What books are you reading now? (2020) Showing 1,901-1,950 of 2,222

[Roman Clodia]

I liked Square Haunting, Tania - enjoy!

I've been reading serious stuff so am diving into Gorky Park today for some action ahead of next month's buddy read.

[Chrissie]

Here follows my review of The Big Green Tent written by the popular contemporary Russian author, Lyudmila Ulitskaya:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have begun The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains by Owen Wister. I remember seeing it on TV every week as a kid. I didn't know it was based on a book.

[Roman Clodia]

Thanks for your review, Chrissie - I don't know why so many authors insist on disrupting chronology like that - it's over-used, can be annoying, and often hides an underlying story that is simple - though that might not be the case here.

[Chrissie]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Thanks for your review, Chrissie - I don't know why so many authors insist on disrupting chronology like that - it's over-used, can be annoying, and often hides an underlying story that is simple -..."

Had it not been told in such a terribly disjointed manner, it would have been much better. It was unnecessarily long and confusing, and it needn't have been. The themes explored were intriguing. The explanation given for this method of telling the story is that life is experienced this way. I don't buy this.

[Alwynne]

I think A Legacy is excellent but it has a slightly fragmented style that takes a while to get used to, and it helps going in if you know a little bit about what was going on politically at the time because it's essentially about a clash of two very different cultures. Jigsaw is a loose sequel.

[Roman Clodia]

I'm just starting Seeing by Saramago, the sequel to his Blindness which has prompted such a great discussion this month.

[Nigeyb]

I hope you like it RC - I enjoyed that one too

[Roman Clodia]

Nigeyb wrote: "I hope you like it RC - I enjoyed that one too"

It feels more sardonic than Blindness so far but I'm looking forward to meeting the doctor's wife again - she's such an unassuming yet strong character. I'm so glad to have discovered Saramago.

[Judy]

I've started Milkman for next month's group read (although I am already reading too many other books!) as it will be due back at the library fairly soon. Not sure what I think so far but I'm sure it will make for an interesting discussion.

[Susan]

I just finished Look At Me one of our buddy reads next month. Sure to create a LOT of discussion, I think, for whoever reads it.

[Nigeyb]

Susan wrote: "I just finished Look At Me one of our buddy reads next month. Sure to create a LOT of discussion, I think, for whoever reads it."

Thanks Susan - very intriguing

I'm looking forward to this one

I'll be reading once I finish the chunky Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, another of our November discussions and a book that I am gripped by

[Nigeyb]

Judy wrote: "I've started Milkman for next month's group read (although I am already reading too many other books!) as it will be due back at the library fairly soon. Not sure what I think so far but I'm sure it will make for an interesting discussion"

How exciting Judy

One of the finest books I have read in a very long time. Looking forward to your reaction

[Susan]

I have read Milkman now and am currently listening to Say Nothing so, for once, I am not behind this month!

[Chrissie]

Susan, how far have you come with Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath? I am curious about that.

[Brian E]

After finishing Blindness, I decided to stay in Iberia and started the NYRB edition of the late 19th century Spanish classic Tristana by Benito Pérez Galdós

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Brian wrote: "After finishing Blindness, I decided to stay in Iberia and started the NYRB edition of the late 19th century Spanish classic Tristana by [author:Benito ..."

Thanks, Brian. Very much shorter than his 1001 List title and a better way to learn about his writing style.

[Brian E]

You are so right Elizabeth. And quite the mind-reader. Just before posting here, I had posted this comment in the thread of the GR group reading the book:

"I decided that I had time to squeeze this one in since.... I discovered this is a book by the author of Fortunata and Jacinta which I had heard of; this short novel is a better way to sample the author's writing than the epic length F & J."

[Roman Clodia]

Do keep us informed how you get on, Brian - I'm interested in reading Fortunata and Jacinta but have heard there are issues with the Penguin translation using modern American language.

[Susan]

Chrissie wrote: "Susan, how far have you come with Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath? I am curious about that."

I have been busy at work, so I haven't started it yet, Chrissie. Need to read my group reads and upcoming NetGalley books before starting any personal reads.

[Chrissie]

Susan wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Susan, how far have you come with Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath? I am curious about that."

I have been busy at work, so I haven't start..."

OK.

[Susan]

I will get to it at some point, but then I say that about a lot of books!

[Roman Clodia]

Just to say that following our group read discussion of Blindness, a couple of us are spontaneously going on to read the sequel of sorts, Seeing and are continuing the chat on the same thread if anyone would like to join us : www.goodreads.com/topic/show/21696515

[Roman Clodia]

Judy wrote: "I've started Milkman for next month's group read (although I am already reading too many other books!)"

I thought I'd just dip into the audiobook to remind myself of Milkman - but am sucked into it all over again by *that voice* - a 6 star book for me!

[Joy D]

This is a wonderfully well-crafted book:
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - 4.5 stars - My Review

It is a dual timeline narrative that tells a story of Chicago’s gay community in the mid-1980s and early-1990s and shows what has happened in the lives of several characters thirty years later.
This book is a character study that takes a compassionate look at the ravages of the AIDS epidemic. It effectively portrays the randomness of the disease and survivor’s guilt for those that make it through. Makkai’s writing is eloquent and her characters are believable. The dual timelines are knit together elegantly. I knew this book would be sad, and it was, but I am glad I read it.

[Joy D]

I will join you in reading Seeing!

[Susan]

I finished the biography of Sybille Bedford: A Life by Selina Hastings. I think I have loved all the biographies that I have read by her.

[Alwynne]

The Sybille Bedford looks tempting, and also really rated 'The Great Believers' although I think I found the present-day sections less convincing than the ones set in the 80s.

