What books are you reading now? (2024)

[Alwynne]

Ben wrote: "Spending a few days catching up on my New Yorker magazines before I launch into books again.

Wonderful story by Annie Proulx in the 8-15 July Fiction issue. “The Hadal Zone” https://www.newyorker...."

I don't really get Sally Rooney either...I find her novels a bit dull and overly detailed.

[Alwynne]

Lady Clementina wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "Lady Clementina wrote: "Brian E wrote: "For my comfort read I just started Death of an Author my second book by mystery author E.C.R. Lorac. In Marc..."

Thanks for the encouragement, think they would make good autumn reads...as the night's are already drawing in...

[Alwynne]

Lady Clementina wrote: "My mom visited Japan in 1980 for a course and she'd noted the absence of dairy. But these days, many of the Japanese/japan-based recipe pages I follow on instagram use cheese quite liberally and on..."

I do think portion sizes are key, although friends tell me green tea makes a difference, but the jury's out on that. Although I do drink a lot of it as well as matcha variations.

[Roman Clodia]

Has anyone read Reunion by Fred Ulhman?

I was somewhat surprised that my real-life book group came up with something I'd never ever heard of!

[Martin]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Has anyone read Reunion by Fred Ulhman?

I was somewhat surprised that my real-life book group came up with something I'd never ever heard of!

[bookcover:Reunion..."

I read it a few years back. As usual, I can't remember much detail but I do know it is a surprisingly powerful read for such a slim volume. I feel you will enjoy it (if I can use 'enjoy' in relation to such a dark topic).

[Roman Clodia]

Thanks, Martin. Possibly I found this a bit less powerful than you as it's a bit slight in view of the Nazi shadow over Germany but I can see how making it a story about two teenage boys makes it accessible. I think I'd have loved it as a teenager when we were doing GCSE History.

Oh dear, another IRL book group where I'm a bit on the fence!

www.goodreads.com/review/show/6766021598

[Alwynne]

I finished a debut novel from Chinese Australian writer Keshe Chow The Girl With No Reflection fun and often compulsively readable, YA fantasy set in an imaginary version of an Imperial Chinese court. I particularly enjoyed the use of Chinese mythology including strange/mythical beasts.

Link to my review:

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

[Hester]

Reunion looks slim enough to sit down with one evening . I'd not heard of it either but added to my appallingly long tbr .

I've just finished Between Them by Richard Ford (am away on holiday so can't share link on the phone ). It's a rare memoir about the ordinary lives of his parents where nothing extraordinary happens . As their only and , by then , unexpected child he is between their constant , reliable and generous love for each other which flows over the brim to include him .

I particularly liked his choice to tell their stories separately ; two people to whom something transforming happened but who were ultimately individuals. This enabled him to record to the background and he just a facet , albeit an important one , of their life stories .

It's a quiet memoir and articulated aspects of my own childhood, standing witness to a couple whose love is the undramatic catalyst for each others joy .

[Hester]

sorry "record" should read "recede"

[Alwynne]

I finished an award-winning novella from Saou Ichikawa Hunchback translated by Polly Barton. An impressive, insightful and provocative account of disability and one woman's life in Japan. Although some readers may find the slightly unconventional approach and abrupt ending frustrating.

Link to my review:

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

[Roman Clodia]

I've just read Mammoth by Eva Baltasar, the third part of a triptych: she's such a compulsive author but it's hard to say what this about! Utterly compelling voice, all the same.

www.goodreads.com/review/show/6767711047

[Nigeyb]

Just finished Buddha Of Suburbia


What a fantastic novel. It really stands up

[Alwynne]

I finished Sarah Manguso's semi-autobiographical Liars A superb, unputdownable account of one woman's experiences of an abusive marriage.

Link to my review:

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

[Roman Clodia]

Alwynne wrote: "I finished Sarah Manguso's semi-autobiographical Liars A superb, unputdownable account of one woman's experiences of an abusive marriage."

This is one on my radar so delighted to see your 5 stars.

[Alwynne]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "I finished Sarah Manguso's semi-autobiographical Liars A superb, unputdownable account of one woman's experiences of an abusive marriage."

