What books are you reading now? (2020) Showing 1,001-1,050 of 2,222

[Chrissie]

I highly recommend Absolution by Patrick Flanery. It's a tremendous book. I gave it five stars. It is not an easy read. but worth the effort you must put into it. Thank you, Roman Clodia , for recommending it to me.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have begun Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner. It won the Booker Prize in 1984 and has been recommended to me by several GR friends.

[Susan]

When I was first dating my - now - husband, Chrissie, he turned up one day bearing Hotel du Lac, which had won the Booker the day before. He realised that flowers and chocolates were not as welcome as books and he has brought me the Booker winner every year since, so that book has a particular place in my heart. I hope you enjoy it :)

I am about to embark on the new Sarah Moss - an author I love - Summerwater

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I loved Hotel du Lac. I hope you do , too. Chrissy. And Susan, what a marvelous story to add to it.

[Susan]

I must re-read it - it's good that Chrissy reminded me of it.

[Judy]

A lovely gift, Susan. :)

[Chrissie]

Susan wrote: "When I was first dating my - now - husband, Chrissie, he turned up one day bearing Hotel du Lac, which had won the Booker the day before. He realised that flowers and chocolates were not as welcome..."

What a special memory! Really nice!

[Chrissie]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I loved Hotel du Lac. I hope you do , too. Chrissy. And Susan, what a marvelous story to add to it."

So far, I am liking it, but i have not come far. I find it rather amusing that she has been told to skedaddle for a while. What she has done I don't know yet.

[Roman Clodia]

Susan wrote: "When I was first dating my - now - husband, Chrissie, he turned up one day bearing Hotel du Lac, which had won the Booker the day before. He realised that flowers and chocolates were not as welcome."

Aw, got to hold onto a man who knows how to buy book presents!

[Roman Clodia]

Chrissie wrote: "I highly recommend Absolution by Patrick Flanery. It's a tremendous book. I gave it five stars. It is not an easy read. but worth the effort you must put into it."

Hurrah, delighted this worked so well for you, Chrissie. I also loved Flanery's Fallen Land but sadly I haven't got on with his more recent books.

[Jan C]

This week I started Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops and Becoming - I just watched it on Netflix and thought I ought to get around to reading it - I've only had it since Christmas.

Enjoying Weird Things so far.

[Chrissie]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I highly recommend Absolution by Patrick Flanery. It's a tremendous book. I gave it five stars. It is not an easy read. but worth the effort you mu..."

I read your review of Fallen Land-flawed but still worth five stars.
Thanks for explaining.

[Chrissie]

I have completed Hotel du Lac by Booker Prize winner Anita Brookner. Others like this more than me.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have begun Outline by Rachel Cusk. I have not come far. She draws well how airplane passengers often spill their guts out to that person who happens to be sitting next to them. Have you not noticed this yourself?!

[Joy D]

Recently published, but set in Russia in 1914, this debut in an interesting blend of historical fiction, science, and religious persecution in czarist Russia:

A Bend in the Stars by Rachel Barenbaum - 4 stars - My Review

[Judy]

I've started How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone by Saša Stanišić, a novel about the Bosnian war seen through the eyes of a child, published by the Pushkin Press. Both poignant and quirkily humorous so far.

This is one of the library books I got out before lockdown - I'm now trying to finish them so I can return them when libraries reopen.

[Nigeyb]

Judy wrote: "I'm now trying to finish them so I can return them when libraries reopen"

Have you got an opening date yet Judy?

I'm still waiting patiently

I know they can re-open from 4 July but there's still no sign of it happening here and, in fact, all loans have been extended to the end of September which doesn't will me optimism

[Val]

Hampshire libraries are reopening on Monday 6th July and have published a plan to do so safely. I also use Southampton City libraries, but they have not given any details yet for when or how they will open.

[Nigeyb]

I envy you Val - that sounds very efficient

[Judy]

Hope your libraries can reopen soon, Nigeyb. Suffolk libraries are reopening in the week starting July 6, with different dates for different branches, but various safety measures are being put in place.

Browsing will not be allowed and there also won't be any reservations to start with. Instead they are offering a "select and collect" service where borrowers can message the library and they will put together a selection of books for them to collect.

I don't think I'll need to use this service as I have lots to read anyway and tend to be after specific titles, but I'd like to return the books I have once they reopen, although my loans have been extended until the end of August.

