November: What Are You Reading?

[Ruth]

I love TSTF. I've read it twice. The first time was in college, and I just didn't get it. The second time I just went with the flow and loved it.

[K.B.]

I also loved it. If you start with the final section and read them in reverse order, things are very clear. But what would be the fun in that?

[K.B.]

I'm not sure I would have liked having an appendix. Part of the reason, IMO, some books are great is because you have to work at them to truly appreciate them.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

I loved The Sound and the Fury, too. A magnificent book. We didn't read it in school, though. Our English teachers shirked literature.

[Sue]

Jbunniii wrote: "I'm currently reading The Sound and the Fury, about halfway through the third section (Jason), which is about a million times easier going than the first two sections (Benjy and Quenti..."

I want to reread both of those books. My memory of them from college is clouded. I spent a lot of time on
Light in August for my thesis and my recall of Faulkner's other novels has slid by the wayside. What I've read of Joyce also needs refreshing.

[Rusty]

Am reading Pope Joan. Pretty good read.

[Sue]

I finished Trespass. Interesting book--I really wanted to know what happened to these people. These were not stock characters. Sort of a mystery hidden inside a character study of individuals who have all been hurt by life.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Susan wrote: "I finished Trespass. Interesting book--I really wanted to know what happened to these people. These were not stock characters. Sort of a mystery hidden inside a character study of in..."

That's how I felt about it, too, Susan. I liked the book.

[Angela]

I'm about halfway through The Handmaid's Tale. I like it a lot. It's interesting though depressing.

[Tracy]

I am reading And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails now.

[J10]

I seem to have a bit of a short attention span lately, keep starting books but not finishing them. Too bad!
As a remedy I started My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me - modern reworkings of fairytales. So far I like it, but I deliberately started on those stories of which I already know the original version. Any other readers have any thoughts - does it really matter if you know the original fairy tale or not?

Oh, and autumn somehow always gives me the urge to reread some The Harry Potter Collection books. Those are the best for rainy weather, combined with hanging on the couch and hot chocolate.

[Hazel]

Jantien wrote: "I seem to have a bit of a short attention span lately, keep starting books but not finishing them. Too bad!
As a remedy I started My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me - moder..."

Jantien, my friend Chris moderates a Goodreads group called Into The Forest, where they're discussing this book now. You might be interested.

[J10]

Hazel wrote: "Jantien, my friend Chris moderates a Goodreads group called Into The Forest, where they're discussing this book now. You might be interested. "

Sounds good Hazel, thanks!

[Rusty]

Pope Joan is a most interesting tale about a little known pope who was methodically purged from the papal historical archives. This is an intriguing account of how Pope Joan came to the papal throne. A love story, a brave and intelligent heroine, and a glimpse of what it must have been like to be woman during the era in which she lived. Excellent read!

[Larry]

Years ago, Dick Dabney, writing in THE WASHINGTONIAN, came up with a list of 100 books to read. He called it "My Secret Reading List - a Good Book Sometimes Can Help." On that list, which he had such classics as Plato's REPUBLIC and Epictetus's MANUAL, he included eight of Faulkner's novels! Here are Dabney's own words:

"William Faulkner, ABSALOM, ABSALOM! (1936), THE HAMLET (1940), LIGHT IN AUGUST (1932), THE MANSION (1960), THE REIVERS (1962), SANCTUARY (1931), SARTORIS (1929), and THE TOWN (1957) -- The best American Novelist. College students are taught to despise Faulkner by being handed THE SOUND AND THE FURY and told it's his best work. It isn't; [it's] well-nigh unreadable. All those listed above are better than the one that's supposed to be [the] classic."

My point here isn't to denigrate THE SOUND AND THE FURY through someone else's words ... it is to suggest that there are several other Faulkner works that may be much more accessible and which might be more rewarding to many readers.

[K.B.]

"well-nigh unreadable"? That's harsh! What did he say about Finnegans Wake?

[Larry]

K.B. wrote: ""well-nigh unreadable"? That's harsh! What did he say about Finnegans Wake?"

Didn't make the list ... but ULYSSES was one of the five books Dabney included as ones that he "most enjoyed omitting." That's even harsher. ;-)

[K.B.]

It certainly is!

[Brian]

I finished Winter Garden today and have started Safe Haven tonight.

