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Constant Reader
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What I'm Reading - March/Apr 2024
I loved The Song of Achilles, Book Concierge! Miller does such a good job of making the myths seem contemporary and intimate. Just finished Tana French's The Witch Elm, which I quite enjoyed--nothing like an unreliable narrator to keep a reader on the edge of her seat--and am now reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which I wasn't sure I'd like but am warming to (only about a quarter of the way through).
Book Concierge wrote: "The Song of Achilles – Madeline Miller – 4****Miller turns her remarkable talent to Greek mythology in this retelling of events leading up to and including the Trojan War. The nove..."
I went to se Spring Awakening yesterday and was struck by a reference to Achilles and Petroclus!
Britt-Marie Was Here – Fredrick Backman – 3.5***I thought this was a lovely little fairy tale. The scenarios were somewhat improbable, and Britt-Marie didn’t always behave the way I would have expected her to, but just as the residents of Borg grew on her, Britt-Marie grew on me. I found her insistence on structure exasperating at times, but I also loved how determined she was. While she kept her emotions in check, she still showed tenderness and genuine caring.
LINK to my full review
I read Afterlives by Abdulrazak Gurnah, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature. The novel explores the impact of colonialism on the lives of four characters through intertwining threads. I thought it was good, but I had higher expectations for a Nobel Prize winner.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Tamara wrote: "I read Afterlives by Abdulrazak Gurnah, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature...I thought it was good, but I had higher expectations for a Nobel Prize winner."Some writers are uneven. I read a novel by Nobel winner Naguib Mahfouz I thought was terrific, but later read one I thought was very poorly done. Have never gotten around to reading his most famous work, his Cairo trilogy.
I loved the first book of Cairo trilogy but not the second. It has made me not want to read the third one.
I thought the Cairo Trilogy was very good but not easy. It reminded me in some ways of the cycles of government and overthrow that occurred during Arab Spring, though I know that’s a gross over simplification.
Kat wrote: "Some writers are uneven. .."Great observation. I think you're right. I've read Paradise and By the Sea by the same author, and I thought both books were better than Afterlives.
Thanks for alerting me to these books. I just put By the Sea on my wish list.
Tamara wrote: "Kat wrote: "Some writers are uneven. .."Great observation. I think you're right. I've read Paradise and By the Sea by the same author, and I thought both books were bet..."
I agree--writers can be uneven, and sometimes it seems like prizes play catch-up--an excellent book that was acclaimed by readers but wasn't recognized for prizes may be followed by an average book that gets an award it hardly seems to merit...
Do you think (as I have heard) that sometimes the award goes to the person who the academy thinks is "deserving overall" more than for a particular work?
Rachel wrote: "Do you think (as I have heard) that sometimes the award goes to the person who the academy thinks is "deserving overall" more than for a particular work?"If we are talking about the Nobel prize for literature, that is always given for a body of work rather than a particular title.
I have heard that the Oscar can go to an actor not necessarily for the particular role but maybe they have been slighted in the past. Of course, I have heard- is not always the most reliable information. :)
Well, Paul Newman won in 1986 for The Color of Money after having been nominated 6 times. He didn't show up to accept the award, saying “It's like chasing a beautiful woman for 80 years. Finally, she relents and you say, 'I'm terribly sorry. I'm tired.' [After winning his first Oscar after so many losses]”
The Daughters of Yalta – Catherine Grace Katz – 4****Subtitle: The Churchills, Roosevelts, and Harrimans: A Story of Love and War. I found this “behind-the-scenes” history fascinating. I had heard of Sarah and Anna, but knew nothing of Kathleen. These young women – beautiful, wealthy and vivacious – were treated by the press as “society” stories. But they were far more than just photo opportunities. Each was highly intelligent and quite accomplished. They not only witnessed history but helped to craft the world’s future.
LINK to my full review
Thanks for that insightful review. It presents WWII with a new perspective. I think I will look for it.
I read Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt's Ancient Temples from Destruction by Lynne Olson, an engrossing biography of a fascinating woman. I'm pretty sure someone in this group recommended it, but I'm afraid I can't remember who that was. My thanks go out to you because I really enjoyed this biography.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Book Concierge wrote: "The Daughters of Yalta – Catherine Grace Katz – 4****Subtitle: The Churchills, Roosevelts, and Harrimans: A Story of Love and War. I found this “behind-the-scenes” history fascinat..."
I started reading this today. It will work for my history prompt in the 2024 Book Challenge. So far it is very interesting.
I’m glad you liked Empress of the Nile, Tamara. I picked that up for my kindle and I’m looking forward to reading it.
I hope you enjoy it, Sue. I thought it was great.
I'm glad you liked Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt's Ancient Temples from Destruction. Donna and I both had it on our best reading lists for 2023. In my case, it helped spur us to take our January 2024 trip to Egypt!I love getting reading recommendations from this site.
You went to Egypt in January? How wonderful! I've never been and have always wanted to go to see the ancient ruins and the museum. It must have been an amazing trip. Ann D wrote: "I love getting reading recommendations from this site."
I couldn't agree with you more, Ann. I've read some great books and met some new-to-me wonderful authors as a result of the recommendations I've received from this site, including Wallace Stegner and Claire Keegan.