[Nigeyb]

The Suffolk library arrangement would suit me perfectly Judy. I know exactly what I want!


Here's hoping my service follows suit.

[Judy]

Sorry Nigeyb, sounds as if I haven't explained the Suffolk arrangement properly - you can only request a genre or author and there won't be reservations for specific titles. I assume this is so they don't have to pass books to and fro between branches to avoid infection risk, which is fair enough.

[Judy]

PS But anyway I do hope your service does start up soon, and the same for Val with Southampton City Libraries.

[Nigeyb]

Judy wrote: "Sorry Nigeyb, sounds as if I haven't explained the Suffolk arrangement properly - you can only request a genre or author and there won't be reservations for specific titles"

Ah. Okay.

I can see books in my local library (not the whole library service) that I want to borrow. I am hoping I can message them to say what I want and then pick them up (if they are actually on the shelf - never 100% definitely the case). At the moment though there's no sign of them reopening at all.

[Judy]

I've just received a beautiful paperback copy of The Hotel Years in the post and have just started the introduction by translator Michael Hofmann - I think this will be a highly enjoyable read.

[Chrissie]

Judy wrote: "I've started How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone by Saša Stanišić, a novel about the Bosnian war seen through the eyes of a child, published by the Pushkin Press. ..."

That's a book I adored. I hope you like it tons too. I went back and checked--I gave it five stars!

[Tania]

I finished William by E.H. Young, which I loved. I would love to read a biography of her as she lead such an interesting life, and that majes for some fascinating characters in her novels.
I'm now starting Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man by Siegfried Sassoon.

[Judy]

Chrissie wrote: "Judy wrote: "I've started How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone by Saša Stanišić ... That's a book I adored. I hope you like it tons too. I went back and checked--I gave it five stars!"

That's good to hear, thank you - I'm not very far in yet but really like it so far.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Our library has been open for several weeks, but with a limited number of patrons inside at one time. I honestly don't remember when, but I think the end of May. I have not visited as I have plenty of books on hand.

[Susan]

I must admit that I don't use the library much now I read mostly on kindle. However, our local libraries have a click and collect service - you can either say you want a particular item, or say you would like a particular genre, and they will select some books for you. They also offer a 'homework help,' service, so children can email about a topic they are struggling with and staff will recommend books/resources to help them.

It seems quite good and you have a scheduled time to collect books. They are allowing you to choose from the catalogue, so there are, presumably, inter-library loans. Only some libraries are open though, so people may need to travel further.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

We have an excellent library given our small population. But we definitely don't have the services/holdings/expertise of a big city library.

[Annabel]

I am rereading 1984 ahead of reading a book about the writing of it. I thought it might be a different experience decades later but it still makes me feel the same. (Depressed and slightly irritated with Winston.)

What I really want to do is get on to The Riviera Set which has been discussed a lot on Good Reads lately and I loved the sound of it so bought it as soon as my local bookshop reopened.

[Joy D]

Entertaining book about the rise and fall of a fictional American 1970's rock band:

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid - 4 stars - My Review

I am currently reading David Mitchell's new book, Utopia Avenue, set in roughly the same period about a fictional rock band from the UK. It will be interesting to compare the two books.

[Chrissie]

If I try different types of books I have to accept not loving all of them.

My review ofRachel Cusk's Outline:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am about to begin The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch.

[Chrissie]

Judy wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Judy wrote: "I've started How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone by Saša Stanišić ... That's a book I adored. I hope you like it tons too. I went bac..."

Glad you're liking it.

[Roman Clodia]

Chrissie wrote: "If I try different types of books I have to accept not loving all of them."

Ah ok - was that one of my recommendations? I'm getting the impression that experimental writing and contemporary lit fic is not really for you, Chrissie.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Roman Clodia wrote: "I'm getting the impression that experimental writing and contemporary lit fic is not really for you"

I don't have any compulsion to read books I think I won't like just to see. I cannot be cheating myself. There are too many books I think I *will* like and won't have time for to mess around with things I'm less likely to appreciate.

But as to experimental writing ...

I have read Cigarettes and gave it 5-stars. That said, most of the entries on this Oulipo list are not for me, and it surprises me that I've read more than one of them.

[Jan C]

I wasn't sure if the county library had re-opened yet. Just checked the website and it happened on June 15 with limitations- a request to make solo visits and briefly.

[Chrissie]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "If I try different types of books I have to accept not loving all of them."

