know how the reread goes.I am reading Roger Ebert's Life Itself, thanks to Larry's recommendation. It gets off to a slow start and sometimes there are too many place and people references, but overall I am enjoying it very much.
I recently finished Annie Proulx's That Old Ace In The Hole. She has a quirky sense of humor, which I like. I did sometimes think she was trying to cram a lot of short stories into a novel. These interrupted the flow.
It might be awhile before I eat pork again. The plot involves a decent but very naive young man looking for "suitable" sites for hog confinement farms in the Texas Panhandle.
The names of her characters can be a lot of fun. My favorite was Francis Scott Keister.
Carol wrote: "The Bone Clocks. Mitchell is a special favorite of mine"I want it too. I discovered him this year, and have now become somewhat obsessed. I still have one of his others (Ghostwritten)unread on my floor, though, so I'll probably wait for a while until it appears on the used book circuit.
Ann wrote: "Carol,You are a bad influence :-).
I just pre-orderedThe Bone Clocks. David Mitchell fascinates me."
:)
Nicole wrote: "Carol wrote: "The Bone Clocks. Mitchell is a special favorite of mine"I want it too. I discovered him this year, and have now become somewhat obsessed. I still have one of his oth..."
This will be my fifth Mitchell book. I own all that I have read, and they are not on the Kindle. Lol! Now that is commitment.
Ann wrote: "I read that years ago, Kat, and loved it. Let me know how the reread goes.I am reading Roger Ebert's Life Itself, thanks to Larry's recommendation. It gets off to a slow start and..."
Ann, I loved Roger Ebert's book, but didn't love those first few biographical chapters. He thinks he has to include every tiny detail and I simply wasn't interested in them. However, when you get past those, it is very good.
Exactly right, Barb. I felt like he was writing those first few chapters for himself - to recall everyone who impacted his life.Now I am in the part about the great directors he knew - really fascinating.
Currently reading:The Girl You Left Behind--Jojo Moyes
In Cold Blood--Truman Capote
Listening to on audio
The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden--Jonas Jonasson
I am enjoying them all.
I loved Ebert's book too. Every biography has to struggle with the early stuff -- ancestors, family origins, childhood. Most of the time, boredom is the greatest risk, because we just want to get to why they are famous. I didn't find the early chapters boring, but I may have seen something of my own childhood in his.
Robert,Having also been raised in Catholic schools. Ebert's account of his early education was fun and interesting for me.
I got bored with the list of all his relatives on both sides of the family, since the gist seemed to be that he didn't have many. However, I just wanted to alert other readers that the book gets much better. I didn't recognize his journalist buddies, but I really liked his accounts of his early newspaper life, so there's a lot more here than just the movie angle.
Alias Reader wrote: "Currently reading:The Girl You Left Behind--Jojo Moyes
In Cold Blood--Truman Capote
Listening to on audio
[book:The Girl Who Saved..."
Loved In Cold Blood. Hope you are enjoying it.
I loved Life Itself and all of Roger Ebert's writings. I am still in the middle (beginnings?) of Americanah; Kindle now says I have "only" about 6 hours of reading to go! I am kind of loving the Paperwhite now, took it on a recent Seattle and Mt Rainier trip. I figured out that though our Oregon Library2Go system for Kindle borrowing rarely has good stuff immediately available, that you can easily put holds on things and get them fairly quickly there.
Alias Reader wrote: "Currently reading:In Cold Blood--Truman Capote..."
Great book on a chilling subject.
Book Concierge wrote: "Alias Reader wrote: "Currently reading:In Cold Blood--Truman Capote..."
Great book on a chilling subject."
If anyone is interested, here is our discussion of In Cold Blood:
http://constantreader.com/discussions...
I have a hard time believing our discussion was twelve years ago!
I finished The Luminaries, I couldn't put it down. The mystery hooked me. Now I finally started Palisades Park, which has been on my list since last year. I read two other books by him, and I enjoyed them. This one caught me from the beginning.
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Constant Reader
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