What books are you reading now? (2020) Showing 1,551-1,600 of 2,222

[Mike]

Just getting into this - I wasn't that keen at first but the book's growing on me. I do like journalists' memoirs.
Splashed!: A Life from Print to Panorama

[Judy]

I'm reading Fletchers End by D.E. Stevenson, the sequel to Bel Lamington - I realised it was nearly a year since I read the first book! I'm enjoying it as I find her style so readable, but so far I don't think it is as good as the first book.

[Tania]

I think I actually preferred Fletchers End, It was a more cohesive story whereas Bel Lamington was like two different books. I did enjoy them both very much however. I think she quite often has a complete change of scene about halfway through, so they're often a story of two halves, including the book I'm currently reading Mrs Tim of the Regiment.

[Chrissie]

I had trouble with Life Class by Pat Barker, but this was only at the start. By the end, I was sure I wanted to give it four stars.

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

This book is a group read at the moment.

King, Queen, Knave by Vladimir Nabokov is my next read. Another one of his books written originally in Russian. It is translated by his son, Dimitri, with the author's collaboration

[Val]

Chrissie wrote: "I had trouble with Life Class by Pat Barker, but this was only at the start. By the end, I was sure I wanted to give it four stars."
I'm about to start "Life Class" Chrissie. Thanks for the warning that it might be a bit of a slow burner.

[Roman Clodia]

I'm so glad to hear this ended up at 4 stars for you Chrissie. I almost preferred the first half before the war just because there are some inevitabilities about a story located in a Ypres hospital. Of course, Barker does it brilliantly and engages us in the experiences of her individual characters.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Of course, Barker does it brilliantly and engages us in the experiences of her individual characters."

You'll be disappointed to find I have a contrary opinion.

[Roman Clodia]

King, Queen, Knave is one of Nabokov's most playful books, I felt.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I have read a short story by Balzac and will begin The Hollow Needle: Further Adventures of Arsène Lupin by Maurice Leblanc, first published in 1909.

[Chrissie]

Val wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I had trouble with Life Class by Pat Barker, but this was only at the start. By the end, I was sure I wanted to give it four stars."
I'm about to start..."

For me both the content and the writing at the start, that is to say when the setting is London, are inferior. Maybe this should have influenced my rating, but it didn't, simply because when I finished the book I felt I liked it a lot. For me the war theme is much better than the focus on love triangles.

[Chrissie]

Roman Clodia wrote: "King, Queen, Knave is one of Nabokov's most playful books, I felt."

Yep, that is what I have heard. I do think his first novels, those written in Russian, are more comprehensible than his later ones. I like very much that he and his son are involved in the translations. His play with words are an important element in his writing. I am drawn by his writing. It works for me.

[Chrissie]

Roman Clodia wrote: "I'm so glad to hear this ended up at 4 stars for you Chrissie. I almost preferred the first half before the war just because there are some inevitabilities about a story located in a Ypres hospital..."

Well, we certainly did differ on the parts of the book we liked best. Doesn't matter, The side love story with (view spoiler)[Therese (hide spoiler)] I could have done without.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Chrissie wrote: "I am drawn by his writing. It works for me.
"

Another place where our opinions diverge. I'm planning on never ever reading another Nabokov because of his pretentious writing style.

[Roman Clodia]

Oh me too - I adore Nabokov. But I also have friends who have the same reaction as you, Elizabeth. He is in love with words, creates new ones where the existing ones won't do and generally has a riot with them - I can see how that style can be divisive.

[Chrissie]

Yep, I like how Nabokov plays with words. For me his writing sparkles. This isn't to say that I love all his books.

[Val]

Another... Oh me too -
Perhaps the members of the Nabokov Adoration Club all like to play with words themselves, and so appreciate how much better Nabokov is at it than anyone else. (Rushdie comes closest, but: http://flo-static-assets.s3.amazonaws... ).

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Yep, that Nabokov who became a US citizen only to make fun of the US in Lolita and then left the country. Such a nice guy.

[Susan]

I haven't read much Nabokov, but I adored his memoir, Speak, Memory . I love Rushdie too.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I have a Rushdie I keep trying to get to. Midnight's Children. Actually, I'm having trouble getting to some of these and so I've decided to cut any further P.D. James over in the Detectives. That will open up a bit of time. Unfortunately, the Rushdie won't be it for a few months yet anyway, but there are others that have been waiting my attention.

