Reading with Style discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Archives
>
FA 19 Completed Tasks
20.6 Monster ReduxThe Ghost Writer by Philip Roth
Nathan Zuckerman, a young short story writer hoping for a mentor, visits established writer E.I. Lonoff. Over a twenty-four hour period several conflicts arise showing the struggle between a writer's devotion to his craft, and the loyalty he feels toward his family and his religion. The older writer has devoted his whole life to his writing while ignoring his own happiness and the needs of his wife.
Zuckerman has written a short story about a true event in his family's life involving a dispute over money. His father does not want it published because it shows Jews in a stereotypical unflattering light. His father and a family friend put pressure on Zuckerman not to publish.
The third thread of conflict occurs in Zuckerman's imagination where he pretends that a visiting young woman writer is really Anne Frank who has survived the Nazi concentration camps. The woman is conflicted whether she should reveal her identity to her aging father in Europe. If she was alive, it would reduce the literary importance of her diary.
Author Philip Roth writes from the point of view of a Jewish writer. The various parts of the story are beautifully woven together showing the conflicting demands a writer faces, especially when he puts real experiences in his fiction. The need for a father figure also runs under the surface. Roth's writing is intelligent, showing both the humorous and tragic parts of life.
+20 task
+15 combo 20.3 Author, 20.5 Non-linear, 20.8 Periodic Table PR= Praseodymium
+ 5 oldie pub 1979
+10 review
Task total: 50
Season total: 440
15.9 PnM2 (Round 2)F4 - author's first name begins with L
The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott
+30 Task
Post Total: 30
Season Total: 695
15.3 PnM2 E.3 Title is a Full Sentence
The First Time Lauren Pailing Diedby Alyson Rudd
+15 task
Post Total = 15
Season Total = 130
10.9 Science! (Mary's Task)The Thing with Feathers: The Surprising Lives of Birds and What They Reveal About Being Human by Noah Strycker
+10 Task 598.07234 S
+ 5 Combo: 10.7 A, E, I, O, U, sometimes Y
+10 Not a Novel
Task Total: 25
Season Total: 495
20.1 Inaugural Quichotte by Salman Rushdie
+20 Task
+25 Combo: 10.7 A, E, I, O, U, sometimes Y / 20.3 Author / 20.4 Boomer / 20.5 Non-Linear / 20.8 Periodic Table
Task Total: 45
Season Total: 540
20.6 Monster ReduxThe Empty House and Other Ghost Stories by Algernon Blackwood
+20 Task
+10 Oldies (1906)
Task Total: 30
Season Total: 570
15.8 E6 Excellent Women by Barbara Pym
+20 Task (Title contains a Q, X, or Z:)
Task Total: 20
Season Total: 590
20.4 BoomerStories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe
This book was not on my "To Read" list, but after reading and listening to excerpts, I wanted to continue reading his story.
Half of the book covers his life from age 4--18. Rob Lowe hit it big before age 21; his ambition was to be an actor and he started on the pathway during his childhood in Ohio. Most interesting parts for me: 1) the effects of the transition from Ohio to Malibu after his mother moved them post-divorce. This part had a few descriptions of teenage death that I elected to skip; 2) his mother; 3) events and decision to get and stay sober at age 26. Least interesting: 1) the Outsiders movie auditions, scenes; 2) West Wing. Audio version is read by the author and he did some great voice impressions.
+20 Task (1964)
+10 Not a novel
+10 Review
Task Total: 40
Season Total: 85
15.8 PnMThe 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
F5 - Author name beginning with P-S
Task total: 20
Grand total: 1000
20.7 Spec FicThe Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
Shelved 243 times as speculative-fiction
+20 Task
+10 Combo (10.8 ; 20.5)
Task total = 30
Points total = 40
10.7 A, E, I, O, U, sometimes YOumpah-Pah: L'Intégrale by René Goscinny and illustrations by Albert Uderzo
René GOSCINNY: EIOY
Albert UDERZO: AEOU
Task total = 10
(No combo as graphic novel)
Points total = 50
15.5 PnM2F4 - Author name L-O (Marlon)
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
Task total: 20
Grand total: 180
15.6 PnM2F5 - Author name P-S (Patrick)
Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness
Lexile 1010
Task total: 20
Grand total: 200
15.9 PnMHanzai Japan: Fantastical, Futuristic Stories of Crime From and About Japan ed by Nick Mamatas
E6 - title contains a Z
Task total:30
Grand total:1030
20.4 The Line of BeautyFilter House by Nisi Shawl
A wonderful collection of short stories. It's hard to believe that all of these stories are by the same author--they range from folk tales to fairy tales to magical realism to hard science fiction. There's issues of power and race threading through most of the stories, but just as part of the fabric of the story, not as a way to smash the reader over the head with moralizing. With nearly every story, I wanted it to be longer--the worlds were so interesting, the characters intriguing.
