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What I'm Reading - May - June 2021
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Mary Anne
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May 02, 2021 05:02AM
Wow, it's already May! Time to start a new thread here. So what are you reading now?
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Trancendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi, Wild Irish Roots by Tricia O'Malley, and The Other Child by Chanel Harry.
I was pleased to see Mary Anning added to the Little People BIG DREAMS series by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara. All kids love collecting things, so they'd enjoy seeing how this little girl grew up finding fossils and becoming famous.
4★ Link to my Mary Anning review, including several illustrations
Everybody's Fool by Richard Russo is the long-awaited sequel to the popular Nobody's Fool. I'm happy to report that Sully and all were still at their stations in the White Horse and Hattie's when I left. (But you'll want to stay clear of the dog.)
4★ Link to my review of Everybody's Fool
I just enjoyed Trust, the third of Aussie author, journalist, and former foreign correspondent Chris Hammer's Martin Scarsden series. Sydney is at its corrupt, murderous worst.
4★ Link to my review of Trust
Home – Nnedi Okorafor – 4****
Book 2 in the marvelous “Binti” science fiction trilogy. Okorafor is a wonderful storyteller! I love the way she crafts her tale, combining science fiction and traditional mysticism. I also like how she weaves in a message of social justice and against racism. Binti is one strong female lead. I’m looking forward to Book 3, to see how (I’m not even wondering whether) Binti manages to bring peace between warring factions and ensure the future of her people.
My full review HERE
I finished a very powerful book that I wish more people would read, The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-term Health. My summary/review is here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm about halfway through now with Hamnet for our upcoming discussion. I hope that a lot of you are reading it; it's an easy, pleasant read.
James Joyce’s A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN, narrated by Donal Donnelly. A category in this year’s DMPL annual book challenge is to re-read a book you enjoyed in high school or college. I chose this one because I remember loving it but, although I remember the cover of my paperback copy in detail, I really couldn’t remember any details. So I brought my older, more mature, more well-read and knowledgeable self back to this book. What a fabulous treat! I think I probably understand it more thoroughly now than I did 55 years ago. And it brought back memories of my own feelings and angst at that age, which I can look at now with more insight and tenderness than I could then.
Mary, I just saw this book on my bookcase this morning and love your comments. I haven’t read it since college, some 50+ years ago, and hope to read it again before long. I hope my experience is as wonderful as yours.
Mary wrote: "James Joyce’s A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN, narrated by Donal Donnelly. A category in this year’s DMPL annual book challenge is to re-read a book you enjoyed in high school or college. I..."Mary, I loved it, too and was just trying to choose an audiobook version — Donal Donnelly, Colin Farrell or a BBC Dramatization — I’m not sure which narrator I’ll choose.
I just finished The Lie
by Helen Dunmore; it was harrowing and very well written.And Lost in a Good Book
by Jasper Fforde which was great fun though not as good as The Eyre Affair
It's almost beyond me how Aussie journalist Shannon Molloy survived his teens as a gay kid in a country town, but I'm glad he did! His memoir, Fourteen: My year of darkness, and the light that followed is sad and funny and worth a listen. 
4★ Link to my review of Fourteen
I can see a market opening up for dog buttons! How Stella Learned to Talk: The Groundbreaking Story of the World's First Talking Dog is a fascinating look at author Christina Hunger's work with pre-lingual kids who need help communicating and how she adapted her techniques so her dog Stella can communicate. And boy, does Stella 'talk'! Terrific!
5★ Link to my review of How Stella Learned to Talk
I loved Aussie author Garry Disher's country cop mystery in the dry, dusty (dangerous) outback of South Australia. Peace is the 2nd book featuring demoted cop Hirsch. The powers-that-be did not appreciate his whistle-blowing.
4.5~5★ Link to my review of Peace
The Last Reunion by Aussie Kayte Nunn is historical fiction with a war story (Burma), romance, and mystery (stolen works of art).
4★ Link to my review of The Last Reunion
Blacktop Wasteland is where author S.A. Cosby's Beauregard 'Bug' Montage earned his reputation as a high-speed wheelman and risks everything for one last job. Promise. Yeah, right.
5★ Link to my review of Blacktop Wasteland
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Blacktop Wasteland is where author S.A. Cosby's Beauregard 'Bug' Montage earned his reputation as a high-speed wheelman and risks everything for one last job. Prom..."Oh yeah, thoroughly enjoyed this one. Good blend of blazing action and tough but poignant family life. I believe he has new one coming out shortly, with new protagonist.
Mary wrote: "James Joyce’s A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN, narrated by Donal Donnelly. A category in this year’s DMPL annual book challenge is to re-read a book you enjoyed in high school or college. I..."Recently bought an old Heritage Press edition with good illustrations. Been 30+ years since first read. Need to reread.
