Litwit Lounge discussion
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What are you currently reading?
Not typical but I very much liked the movie, "Brooklyn," far better than the book.
Charly, any comments on Sons and Lovers?That's an interesting comment, Nina. My neighborhood book group suggested Brooklyn... I haven't read any of Colm Toibin yet but recently bought another title of his. Nice to see you posting! :-)
Just finished, "Amie an African Adventure," by Lucinda Clarke and the sequel, "Amie and the Child of Africa," and both are page turners/grim but good background.
Just read for the third time, "Death Comes to the Archbishop," by Willa Cather. I have visited the place where this was written about and I have always loved this story. I can't think of anything she wrote that I didn't like. "Oh, Pioneer," can't be beat either.
Nina, both of those Cather books are on my to-read list! I've never read any of her work except My Ántonia and a couple of her short stories; but I loved the Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptation of O Pioneers! starring Jessica Lange. (I really want to read her Shadows on the Rock someday, too.)
I am not familiar with "Shadows on the Rock," so I must check that one out.
In keeping with my program of more seriously following up on the many series I've started and left hanging, I've finally started on the second installment of the adventures of my favorite urban fantasy heroine, Jane Yellowrock: Blood Cross by Faith Hunter. (It will also count towards my goal of reading 10 books with action heroines this year, for a challenge in another group.) I read the first book, Skinwalker, a bit over three years ago (my review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ), but was able to re-immerse myself in Jane's world very quickly!
Over the weekend, my wife and I started a new "car book:"
by Catherine Coulter. It's actually one she got for me for Christmas a few years ago at a local flea market, picking it because of the supernatural element (though truth to tell, Coulter is a writer whose work I've never read, and would probably not have picked for myself). Although it's the tenth book in a series, Sherbrooke Brides (Barb didn't know that when she bought it), my impression is that the series is a multi-generational saga, in which the books can stand alone pretty well. We'll see how we like it!
I think I have watched, Catherine Coulter's mini series of some of her books. Almost finished with the book, "Blackbird Fly," by Lise McClenden. I had forgotten I had read it before but enjoying it much the same as last time. It is set in France and I almost like anything set there as I spent so much time in that country. Now, I am "there" again as I am watching daily, "Tour d' France.
Going back a bit--Werner, I have read 16 of the Amelia Peabody books. I'm currently reading The Alchemist of Souls by Anne Lyle. Fantasy set in an alternate version of Elizabethan England.
Nicole wrote: "Going back a bit--Werner, I have read 16 of the Amelia Peabody books. I'm currently reading The Alchemist of Souls by Anne Lyle. Fantasy set in an alternate version of Elizabetha..."
I recently got the third Amelia Peabody book, The Mummy Case, from BookMooch, and hope to get to it next year or the following year!
I am reading, "Lila," by Marilynne Robinson; Pulitzer Prize winner for book, "Gilead." So far, excellent.
I read A Town Like Alice as a teenager, Charly. There was also a movie made in the 80's based on the book. It's a memorable story.
Just watched the movie, "Water for Elephants," the other night and remembered how much I liked that book.
I'm nearly done with Alexander McCall Smiths modern-day version of Emma... very much enjoying the read. :-)
I'm finished with Emma which I greatly enjoyed. It was #3 in The Austen Project which has different contemporary authors of today rewriting the originals.Tonight, I'll be starting A Spool of Blue Thread, Anne Tyler's latest novel. All her stories are based in Baltimore and since I'm originally from MD, I've found it fun to read her stories as they take place in familiar areas.
by Josephine Tey (1951) is the fifth novel in her mystery series featuring Scotland Yard Inspector Alan Grant. This one, however, is unusual in that it finds Grant laid up in the hospital, recovering from a work-related injury. To cope with his boredom, he decides to investigate and "solve" (at least to his own satisfaction) a real-life mystery nearly 500 years old: what really happened to the sons of England's King Edward !V, supposedly murdered by their usurping uncle Richard III? This month, I'm joining in a read of this book in another group.
Finished 11/22/63 the other day. Now reading The Strange Career of William Ellis by Karl Jacoby.
