What I'm Reading - May/June 2024

[Lynn]

Here's a new thread for May and June. The March/April thread will be closed to new posts, so please continue your discussions here. (Sorry for the delay in opening this new thread!)

[Tamara]

Lynn wrote: "Here's a new thread for May and June. The March/April thread will be closed to new posts, so please continue your discussions here. (Sorry for the delay in opening this new thread!)"

Thank you for setting this up, Lynn.

[Tamara]

I've read a couple of books so far in May:

Every Rising Sun by Jamila Ahmed. An imaginative retelling of the Arabian Nights through the first-person voice of Shaherazade.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I also read Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford. I loved his Golden Hill, but this novel was a little too ambitious and had too much going on for my taste. It got some good reviews, so it's probably just me.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sheila]

Both those are on my to be read list.... when I have time

[Book Concierge]

Vanderbilt – Anderson Cooper & Katherine Howe – 4****
Subtitle: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. Cooper, the son of “the last Vanderbilt” (Gloria Vanderbilt), and a trained journalist, looks at the family legacy in this work of nonfiction. On the whole, it held my attention, and I learned a few tidbits I hadn’t previously come across.
LINK to my full review

[Book Concierge]

The Covenant of Water – Abraham Verghese – 5*****
An epic tale of one family in Kerala, India, over nearly eight decades, spanning the time frame from 1900 to 1977. Gosh, but Verghese can write! There is a lot of drama in this decades-long story. Verghese touches on classicism, colonialism, racism and sexism. But this is NOT an unhappy book. The family relationships are loving and tender. And that ending! My heart swelled.
LINK to my full review

[Kat]

Hmm, my half-finished post seems to have disappeared, I hope I don't double post. Again: Of the three books I finished in May I especially recommend The Forbidden Notebook, by the Italian author Alba de Cespedes. A complex and surprising exploration of the traditional role of women, first published in 1952.

Now I'm reading The Women, a work of popular fiction (as a library I worked in used to call it) about a nurse from an affluent California family who serves in Vietnam during the war. It seems to be well researched and does give the flavor of the experience.

Also reading Jack, the fourth novel in the so-called Gilead "series." Marilynne Robinson is a superlative writer. I still find Gilead her best, though I also thought Housekeeping, not part of the Gilead series, a stellar work.

[Ruth]

Book Concierge wrote: "

The Covenant of Water
– Abraham Verghese – 5*****
An epic tale of one family in Kerala, India, over nearly eight decades, spanning the time frame fro..."

If you're in the market for a big fat multigenerational, multiracial, complicated family novel, complete with areas where you will willingly suspend belief, this is your book. I really enjoyed it.

[Barbara]

I loved The Covenant of Water too. Abraham Verghese reads an audiobook production of it and does a magnificent job. I was able to get it through Libby at my library.

[Tamara]

I read Cinderella Liberator by Rebecca Solnit. A delightful re-telling of the Cinderella story that empowers Cinderella and gives her agency.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I also read Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar. Very original and one of the best books I've read all year.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

[Tamara]

I read Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss by Margaret Renkl.
A series of autobiographical vignettes about Renkl's family intertwined with her keen observations of nature. A poignant, heartfelt, beautiful book, beautifully written and beautifully illustrated.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Katy]

I have just finished reading for the second time LOVE AND WAR IN THE APENNINES by Eric Newby which we will begin discussing June 1st. I have nominated it three times and finally it was selected. My impression has not changed. It is about courage, endurance, generosity, and love during the 2nd World War following the armistice negotiated with the allies. It is an outstanding, carefully observed, sometimes humorous, memoir by a British soldier released from captivity, but still in danger from the Nazis, and Italian partisans who continued fighting.

[Barbara]

Katy, I bought it and will start reading this weekend. If others are having a hard time finding a copy, Amazon has it from other booksellers. One of the descriptions said it was hailed as Newby's masterpiece.

[Shirley]

I just finished Margaret Atwood's short story collection, Old Babes in the Woods. Most of the stories are about a couple, Nell and Tig,at different stages in their married life. The stories are lovely and sometimes so funny that I laughed out loud. There are several unrelated stories sandwiched in between, and it was difficult to know why she included them. But all in all, I'm glad I read it.

[Barbara]

I felt exactly the same about that collection, Shirley. The Tig and Nell stories were outstanding. The others were worth my time but fell short in comparison.

[Gina]

I just finished Prophet Song. I want to thank those of you who've already read it and left wonderful reviews. I felt I needed help after the reading of this book, in understanding all its implications - not only for the world but the U.S. It really terrified me because I can see it happening.

