What books are you reading now? (2020) Showing 1,301-1,350 of 2,222

[Chrissie]

Joy D wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "JI gave that one by Berry four stars too. Now you havet o read The Memory of Old Jack.another very good one by the author..."
I am putting on my TBR list. Thank you for the recomme..."

Enjoy!

[Chrissie]

Brian wrote: "Speaking of humor, until examining Farrell's GR page just now, I had confused J.G. Farrell and J.G. Ballard, thinking they were one person, and admired the wide-ra..."

Empire of the Sun is very good, but the follow up book (The Kindness of Women) I have been told is not worth reading--so I haven't read it!

[Hugh]

Joy D wrote: "Finished the latest release from David Mitchell.

Story of a 1960s folk-rock-psychedelic band from their formation to their reception in America as part of the “British Invasion.” The story feature..."
I have read all of David Mitchell's books, including Utopia Avenue. I rather liked it - it works better than most novels about music, but is arguably a little too long - there is still a bit of his ubernovel fantasy nonsense about immortal souls but it is kept fairly brief.

[Nigeyb]

I have just started the Moderators Choice for our August 2020 1940s themed read....


The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo

Detective Kosuke Kindaichi book #1

Hopefully it's a perfect book to accompany poll winner Table Two

Despite being a modest 192 pages it, apparently, packs a lot in.

I'm looking forward to our discussion which opens very soon.

See you there

This spoiler free review is full of praise....

https://booksandbao.com/review-the-ho...

More about The Honjin Murders...

One of Japan's greatest classic murder mysteries, introducing their best loved detective, translated into English for the first time.

In the winter of 1937, the village of Okamura is abuzz with excitement over the forthcoming wedding of a son of the grand Ichiyanagi family. But amid the gossip over the approaching festivities, there is also a worrying rumour - it seems a sinister masked man has been asking questions around the village.

Then, on the night of the wedding, the Ichiyanagi household are woken by a terrible scream, followed by the sound of eerie music. Death has come to Okamura, leaving no trace but a bloody samurai sword, thrust into the pristine snow outside the house. Soon, amateur detective Kosuke Kindaichi is on the scene to investigate what will become a legendary murder case, but can this scruffy sleuth solve a seemingly impossible crime?

[Jan C]

I pre-ordered this the other day. Anticipate delivery 8/6.

[Chrissie]

I have enjoyed The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell and recommend it to others. It won the Booker in 1973.

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

We have had a lively discussion of the book here in the thread.

I have begun Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted by Justin Martin. I have been enjoying it from the start. It is a comprehensive biography of one whom we all recognize as the maker of parks. Olmsted did a lot more than just making parks He was an abolitionist, a journalist, and an environmentalist too.

[Roman Clodia]

I'm sold, Chrissie!

[Chrissie]

Roman Clodia wrote: "I'm sold, Chrissie!"

Hope you like. You have been forewarned of how it is written so you will not be surprised, as I was.

[Barbara]

Chrissie wrote: "I have enjoyed The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell and recommend it to others. It won the Booker in 1973.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"
Have you read Spying on the South? The author travels the path Olmstead took as he moved south trying to understand the southerners' viewpoints on slavery and secession.

[Chrissie]

Barbara wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I have enjoyed The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell and recommend it to others. It won the Booker in 1973.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/r..."

I know of the book but have not read it. I thought Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted looked much better,

[Roman Clodia]

I've just started Ten Days in Harlem: Fidel Castro and the Making of the 1960s which traces Castro's visit to NY in 1960 to address the UN... and also meet all the counter-cultural icons, including Allen Ginsberg who we've been talking about in the On the Road discussion. Mouth-watering!

[Nigeyb]

Sounds very interesting RC

[Chrissie]

The topic looks interesting. so how is the writing? I noted that you saw the author information on GR was / is incorrect

[Roman Clodia]

It's excellent, Chrissie. I almost didn't request it from NetGalley because I checked the author on here and thought he was an amateur historian but, as you saw, he's a proper academic. It's not dry and is properly referenced with chapter endnotes.

