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October: What Are You Reading?
message 51:
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Sarah
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Oct 05, 2010 10:51AM
Great, thanks, Suzanne. I'll put Uncivil on my list. My other friend said she thought HS was the best of the bunch, but others were good, too.
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I'm reading YOU comma Idiot by Doug Harris. This is a debut novel by a Canadian writer, notable for being written entirely in the second person.It is taking me weeks to read anything this fall.
Marjorie wrote: "Mrs. Selby wrote: "No, I guess I won't. The second I read "coming-of-age novel," I'm put off a book. They never agree with me." I had to laugh. Those words "coming-of-age novel" are also the ..."
I don't want any kind of reminder of my "coming-of-age" years, either. I just want to erase that time period from my memory.
Ruth wrote: "Geoff wrote: "Ruth: I loved Brunelleschi's Dome; sorry it's not striking you. Have you had a chance to get up inside the Duomo?"
I've seen it, but I haven't gone up inside. I did used to talk ..."
I couldn't read that book because of the writing. I had to give up barely ten pages in.
Ruth: I understand that. I usually relax my (normally grumpy) expectations of prose when I'm reading non-fiction.
I am also reading Brunelleschi's Dome. I'm about to start Chapter 4 so I'm not too far into it, but it has not grabbed me so far. I'm reading it for the Art Lover's Group and am looking forward to the discussion there. I hope I can hang in there!
Suzanne wrote'Just received 'Let The Right One In' and am about 1/4 way through right now.
It is pretty enthralling, preparing to get a few goosebumps by midnight!
Oh I absolutely loved this book! Have you seen the film? I wish I hadn't seen it first, because I thought the book was so much better (you can check out my review).
Denise wrote: "Suzanne wrote'Just received 'Let The Right One In' and am about 1/4 way through right now.
It is pretty enthralling, preparing to get a few goosebumps by midnight!
Oh I absolutely loved this book..."
No, I haven't seen the film! Just the upcoming clips... Yes, I agree with you about the book 100%
So much substance and depth...Very much a surprise to me!!!
I've ordered his other novel 'Handling The Undead'. He is becoming a major force...
Have you read any of Guillermo Del Toro's trilogy 'The Strain'?? I had just finished the 2nd book and went right to 'LTROI'. Complete opposite experience, I much prefer the latter!
Geoff wrote: "Ruth: I understand that. I usually relax my (normally grumpy) expectations of prose when I'm reading non-fiction."I think nonfiction can and should be written as beautifully as fiction. I've read some wonderful nonfiction books.
A.J., I'm trying to imagine a book written in entirely in the 2nd person. Is Harris pulling it off? Are there some other well-known books that used this point of view and I'm just forgetting them?
The best known book that uses this point of view is Jay McInerney's first novel, Bright Lights, Big City, which I think is very good.Without going off on a lengthy tangent, one of the things the second person can do is to argue for sympathy; it's a "put yourself in his shoes" ploy. And one of the complaints reviewers are making about Harris's book is that it alienates the reader, i.e. does the opposite. Harris is aware of Bright Lights, Big City, but he may not have picked up on this point.
McInerney explicitly tells us what he's up to in his opening sentences, which argue for sympathy. I'm in a nightclub at about 3 am, and the cocaine is wearing off, but I really don't belong here, honest, I'm not like that, so put yourself in my shoes: "You are not the kind of guy who would be at a place like this at this time of the morning. But here you are...."
Harris has read this, without a doubt, and he plays on it, opening his book with, "You're the kind of guy who falls in love after one date."
Then follows a litany of examples of what kind of guy you are, all of them uncomplimentary.
So, not clear that Harris understands the possibilities and is using this ploy effectively, but the jury is still out for me. I'm so busy this fall that it is slow, slow going.
Bright Lights, Big City would be a good group read, come to think of it....
What are you waiting for I already nominated my two send it to Sherry it sounds interesting.
Thanks, A.J. I'd hear of Bright Lights, Big City but didn't know about the viewpoint.
I think Gilead was in second person. I know I've read one or two others, but I can't think of them. Definitely not common.