Charly wrote: "Just finished A Town Like Alice and have started Lazy Thoughts of a Lazy Girl. Thanks so much Hannah for the recommendation. A Town Like Alice was a wonderful read an..."
Loved the book. Lead a book club and I chose it for that and everyone in the club felt the same! Try more of Nevil Shute's works they are very good.
Werner wrote: "Nina, both of those Cather books are on my to-read list! I've never read any of her work except My Ántonia and a couple of her short stories; but I loved the Hallmark Hall of Fame adap..."Give "O Pioneers" a try. Short novel, very good story and writing is top notch!
It's on my to-read shelf, Blaine! Perhaps I'll nominate it for the annual common read in the classics group I belong to next year.
I don't read a lot in the electronic format; but last night, when my Internet access was down for a time, I started on a sci-fi novel I'd recently downloaded to my Kindle app, The Fated Sky: Transgressor Trilogy Book One. It's written by my Goodreads friend E. M. Swift-Hook, and has a kind of Edgar Rice Burroughs vibe to it, only with more polished writing. Currently, it's only available as an e-book, but the self-publishing author hopes to bring out a paperback edition eventually.
While on vacation recently, during the times when I was reading in the fine public library in Harrisonburg VA, I started on an anthology edited by Marvin Kaye,
. I plan to finish it when I come back up there, Lord willing, next summer; so it goes onto my "being read intermittently" shelf.
The unifying theme of the anthology
is, as the title implies, choices or actions that turn out (for good or ill) in unexpected ways. It's newly released by WolfSinger Publications (which also published Misunderstood and Tails From the Front Lines); and since my friend Andrew Seddon has a story included, he was kind enough to send me a review copy. I've just started it today, and I expect it will be a fairly quick read.
While I'm waiting to take part in a common read in another group next month, I'm filling in the time by starting on
. Of course, I consider this a continuation of my read of
; I'm reckoning the whole set as one three-volume book.
Just finished the 2nd volume of the Swann Family Saga by R.F. Delderfield and have now started a few non-fiction books that are really fascinating. The first was "City of Scoundrel" by Gary Krist which is a remarkably fine effort that relates the summer of 1919 in Chicago which almost tore apart the city but which also helped transform it. Amazing cast of characters and stories. From air disaster, to child kidnapping, race riots, bolshevik scares and one amazing corrupt Mayor who was on his way to a 2nd term. The 2nd book is "Ghettoside" and is the story of the murder of a black youth and the work of an LAPD detective to track down the killer. Black on black crime is a huge problem in the US and the author is a reporter for the LA Times and gives us a good insight into the problem and how the police solved this murder.
This week, I started two new books. My current main read --that is, the paper book I'm reading to myself-- is
(1912) by Jean Webster. I'd never heard of Webster, and the book wasn't on my radar, until it was nominated for a common read this month in one of my other groups. It won the poll, and I'm taking part in the read.The book I'm presently reading to my wife Barb is one I picked up a number of years ago at our local flea market:
(Arkham House, 1999) by Frederic S. Durbin. A former Lutheran missionary, he's a little-known author who's new to me, but I'm greatly enjoying the book so far.
Usually, books I buy sit around for quite awhile (as in years) before I ever get around to reading them. But my Goodreads friend David Wittlinger, who recommended
by J. C. Antonelli (which I bought earlier this year) to me, is anxious to know how I like it. So I promised him I'd give it as much priority as possible; and I've just started on it today. It would count toward a challenge this year in one of my groups --except that I already met my goal before I learned that you can't raise your goal after the fact. :-( (But I'll keep that lesson in mind the next time I take part in a challenge!)
I'm reopening The Red Tent for my neighborhood book club read. Lol, didn't realize I'd gotten nearly halfway through but it's been awhile so I'll have to go back to the beginning.I'm also reading Bonhoeffer and Eat Complete: The 21 Nutrients That Fuel Brainpower, Boost Weight Loss, and Transform Your Health.
I've just started
, the sixth novel in Don Coldsmith's multi-generational Spanish Bit saga, tracing the history of a Plains Indian tribe, "the People," from the introduction of the horse through the succeeding centuries. This installment is set in the late 1500s, and the heroine is a young Indian woman who chooses to opt for the path of a warrior. This is a re-read for me; I want to review it for another site, but to do so well, I'll need a refresher for my memory!