I really want to read a book set in the world of "Maggies". This was probably the most truly science fiction story of the collection, set in a near future or perhaps other planet, with terraforming work of a most clever description.
I also especially liked "The Pragmatical Princess" - a wonderful twist on the fairy tale trope of a dragon who captures a princess.
Thanks go to my mother, who picked out this collection for me.
+20 Task (b. 1955)
+10 Review
+10 Not a novel (short stories)
Task total: 40
Grand total: 240
10.6 WWIIHotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
This is a romance story set in Seattle that felt like it was written in order to be a good movie. Ordinarily, I would probably find that to be a flaw. Here, the author does a very nice job of keeping the story intriguing and plausible. A bit sappy perhaps...but it nevertheless tugs at the reader's heartstrings with the right amount of emotion.
Without giving too much away... the story involves a young Chinese boy and a young Japanese classmate soon after the Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor. The pre-teens are extraordinary people and struggle to deal with the awful decision to intern all Japanese ...whether they be citizens or not. The pair also must overcome the bias of the Chinese boy's father.
The tale is told in chapters changing time from the 1940s to 1986 when the now adult Chinese man becomes a widow.
a solid three stars.
Task=10
Review=10
Combo = 10 (10.7; 20.5)
Task Total= 30
Grand Total=565
Tasks Completed: 18
10.3 (35); 10.4 (35); 10.5 (30); 10.6 (30); 10.7 (35); 10.8 (35)
15.1(E3)(15); 15.2(B2)(15); 15.3(F6)(15); 15.4(D4)(15); 15.5(F2)(20);15.6(C4)(20); 15.7(D6)(20)
20.1 (35); 20.2 (65); 20.3 (35); 20.4 (50); 20.7 (35); 20.8 (45)
15.10 PnM2 (Round 2)E6 - title contains Q
The Long Quiche Goodbye (A Cheese Shop Mystery #1) by Avery Aames
+30 Task
+100 Completion
Post Total: 130
Season Total: 825
10.7 A, E, I, O, U, sometimes YHazard by Stella Riley
+10 Task (A, E, I, Y)
+10 Combo (20.4, 20.8)
Task Total: 20
Season Total: 520
20.8 Periodic TableDragonfly Falling by Adrian Tchaikovsky
+20 Task (At=Astatine)
+5 Combo (10.7 A, I, O, Y)
+5 Jumbo (673 pages)
Task Total: 30
Season Total: 550
15.4 PnM2 Round 2 A3The House of Shattered Wings by Aliette de Bodard
+15 Task (set in Paris, France)
Task Total: 15
Season Total: 565
15.3 PnM2 B2In Milton Lumky Territory by Philip K. Dick
+15 task (pub. 1985)
Task total=15
Grand total=425
15.10 PnMThe Amun Chamber by Daniel Leston
A5 - takes place 81% in Africa (Egypt)
Task total: 30
PnM bonus: 100
MegaFinish: 200
Grand total: 1360
Beth wrote: "PnM bonus: 100
MegaFinish: 200"
Congratulations! Well done!
20.6 Monster ReduxGhost Stories of an Antiquary by M.R. James
+20 task
+10 not-a-novel
+10 oldies (1904)
Task total=40
Grand total=465
15.1 PnM2 (Round 3)B3 - published 1914
Dubliners by James Joyce
+15 Task
Post Total: 15
Season Total: 830
Task 15.4 PnM2 B-1Johannes Cabal the Detective (Johannes Cabal #2) (2010) by Jonathan L. Howard (Goodreads Author) (Hardcover, 289 pages)
+15 B-1. 2001 or later
Task Total: 15
Grand Total: 270 + 15 = 285
15.2 PnM2 (Round 3)E5 - repeated word in title, news
Good News, Bad News (A Scout Davis Investigation #2) by Maggie Groff
+15 Task
Post Total: 15
Season Total: 845
20.3 AuthorDrood by Dan Simmons
+20 -Task
+15 - Combo (10.8, 20.4- 1948 on Goodreads Page, 20.8 - Darmstadtium )
Task total - 35 pts
Season Total - 280 pts
15.9 P’nMD 4 genre- Non Fiction
On Palestine by Ilan Pappé Noam Chomsky
Task Total - 20 pts
Season Total - 300 pts
20.7 Spec FicGood Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett
This is a fun book. I am a fan of Gaiman’s; but have never read any of Pratchett’s work. I would think that ‘team’ writing would be difficult, but it seemed to work seamlessly here.
