What non-mystery books are you reading? (2023-25)

[Sandy]

I re-read Dear Committee Members. A third book in the series was just published and that reminded me how much I enjoyed the first. Lots of humor with a touch of poignancy. I've never written letters of recommendation and I doubt I should learn from this protagonist.

[Sandy]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’m reading Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick, one of my favorite historians"

It seems I own this on kindle; maybe I can fit in for the Thanksgiving season.

[Susan in NC]

It’s very interesting, I got it on Kindle sale awhile ago when I started following the author. My library had the book on CD, which I’m also enjoying.

[Jackie]

I just finished Dirty Thirty the latest Stephanie Plum novel. I don't think this would count as a "mystery" what do y'all think?

and I'd love to talk about the ending with anyone else who has read it. (view spoiler)[ is it a cliffhanger or is it the LAST book? because if so it's a really rushed ending. But it kind of feels like the end. maybe the author hasn't made up her own mind? (hide spoiler)]

[Sandy]

Jackie wrote: "I just finished Dirty Thirty the latest Stephanie Plum novel. I don't think this would count as a "mystery" what do y'all think?

and I'd love to talk about the ending with anyone ..."

I really liked Stephanie Plum for a while but gave up somewhere in the teen's. I really disliked one of her potential boyfriends and got tired of her indecision. Never read them for the mystery element, just for the humor. The author now has other series and thirty is a nice round number so maybe it is the end.

[Susan in NC]

I’ve been wanting to read more of Barbara W. Tuchman, one of my favorite historians, so I thought this would be a good time to tackle her first book, Bible and Sword: England and Palestine from the Bronze Age to Balfour, published in 1956. A lot has happened in the region since then, obviously, but so much is rooted in the past. And I find her style readable and evocative.

Next month I want to tackle A History of the Arab Peoples by Albert Hourani, which has been on my shelves for years! I belonged to one of this history book clubs in the 1990s, acquired a few chunky doorstops I want to finally get around to reading - unfortunately, there’s always new nonfiction tempting me!

I’ve been working on my personal nonfiction reading project for a few years now, strongly leaning into history (although I’ve read some amazing popular science titles, too!) One of my goals in the new year is to read more non-western history. Any titles anyone wants to pass along, I’d appreciate it!

[Jan C]

Sandy wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I just finished Dirty Thirty the latest Stephanie Plum novel. I don't think this would count as a "mystery" what do y'all think?

and I'd love to talk about the endi..."

I think I gave up at #2-3. I just couldn't deal with her any more.

[Sarah]

Sandy: I didn't realize there were two other books in the "Dear Committee Members" series, and I'll have to find them at one of the local libraries, since I need a good laugh.

I'm currently reading the latest novel by Jenny Erpenbeck, "Kairos," translated by Michael Hofman.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Nominated for the National Book Award for Translated Literature, 2023. Author of "Go, Went, Gone," described by Claire Messud in the NYT as "One of Germany's finest contemporary writers." Erpenbeck manages to capture subtleties of emotion and the effects of political and cultural change with directness and originality.

[Sandy]

I read Three Fires last night.

My review:
Absolutely a riveting read with so many connections to today. Short and to the point; history brought up to date using current language and referencing later events. Being squeamish I glazed over many descriptions.

[Gary]

Recently finished Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan book 10 in The Wheel of Time series. I only rated it 3 stars.

[Susan in NC]

Started A History of the Arab Peoples by Albert Hourani, and Dr. Wortle's School by Anthony Trollope.

[Sarah]

This sounds ridiculous, but I had to go without a computer for a little over a week, since my laptop died and I had to depend on my cell phone to do everything a computer does. Some people can use Zoom on their iPhone, but not I, and reading my email turned into a nightmare, having to go through each one by one, and trying to remember passwords. I received notifications of group comments, but have a lot of catching up to do. In the meantime, I'm reading former Guardian China correspondent Tania Branigan's Red Memory: The Afterlives of China's Cultural Revolution
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
Most of my own family was "sent to the country," except for a few cousins who were two young and left in Beijing for my grandmother to raise. But no one will share any details or personal expereince with me, maybe not with each other. Part of Chinese and personal history I don't think I'll reallly understand.

[Sandy]

Sarah wrote: "This sounds ridiculous, but I had to go without a computer for a little over a week, since my laptop died and I had to depend on my cell phone to do everything a computer does. Some people can use ..."

While I can understand your relatives not wanting to relive their expedience, it will be a shame if that knowledge dies with them. I hope you can convince them to share.

And a week with only a phone for access sounds hateful to me.

[Sarah]

Thanks, Sandy, for your comments. Only when I'm without a computer (due to power outage or, more lengthy, because of built in technological obsolescence), do I realize how dependent I am on my laptop.

Unfortunately, everyone in my father's generation has now died, with the passing of my third uncle last Spring. Everyone nagged my aunt to write her memories down for future generations, and she talked about the Japanese Occupation and everything but the years between 1966-1976, i.e. the Cultural Revolution. It's hard for some in the West to believe or understand, but some in China still think the methods used were correct, no longer ignoring the problems and voices of the poor. Eerie overtones of Trump, dictators, and far Rightists in other countries.

