What books are you reading now? (2020) Showing 2,201-2,222 of 2,222

[Tania]

Judy wrote: "I've just made a start on our next group read, A Gentleman in Moscow, as my library copy came through. It has an intriguing start but I'm not very far in as yet."

I went to take that out yesterday but before I had a chance, I came across Titanic - A Survivor's Story by Archibald Gracie who went down with the Titanic, but managed to get away on the up-turned collapsable. A fascinating, first-hand account. I'll get to A Gentleman in Moscow when I've finished.

[Lynaia]

Sounds really interesting Tania! I’ll have to see if I can get it on my kindle.

[Tania]

It really is. I have downloaded an ebook from the library, but it is available on kindle too.

[Susan]

Having decided that I am reading too many depressing books for the festive period, I have been enjoying a Golden Age mystery Catt Out of the Bag . The author, Clifford Witting, is one I haven't read before, but I am already hoping that more of his books are republished next year. I shouldn't really be greedy, as fans of GA crime have been very spoilt in the last few years.

[Joy D]

The Color of Air by Gail Tsukiyama - 3 stars - My Review

Set mostly in 1935 in the small town of Hilo, Hawaii, protagonist Daniel has returned after studying on the mainland, becoming a doctor, and practicing medicine in Chicago. It is a character-driven novel. The specter of the volcanic eruption of Mauna Loa looms over the scene as does the question of what happened to Daniel’s father, who abandoned the family many years before. I enjoyed the historic setting and found this book pleasant enough, but it lacks zest.

[Chrissie]

I can highly recommend Somewhere in the Unknown World: A Collective Refugee Memoir bu Kao Kalia Yang. It is an important book, and it is well written. Nevertheless, I do prefer her two earlier memoirs--The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir and The Song Poet: A Memoir of My Father.

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

I have begun See Now Then by Jamaica Kincaid. The book blurb makes it sound interesting. All I can say is that at least so far I am suffering. The prose is terrible--tons of repetition, sort of like BAD poetry. I am glad it is not long. Maybe I will end up dumping it. I don't know if I can stand 4,5 more hours of this.

[Chrissie]

If a person reads a lot and is willing to try different sorts of book, you are going to run into disappointments now and then. My review of See Now Then by Jamaica Kincaid:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am reading The Arrogant Years: One Girl's Search for Her Lost Youth, from Cairo to Brooklyn by Lucette Lagnado. Why? Because I really liked the author's book The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: My Family's Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World. Will this one be as good?

[Chrissie]

My first five-star book this month is The Arrogant Years: One Girl's Search for Her Lost Youth, from Cairo to Brooklyn by Lucette Lagnado. Of course I recommend it. It is for those readers who enjoy biographies and learning about different places and history through people's lives.

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

I actually like it even more than the author's first book focused primarily on her father--The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: My Family's Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World!

Now I am reading another by Vladimir Nabokov, this time it's The Luzhin Defense. The foreword, added by the author when it was translated into English, is confusing, but now that I am in the book itself, I am enjoying it.

[Annabel]

Joy D wrote: "The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See - 3 stars - My Review

Friends with different backgrounds, Young-Sook and Mi-Ja, live in Jeju, Korea, an island off the coast of wha..."

Ian Fleming wrote about a similar island civilization of women who dive (this one in Japan) in You Only Live Twice. As often with Fleming's writing about the natural world, it's surprisingly intelligent and sensitive. (Not so much so in the film version though.)

[Joy D]

Waiting by Ha Jin - 3 stars - My Review

Set in China during the Cultural Revolution, protagonist Lin Kong is a doctor living and working at a hospital in the city of Mija China. He wants to divorce his wife, but China’s laws and customs do not make it easy. It is as if Lin is continuously waiting for his life to start. To me, this book reads as an excellent example of the phrase “You Only Live Once.” It shows what can happen to someone who is not satisfied with his life, always thinking it would be better if only circumstances could change (while doing little to effect change or to find a way to enjoy what he currently has). Be prepared for something awful to happen in this otherwise quiet book. I liked it but I felt like I was waiting for a revelation that never occurred.

Content warning: (view spoiler)[rape (hide spoiler)]

[Joy D]

Annabel wrote: "Joy D wrote: "The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See - 3 stars - My Review

Friends with different backgrounds, Young-Sook and Mi-Ja, live in Jeju, Korea, an island off th..."

Thanks, Annabel, I will check it out.

[Joy D]

Published in 1993:
The Club Dumas by Arturo Pérez-Reverte - 3.5 stars - My Review

Set in Spain, Portugal, and France, antiquarian book dealer Lucas Corso is hired to research the authenticity of a rare manuscript purportedly written by Alexander Dumas. He is provided a copy of another book, The Nine Doors, that is rumored to contain information on how to summon Satan, and asked to investigate the two remaining copies. This is a book for lovers of books. It is an elaborate puzzle, and the reader will need to pay close attention to details. Once it gets to the possible connections to the occult, it gets a little outlandish. Do not be surprised if it is difficult to solve the mystery before being provided a large amount of information near the end.

[Chrissie]

Yup, The Luzhin Defense by Vladimir Nabokov I did enjoy. You don't have to know how to play chess to enjoy the book. If you like Nabokov's sparkling prose you'll like this.

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

I have begun another by Arnold Bennett-- A Great Man.

[Tania]

Hopefully next year I'll get round to trying more Arnold Bennett.

[Chrissie]

Tania wrote: "Hopefully next year I'll get round to trying more Arnold Bennett."

His books aren't all the same. Some are definitely funnier than others. A great Man is one of the more amusing ones. I love analyzing how authors give readers the important information about each of the characters. Here Bennett gives you little bits which you have to assemble and then put together. I like this.

[Joy D]

The majority of this book covers the period 1968-2000.

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri - 4 stars - My Review

Ashima and Ashoke Ganguli have moved from Calcutta, India, to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Their son, Gogol, is born in the US in 1968, and the majority of the story follows Gogol as he grows up, changes his name, forms relationships, and eventually learns to appreciate his parents’ aspirations and struggles. It is a low-key story about acculturalization and the ups and downs of life. This novel is well-crafted and flows beautifully. I particularly enjoyed Lahiri’s elegant writing.

[Tania]

Thanks Chrissie. I have Riceyman Steps and I can lay my hands on Anna of the Five Towns so I'll probably start with one of those.

[Judy]

I liked The Namesake, Joy - I'm hoping to read another novel by Lahiri, The Lowdown, soon. Recently spotted that it is available on Scribd. I also like her short stories.

[Nigeyb]

Tania wrote:


"Thanks Chrissie. I have Riceyman Steps and I can lay my hands on Anna of the Five Towns so I'll probably start with one of those."

Tania, We have a Riceyman Steps discussion thread here....

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

Perhaps add a comment when you read it?

[Lynaia]

I just finished The House of Mirth. Wow! Really excellent novel. Looking forward to the discussion on it.

[Tania]

Thanks Nigey, I will. I was going to join at the time but I couldn't get past the first chapter. I'm sure it was lockdown, not the book, I had the same thing with lots of books at that time. P.G. Wodehouse was my level.

[Tania]

Lynaia wrote: "I just finished The House of Mirth. Wow! Really excellent novel. Looking forward to the discussion on it."

I'm starting this one in a day or two. Looking forward to it.