Books on the Nightstand discussion
What are you currently reading? - November 2010
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Yesterday I finished The Year of Magical Thinking and I started The Finkler Question.
Just finished The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon and must say that I loved it.Getting ready to start The Crossroads
Finished reading "Full Dark, No Stars" by Stephen King.
Four longer stories.
As I was reading, I was ticking off similarities to older King stories from the past. "1922" reminded me of "Dolores Claiborne". "Big Driver" reminded me of "Rose Madder". "Fair Extension" reminded me of "Quitters, Inc". By the time I got to the last story, I figured out the uneasy theme of this book which sets it apart from the others. Complicity.
Few of us are truly evil, and most of us think of ourselves as good enough people. But how many of us, given the chance to benefit from evil, would take that chance and keep mum? Keep the gravy train running. And how many would go beyond silence into active participation? Many of the characters in this book are given this choice, or have such a choice thrust upon them.
Longtime King fans such as myself probably won't see this as one of his better books. Not because it's not well-written or suspenseful. It is both of those things. But because he does the things he does here better elsewhere. But if you've never delved into King before, this might be a good introduction. It's not too long, the stories are punchy, and it might whet your appetite to go further.
Four longer stories.
As I was reading, I was ticking off similarities to older King stories from the past. "1922" reminded me of "Dolores Claiborne". "Big Driver" reminded me of "Rose Madder". "Fair Extension" reminded me of "Quitters, Inc". By the time I got to the last story, I figured out the uneasy theme of this book which sets it apart from the others. Complicity.
Few of us are truly evil, and most of us think of ourselves as good enough people. But how many of us, given the chance to benefit from evil, would take that chance and keep mum? Keep the gravy train running. And how many would go beyond silence into active participation? Many of the characters in this book are given this choice, or have such a choice thrust upon them.
Longtime King fans such as myself probably won't see this as one of his better books. Not because it's not well-written or suspenseful. It is both of those things. But because he does the things he does here better elsewhere. But if you've never delved into King before, this might be a good introduction. It's not too long, the stories are punchy, and it might whet your appetite to go further.
I just finished three books:Second Wind - this was a memoir/self-help book about one woman's journey from divorce to finding herself and involved running a marathon on 7 continents. I'm not even sure what made me pick this book up - I abhor self-help books or books about someone learning to live their "authentic" life - I like to think I can figure that out on my own :) and I'm not really a runner, so who knows how I ended up reading this, but it was fantastic. I read it in two sittings. I neglected everything I should have been doing and finished the book. It was well-written, not preachy, and the obstacles she had to overcome preparing for and running in the marathons made for an interesting read. I highly recommend it.
I also finished Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter: A Novel - a fantastic story centered around two men who grew up in Mississippi, an old mystery that has left one man under suspicion and ostracized from the community for twenty-five years and the new disappearance of another young girl has led to revelations from the past. Great, engaging story.
The last book I finished was a collection of short stories by Amy Bloom - Where the God of Love Hangs Out. If you've never read Amy Bloom's short stories, I can't recommend this enough. Most of the stories are linked, so you get to know the characters more in depth than in just one story and her characters are captivating.
Now after three really great and different books, I'm not sure what to pick up next :)
While reading "Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter", does anyone get the urge to listen to Pavement's "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain"?
Just finished a short book that packs a powerful emotional wallop: "Tinkers" by Paul Harding.
You know that brilliant chapter in "Watchmen" where Dr. Manhattan experiences every instant of his life in an eternal present? Of course you don't. Unless you're a comic book nerd like me. Anyway, this book reminds me of that section of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' wonderful graphic novel.
Like Jon Osterman's father in "Watchmen", George Crosby in "Tinkers" fixes clocks. On his deathbed in 1995, George relives parts of his own life, but also experiences the life of his father, Howard. In a Jungian "ancestral memory" sense, George experiences Howard's life firsthand. Even parts of it he could not have known of. George even experiences Howard's childhood memories of his own father. Although at two removes, these memories flicker in and out like a weak radio signal.
