What I'm Reading - Nov & Dec 2018

[Joan]

Patty, I enjoy audiobooks that way, too. If the writing is particularly lyrical I like to read it in addition to hearing it.

[Mary]

Timothy B. Tyson’s THE BLOOD OF EMMETT TILL, narrated by Rhett S. Price. I was in kindergarten and first grade and my youngest sister was not yet born when 14-year old Emmett Till was murdered in Mississippi, his killers were apprehended/tried/acquitted, and his mother was brave enough and angry enough to make sure her son’s death was not ignored and his existence served a purpose. I have no recollection of the national and international furor that followed. Over the years, of course, I have learned his name and the highlights of his story but I truly had no real understanding of what happened or the meaning and importance of his story to the civil rights movement or to the collective story of African-Americans in this country to this day. I’m glad I took the time to read this book; it has made a valuable contribution to my reading of our civil rights history and, I hope, a lasting impression on my conscience.

[Ann D]

Peggy wrote: "I can't remember who recommended it in the previous thread, but The Tsar of Love and Techno was exactly the book I needed after a reading slump. Delightful descriptive writing and a..."

Peggy, I was very happy to read how much you enjoyed this book. It's one of my all-time favorites.

[Ann D]

Lyn wrote: "I just finished (only because persistence is one of my defining qualities) Transcription. I was bored, didn't care about any of the characters, and somehow the writing made the plot..."

Lyn, I bought and enjoyed reading Transcription. Atkinson is one of my favorite writers and this one held my interested. I have to admit that it was not quite on par with some of her other books. I gave it 4 stars instead of five. She has a new Jackson Brodie mystery coming in 2019

[PattyMacDotComma]

Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan are intriguing little stories with his unique illustrations, some of which I shared in my review.
4.5★ My review with pictures

[PattyMacDotComma]

Ann D wrote: "Lyn wrote: "I just finished (only because persistence is one of my defining qualities) Transcription. I was bored, didn't care about any of the characters, and somehow the writing m..."

I love Kate Atkinson! Great to hear another Jackson Brodie is on the way. :)

[PattyMacDotComma]

I've run across a couple of groups reading The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, so I decided to have a look. Overall, I enjoyed it (if one can be said to enjoy WW2 in France), but with a few niggles.
4★ My review

[Lyn]

I've also enjoyed Atkinson in the past, and look forward to another Brodie mystery (just didn't like Transcription).

[Melissa]

Just finished the play The Convert by Danai Gurira for my college alumni reading group. It centers on a young woman in late-1890s southern Africa, in a region being colonized by Cecil Rhodes. One technique of the colonizers was conversion of local people to Christianity. The protagonist, newly named Ester, becomes a house servant and then a convert under the direction of a fellow African villager who has ambitions in the new church. Resistance by the Zimbabwean people leads to conflict with converts as collaborators with the dominant British colonizers. The author, Gurira, has become well known as an actor in such productions as The Walking Dead and Black Panther. She was raised in modern-day Zimbabwe and imparts the story with much local detail. I generally prefer to watch a play rather than read its script, but the story was powerful enough to take me along to the end.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Henrik Ibsen nailed the child bride syndrome way back in 1879 in his famous play A Doll's House. Hard not to be infuriated, but the situation continues today.
My review

[Richa]

I am currently reading "Life and Death In Shanghai" by Nien Cheng. It is a brilliant first hand account of the Chinese Cultural Revolution and since so little has been published about the revolution, it is a very interesting and eye opening read!! Difficult to put down!!

[Mary]

Timothy Egan’s THE WORST HARD TIME, narrated by Patrick Lawlor. Interesting history of the dust bowl. I learned a lot.

[Joan]

Mary wrote: "Timothy Egan’s THE WORST HARD TIME, narrated by Patrick Lawlor. Interesting history of the dust bowl. I learned a lot."

Mary,
That book has lingered in my memory. As you say, I learned a lot about how development decisions have a lasting effect on individuals. I had not realized how long-range financial planning drives public policy.

