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What I'm Reading - Nov.- Dec. 2020
message 101:
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Mary
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Dec 03, 2020 02:51PM
Carson McCullers’ THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER narrated by Cherry Jones. This book was published in 1940. I have very mixed feelings about it. I understand why it’s considered a classic. I appreciated some of it. On the other hand, I often wondered what her qualifications were to depict black characters and how realistic, rather than stereotypical, those depictions were. (And yes, I know, it was a different era.) I did not like the socioeconomic diatribes; I thought they were excessive and hence off putting. I sought out some reviews to give me other perspectives and learned the term Southern Gothic, which explained a lot about the elements I didn’t appreciate. All that being said, I am still satisfied to now have it in my background knowledge of American literature.
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Kiki wrote: "I started reading ...AND LADIES OF THE CLUB by Helen Hooven Santmyer, which is a book I've wanted to read for years. It's a whopping 1,176 pages long, and Mrs. Santmyer didn't write it until she wa..."Kiki, I read this when it first came out and really enjoyed it. At the time, we were living just a few miles from Xenia, Ohio. I don't remember much about the book, just that I really liked it.
Jane wrote: "Kiki wrote: "I started reading ...AND LADIES OF THE CLUB by Helen Hooven Santmyer, which is a book I've wanted to read for years. It's a whopping 1,176 pages long, and Mrs. Santmyer didn't write it..."Thank you for your input, Jane. I am really loving the book. Makes me want to move.
Ruth wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Olav Audunssøn: I. Vows takes place in Norway in the 1200s. This translated edition was released just this month. Author Sigrid Undset won the Nobel Prize for Literature..."Because my husband was from Norway, I decided to read some Sigrid Undset. Since her most famous, Kristin Lavransdatter was one of my mother’s favorite books I started there. I absolutely could not wade through it!."
Ruth, I know for me it's funny how some books strike me at certain times. I can read and appreciate bloodthirsty Cormac McCarthy novels but can't abide some grisly thrillers. I think in the right mood, maybe I'd enjoy her work. Maybe. :)
Mary wrote: "Carson McCullers’ THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER narrated by Cherry Jones. This book was published in 1940. I have very mixed feelings about it. I understand why it’s considered a classic. I apprecia..."I read The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter a few months ago for much the same reason, Mary. I felt that was one hole in my reading that I'd like to fill. I'm glad I did. (I reviewed it here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ) but I do remember reminding myself she was only 23 and it was 80 years ago. As you say - different times.
What mother in her right mind enlists the help of her fourteen-year-old daughter so she can have an affair with her husband's best friend? Adrienne Brodeur had just such a mother, and she tells all in her autobiography, Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me. It's all true and quite a read!
4.5★ Link to my Wild Game review
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Ruth wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Olav Audunssøn: I. Vows takes place in Norway in the 1200s. This translated edition was released just this month. Author [author:Sigrid Undset|..."That's interesting. I just picked up Kristin Lavransdatter from the library AGAIN to try to read it. Didn't have much luck the first time.
Gina wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Ruth wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Olav Audunssøn: I. Vows takes place in Norway in the 1200s. This translated edition was released just this month. Auth..."I liked the book. It seems I'm in the minority, though.
I just finished The Lager Queen of Minnesota for another book group. I was so relieved to finish it. The writing is very flat, like "and this happens, then this happens" all the way through, so didn't come to care for any characters, and it is a very long book. The person who chose it called it "light reading," as if that was a good thing and reading more well written, more literate books, is harder, but I find the opposite to be true.Before i go back to some real literature though, I've started The Silent Patient, and at least this one is page-turningingly gripping so far.
The Boston Girl – Anita Diamant – 5*****
85-year-old Addie Baum is interviewed by her “favorite” granddaughter for a project. She focuses on her youth in the early 20th century, from age 15 to about age 30. I just loved this book. I loved Addie – feisty, intelligent, curious, determined, adventurous, compassionate. She’s a loyal friend and confidante. She’s also practical about her decisions, but still willing to take a risk. I was completely mesmerized by her storytelling.
My full review HERE
Speaking of bloodthirsty . . . Ian McGuire's highly acclaimed novel, The North Water, is the brutal story of a nineteenth-century whaling expedition that goes terrifyingly wrong. It is also brilliant!
