Reading the 20th Century discussion
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What books are you reading now? (2020)
Nigeyb wrote: "I'm closing in on the finale of....The Sisters Brothers (2011)
I've been beguiled by it from start to (nearly) finish
A wonderful read
Anyone else partaken?
"
We had a different response to this one.
Chrissie wrote: "I struggle to find exceptionally good contemporary authors of fiction. Please advise me, if you can suggest some."Annie Proulx, Sebastian Faulks, Iain Pears, Paulette Jiles (I have read just her News of the World but would read more), William Trevor (although you might find him too sad), Sebastian Barry.
I loved An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine, and History of the Rain by Niall Williams, as I did also love Hotel Silence by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir.
On my 5-star reads shelf I note also some narrative non-fiction, but you probably have enough choice for those.
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Contemporary authors with 5-stars from me include Ottessa Moshfegh, Rachel Kushner, Rachel Cusk (specifically her Outline trilogy, Elena Ferrante if you haven't already read her, Javier Marías, Lydia Davis (short stories), Lucia Berlin (short stories), Joyce Carol Oates of course! And I'd echo Elizabeth's Sebastian Barry.
Some specific books: Milkman, Absolution and Fallen Land both by Patrick Flanery.
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Two I have yet to read but for which I have high hopes...
The Journal of a Disappointed Man by W.N.P. Barbellion
Harpo Speaks! by Harpo Marx
I'd be delighted to do a buddy read for either
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Especially re Ottessa Moshfegh and Milkman - a writer and a book I can also personally vouch for. Both superb.
Ali Smith should be on that list too. I have a lot of other favourites, including Siri Hustvedt, Aminatta Forna, Chimamanda Nglozi Adichie, Jon McGregor, Olga Tokarczuk, Andrei Makine.
A few more obscure ones: Joanna Kavenna, Amy Sackville, Benjamin Myers, Melissa Harrison, Sara Baume.
I could name a lot more.
Always solid reads: Thomas Keneally, Rose Tremain, Sarah Waters, Julian Barnes, E.L. Doctorow, Kent Haruf, Louise Erdrich, Richard Russo, John BanvilleAs one who prefers the 19th Century and earlier 20th Century, I'm surprised to be listing so many!
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So many wonderful recommendations
Chrissie will be delighted with such riches when she next visits
Oh, so glad you've mentioned Andrei Makine, Hugh. I have read just one, but have another. Hope to get to it sooner rather than later.
RC, Nigeyb - tell me about Ottessa Moshfegh.
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Here you are...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
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Ok, and thank you - off to peruse in a bit. I have things to post over in the Saturn thread while I still know what I want to say.
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The Sisters Brothers (2011)
A wonderful read
Unusual, fun, interesting and comedic.
Here’s my review
4/5
Iris Murdoch is good. I really, really enjoyed A Fairly Honourable Defeat. I will be reading more my Murdoch soon.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have picked up another by Émile Zola. This time it's The Bright Side of Life.
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Roman Clodia wrote: "I'm starting Spring by Ali Smith. Any Smith fans here? I never get on with her in the way I expect to but am giving her a third try..."I have heard good things about her season series. She may not be for me, but Hugh says above that she is one to read. I hope you find this is one you like - I always hope that people are sitting in front of a book they can enjoy reading.
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Lovely sentiment! :))
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I always hope that people are sitting in front of a book they can enjoy reading."It is so difficult though. Some of the books I have thought I would really like, have turned out to be average, and others I have put off reading because their appeal seems minimal have turned out to be favourites.
Jill wrote: "It is so difficult though. Some of the books I have thought I would really like, have turned out to be average, and others I have put off reading because their appeal seems minimal have turned out to be favourites."Yes, but we always hope. It doesn't always work for me, but I try to stay on the side of the glass is half full. ;-)
Roman Clodia wrote: "I'm starting Spring by Ali Smith. Any Smith fans here? I never get on with her in the way I expect to but am giving her a third try..."I read the first and liked it--3 stars. Read the second and liked it too but found it somewhat repetitive. Same tricks repeated. Have decided not to continue.
Chrissie wrote: "I read the first and liked it - - 3 stars. Read the second and liked it too but found it somewhat repetitive. Same tricks repeated. Have decided not to continue."I agree, Chrissie, I like Ali Smith's writing but 'same tricks' seems to sum it up. I've read 3 books and found them all very similar - same ideas, same characters, same stylistic quirks. I will read more from her, but I feel I need to leave quite long gaps between each book.
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I struggle to find exceptionally good contemporary authors of fiction. Please advise me, if you can suggest some."
Did you see the suggestions above Chrissie? What did you think? How tempted are you?
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I suspect I will be siding with you two. I started Autumn and DNF after about 5 pages - too many dreams! I did finish Girl Meets Boy but didn't find it nearly as wonderful as most people.
So this is my third try - I am liking it so much more than the previous two (though only about 20% in) but agree completely about same tricks.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Always solid reads: Thomas Keneally, Rose Tremain, Sarah Waters, Julian Barnes, E.L. Doctorow, Kent Haruf, [au..."Oooops, Elizabeth, I missed this message.
I have read all the authors you mention in message 908. Thank you for trying to find new authors for me. Of the authors you mention Haruf I like best. Some don't work for me at all.
Nigeyb wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I like memoirs and biographies--often preferring those set in the past. I am searching like mad for good reads. Want to suggest something to me?I struggle to find exceptionally g..."
NO. I didn't see the messages above. I am now immediately going to go check them out. Thank you for telling me to look again!!!!!!!!!!!
