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What are you currently reading?
I recently read and adored The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber. A totally unique book, and one I highly recommend - 5★s.Here is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished Deeper Water by Jessie Cole a few days ago and was very impressed - 4★s. Dare I say it - this book really did have hidden depths! Highly recommended to lovers of general fiction.Here is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here is my long overdue 4★ review of that warm and whimsical little book, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
As promised, I'm posting the link to my review of Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor: www.goodreads.com/review/show/33317965 . I gave it four stars.Right now, I'm reading a short poetry book, Anatomy of a Love Affair, which isn't the sort of book I'd typically pick myself; but one of my Goodreads friends gifted me with a copy and urged me to read it. Also, I'm reading The Tanist's Wife and Other Stories: Stories of Alternative Histories in electronic format (only because it's not available yet in paperback; if I like it, I'll buy a copy whenever it is). One of the authors included sent me a PDF review copy.
Finally, I've started reading this month's common read in my Supernatural Fiction Readers group,
by Erin Morgenstern. It wasn't my first choice for this month's read; but it won the poll, and since the annual common read was my idea, I feel an obligation to participate. To my pleasant surprise, I found myself drawn into the story quite quickly --it has slightly surreal features, but not so much so that I can't relate to it.
I'll try to remember to post a link to my review of the Morgenstern book here, Charly.
I have started The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. So far I find it to be very well written and fascinating.
I recently finished the Australian classic, Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay, and found it to be an elegant, intriguing, quite chilling if also rather frustrating book - 4★s.Here is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've just started reading Emily Giffin's novel SOMETHING BORROWED and just finished Charles Blow'smemoir FIRE SHUT UP IN MY BONES. Blow's book was very
interesting and quite well written. Giffin is like Gillian Flynn for me; I think I should read her books because everyone else seems to be reading them. So far, I like this one.
Although it's been about six years since we read one together, Barb and I both have been fans of the books in Piers Anthony's humorous fantasy Xanth series; we've read a dozen of them, including the first seven, but some of them have been read out of order. As our "car book," we've recently started the 19th novel in the series,
(the title gives you a hint of the author's pun-heavy style!); the previous one we read was actually the 20th in series order,
.
Later this morning, I expect to start a book by one of my favorite authors, C. S. Lewis. It's The Four Loves, and it's the common read this month in my Christian Goodreaders group.Charly, you were interested in my take on The Night Circus. For you (and anyone else who's curious) my review is here: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1082507680 .
I recently read a book of the most terrible beauty. It is called The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan. It deserves more than 5★s.Here is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
(This review and others can also be seen on my blog, The Power of Story, at feelthepowerofstory.wordpress.com.)
Having recently won a copy of
by Roger Clarke in a Goodreads giveaway, I wanted to start it as soon as possible, in fairness to the author/publisher who were kind enough to offer the copy in the first place. So, I started on it this weekend.
Has anyone read NPR reviewer Maureen Corrigan's SO WE READ ON? It's about why GATSBY is the greatest American novel. I disagree with her conclusion that GATSBY is greater than HUCKLEBERRY FINN, but I would place it second. One odd point that she makes is that GATSBY is funny. I have a good sense of humor but never found that book funny, which is one reason I think Twain's novel is the greatest by an American.
Mary, I haven't read either Corrigan's book nor The Great Gatsby itself --I'm not as well read in the classics as I ought to be. (I'm also one of the few living Americans who hasn't seen the recent movie adaptation starring Leonardo DiCaprio.) But there are probably others in the group who've read both. However, I have read (and greatly liked) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.Personally, I've never tried to assess which novel (or writer) is the "greatest" in any particular national literature. Every one of them is unique, with individual qualities that, IMO, don't lend themselves to quantification and measurement against each other on any scale that's self-evidently objective. I can see qualities of greatness in some novels and not others; I can compare the ones in the first group and see similarities and differences. But saying "X is greater than Y" seems to me sort of like saying "beef stew is greater than clam chowder," or "sky blue is a greater color than hot pink." They both please and reward the palate or the eye; they just do so in different ways, or meet different needs. Of course, that's just me!
Charly and Werner, I am a bit more willing to be judgmental than you are, but I agree that it's difficult to pick out one novel as the greatest. Certainly Twain's novel has been more influential than Fitzgerald's. Hemingway said something like, "All modern novels come from HUCKLEBERRY FINN." While I'm not sure which American novel is the greatest, I am very sure which modern novel written in English is the most overrated. That would be Joyce's ULYSSES. Don't get me started. I do think everyone should read GATSBY. It's short, and it definitely deserves the title of one of the greatest American novels.
I recently read The Slow Regard of Silent Things, the new novella by one of my favourite authors, Patrick Rothfuss. I expected to love it, but I never expected to be quite so deeply moved by it as I was. This is a book for all the broken people - 5★s.Here is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This review can also be seen on my blog at http://feelthepowerofstory.wordpress.com.
Great review, Sally; thanks for sharing it!Earlier this fall, Goodreads author Juliene Lloyd kindly provided me with a review copy of her recently-published first novel,
(Dark Sword Press, 2014), and I've been eager to read it ever since. I finally was able to get started on it yesterday, and I'm already hooked!
I have never read the book but Miracle on 34th street is my favorite movie--the original with Natalie Wood.
My wife is a big fan of Christmas-themed movies, so I've watched the black-and-white version of Miracle on 34th St. several times --and like it, despite the fact that I also don't believe in telling kids that there's a Santa Claus, in the pop culture sense. (We did tell our girls about the real-life St. Nicholas.) But I wasn't aware that Natalie Wood was in it (playing the little girl, I would guess?). The only cast member I recognize from other performances is William Frawley.I've never read the original book. We do have it at the library where I work, though, so perhaps I'll read it someday (when my TBR list is a bit shorter!).
