The Book Vipers discussion
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Just finished Reading (2015)
I finally finished Purge. It's not a bad book, the subject matter is just difficult and I knew the story already. But I am not surprised that it has won several big literature awards.
Tytti wrote: "Jan wrote: "Any suggestions?"Well, you mentioned quite a lot of subjects there. I can't really think of any books about that era in English, most of the books I know are about specific topics tha..."
I found this very interesting, so I had a read through Finnish history on Wikipedia and that linked to the Kalevala (for anyone who doesn't know, an epic Finnish poem). There was a snippet on Wiki, the rhythms of which immediately made me think of Hiawatha, only to discover that apparently Longfellow is considered to have 'borrowed' much of this from the Kalevala. I was intrigued so downloaded it for free - I got the translation by W.F. Kirby. The rhythm is just like Hiawatha and I'm enjoying reading it. (I've recently been struggling with Beowulf and this is much more fluid).
So thank you Tytti for enlarging my literary horizons!
Hah, it seems foreigners are more into it than we are as I don't know many people that have actually read it. And of course Tolkien borrowed from it, too.The translator has to make a choice, though, either translate it accurately or follow the rhythm. You can't really do both.
It's funny how I have found a couple of books where Finnish characters are reading Kalevala and so on (they were written by foreigners of course). One was even carrying it around. Eh, no, in those times it would have probably been the Bible if anything. I think it has had more influence via music and art than as just a single book that most have never read.
Beloved books this year so far: Dear and Glorious Physician, Manda Scott's Boudica series, Dance of the Tiger: A Novel of the Ice Age and Jan Guillou's crusades/founding of Sweden trilogy.
Deborah wrote: "Beloved books this year so far: Dear and Glorious Physician, Manda Scott's Boudica series, Dance of the Tiger: A Novel of the Ice Age and [author:Jan Guill..."My hat's off to you, Deborah. You read the whole Crusades trilogy?
Finished Revenge by Yōko Ogawa, a collection of 11 short stories that are connected, but in very strange ways. There's murder, torture, loss. Each story was wonderfully written and I loved how they all connected. It is a short book (162 pages) but the stories are all so powerful and haunting.
Jan - yes, I read it all and loved it. I read too fast, it's very frustrating. That trilogy and Manda Scott's 4 books were an absolute joy to me.
Finished reading:Gold Finch-Donna Tarrt
Us-David Nicholls
The monk-Matthew Lewis
Deborah wrote: "Jan - yes, I read it all and loved it. I read too fast, it's very frustrating. That trilogy and Manda Scott's 4 books were an absolute joy to me."I have the opposite problem. I just don't enjoy speed-reading, unless it's like a newspaper article.
Tony wrote: "Finished reading:Gold Finch-Donna Tarrt
Us-David Nicholls
The monk-Matthew Lewis"
Hey, Tony. What did you think of The Goldfinch. I read it sometime last year.
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I loved goldfinch probably one of the best books I have read this year!!
Tony wrote: "I loved goldfinch probably one of the best books I have read this year!!"I really liked Goldfinch too. It is one of those books you don't forget.
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I adored it, I then passed it to my mother in law who quite simply couldn't believe it and still talks about it every time I see her! Which is fine, as I am very happy to talk about it.....
It is in my opinion one of Donna Tarrts best books so far.
Jo wrote: "Tony wrote: "I loved goldfinch probably one of the best books I have read this year!!"I adored it, I then passed it to my mother in law who quite simply couldn't believe it and still talks about ..."
I put this on an audio book for my mom and had to explain the whole thing several times. I feel like I really know this book. She too is still talking about it! ha ha
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Just finished Want Not by Jonathan Miles. 3 different families, each dealing with the concept of 'waste'. The stories were interesting and I liked how they connected, although I would have liked to see how they fared after the major events. Miles just left us hanging and the ending wasn't as dramatic as I thought it was going to be. With that said, it was a moving and thought-provoking book.
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Paul wrote: "Finished Walking Home: A Poet's Journey last night. Simon Armitage recounts his walk down the Pennine way, moving between reading and sharing time and the path with ..."Enjoyed your review. Reminded me of the founder of the charity through which I sponsor a girl in Guatemala, Bob Hentzen. To initiate the charity, he walked from Kansas all the way to Guatemala, with his wife in a truck who drove and then waited for his at strategic points along the way. A few years ago, he did another walk, from Guatemala all the way down to the tips of Chile and Argentina and then back. How, I have no idea.