[Susan in NC]

Sarah, I hope you enjoy, or at least find that book informative. Thanks for the title, hadn’t heard of it, but am trying to add more non-western history to my personal nonfiction reading project.

[Susan in NC]

I started and put aside “History of Arab Peoples” for now, got bogged down in conflict among early Muslim believers - not up for religious conflict and hate right now, so started Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues byJonathan Kennedy from my library. Good old science - bacteria and viruses don’t care what you believe or follow.

Started listening to A Christmas Carol beautifully narrated by Hugh Grant on the recommendation of a GR friend. I listen to and reread a beautiful illustrated copy I bought to read to my son years ago every year. Yet to find a better example of what I see as the “true” meaning of Christmas! Looking forward to continuing with that while I knit this weekend.

[Susan_MG]

Taking a break from fictional detectives, police and spies to read Straight On Til Morning: The life of Beryl Markham. I read Markham’s book, West Into The Night years ago and was intrigued when I found a mention of a biography.

[Sandy]

Susan_MG wrote: "Taking a break from fictional detectives, police and spies to read Straight On Til Morning: The life of Beryl Markham. I read Markham’s book, West Into The Night years ago and was intrigued when I ..."

I quite liked West with the Night when I read it years ago.

[Keith]

I have just finished Lorac's 'Rope's End, Rogue's End' the first I have read of hers. An extremely convoluted plot, rather slow to get started and I struggled a bit, it didn't 'grab' me for a while. Howeever it was worthwhile in the end. I have recently bought a 'new' (used) Nikon compact camera, a real beast of a thing, but the owners manual with it is in Japanese! I managed to find a quite large 'Guide' to the camera in English and am working through that to learn all the details of what the camera can do, which is quite astonishing really, about 95% of my big Sony DSLR and it fits in a pocket so it's much easier to take travelling than my backpack full of different lenses etc which is really getting rather heavy to carry these days, I'm no spring chicken any longer.
I have yet to choose one of the current reads in my Kindle library, there are only 24 hours in the day and I keep quite busy.

[Franky]

Currently reading The Mote in God's Eye, The Left Hand of Darkness, and The Christmas Hirelings.

[Jill]

I have finished Dalziel and Pascoe Hunt the Christmas Killer & Other Stories and am now starting Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva

[Jill]

Finished Mr. Dickens and His Carol which I really liked. Whether that is because I'm getting more into a Christmas feeling or not, I'm not sure.
Now quickly reading Independently Minded: The Rise of Nigel Farage A freebie from a couple of years ago. Farage has been in the news lately as he got the bronze prize in a TV show

[Jackie]

I just started Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World and have already learned a lot.

[Sandy]

I'm reading Wandering through Life: A Memoir, a memoir by the author of one of our buddy read series. Even before Italy she lived in several other countries: Iran, Saudi Arabia, China.

[Susan_MG]

I’m reading Why This World A Biography Of Clarice Lispector in small doses, a chapter or two at a time.

I am also listening to Fly Girls, Keith O’Brien, nonfiction about the early women of aviation. The narrator seemed a little too dramatic in early chapters but now has smoothed out to a normal level for this time in history. There is quite a lot written about the men supporting the women too.

[Susan in NC]

I’m reading Homo Deus: A History of Tomorrow, on my nonfiction TBR for years - the author has written another book since then! So many books…but seemed a good place to start my nonfiction reading year, saw it at my library and couldn’t resist.

About 80% through Miss Marjoribanks by Mrs. Oliphant, but her verbose, Victorian writing style really doesn’t suit my reading mood right now - I’ll finish it eventually, but not in a hurry for now, too many other books I want to be getting on with from my recent library visit. Also, been listening to much of it on audiobook while knitting, but a Librivox is all I could find, and those are generally a disappointment - especially with such a humorous book, I can imagine a talented narrator making this book quite entertaining.

[Marcus]

Confessions, by Saint Augustine.

[Judy]

Marcus wrote: "Confessions, by Saint Augustine."

What's that like to read, Marcus? I've always wondered about it - I don't know much about Saint Augustine beyond the famous early prayer "Oh Lord, make me pure, but not yet."

[Sandy]

Judy wrote: "Marcus wrote: "Confessions, by Saint Augustine."

What's that like to read, Marcus? I've always wondered about it - I don't know much about Saint Augustine beyond the famous early prayer "Oh Lord,..."

Never heard that prayer and I like it!

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Marcus wrote: "Confessions, by Saint Augustine."

What's that like to read, Marcus? I've always wondered about it - I don't know much about Saint Augustine beyond the famous early prayer "Oh Lord,..."

Same, I was raised Catholic, but not familiar with that one!

[Susan in NC]

Currently reading Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic by Tom Holland - found a Large Print edition at my library and have the audible, so easy on my eyes, always a pleasure. I’ve learned a lot through our reading the Falco series in this group, but I wanted to learn more about the Republic.

