Constant Reader discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Constant Reader
>
What I'm Reading - Jan/Feb 2024
I read What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama; translated from the Japanese by Alison Watts.It's an international bestseller and a light, easy read to begin the new year.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Great Expectations – Charles Dickens – 3.5***
Decades ago, I read a children’s classic abridged version; I’ve also seen at least one of the film adaptations; I figured it was time to get to the original. It’s typical Dickens in that there are many characters and many hidden relationships between them, which will eventually be revealed and explain the seemingly “random” encounters. I enjoyed watching Pip mature from a child to a young man, and I loved his brother-in-law Joe Gargery. On the other hand, I thought Dickens gave too little attention to the women. Miss Havisham and Estella would be ideal main characters but were relegated to supporting roles.
LINK to my full review
The Case of the Missing Servant – Tarquin Hall – 3.5***
This debut novel was just delightful! Puri is a marvelous character, and I want to follow the series just to get to know him better. But the supporting cast is also wonderful. As Puri and his team travel from the swanky Gymkhana Club to the slums of Dehli, and from a desert oasis to a distant mine, the reader gets a view of modern-day India that is colorfully vivid. I’ll definitely read more from this author.
LINK to my full review
I'm rereading Dandelion Wine for a book group, last read decades ago. I had remembered his writing as dreamy and lyrical, but it's really lyrical on steroids. I'm needing to slow down my brain a little to get into his recollections of boys in the summer in a small town, but then am for the most part enjoying.
It's a favorite of mine too, Lyn! I first read it in sixth grade and still remember acting out a passage from it with a classmate in front of our class as an "extra" activity. If you're interested, here's a link to a long-ago discussion of the book on the old Web Board (where we were in the pre-Goodreads days): http://www.constantreaderarchives.com...
Project Hail Mary – Andy Weir – 5***** and a ❤Earth is threatened with an extinction-level event. Ryland Grace has just awakened from a coma while aboard a spaceship sent to fix the problem. But the rest of the crew is dead and now he has to do it all alone. Or does he? The book jacket promises “an irresistible interstellar adventure” and that is exactly what Weir delivers.
LINK to my full review
Lyn wrote: "I'm rereading Dandelion Wine for a book group, last read decades ago. I had remembered his writing as dreamy and lyrical, but it's really lyrical on steroids. I'm needing to slow down ..."Love Bradbury! This is a great one of his. My F2F book club discussed it some years back.
Book Concierge wrote: "Project Hail Mary – Andy Weir – 5***** and a ❤Earth is threatened with an extinction-level event. Ryland Grace has just awakened from a coma while aboard a spaceship sent to fix th..."
I love Andy Weir. His novels are fun, and also scientifically probable, a combo I really like.
I read Good Night, Irene, by Luis Alberto Urrea. I loved his writing in The House of Broken Angels, but I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much. His story is based on the diaries of his mother, who served as part of the American Red Cross Clubmobile Service in Europe in WWII. These young women drive their “food trucks” wherever they were needed to provide freshly made donuts, hot coffee, and friendly banter to servicemen on American bases in Europe and on the front lines. The two main characters, women of very different backgrounds, forged a deep bond of loyalty and friendship as they faced harrowing experiences in France and Germany. While the female character development seems a bit shallow, there is plenty of action as they drive through France and Germany. The story ends with a mystery that comes to an emotional and satisfying conclusion.
Shirley wrote: "I read Good Night, Irene, by Luis Alberto Urrea. I loved his writing in The House of Broken Angels, but I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much. His story is based on the diaries of his mother, who s..."Shirley, I've read Urrea's The Hummingbird's Daughter, which I absolutely loved. I'd love to read another of his novels. Do you recommend The House of Broken Angels or something else?
Tamara wrote: "I've read Urrea's The Hummingbird's Daughter, which I absolutely loved. I'd love to read another of his novels. Do you recommend..."Tamara ... I've read five of his works, both fiction and non fiction. For me, the best was his nonfiction account: The Devil's Highway: A True Story.