I'm finding it fascinating as he links Castro's visit to Civil Rights protests, the Cold War, the upcoming Nixon vs. Kennedy election...

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Interesting how Harlem has changed over the years. (Which I know only from reading, not because I've ever been there.)

[Roman Clodia]

Harlem certainly feels more gentrified now (do you use that term in the US?) than how it's described in this book in the 1960s, but it still has its hip clubs and bars.

Mr RC has run the NY marathon for the last 4 or 5 years which goes through there and the last time I went with him, I met up with friends from Columbia so we could wave our support and then nip back into the bar :)

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Harlem is the poor black section of NYC - empty boarded-up buildings, trash on the street, drug-infested. In the 20s, it was where the upper and middle-class blacks lived. Think "Harlem Renaissance" period in literature.

[Roman Clodia]

West Harlem adjacent to the university certainly isn't like that now but then I guess the marathon organisers would plan the route carefully.

I don't really know anything about the Harlem Renaissance, though it gets a quick mention in this book. As we've discussed before, I need to read more US literature.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Ginsberg and Dylan of the 1960s were in Greenwich Village. I'm not knowledgeable enough about NYC to know whether the Village is next to Harlem, but from what you say, I could believe it.

I've looked at the Harlem Renaissance movement before, but I happened to have been looking at it again yesterday. Black History month is February. If you'd like to target that for a theme ...

[Roman Clodia]

Greenwich Village is south, Harlem is north of Central Park. As you can tell, I love NY!

Great idea to mark Black History month. We do have something nice scheduled but could maybe jiggle things around to accommodate your idea.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

My challenge group has had tasks in the past "read a book by an African American author" but I've come to see that reading *because* they are African American is almost as demeaning as not reading them *because* they are African American. Why not read them because they're good writers?

And many of them are. Paul Beatty was mentioned above, for example, not because he's black but because what he wrote is worthwhile. (For others, I won't go into again my not appreciating humor.) There are plenty of others who I've read and who I would look forward to reading because of what they have to say and how they say it.

[Jill]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "My challenge group has had tasks in the past "read a book by an African American author" but I've come to see that reading *because* they are African American is almost as demeaning as not reading ..."

I agree I am always coming across challenges that say by a POC because they don't get published enough, but I can't see a publisher not taking a book if they think it is good enough to sell. To read books because of their colour, I find is classing the books as inferior.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I will agree that the viewpoint is different. Paul Beatty came up because of my comment on slavery. Better would be a task to read a book about slavery, or a task about Jim Crow, or a task about discrimination, any of which would provide opportunities for reading a book by a person of color but more important would provide an opportunity to read about the lives and culture of black people.

[Val]

Black History Month in the UK is October, which is too soon to set up as a group theme, but I think more people will be aware of it this year than usual.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Val wrote: "Black History Month in the UK is October, which is too soon to set up as a group theme, but I think more people will be aware of it this year than usual."

Oh, interesting that you have it a different time than in the US, where it started. I think it has always been in February here, but I might be wrong about that.

[Val]

Other European countries who have a Black History Month all have it in October as well, but I haven't researched why October was chosen over February.

PS I'm pretty sure yours has been going a lot longer.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I'm not going to be reading further, but scanning the wikipedia article ...

The precursor to Black History Month was created in 1926 in the United States, when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week of February to be "Negro History Week".[9] This week was chosen because it coincided with the birthday of Abraham Lincoln on February 12 and of Frederick Douglass on February 14, both of which dates black communities had celebrated together since the late 19th century.

I find it interesting that the first Black History month in the US was actually 2 months long - Jan 2 1970 thru Feb 28 1970. This was at a University - pardon me, while I question why those capable of being admitted to a University didn't recognize that Jan 2 - Feb 28 is actually 2 months.

[Roman Clodia]

I had no idea Black History Month had such a long, er, history :)

Given that it takes place at different times, maybe it's best that we leave it up to individuals to think about diversity/inclusivity when we nominate for any of our themes.

