June: What Are You Reading?

[Sherry, Doyenne]

A new month--a new thread. Enjoy. I have less than a hundred pages left on A House for Mr. Biswas. I'll be very glad when I can move on.

[Marialyce]

Wow! June already! I am reading The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Jane Eyre, and Shadow of the Wind for my book club. I have A House for Mr. Biswas on reserve at the library. Is it worthwhile?

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

I think A House for Mr. Biswas is worthwhile. I gave up with Shadow of the Wind about 2/3 of the way through, when nothing was happening.

I'm finishing A House for Mr. Biswas and The Historian. The latter is becoming a bit of a slog now because it's overly long. Not enough real story for almost 700 pages.

I hope to read Fools of Fortune, too, one of William Trevor's "big house" books.

[Jessika]

Right now, I'm reading The Kite Runner and Snow Falling on Cedars, both of which I'm enjoying.

[Hazel]

I'm still working on the ancient Chinese epic Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Vol. 1 which is far less exciting than the John Woo film, Chi Bi, with its artistry and great battle scenes. I'm finishing Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was, a whimsical fable, that I'm using as a companion piece. (Much easier to read.)

For the Bodice Rippers, I've just finished the unimpressive Soulless, a fantasy/romance.

And on a whim, I've just started Don't Bet on the Prince: Contemporary Feminist Fairy Tales in North America and England which I immediately love. Well-written fairy tales with active and effective heroines.

I'd love to reread Biswas, which is an old favourite, but my hands are way too full.

[Dottie]

Just finished A Thousand Splendid Suns and am picking upThe Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and resuming my leisurely reading of a "couple" of others.

[Ruth]

What'd you think of Suns, Dottie. I was disappointed.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

I was disappointed in it as well. For one thing, the people were stereotypes, and the people there aren't stereotypes. They are people.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Jess wrote: "Right now, I'm reading The Kite Runner and Snow Falling on Cedars, both of which I'm enjoying."

I did not like The Kite Runner myself since I thought it was overwrought and overwritten, but I loved Snow Falling On Cedars. However, I tried to watch the movie three times and fell asleep all three times. I guess for me, at least, the book was better than the movie.

[Ruth]

I admit KR wasn't the most wonderful literary experience, but I found it fascinating for its look into a culture and a region I knew little or nothing about.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

I had read books about Afghanistan before I read The Kite Runner, so that might have dulled my reading experience even more. I like books set in that area and the surrounding area, such as The Inheritance of Loss (surrounding area), but I do like for them to be well written. I think The Inheritance of Loss is very well done.

[Sarah]

I just started "Sweetness," too, Marialyce. I loved the first few pages. I'm also starting The Magus by John Fowles and am halfway through The Postman Always Rings Twice. My first Cain.

[Badly Drawn Girl]

I just finished a fascinating non-fiction book about snake handlers in the south. It was really powerful because the author found himself becoming a part of the story as he gets more and more drawn into the religious services. He does a wonderful job of presenting an unbiased account of the people who believe in handling snakes, drinking poison and speaking in tongues.

Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake-Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia by Dennis Covington

[Al]

I just finished The Things They Carried this morning. Maybe my expectations were too high on this one, but I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. He can certainly write and I did feel transported into his unit in Vietnam at times but it didn't affect me as much as I thought it would.

However, and I did not do this on purpose, it was an ideal read on Memorial Day.

I'm now back into my huge library pile of started books to see who emerges in this next round :) I also picked up several more from the library today. I highly recommend "shopping" at the library for those looking to experience "retail therapy" without actually spending any money!!

[Ruth]

I loved Things. Maybe because I'm older than you are (I'm certainly older than your picture!) Vietnam doesn't seem so long ago to me.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

I haven't read The Things They Carried, but I love Tim O'Brien's writing. I especially loved In the Lake of the Woods, which I read years ago, in the 90s. I think the main character was a Vietnam veteran, but the book took place in Minnesota. What I loved was the beautiful writing and the ambiguous ending.

[Sherry, Doyenne]

Dennis Covington is a friend of our Dale's. We read Salvation on Sand Mountain for our Reading List one year. Here is a link:
http://web.archive.org/web/2006110201...

[Ruth]

Aha. I thought that title and name sounded familiar, Sherry.

[Dottie]

Ruth wrote: "What'd you think of Suns, Dottie. I was disappointed."
Gabrielle wrote: "I was disappointed in it as well. For one thing, the people were stereotypes, and the people there aren't stereotypes. They are people."