But the sequel to "The Hummingbird's Daughter" is equally as good .. Queen of America
The Queen Of the Tambourine – Jane Gardam – 3***
This slim novel is written in epistolary style, as Eliza Peabody writes letters to her former neighbor. The novel won Britain’s Whitebread Award for Best Novel of the Year in 1991, but it missed the mark for me. I liked it but didn’t love it.
LINK to my full review
Tamara,first, please excuse my lack of mastery of the mechanics of Goodreads in responding to your question. I need to find out where to learn about them. I've only read two of Urrea's novels, but I'm definitely going to read The Hummingbird's Daughter. Thank you for that suggestion.
I would recommend The House of Broken Angels, if you're ready to be plunged into what Urrea sees as the chaos of the Hispanic side of his family. It's funny, as well as a serious look at the obstacles that face immigrant families. I wont ever forget his character, Big Angel.
Urrea does nothing to help the reader sort out the jumble of characters introduced in the early chapters of the novel, though he does include a family tree of sorts at the back of the book, obviously his little joke so as not to ease the chaos for the reader. It's a good story and a wild ride.
Shirley wrote: "Tamara,first, please excuse my lack of mastery of the mechanics of Goodreads in responding to your question. I need to find out where to learn about them. I've only read two of Urrea's novels, but..."
Shirley, nothing to excuse. I have no idea what you mean by your "lack of mastery of the mechanics of Goodreads . . . " You're doing just fine as far as I can tell. So, no worries.
I've put House of Broken Angels on my TBR. It sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks for the recommendation.
This is so embarrassing! You're not going to believe this. I can hardly believe it myself! I clicked on House of Broken Angels to put it on my To Read shelf and I find I've already read it and posted a review on it. I read in February 2023! That's not even that long ago. How could I have forgotten?? And to top it off, I loved the novel.
There is no doubt about it. It's official. I have become a dithery, dithery wombat.
Book Concierge wrote: "Tamara wrote: "I've read Urrea's The Hummingbird's Daughter, which I absolutely loved. I'd love to read another of his novels. Do you recommend..."Tamara ... I've read five of his works, both fic..."
Thanks for the recommendations. I'm putting Queen of America on my TBR. I had the sense to check before I did so. I actually haven't read that one yet :) Thanks, again.
I know that we read The House of Broken Angels here for scheduled discussion on the Reading List, but I can't find the discussion just now. Can anyone else? I loved the book and actually read it twice, once in print and later in an audiobook production. Urrea does the reading of the audiobook and really enhanced my enjoyment. His correct Latino pronunciations added an extra flavor to it and I was more able to keep track of all of the characters the second time around.
Tamara wrote: "This is so embarrassing! You're not going to believe this. I can hardly believe it myself! I clicked on House of Broken Angels to put it on my To Read shelf and I find I've already read it and po..."
LOL. It’s happened to all of us.
Tamara wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "Tamara wrote: "I've read Urrea's The Hummingbird's Daughter, which I absolutely loved. I'd love to read another of his novels. Do you recommend..."Tamara ... I've read five..."
Tamara, I have done that exact same thing. I posted about wanting to read a book here after leading a discussion about it some time earlier! I was afraid that people would think I was heading into dementia so it's reassuring to see others do it.
Ruth and Barbara, thank you for your kind words. I still feel embarrassed and really, really stupid. But I'll get over it--eventually.