5★ Link to my North Water review
Dumplin’ – Julie Murphy – 3.5***
I grew up in Texas and am very familiar with the small-town beauty pageant hysteria. I really liked the story arc about Will’s efforts regarding the pageant and how she inspires other girls who don’t fit the standard “beauty-queen” stereotype to step up as well. I also liked how Murphy explored the mother/daughter and friend relationships. I was a somewhat unhappy with the romance aspect; I was really disappointed in how Dumplin’ managed her conflict, but then she’s a teenager.
My full review HERE
Book Concierge wrote: "
Thirteen Moons
– Charles Frazier – 5*****
Frazier’s sophomore effort returns to the rural Carolina landscape, covering nearly a century from the 1820s to the v..."
I read that quite a few years ago and agree that it’s a great read.
I was looking forward to reading this children's edition of The Nutcracker by words&pictures during the Christmas season, but I was disappointed. Colourful but confusing (to me).
2.5★ Link to my Nutcracker review with illustrations
I absolutely love What Can You Do With a Line?, that makes my fingers itchy to try drawing! It would be a great Christmas (or other) gift, along with some pencils. Perfect pressie!
5★ Link to my review of What Can You Do With A Line", showing some of the artwork
For those of you who read The Overstory for our discussion here or elsewhere, there was a great article in the NYTimes Magazine this past Sunday about the woman who inspired the character of the botanist. Her name is Suzanne Simard and you can read the article here: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...I loved it. She has a book of her own coming out. It's title is Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering How the Forest Is Wired for Intelligence and Healing. I immediately put it on my To Read list.
I'm hoping that there's no pay wall. I do have a Sunday subscription but I didn't have to give that info when I clicked on the article.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...Barb, THE HIDDEN LIFE OF TREES is another book you might enjoy.
I belong to a GoodReads group called something like Books Hardly Anybody Reads (but should). Recently they’ve been talking about Peter Matthiessen, a National Book Award honoree who has been nominated for both fiction and non-fiction works. I’ve just finished listening to the audio edition of KILLING MR. WATSON. I enjoyed it very much. The structure of the novel was interesting. The writing was terrific because it created such a fabulous sense of time, place, and character. Along the way I learned a lot about the history of southwestern Florida, the Everglades in particular. It is the first novel in a trilogy and I now plan to eventually read the entire trilogy.
Ella Minnow Pea – Mark Dunn – 5***** and a ❤
A novel told in letters about an island nation off the coast of South Carolina where the residents pride themselves on their literacy. And then a tile falls off a monument and their exalted leaders declare that letter is no longer to be used. What’s one little letter? There are 25 others. But as more letter tiles fall, restrictions – and penalties – become more onerous. And the citizens of Nollop realize their nation is being ruined by those in charge.
My full review HERE
The Island of Sea Women – Lisa See – 4****
See’s work of historical fiction is set on the Korean island of Jeju, and follows Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls from different backgrounds who become friends. Both begin to apprentice to the women of the island in their unique all-female diving collective. I really liked this work, both for what I learned about this culture, and for the exploration of female relationships – jealousies, secrets, confidences shared, and misunderstanding that cause seemingly irreparable rifts.
My full review HERE
I've just finished Amy Stewart's delightful Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit, the third in this wonderful historical fiction mystery series, based on a real lady cop. New Jersey in 1916. I'm sure glad she won't quit!
5★ Link to my Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit review
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I've just finished Amy Stewart's delightful Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit, the third in this wonderful historical fiction mystery series, based on a real lady cop. New Je..."I have really enjoyed the series--so far!
Sara wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I've just finished Amy Stewart's delightful Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit, the third in this wonderful historical fiction mystery series, based o...I have really enjoyed the series--so far!"
Me, too, Sara. I've got the next two 'waiting' for me, but I'm trying to spread them out. I don't usually binge-read series, because I like to think of the characters being busy 'out there' while I'm reading other things. :)
Richard Russo's characters always seem like people I'd recognise. In Chances Are, three guys and the girl they all (secretly?) adored were in college together during the draft for Vietnam. The guys are now 66, having a reunion, but where's Jacy? 
4.5★ Link to my Chances Are review
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Richard Russo's characters always seem like people I'd recognise. In Chances Are, three guys and the girl they all (secretly?) adored were in college together during t..."Have you read EMPIRE FALLS, Patty? I tried, but had to give up. I just could not get into it. I don't know if it was me or the book. Probably me.