[Kirsten]

Jill wrote: "I have finished Dalziel and Pascoe Hunt the Christmas Killer & Other Stories and am now starting Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva"

I love Dalziel & Pascoe!

[Susan_MG]

I just opened a book by Linda Stratmann, The Secret Poisoner, A Century of Murder. It’s a book of stories, a chapter each, about past poisoning cases. The introduction set up the book well by telling the story of a servant who poisoned her household, probably. This is historical nonfiction true crime from 1809 and later with extensive research and annotation.

[Jill]

I am just about to start The Borrowers Aloft by Mary Norton

[Craftyhj]

Jill wrote: "I am just about to start The Borrowers Aloft by Mary Norton"

That brings back childhood memories! enjoy!

[Sandy]

Craftyhj wrote: "Jill wrote: "I am just about to start The Borrowers Aloft by Mary Norton"

That brings back childhood memories! enjoy!"

I discovered them in adulthood and enjoyed them immensely.

[Craftyhj]

Sandy wrote: "Craftyhj wrote: "Jill wrote: "I am just about to start The Borrowers Aloft by Mary Norton"

That brings back childhood memories! enjoy!"

I discovered them in adulthood ..."

we are never too old for a good children's book.

[Susan in NC]

Recently finished The Road to Guilford Courthouse: The American Revolution in the Carolinas, special to me as Guilford Courthouse is now a beautiful wooded national park in my town, and I’ve spent many happy hours there on the walking trails!

I’ve also read The Lark byE. Nesbit, Summerhills by D.E. Stevenson, and The Worshipful Lucia by E.F. Benson. I like to balance my nonfiction and mystery books with light, charming plots and humor!

[Jackie]

I agree with this completely, Craftyhj!

[Judy]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’ve also read The Lark by E. Nesbit, Summerhills by D.E. Stevenson, and The Worshipful Lucia by E.F. Benson. ..."

I liked Summerhills, though I liked the previous book, Amberwell, even better. Those are probably my favourites by D.E. Stevenson so far.

[Susan in NC]

Same here! I read Amberwell because it was book 1, but I think I liked it best as well. Also my favorite Stevenson novels so far - I’ve enjoyed every one of her books I’ve read, but these two were very touching.

[Susan in NC]

I just started The Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton - library paperback has teeny print, more and more a problem, has me searching for ebooks so I can blow up the fonts!

[Kirsten]

Just finished reading a young adult fantasy this afternoon: Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

[Jill]

Finished The Borrowers Aloft. Loved it! What saddens me is there is only one left to read.
Now starting V for Victory by Lissa Evans I read the first two and don't know why I have left it so long to get to this one.

[Sarah]

Love some of the books mentioned above, especially E. Nesbit and Anya Seton. Susan in NC wrote: "I like to balance my nonfiction and mystery books with light, charming plots and humor!" Ditto! I'm reading a very heavy non-fiction memoir, "Cold Crematorium: Reporting from the Land of Auschwitz,: by Jozsef Debreczezeni, with a Forward by Jonathan Freedland. I can't burn my way through this short volume without breathing space, so I'm simultaneously reading Charlotte Mendelson's novel "The Exhibitionist," named Book of the Year by The Times (UK). Although Mendelson is the gardening correspondent for The New Yorker, I think she's pretty much unknown on this side of the Pond, and this book is SO BRITISH, in style, humour, and outlook. Now I want to read her other work.

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[Susan in NC]

Oh, Sarah, good for you, and thanks for the author/title - I’m a firm believer a gardener (or garden writer) must have a bit of hope in their soul, the very basis of gardening to me has always been to look ever forward- what shall I plant next spring? Have I got the space/location for an herb garden/veggie plot/pollinator bed? How can I keep the squirrels from digging up my coleus pots? ;o)

[Jill]

So you have squirrel problems too. Every planted bulb here gets dug up and eaten.

[Keith]

We have no squirrels in this neck of the woods although we do have stoats and possums - and hedgehogs
Right now I have a Naomi Marsh, 'When in Rome' almost half way through

[Susan in NC]

Jill wrote: "So you have squirrel problems too. Every planted bulb here gets dug up and eaten."

I feel your pain! They leave my daffodils alone, but in summer I used to plant pots of coleus and wax begonias on my shaded front porch; for years I enjoyed the colorful display. Then my neighbor, a lovely lady and nature lover, started putting out peanuts in the shell for the squirrels and other critters - who then proceeded to dig up every bit of free earth to bury the treats - including my beautiful pots! They’d just sit their fluffy butts in there (on top of my plants), digging up the rest of the plants to bury nuts! They totally destroyed the pots, I’d come out to check and find dead, withered bits, or entire plants, on the ground, big mounds of disturbed potting soil - they are destructive little buggers!

[Susan in NC]

Keith wrote: "We have no squirrels in this neck of the woods although we do have stoats and possums - and hedgehogs
Right now I have a Naomi Marsh, 'When in Rome' almost half way through"

We have possums, but I’ve not had any problems with them in my garden - they make the dogs crazy if they wander across your yard!