Oh, no, Ruth, Gabrielle, too, I loved it. I had reservations on the happy ending resolve but it was clearly laid out as fragile as the story wound down to the finish so I forgave that somewhat. I felt that the characters were so real that their responses felt much like my own and that pulled me into the book. What you saw as stereotypes, Gabrielle, I found to be the universality/common denominator of humans of whatever their nationality. I basically put all those other half dozen or so books on hold to devour this pretty immediately. Yes, for the story's purposes we are embedded into a stereotypical abusive, etc. household (Rasheed) BUT we also saw Laila's family and Mariam's father's life and Nana and those who were important to Mariam in her younger days. We were given plenty of contrasts in how the various cultural entities responded to the events unfolded in the story.

[Kat]

I haven't read THE THINGS THEY CARRIED, but I recently read a rave recommendation for another Vietnam novel--Susan Fromberg Schaeffer‘s 1989 novel, Buffalo Afternoon. Apparently it addresses not only the overseas experience, but the devastating aftermath here at home, which was so searing for so many vets.

[Marialyce]

I am starting The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. I have it for seven days and there are 240 people after me waiting for it.

[Kat]

Just finished Valerie Martin's TRESPASS. She's always pretty hard on her characters, but in a way that sheds light, I think. This one didn't appeal to me much at the start but grew on me. Some of the characters lived through the horrors of war in the former Yugoslavia; others were moneyed academics and artists. An interesting mix.

[J10]

I'm reading The Talented Mr. Ripley. At last, my first meeting with Ripley in book-form! I love it so far, it's already much better than the movie.

[Hazel]

Jantien wrote: "I'm reading The Talented Mr. Ripley. At last, my first meeting with Ripley in book-form! I love it so far, it's already much better than the movie."

Loved that!

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

The Quickening Maze is one I really want to read.

[Bahareh]

Marialyce wrote: "Wow! June already! I am reading The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Jane Eyre, and Shadow of the Wind for my book club. I have A House for Mr. Biswas on reserve at the library. Is it worthwhile?"

How have you liked "sweetness" so far? I've had it on reserve for over two months now and I'm kind of giving up hope! If it's a good one I should probably buy it.

[Marialyce]

Bahareh wrote: "Marialyce wrote: "Wow! June already! I am reading The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Jane Eyre, and Shadow of the Wind for my book club. I have A House for Mr. Biswas on reserve at the library..."

I always hate to tell anyone to buy a book. I myself am cheap in that department so I would wait it out. I was waiting for two month for The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest and I got it yesterday!
The book was adorable and I loved how the heroine was a super smart eleven year old sleuth. It was easy to read and enjoyable.

[Kat]

Just a thought: Those of us who can afford it might want to consider buying books if we want to see them continue to be published. The publishing industry is going down the tubes and needs our help!

[Renee]

I am starting East of Eden by John Steinback. I hope it's a good read because it's close to 600 pages long. Last month I read 6 books but when I start one this long it cuts into how many books I can read.

[Ruth]

Rest assured. It's a good read.

[Erin]

Ruth wrote: "I admit KR wasn't the most wonderful literary experience, but I found it fascinating for its look into a culture and a region I knew little or nothing about."

I had a similar reaction, Ruth.

I love, love LOVED! Snow Falling on Cedars. If I didn't have so many new books to read, I would revisit it. I'm working on developing my summer reading list now.

[Dvora]

I haven't finished the Chagall biography but my other online group started discussing The Library at Night by Alberto Manguel and since I had bought it in order to discuss it with the group, I put Chagall aside for now. I love The Library at Night so far, I'm a little more than half way through it. He writes beautifully and the essays cover many things: libraries, books, reading, readers. It is a collection of essays or musings and is truly lovely.

[Sue]

Re: In the Lake of the Woods, I read that in conjunction with a library book group and we had a great discussion due to that wonderfully ambiguous ending.

I am reading a Jacqueline Winspear, catching up on the series, and alternating between library books and those I own.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Erin wrote: "Ruth wrote: "I admit KR wasn't the most wonderful literary experience, but I found it fascinating for its look into a culture and a region I knew little or nothing about."

I had a similar reacti..."

I want to reread Snow Falling On Cedars soon, Erin if just for the beautiful descriptions of nature. I thought the movie would be so good because of the beautiful setting, but no. It just moved too slowly (the movie, not the book).

Susan, In the Lake of the Woods does lend itself to great discussion, doesn't it. That's another one I'd love to reread. I still don't know for sure what I feel about the ending.

[Sue]

Another book group book that led to a very spirited discussion was The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid. I've never read a novel that is essentially a one-sided conversation before. Very interesting.