Howard had epilepsy, a condition which was little understood in the late 1920's, the era in which most of Howard's story takes place. Howard is presented with a stark choice that results in his making a fateful decision. How things come full circle is up to the reader to interpret, and will probably involve the reader bringing something to the experience of reading the book, which is tied up in ideas of time, life, relativity, death, Eastern thought, and the afterlife.
The sections revolving around Howard are the most fascinating. Maybe as compensation for his disease, Howard is gifted with a remarkable feeling for and attunement with nature. These passages, in which he drives his mule cart, taking in the colors, and smells of nature, the play of light, the connection of living things, are nothing short of beautiful. At such times, a broadly read reader will think of Faulkner or Woolf.
You know that brilliant chapter in "Watchmen" where Dr. Manhattan experiences every instant of his life in an eternal present? Of course you don't. Unless you're a comic book nerd like me. Anyway, this book reminds me of that section of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' wonderful graphic novel.
Like Jon Osterman's father in "Watchmen", George Crosby in "Tinkers" fixes clocks. On his deathbed in 1995, George relives parts of his own life, but also experiences the life of his father, Howard. In a Jungian "ancestral memory" sense, George experiences Howard's life firsthand. Even parts of it he could not have known of. George even experiences Howard's childhood memories of his own father. Although at two removes, these memories flicker in and out like a weak radio signal.
Howard had epilepsy, a condition which was little understood in the late 1920's, the era in which most of Howard's story takes place. Howard is presented with a stark choice that results in his making a fateful decision. How things come full circle is up to the reader to interpret, and will probably involve the reader bringing something to the experience of reading the book, which is tied up in ideas of time, life, relativity, death, Eastern thought, and the afterlife.
The sections revolving around Howard are the most fascinating. Maybe as compensation for his disease, Howard is gifted with a remarkable feeling for and attunement with nature. These passages, in which he drives his mule cart, taking in the colors, and smells of nature, the play of light, the connection of living things, are nothing short of beautiful. At such times, a broadly read reader will think of Faulkner or Woolf.
Eric wrote: "Just finished a short book that packs a powerful emotional wallop: "Tinkers" by Paul Harding.You know that brilliant chapter in "Watchmen" where Dr. Manhattan experie..."
You aren't the only geek out there, Eric. I loved Watchmen, too (the graphic novel, not the film).
I found Tinkers to be almost unbearably moving. I had sat vigil with both my father and my mother-in-law during their final days. The description of moistening George's lips with the pink sponge on a stick was terribly acurate.
I recently finished The Marriage Artist which is beautifully written but put me in a funk.I cheered myself up with The Sisters Mallone. It is a lovely book about 3 Italian sisters in 1950s New York with flashbacks to them growing up in the 1920-30s. Mobsters, speakeasys, errant husbands plus lots of family and delicious food.
Now I am reading an e-book of Drummer boy. Even though I am enjoying it immensely for some reason that fact I am reading it on my netbook is making it really slow going.
Just finished Dark matter- a ghost story by michelle paver. A wonderful evocative read set in the artic in 1937. I only got it out the library yesterday. The british hardback copy I'm reading has a fantastic black and white photo as the cover. I would definitely recommend it.
Recently I read Olivia Joules And The Overactive Imagination (by Helen Fielding - author of Bridget Jones' Diary) and while it wasn't great or even the most clever writing, it put me in the mood for romantic comedies. I went to the library to search for more of the same, but the librarians seems unable to meet the challenge in recommending similar books. Hrumph. I ended up taking home two Lisa Kleypas historical romances Married By Morning and Love in the Afternoon. I'm not sure why I thought they would do, but they didn't. Neither was clever, particularly well-researched or even romantic. Over the years I've watched the genre (historical romance) develop from bodice-rippers to historical novels to what I can only now describe as porn-in-costume. I think I can honestly say my interest in the historical romance is dead.