Tom wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Blacktop Wasteland is where author S.A. Cosby's Beauregard 'Bug' Montage earned his reputation as a high-speed wheelman and risks everythi..."It really was an awful but breathtaking story, Tom. I'll need to steel myself for the next one, I think. :)
Frans de Waal’s MAMA’S LAST HUG, narrated by L.J. Ganser. I’ve been interested in primatology since I was in college. This book added to my knowledge base. It was interesting, clearly written and capably narrated. The conclusion poses ethical considerations for the humane treatment of all animals who are, scientists are coming to believe, sentient creatures. An interesting statistic to consider in that regard: 3/4 of the world’s vertebrate biomass is in the farming industry.
Another cute Story Without Words, Polar Bear Bowler: A Story Without Words by Karl Beckstrand. I can imagine little kids making up dialogue and "telling the stories" themselves.
4★ LInk to my review of Polar Bear Bowler with enough of the pictures to get the idea of the story.
William Faulkner was a giant of American Literature (with a capital L!), and I just enjoyed his short story A Rose for Emily. It's about an elderly widow who gets more and more reclusive and peculiar.
4★ Link to my Rose for Emily review with a link to the story.
Inhaled the latest Harlan Coben mystery, Win during a couple of days at the coast. It's not Shakespeare, but what Coben aims for is entertainment, and in Win he's created a unique and amusing character that is easily enjoyed if you don't take him too real-world seriously. Win started out in Coben's Myron Bolitar series as a colorful side character; if you've not read Coben before I recommend starting with the first of the Myron Bolitar series.Just started listening to an audio version (all I could get from library) of Beach Music. Am having the odd experience of not liking the narrator, who reads in a fast, no nonsense style, while the language of the book is lush and dramatic..., so I'm experiencing a disconnect. I may end up waiting to get the book and read it.
A Summoner had a pretty free rein in 14th century England. He could decide you were guilty of something and summon you to court - unless of course you bribed him. And he never paid for anything. Who would dare charge him? In The Summoner's Sins, author Keith Moray continues his series, which is pretty gruesome.
3★ Link to my review of The Summoner's Sins
Deesha Philyaw’s THE SECRET LIVES OF CHURCH LADIES, narrated by Janina Edwards. I very much enjoyed this debut collection of stories. The author displayed her talent for capturing the details of place and time, the quirks of character, and the conversational rhythm and sound that make a story come alive in the reader’s mind. I will watch for her future works. Readers who object to explicit sexuality probably will not like these stories.
I just finished The Force by Don Winslow. When I finished this, I was depressed.. This time he handles the NYC police. Yes, they are corrupt and take bribes, steal drug money, but they are nothing compared to the DAs, the City officials, the politicians, and the federal agencies. The higher in line you go the worse the corruption gets - so never trust anyone.
Watching Atlantic Crossing (almost done!) inspired me to finally take Those Angry Days: Roosevelt, Lindbergh, and America's Fight Over World War II, 1939-1941 by Lynne Olson off the shelf.I've just started "really" reading it after reading references to Eleanor Roosevelt via the index.
Mary Ellen wrote: "Watching Atlantic Crossing (almost done!) inspired me to finally take Those Angry Days: Roosevelt, Lindbergh, and America's Fight Over World War II, 1939-1941 by [author:Lynne Olson..."Lynne Olson is a favorite of mine.
After many years, I loved my second reading of a favourite, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which won author Mark Haddon many awards. Young Christopher is a persistent, special, very trying kid. Love him!
5★ Link to my Curious Incident ... review
I just enjoyed NZ/Aussie author Jacqueline Bublitz's new mystery, narrated by a murdered girl, that should stir up some good book club conversations, Before You Knew My Name.
3.5~4★ Link to my review of Before You Knew My Name
I'm reading From the Cradle To the Grave by Patricia McDonald, Dirty C. O. by Rod Ballard, Poison Lake by L. G. Davis and Transcendent Kingdom by Yaas Gyasi.
Louise Erdrich’s THE NIGHT WATCHMAN, narrated by the author. This book is based on her grandfather and his opposition to House Concurrent Resolution 108. I don’t think it is one of her best books but I enjoyed it and learned a lot. It prompted me to do some further reading on HCR 108 and Senator Watkins, a major proponent of termination of federal recognition and support of tribes, thereby abrogating previous treaties.
I read that about a year ago. Agree it’s not one of her best, but I sure learned a lot.
Mary wrote: "Deesha Philyaw’s THE SECRET LIVES OF CHURCH LADIES, narrated by Janina Edwards. I very much enjoyed this debut collection of stories. The author displayed her talent for capturing the details of pl..."Not one I've come across but now on my list. Mary, if you are reading Yaa Gyasi's Transcendent Kingdom with CR group then it could be an interesting tie in as church plays a huge part in Gifty's story. I read the book as my in person book club choice for our last meeting
Has anyone read anything by Ben Lerner? I'm 2/3 the way through his novel Leaving the Atocha Station. It is a rambling, uncertain, first person fictional (?) memoire of an American student's time in Spain. He's drunk and or drugged up for a lot of it, a poet supposedly writing but with no intention of completing the work required by his scholarship - his project is “a long, research-driven poem” exploring the legacy of the Spanish Civil War about which he knows nothing - instead he is hiding behind the supposed inadequacy of his Spanish as he negotiates friendships and lovers, translators of his poems, reading Tolstoy, Ashbery and Cerventes in a spaced out stupor. All that said the novel and the writings is very engaging, oftimes funny, clearly the writer has a way with words and a little research showed me that he is in fact a published poet. The Audio version is narrated by the author himself and I found it very good to listen to, helping me truly 'hear' the voice of his main character and get the book's humour. I'm very taken with his writing hence my initial question.
