John's 2022 100 Challenge

[madrano]

This book/category is something else i meant to ask when i went on my "romance whine". What is "37- Literature - fiction". Is it the "literature" that is the key word? If so, i'm not sure what it means. One presumes not mysteries, historical, thriller, graphic, horror, and adventure/espionage since they have their own numbers on our 100 DL. Is there anything else i should be looking at when making that selection?

[John]

I think it's where one puts literary fiction, novels, etc.

[madrano]

John, as in not falling under any other category? That makes sense and would also include "classics", which are their own category, i suppose. I appreciate your comment.

[John]

Well... I've finished Memoirs of Hecate County by Edmund Wilson, which I purchased for this challenge as it falls under category 5 (short story collection) and (43) a banned book.

Honestly, I don't think folks reading this comment would really enjoy it (to be reviewed later).

[madrano]

I've only read a bit from Wilson, around half of The Scrolls from the Dead Sea. This was in the '90s, years after the discovery of the scrolls. While i liked his writing (this was journalism, not fiction), we were more than halfway in and he had yet to quote from the scrolls at all. There were more issues but i won't bore folks here.

To learn that he wrote your selection is news, John. From what i read on the GR link, i suspect you are correct in thinking many of us wouldn't want to read it. The ratings from other GR readers are varied, i say that much. I look forward to your assessment. And getting two categories removed! Bravo!

[John]

Difficult topic (78)

After A Funeral by Diana Athill - when you go away for Christmas and your friend/lodger decides to commit suicide while you're gone.

[Alias Reader]

Well, that certainly fits the category !

[madrano]

How awful. I don't recall if Athill mentioned this in her first memoir, Somewhere Towards the End, although i do remember she mentioned him as a lover.

Finding her book at an estate we visited when there in '17, i picked up because i wasn't familiar with her name. The memoir was good, albeit full of name-dropping. Frankly, i knew only about half the names, so out of touch am i with contemporary British literature. Still, her writing and story telling pleased me.

Now she is dead but i see she had a follow-up memoir, Alive, Alive Oh!: And Other Things That Matter. I hope i can find it here. And i may well steal the title for my own #78 challenge. Thanks, John.

[John]

madrano wrote: "How awful. I don't recall if Athill mentioned this in her first memoir, Somewhere Towards the End, although i do remember she mentioned him as a lover.

Finding her book at an estate..."

She had a crush on him. He refused to deal with that until nearly the end when they had sex once. Review to follow, but the situation I think qualified as a "hot mess" dysfunction.

[madrano]

Sounds sad.

[Julie]

John wrote: "Difficult topic (78)

After A Funeral by Diana Athill - when you go away for Christmas and your friend/lodger decides to commit suicide while you're gone."

Is that a true story or fictional? Either way it does sound morbidly interesting!

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote:
Is that a true story or fictional? Either way it does sound morbidly interesting!

When I commented I thought it was a fiction novel. There is a Agatha Christie of the same name. After the Funeral

However, it seems After A Funeral by Diana Athill is a memoir.

[John]

Very much a true story!

[John]

I knew category 15 (under 125 pages) would be tough, so I'm using a book I bought for Spanish reading practice: La tumba de Vera Thwait: Crispin Horsfall. First of two books featuring a 42 year old never married guy living with his widowed mother in a 1930s English village. Agatha Christie this is not. He solves the mystery in realizing that two cushions (of 15) were missing from the parlor of Vera's family home.

[madrano]

LOL, John. Still i like the premise of the book. And it sounds as though the length works!

[Alias Reader]

John wrote: "I knew category 15 (under 125 pages) would be tough, so I'm using a book I bought for Spanish reading practice: La tumba de Vera Thwait: Crispin Horsfall. First of two books featuri..."

I tend to shy away from hefty tomes.

[madrano]

I waffle but i recently began wondering if this is yet another reason i'm dissatisfied with the recent fiction i've been reading--i've been leaning toward the 300-350 page mark, not much higher.

[Alias Reader]

madrano wrote: "I waffle but i recently began wondering if this is yet another reason i'm dissatisfied with the recent fiction i've been reading--i've been leaning toward the 300-350 page mark, not much higher."

When it comes to fiction I seldom want to read a 500 + page book. I will for nonfiction. I don't know why. It's not a iron clad rule for me, but seems to be the way I lean.

[John]

I would never have been able to deal with long Classics in print - remember, they were originally serialized! Unabridged audio the way to go for me!

[madrano]

John, i hear ya on that front. Perhaps it illustrates the beginning of "instant gratification" that we used to hear about years ago. It was mostly discussed when parents and experts talked about youngsters & their inability to w-a-i-t.

Yet i wonder if those long breaks between the next "chapter" didn't help readers keep alive (in their minds) the story, the writing, the plot and the characters in a way that our all-at-once books don't. Maybe this is why i have such trouble recalling what happened in some books?

[Rachel]

madrano wrote: "John, i hear ya on that front. Perhaps it illustrates the beginning of "instant gratification" that we used to hear about years ago. It was mostly discussed when parents and experts talked about yo..."

First, I read on a Kindle, second I am retired so I have lots of time.
I adore long books, I get excited when I see a book is 500 pages. It is such an accomplishment to complete. For certain, I am an outlier on this issue.

