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What I'm Reading JANUARY 2015
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I'm reading Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye because some author in a book I read recently had said it was their example of the best something. My trying to think about what it is about the writing that could qualify it for accolades above all others is being impeded by the incredibly dense fog of testosterone on the pages!
Lyn wrote: "I'm reading Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye because some author in a book I read recently had said it was their example of the best something. My trying to think about what it is a..."Funny! I remember a similar experience when I was made to read a Chandler novel in my Theory of Literature class in college.
The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard. A book to linger over and read slowly. Adventurous Caro is one of two Australian sisters who have come to post-war England to seek their fortunes. Courted long and hopelessly by young scientist Ted, she is to find that love brings sorrow as well as passion whilst her sister, the milder Grace, seeks fulfillment in marriage. To call it a romance is an injustice - just a beautiful book.
Gina wrote: "The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard. A book to linger over and read slowly. Adventurous Caro is one of two Australian sisters who have come to post-war England to ..."Gorgeous prose, dense with meaning. You're right, you can't read it fast, or if you do you miss most of it. But I do think Hazzard puts romantic love higher in the hierarchy of human values than I do, perhaps because it was was such a striking part of her own life. And I felt she was a bit unfair to Dora--the only character for whom she has absolutely no sympathy.
Book Concierge wrote: "Larry wrote: ""Book Concierge wrote: "I've read A Tale of Two Cities twice, and it was worth it! ..."BC, does that make it A Tale of Four Cities? :-)"
Actually it was Mary Anne who read it twice..."
BC, you are so right.
Just to comment on the book, it is not one of my favorite works by Dickens. I'm glad I read it the one time. I think that will be it for me.
I just finished Jane Gardam's Last Friends. It was not as good as the previous two books in this trilogy - Old Filth andThe Man in the Wooden Hat- but I still really enjoyed it. It concentrates on Terry Veneering, especially his childhood, and brings in Fiscal-Smith and Dulcie. I wish I'd read this one closer to the other two. The story was a bit scattered and I couldn't remember much of anything about Dulcie. Still, it's hard to beat Jane Gardam.
Just checked my ratings for the Old Filth trilogy and I gave the first two five stars and the last one only 3. I think I would read anything that Jane Gardam writes but Last Friends was definitely not my favorite.
Just finished An April Shroud I am delighted with this series starring Dalziel and Pascoe, having discovered it via the TV episodes from BBC. The writing is excellent, the characters well-drawn, and the books (this is the second I’ve read, the fourth of the series..I’ll have to pick up the intervening ones) entertaining.
The Secret Piano by Zhu Xiao-Mei – 4**** Subtitled: From Mao’s Labor Camps to Bach’s Goldberg Variations, this is a memoir that speaks about the irrepressible human spirit and the power of music and art to elevate and inspire. I was completely fascinated and couldn’t put down Zhu’s recollections of her time in China. The book did bog down somewhat for me after Zhu arrived in Paris, but it’s still a good read.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Book Concierge wrote: " The Secret Piano by Zhu Xiao-Mei – 4**** Subtitled: From Mao’s Labor Camps to Bach’s Goldberg Variations, this is a memoir that speaks about the irrepress..."
Glad to know you liked this...I know I have it on my kindle.
I just tried to read Infinite Jest and got through 5% of it (about 50 pages) so far. I think I get it and the satire of our culture and think that is spot on and very funny, but I am not sure I can slog through a thousand pages of it; we'll see!
Lyn wrote: "I just tried to read Infinite Jest and got through 5% of it (about 50 pages) so far. I think I get it and the satire of our culture and think that is spot on and very funny, but I am n..."I gave up early.
I made it to p. 100. Too much math for me....
Yesterday, I decided to approach my Mount TBR pile with the approach of "what do I want to read, not what do I feel guilty about not having tackled yet?" So, I cracked open The Year of Reading Dangerously: How Fifty Great Books (and Two Not-So-Great Ones) Saved My Life. Promising start, and I'm grateful that he read The Master and Margarita, so I didn't have to (not that I ever would have actually).
Ruth wrote: "Lyn wrote: "I just tried to read Infinite Jest and got through 5% of it (about 50 pages) so far. I think I get it and the satire of our culture and think that is spot on and very funny..."There's another group on Goodreads called Reading the Chunksters. I joined them just to help with Infinite Jest. They had a reading schedule with certain passages to be discussed. I never did get to it. When it started I was super busy. I still plan to use that guide when I start IJ.
Reading the Chunksters - what a great name!
John wrote: "Yesterday, I decided to approach my Mount TBR pile with the approach of "what do I want to read, not what do I feel guilty about not having tackled yet?" So, I cracked open [book:The Year of Readin..."I still plan to read it, John, though I don't know when. I am trying to fit in those "wants" much more frequently too. After all, isn't that what a lot of this is about---the joy of reading. I do find that I am finding joy in unexpected reading places, however. I never would have expected to be swept up by the prose of Proust or Ellman's biography of James Joyce.