Barbara wrote: "A.J., I'm trying to imagine a book written in entirely in the 2nd person. Is Harris pulling it off? Are there some other well-known books that used this point of view and I'm just forgetting them?"I wrote a short story in the second person and it seemed to work well, but I think a whole book would bother me.
A.J. wrote: "The best known book that uses this point of view is Jay McInerney's first novel, Bright Lights, Big City, which I think is very good.Without going off on a lengthy tangent, one of th..."
AJ, Sherry is taking nominations until Sunday if you want to nominate it!
I've found that with Bright Lights, Big City, people either love it or hate it. I really enjoyed it and felt that I learned a lot as a writer from it (read it for a class last fall), but about half of my fellow students hated it. so it might be interesting for a CR read.
MrsSeby wrote: "I wrote a short story in the second person and it seemed to work well, but I think a whole book would bother me."
Gabrielle, I thought that before I read it, but I got used to it and by halfway through I didn't even notice it anymore.
Erin wrote: "A.J. wrote: "The best known book that uses this point of view is Jay McInerney's first novel, Bright Lights, Big City, which I think is very good.Without going off on a lengthy tan..."
Are you talking about Bright Lights, Big City, Erin? I haven't read that book, but not because of the second person. I haven't read it just because I didn't think I would like it. I'm not against trying a book written in the second person if the subject matter interests me, though. I'd do it. :)
Thanks for sharing your take on the experience, Erin. :)
MrsSeby wrote: "Are you talking about Bright Lights, Big City, Erin? I haven't read that book, but not because of the second person. I haven't read it just because I didn't think I would like it. I'm not against trying a book written in the second person if the subject matter interests me, though. I'd do it. :)"Yup. AJ's mention of the book is what spawned the whole second person convo, which is what I thought you were referring to. I can see why the subject matter could be a turnoff. There is a redeeming turn for the main character, but it comes so late in the book that I think many readers would give up on the book before reaching that point - I felt the same as you, regarding the subject matter. I didn't think that I would like it either, and the only reason I stuck it out was because it was for class. After I finished the book, I was glad that I did read it in its entirety.
It is a quick read, so even if you don't like it after you've finished it, it won't really feel like it was a waste of time.
Denise wrote: "I think Gilead was in second person. I know I've read one or two others, but I can't think of them. Definitely not common."Denise, Gilead is written in the first person. There is a lot of "you" in it, though because it's constructed like a letter. It starts out, "I told you last night that I might be gone sometime, and you said, Where, and I said, To be with the Good Lord, and you said, Why, and I said, Because I'm old, and you said, I don't think you're old."
Gilead, in my humble opinion, is a beautiful, beautiful book. The prose style is a little odd, but as Erin said with the second person, you soon get used to it.
Erin wrote: "MrsSeby wrote: "Are you talking about Bright Lights, Big City, Erin? I haven't read that book, but not because of the second person. I haven't read it just because I didn't think I would like it. ..."My writing partner likes that book a lot. Thanks so much for the information. :) I do appreciate it, but I doubt that I'll ever read the book because I have so many others to read and I'm not really a fast reader at all. I'm trying to speed up, but not having much success lately because I have so many other things to do. *sigh*
Have you read Gilead or Tinkers, Erin?
MrsSeby wrote: "Have you read Gilead or Tinkers, Erin?"No to either, but I'm going to read Tinkers next week, since I think we're set to start discussing it on Oct 15th. Are you recommending them?
Erin wrote: "MrsSeby wrote: "Have you read Gilead or Tinkers, Erin?"No to either, but I'm going to read Tinkers next week, since I think we're set to start discussing it on Oct 15th. Are yo..."
The only spoilers below consist of my own opinions in comparing Tinkers and Gilead. Those who don't want to know until the Tinkers discussion, don't read, okay?
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Yes, sort of. Gilead and Tinkers are very much alike, Erin in that both are about men at the end of their lives reflecting on their relationships with their fathers and grandfathers. The prose in Tinkers is just gorgeous, but personally, I could not connect with the characters and I thought the transitions were a bit clunky. I often had to check to see if we were still with the father's or the grandfather's thoughts. I thought too much time was spent with the father's and grandfather's feelings and not enough with the dying man's, George's. Still, it's a novella and the prose makes it worthwhile.