[Yulia]

I read In the Lake of the Woods in the eleventh grade and hated it for its ambiguity, but I think I'd love it today. Well, perhaps not. I'm not sure just how much not knowing about what really happened I can take. And in that book, it seemed so wide open to me, more than in most brow-furrowers. Ach, I still remember my frustration. I was so desperate to know what actually happened.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

The only thing I found annoying about the book was the main character calling his wife "Kath" so much of the time. I know her name was "Kathy," but I think O'Brien, who I really do like very, very much, overused the expression, "Kath, oh, Kath!" I remember thinking if I read that one more time, I was going to stop reading the book. But I kept on, wanting to know.

[Al]

Even though I didn't love The Things They Carried, I think chances are good that I will try another Tim O'Brien book.

I just finished Breakable You for our discussion later this month.

I'm back to my big roulette wheel of library book choices. The one that I am the farthest along in is Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood - a memoir that I am enjoying. It has short, snapshot like chapters which make it perfect for stopping and coming back to.

[Amanda]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and I just started reading My Stroke of Insight. Has anyone else read it?

[Sarah]

Jantien, I read the first two Ripleys a couple of years ago and was amazed at Patricia Highsmith's talent. She could really create a mood as well as unforgettable characters.

[Marjorie]

Renee wrote: " I am starting East of Eden by John Steinback. I hope it's a good read because it's close to 600 pages long. Last month I read 6 books but when I start one this long it cuts into how many books I can read."

Steinbeck's East of Eden was one of my favorite reads last year.

If you ever visit anywhere near Salinas, California (near Monterey) you must visit the Steinbeck Center/Museum. Fascinating place for Steinbeck fans and will make those who haven't read him run out and get his books.

BTW, I'm always curious about why people are concerned with how many books they read. I'm more concerned with reading a good book. If I don't like a book, and have a long list of books I want to read, I simply stop reading the book after, say, 75-100 pages, and get on to another book. I do sometimes come back later and read a book I'd discarded.

Marge

[Sue]

I must admit I don't read books I don't like. If I find myself not liking or enjoying a book, I stop. There are too many other books out there (and on my bookshelves). That's why most of my ratings are good. I don't usually finish the other ones unless I think it's going to get better or I'm disappointed as I proceed.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Susan wrote: "I must admit I don't read books I don't like. If I find myself not liking or enjoying a book, I stop. There are too many other books out there (and on my bookshelves). That's why most of my ratings..."

I think that's wise, Susan and Marge. We only have a limited amount of time to spend reading, and I think it should be enjoyable and rewarding. Because we have to do other things and because new books are constantly being published, we probably won't get to read all the good books we want to read, let alone wage through ones we don't like.

Most of my ratings are good, too because I've finally learned to choose books I'm pretty sure I'll like, however I do come across a clunker now and then. I still feel compelled to finish a book, though I'm trying to break myself of that compulsion and take my own advice about limited reading time. I guess this in one of those cases where it's easier to give advice than to take your own. LOL

[Erin]

Marjorie wrote: "BTW, I'm always curious about why people are concerned with how many books they read. I'm more concerned with reading a good book. If I don't like a book, and have a long list of books I want to read, I simply stop reading the book after, say, 75-100 pages, and get on to another book. I do sometimes come back later and read a book I'd discarded."

Marge, my problem is that there are too many good books out there! Like Gabrielle, I've done a pretty good job at learning what I will and will not like. While I have been able to weed out quite a number (some entire genres, even!), knowing that I won't enjoy them or otherwise benefit by reading, there are still a lot of books left to read! Even if one limits herself to Pulitzer, Nobel, Booker and Orange winners, that is still a gargantuan list to take on.

[Sue]

And then there are all those fun books to while away some time with too!!

[Erin]

Like big, coffee-table picture books!

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Erin wrote: "Like big, coffee-table picture books!"

Absolutely! Right now I don't have a coffee table, though! LOL No room! But I'll get one eventually. And some books for on it! :)

[Beej]

Gabrielle wrote:

The only thing I found annoying about the book was the main character calling his wife "Kath" so much of the time. I know her name was "Kathy," but I think O'Brien, who I really do like very, very much, overused the expression, "Kath, oh, Kath!" I remember thinking if I read that one more time, I was going to stop reading the book. But I kept on, wanting to know."

That made me sit here and laugh out loud; it just reminded me of my friend Cathy's significant other, who nicknamed her, 'Catheter.'

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Beej wrote: "Gabrielle wrote:

The only thing I found annoying about the book was the main character calling his wife "Kath" so much of the time. I know her name was "Kathy," but I think O'Brien, who I really..."

I didn't mind him calling his wife, "Kath," Beej, but the main character had a penchant for saying, "Kath, oh, Kath!" over and over. It got on my nerves. LOL And Tim O'Brien is such a first rate writer. I was surprised it didn't get on his nerves, too! :)

[Audrey]

In June I plan to read Your Work, Your Life…Your Way before I dive back into a fiction read.