I've just finished Sarah Moss's Cold Earth not a perfect novel but a compelling one that combines elements of an apocalyptic thriller with a supernatural tale, so good seasonal reading, my review

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

[Alwynne]

And I've also started Plain Bad Heroines which is fun so far, and love that it has Gorey-esque illustrations!

[Chrissie]

The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains by Owen Wister surprised me in a good way. I recommend it.

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

I have started The Life of Greece by Will Durant. It's long. It's going to take ne a while.

[Gregory]

I agree 100% with Roman's comment on Milkman. I was addicted first time I read it and yesterday, when I picked it up to refresh my memory, her voice made me drop everything else. Moving, funny, so original -- just a stunning book. Here's a link to my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nigeyb]

Great review Gregory - thanks


Our Milkman discussion opens in a few days

[Susan]

I think we have two really strong reads for November, in Milkman and Say Nothing - loved them both.

Some excellent buddy reads next month too and I have started 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare and am finding it a fascinating read.

[Joy D]

Just finished this wonderful book by Sebastian Barry (who is rapidly becoming a favorite author).

The Temporary Gentleman by Sebastian Barry - 4.5 stars - My Review

I plan on joining you for Milkman. I own a copy but have never gotten around to reading it.

[Alwynne]

Still squeezing in Halloween reads, so I’ve just finished a YA graphic novel Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol, it concerns a Russian-American teenage girl, she's an outsider at school desperate to be popular and having a hard time dealing with being caught up between different cultures. But it morphs from traditional teen angst fiction into a ghost story. I really liked this one and thought the design worked really well.

Link to my review:

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

[Joy D]

Recently finished two related to 20th century:

This one is set in 1957 in Iowa:
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson - 4 stars - My Review

And of course, this is a children's classic published in 1910:
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett - 4 stars - My Review

[Jan C]

Haven't started this yet but came across a title of Mary Roberts Rinehart's - Kings, Queens and Pawns from her stint as the sole woman correspondent during WWI.

I was actually trying to find out if the movie Vampire Bat was based on her The Bat. It is not clear. Her book came out in 1926, this movie came out in 1933. The move The Bat didn't out until 1959. I was only watching the end of the movie so I don't know if the entirety of the movie bore any resemblance to the book or not. But the ending was similar to the movie The Bat.

[Brian E]

Wikipedia describes the plot of the movie. Its not credited to Rinehart but the writer could have 'borrowed' the plot.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vam...

[Joy D]

Published in 1975, I am catching up on childrens classics I missed when I was young:

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt - 4 stars - My Review

[Jan C]

Brian wrote: "Wikipedia describes the plot of the movie. Its not credited to Rinehart but the writer could have 'borrowed' the plot.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vam..."

I had looked it up on imdb and there was no credit to her. I acknowledge that I only saw the last 10 minutes but they did bear a striking resemblance to the later movie of The Bat, based on her play which was based on her book.

[Chrissie]

The Life of Greece by Will Durant was a wow book for me. I recommend it highly. I gave it five stars.

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

I have begun a book by Elizabeth von Arnim. This time it will be The Benefactress. It is available free at Librivox here:; https://librivox.org/the-benefactress... The narration by Helen Taylor is exceptionally good!

[Joy D]

Latest two related to the 20th century:

1970's and 1980's set in Alaska -
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah - 3 stars - My Review

1920's - 1930's set in Kansas and New York:
The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty - 3 stars - My Review

[Chrissie]

Here is a fun book--The Benefactress by Elizabeth von Arnim. You can pick it up free of cost at Librivox read by an exceptionally good narrator. I have a link to it in my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I will soon begin The Street by Ann Petry.

[Joy D]

Finished the 3rd book in McCarthy's Border Trilogy set in the 1950's near the US-Mexico border:

Cities of the Plain by Cormac McCarthy - 4 stars - My Review

[Tania]

Chrissie wrote: "Here is a fun book--The Benefactress by Elizabeth von Arnim. You can pick it up free of cost at Librivox read by an exceptionally good narrator. I have a link to it in ..."

I have both but I've not read either, looking forward to The Benefactress now.

Yesterday I reread The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West. I'd forgotten how good it was.

[Chrissie]

Tania wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Here is a fun book--The Benefactress by Elizabeth von Arnim. You can pick it up free of cost at Librivox read by an exceptionally good narrator. I have..."

I'll read anything I can get by Arnim. Have fun with the two you have ahead of you. I wish I could fin a biography on Arnim, but that would not be written by her so one would never know if it would be good or not.

I agree with you also about Rebecca West. My favorite by her is Black Lamb and Grey Falcon. Second best is the one you just reread. I have not loved all her books though.

[Alwynne]

I thought 'Black Lamb and Grey Falcon' was fascinating too, I keep meaning to try her novels.

[Chrissie]

Alwynne wrote: "I thought 'Black Lamb and Grey Falcon' was fascinating too, I keep meaning to try her novels."

Read The Return of the Soldier. Tania is right.

[Tania]

I've not read any of her non fiction yet, but I would like to. My other favourite of her novels is The Fountain Overflows, but The Return of the Soldier is probably a better place to start.

[Chrissie]

If you are looking for a gripping read, don't miss this 1946 classic by Ann Petry--The Street.

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

I have begun Ivan Turgenev's first novel, Rudin. It is followed by Home of the Gentry, which I have heard is better, but it is best to read them in order.

[Tania]

Last night I started The Rector's Daughter by F.M. Mayor. I've been meaning to read this for a while but the announcement from Persephone Books that this will be one of the books they'll be publishing in this spring jogged my memory and moved it to the top of the pile. It's one of The Guardians 1000 books to read.