Gilead is a true masterpiece to me. The setting is Iowa instead of Maine, but I thought the characterization was richer and deeper. I think it will be Gilead that will stand the test of time. But that might just be me. ;)
I'm glad you're going to participate in the Tinkers discussion. Oh, it's a good book, better than 98% of the stuff that's written today, but I just found the transitions a bit clunky. The only prose I've found more beautiful is Hilary Mantel's in Wolf Hall.
MrsSeby wrote: "Erin wrote: "MrsSeby wrote: "Have you read Gilead or Tinkers, Erin?"No to either, but I'm going to read Tinkers next week, since I think we're set to start discussing it on Oct 15..."
You love you some Wolf Hall, I've noticed :)
I just finished Duma Key by Stephen King, my first King book in years and years. I'm glad I finally gave him another chance because I really enjoyed the story.I also just finished Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby which was a disappointment.
And I'm currently reading The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian and The Darling: A Novel by Russell Banks.
Erin wrote: "MrsSeby wrote: "Erin wrote: "MrsSeby wrote: "Have you read Gilead or Tinkers, Erin?"No to either, but I'm going to read Tinkers next week, since I think we're set to start disc..."
I do. :) I love that book more than any of the decade. It's on my top five alltime list. I never liked historicals before that book, but Mantel sure made a convert out of me. Than again, maybe it's just Mantel. I'm not sure. I haven't had time to read other historical books by other authors.
Finished The Dracula Dossier: A Novel of Suspense and I really liked it. It had a slow start but picked up after the first 50 pages. I've managed to move on to The Woman in White
Flora wrote: "Finished The Dracula Dossier: A Novel of Suspense and I really liked it. It had a slow start but picked up after the first 50 pages. I've managed to move on to [book:The Woman in Whi..."My favorite mystery is The Woman In White. I hope to have time to reread it soon.
I want to add my plug for Gilead. I agree with MrsSeby that it's a masterpiece, one of the best novels I've read in the last several years. I'm looking forward to rereading it when I use it in my English III-Honors class next quarter.
Happy to hear that as I just picked that book up from the library.
MrsSeby wrote: "Flora wrote: "Finished The Dracula Dossier: A Novel of Suspense and I really liked it. It had a slow start but picked up after the first 50 pages. I've managed to move on to [book:Th..."I'm not too far into it yet but so far I really like it.
Gilead is absolutely wonderful.
Gilead is one of my top ten books ever.
It's on my list now. I've been interested in it for a while but this discussion has really made me want to read it.
MrsSeby wrote: Denise, Gilead is written in the first person..."Thanks, Gabrielle. I'm sure I was making the mistake because of all the "you's," given the letter format. You used a good example to clear it up for me.
I'm late in reporting this, but I read Room about a month ago. Doubtful at first--it's getting a lot of buzz, but if you haven't heard, it's told in the voice of 5-year-old Jack, who lives with his mother in an 11 by 11 foot room--it really turned out to be a good book. A lot of people will be put off by the subject matter (it quickly becomes clear that "Ma" is a prisoner and her captor Jack's father) but I let it take me over. I will say that the voice is not perfect--Jack's narrative voice is way more advanced than his reported speaking voice, for instance, but there is true emotion without unnecessary sordidness. Oddly enough, a lot of commentary I've read from other readers finds the second part not up to the standards of the first, which I totally disagree with--I find it builds in a very satisfactory manner, and the mother's behavior wholly believable.By the way, it was finished before Jacie Dugard was discovered in California last year.
Denise wrote: "MrsSeby wrote: Denise, Gilead is written in the first person..."Thanks, Gabrielle. I'm sure I was making the mistake because of all the "you's," given the letter format. You used a good exam..."
You're welcome, Denise. All those "yous" can make anyone think "second person."