Ruth wrote: "I read that about a year ago. Agree it’s not one of her best, but I sure learned a lot."I agree that there was a lot to learn from this book. What our country did is criminal.
The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin, I picked it up after CR read one of her short stories. I’m enjoying it; it has the driving rhythm of rap and the energy of a super hero movie. I haven’t read much fantasy or sci-fi but I like this surreal tale.
Sheila, Transcendent Kingdom is on my list and I will try to read it in July with the group.
Mary Beard’s SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome, narrated by Phyllida Nash. Very interesting. Well written. I appreciated her analysis as well as her inclusion of information about the role of women and their daily lives. This book is not something I would ordinarily choose to read but it was recommended by the instructor of a 2-part class on Ancient Rome and art history that I streamed via Smithsonian Associates and zoom. I decided I hadn’t paid any attention to ancient Roman history since high school and college and I’d like to catch up with current research and thought. I’m glad it was available as an audiobook so I didn’t have to turn actual pages; it made a good exercise companion for the last week and a half or so.
Mary wrote: "Mary Beard’s SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome, narrated by Phyllida Nash. Very interesting. Well written. I appreciated her analysis as well as her inclusion of information about the role of women a..."I enjoyed this book, too. Thought I knew Roman history pretty well, but Beards fills in lots of gaps for me, filling out the grand, big picture in the process. Her essay collection is quite good, too. Confronting the Classics: Traditions, Adventures and Innovations(and available in audio for stair-master readers!)
Quite a Year For Plums – Bailey White – 3***
A charming look at the eccentric people who inhabit a small town in Georgia. I had a hard time getting into the book. That was my problem, I think, rather than the book’s. I usually enjoy these slower, meandering, character-driven works, but it just didn’t quite work for me at this time. It was okay. There was nothing really wrong with it. But I barely remember it just a day after finishing it.
My full review HERE
I remember Bailey White from years ago, short snippets on NPR.
Valentine is a debut by Elizabeth Wetmore about the dangers for all the women in the West Texas oil country where men are men and women are there to serve.
3.5★ Link to my review of Valentine
Aussie author Paul Starr has used his own experiences as inspiration for Prior Regrets. Does Mark Prior, a young backpacker from England have regrets two decades after his stay in Israel?
3★ Link to my review of Prior Regrets
V.E. Schwab’s THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE. I thoroughly enjoyed this inventive imagining of a Faustian deal. The plot moves back and forth in time revealing not only plot but also character, place, and historical context. This edition is superbly narrated by Julie Whelan who heightens the sense of adventure and suspense with her voice.
I read my first Faulkner, “Absalom, Absalom” and loved it on many levels. So I decided to read another. As much as I loved Absalom, I was tremendously disappointed by “As I Lay Dying”. That book was pointless to me and did not offer anything new. Can anyone suggest the next Faulkner to read?
Light in August would be my suggestion, Joyful. It’s dark and mesmerizing with a small cast of misfits in a 1930s small town in the segregated South. On my list of all time favorites.
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Valentine is a debut by Elizabeth Wetmore about the dangers for all the women in the West Texas oil country where men are men and women are there to serve.[bookco..."
I rated it *** stars. It was gritty and raw. It showed Odessa Texas in the mid-70s, and truly, the town today is as horrible as it was then. It's the oilfields of Texas and is truly like hell on earth, and it smells horribly just like in the story. The men are damaged because of the nature of the work they do - men's men, macho, dirty.
Joyful wrote: "I read my first Faulkner, “Absalom, Absalom” and loved it on many levels. So I decided to read another. As much as I loved Absalom, I was tremendously disappointed by “As I Lay Dying”. That book wa..."As I Lay Dying is my favorite. Many years ago, when Constant Reader was much smaller, we went on a Faulkner binge. Read almost everything of his. We had a great time.
Gina wrote: “The men are damaged because of the nature of the work they do—men’s men, macho, dirty.”Having worked in the oilfield myself (in Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska, not Texas), and having been born & raised around others who did so as well, I take some exception to this. There certainly were some misogynistic, macho men in the patch. There were also a lot of others. And I’m not saying “not all roughnecks”; I’m saying those kind of men weren’t even necessarily the norm. The oilfield has a different culture in different places. I wouldn’t live in Rock Springs, WY again for any reason, and the oilfield is partly why. But in the Nebraska panhandle and in northeast Colorado, it was a perfectly fine job. The work was the same, more or less (rough on the body, certainly, and taxing on relationships), but the culture was different—in both locations, the attitudes of oilfield workers (towards women, e.g.) didn’t vary greatly from the attitudes of the miners, farmers, ranchers, factory workers, or other men around the area.
I haven’t read this book, or spent much time in TX, but there’s more to a deep cultural misogyny than just the type of work people are doing.
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