[Ruth]

I just started A Canticle for Leibowitz. Like Pillars of the Earth, it's a book I'd heard about for years before reading it. I hope it's better than POE. So far the language strikes me as kind of self-conscious.

[Carol]

It doesn't look like something I would like Ruth. Let us know what you think. I still have the reading doldrums right now.

[J10]

Ruth wrote: "I just started A Canticle for Leibowitz Like Pillars of the Earth, it's a book I'd heard about for year before reading it. I hope it's better than POE.
So far the language strikes me..."

I'm very curious what you think about this one! ACfL has been on my to-read list for a very long time.

[A.J.]

I finished The Sentimentalists. It took me forever, and it's only 200-odd pages. I hated it.

Now I'm on to An Outside Chance, by Thomas McGuane.

[Sarah]

Finished Faithful Place--Sherry, you were so right. Not a lighter book. Now I'm casting about; haven't landed on the right one yet. I've read some great books lately, and sometimes that makes it harder to start the next; what if they don't measure up?

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Sarah wrote: "Finished Faithful Place--Sherry, you were so right. Not a lighter book. Now I'm casting about; haven't landed on the right one yet. I've read some great books lately, and sometimes that makes it..."

If you're looking for a light book, Sarah, what about Major Pettigrew's Last Stand? I have it to read, but haven't done so yet.

[Leslie]

Larry wrote: "Years ago, Dick Dabney, writing in THE WASHINGTONIAN, came up with a list of 100 books to read. He called it "My Secret Reading List - a Good Book Sometimes Can Help." On that list, which he had ..."

I'm surprised (and delighted) that you find Absalom, Absalom! more accessible than The Sound and the Fury.... I tried teaching Absalom, Absalom! in my undergrad seminar once (I love this novel and based part of my dissertation work on it), but students were not receptive to the stream-of-consciousness style cutting across generations and unreliable narrators.... I had slightly better luck with other Faulkner novels, but all in all Faulkner seems to be a tough sell....

Ex Lit Prof
www.the-reading-list.com

[Flora]

I finished Inkspell and am looking forward to finishing the trilogy.

I also just finished The Moonstone and while I liked it, I didn't like it quite as much as The Woman in White.

Currently I'm 2/3 of the way thru The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon

[Sarah]

Gabrielle, I'm in the queue for that at the library. I actually received it a couple of months ago, but got distracted by other books and had to return it unread. I am looking forward to it when it arrives!

[Melissa]

Leslie, I found Faulkner's Go Down Moses to be exceptionally fine when we read here for the Classics Corner last ... spring was it? Some switching of perspective, but no stream-of-consciousness as such. Very powerful story.

[Larry]

Ruth wrote: "I just started A Canticle for Leibowitz. Like Pillars of the Earth, it's a book I'd heard about for years before reading it. I hope it's better than POE. So far the language strike..."

I've read A CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ three times and probably enjoyed each reading greatly. BTW, there is a sequel, SAINT LEIBOWITZ AND THE WILD HORSE WOMAN. If you enjoy, ACFL, stop right there. As good as the first book is, the second book doesn't even deserve comment. I'm not sure, but I think that I once read that it was finished by someone other than Walter Miller. I certainly believe that.

[Ruth]

I'm well into it now. Wondering if the Simpletons are not upon us as we speak.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

I've temporarily abandoned all the fiction books I was reading to write my book on how to write a fiction book. Nothing was holding my interest, though I'd rather be reading than writing. I know War and Peace would hold my interest, but I have too much writing (and cooking) to do to invest in reading such a big book right now.

[Marialyce]

Gabrielle, I am reading that novel now, very slowly, very carefully!

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Marialyce wrote: "Gabrielle, I am reading that novel now, very slowly, very carefully!"

Oh, War and Peace, Marialyce? I'm going to start that one after Thanksgiving. Right now, I seem too distracted to read. Sebastien has been trying to get me to watch a movie as well. I hope you like the book.

Happy Thanksgiving to you - and to all! :)

[Marialyce]

...and to you and Sebastien as well! Enjoy this holiday with all your family, friends, and delicious foods.

Been reading War and Peace for about 3 weeks now. We do about 60-80 pages a day. Just up to the part where war has again started with Napoleon and Pierre realizes his love for Natasha.