This is one on my radar ..."

Great, I really like her writing, from first coming across a copy of her memoir The Two Kinds of Decay a few years ago. I like her lack of sentimentality, and her willingness to admit to her own flaws. And her work is packed with memorable scenes/lines.

[Alwynne]

Nigeyb wrote: "Just finished Buddha Of Suburbia


What a fantastic novel. It really stands up"

Brill, so pleased you still liked it!

[Alwynne]

Roman Clodia wrote: "I've just read Mammoth by Eva Baltasar, the third part of a triptych: she's such a compulsive author but it's hard to say what this about! Utterly compelling voic..."

She's a writer I have a lot of time for, although I thought this was the weakest entry in the trilogy, possibly because I found some of the underlying arguments hard to stomach. Still very much worth reading though, so get where you're coming from.

[G]

I am listening to The Ministry of Time. It's fun, but so far seems rather derivative, a Connie Willis meets a Graham Greene thriller. One of the evidently shady characters early in the book compares their ministry to the ministry of fear from the Greene novel, so of course I had to listen to that audiobook concurrently.

This is making me wonder if Greene ever wrote any fully developed female characters. And whether he wrote any women who were not crabbed and unpleasant. I've only read a little of his work, and that was 40 years ago.

[Alwynne]

G wrote: "I am listening to The Ministry of Time. It's fun, but so far seems rather derivative, a Connie Willis meets a Graham Greene thriller. One of the evidently shady characters early in..."

Not in my experience, although some are overly idealised. I suspect he had a rather conventional madonna/whore complex.

[Brian E]

G wrote: "This is making me wonder if Greene ever wrote any fully developed female characters. And whether he wrote any women who were not crabbed and unpleasant. ."

Alwynne wrote: "Not in my experience, although some are overly idealised. I suspect he had a rather conventional madonna/whore complex...."

I really enjoyed the character of Aunt Augusta in Travels with My Aunt. While she may have been in Alwynne's "madonna/whore" category, I thought that as a very entertaining 75 year-old she made for an "unconventionial" rather than "conventional" example of one.

I also enjoyed the character development of Sarah Miles in The End of the Affair. But I'd argue that Sarah is the opposite of the "madonna/whore" as her story arc has her character development as more of a "whore/madonna."

Admittedly, though, while both Augusta and Sarah play pivotal roles as the catalyst character in their respective novels, the main protagonist of each novel was the male narrator.

[Roman Clodia]

Alwynne wrote: "I found some of the underlying arguments hard to stomach. Still very much worth reading though,"

On Mammoth: I certainly found it uncomfortable in places: the cats! The shepherd! The reconnection of sex and reproduction and all that involved. But Baltasar has a knack of writing such interesting, provocative, unexpected narratives, I'm just carried along.

I still have Permafrost to read.

[Roman Clodia]

G wrote: "I am listening to The Ministry of Time. It's fun"

It's indeed huge fun and the audio had me smirking and giggling!

I hadn't picked up the Graham Greene reference but he's a pet hate of mine as some already know. And yes, one bone of contention is his writing of women. Don't even get me started on The End of the Affair! One of my worst book experiences ever 🤮

[Nigeyb]

Other opinions are available


GG is something of an RTTC fave, RC not withstanding

Agree his ability to write women is perhaps not a strength

However Travels with My Aunt is, I think, an example of a book with a well written female character. I'd have to reread to be 100% sure but my memory is that Aunt Augusta is full formed and completely convincing. Five star review here....

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

[Susan]

I've had mixed experiences with Greene. I've loved some and disliked others. The Human Factor has been my favourite so far and I quite liked The End of the Affair, even if the ending was a little odd!

[Roman Clodia]

Nigeyb wrote: "Other opinions are available"

Of course, always 😉

[Anita]

I've been going through Mick Herren's "Slough House" books like potato chips... and they sort of leave me feeling like I pigged out on junk food- they're rough and depressing, yet you cannot deny that Herren is good.

[Susan_MG]

Anita…the characters are so good/bad. And of course the author can conjure a very cogent adventure. I read the series a while ago and I still crave more of those potato chips.

