What I'm Reading - May/June 2023

[Theresa]

I just watched the film based on "Foster" last week. The film title is "The Quiet Girl." It was pretty good - I gave it 4 stars out of 5. I liked that most of the dialogue was in Gaelic, but for that reason it would not be a good film for those who don't like subtitles. I got it on DVD from Netflix.
https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Qui...

[Sue]

I wonder if Netflix will add it to their streaming list since I understand they are discontinuing the dvds.

[Ann]

I'm all in for Claire Keegan. Including her name.. love all the vowels

[Barbara]

Thanks, Theresa! You're the only other person I know who gets DVDs from Netflix. I loved the novella.

[Lyn]

I just finished The Unseen World. It was a little different than anything I've read, and I really enjoyed it. 5 stars.

[Ann D]

The Quiet Girl. I am fine with subtitles. It looks like we can get the movie through Roku billing it through our Apple TV account for $5.99. Thanks for your review.

[Book Concierge]

The Lager Queen of Minnesota – J Ryan Stradl – 4****
Helen and Edith are estranged sisters. Helen convinced their father to leave her the farm, and she and her husband started a very successful brewery with that nest egg. Edith lives quietly, working two jobs and raising her granddaughter, Diana. Stradal reveals the intergenerational story through multiple points of view. At its core this is a story about family. About the ties that bind us whether we recognize them or not. About perseverance and strength of character. About facing our fear of failure and taking risks. It’s about love and forgiveness.
LINK to my full review

[Sue]

Thanks for the information, Ann.

[Book Concierge]

Gods of Jade And Shadow – Silvia Moreno-Garcia – 3***
Digital audiobook performed by Yetta Gottesman.
Fantasy is not my thing, but this book completely captured me. I loved Casiopea, a young woman who is intelligent, curious, resourceful, and determined. She’s not about to take guff from anyone – human or demon. She’s up for every challenge she’s presented with on this crazy journey to help the Mayan god of death regain his throne. I loved the rather open-ended conclusion. Where will she go? I can only imagine, but I’d be willing to read about her further adventures.
LINK to my full review

[Donna]

Book Concierge wrote: "

The Lager Queen of Minnesota
– J Ryan Stradl – 4****
Helen and Edith are estranged sisters. Helen convinced their father to leave her the farm..."

I just finished Kitchens of the Great Midwest by the same author - a very creative parody of foodie culture and the story of a young girl who becomes a world renowned chef.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tamara]

I read Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati.
It is a mythic retelling of the story of Clytemnestra. Clytemnestra is depicted as a feminist who is unafraid to challenge the rampant misogyny in Ancient Greece. I thought it was very well done, especially since major events and the Greek heroes who populate them are seen through Clytemnestra's unflattering lens.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lynn]

Donna wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "

The Lager Queen of Minnesota
– J Ryan Stradl – 4****
Helen and Edith are estranged sisters. Helen convinced their father..."

I just realized why this author sounds so familiar - his book Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club has been on almost every recent list of book recommendations I've seen. I'm on a waiting list for it at my local library, but the list is long.

[Book Concierge]

Firekeeper’s Daughter – Angeline Boulley – 4****
Book on CD narrated by Isabella Star LeBlanc
Boulley’s debut is a gripping story. Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine is a marvelous character, the daughter of an Ojibwe man and a white woman, she doesn’t quite fit in either in her hometown or on the nearby reservation. She’s on the path to success, intent on a career in medicine. But she IS a teenager, and her emotions sometimes overwhelm her. Boulley keeps the tension high with a number of twists and turns in the plot. As happens in real life, not all the bad guys get what’s coming to them, but the ending is nevertheless satisfying.
LINK to my full review

[Mary Anne]

I started reading Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin prior to the reading list nomination period, so I will save my comments until our official discussion.

[Tamara]

I read The Hero of This Book by Elizabeth McCracken. McCracken blurs the line between memoir and fiction, but in the process, she paints an unforgettable portrait of the indomitable spirit of her mother. A thoughtful and compelling read.

I think it was recommended by someone in this group, but I can't remember who that was. In any case, thank you for recommending it.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Dan]

I'm going to slip in here to note what I'm NOT reading because, after 75 pages, I'm declaring a (rare for me) DNF: Betty. For me, the characters are not realistic and the book wallows in "misery-porn." I noticed Goodreads had a lot of four and five star reviews, but I was not invested or impressed.

