Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion
Archived Chit Chat & All That
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What Are You Reading Now?
Luffy wrote: "I'm rereading Ice Bound: A Doctor's Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole, with two ladies in a BR."Getting ready for spring, Luffy? 😂
I have taken myself off to The Island of Dr Moreau. It is proving less than an ideal holiday destination...
Teri-K wrote: "Janice wrote: "I am rereading one of my favourite classic books for Spring, The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim."Good idea for Spring! I'm getting ready to reread [book:Elizab..."
That's another book I love to reread, especially in May and June when the weather is warmer where I live. :)
Jane wrote: "Luffy wrote: "I'm rereading Ice Bound: A Doctor's Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole, with two ladies in a BR."Getting ready for spring, Luffy? 😂
I have taken myself ..."
Actually winter is coming. A winter with no snow. My dream fanfic that I need to write some day. Truthfully, there are only two seasons where I live. Thanks for the joke!
Luffy wrote: "Actually winter is coming." Oh, that's right! Google tells me the average temperature of your winters is in the mid 20s° C (and that your hottest temperatures peak at around 30°C). Luffy, that sounds perfect. I could happily never see a winter again. I hope you're enjoying the book, reading's the best way to experience the South Pole (in my book!).
I finished the semi-autobiographical novel
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and I started reading
The Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov
Currently reading Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray. I am enjoying long read and since I am not native in english, it will be a double joy and very long read.
Aida wrote: "Currently reading Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray. I am enjoying long read and since I am not native in english, it will be a double joy and very long read."Enjoy Aida! I'll be starting that one fairly soon.
Currently reading “All Quiet On the Western Front” by Erich Maria Remarque. Also for the 111th year of the Titanic disaster, I’m reading “On A Sea Of Glass” by Tad Fitch, J. Kent Layton and Bill Wormstedt
I have just finished rereading The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim, and tomorrow I will begin Five Little Indians by Michelle Good.
Just finished Dear Senthuran: A Black Spirit Memoir by Akwaeke Emezi. It's gorgeously written; the perspective is truly weird, fierce and fearless . . . sometimes revelatory and other times perhaps mad, but never boring. What a thought provoking and strange, beautiful mess!
I am about a third of the way through Riders in the Chariot. This is my third White novel following The Vivisector and Voss. It's too early for me to pronounce my judgement, but White was an accomplished exponent of a range of literary styles, and an absolute titan of 20th century Australian literary fiction.
I’m currently reading The Master and Margarita from Mikhail Burgakov and I love it so far! It’s quite a challenge (linguistically) because English isn’t my first language and although my English is good, the understanding of what is written goes a bit slower than usual. The storyline is beautifully written from different perspectives and the writing is stunning!
I'm 24% in Lennon: The Man, the Myth, the Music - The Definitive Life. It's great so far. I'm learning about how the Beatles became so good in songwriting. I am yet to come to the point where they go from talented to genius levels. But even if that side were to provide no insight, the book is deliciously informative enough. A 5 star rating incoming :)Last Movie: Breaking the Waves (Lars von Trier, 1996) 2/10
Luffy wrote: "I'm 24% in Lennon: The Man, the Myth, the Music - The Definitive Life. It's great so far. I'm learning about how the Beatles became so good in songwriting. I am yet to come to the p..."Have you seen the "Get Back" movie? I'm part way through and really like it. I think it can give you an idea of how they worked as a group. I was luck enough to see The Beatles live in 1964, so they hold a special place in my heart. I was one of the millions of super-fans.
Richard wrote: "I am about a third of the way through Riders in the Chariot. This is my third White novel following The Vivisector and Voss. It's too early for me to pronounce my judgement, but Whi..."agreed!
I also have read 3 by White: Riders... and Voss
but both bettered imo by The Tree of Man
Klowey wrote: "Luffy wrote: "I'm 24% in Lennon: The Man, the Myth, the Music - The Definitive Life. It's great so far. I'm learning about how the Beatles became so good in songwriting. I am yet to..."I had the opportunity to see the Get Back episodes edited by Peter Jackson, but could not watch it all. The energetic banter of the Beatles made me dizzy. I like their music foremost. I did see A Hard Day's Night though. Didn't know you saw them live, that must have been an exceptional experience!
Last Movie: Breaking the Waves (Lars von Trier, 1996) 2/10
I just read two excellent WWII mysteries - Death Has Deep Roots: A Second World War Mystery by Michael Gilbert and Billy Boyle by James R. Benn. Both books went beyond the puzzling mystery and gave the reader well-drawn, interesting characters and a sense of how people thought and lived at the time. I look forward to reading more by both authors.
I'm procrastinating starting Shakespeare's King John. It's new-to-me and even reading a summary of the plot left me very confused. But it's part of my plan to read all of WS's works, so I think I just need to jump in and let the Folger's edition notes guide me through.
Teri-K wrote: "I just read two excellent WWII mysteries - Death Has Deep Roots: A Second World War Mystery by Michael Gilbert and Billy Boyle by [author:James R. Benn..."I made a one time payment and got all of Shakespeare's plays with a side by side translation into modern English, from Litcharts.com. Good luck if you want to read it that way :)
Last Movie: Breaking the Waves (Lars von Trier, 1996) 2/10
Luffy wrote: "I made a one time payment and got all of Shakespeare's plays with a side by side translation into modern English, from Litcharts.com."How does that work, Luffy? Do you subscribe for one month then cancel the subscription? Here's the link:
https://www.litcharts.com/sign-up?foc...
Jane wrote: "Luffy wrote: "I made a one time payment and got all of Shakespeare's plays with a side by side translation into modern English, from Litcharts.com."How does that work, Luffy? Do you subscribe for..."
