What I'm Reading NOVEMBER 2014

[Cateline]

I've started Neville Shute's Requiem for a Wren. So far, so good.

[Barbara]

Portia, I just finished reading that same collection of stories. They convinced me that Mantel has a mind that works like no one elses. I liked some stories more than others but they all made me think. Regarding her illness, this Guardian article will explain more.
http://www.theguardian.com/society/20...

[Barbara]

Portia, I just finished reading that same collection of stories. They convinced me that Mantel has a mind that works like no one elses. I liked some stories more than others but they all made me think. Regarding her illness, this Guardian article will explain more.
http://www.theguardian.com/society/20...

[Portia]

Thanks for the link, Barb. I agree that Mantel's mind is like none other. And yet, I've had meds prescribed after surgery that made my furniture dance, so I felt she accurately described the experience, right down to making me wonder if her "caller" was real. With "Comma," I thought Mantel had visited the neighborhood in Pennsylvania where I grew up. Children were allowed to roam free back then (I shudder to think of it now) and there were houses and families deemed "weird", in many ways like the Radley house in To Kill a Mockingbird. I haven't finished the book, but am looking forward to remainder of the stories. Perhaps one can be included in a future Short Stories discussion?

[Sue]

Portia wrote: "I began reading The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher last evening. I've just finished my second reading of the story "Sorry to Disturb." I feel even more chilled by the story th..."

I'm definitely intrigued by your comments, Portia.

And I finished Suspended Sentences today. It gave me much to consider and I've already decided I want to read it again, though not immediately. I definitely want to read more of Modiano's books.

[Book Concierge]

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa – 5*****
A beautifully elegant gem of a novel that explores a unique friendship between a Housekeeper, her son and the brain-injured Professor of mathematics whose memory is limited to 80 minutes. The slow way in which the Housekeeper, Root and the Professor get to know one another is framed by his lessons on the poetry of mathematics and the elegance of prime numbers. Cassandra Campbell does a fine job narrating the audio book; even when reading an equation she makes it sound like poetry.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Gina]

Just finished Germinal by Émile Zola. Zola's masterpiece of working life, Germinal (1885), exposes the inhuman conditions of miners in northern France in the 1860s. By Zola's death in 1902 it had come to symbolize the call for freedom from oppression so forcefully that the crowd which gathered at his State funeral chanted 'Germinal! Germinal!'.

The central figure, Etienne Lantier, is an outsider who enters the community and eventually leads his fellow-miners in a strike protesting against pay-cuts - a strike which becomes a losing battle against starvation, repression, and sabotage. Yet despite the violence and disillusion which rock the mining community to its foundations, Lantier retains his belief in the ultimate germination of a new society, leading to a better world. Germinal is a dramatic novel of working life, sexual desire, and everyday relationships, but it is also a complex novel of ideas, given fresh vigour and power in this new translation.

There are some who think this is one of the ten best books ever written in French.

[Sue]

Gina wrote: "Just finished Germinal by Émile Zola. Zola's masterpiece of working life, Germinal (1885), exposes the inhuman conditions of miners in northern France in the 1860s. By Z..."

This is a book I've been considering Gina. I understand there are good, and not so good, translations. What did you read?

[Cateline]

Last night I finished Requiem For A Wren by Nevil Shute. His usual understated, wonderfully told story. My review here, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Gina]

Sue wrote: "Gina wrote: "Just finished Germinal by Émile Zola. Zola's masterpiece of working life, Germinal (1885), exposes the inhuman conditions of miners in northern France in th..."

The version I had was translated by Havelock Ellis. This is an old library copy. Hope you can find it.

[Sue]

Gina wrote: "Sue wrote: "Gina wrote: "Just finished Germinal by Émile Zola. Zola's masterpiece of working life, Germinal (1885), exposes the inhuman conditions of miners in northern ..."

I'll check it out. thanks.

Actually it's available for $0.99 for kindle.

[Mary]

Just finished A Traitor to His Class, Brands bio of FDR. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Brands' style is very readable. He clearly differentiates speculation from fact. He recognizes FDR's feet of clay while extolling his political genius and leadership skills.