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The founder of the charity that you mention sounds a particularly special guy.
I've just finished End of Days by Susan Ee, which I really, really enjoyed as something for a bit of fun. Bit sad that the series is over but oh well. Onwards and upwards!
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Paul wrote: "Finished The Narrow Road to the Deep North this week. Grim and harrowing, but it also shows humanity too. Review here"I'm reading it right now, Paul. I'll remember to take a look to your review when I'm done.
Just finished The Calligrapher's Daughter. I have mixed feeling about it. I rated it 3 stars, and here is my review.
Just finished Rubberman's Cage a book I won on goodreads. It was amazing, everybody should give this one a go.
Finished Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri. The stories were well written but I agree with other reviewers that she only focuses on well-educated Indian-Americans and how they have assimilated. As a novel it works but when I read this short story collection it became repetitive. But that was my only complaint with this collection. 'Unaccustomed Earth' and 'Going Ashore' were my favorite stories.
Trine wrote: "Just finished Cloud Atlas - and that was not quite my type of book, to say it at least!"How did you like it? I couldn't finish it got half way through Sloosha's crossin'.
Saffron wrote: "Trine wrote: "Just finished Cloud Atlas - and that was not quite my type of book, to say it at least!"How did you like it? I couldn't finish it got half way through Sloosha's crossin'."
I read it in danish, so I don't know if that affected it - but hated all about Adam Ewing and the middle part - it was HELL to read. I literaly sat and read it aloud to understand it... But there was a few parts that weighted it all up - I was specially fond of the Somni bit... And that is why I ended up with a rating of 3 and not 2. Think I'll end up adjusting it at a point.
Movie deffo wins over the book though
Just finished Fatherland...fantastic and somewhat depressing read!
Just finished Girly: Two Stories by May-Lan Tan, a very short (32 pages) book comprising of two different stories. I much preferred the first, 'Pacific', to the other. 'Pacific' is written in an almost self-help manual style. It took me a while to get used to it, but once I did I found it worked for the story. I wish it was a full-length novel.
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The two things what I have missed most when I have been abroad for longer periods are forests and especially lakes (and a sauna, and rye bread... that's four), they are always so close here that I have grown used to them. (I guess my pic is also a hint.) There are even two national parks quite close where you can go for a hike or even stay the night for free, the oldest trees are almost 400 years old. I guess we often forget and take the wild nature for granted. And come fall FB is full of statuses about all the wild berries and mushrooms people have picked.
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Paul wrote: "Finished Feral: Searching for Enchantment on the Frontiers of Rewilding a couple of days ago. For anyone who has some interest in the nature in the UK, it is well worth reading. My ..."I really want to read this, just worry as George Monbiot can be quite oppressive and depressing in his end is nigh type way. I do admire his passion and political drive though.
Just finished The Innocents Abroad. Funny, cynical, and a bit tedious at times, this travelogue of a pleasure trip through Europe and the Holy Land, hailed by some critics as the most famous travel book written by an American, defines the "Ugly American" archetype. 3.5/5.0.
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I would agree that he normally is in other things that I have read by him, but this is written with passion and is so much better for it.
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Beloved by Toni Morrison. Took me a long time because it is a novel to be savored: the story, the character insight, the imagery (which is astonishing), etc, etc.
Just finished Fathermucker and Liza of Lambeth. Liza of Lambeth was sad but good, although trying to read the accent was a challenge. Maugham was criticized for the use of it but I did feel more immersed in the action because of it. Fathermucker was just downright boring. I didn't like any of the characters and the husband was a big whiney pain.
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Ive recently read Replay which is another book in the Harry August line, though written in the 80s. I really liked it very much, especially that there were unexpected twists and turns in the plot, just as my interest was beginning to wane.
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Brick Lane - I loved it - can't understand why it gets so many low stars and poor reviews. Also comments that it is slow. I found it humorous, compassionate and authentic in voice.
Just finished Armageddon, Texas. An adventure combining the Beowolf Saga with the Creation Story from Genesis (if you can believe it). A gas to read. Nothing profound but lots of fun.
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The Book Vipers
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No, it's an older tune by Fredrik Pacius. Regularly people suggest changing it, though there is no law about it.