Have you read Bad Land: An American Romance. It is not the same but interesting in the same way.

[Mary]

Joan, I have not read BAD LAND. Thanks for the recommendation. I agree with you about the connection to development and long range planning. I was also struck by how he wove in information about the interconnectedness of the entire ecosystem without really hitting you over the head with it - it was just part of the story. An example - finally rain and the world is turning green again and then lo! And behold! Grasshoppers destroy everything, a development that was truly predictable in the context of the damage to the ecosystem.

[Joan]

I agree, he wove the information together very well. I learned a lot and he showed me new connections among things I knew.

I removed my cut-and-paste error, sorry about that :-/

[Gina]

I finished Mischling by Affinity Konar yesterday. It is harrowing and difficult to read. Some have accused the writer of "torture porn," but I felt it was a sensitive story based on Dr. Mengeles' activities at Auschwitz of performing surgeries and tests on twins. In fact, the story is based on two sisters who were at Auschwitz.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Another "tanfastic" book from Aussie author/artist Shaun Tan, who wrote/created The Arrival in 2007 to describe migration without words.
5+★ Link to my review with lots of pictures

[Lyn]

I'm in the middle of The River Why and am kind of enjoying it, but interspersing other novels in between chapters, as there's only so much of the folksy I can do in one sitting. Looked on the reviews for this on Goodreads and saw polarization between loved it and really didn't like it (wonder if I'll be the one to fall in the middle?).

Friends have recommended Louise Penny to me a lot, so I finally decided to start the series with the first book, Still Life. Reviews aren't as good for this one as the others in the series, but fellow book readers have told me that I have to do them in order!

[PattyMacDotComma]

Lyn wrote: "I'm in the middle of The River Why and am kind of enjoying it, but interspersing other novels in between chapters, as there's only so much of the folksy I can do in one sitting. Looked..."

I'm loving Louise Penny's books, Lyn. The people and Three Pines do tend to grow on you. I've got #4 sitting next to me now to start soon!

[PattyMacDotComma]

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, (a close friend of Charles Dickens is said to be one of the first mystery novels. An entertaining classic.
3.5★ My review

[Mary Anne]

I read National Book Award winner The Friend by Sigrid Nunez. Wow, what a beautiful book! I gave it 5*****.
Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Wow, this sounds good, Mary Anne.

[Mary Ellen]

I just finished The Flanders Panel by Arturo Perez-Reverte; it was one of those books that could have been good, but ended up a bit of a mess. (A mystery with a "big reveal" that was both too little explanation put into way too many words.) From reviews, I should have gone for The Club Dumas instead.

[Book Concierge]

Sutton – J R Moehringer – 3***
Moehringer tries to bring infamous bank robber Willie Sutton to life in this work of historical fiction. The technique he used to frame the story doesn’t quite work for me. There were scenes that were completely engaging and interesting, and other that just fell flat. I really wanted to like it, but my final reaction is a wishy-washy ‘meh.’
LINK to my review

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Blind Descent – Nevada Barr – 3***
Book six in the mystery series starring U.S. Park Ranger Anna Pigeon takes Anna to New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns. Much of the action in this book takes place in the confined spaces underground, and Barr spends a lot of time setting up the mystery and going into excruciating detail on the difficulties of exploring such a cave. This is a totally satisfying mystery in a series with a strong female lead.
LINK to my review

[Tonya]

Mary Anne wrote: "I read National Book Award winner The Friend by Sigrid Nunez. Wow, what a beautiful book! I gave it 5*****."

Somehow I don't think I've even heard of this before, but it is definitely on the list!

[Tonya]

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, (a close friend of Charles Dickens is said to be one of the first mystery novels. An entertaining classic."

Because of the PBS miniseries, maybe? I watched a few episodes and then somehow forgot about it. Need to check the recordings, I guess...