I am at about page 50 of The Elephant's Journey by Jose Saramego. It is pretty funny. Very dry humor and it has caught me completely by surprise. I am actually thinking that it would be a great book for discussion. Anyone else read it yet? I will admit that I love Saramego. Even his 3 star books are 4 to 5 stars for me. So thoughtful, creative, original - and I love his symbolism. Like a puzzle to solve. Tinkers is that to me also. I can't wait for the discussion to start on Tinkers. I loved this book. Read it twice.
It is on my to be read list Roxanne. I wouldn't mind moving it up.
Roxanne wrote: "I am at about page 50 of The Elephant's Journey by Jose Saramego. It is pretty funny. Very dry humor and it has caught me completely by surprise. I am actually thinking that it would..."That's the only book by Saramago I haven't read. I'll have to read it.
We'll have to nominate it for the next reading list. I think it would be worth it. Lot't to think about so far.
Sara, thanks for your comments on The Room. I read a review elsewhere (can't remember where, probably a podcast) that agreed with you.
Pandora's Ashes wrote: "I'm reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for about the 500th time."If my grandson would read just a bit faster, I would be reading "Order of the Phoenix" also. I understand, he's 8 and the books are long, but I'm getting impatient! I've been reading the Harry Potter books as soon as he finishes them, but I get a preview when he reads them out loud to me from the back seat when I pick him up from school.
"Aloft" is a nice break from all the recent books with female narrators.
Life has hit a bump and I'm giving up on joining in on any of the discussion groups, but I did finish FREEDOM, by Jonathan Franzen. I liked it a lot and found it more readable than THE CORRECTIONS, but in the end I liked THE CORRECTIONS better--there's a sense of artificiality that creeps into FREEDOM somehow. Well worth reading, however.Also recently finished THE GOD OF ANIMALS, which read like a well-written YA novel for awhile but turned out to have complex themes and extremely painful events. A funny mix. It's set on a horse ranch, by the way, and I'm not at all a horsey person, but I found it engrossing regardless.
Just started Elizabeth Bowen's THE LAST SEPTEMBER. I love her unusual and delicious sentences: "Behind the flashing windscreen Mr. and Mrs. Montmorency produced--arms waving and a wild escape to the wind of her mauve motor veil--an agitation of greeting."
I'm with the GILEAD-loving crowd. Tried LARK AND TERMITE but got put off when the narrator tried to do some writing from the POV of a child with extreme cognitive impairments (maybe because my sons are developmentally disabled, or maybe because it just seemed show-offy, not sure). Am putting HANDLING SIN on my list, it sounds exactly like something I'd like.
Read most but not yet all the stories making up Olive Kitteridge. The author's craft is remarkable; she pulls the central conflicts into some of these stories in wonderful, inventive ways. But as I finished another couple stories last night, I found myself feeling sorry for poor Elizabeth Strout. She certainly sees the downsides of life -- disappointments, betrayals, abuse -- but she has so little of its upsides in there! Where are joy, exhilaration, delight? Or consistency and perseverance for a real goal, whether achieved or not? I'm afraid the author, or her authorial persona, views those things as smokescreens for more misery under the surface. In the end, I am finding this book poisonous. Even as I admire her craftsmanship, her book nonetheless poisons my mood and poisons my views of life, temporarily. I started to picture myself as a character in the book when I finally went to bed last night -- ugh!! But that was also when I realized just how one-sided a temperament is on display in it.
Started "Tinkers" by Harding. I loved the conversation between the salesman and villagers so far.
Marina wrote: "I'm reading:Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
Atonement by Ian McEwan
Among the Shadows by Lucy Maud Montgomery
I bought so many awesome books last Monday I feel so guilty I spent like $70 dol..."
I know what you mean. I have been buying online lately from Amazon and B&N. I try to stick to bargains at B&N and try to stick to my reading list but books are such fun. My pile is getting very large. I know I have plenty if really lean times or a blizzard hits.
I've just finished Homer & Langley, which I enjoyed. An odd book in a way but interesting. See my review if interested.About to read Tinkers.
S. Mandanipour [After posting this I realized the cover couldn't be read: the title is "Censoring An Iranian Love Story". Very interesting mix of voices and simultaneous stories and a liberal dose of humor around the theme of censorship in all corners of Iranian society.
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