[Mary Ellen]

I just finished The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I had resisted reading it for years. I am not really sure how I feel about it. Flavia de Luce was...a bit much. But I did keep reading to the end.

For anyone who has read more of the series - does it ever address the mysterious disappearance/death of Flavia's mom Harriet? That seemed a far more interesting mystery than the one at the center of this first book in the series.

[Donna]

Yes, it does, Mary Ellen, but I think it’s a few books into the series.

[Book Concierge]

Icy Sparks – Gwyn Hyman Rubio – 5****
Book on CD performed by Kate Miller
We know much more about Tourette’s Syndrome today than during the timeframe of this story (1950s), and I hope even the residents of rural Appalachia would be more compassionate about a young girl so afflicted. Icy Sparks jumps off the pages of this book straight into the reader’s heart. This is a child who is curious, intelligent, kind, loving, and who learns to stand up to bullies and fight for herself. She shows empathy and compassion in her dealings with others even when they ostracize and belittle her.
LINK to my full review

[Mary Ellen]

Donna wrote: "Yes, it does, Mary Ellen, but I think it’s a few books into the series."

Thanks, Donna!! I'll hunt that one down. (Maybe the book that starts with the return of the mother's body to the family's town?)

[Donna]

Mary Ellen wrote: "Donna wrote: "Yes, it does, Mary Ellen, but I think it’s a few books into the series."

Thanks, Donna!! I'll hunt that one down. (Maybe the book that starts with the return of the mother's body to ..."

That sounds right, but it’s been a while!

[Tamara]

I read What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad. It makes for difficult reading because it tells the tragic story of illegal migrants escaping from their war-torn countries and political persecution. It does it through the eyes of a nine-year old Syrian boy. Very compelling and extremely relevant in light of the current humanitarian crisis.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Book Concierge]

The Farm – Joanne Ramos – 4****
Digital audiobook narrated by Fran de Leon.
Jane, an immigrant from the Philippines, is searching for a better opportunity to secure the future for herself and her daughter. So, she agrees to be a surrogate mother for a significant payback upon delivery. While the original premise seems plausible, the reality of Jane’s situation quickly devolves into a somewhat dystopian nightmare. It certainly held my attention and I really wanted to see how Jane would fare in this scenario. I think this would be a work that book clubs would love to discuss.
LINK to my full review

[Sheila]

Ann D wrote: "Thanks to everyone here who recommended Foster
by Claire Keegan. Five stars for me.


Thanks from me too. I just read it.
I had the New Yorker test but gave up on it as it seemed to be an shortened version compared with the audio I had.
I've added all her others to my TBR list

[Sheila]

Tamara and others who have enjoyed the writings of Han Kang. I read her Greek Lessons. Not as accessible as her The Vegetarian, but a wonderful story of a going blind man and a non speaking woman and certainly well worth a read. The audio really helps with two voices, I suspect a text only read might prove harder to follow. The author is an amazingly innovative writer.

[Sheila]

I've also been reading Hiromi Kawakami's The Ten Loves of Mr. Nishino.
Our short story thread read her "The Hut on the Roof" https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... .
For me this novel was not as good as Strange Weather in Tokyo but I still enjoyed the read. Like Strange Weather it address the difficulties of modern relationships. 10 women give their story of their relationship with Nishino at different stages of his life. These are not rendered chronologically . We never really hear him, his voice and in many ways we and many /all? of the women never really knew him , nor understood him. They all break away from him even though he would appear to be a 'catch'. They say he doesn't want commitment, but perhaps it is the women who are commitment phobes?, some are only after sex, some are not really interested in Nishino the person, but he does leave his mark on them all.
I like Kawakami's writing style, sparse, simple, deep, thought provoking. Her stories stay with me.
Another of her short story collections is appearing in translation later this year Dragon Palace

[Sheila]

And I'd recommend another Claire Keegan short story, in the New Yorker as well
It is entitles So Late in the Day. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...

[Tamara]

Sheila wrote: "Tamara and others who have enjoyed the writings of Han Kang. I read her Greek Lessons. Not as accessible as her The Vegetarian, but a wonderful stor..."

