October: What Are You Reading?

[Suzanne]

Welcome, Melanie!

[Hazel]

Sherry wrote: "Thanks, Katie. That's the kind of stuff that ruins books for me, too. Those little things."

I agree. Little things are important, and mistakes like those make me less likely to trust the writer.

I liked The Sunne in Splendour, and you've just reminded me, Katie that I'm meant to be reading Penman's Eleanor of Aquitaine books.

Off to the library for me!

[Carol]

I read Sunne in Splendor and e-mailed Sharon about how much I enjoyed it, She was very gracious.

[Hazel]

Kitty wrote: "I read Sunne in Splendor and e-mailed Sharon about how much I enjoyed it, She was very gracious."

Oh, how lovely of her.

[Dottie]

Kitty wrote: "Okay. I want to read A Moveable Feast as well. But not until after the first of the year."

Carol -- I might actually be ready by then as well -- maybe we should do a dual read of the two books and have a thread in CR folder for anyone who is interested to join us. We can at least think about that idea meanwhile.

[Sue]

Dottie wrote: "Kitty wrote: "Okay. I want to read A Moveable Feast as well. But not until after the first of the year."

Carol -- I might actually be ready by then as well -- maybe we should do a du..."

remind me when the time comes--I think I might be interested too. I don't remember when the Paris Wife(?) is set to be released.

[Carol]

Susan wrote: "Dottie wrote: "Kitty wrote: "Okay. I want to read A Moveable Feast as well. But not until after the first of the year."

Carol -- I might actually be ready by then as well -- maybe we ..."

It will not be out until Mar. 2011, so we could plan something around then. I won my copy here on goodreads.

[Sue]

I thought it was coming out in the spring. Sounds like a good time to be reading about Paris!!

[Carol]

Lol. Paris in springtime with the Hemingway's. Good title for a thread.

[Sue]

Kitty wrote: "Lol. Paris in springtime with the Hemingway's. Good title for a thread."

Excellent. Now that we have the thread title, all we have to do is read the books and have scintillating conversation!

[Carol]

Hee hee

[Sue]

I almost added a glass of wine to the list but that might interfere with our learned comments (or would it enhance them?) Of course it would have to be French wine.

[Carol]

Susan wrote: "I almost added a glass of wine to the list but that might interfere with our learned comments (or would it enhance them?) Of course it would have to be French wine."

Naturellement!

[Dottie]

Thank you two ladies for a much needed smile -- I am going to put this on my agenda right now -- and of COURSE there must be French wine involved! I really love the thread title, too, and am saving it along with the notated date/timing. Merci -- I sadly have no punctuation marks or don't know where I'd find them if I do -- but -- this will do, I hope.

[Carol]

Certainement!

[Sue]

C'est ne rien!

I'm looking forward to this -- being part of my author challenge and all, never having read Hemingway. What a year--Tolstoy, the Children's Book, planning on Hemingway and The Brothers Karamozov (and someday War & Peace). I'm so glad I joined this group. It has given me inspiration to challenge myself.

[Carol]

You have to read the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation, it is fantastic. I could never get through W&P , but their translation is definitely better.

[Sue]

Actually I was just looking at alibris and other sites for BK -- the P & V version. After reading (almost completely) Anna Karenina, I think I would only read their translations. I was able to find a new copy for about 2 or 3 dollars.

[Carol]

They also have Dr. Zhivago coming out with them as translators, but the book is about $18.00. I just finished an older version it would be interesting to see if there is a marked difference.

[Sue]

I haven't read Dr Zhivago. Perhaps I'll wait until that's marked down or go the Amazon route. Hard to believe I really didn't want to give Russian novels a try so recently. I have to thank my friend for taking a Russian novel course this summer and this group for telling me about the P&V translations.

[Carol]

Dr. Zhivago is underrated sometimes due to the movie.

[Basma]

[John]

Has anyone else tried Sebald's "Austerlitz"? I'm finding it a really mesmerizing experience.

[Sue]

I just looked it up. It sounds interesting. I added it to my TBR list.

[Carol]

I thought Vertigo looked more interesting for me.

[John]

Kitty, I don't know what kinds of books you like, but this one is exquisitely written and evocative. Sort of reminds me of Proust. People have said that it's about the Holocaust, but I think that's only a small part of the puzzle.

Why do you think you'd prefer Vertigo?

By the way, is there any way you can tell that someone's post is particularly in response to one of yours? I'd like to be able to answer questions if anyone has them for me even well down on the thread. Thanks.