Tamara wrote: "You went to Egypt in January? How wonderful! I've never been and have always wanted to go to see the ancient ruins and the museum. It must have been an amazing trip. Ann D wrote: "I love getting ..."
Yes, learning about authors or books I was not familiar with is one of the perks of GR. Plus I love that everyone in the groups I am in are friendly and respectful of each other.
Tamara, we had a wonderful trip to Egypt. I'm a history nerd and have been interested in ancient history for a long time. We also wanted to go someplace warm, but not hot, in the winter.We went with a tour company called Road Scholar. The weather was very pleasant and we had a great guide. It was a thrill to see the ancient pyramids, temple sites, and burial chambers in person.
24 people had been signed up to go on the trip, but a lot cancelled due concerns about the war in Gaza. We ended up with a group of 10. We had escorts from the Egyptian tourist police and never felt at risk. Egyptians have a peace treaty with Israel and are trying to help moderate a ceasefire. The Sisi government is very opposed to Muslim extremists.
I feel like I should reread Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt's Ancient Temples from Destruction book now that I know more about the history!
Ann D wrote: "Tamara, we had a wonderful trip to Egypt. I'm a history nerd and been interested in ancient history for a long time. We also wanted to go someplace warm, but not hot, in the winter.We went with a..."
Your trip sounds wonderful, Ann. Thank you for sharing your information.
I, too, am fascinated by ancient history, especially the history of ancient Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. If the situation ever calms down in the Middle East, we'll make a trip out there.
I'm glad you had a great time and made it back home, safe and sound.
That trip sounds wonderful Ann. So glad you were able to go. I’ve always wanted to see Egypt since I was young and Persepolis more recently. I think I must have seen photos of Persepolis in National Geographic and I know I’ve seen a PBS special. I visited Israel back in the late 1970s. That was a great trip, a TWA tour back when TWA still existed, but would love to see more of the region. So many wars have hurt most countries and peoples in the whole region.
Sue wrote: "That trip sounds wonderful Ann. So glad you were able to go. I’ve always wanted to see Egypt since I was young and Persepolis more recently. I think I must have seen photos of Persepolis in Nationa..."Imagine if the countries in the Middle East ( or for that matter many other spots as well) spent as much time trying to have a successful society instead of killing each other.
That would certainly be a great world, Rachel.
All these comments brought back memories of my trip to Egypt about ten years ago with a group called Wild Women Adventures. There were about 10 women traveling together which caused a stir almost everywhere we went. I hope everyone has a chance to visit Egypt one day. We did everything from a Nile cruise to a camel market in North Sudan, where we did have an armed escort. So exciting!
Sue wrote: "That would certainly be a great world, Rachel."I know it is totally pie in the sky. On every continent there is so much anger and hostility and where did it ever get humanity. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
I'm back to reading Graham Greene. This time his spy novel The Human Factor. Surprised me in many ways. Reads quickly yet lingers in your mind. My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I’ve also been reading Graham Greene recently. I finished THE POWER AND THE GLORY last week. I found that one surprising too and have been thinking about it from time to time.
Just finished Hello Beautiful. It's not great literature, but the story was involving enough to make me turn pages fast starting at the middle, and cry near the end (an uncommon occurrence)
Lyn wrote: "Just finished Hello Beautiful. It's not great literature, but the story was involving enough to make me turn ages fast starting at the middle, and cry near the end (an uncommon occu..."II liked her Dear Edward much better.
I tried Graham Greene many years ago, and I didn't appreciate him. I'll try again due to posts here. Thanks.
Of the Graham Greene books I’ve read, my favorite has been THE QUIET AMERICAN.
I read Irma Voth by Miriam Toews. This is a coming-of-age story about a nineteen-year-old in the Mennonite community who escapes from her stifling environment. This is the fourth novel I've read by Miriam Toews. I enjoyed this novel, but I didn't think it was as good as the others.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Tamara wrote: "I read Irma Voth by Miriam Toews. This is a coming-of-age story about a nineteen-year-old in the Mennonite community who escapes from her stifling environment. This i..."
Your review is very thoughtful.
Georgia wrote: "I'm back to reading Graham Greene. This time his spy novel The Human Factor. Surprised me in many ways. Reads quickly yet lingers in your mind. My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"
I remember being blown away by The Human Factor, though I read it many years ago. I've read quite a lot of Graham Greene, and in fact just started one I hadn't read before, Graham Greene - Orient Express.
Has anyone read Girl, Woman, Other? I'm reading it now. Each chapter is about a different woman of African descent, mostly in England. I find the way the stories of the differing women intersect interesting, but it sure doesn't have much forward movement.
Kat wrote: "Has anyone read Girl, Woman, Other? I'm reading it now. Each chapter is about a different woman of African descent, mostly in England. I find the way the stories of the differing wo..."No, I have not. It sounds like an interesting premise.
I finally finished The Covenant of Water today. It is SO long! But it is a tale of generations of Malayali, and the tale is woven together beautifully.
Lyn wrote: "I finally finished The Covenant of Water today. It is SO long! But it is a tale of generations of Malayali, and the tale is woven together beautifully."I loved it.
Ruth wrote: "Lyn wrote: "I finally finished The Covenant of Water today. It is SO long! But it is a tale of generations of Malayali, and the tale is woven together beautifully."I loved it."
He is such a great writer. What a talented person both a doc and an accomplished author.
Yes, one of my all time favorite books.
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