Sheila, I've read The Vegetarian, Human Acts, and The White Book. I've just put Greek Lessons on my TBR. Like you, I think she's an extraordinary writer. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Sheila]

This morning I just picked up some books from the library. I'd been on the waiting list for these for what seems like ages patiently watching the numbers go down very slowly.

One was Claire Keegan's short Small Things Like These which I started to browse and then finished off. I don't often give 5* ratings but this gets one. My Review.

Again thanks to whoever it was that made me put her on my to be read list. Really impressed. A writer steeped in that Irish tradition/heritage of writing detail beautifully.

[Barbara]

I absolutely loved Small Things Like These, Sheila. It's a perfect little gem.

[Lyn]

I just finished Demon Copperhead, and wanted to read the book discussion of that here, (and perhaps belatedly contribute), but I couldn't find it. Can someone help?

[Lynn]

It's in the Reading List section, Lyn. Here's a link to the discussion:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Gina]

Sheila wrote: "This morning I just picked up some books from the library. I'd been on the waiting list for these for what seems like ages patiently watching the numbers go down very slowly.

One was [author:Clai..."

I too loved this book - it's simplicity weighed against the wonderful storytelling.

[Tamara]

I finally read the last book in Ali Smith's seasonal quartet, Summer. I enjoyed it but not as much as I liked the first three books--maybe because I waited too long to read it. I read the other three books in 2019.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Book Concierge]

A Good American – Alex George – 5***** and a ❤
Book on CD performed by Gibson Frazier
This is a family saga, covering four generations of the Meisenheimer family over a century. As happens in real life, the family intersects with many of the residents of the town, and the reader gets to view history through the lens of their experiences. It is a story of immigrants, a story of quintessential Americans, a story of struggle and triumph and defeat and unabashed joy. I absolutely loved it and as soon as I had finished it, I wanted to read it again.
LINK to my full review

[Donna]

I’ll definitely take a look at this one, thanks to your exuberant review, BC. It sounds really good.

[Book Concierge]

Hope you like it, Donna.

[Shirley]

I just finished Circe, by Madeline Miller. My granddaughter was reading it at Christmas, and she loved it, so I became interested. Miller’s prose is exquisite, fittingly inspiring for an epic tale of the life of a deity. I highly recommend it.

[Linda]

I agree. I loved this book.

[Donna]

I have started The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. At 700+ pages, it’s a family saga spanning the years 1900 to 1977 and set in Kerala along the SW coast of India. So far, I’m loving it.

[Tamara]

I read Greek Lessons by Han Kang. This is the fourth novel I've read by Han Kang. Her novels are philosophical and probe complex issues. There is a haunting quality about them. I've enjoyed them all, and this is no exception.
A big thank you to Sheila for recommending it.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Ruth]

Donna wrote: "I have started The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. At 700+ pages, it’s a family saga spanning the years 1900 to 1977 and set in Kerala along the SW coast of In..."

At the last zoom meeting I mentioned that I’d was getting ready to start this. When I ordered it I didn’t really realize what a tome it was , so I was wondering if I was going to be able to wade throigh it.

No problem. It’s a multigenerational, mulitifacted family story, complete with interlacing plots, love stories, not quite believable twists and turns and coincidences. Certainly not the lean, tightly written relatively short literary fiction I tend to favor.

I couldn’t put it down! Plowed through it in about 5 days.

[Gina]

Wanted to let everyone know The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is on Kindle for $0.19. I grabbed it up.

[Donna]

Thanks!

[Mary Anne]

I just finished Michelle Zauner's memoir Crying in H Mart. A wonderful book. Here is my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Joan]

A Tale for the Time Being
Is just magical — evocative descriptions of Japan and British Columbia, lovable characters, well-written & an intriguing plot with a sound foundation in Zen philosophy & practice — it’s just magical.

[Gina]

Joan, I thought so too.

[Lyn]

Yay, others who love A Tale for the Time Being! I had read it with a local in person book club, and the others didn't appreciate it.

Here's my short but glowing review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lynn]

I'm closing this thread to new posts because I just opened a new thread for July and August. Please continue your discussions there.