[Val]

Apparently October was chosen because it is near the start of the academic year and one of the main aims of the initiative is to have black history on the mainstream school curriculum.

[Jill]

Lets hope they are back in school by then.

[Chrissie]

I definitely recommend you read Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted by Justin Martin. It's a very well written book about a fascinating man--Frederick Law Olmsted.

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

I am about to begin The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder.

[Susan]

Jill wrote: "Lets hope they are back in school by then."

Yes, let's hope so!

[Chrissie]

I like classics, but not all of them and not The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder.

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

I will begin a book by Arnold Bennett.This time it will be Buried Alive.

[Chrissie]

Here's another really good book by Arnold Bennett--Buried Alive.

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

It is available free at Librivox and the narration is good.

I am starting The Toilers of the Sea by Victor Hugo.

[Nigeyb]

Sounds great - thanks

[Chrissie]

Which, the one finished or the one I have just started?

Am I the only one who writes a review, posts it and then during the next day or two adds bits and makes changes? As I mull over a book, I often think of more things I want to say.................

Arnold Bennett's Buried Alive was such a relief after Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey and Victor Hugo's The Toilers of the Seahas grabbed by interest since it is set on the Chanel island of Guernsey

[Nigeyb]

Chrissie wrote:


"Which, the one finished or the one I have just started?"

Arnold Bennett

Chrissie wrote: "Am I the only one who writes a review, posts it and then during the next day or two adds bits and makes changes?"

Not me Chrissie. I sometimes reread it within the next 30 minutes and notice the odd typo and correct any.

[Chrissie]

I cannot turn off books quickly.

[Hugh]

I quite often tweak my reviews, but I try not to post the minor edit changes to my profile. Can't control what goes to app or email feeds.

[Roman Clodia]

I often intend to update my reviews as I mull over books after finishing them but more usually forget/don't bother if I'm on my phone.

I started Who They Was last night from the Booker longlist - whew, what a shot of energy! Completely wrong as a before sleep book though.

For non-fiction fans, I'm also reading Metropolis: A History of the City, Humankind's Greatest Invention which is wonderful.

[Susan]

Look forward to your review of Metropolis, RC.

[Susan]

Actually, the word 'wonderful,' intrigued me too much, RC, I have downloaded it from NetGalley - too tempting!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Roman Clodia wrote: "For non-fiction fans, I'm also reading Metropolis: A History of the City, Humankind's Greatest Inventionwhich is wonderful.."

But the subtitle is a fiction! ;-)

[Roman Clodia]

Haha, Elizabeth - my first note was that the book is wearing its heart on its sleeve! Every now and then the author remembers to insert one of the negatives of city life but it's a very optimistic tale all round.

That will definitely be one of my criticisms, that he erases feel-bad points (such as that however much 5th century Athens was built on democracy, only men could be citizens so Athenian democracy never included women) - but generally I'm loving it. Wilson is the master of the fascinating digression.

Susan, I was thinking of you with your penchant for non-fiction - do let us know how you find it.

[Susan]

Oh, I am definitely a city dweller and a city lover.

Trouble is, NetGalley have suddenly approved lots of old requests I had forgotten about. Have also had publishers sending me books, so am feeling a little overwhelmed!

[Roman Clodia]

There do seem to be far too many NetGalley books all published this month and next month - I try to review them by publication date but am just not sure I can keep up at the moment. Still, there are some great new books around and this is one of them.

[Roman Clodia]

ps. That book you read about Kew Garden appeared on NG - my request is still pending but fingers crossed.

[Susan]

Hope so, RC. I haven't even peeped at all the nice emails from publishers saying, 'we thought you might like this,' as I am afraid that I will :)

[Chrissie]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "But the subtitle is a fiction! ;-)"

Your words made me smile! Perfect! I agree with you. I think in all fairness we must accept that we need both city-lovers and those of us who prefer country living.

[Roman Clodia]

Wow - Who They Was is stunning and certainly not for everyone but I loved it.

I should add a warning, though, for those who don't do 'street' language and explicit sex and violence ;)