I don't like to binge-read a series, either. :)
I've read about five Russo books but the two books about Sully are my all time favorites- Everybody's Fool and Nobody's Fool. And the movie was cast perfectly.
Gina wrote: "I've read about five Russo books but the two books about Sully are my all time favorites- Everybody's Fool and Nobody's Fool. And the movie was cast perfectly."Thank you, Gina. I've only tried EMPIRE FALLS, so I may give him another try some day.
There is also a mini series of Empire Falls with Ed Harris , Philip Seymour Hoffman, Helen Hunt and Paul Newman who was in my opinion a class act in it, outshining everyone else ( I may be biased) Russo wrote the screen play and I really enjoyed it.
I listened to the audio version of Empire Falls and it was wonderful. There was a great interview with Russo at the end.
Gina wrote: "I've read about five Russo books but the two books about Sully are my all time favorites- Everybody's Fool and Nobody's Fool. And the movie was cast perfectly."My favorites, too.
Kiki wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Richard Russo's characters always seem like people I'd recognise. In Chances Are, three guys and the girl they all (secretly?) adored were in ..."Hi Kiki and all - I have not read Empire Falls (yet - I might) but I have seen the mini-series with Ed Harris and the others and loved it. The characters do seem natural to me, kind of everyday without being boringly everyday.
Terrific book by Eleanor Levenson, illustrated by Paul Boston, that is just what is says it is: World Politics in 100 Words: Start conversations and spark inspiration. I give the list of words and share some of the illustrations about how the world works.
5★ Link to my World Politics review with illustrationsGreat for adults - not just for kids!
Lucky's by Aussie author Andrew Pippos may have struck me on a bad day. Perhaps I wasn't paying enough attention - I got confused.
3.5★ Link to my Lucky's review
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Kiki wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Richard Russo's characters always seem like people I'd recognise. In Chances Are, three guys and the girl they all (secretly?) ad..."Thank you, Patty.
I guess he's just not for me. He just leaves me cold and bored, which doesn't mean he's not a very good writer, of course. (I know a lot of people who love his books.) Just not my cup of tea.
Has anyone read novels by A.M.Homes? I’m supposed to choose one for my in-person book club.
Joan, I have never read anything by A. M. Homes, but judging from what I read about her on the internet, whatever you choose should spark a good discussion. She seems to be both brilliant and controversial.Let us know how it works out.
I read Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips back in June, and gave it 5*****. I've finally written my review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Good review, Mary Anne. I liked that book too.
Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s LABYRINTH OF THE SPIRITS, translated by Lucia Graves. And so The Cemetery of Forgotten Books concludes. And it all makes sense now. This 4-volume novel is complex, beautifully written, inventively conceived, and unspeakably violent at times. I was delightfully surprised at how much I remembered from the first 3 volumes - once reminded- and by how much I remember about Barcelona; all of which enhanced my appreciation of this 4th volume.
Mary Anne wrote: "I read Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips back in June, and gave it 5*****. I've finally written my review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Sounds good. Just put it in my cart.
N.K. Jemisin’s THE STONE SKY, narrated by Robin Miles. Powerful. Complex. Inventive. A satisfying conclusion to the The Broken Earth trilogy.
Mary wrote: "Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s LABYRINTH OF THE SPIRITS, translated by Lucia Graves. And so The Cemetery of Forgotten Books concludes. And it all makes sense now. This 4-volume novel is complex, beautifully w..."I started reading THE SHADOW OF THE WIND several years ago, based on glowing Amazon reviews, but it just didn't go anywhere, for me, so I put it aside. Maybe I should have kept on. I don't know.
Sorry Shadow of the Wind didn't excite you, Mary. I loved the entire series. So glad to know there's another book out. Ordered it from the library already.
Gina, it was Kiki who was excited by Shadow of the Wind. I loved all 4 of the volumes!
I loved Shadow of the Wind as well. Big CRZ fan.
I loved Shadow of the Wind, too. Now I am looking forward to the latest book. Is the author still alive?
Mary wrote: "Gina, it was Kiki who was excited by Shadow of the Wind. I loved all 4 of the volumes!"I'm the one who didn't like it. I tried, but just couldn't get into it.
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