[Sue]

After reading more of the descriptions, I think Emigrants sounds like one I might like also. Not so sure about Vertigo.

[Sue]

John wrote: "Kitty, I don't know what kinds of books you like, but this one is exquisitely written and evocative. Sort of reminds me of Proust. People have said that it's about the Holocaust, but I think that..."
John -- just hit reply at the bottom of the message you're responding too and it incorporates part of that message at the start of your reply (as above).

[John]

Susan wrote: "John wrote: "Kitty, I don't know what kinds of books you like, but this one is exquisitely written and evocative. Sort of reminds me of Proust. People have said that it's about the Holocaust, but..."

Oh, I'd always seen that text there, but never thought to leave it there. Blond moment.

I might have missed it earlier, Susan, but what are you reading now?

[Ruth]

John wrote: "Has anyone else tried Sebald's "Austerlitz"? I'm finding it a really mesmerizing experience."

I listened to it as an audiobook and enjoyed it so much I nominated it as a Reading List book some years ago. To my horror, I found the actual printed book a raging bore.

[John]

Ruth wrote: "John wrote: "Has anyone else tried Sebald's "Austerlitz"? I'm finding it a really mesmerizing experience."

I listened to it as an audiobook and enjoyed it so much I nominated it as a Reading List..."

Ruth, I remember you sticking up for me some time ago when I some people were calling whatever it was I said too uppity and high brow.

Do you like Proust? I found some sort of along the same lines, but Sebald's a lot stylistically more accessible. What have you been reading lately?

[Sue]

John wrote: "Susan wrote: "John wrote: "Kitty, I don't know what kinds of books you like, but this one is exquisitely written and evocative. Sort of reminds me of Proust. People have said that it's about the ..."
I'm finishing Tinkers which I am purposefully reading very slowly. The prose is so full (my description for it). I'm also reading a lighter mystery "The First Wave:A Billy Boyle WWII Mystery". I have very eclectic tastes. I do find that I'm getting a lot of new ideas since I've joined Goodreads.

I've never read Proust, who I see you've mentioned in relation to Sebald. I'm trying to widen some of my reading experiences this year by finally reading Tolstoy. I had a definite block on Russian novels but I have the P&V translation of Anna Karenina and I like it. Austerlitz sounds like a move in another direction for me, intriguing, and the subject matter of WWII and European identity and complicity I find fascinating.

[John]

I remember loving "Anna Karenina." My two favorites are "Resurrection" (sadly, one of his lesser known novels) for insights into his Christianity, especially in relation to Dostoyevsky's and "Childhood, Boyhood, Youth."

"Tinkers" looks like it might have some Sebaldian-Proustian themes in it, too! But I haven't read it yet.

[Sue]

Since I haven't read Sebald or Proust, I can't say, but Tinkers presents a fascinating view of the natural world with one man's look back on the life of his father (while he himself is dying). The sensory experiences are related in wonderful ways. I know I'm going to have to re-read it--thankfully it's not long but it is full.

I'm planning to read The Brothers Karamzov this winter sometime.

[Kat]

Have started rereading HOUSE OF MIRTH--it's pure pleasure. Had forgotten how much bite Wharton has, delicious.

[Carol]

John wrote: "Kitty, I don't know what kinds of books you like, but this one is exquisitely written and evocative. Sort of reminds me of Proust. People have said that it's about the Holocaust, but I think that..."


Another way is to post the comment number such as #179.

In answer to John's question in post #179: I have not read Vertigo but it looked like something I would enjoy more than the other. I like history and have read a little about Stendhal in other books. I don't have the same reading likes as you do , but Vertigo looked interesting, I probably would not understand it . haha

[Sherry, Doyenne]

John wrote: "Has anyone else tried Sebald's "Austerlitz"? I'm finding it a really mesmerizing experience."

John, we read Austerlitz as a Reading List book in 2004. Here is a link to our discussion. Not a whole lot of people liked it.
http://web.archive.org/web/2007083116...

[Ronyell]

I am currently reading and so far, it's pretty good!

[Sara]

I'm listening to Margaret Atwood's Blind Assassin, and it just gets better and better. I'm about halfway through and wanting to race--I even listened at work the past couple of days, instead of to NPR. (I find that I can do this when doing things that don't involve much concentration, like matching checks, filing--did not do it while executing payroll!)