[Tamara]

Gina wrote: "I just finished Prophet Song. I want to thank those of you who've already read it and left wonderful reviews. I felt I needed help after the reading of this book, in understanding ..."

I read it in December. A very powerful and relevant novel.

[Lyn]

I just finished Kingsolver's Unsheltered.

It was slow going for awhile, but by the end I was glad I read it, and had developed a lot of admiration and affection for the character Tig.

Next up is diving into the new book of sort stories by Amor Towles: Table for Two.

[Sue]

Gina and Tamara, I totally agree about Prophet Song. Very well done and also a cautionary tale.

[Lynn]

I started Jane Smiley's new book Lucky this afternoon and am already 100 pages in. It just might be a "life interrupter" for me. It seems perfectly targeted to my demographic - grew up in the 50s and 60s, went to college in the 70s.... and it doesn't hurt that I lived in the Forest Park area of St. Louis for long enough that I recognize many of the landmarks she refers to. I look forward to seeing how this plot develops.

[Ann D]

I love Jane Smiley. Keep us posted on Lucky

[Tamara]

I read Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad. I didn't particularly like her first-person narrator, but I thought Hammad did a skillful job of showing the fear and exhausting struggles of Palestinians living under occupation. The way she wove an Arabic production of Hamlet in the West Bank to resonate with the experience of Palestinians was artfully done.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

[Joy D]

I am working my way through Tom Rachman's back catalogue and really enjoyed this one:
The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman - 4* - My Review

It is an interesting concept covering the lives of many people working for an Italian newspaper, basically covering the entire lifecycle and all the changes that have occurred over the years in the way news is gathered and reported. But the real strength of the writing is in character development. Each person is beautifully drawn and seems like a "real" person. I am so impressed to find out that this was his debut.

[Lyn]

Just finished Amor Towles Table for Two, a book of short stories and one novella, "Eve in Hollywood." Before reading, my mind wanted to diminish them as just short stories, but they were so delicious! Amor Towles writes with such grace, humor, and always a wider perspective.

Next up, The Pine Islands and The Secret Book of Flora Lea for local book clubs, and hopefully The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store for this one. I also finally got The Women in on my Kindle from Library2Go, which friends tell me is wonderful.

[Book Concierge]

The Christie Affair – Nina de Gramont – 3.5***
On December 3, 1926, Agatha Christie drove away from her home after an argument with her husband. She would be missing for eleven days. This is a novel about marriage, about motherhood, about love, about grief, about how society punishes those who fail to follow the rules, about forgiveness and justice. De Gramont took the story in a direction I wasn’t expecting, and at first, I was unhappy, but eventually the two parallel stories merge in a fashion that fascinated me.
LINK to my full review

[Tamara]

I read Euphoria by Lily King. Inspired by the work of anthropologist, Margaret Mead, King provides an authentic glimpse into the work of anthropologists and the village they are studying in New Guinea. Her research is extensive. The novel moves at a brisk pace, is well-written, and compelling.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

[Lynn]

Tamara wrote: "I read Euphoria by Lily King. Inspired by the work of anthropologist, Margaret Mead, King provides an authentic glimpse into the work of anthropologists and the vill..."

Euphoria was a Reading List choice here in 2016. In case you're interested, here's a link to that discussion:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Maureen]

I really enjoyed Euphoria too. It was very interesting.

[Tamara]

Lynn wrote: "Euphoria was a Reading List choice here in 2016. In case you're interested, here's a link to that discussion:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/....."

Thanks for the link, Lynn. The discussion took place before I joined the group so I missed it. But I just read the comments.

Like some of you, it didn't bother me when and if King deviated from Margaret Mead's life because I know very little about Margaret Mead. I enjoyed the book. And I thought she gave us an interesting insight into the work of anthropologists.

[Joy D]

Just finished a fairly new book that was nominated for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. It is based on the activities of Father Hugh O'Flaherty with the Italian Resistance during WWII. O'Connor has been writing for a long time, but I had never read one of his books - I will definitely be checking out his back catalogue:

My Father's House by Joseph O'Connor - 5* - My Review

[Donna]

Oh, I’m glad you liked that one. I’m about to start it.

[Tamara]

I read Remembering Laughter, a novella by Wallace Stegner. It's about the long-term disruption in familial relations caused by a lapse in judgment. And as with all of Stegner, the writing is beautiful.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

[Gina]

Tamara wrote: "I read Remembering Laughter, a novella by Wallace Stegner. It's about the long-term disruption in familial relations caused by a lapse in judgment. And as with all of S..."

I just put this on my TBR pile. Thanks Tamara.