[Nigeyb]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Yep, that Nabokov who became a US citizen only to make fun of the US in Lolita and then left the country. Such a nice guy."

I'm very intrigued by your comment Elizabeth. It appears that you don't have much time for Nabokov for the reasons you mention. I have some questions about your comment.

It's been a long time since I read Lolita (I remember I loved it though) and don't recall the details of any fun he might have made at the expense of the US. How did he make fun of the US?

Do you object to any author who makes fun of the US (e.g. Joseph Heller in Catch-22)? Or is it something specific to Nabokov?

What is it about his subsequently leaving the country that annoyed you?

[Chrissie]

Susan wrote: "I haven't read much Nabokov, but I adored his memoir, Speak, Memory . I love Rushdie too."

For me, that one by Nabokov was amazing. A definite five star for simply the writing. To that you also get interesting content.

[Roman Clodia]

I find Rushdie can be variable - some I love, others I've DNFed. I also want to read Midnight's Children. Maybe I need to be in the right mood for Rushdie.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Nigeyb wrote: "don't recall the details of any fun he might have made at the expense of the US. How did he make fun of the US?"

There was a fairly long section with the travel to small towns across the country. He made numerous jokes about those small towns. Some of the names of the towns and the small motels *are* funny and I appreciated the jokes at first. But, as I say in my Lolita review, you can tell the same joke only so many times before it gets old and no longer funny. We can laugh at ourselves without belaboring the point, at which time it becomes mean and ugly.

As to coming here and becoming a citizen and then leaving ... Did he not love this country? If not, then why become a citizen? Becoming a citizen requires an oath of allegiance. Was he just giving that lip service? He had the right to stay in this country without becoming a citizen, by the way. Having a green card does not require one to take that oath of allegiance. He could just as easily have decided he really didn't want to live here as a citizen and gone somewhere else without choosing citizenship.

I have not read Catch-22. I did read the first page years ago and decided I wasn't interested. I wasn't aware this book makes fun of the US, but it doesn't matter to me whether or not it does. I'm not interested in it because generally I'm not interested in books that work too hard at being humorous. Humor is very difficult to write - much harder than drama - and I think few bring it off.

Of course I recognize that not everyone loves the US and that is their right. Do I love people who deride my country? Would you love people who deride yours? So then this drifts into politics.

[Roman Clodia]

The British sense of humour means that we're probably the first to poke fun at Britain :)) Irreverence seems to be part of our national character.

I find it quite difficult to pin down Nabokov's politics: he certainly supported an Anglo-American democracy after his experiences in Russia, was supportive of the Vietnam War and voiced admiration for various US presidents. But he was also quite outspoken, I seem to remember, about racial segregation in the US.

[Val]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Yep, that Nabokov who became a US citizen only to make fun of the US in Lolita and then left the country. Such a nice guy."
Do not disguise your reservations about an author behind nationalism Elizabeth, it looks ignorant and I know very well that you are not that.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Val wrote: "Do not disguise your reservations about an author behind nationalism Elizabeth, it looks ignorant and I know very well that you are not that."

Do not pretend that you think my dislike of Nabokov is solely based on my comments about his citizenship. It looks ignorant and I know very well you are not that.

[Roman Clodia]

Ok everyone, things seem to be getting a bit heated and personal here... can we dial things back to our discussion of books please? Thanks!

[Susan]

Talking of books, on the General Discussion thread this morning, I mentioned that today is Super Thursday - apparently the day in the year when more books are published than any other. This has been added to by the fact that so many were delayed because of the pandemic.

The Richard Osman book, which I know that both myself and RC read, seems to be a winner. Here are some articles about the day - which do we think are likely to be the most successful? Are there any that people are looking forward to?

https://www.theguardian.com/books/sup...-

[Susan]

I am currently reading Earthlings by Sayaka Murata who wrote Convenience Store Woman. I enjoyed Convenience, but am not so enamoured by this novel.

[Roman Clodia]

I just bought and am hugely excited about the new Elena Ferrante that came out on Tuesday The Lying Life of Adults but have to finish The New Wilderness (Booker longlist) first - problem is, it feels like The Hunger Games crossed with I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here at the moment :)

[Judy]

Susan wrote: "Talking of books, on the General Discussion thread this morning, I mentioned that today is Super Thursday - apparently the day in the year when more books are published than any other. This has bee..."