[Kirsten]

I've been reading a time travel/historical mystery Disturbing the Dead by Kelley Armstrong

[SueLucie]

I have just finished Guilty by Definitionby Susie Dent (Countdown dictionary corner). Great fun, especially if you are familiar with Oxford (I imagine).

[Nigeyb]

I've finished my latest book group choice....



The Buddha of Suburbia (1990)

by

Hanif Kureishi


It really stands up

Five star review....

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

5/5

[Neer]

To me Greene is one of the Greats. Power and the Glory, The Quiet American, The Human Factor, The Lawless Roads are classics. I quite like End of the Affair and It's a Battlefield too.

[Nigeyb]

Agree Neer - his work endures and still resonates

[Hester]

Nigel. Long time since I read Kureishi. Good to hear it stands up well today .

[Blaine]

I'm in the middle of Yourcenar's Memoirs of Hadrian which I'm finding worthy but dull. I'll finish, hoping for improvement, and I'm interested in the closing section in which she discusses her process of writing it, which would be much less worthwhile if I don't do my homework and finish the book.

At the moment I'm not sure why it's thought of as a classic.

[Hester]

Ulp. I'll think of you as I drive through Hadrian's Wall today ..

[Roman Clodia]

I struggled with Memoirs of Hadrian which surprised me. One of those books I've always felt I should go back to but can't say I have much enthusiasm.

[Anubha]

I've just started the Mapp and Lucia series. I know it's a favorite of some of the members here. I'm so looking forward to going through all the discussion threads dedicated to it.

It saddens me that I couldn't read it along with the group.

[Alwynne]

Roman Clodia wrote: "I struggled with Memoirs of Hadrian which surprised me. One of those books I've always felt I should go back to but can't say I have much enthusiasm."

Ditto, definitely on my list of feel-I-ought-to-like rather than actively liked novels.

[Alwynne]

I finished a piece by political/cultural critic Owen Hatherley Walking the Streets/Walking the Projects: Adventures in Social Democracy in NYC and DC An illuminating, well-researched exploration of New York architecture, particularly its unusual public projects, and the political and cultural histories and ideologies it represents.

Link to my review:

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

[Bryan]

Nigeyb wrote: "Other opinions are available


GG is something of an RTTC fave, RC not withstanding

Agree his ability to write women is perhaps not a strength

However Travels with My Aunt is, I thi..."

It's one of my favorite of Greene's novels.

[Alwynne]

I finished Sanaka Hiiraga's The Lantern of Lost Memories technically a cosy story but the differing genre conventions means it also covers some bleak-ish territory. I enjoyed the use of Japanese myth and aspects of Japanese history, although I'm not totally on board with this type of narrative.

Link to my review:

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

[Barbara]

i read Memories of Hadrian back in 2016 and gave it 5 stars, which is pretty rare for me. My review (really just a few personal reaction comments) said it was one of the best books I'd read in ages. Interesting how we all have such different responses to books.

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Bryan


Another satisfied customer 🤠

[Blaine]

I’m looking forward to your review Barbara after I finish. I do want to figure out what I may be missing!

[G]

I finished The Ministry of Fear. I'm afraid that while I enjoyed it, it was disappointing and at times painfully obvious. And my gosh, the main female character strained to project even two dimensions, despite her importance to the plot.

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

[Bryan]

Finished Mani by Fermor and began Landscape Painted with Tea by Pavic.

[Blaine]

G wrote: "I finished The Ministry of Fear. I'm afraid that while I enjoyed it, it was disappointing and at times painfully obvious. And my gosh, the main female character strained to project ev..."

I've been disappointed by every Greene novel I've read, and his portrayal in The Love Charm of Bombs just confirmed my opinion of him as a man whose vision not only didn't rise above his times, but wasn't even average.

[Nigeyb]

Shocking comments Ben

[Blaine]

I will say that his novels provided good material for films.

[Lady Clementina]

Anubha wrote: "I've just started the Mapp and Lucia series. I know it's a favorite of some of the members here. I'm so looking forward to going through all the discussion threads dedicated to it.

It saddens me t..."
I love those books. Hope you enjoy them!