[Book Concierge]

There There – Tommy Orange – 4****
In his debut novel, Orange explores the world of today’s Urban Indian through the stories of twelve characters are planning to attend the Big Oakland Powwow. Their lives are interwoven by coincidence, thin threads of DNA, circumstance, and/or proximity. They are in turn angry, desolate, hopeful, joyous, loving, confused, determined, generous or mean. Orange’s voice is unique and powerful. And I look forward to reading more from him in the future.
LINK to my review



The 100-year-old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared – Jonas Jonasson – 3.5***
On his 100th birthday, Allan Karlsson escapes from his nursing home and goes on an adventure – or should I say, ANOTHER adventure. This is a fun romp of a novel that reminded me of Forest Gump . Allan’s great talent seems to be going with the flow; he’s rarely ruffled, keeps his wits about him and just enjoys the ride. Readers would do well to follow his lead. Suspend disbelief and enjoy.
LINK to my review

[PattyMacDotComma]

Tonya wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, (a close friend of Charles Dickens is said to be one of the first mystery novels. An enterta..."

Tonya, he was as popular as Dickens, back in the day, but we seem more aware of Dickens now. But this is more of a mystery in today's style, which is why the acknowledgement of being a leader in the field, I guess.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Bone Lines by Stephanie Bretherton has an intriguing title, beautiful cover, and interesting premise - how to connect today's researcher (Eloise) with "Sarah's" ancient bones. I wish it had been better executed.
Link to what I found disappointing

[PattyMacDotComma]

This little book is a gem for anyone with worried, anxious kids. Hector's Favorite Place, written and illustrated by Jo Rooks, is not only cute to read but also helpful.
Great for schools and doctors' offices, I reckon.
. 5★ Link to my review with pictures
Sorry that illustrations often don't show in apps.

[Tonya]

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Tonya wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins."

I didn't make my comment very clear; I was wondering if it was the new miniseries that prompted you to read the book.

[Mary]

Rebecca Skloot’s THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS, narrated by Cassandra Campbell and Bahni Turpin. I think Rebecca Skloot did an amazing job telling the story of HeLa, Henrietta Lacks, her daughter Deborah, her family and extended family, and the complexities of cell and tissue culture research. This story, in other hands, could have been very dry and and academic. Ms. Skloot made it vibrant and incredibly interesting. There is an interview with the author at the end of the audio edition which I enjoyed and feel added to my appreciation of this book.

[Joan]

Mary, I enjoyed the book, too. It led me to rethink how I looked at photos of patients in clinical journals and books, when I was working. The identity of the patients is obscured but the results are dehumanizing.
The fashion photographer Rick Guidotti is trying to change that through his charity Positive Exposure https://positiveexposure.org/about-th...

I love his motto: Change how you see, see how you change.

[Lyn]

I seem to be in a little mystery phase. I read the first two of Louise Penny's series, and am waiting for my library hold to come in for the third.

In the meantime, I just finished Tana French's In the Woods, which had a greater depth and beauty to the writing. I became very absorbed in the characters and their relationships, especially the detective-narrator, his partner, and the third main detective on the case.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Tonya wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Tonya wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins."

I didn't make my comment very clear; I was wondering if it was the new miniseries that prompted you to read the book. ..."

Tonya, It was a book that I started ages ago and then finished for a challenge. I don't know anything about the mini-series, but I'll have to keep an eye out for it if it gets to Australia.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Lyn wrote: "I seem to be in a little mystery phase. I read the first two of Louise Penny's series, and am waiting for my library hold to come in for the third.

In the meantime, I just finished Tana French's In the Woods, which had a greater depth and beauty to the writing. ..."

I'm reading # 4 in the Inspector Gamache series, Lyn, and loving it so far (of course). The Murder Stone: A Chief Inspector Gamache Mystery, Book 4, also known as A Rule Against Murder.

I really enjoyed In the Woods, too. Very different books, but both talented writers.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Lara Hawthorne illustrates Silent Night in her own, unique style. Nice one for the season.
Link to my review with pictures
(Sorry they may not show in the app.)