Barbara wrote: "I know that we read The House of Broken Angels here for scheduled discussion on the Reading List, but I can't find the discussion just now. Can anyone else? I loved the book and actually read it tw..."I'm not sure why it didn't come up when I used the search function, but here's the discussion from 2018:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Of the 61 books I read last year, only 10 were non-fiction. So I decided to make an effort to read more non-fiction this year. I am delighted this group has decided to do the same and look forward to some interesting recommendations.I made a start on my non-fiction by reading The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People by Barry J. Kemp. I'm not an archaeologist but I love reading about ancient civilizations. I've always been fascinated by ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Professor Kemp spent 35 years excavating the Amarna site. Some of the technical stuff went way over my head, but I found his study fascinating and recommend it to anyone interested in ancient Egyptian civilization.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Tamara wrote: "Of the 61 books I read last year, only 10 were non-fiction. So I decided to make an effort to read more non-fiction this year. I am delighted this group has decided to do the same and look forward ..."This reminds me - about this time of year we often get some lists of top books people have read in the past year. I don't make those lists myself, but I think I'll start a new discussion thread for those who do.
I’ve made a start on my goal of focusing at least some of my reading this year on early European/British history - fiction and nonfiction. I finished the novel, The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks, based on Chaucer’s “Wife of Bath” in The Canterbury Tales. It was a fun read and illustrative of the lives of ordinary people in the Middle Ages. 4 stars.Currently, I’m reading The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged the Medieval World by Shelley Puhak - fascinating narrative nonfiction about rival Frankish queens circa 600.
And I’m about to begin Maggie Shipstead’s Great Circle
Donna, I've put The Good Wife of Bath on my TBR. It looks interesting. I love her in Chaucer and look forward to reading this. Thanks for the recommendation.
The Sandalwood Tree – Elle Newmark – 3.5***
A good historical fiction tale framed by the British leaving India as that country gained its independence. Newmark captivated me with this dual story line of relationships and the difficulties two people might have as a result of different cultural backgrounds, family expectations, and emotional trauma suffered by one or both of the parties.
LINK to my full review
I loved The Sandalwood Tree, BC, and I learned a lot.
I read The Old Woman with the Knife by Gu Byeong-mo; translated from the Korean by Chi-Young Kim. It's an international best seller and the first book to be translated into English by this award-winning South Korean author.I don't usually read crime fiction, but this was recommended by a friend on Goodreads, so I picked it up. I'm glad I did. It is about a 65-year-old female assassin who turns out to be quite an endearing character in spite of the fact she is a cold-blooded murderer.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I recently finished two future CR discussion books that were 5* books for me. Keep in mind that the deciding factor for me between 4* and 5* is how much I enjoyed the book.I like it when an author mixes serious themes with humor. Both these books qualify on that score.
1 Somebody's Fool by Richard Russo.
CR discussion begins on January 15
Russo is one of my favorite writers. This book is part of a trilogy set in the fictional town of Bath, New York with many of the same characters. Book one of the trilogy, Nobody's Fool was published in 1993; the second book Everybody's Fool was published in 2016. These 3 books were published years apart, so even if you read the earlier two, you won't remember much. Russo jogs our memories when necessary, so just relax and enjoy the ride.
2. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. This book meanders somewhat at the beginning, but keep reading. McBride ties all the threads together in a very satisfying ending. This is the CR discussion book for June.
Thank you Gina for two great nominations!
I seem to be over my reading drought finally and I’m catching up on books. I finished Prophet Song. What an amazing creation! Probably evoked more emotions in me than anything I’ve read for a very long time. And so well written. Even the style/structure reflects the breakdown of norms and controls. And perfectly reflects people whose world has changed beyond their imagining. An important book for our world today.
Sue, after reading your comments, I just downloaded a sample of Prophet Song. His prose flows beautifully, and draws the reader in immediately. It's a heavy subject. Did you find it depressing?
Sue, I meant to say, my current frame of mind might not be ready for a heavy read in this bleak January! But it does draw one in.
Have been reading with pleasure Harpoon by C W Nicol, (since retitled Isana) about Japanese whalers and contact with Americans in the mid 1800s. Reading Benfy’s Great Wave led me to thus. Book is part of a trilogy, and I have the second volume, but third is difficult to find. Nicol lived in Japan, and although he wrote in English, most of his books were only published in Japanese.