I'm a big John Green fan and have bought and read all of his books, except a collection of "holiday romances," called LET IT SNOW. Green's novella is called "A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle." There are two other writers--Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle--included in the collection. I guess I should put this book on my holiday to-read list, but I'm busy reading celebrity memoirs, so maybe I'll get to it next year.
Charly wrote: "You don't come across things like that in your Kindle." No, indeed! That's cool, Charly; thanks for sharing.I'll keep the Jeff Guinn series in mind; but you know how it is when you already have over 370 books on your to-read shelf.... (It's a good thing that virtual shelves can't break from weight!)
Werner wrote: "My wife is a big fan of Christmas-themed movies, so I've watched the black-and-white version of Miracle on 34th St. several times --and like it, despite the fact that I also don't believe in tellin..."you are correct -- Natalie Wood plays the little girl in the movie
Interestingly, I've never gotten into the groove of seasonal reading, matching my book choices to holidays, etc., though I can see why people do. (We do a common read in my Supernatural Fiction Readers group in October, timed because of Halloween; but that's about the extent of it.) No doubt that's odd, especially since my movie viewing around Christmas is more seasonal. (Though my wife can enjoy watching Christmas movies on video any time of the year, too!)
I'm reading The Chimes by Charles Dickens. I see many interesting mentions in the preceding posts... will be back to chime in on them, PNI. ;-)
Mine is! Of course, not every book I added to my "read" shelf in this year was read at that time; some were reads from the past, but only now remembered or tracked down as to author/title information. But I've read 30 books this year, and it'll be 31 by Friday. (Or 32, if you count Spider-Man: Spider-Man versus the Vulture, which I read to my youngest grandson a couple of days ago. :-) ) He picked it!
Several years ago, I beta read (and greatly liked) a number of short stories about a time-traveling future historian, written by my good friend Andrew M. Seddon. These have now been published, along with one or two more that I haven't read and some bridging material, as the collection
, and Andrew was kind enough to gift me with a copy. Since some of the material is new (and some stories I read before have been tweaked a bit), I'm now reading the whole book, cover to cover.
Just finished reading Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews. If you like spy/espionage novels I thought this was a great one !
Charly wrote: "Ann, I am not familiar with Jason Matthews, is it part of a series?"It is his first book ---but he had a 30+ year career at the CIA. I first saw it last year when an Obama shopping trip was chronicled last year. I looked on goodreads and it had some decent reviews so I gave it a try and liked it.
Werner said, ...so I've watched the black-and-white version of Miracle on 34th St. several times --and like it, despite the fact that I also don't believe in telling kids that there's a Santa Claus, in the pop culture sense. (We did tell our girls about the real-life St. Nicholas.)Wow, ditto, ditto, ditto here on all counts... have always loved the movie and one I let them watch.
Last year, I felt drawn to it again as I strove through the holiday season to bring about the "miracle" of having my own home. And this New Year day, I am sitting in it. :-)
Charly, I aim to give you more to count this year! ;-)
Reggia, we're happy for you that you've at last got your own home! May it always be a happy abode, blessed with health and good fellowship. (And lots of reading! :-) )
Last week, I started on
, an anthology of original short stories about the bond between humans (mostly current or former members of the military, or military-like entities) and their canine companions; proceeds from book sales go to support the work of the TADSAW (Train a Dog, Save a Warrior) organization (www.tadsaw.org ). This is the last of several review books I had on hand (this one also given to me by Andrew, who has a story in the book).
I am re-reading A Voice in the Wind, not that I don't have more than enough unread books but I really loved this the first time around and a new local book group is featuring it.I'm also challenging myself to finish several of the classics that I abandoned this past year. I'll mention them each as I re-open their pages.
New Atheist spokesman Richard Dawkins famously characterizes the Old Testament God as "a moral monster." The book I've just started (yesterday) reading alludes to that quote in its title: Is God a Moral Monster?: Making Sense of the Old Testament God (Baker Books, 2011). Written by Christian scholar Paul Copan (Palm Beach Atlantic Univ.), it's intended as a response to the arguments of Dawkins and other leading New Atheists.
I recently read and enjoyed City of Masks: by new Aussie author, Ashley Capes - 3.5★s.Here is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
As a follow-up to the Copan book I mentioned in message 1102 (which I finished yesterday), I'm currently reading Letter to a Christian Nation, by Sam Harris. It's a capsule statement of the New Atheist position and, as such, very short. (I'm expecting to finish it on Tuesday --and would finish it much quicker, if not for the fact that I won't have any time to read tomorrow or Monday.)
After two back-to-back nonfiction books, I've just started The Pirate Vortex, getting back to my more characteristic fiction reading with a YA novel featuring SF time travel, pirates, and a plucky teenaged heroine. (It's the first book in the Elizabeth Latimer, Pirate Hunter series.) The author, Deborah Cannon, and I are Goodreads friends; but this novel was on my to-read list ever since I heard about it, and well before we friended each other!
Okay, I abandoned (temporarily) Cyrano for Wuthering Heights. My local group is reading it... hope I like it better than the movie. I remember a friend from my teen years forcing me to watch it, and I didn't quite get her enthusiasm. I do, usually, fare better with books.
Just finished The Crook Factory---interesting historical fiction about Ernest Hemmingway's spy activity in WWII and now am starting Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
After wanting for so many years to read Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, I was very disappointed with my experience of it when I read it recently. I don't know that I've ever come across a book before whose characters were ALL either repugnant or ridiculous in my eyes. I could in all honesty only give the book 3★s.If you're game to read it, here is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Brida is a beautiful book. Let me know how you liking it.