I am trying to fit in those "wants" much more frequently too. After all, isn't that what a lot of this is about---the joy of reading.Amen. I find that when I do too much "should" reading and not enough "want" reading I end up watching TV instead. Fortunately, I do enjoy many "chunkster" titles. But every now and then there's one I just can't get through.
I am finding a surfeit of wonderful books...reserved at my library and many coming at the same time. Just finished most of the stories in Edith Pearlman's Binocular Vision, Dept. of Speculation, and How to Be Both by Ali Smith. Sheer delight, all three. And now I'm half-way through Euphoria, Lily King's newest book. Wow!!It's like a childhood birthday or Christmas. My fifth grade class is tough this year, and particularly this month. Harder than any class in memory. So coming home to these books has been "euphoria" indeed.
Quite disappointed in Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear. While the plot has some interest, the character of Maisie Dobbs, which I liked in the early books of this series, has become quite insufferably priggish. This affects one’s overall impression of the book. I doubt I’ll try another of this long-standing series.
Okay, so I'll have to reserve The Girl on the Train. And Lila by Marilynn Robinson just arrived at the library.
John wrote: "I keep hearing raves for Euphoria, along with The Girl on the Train."I'm reading The Girl on the Train right now. So far, so good, the tension is ratcheting up nicely.
Gina wrote: "There's another group on Goodreads called Reading the Chunksters. I joined them just to help with Infinite Jest. They had a reading schedule with certain passages to be discussed. I never did get to it. When it started I was super busy. I still plan to use that guide when I start IJ."There's also the material archived on the site http://infinitesummer.org/
There are chapter summaries (summer-ies) and a good character list that I found tremendously helpful while reading.
I am finally reading The Remains of the Day. This has been #1 on my tbr for a few years and I downloaded it from the library for the blizzard. I actually began reading last night and already am engrossed.
One of my very favorite books. I read it even before I discovered CR. I think you'll like it. The movie's good, too.
Sherry wrote: "One of my very favorite books. I read it even before I discovered CR. I think you'll like it. The movie's good, too."I like it already. Just the style, Stevens' thought processes, the way it's written. So good. He's just beginning his journey.
Sue wrote: "I am finally reading The Remains of the Day. This has been #1 on my tbr for a few years and I downloaded it from the library for the blizzard. I actually began reading last night and a..."An extraordinary novel. When I heard there was a film I thought, it can't possibly be any good, because so much of the content has to do with careful language choices and unspoken attitudes. But somehow they managed to make a terrific film as well.
Sheila wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Ann wrote: "I am going to join Sheila in recommending The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber. The book is nothing like Faber's [book:The Crims..."Crimson Petal is currently my all time favourite novel. I read Strange New Things a few weeks ago and loved it too, much to my relief, as I didn't care for Under The Skin.
I'm currently about 1/3 of the way through Hilary Mantel's A CHANGE OF CLIMATE and am enjoying it, though not as much as I enjoyed her ASSASSINATION OF MARGARET THATCHER which I read a few weeks back. (Can someone tell me how you're linking your titles? I'm new to Goodreads groups.)
Storyheart wrote: "I'm currently about 1/3 of the way through Hilary Mantel's A CHANGE OF CLIMATE and am enjoying it, though not as much as I enjoyed her ASSASSINATION OF MARGARET THATCHER which I read a few weeks ba..."When you are in the Reply box. Look just above it and you will see "add book/author". Click on that, input your book or author name and it will list choices. You can also click on a choice to see other editions. When you find what you want, click on the Add button and you will have your link.
I love Hilary Mantel's writing too. I liked those stories in the Assasination of Margaret Thatcher collection but haven't read A Change of Climate.
Barbara wrote: "Storyheart wrote: "I'm currently about 1/3 of the way through Hilary Mantel's A CHANGE OF CLIMATE and am enjoying it, though not as much as I enjoyed her ASSASSINATION OF MARGARET THATCHER which I ..."Thank you.
Talking about Hilary Mantel.....We are 2 weeks into the dramatisation Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall on BBC TV. Quite enjoying it, although it jumps about in time quite a bit. I know everyone has raved about her books but I haven't read any yet. Perhaps this will change.
I'm closing this thread now, since January is over. Please continue your discussions in the new thread.Lynn, in very snowy IA
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Constant Reader
Books mentioned in this topic
Wolf Hall (other topics)The Book of Strange New Things (other topics)
The Remains of the Day (other topics)
The Remains of the Day (other topics)
The Girl on the Train (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Hilary Mantel (other topics)Michel Faber (other topics)
Shirley Hazzard (other topics)
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Jhumpa Lahiri (other topics)
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BC, does that make it A Tale of Four Cities? :-)"
Actually it was Mary Anne who read it twice ... LOL
I know I was supposed to read it in high school, but I'm certain I skimmed and relied on the Cliff's notes. My mature (?) self definitely appreciates it more.