I just want to mention, without the intention to offend anyone, that when images of books are posted rather than the title written out they are nearly impossible to discern. I don't understand why this is advantageous--what is it I don't get?

[Marialyce]

If you point your cursor on the book, Sara, the title and author will pop up.

[Barbara]

Sara wrote: "I'm listening to Margaret Atwood's Blind Assassin, and it just gets better and better. I'm about halfway through and wanting to race--I even listened at work the past couple of days, instead of to..."

Sara, I loved The Blind Assassin too. I think I like Atwood best in her historical novels because Alias Grace was a favorite too. Hmmm, now that I think of it, I also liked Oryx and Crake so maybe I can't cubbyhole my Atwood preferences.

Regarding the book images, I have trouble reading the titles too, but someone finally pointed out to me that I could just move my cursor over the image and the title/author will appear. I prefer using the "add book/author" option that is at the top of the reply box. Then, it links to the book description and also makes it possible for people looking for discussion of the book to find us here -- and I can read it instantly.

[Barbara]

I am taking a break between Tinkers and The Surrendered to read Sara Paretsky's Hardball. I've been a fan of Paretsky's female detective, V.I. Warshawski, since the first book, but she took a long break from the series. Just recently discovered that there are two new titles. I wanted to listen to them in audiobook productions, my usual choice for mysteries, but my library didn't own one. I love the Warshawski character and Paretsky's political sympathies.

My current audiobook read is The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. Simon Vance is the narrator and he does an outstanding job with this series. I am fascinated with Stieg Larsson's portrayal of strong female characters. I don't think I remember a male author doing it so passionately. On the other hand, I get a little bored with the emphasis on the governmental secret agency emphasis in this one.

[Barbara]

Susan wrote: "I haven't read Dr Zhivago. Perhaps I'll wait until that's marked down or go the Amazon route. Hard to believe I really didn't want to give Russian novels a try so recently. I have to thank my frien..."

I can't resist mentioning that the new Pevear/Volokhonsky translation of Dr. Zhivago is a nomination for the Classics Corner list.

[John]

Sara wrote: "I'm listening to Margaret Atwood's Blind Assassin, and it just gets better and better. I'm about halfway through and wanting to race--I even listened at work the past couple of days, instead of to..."

Sara wrote: "I'm listening to Margaret Atwood's Blind Assassin, and it just gets better and better. I'm about halfway through and wanting to race--I even listened at work the past couple of days, instead of to..."

Sara, I think "Blind Assassin" was my first Atwood, too. I read it not long after it came out, and I remember LOVING her wry sarcasm and unique perspective on the world. I'm glad you're enjoy it, too! Have you ever read anything else by her?

[Sue]

Barbara wrote: "I am taking a break between Tinkers and The Surrendered to read Sara Paretsky's Hardball. I've been a fan of Paretsky's female detective, V.I. Warshawski, since the f..."

Thanks for the note about how to add a book title. I've seen that but it just sort of went right through my head.
I LOVED Hardball by Paretsky and I agree re her characters and politics.

Barbara wrote: "Susan wrote: "I haven't read Dr Zhivago. Perhaps I'll wait until that's marked down or go the Amazon route. Hard to believe I really didn't want to give Russian novels a try so recently. I have to ..."

Somehow I missed this when I voted (duh). But I will read it eventually if it isn't part of the reading list.

[Carol]

John we are reading and discussing Tinkers now . You will also see on our home page the up coming books for the rest of the year. Hope to see you joining in.

[Sue]

John wrote: "Susan wrote: "Since I haven't read Sebald or Proust, I can't say, but Tinkers presents a fascinating view of the natural world with one man's look back on the life of his father (while he himself i..."

do you mean Brothers Karamazov? Sorry I'm losing track of myself. I'm thinking later in December or so. I found a really inexpensive copy of the P&V translation online and I'll order it before too long.

It would be great to share the reading with you.

[Carol]

Ooh I have been wanting to read BK also. Like you Susan I have really enjoyed Russian novels after the P&V translations came out.

[Ruth]

Kat wrote: "Have started rereading HOUSE OF MIRTH--it's pure pleasure. Had forgotten how much bite Wharton has, delicious."

Isn't she wonderful!

[Ruth]

John wrote: "Do you like Proust?""

Alas, I have failed in three tries to scale the Proustian mountains. First time, I got about halfway through the first book before I fell by the side of the trail. The next two times I didn't even make it that far.

All it has left me with is an unused madeleine pan.