[Ann D]

That sounds very good, Mary. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[Matthew]

I have been reading several books at the same time actually, a book (trilogy) called the Illuminatus! Trilogy, a really trippy fiction (scifi) book (800 pgs long!) that is about real world concepts, ideas and doff theologies. It explores the secrets of the ancient Illuminati and how their presence is everywhere in modern society (I.e. NWO type stuff) and their plans to dominate the world (global markets, economy, gov't, etc) by any means possible, very trippy read but also interesting for a book written in the 70s (it is def way b4 its time). it also gets into th JFK Assassination and provides its own alternative theory as to what really happened and who the shooter was. Basically, you could spend your lifetime researching the ideas, concepts and yheplogies in this book. Is def NOT an easy read, I don't even understand most of it but bits and pieces

I am also trying to read the 9/11 Commission Report ( a long time coming, even tho I think it's a load of crap but I'm also a bit of a skeptic and conspiracy guy too, as you can prob guess from my previous book choice). Two words, INSIDE JOB (isn't everything? lol), not this propaganda crap our Gov't is feeding us. But I would still like to hear their side of things.
I am also reading a book by David Yount called Growing in Faith, a book about understanding Jesus (from/for the eyes of a 'reluctant Christian' or anyone who may have doubts in their faith or be going through trying times.
And finally, Fool Moon by Jim Butcher...I am new to his series but it looks interesting, it's book 2 of the Dresden Files

[Cateline]

Just finished four novellas by Margaret Atwood, under the umbrella title of Positron. Bizarre, dystopian, interesting. My review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lyn]

In my early college years, my favorite book was Still Life with Woodpecker, I think because it was just so much joyous fun. Since then I've of course read everything Tom Robbins wrote, but recently found a collection of short writings by him, Wild Ducks Flying Backward, and was happy to read writings by him that were a little more direct than his fiction. I rediscovered why I had loved him at a time in my life when it was bursting with energy and possibility, and that I admire him still for his sense of joy and play, and the way he can turn language into something sparkling and bejeweled. I especially loved his writing about his love for our Pacific Northwest grey and rainy weather.

[John]

Since I thought so much of Starting out in the evening, I decided to try Brian Morton's Florence Gordon. Well, I don't think it's intended as such, but I'm getting through it as a satire, rather than a serious novel.

[Lynn]

The comment about Brian Morton's books reminds me of the delightful dinner we had with him during our 2011 convention in NYC. I remember him as a nice, unassuming guy with some very funny stories.

[Cateline]

I've started The Survival of Thomas Ford by John A. A. Logan. Interesting psychological study.

[Ann D]

I recently finished The Crimson Petal and the White, which I gave a 5* because of its compelling story telling. Here is my short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


I also finished **** May We Be Forgiven and immediately checked out another A. M Holmes book. Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Mary]

Finished Isabel Allende's Daughter of Fortune. Not a very satisfying read. Started off very well - intriguing plot, interesting characters, meticulously written. Unfortunately it became more of a litany of historical facts, episodically connected with events in the characters lives, about whom I really no longer cared by the end of the book.

[Aleka]

I just finished it 's an excellent book. And a re-read (audio version) of


At the moment I'm reading and

In fiction I'm slightly behind and reading

[Barbara]

Hi Alexandra, Could you please post the titles of the books too? The covers are difficult or impossible to see on mobile devices.

[Ruth]

Barbara wrote: "Hi Alexandra, Could you please post the titles of the books too? The covers are difficult or impossible to see on mobile devices."

Even mostly impossible on my Big Mac.

[Cateline]

Just finished The Survival of Thomas Ford by John A. A. Logan. Intense, literate psychological thriller. Review here. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kat]

I FINALLY finished Bleak House, after four and a half months. It wasn't the only thing I was reading, but even so. I read once that Dickens gave a banquet for his friends whenever he finished a book, I feel as though I should give a banquet for mine whenever I finish reading one of his.

Though it had of course many wonderful things about it, it also seemed even more patronizingly sexist than his usual, as well as xenophobic. Plus it suggests he was a cat-hater. Some things can't be forgiven. I'm thinking I may want to stick to Trollope....

[Cateline]

I'm reading three at the moment.
The Final Silence, the new Belfast novel by Stuart Neville.

Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon to break the tension of the Neville. I'm about halfway through both of those.

And I happened to receive A Fortunate Life by Robert Vaughn....yes, that Robert Vaughn, the actor. I wish he would write fiction, he has a definite flair for writing, and yes, he wrote it himself, no ghost writer. Quite interesting, with some interesting philosophical entries as well. Not quite finished it.