Foster – Claire Keegan – 5*****Facing tough times, a rural Irish family sends their oldest daughter to another community to live with distant relatives she hardly knows. Keegan explores what it means to be family in this short novella. She also deals with grief and the ways we show love without words being said. The somewhat ambiguous ending is perfect for this award-winning tale.
LINK to my full review
I'd heard so much about it, and since a couple of you mentioned it recently, I decided it was finally time read Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. I loved it! The tumbling words reminded me of the poetry of Dylan Thomas and the episodic nature reminded me of the fabric and texture of Garrison Keillor’s Lake Woebegone books. A joy to read.
Thanks for bringing it back up on my radar.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Shirley, sorry to take so long getting back to you. At a couple of points in Prophet Song I did put it aside temporarily. The word I would use is sad. I became sad at one point later in the book, stopped briefly, but then finished the book and I’m glad I did. It’s a difficult book but I believe it deserves to be read and I think it’s honest in the way it draws on emotion.
Shirley, maybe wait for sunnier days as the mood never eases in the story.
Thank you for your answer, Sue. I usually don’t shy away from upsetting reads, but I’ll put it on TBR for July!
Shirley, it’s probably best to read it at a time you know will be better for you. I am glad that you’re planning to read it. I look forward to hearing what you think of it when you do.
Thanks, everyone, for giving me a few more suggestions for my reading list. I've been reading memoirs recently: Etgar Keret's The Seven Good Years (re-reading it, grateful for his ability to whistle in the dark) and just finished The Familia Grande by Camille Kouchner, a very heavy memoir told sparsely, sparingly. It left me shaken. I was interested in Kouchner because her father founded Doctors Without Borders (I saw him speak in Montreal, many years ago) and like many heroic men, he saved many but had no time for his own children. (Kouchner is a heroic figure reminiscent of Paul Farmer in the excellent biography Mountains Beyond Mountains...) I've just started Amy Bloom's memoir In Love, which promises to be hard going as well. I haven't gotten very far, and find myself not deeply invested in her writing so far, despite what should be compelling subject matter, but perhaps that will change. I hadn't intended to read so much memoir in the first month of 2024, but here I am! But thanks to all of you, I've added some new fiction possibilities to my list...
The memoir The Seven Good Years sounds good so I ordered it from the library. Thanks for the recommendation.
I am currently reading 2 books one is a mystery crime\thriller fiction and the other is a crime non-fiction. Badlands by Richard Montanari & The Onion Field by Joseph Wambaugh
I read the 2021 Booker Prize winner, The Promise by Damon Galgut. Set in South Africa, it is a powerful novel about an Afrikaner family and an unfulfilled promise. I thought the novel was really well done. I particularly enjoyed the narrative voice.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
BurgendyA wrote: "I am currently reading 2 books one is a mystery crime\thriller fiction and the other is a crime non-fiction. Badlands by Richard Montanari & The Onion Field by Joseph Wambaugh"Welcome to Goodreads, Burgundy A. If you've joined before, I missed it. The Onion Field sounds very familiar to me. I looked it up but it didn't ring a bell. Do you know if there was a movie made about it?
The Perfume Thief – Timothy Schaffert – 4****This was a marvelous heist caper thriller, featuring interesting characters, several twists and turns and the atmosphere of Paris on the verge of world war. I found it fascinating and exciting and when it was over, I wanted to start it again to catch what I’m sure I must have missed.
LINK to my full review
I read The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa; translated from the Japanese by Philip Gabriel.It's an international best seller. I thought it was ok, but I found it a little simplistic and predictable.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Constant Reader
Books mentioned in this topic
The Women (other topics)The Women (other topics)
Feelings: A Story in Seasons (other topics)
Hard by a Great Forest (other topics)
Still Life (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Kristin Hannah (other topics)Kristin Hannah (other topics)
Damon Galgut (other topics)
Hiromi Kawakami (other topics)
Donal Ryan (other topics)
More...
(The old thread is now closed to new posts.)