Ah ok - was that one of my recommendations? I'm getting the impression that experimental writing and co..."

I nod in agreement to all that you say. There have been some contemporary authors that have worked--Jacek Dehnel's Lala recommended by Hugh was great and I very much enjoyed your suggestion Absolution by Patrick Flanery. Maybe there is some hope for me. :0/

[Roman Clodia]

Chrissie wrote: "... and I very much enjoyed your suggestion Absolution by Patrick Flanery. Maybe there is some hope for me. :0/"

Ah yes, so next time I'll think of suggestions for you that are strong on plot and character rather that pushing experimental boundaries like Moshfegh and Cusk. Good to know :))

[Roman Clodia]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I don't have any compulsion to read books I think I won't like just to see..most of the entries on this Oulipo list are not for me"

Ooh, that list is interesting! I see lots of my favourites there (Nabokov, Borges, Angela Carter, Sebald, Lydia Davis).

I guess how experimental we might be in trying new writing might be linked to how willing we are to DNF - Elizabeth, I think you're a completer, no?, so the 'cost' to you of disliking a book is high. I'll gaily abandon something I'm not getting on with so can afford to try things to just see.

I also like to understand a book even if I don't like it: if something has been written by a Nobel winner, say, I might like to read it to see why the accolade.

[Nigeyb]

I'm underway with a couple of next month's reads...


Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties

Hotel Years: Wanderings in Europe between the Wars

...both good so far

Looking forward to discussing them with you

[Chrissie]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "... and I very much enjoyed your suggestion Absolution by Patrick Flanery. Maybe there is some hope for me. :0/"

Ah yes, so next time I'll think of suggestions for you that are st..."
Experimental can go off in different directions, so such a book might work. Basically I go for reality --not fantasy, nor science fiction....., and not short stories either.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Elizabeth, I think you're a completer, no?"

I have no problem jettisoning a book I'm most certainly not enjoying and for which I see no future in my enjoyment. I have set aside books in fewer than 10 pages - one recently where I didn't get past the first paragraph. But those are books I expected to like. There are books for which I hold no hope.

I'm not convinced the Oulipo list is all oulipo. Several Faulkner's on that and I don't think he fits the strict definition.

[Kirsten]

I've been listening to Golden in Death by J.D. Robb

[Roman Clodia]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Several Faulkner's on that and I don't think he fits the strict definition"

I haven't read Faulkner yet, though intend to. I was also surprised to see Bleak House on the list.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Several Faulkner's on that and I don't think he fits the strict definition"

I haven't read Faulkner yet, though intend to. I was also surprised to see Bleak House on the list."

Yeah, Bleak House was probably put on there by someone who maybe didn't understand the purpose of the list.

You need to read Faulkner. Well, "need" might be too strong. You never know what you're going to get with him, by the way. He has a reputation for stream of consciousness, but my experience with him is that the writing style in and/or construction of his novels is as varied as the novels themselves. I have read 10 of his titles and hope to get to the rest of them, including his short stories. His novel, The Unvanquished is made up of inter-related short stories, but so inter-related as to definitely have continuity.

[Joy D]

Published in 2000, this book just barely makes it into 20th century, but I enjoyed it so much I just had to share. It is a story of human (and animal) connections in uncertain times, how people can deceive themselves, and how we maintain our illusions rather than confronting the truth. It is a social commentary on the increasing artificiality of our world. I think it is particularly pertinent to our present time.

The Cave by José Saramago - 5 stars - My Review

[Roman Clodia]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "You need to read Faulkner. Well, "need" might be too strong."

Not too strong, I *do* need to read him - I've got copies of his 'big' books.

I also want to read Saramago, so thanks for the reminder, Joy D.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Light in August was the first I read of Faulkner. It was the perfect one for *my* first. I can't say what should be everyone else's first.

[Joy D]

Set in 1961 in a small town in Minnesota, this book is part literary mystery and part coming of age. It shows the differing responses to tragedy, testing even the strongest of convictions. Krueger tells the story in the form of a crime mystery. I found it difficult to put down. The characters are believable, and the writing is strong. Though it contains darkness and tragedy, there are moments of grace that help people move forward in the face of sorrow. Though it could have been depressing due to the sad content, it ends on a hopeful note.

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger - 4 stars - My Full Review

[Roman Clodia]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Light in August was the first I read of Faulkner. It was the perfect one for *my* first. I can't say what should be everyone else's first."

I was thinking of As I Lay Dying.