2010 Personal Reading List

[Sarah]

That is SO my problem, Denise. I have already read 6 books this month, solely because they all had extremely persuasive sponsors on CR. (Someone Knows My Name was one of them, and I must join the persuasive sponsor group for that one.) I'm a step ahead of you, though; I already knew my TBR list was unrealistic. I try to think of it as more of a "Possibilities" list, so I can avoid feeling depressed that I cannot read all of them next week.

[Carol]

hahahaha me too. I think I have 160+ books. I don't read that fast.

[Al]

Capitu:

March is just around the corner. just curious if you would still be up for reading something like Disgrace, Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West or Colm Toibin then. No rush at all - just wanted to keep the idea alive :)

If I had to choose right now, I would say that I would lean more toward Disgrace, but I'm still open to any of those.

[Sarah]

Al, don't leave me out--I just took Blood Meridian back to the library, thinking we were going to read it later. I can get it back any time, though.

[Carol]

I would like to join in also. I put the books on hold at library. Either one sounds interesting.

[[deleted user]]

I would like to join too. I haven't read Blood Meridian yet, but would love to read more McCarthy. Disgrace is a favorite that's up for a reread, that would be the fourth or fifth time.

[Beej]

Disgrace is one of my all time favorite books, just a phenomenal work of literature.

[Al]

Great - I did not mean to exclude anyone - in fact I posted here on purpose hoping to generate some interest. I am sure we can coordinate in enough time for everyone to get the books from the library and read them.

[Carol]

Thanks I put mine on the list now. I think I am no. 1, but it is coming from south county, and it takes about a week, but who knows. I gave up on Dom Casamurro.

[[deleted user]]

I just got Blood Meridian from the library, but it's from the university library so unless someone else requests it I can keep it for four years ;)

[Sherry, Doyenne]

That's what I call a generous lending policy.

[Denise]

Me, I'd be interested in reading some Colm Toibin, but not any time soon.

[Erin]

Sherry wrote: "That's what I call a generous lending policy."

I LOVE my university library. I can keep stuff FOREVER. I have had three books for over a year now.

I think it's because they actually don't have room for all their books, so they can be lenient :)

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Erika wrote: "Not that any of us needs another reason to buy books, BUT for those interested in new books in 2010 here is The Millions' "Most Anticipated 2010" list.

http://www.themillions.com/2010/01/mo......"

Those were interesting. I'm most interested in The Swan Thieves, the new Banville, and the new David Mitchell.

I don't plan my reading, either, except for the books we read here. Otherwise it's just whatever strikes my fancy. I have about 200 unread books here on shelves, so I have a good selection to choose from without leaving the house. And I'm always ordering more, much to my husband's dismay.

[Erin]

Gabrielle wrote: "I don't plan my reading, either, except for the books we read here. Otherwise it's just whatever strikes my fancy. I have about 200 unread books here on shelves, so I have a good selection to choose from without leaving the house. And I'm always ordering more, much to my husband's dismay."

Sebastian should be happy - there are much more expensive and worse habits that one could have :)

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Erin wrote: "Gabrielle wrote: "I don't plan my reading, either, except for the books we read here. Otherwise it's just whatever strikes my fancy. I have about 200 unread books here on shelves, so I have a good ..."

I'm not into jewelry, a large wardrobe, or fancy electronics. I do buy a lot of DVDs and kitchen gadgets, though, but Sebastien's also a chef. He uses the kitchen stuff more than I do as he does more cooking at home than I. He likes for me to dress nicely, he loves electronics, he knows the usefulness of kitchen gadgets, but he doesn't understand why anyone would even want to read.

[Erin]

Gabrielle wrote: "... but he doesn't understand why anyone would even want to read."

Some people just don't get it :)

[[deleted user]]

Gabrielle wrote: Those were interesting. I'm most interested in The Swan Thieves, the new Banville, and the new David Mitchell.

I have the Banville on order, it's coming out the 23rd of this month. David Mitchell's new one isn't coming out till the end of June, and looks fantastic.
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet: A Novel.

[Al]

I'm starting to think David Mitchell is an author I need to read. What would y'all recommend to start with out of his 4 existing novels?

[[deleted user]]

Al, I've only read Cloud Atlas, so can only recommend that, highly recommend it. :) I have a couple others of his, bemoaning the fact I've left them so long on the shelf.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Katherine M wrote: "Gabrielle wrote: Those were interesting. I'm most interested in The Swan Thieves, the new Banville, and the new David Mitchell.

I have the Banville on order, it's coming out the 23rd of this month..."

I want to read both the Banville and David Mitchell, too, Katherine.

Al, Cloud Atlas is the one I would recommend, too.

[Al]

thanks Katherine and Gabrielle - I had been thinking of reading Black Swan Green: A Novel first, but now I will definitely start with Cloud Atlas.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

I haven't read Black Swan Green yet, Al, but I know I really thought Cloud Atlas was good. The construction is a little different in that it's not a truly linear story, but it's still wonderfully written and engaging.

[Al]

Non-linear doesn't bother me, but thanks for the heads-up.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

It has a construction that's 1,2,3,4,5,6,5,4,3,2,1. We really don't find out the end of stories 1-5 until after we read story 6, then Mitchell backtracks and gives us the ending details of 1-5, or 5-1 as I should say. In the second half of the book, Mitchell is working from 6 to 1.

[Erin]

Gabrielle wrote: "It has a construction that's 1,2,3,4,5,6,5,4,3,2,1. We really don't find out the end of stories 1-5 until after we read story 6, then Mitchell backtracks and gives us the ending details of 1-5, or..."