[PattyMacDotComma]

In the 1800s, Americans used to have a competition to see how many birds they could shoot on Christmas Day. Fortunately, that all changed! Have a look at the attractive Counting Birds: The Idea That Helped Save Our Feathered Friends and breathe a sigh of relief!
Link to my review with pictures (You may not see them if you're using the app.)

[Mary]

Mario Vargas Llosa’s THE WAR OF THE END OF THE WORLD. This is the Kirkus review from 1984: “With few of the sly narrative flourishes that distinguish most of his fiction, Vargas Llosa now offers a vast historical novel tightly focused on an 1890s rebellion in the Bahia state of Brazil--by followers (called jagunÇos) of an apocalyptic religious figure, dubbed "The Counselor," in the little town of Canudos. And though much of this novel is surprisingly drab and flat, the extraordinarily punishing, unremitting scenes of battle and carnage bring the book's lesson home all too vividly: the madness that can horribly grow out of any small fanaticism and power-base. The Counselor's followers in Canudos are both poor peasantry and societal dregs--bandits, circus geeks, failures, whores--but his manifest saintliness harmonizes them. When the republican-government officials of Brazil, however, learn that money is no longer being used at Canudos, they foolishly suspect that this is a monarchist plot that is merely using the people at Canudos as pawns; furthermore, this myopia--which utterly ignores the religious basis of the very Christian experiment there--is compounded by the hysterical influence of an important newspaper publisher. Inevitably, then, Canudos will be crushed--yet not without resistance: one, then two massive and bloody government assaults fail. Then a third succeeds--and since it occurs after The Counselor's natural death, it leads to a terrible decision by the holdout jagunos to slaughter their own innocents, women and children and the aged, rather than allow them to face the depredations of the "Freemason" soldiers who are attacking so successfully. What is ultimately sacrificed, murdered, therefore, is the spiritual quality of Canudos; extremity turns it into ideology--and more death. But this powerful conclusion, unfortunately, is a very long time in coming; in its first hundreds of pages, the novel is often stiff, dull in dialogue, precisely detailed but with little aura of atmosphere and scene. In sum, then: an odd combination of cardboard and passionate horror--with grim, rich rewards for those readers willing to plow through the book's early, stodgy chapters.”

I agree that the book gets off to a slow start but I think the Kirkus review is overly harsh. It is a war epic with philosophical musings along the way, reminding me of classical Russian literature I’ve read. I liked it a lot. I cared about these characters and what happened to them. And as a bonus, I learned some Brazilian history about which I didn’t have a clue.

[Book Concierge]

The Namesake – Jhumpa Lahiri – 5*****
The novel follows the Ganguli family over three decades, from the parents’ arranged marriage in Calcutta to raising their family in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This is the type of literary fiction I adore. Lahiri writes with such eloquence and grace, letting the reader learn about this family much as she would do when meeting new acquaintances who become friends over decades. She tackles issues of the immigrant experience, the clash of cultures, differences (and conflicts) between generations, and personal identity.
LINK to my review

[Book Concierge]

Iron Lake – William Kent Krueger – 4****
This is book one in a series starring the former sheriff of Aurora Minnesota, Cork O’Connor. The series has become immensely popular and catapulted William Kent Krueger onto a list of the best mystery / thriller writers. The plot is satisfyingly complex, with many suspects, unclear motives, uncertain crimes (Accident? Suicide? Murder?), and more twists and turns than the most fiendish roller coaster. I’ll read more of this series.
LINK to my review

[Book Concierge]

The Hypnotist’s Love Story – Liane Moriarty – 4****
What an interesting and fresh take on relationships and the psychology of love. What makes us attracted to one another? What holds us together? What happens when one partner moves on, but the other hangs on – desperately, crazily, dangerously?
LINK to my review

[Lyn]

Just finished an engrossing read, Little Fires Everywhere. The characters are involving, so much so that I'd love a sequel.

[Ann D]

BC, I loved The Namesake too.

Lyn, I think we all would have liked to know what happened to Izzy especially after Little Fires Everywhere ended!