Have a wonderful day tomorrow to you and to all!!!

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Marialyce wrote: "...and to you and Sebastien as well! Enjoy this holiday with all your family, friends, and delicious foods.

Been reading War and Peace for about 3 weeks now. We do about 60-80 pages a day. Just up..."

Oh, I'm wanting to start that book now, Marialyce! :) But I had my hair cut 7" (and it's still well below my shoulders, that how long it had gotten), rubbed my turkeys with spice again, baked six pies (I think I might need one or two more) and I'm making cranberry orange relish.

I'm trying to squeeze How To Read Like a Writer in there among my chores. (I can't really call them "chores" because I love to cook. The more the merrier, so come on over!)

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Flora wrote: "I finished Inkspell and am looking forward to finishing the trilogy.

I also just finished The Moonstone and while I liked it, I didn't like it quite as much as [book:The..."

I don't think anything in that genre quite measures up to The Woman in White for me. I'm looking forward to rereading that book this winter.

[Wendy]

Happy Thanksgiving!
I just finished so now I have to re-read . The goodreads reviews are interesting, a not-so-positive critique of Rebecca's Tale but I liked it; I enjoyed how the one plot was drawn out, even though some of it I was able to predict (I won't spoil it for you if you intend to read it). I found it interesting to read a book based on another book- usuallly I find them boring but this kept me turning the pages. However, I am curious if I will change my mind after reading Rebecca again. Du Maurier's bio on goodreads is fascinatingDaphne du Maurier.
She was obsessed with the past, it says.
She is very romantic, a little old-fashioned but tells a great story.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

I was reading The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier, but I had to throw in the towel - temporarily. It just didn't hold my interest.

I refuse to read books based on classics like those books that people are writing based on Jane Austen's, but I do love Rebecca.

[Vicki]

I am starting Distant Hours by Kate Morton.

[Kenneth]

Ruth wrote: "I just started A Canticle for Leibowitz. Like Pillars of the Earth, it's a book I'd heard about for years before reading it. I hope it's better than POE. So far the language strike..."

Sadly the first part is so much better than the rest that I spent the end of the book in mourning.

[Kenneth]

While I try to find time to read books by established authors, I am frequently asked by other current authors to read and review their work, especially authors published by my publisher. Therefore I am currently reading Robert Rubenstein's Ghost Runners, Berlin 1936, a novel of the Olympics held that summer.

If sometimes overwritten, this is a book worth the reading. It weaves together conscientious recreation of historical detail, interesting personalities - many of whom we know something of (for example, Jesse Owens) and some of which most of us know very little, and a spell-biding story. (No, I'm not shilling and wasn't asked to post this. It deserves being read.)

http://www.authorkenweene.com

[Cathy]

Larry wrote: "K.B. wrote: ""well-nigh unreadable"? That's harsh! What did he say about Finnegans Wake?"

Didn't make the list ... but ULYSSES was one of the five books Dabney included as ones that h..."

Hah! I signed up for a class only to find Ulysses on the reading list. I dropped the class.

[Jane]

Sherry,
I know that the two of us bought BITTER IN THE MOUTH by Monique Truong when we were in Minneapolis. I started it a couple of days ago, and I really like it. I very much enjoyed THE BOOK OF SALT by the same author when we read it as a "reading list" book a couple of years ago. Anyway, have you read BITTER?

[Sherry, Doyenne]

No, I haven't. It's on my enormous TBR mountain, though.

[Jean]

I'm reading The Late, Lamented Molly Marx. It light reading and seems perfect for me right now.

[Marjorie]

Gabriells said, "I was reading The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier, but I had to throw in the towel - temporarily."

I liked the Scapegoat. The 1959 movie with Alec Guiness (who plays a dual role) and Bette Davis, was interesting also. Bette Davis was miffed when she found she would be playing Guiness's mother (she was six years younger), and they did not get along during the making of the film.

Another DuMaurier book I enjoyed very much was Jamaica Inn.

Marge

[Meera]

I've been reading the unabridged The Count of Monte Cristo and it's really good. It's my first Dumas.

[Flora]

I just made it out of the jungle, finishing up The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon which I loved.

Getting ready to start The Crossroads

[Ruth]

I must have read Jamaica Inn 20 times when I was young and romantic.