[Lynn]

Ann D wrote: "I love Jane Smiley. Keep us posted on Lucky"

I finished it last week, Ann, and am still thinking about it. I enjoyed it, much as I have most of the other Smiley books I've read, but I have so many questions, particularly about the epilogue. If there are any others here who have read it, I might start a separate thread with a spoiler alert to discuss them.

[Book Concierge]

Into Love and Out Again – Elinor Lipman – 3.5***
This is a collection of short stories set in New York City. As the title implies, the focus is on love … falling in love, attraction, heartbreak, excitement, intimacy, falling out of love. This was Lipman’s debut work. I’ve become a fan of hers in the last few years and decided to go back and read some of her earlier works. She writes with wit and tenderness and eyes wide open to her characters’ flaws and gifts.
LINK to my full review

[Kat]

Finished The Women, it really had an impact on me. Haven't reviewed it yet. Still reading Marilynne Robinson's Jack and am also reading Sing, Unburied, Sing. Jesmyn Ward is an amazing writer. I loved her Salvage the Bones, also.

For my "easier" reading (I like to have one out of my 3 titles in that category) I just started My Father's House, recommended by Joy above. I love books set during WWII and also books set in Italy so it's a double winner for me!

[Mary Ellen]

For those reading My Father's House, there is a 1983 TV movie with Gregory Peck as Fr. O'Flaherty and Christopher Plummer as his Nazi nemesis: The Scarlet and the Black. I enjoyed it back in the day. For one thing, it was interesting to see Captain von Trapp as a Nazi!

I just finished Paul McCartney: A Life by Peter James Carlin. My interest in the Beatles was sparked anew when I had a free Sirius XM trial a few months ago and so I picked this book up at the library. I was in 8th grade when the Beatles broke up and my main source for their music prior to that time was a cartoon program in the late 60s. My cell phone, listening in to Sirius XM, filled my FB feed with postings from Beatles group pages, further piquing my curiosity. I chose this book largely because it was available and shorter than some of the more massive Beatles biographies. It was OK and served the purpose, for me, of giving a general outline of the rise and demise of the group. Wings and post-Wings gets less attention, but for my purposes, that was fine. Now back to my life of reading fiction!

[Torono]

I plan to get through the entire twilight series for the first time

[Tamara]

I read The Fawn by Magda Szabó, translated from the Hungarian by Kathleen Szasz.
The novel is in the form of a monologue by Eszter Encsy, an accomplished stage actress in Soviet-era Budapest. She addresses it to an unnamed reader. Eszter's voice is unreliable, blunt, vindictive, and bitter. A powerful portrayal but not an easy read.
This is the fourth novel I've read by Magda Szabo. Her novels are thought-provoking and compelling. I've ranked this novel along with her Iza's Ballad and The Door as one of my favorites.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Thank you, Tamara. I liked The Door and have been intending to read more by Szabó.

[Tamara]

Barbara wrote: "Thank you, Tamara. I liked The Door and have been intending to read more by Szabó."

You're welcome, Barbara.
I recommend Iza's Ballad. It's about the relationship between an elderly woman and her daughter. It's really good.

[Barbara]

I just put Iza's Ballad on my list.

[Tamara]

Great! I really hope you enjoy it. Please let me know your thoughts when you've had time to read it. I thought it was very moving.

[Tamara]

I read Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver. It was an enjoyable read although I did find the characters to be somewhat contrived and stereotypical.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Maureen]

I just read West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
I just loved it.

[Gina]

Maureen, wasn't that a wonderful story? I loved it too.

[Maureen]

Yes it was Gina. It makes me want to visit the zoo.

[Joy D]

Just finished:
Animal Life by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir - 4* - My Review

This is an unconventional novel that contains reflections on life, death, and human nature. There is a very slim storyline (I hesitate to call it a “plot”) that follows a midwife descended from a long line of midwives, an approaching storm, and a tourist staying in a nearby flat. It mostly relates protagonist Dýja’s thoughts as she attempts to make sense of her grandaunt’s rather disorganized collection of writings. The style is lyrical but not overly flowery. I think it needs to be consumed when the reader is in the right mood. It explores life, birth, light, interconnectedness, motherhood, the search for meaning and the role of coincidence.

I read the English translation from the original Icelandic.

[Tamara]

Joy D wrote: "Just finished:
Animal Life by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir - 4* - My Review

This is an unconventional novel that contains reflections on life, death, and human nature. Th..."

Joy, I've read four novels by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir. I love the way her writing is sort of minimalist and spare. If you haven't read it yet, I recommend Hotel Silence. I think it's her best novel.

[Joy D]

I have not read Hotel Silence - I'll add it to my list, thanks!