Must confess I had never heard of this day before! Sorry but the Guardian link didn't work for me, Susan - could you post it again?

I have found a BBC one:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-5...

[Susan]

Sorry, Judy. Try this link:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/sup...-

[Tania]

I read that one Susan; luckily I did know a bit about it before going into it, it is not what I was expecting from the author of Convenience Store Woman though it did have similar themes, it dealt with them in a much more shocking way. I'm also looking forward to the The Thursday Murder Club, it looks fun, but I'm in no hurry.
I'm currently reading Beyond the Secret Garden: The Life of Frances Hodgson Burnett by Ann Thwaite which I really like so far, also Dangerous Ages, my first by Rose Macaulay but certainly won't be my last.

[Judy]

Thanks Susan, don't know why, it still didn't work, gremlins at either the Guardian or Goodreads! But I found this article which I think may be the same one (probably this link will break too though)

https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...

[Susan]

Yes, Guardian links can be odd sometimes, Judy.

Tania, interesting that you were not keen either. It started well, but I am struggling to be honest.

I am looking forward to the Baillie Gifford Longlist which is announced next week, on the 10th.

[Tania]

I did like it, but I don't mind a bit of horror ocasionallly, as long as it's not Steven King. It just wasn't at all what I was expecting when I picked it.

[Susan]

Well, I shall hope it picks up, Tania. It certainly has some disturbing themes.

[Tania]

Yes, that cutsy hedgehog on the cover is certainly not representive.

[Susan]

True, Tania!

[Jan C]

I just started The Darkest Year: The American Home Front 1941-1942. The title could almost refer to this year.

[Chrissie]

If you area Vladimir Nabokov fan, you must read King, Queen, Knave. If you are not yet a fan, read this book and you may become one.

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

I have begun the short Daisy Miller by Henry James. I prefer longer ones but have heard this was good and so shouldn't miss it.

[Val]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Ok everyone, things seem to be getting a bit heated and personal here... can we dial things back to our discussion of books please? Thanks!"
No, all a joke!
Elizabeth does not think Nabokov was insulting her country.
I do not think Elizabeth is the sort of person who thinks Nabokov was insulting her country
and her final comment was both the perfect riposte and perfectly timed.

[Val]

Perhaps Goodreads needs those 'wry smile' and 'knowing wink' emojis, so everyone knows when someone is joking.

[Chrissie]

Here follows my review of the classic Daisy Miller by Henry James:

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

I have begun Burning Secret by Stefan Zweig. I do like how he writes.

[Susan]

There is a 'new' collection of Stefan Zweig essays that has just been published - Encounters and Destinies: A Farewell to Europe

A new collection of essays by Stefan Zweig: tributes to the great artists and thinkers of the Europe of his day

Stefan Zweig was a born eulogist. In this collection of powerful elegies, homages and personal memories, Zweig forms a richly interconnected portrait of key creative figures in the European cultural diaspora up to 1939. Many of those mourned or celebrated here cast a long spiritual shadow over Zweig's own writing life: Verhaeren, Rolland, Nietzsche, Roth, Mahler, Rilke and Freud.

Zweig's farewells, souvenirs and declarations of gratitude demonstrate his ardent pan-Europeanism and rich friendships across borders. Elegant and haunting, these tributes are a monument to his reverence for the arts and his belief in the sacredness of individualism.

[Susan]

Val wrote: "Perhaps Goodreads needs those 'wry smile' and 'knowing wink' emojis, so everyone knows when someone is joking."

I have never worked out emojis, Val, but I would like everyone to feel comfortable posting here. As RC said before, let's all move on and keep the conversation away from the personal and political.

[Chrissie]

Susan wrote: "There is a 'new' collection of Stefan Zweig essays that has just been published - Encounters and Destinies: A Farewell to Europe [bookcover:Encounters and Destinies: A Farewell to E..."

Looks good. Thank you for mentioning it.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

This evening I will start Elizabeth Bowen, an Estimation in advance of our buddy read.

[Chrissie]

Burning Secret by Stefan Zweig is an extremely good book. I highly recommend it. It's short--a novella.

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

In a second I will begin The Jade Peony by Wayson Choy.

[Roman Clodia]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "This evening I will start Elizabeth Bowen, an Estimation in advance of our buddy read."

I had some reservations about the other biography I read but Bowen is a fascinating - I'm looking forward to discussing her and her contradictions.