And everybody, please forgive me! I will go now and respond to each message.
Hugh wrote: "Ali Smith should be on that list too. I have a lot of other favourites, including Siri Hustvedt, Aminatta Forna, Chimamanda Nglozi Adichie, Jon McGregor, Olga Tokarczuk, Andrei Makine.
A few mor..."
I agree that you have some good ones there! I have read those you mention in the first paragraph of your message. In the second paragraph you have authors I have not read. I am about to go and check them out now. Are there particular books you like written by the authors listed in your second paragraph?
Sorry for my delay in responding to you.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I struggle to find exceptionally good contemporary authors of fiction. Please advise me, if you can suggest some."Annie Proulx, Sebastian Faulks, [..."
I see here you have another message! Again please forgive me for not responding sooner. Here you have listed authors I have liked and some whom I have disliked.
The two books mentioned in your second paragraph I would like to read, but they are not accessible. Hopefully Audible will alter their accessibility in the future.
Thank you, again.
R.C.Outline by Patrick Flanery looks interesting. Neither have I read Rachel Cusk.Thanks for suggesting these. Marias' book are not available to me in English.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nigeyb wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I like memoirs and biographies--often preferring those set in the past. I am searching like mad for good reads. Want to suggest something to me?"Two I have yet to read but for wh..."
Nope, not accessible, but thanks for the suggestions. On the other hand I don't think they are my kind of book......
Thanks, Elizabeth, R.C. Nigeyb and Hugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Big hugs sent.
Published in 2005, this book covers the time period 1964-1989:The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards - 3 stars - My Review
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I also fancy Katherine Mansfield: A Secret Life by Claire Tomalin - has anyone read it?
I have completed another book by Émile Zola--The Bright Side of Life. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Now, feeling for a bit of non-fiction, I have begun A Forgotten Hero: Folke Bernadotte, the Swedish Humanitarian Who Rescued 30,000 People from the Nazis, written by Shelley Emling. It begins with mini history of Sweden starting in the 1800s.
Roman Clodia wrote: "Any Katherine Mansfield fans here? I've just DNF'd Spring by Ali Smith which features Mansfield as a character which has prompted me to return to KM herself: I'm star..."I have read several of Mansfield's shorter pieces. I have given them all three stars. I would join you in reading Tomalin's book, she is a good biographer, but it is unfortunately not available to me.
So you dumped Ali Smith's latest.I guess this confirms I was right not to continue with the series beyond the first two books.
Roman Clodia wrote: "Any Katherine Mansfield fans here? I've just DNF'd Spring by Ali Smith which features Mansfield as a character which has prompted me to return to KM herself: I'm star..."I have read one collection, In a German Pension: 13 Stories. I thought it was gossipy and sarcastic and a great deal of fun!
Started the upcoming buddy read, Uncle Paul by Celia Fremlin. She doesn't give you time to get comfortable. It opens with:It is rare for any catastrophe to seem like a catastrophe right at the very beginning. Nearly always, in the early stages, it seems more like a nuisance; just one more of those tiresome interruptions which come so provokingly just when life is going smoothly and pleasantly.
Finished this experimental fiction published in 1979:If on a winter's night a traveler by Italo Calvino - 3 stars - My Review
A Forgotten Hero: Folke Bernadotte, the Swedish Humanitarian Who Rescued 30,000 People from the Nazis by Shelley Emling is good, to the point, but you cannot expect a deep analysis from such a short book.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I will soon begin Dances with Wolves by Michael Blake. My husband told me we saw the movie ages ago. I hope it doesn't come back to me. Now, I remember nothing.
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It is rare for any catastrophe to seem ..."
Loved Uncle Paul, Elizabeth.
It did, though, take me back to childhood, caravan holidays on windswept, rainy beaches!
Took me quite a while, but I finally finished:Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie - 3 stars - My Review
Dances with Wolves by Michael Blake is completed . My short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...I have begun Glory by Vladimir Nabokov.
I don't always understand Vladimir Nabokov's books, but I do like his prose. Glory is straightforward and has his trademark prose. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have begun My Year of Rest and Relaxation. It has me smiling. I can easily relate to the urge to want to hibernate, to get away from the world. Friends in several of the groups I am in recommended this book.
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Yay! Another Moshfegh convert!
Roman Clodia wrote: "I'm also a huge Nabokov fan, Chrissie - for some reason, I read Lolita then didn't read him again for years. He can certainly be difficult, but all the more rewarding for that reason. Not switch-of..."Yeah, Nabokov is special.
I am not a Moshfegh convert YET! I have to wait and see what I am thinking when I get to the book's end. It definitely has good lines. The satirical kick at out modern day society comes across loud and clear. The question is if I will get bored buy the end.
I have started The Last September. I will go over to the thread when I have a few more pages under my belt.
I am trying books that friends have recommended to me. My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh was recommended to me by friends in several groups. As a book of satire, yes, it is amusing, but as a whole it wasn't a winner for me. I still appreciate the recommendation. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Now I am taking up a book by Halldór Laxness. Since Independent People is not available to me, I have chosen Under the Glacier. It is suppose to be a satire, a spoof on religion....and more, according to the prologue!
Reading the 20th Century
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Thanks for your reply Jill
I agree that it's a world away from the typical Western
The dialogue is especially intesting and is amusingly at odds with the stereotype of the two killer brothers. The story is like a meandering fable involving witches, betrayal, corruption, horses, tragedies and much more. All life is here.
The Coen brothers must have been tempted to adapt it for the big screen