The premise of the book is amusing – the Antichrist is delivered to earth (literally, as a baby) and of course this implies ‘the Rapture” is scheduled to occur. Yes, it is on a schedule. There are a lot of interesting and thought-provoking ideas about humans and how we’ve built/destroyed our world. Religion is tangential and the Bible has been mined for interesting fantastic(al) characters rather than moral lessons. Not surprisingly, the demon/angel, Crowley and the angel, Aziraphale are the most interesting characters; although all of the characters are well imagined. I enjoyed the humor, of which there is a lot, and laughed out loud more than a few times! 4*
20 task
10 review
5 oldie
15 combo 10.5, 20.4, 20.6
_____
50
Running total: 575
15.5 PnM2, D5 (Historical Fiction, Romance, Adventure)Pestilence by Laura Thalassa
Task total: 20
Season total: 825
From Post 312Tien wrote: "20.7 Spec Fic
Death's End (Remembrance of Earth's Past #3) by Liu Cixin
34 users
+20 Task
+10 Combo (20.4 - 1963; 20.8 - CL for Chlorine)
+5 Jumbo (604 pages)
Pos..."
Sorry, this does not work for 20.8, published initials must appear in order to the matching element.
From Post 316Rachelccameron wrote: "20. 8 Periodic Table
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Well, I found this all super interesting and really enjoyed it. Gladwell is falling under some..."
+5 Combo 10.1
From Post 340Lynn wrote: "10.7 A,E,I,O,U and sometimes Y
The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories (1961) 144 pages, by Ernest Hemingway
10 points task
5 Oldie
10 points not a novel
10 points re..."
This works for +10 Oldies
From Post 346Norma wrote: "10.7 - A, E, I, O, U Sometimes Y
Yesterday's Tears by Jane O'Brien
+10 task
Task total: 10
Grand total: 50"
+5 Combo 20.4
20.9 Shipwrecked! (Kate S's Task)Shipwrecks by Akira Yoshimura
This is a very well written and tight;y-woven tale.
The setting is an unspecified period in feudal Japan on an island that endures harsh winters. The inhabitants of a small village survive by the periodic ships that are ruined on the nearby reefs....so much so, that a shipwreck is cause for celebration and prayer. Prayers seeking more shipwrecks! The focus here is on one particular family and how they lead their lives and how things improve...but get very complicated when a shipwreck finally occurs and offers many provisions. Another mysterious ship that drifts onto the reef...with all the crew members dead.....presents more peril. Four stars.
Task=20
Review=10
Combo = 5 (10.7)
Oldie=5 (1982)
Task Total= 40
Grand Total=605
Tasks Completed: 19
10.3 (35); 10.4 (35); 10.5 (30); 10.6 (30); 10.7 (35); 10.8 (35)
15.1(E3)(15); 15.2(B2)(15); 15.3(F6)(15); 15.4(D4)(15); 15.5(F2)(20);15.6(C4)(20); 15.7(D6)(20)
20.1 (35); 20.2 (65); 20.3 (35); 20.4 (50); 20.7 (35); 20.8 (45); 20.9 (40)
From post 370Penny wrote: " 15.3 PnM2
E.3 Title is a Full Sentence
The First Time Lauren Pailing Diedby Alyson Rudd
+15 task
Post Total = 15
Season Total = 130"
Sorry, Penny, this title is not a full sentence (died is not being used as a verb here). I have scored this as 20.8 with combos for 20.4 and 10.7 for now. Let me know if you would like to use it differently.
15.7 PnM2, E4 (Non-Generic Subtitle)Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You by Lin-Manuel Miranda
+20 Task
Task total: 20
Season total: 865
Task 15.5 PnM2 A-3Apartment in Athens (1945) by Glenway Wescott (Paperback, 268 pages)
Set 100% in Athens, Greece
+20 A-3. Europe (at least 75%)
Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 285 + 20 = 305
10.1 Sub-SandwichMary Summer 2019
Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet
After reading a few pages of this play, everything seemed familiar...and then I realized that I must have seen the play many years ago. I didn't see the Pulitzer Prize-worthiness in reading the play however.
I suppose the play was novel at the time in the directness and credibility of its dialogue...chock full of crude profanities. A depiction of how folks might actually talk.
The story is basic... a small group of real estate salesmen willing to do anything for a sale.