That sounds really interesting! I might read it it just to see how he uses that structure.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

It can lose steam for some in the second half because the climax of the book is reached in the middle, in story six, but I still felt it was a very good and very interesting book, Erin. Mitchell certainly writes well.

[Al]

Heads up Denise and Capitu:

When I took my niece to her library branch today after we got her books, I was glancing at the "speed read" counter (books you can only take out for a week) and I spotted Brooklyn: A Novel and Wolf Hall so of course I took them out. So I may be diving into Colm Toibin very soon but I can take notes if we want to discuss later when you both get around to it.

[Carol]

I purchased Wolf Hall in Dec. I still haven't read it. Trying to get through War and Peace first.

[Barbara]

Al, I just this minute posted about Wolf Hall on the What are you reading thread. So far, I really like it.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Wolf Hall is my favorite book of the decade. If readers don't like a formal writing style, they might not like it, though, but I just loved it. I came away from it with awe for Hilary Mantel's writing abilities.

Also, I read it during a beautiful, beautiful, warm Indian summer, before all this terrible snow came around, so thinking about it brings back great memories for me.

[Barbara]

So far, I am loving Wolf Hall. Initially, I got a little confused with the point of view. She uses third person to refer to Cromwell, but without identifying him, after she has been using it to refer to another character. I'm finally get used to that though and am finding it hard to put it down.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

I noticed that, too, Barbara, and I've heard other people mention the same thing. I got used to it quickly, too, and really loved the book. Near the end of the book, I noticed she used colons and semicolons a lot and that started to become obvious, but it didn't spoil the book at all for me. I loved it so much. So glad you're enjoying it, too.

Did you know she's writing a sequel? I'm very anxious for it to come out. I don't know when it's expected as it has to be a huge amount of work.

[Barbara]

I didn't know about the sequel to Wolf Hall. It's early yet in my reading, but I'm guessing I will read that too.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

I don't know what it's going to be called or when it's due out, but I know Hilary Mantel is working on it now. At first, she said she wondered how she was going to condense everything into one book, then she decided to write two books. I know I'll read the sequel. Wolf Hall was so enjoyable for me. I just loved it.

Here's a video of Hilary Mantel talking about Wolf Hall and its sequel.

http://robertarood.wordpress.com/2009...

[Barbara]

Thank you for that link, Gabrielle. I loved her talk about the Booker prize. I didn't know that the nominees don't know who wins until the end of the elaborate dinner! I also love that blog and have bookmarked it.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

You're welcome, Barbara. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I love hearing Hilary Mantel talk about her work and winning the Booker, too.

I didn't know the nominees didn't find out who won until the end of the dinner until two years ago. I thought they learned ahead of time. I can imagine some of them being almost too nervous to eat. The Booker is such a prestigious literary prize.

[Book.Wayfarer]

i have a humongous reading list so i dont think i should post it on here, but when i tried to add one of colm toibin's books on my list i noticed it wasn't even on here, and the book came out in 2005. It's called The Master..How do you get people to add books onto this site??

[Al]

The Master: A Novel - Shanna, I found it - sometimes you have to enter both the title and the author to find books here

[[deleted user]]

/groaning/ Just ordered Wolf Hall from Amazon. I've been fighting the urge for months now, but after the remarks here, and the video link, I am obliged to buy the darned thing! :)

[Barbara]

I don't think you'll regret it, Katherine, especially if you like well researched historical fiction.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

I don't think she'll regret it, either, Barbara. It's a wonderful book.

[Book.Wayfarer]

No kidding. I tried that once with a different book and it didn't bring up anything last time. Good to know :)

[Rosana]

Hello all, I am back! I am back!

Al, I am so glad you came back to ask. I think I am at the point that I can commit to a discussion somewhere towards the 20th of March (somewhere between the discussions of Half a Yellow Sun and Go Down Moses which I also wanted to read) . But I know that this is quite far away, so don’t let me hold you guys back, as there seems to be more people interested. Personally I would vote on Disgrace, for a first discussion. But I would read any of the others mentioned.

I wanted to say too that I was away from the computer for 2 weeks and I cannot read through all the posts during this time. I almost missed the posts in this thread too. So I just wanted to tell everyone that if there has been messages directed at me in this time, please post them again. And... my wonderings are not yet over, so I will disappear again in a few days, but don’t worry, I shall resurface in early March.

[Carol]

I did start Blood Meridian. I also have Disgrace next in line. So which ever one we want o discuss I hope I will be able to participate.

[Al]

Capitu:

I knew you were gone but would be back eventually :)

I read Brooklyn: A Novel by Colm Tóibín and really enjoyed it so I would be happy to discuss at a later time or choose another one by him - I am definitely keen on reading more of his novels.

Disgrace would work well for me in that late march time period. I am on vacation from March 10-20 and will plan to bring Disgrace and Go Down, Moses with me.

Then perhaps we can move on to Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West, with Carol having a big head start.

[Carol]

Only because with my library system you never know when the books will come. You should see Blood Meridian. The book is literally falling apart. As I turn the pages more pages come apart from the binding. I think I should buy one to replace this one. Someone has made all these margin notes also. Now Disgrace looks like no one has even opened it. You know how new books have that snap when you open them, this one did.

[Sheila]

I've got Wolf Hall on audio with me and have been eyeing up Brooklyn and The Master by Toibin as a first read from him - any recomendations as to which would be a good starter? I loved Disgrace, one of my favorite books by one of my favourite authors

And I finally got started on The Book Thief.

[Barbara]

Have you got The Book Thief in audio, Sheila? And, if so, is Allan Corduner the reader?

[Al]

Shelia:

I thought Brooklyn was a great introduction to Toibin.