[madrano]

I like your comments, Rachel, about 500 paged books. As much as i relish reading a good Dickens novel, i haven't tackled any in several years because they seem so long. What the heck?!?! I know i'll be rewarded.

[John]

Number in title (10)


Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy by Tim Harford, which was an informative read, though in small doses.

[madrano]

John, i have a couple of books for the challenge which i also must read in small doses. Such books are overwhelming if i read one part after another. Yet, sometimes, as i do that, i feel as though i'm not working on the challenge at all. *sigh*

[Alias Reader]

John wrote: "Number in title (10)


Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy by Tim Harford, which was an informative read, though in small doses."

Good one ! That's not an easy one to fulfill.

[Rachel]

Books like these I could only read in small doses. I am a fictionista.

[Alias Reader]

:) Fictionista. Good one.

[John]

Brazil: Life, Blood and Soul

Category 42 (DNF): I'd set this one aside a long time ago without any thoughts of returning to it until this challenge came along.

Category 73 (LGBT): He makes a point of seeking out life stories from gay Brazilians.

[madrano]

Well done, John. Looking at my list of Books Not Finished (Yes, i have one!), i feel i could almost have a 100 Challenge list for next year, creating my own categories. Most of them are books from which i found (& kept) quotes, even though i didn't finish the book and knew i probably wouldn't.

John, have you been to Brazil? The only South American country we've visited was Columbia, part of our Miami to Alaska to Seattle month-long cruise. We say we'd like to go there but the continent seldom makes our list in actuality.

[Alias Reader]

Very nice, John.

I have to look over the list and see if my last few reads can fit any categories that I haven't already filled.

[John]

madrano wrote: "Well done, John. Looking at my list of Books Not Finished (Yes, i have one!), i feel i could almost have a 100 Challenge list for next year, creating my own categories. Most of them are books from ..."

Not Brazil, only Argentina with a day trip to Uruguay.

[madrano]

Thanks, John. I suspect we will only get to any more SA if it's part of a 120 day cruise!

[John]

Marrow and Bone



Category (1) as cover influenced my pick. More to say in review, but not sure I was target audience?

[madrano]

I can see why the cover might draw you in, John. It's colorful and there are questions to be asked about it. Do you know if it was made for the book or if it's a museum work of art?

[John]

Good question! A pre-existing piece of art called The Refugees, which is fitting.

[Alias Reader]

John wrote: "Marrow and Bone



Category (1) as cover influenced my pick. More to say in review, but not sure I was target audience?"


That is an interesting cover.

[madrano]

Thanks, John. I looked up the artist, Ronald Brooks Kitaj. Here's his Wiki page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._B._K...

[John]

Humor (29)

I have enjoyed previous books by Laurie Notaro, but Housebroken: Admissions of an Untidy Life struck me as often mean-spirited. Would've abandoned it, if not for this challenge.

[madrano]

I wonder if each generation has its own irreverent homemaker? This book sounds like an updated Erma Bombeck, with a touch of Peg Bracken. Later it was Sidetracked Home Executives: From Pigpen to Paradise, written by sisters Pam Young and Peggy Jones. It neat to keep updated...sometimes.

You mentioned Notaro seemed mean-spirited. This is a twist from the above authors. They tended to only talk about their own shortcomings, as opposed to those of others. It helped them feel more identifiable. This may be a trend.

And then there was Heloise, mother, followed by daughter. Perhaps the doyennes of the '50s-70s? I suppose Bracken did get a bit touchy about the mom, but nothing mean-spirited, imo.

Sorry, John, i rifted from your post. I may well pick this one up just to see how things have changed. Or not, given your temptation to abandon it.

[John]

madrano wrote: "I wonder if each generation has its own irreverent homemaker? This book sounds like an updated Erma Bombeck, with a touch of Peg Bracken. Later it was [book:Sidetrack..."

This is one author I'd definitely recommend be read in order. Starting with this one would be a real mistake. It's as though she summoned up enough effort to fulfill the contract here.

[Alias Reader]

John wrote: "Humor (29)

I have enjoyed previous books by Laurie Notaro, but Housebroken: Admissions of an Untidy Life struck me as often mean-spirited. Would've abandoned it, if n..."

That's too bad. The synopsis sounds so promising. :(

[madrano]

Thanks for the warning, John. I'm not sure i'm up to that, i'm sad to admit. There are days i just feel too old to listen to someone else's babble. (Certainly tomorrow will be better!)

[John]

Remember, I'm saying I cannot recommend this particular book. She was funny until this one, so I can recommend reading her humor in order. Do Not Start Here is my point.

[madrano]

Got it. Thanks for the clarification, John.

[John]

Country I'd Like to Visit (70)

A Late Divorce by A.B. Yehoshua is set in Israel.

[Alias Reader]

That sounds like an interesting book, John. The title is new to me.

[madrano]

Well done, John. Israel is a nation we would like to see, as well.

[John]

Review later, but this might be a concern ... rotating points of view from each family member. Reader must figure out whose head we're in as it's implied not spelled out. A couple of them took me a while. He's a good writer and I felt a solid sense of place with this one.

[madrano]

Oh dear. Thanks for that warning. It honestly helps get my mind in gear knowing that ahead of time.

[Rachel]

I am sad to say my library does not offer that book. It would be great to read it. I read Journey to the End of the Millennium. If you want to read Israeli authors, try Amos Oz as well.