That is the gist of it, Jane. You are right. I am pleased with my purchase. Have yet to read all of Shakespeare's work though :)
Last Movie: Breaking the Waves (Lars von Trier, 1996) 2/10
Luffy wrote: "That is the gist of it, Jane. You are right. I am pleased with my purchase."That's great. It's also cheaper than the book below, which contains all the works of Shakespeare in simple English. I think I'd prefer the side by side comparison.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English
:)Last Movie: Breaking the Waves (Lars von Trier, 1996) 2/10
I finished 
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I started No One Writes to the Colonel and Other Stories by Gabriel García Márquez. I am two thirds of the way through, and am loving it.
I had to DNF Lennon: The Man, the Myth, the Music - The Definitive Life. It was cynically written. People will exploit the amazing story of the Beatles till the end of time. Very disappointing.I've taken up a nonfiction book called All Out War: The Full Story of How Brexit Sank Britain’s Political Class. Like the Lennon book, it started out promisingly. We'll see if the quality is there.
Last Movie: John Wick (Chad Stahelski, David Leitch, 2014) 6/10
Finished all 720 pages of the somewhat dry but quite interesting
Limanora: The Island of Progress by John MacMillan Brown [3/5] review.I needed another book from the groupshelf for a goal and i'm going with
Dune by Frank Herbert, also reading Tales of Wonder by Lord Dunsany and finishing my Lovecraft reread.
which reminds methe second part of the Dune movie is due out in November
and my entire family is already excited!
I finished the Southern Noir/Grit Lit novel
Father and Son by Larry Brown
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and I started reading a 1950s thriller that was the basis for the Marilyn Monroe film Don't Bother to Knock
Mischief by Charlotte Armstrong
I am reading Language of Truth by Salman Rushdie
I have DNFed All Out War: The Full Story of How Brexit Sank Britain’s Political Class. I'll begin two books at the tail end of April.As the Crow Flies by Jeffrey Archer.
and
Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right.
The first book is a reread. The second one might have established a DNFing pattern that would not bode well for my overall yearly reading goals. But I'm sure that by sheer tries of books, I'll stumble on a good read. That's what matters :)
Last Movie: My Dinner with Andre (Louis Malle, 1981) 4/10
Luffy wrote: "I have DNFed All Out War: The Full Story of How Brexit Sank Britain’s Political Class. I'll begin two books at the tail end of April.As the Crow Flies by [author:Jeffr..."
It can be hard to keep thinking positive when you hit a string of DNFs, I find. But you're right - better books will come if you keep trying!
Teri-K wrote: "Luffy wrote: "I have DNFed All Out War: The Full Story of How Brexit Sank Britain’s Political Class. I'll begin two books at the tail end of April.As the Crow Flies by..."
Thanks for the encouragement Teri, for taking the time to cheer me up :)
Last Movie: My Dinner with Andre (Louis Malle, 1981) 4/10
Luffy wrote: "Thanks for the encouragement Teri, for taking the time to cheer me up :)..."You're welcome! After all, when you find some good books you'll mention them here and I'll get to hear about them...
Luffy wrote: "I'm rereading Ice Bound: A Doctor's Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole, with two ladies in a BR, and it will count for a Nonfiction challenge, but I won't be registering..."I thought that book was fantastic!
I just finished the 2012 Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson. Set in North Korea. 4 stars.
Teri-K wrote: "Luffy wrote: "Thanks for the encouragement Teri, for taking the time to cheer me up :)..."You're welcome! After all, when you find some good books you'll mention them here and I'll get to hear ab..."
I definitely will report here. I'll make of it a habit.
Last Movie: My Dinner with Andre (Louis Malle, 1981) 4/10
Chris wrote: "Luffy wrote: "I'm rereading Ice Bound: A Doctor's Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole, with two ladies in a BR, and it will count for a Nonfiction challenge, but I won't ..."I do think so too! It's in my top 10 books ever :)
Last Movie: My Dinner with Andre (Louis Malle, 1981) 4/10
Just finished an incomplete copy of a short story collection Somebody's Luggage 4 of the stories (which I had) were written by Charles Dickens. I usually love him but most of these did not work for me. My edition was missing the 3 other stories that were written by other authors.
Chris wrote: "I usually love him but most of these did not work for me. My edition was missing the 3 other stories that were written by other authors."I've just finished the same book, Chris. Curiously, the Dickens stories in the collection are the ones I enjoyed least.
Honey in the Horn Pulitzer winner 1936. Might be dnf for me unless it gets better.Nope, can't do it.
I finished the allegorical novella
The Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and I started reading*
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
*after taking a small break first to read the short story Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx
I finished the MASSIVE Pulitzer Prize-winning single-volume history of the American Civil War
Battle Cry of Freedom by James M. McPherson
Rating: 5 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and I started reading a book that probably everyone but me has already read, or maybe it just seems that way
Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand
For the day of the book in Spain I finally decided to buy “Crime and Punishment” and read it. I’m on the page 200 more or less. I’m enjoying it so much, no regrets.
I am now reading a short novel "Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man" by James Joyce.
Judith Roser wrote: "For the day of the book in Spain I finally decided to buy “Crime and Punishment” and read it. I’m on the page 200 more or less. I’m enjoying it so much, no regrets."LOL Snap! I am currently re-reading C&P, enjoying it more than the first time, and on page 197!
Jane wrote: "I am now reading a short novel "Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man" by James Joyce."Joyce is another author beyond my comprehension. Wish you Happy Reading.
Last Movie: Cinema Paradiso (Giuseppe Tornatore, 1988) 5/10
Catching up on Classics (and lots more!)
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Good idea for Spring! I'm getting ready to reread Elizabeth & Her German Garden by Elizabeth von Arnim - maybe a bit more summery, but I'm looking forward to gardening season again.