I have not seen the movie...and perhaps the impressive cast (Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Ed harris, Alec Baldwin, Alan Arkin, Kevin Spacey and Jonathan Pryce) really made this more interesting than I found it. Perhaps the play also brought back bad memories of the nasty characters from my own office life .
Two stars.... because I don't want GR's algorithm using this play to recommend anything similar.
Task=10
Review=10
NaN=10
Combo = 5 (20.4)
Oldie=5 (1984)
Task Total= 40
Grand Total=645
Tasks Completed: 21
10.1 (40); 10.3 (35); 10.4 (35); 10.5 (30); 10.6 (30); 10.7 (35); 10.8 (35)
15.1(E3)(15); 15.2(B2)(15); 15.3(F6)(15); 15.4(D4)(15); 15.5(F2)(20);15.6(C4)(20); 15.7(D6)(20)
20.1 (35); 20.2 (65); 20.3 (35); 20.4 (50); 20.7 (35); 20.8 (45); 20.9 (40)
15.8- E5E.5. - Title has a repeated word (excluding articles a/an/the)-
There There by Tommy Orange
Task=20
Task Total= 20
Grand Total=665
Tasks Completed: 22
10.1 (40); 10.3 (35); 10.4 (35); 10.5 (30); 10.6 (30); 10.7 (35); 10.8 (35)
15.1(E3)(15); 15.2(B2)(15); 15.3(F6)(15); 15.4(D4)(15); 15.5(F2)(20); 15.6(C4)(20); 15.7(D6)(20); 15.8 (E5)(20)
20.1 (35); 20.2 (65); 20.3 (35); 20.4 (50); 20.7 (35); 20.8 (45); 20.9 (40)
15.8 PnM2, E6 (Title Contains Q, X, or Z)The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright
+20 Task
Task total: 20
Season total: 885
20.5 Non-linearMiddlegame by Seanan McGuire
This story was an excellent layering of characterization, "Groundhog Day" time travel, and an underlying logically coherent mystical conspiracy punctuated with quotes and a fictional children's story. There were some elements of the "hero's journey" storyline as well, split between the two main characters, made as brother and sister. I especially liked how McGuire successfully wrote them as both real individuals and representations of ideas, with details that made sense and there was pretty much continual tension between them in one way or another. I've read other books from her before, but it's been awhile since I've read one of her adult books instead of her young adult books and I could tell the difference in the complexity of the storyline. I'm sure the length helped with that, but it didn't feel long ago.
+20 task
+10 review
+10 combo (20.8 SM Samarium, 10.7 a e i u)
+5 length (544 pages on MPE)
Task total: 45
Grand total: 1405
15.5 PnM2 Round 2 F3The Currents of Space by Isaac Asimov
+20 Task (name begins with I)
Task Total: 20
Season Total: 585
20.4 BoomerFun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
+20 task (born 1960)
graphic novel, no styles
Task total=20
Grand total=485
10.5 BannedDeath of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Okay. I get why this is a classic on an intellectual level, but it just left me cold. Willie Loman is self-involved, self-important, self-aggrandizing man who really has nothing to show for himself. In the final scene his self-delusion comes to fruition in the most horrible of ways.
My takeaway? This felt like a criticism of capitalism and the American Dream, which I can't deny is a flawed construct. We go to work every day for The Man until we're deemed too old/useless/superfluous then we're cast aside, buried in bills, beholden to the machine with no way to remain afloat. It's bleak.
Perhaps I wouldn't dislike it as much if I had seen it performed, but in reading it I just feel hollow and a little dirty. Maybe I missed the point altogether. That being said: now that I know what is in this play, I will never seek it out, will never watch it, am hesitant to read another Arthur Miller play.
+10 Task
+10 Review
+15 Combo (10.7: A,U,I,E; 20.5; 20.8: Am=Americium)
+10 Not-a-Novel
+5 Oldies (pub. 1949)
Task total: 50
Season total: 935
15.9 PnM2, B1 (Original publication date 2001 or later)We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast by Jonathan Safran Foer
+30 Task (pub. 2019)
Task total: 30
Season total: 965
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Reading with Style
Books mentioned in this topic
Moon Tiger (other topics)I Am Charlotte Simmons (other topics)
Lost in Shangri-la: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II (other topics)
Arsenic and Old Lace (other topics)
Lost in Shangri-la: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Penelope Lively (other topics)Tom Wolfe (other topics)
Mitchell Zuckoff (other topics)
Joseph Kesselring (other topics)
Mitchell Zuckoff (other topics)
More...
From the Dust Returned by Ray Bradbury
+15 task (horror 119 users)
Task total=15
Grand total=410
(edited to correct task number)