Just began The Winter Fortress by Neal Bascomb a non-fiction book about the mission to derail Hitler's atomic bomb program. Also have begun book #5 of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Series. I read them out loud to my wife and she so enjoys all the antics over in Botswana.
Blaine, I've read out loud to my wife for most of the time that we've been married, and we've recently celebrated our 36th anniversary! it's cool to hear from another hubby who does the same thing. :-)
Werner wrote: "Blaine, I've read out loud to my wife for most of the time that we've been married, and we've recently celebrated our 36th anniversary! ...."Happy 36th anniversary to you both, Werner! I think it's great that you read out loud to your wife. Do you stop to discuss parts of the book with each other while you're reading?
I find it hard to read out loud. I tire easily whenever I try it (unless it's a very simple, short children's book). I suppose the muscles used when reading aloud need exercise as much as other muscles.
I found a webpage about that.
https://www.superduperinc.com/handout...
Excerpt: "Speech actually starts in the stomach with the diaphragm. This is a large muscle that helps push air from the lungs into the voice box."
I never realized that the diaphragm is a muscle. The dictionary says it's "the large muscle between your lungs and your stomach that helps you breathe." Live and learn! :)
Joy H. wrote: "PS-Sorry to go off-topic here."Nah, Joy, you're safe if the moderators don't catch you. :-)
Thanks for the happy anniversary wishes! (And no, we don't stop to discuss passages much; we're more apt to comment on our feelings about a book after we've finished it.)
You're welcome, Werner. I think your method of reading aloud is a good one.
Back from Europe and got my order in at the local library and today, much to my surprise, three new books were awaiting me. I have now reading: The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Betts about a WW2 mission to save priceless stallions kidnapped by the Nazi's; the novel My Last Continent by Midge Raymond about love, loss and the environment set on Antarctica; and Valiant Ambition by Nathaniel Philbrick about George Washington and Benedict Arnold. Lots of reading ahead in the next two weeks!
This month, I'm taking part in a common read of Stephen King's
in my Supernatural Fiction Readers group. Despite his popularity, I've only read two novels by King before (and some of his short stories).
I've read (and liked) his science fiction novel Firestarter, , and his fantasy The Eyes of the Dragon --actually, I read the latter book aloud to Barb, who liked it too. But this is my first experience with his long supernatural fiction (although this particular book is only "long" in comparison to his short stories; it's very far from the doorstop-sized tomes he often creates!).
Charly, The Scarlet Pimpernel has been on my to-read shelf forever, and I consider it a must-read! I'll be interested in your review, whenever you finish it.
MichelleCH wrote: "Reading The Golem and the Jinni, very different and enjoyable."Sounds good, Michelle. I've put in on my "Keep-in-mind" shelf... and have already started a review page for it at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just started "News of the World" by Paulette Jones. First 70 pages are very good in my opinion. Have never read this author although one of her prior books sits on my library shelves here at home and I may have to give it a chance after reading this book.
Sounds good, Michelle. I've put in on my "Keep-in-mind" shelf... and have already started a revie..." Just finished it. Very satisfying. I am not a big fan of mystical fiction but this was a well written novel with lots of layers: immigration, identity, love, karma, etc.
Another of my groups, Reading for Pleasure, also has a spooky mini-common read going this month, of Henry James 1898 classic The Turn of the Screw; so having finished Joyland, I've now joined that one. This will be my third read of this tale, which is unusual for me in recent decades; but I want to re-do the review which I've posted here on Goodreads, focusing more on the text itself, and I want to do a re-read so the text is fresh in my mind.
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When I finished Lieutenant Hornblower, the second book in The Young Hornblower Omnibus and second book in the series, I fully intended to go on to the last book in the omnibus, Hornblower and the Atropos. To my surprise, however, I discovered that the latter is the fifth book in the series, not the third. Since I don't want to read it out of order, I set it aside for later. So, being home over the weekend and needing a book to read, I started on one that Barb owns and likes, The Ballad Of Cat Ballou by Roy Chanslor.