On a brighter note, yesterday I re-read Fables: Legends in Exile and followed up with Fables: Animal Farm, graphic novels (created and written by Bill Wallingham; illustrated by Len Medina, Steve Leialoha and Craig Hamilton.) The premise of the Legends graphic novels are that the storybook characters that populate our fairy tales are alive and adapting in New York (in the city and upstate.) They are in exile from their kingdoms which have been conquered by The Adversary. The translations of their fairy tale identities to IRL identities is often clever (Big Bad Wolf becomes Bigby Wolf, a private investigator) and Prince Charming has a trail of ex-wives (all the princesses like Cinderella and Snow White.) These are a couple of double page spreads which draw the eye in as you try to take in the scope or detail of the scene and, overall the GNs are just fun :-)
I'm about to start Dirt Music : A Novel by Tim Winton. I'm reading it for a Man Booker group and don't know much about it yet other than it's set in Australia.
On a brighter note, yesterday I re-read Fables: Legends in Exile and followed up with Fables: Animal Farm, graphic novels (created and written by Bill Wallingham; illustrated by Len Medina, Steve Leialoha and Craig Hamilton.) The premise of the Legends graphic novels are that the storybook characters that populate our fairy tales are alive and adapting in New York (in the city and upstate.) They are in exile from their kingdoms which have been conquered by The Adversary. The translations of their fairy tale identities to IRL identities is often clever (Big Bad Wolf becomes Bigby Wolf, a private investigator) and Prince Charming has a trail of ex-wives (all the princesses like Cinderella and Snow White.) These are a couple of double page spreads which draw the eye in as you try to take in the scope or detail of the scene and, overall the GNs are just fun :-)
I'm about to start Dirt Music : A Novel by Tim Winton. I'm reading it for a Man Booker group and don't know much about it yet other than it's set in Australia.
I just finished reading Hands of My Father: A Hearing Boy, His Deaf Parents, and the Language of Love which I have had on my wishlist ever since it was featured on BOTNS, over a year ago ( I think). A wonderful book. Just the kind of memoir that I enjoy.
I'm putting The Tourist on hold for a bit, because it is time for my annual Christmas reading list.... A Christmas Carol, Little Women (I guess I consider this a Christmas book because that's when the book begins, and it's always had that holiday feeling for me), and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Plus anything else I happen upon that I might want to check out. My mom always gives A Cup of Christmas Tea to other people as gifts, but I've never read it... anyone have any thoughts or recommendations?
Simcha wrote: "I just finished reading Hands of My Father: A Hearing Boy, His Deaf Parents, and the Language of Love which I have had on my wishlist ever since it was featured on BOTNS, over a year..."I loved this book too. I gave it to my mother for Mother's Day two years ago. Her mother (my grandmother) was a "hearing" child born to deaf/mute Irish immigrants. My mom was always amazed that her mother could learn English despite never hearing any language spoken in the home. She also loved watching the relatives talk with their hands at family gatherings. Interestingly, she is congenitally deaf, but only in one ear. It's led to a few humorous mishaps, but nothing serious.
Becky wrote: "Started A Secret Kept last night"I won that through FirstReads and still don't have it. :(
Sandi wrote: "Becky wrote: "Started A Secret Kept last night"I won that through FirstReads and still don't have it. :("
well that stinks!! Did you read Sarah's Key by the same author?
Becky wrote: "Sandi wrote: "Becky wrote: "Started A Secret Kept last night"I won that through FirstReads and still don't have it. :("
well that stinks!! Did you read Sarah's Key by the same author?"
I won that one through FirstReads too. I loved it. That's why I was so happy to win A Secret Kept. I won it at the beginning of October. If I don't have it by December 1, then I'll send a message to the person who posted the giveaway.
Sandi wrote: "Becky wrote: "Sandi wrote: "Becky wrote: "Started A Secret Kept last night"I won that through FirstReads and still don't have it. :("
well that stinks!! Did you read Sarah's Key b..."
I hope you get it soon
X'ed Out
At first I thought this was a stand-alone graphic novel, but it's only the first chapter of what promises to be a much longer work. I am intrigued, baffled and creeped out in the same manner that I was intrigued, baffled and creeped out by "Black Hole" when I first read the comic book installments. With "Black Hole", one of the problems of reading it in installment format was the length of time between issues, sometimes a year or more. I would tend to forget key images and plot points that hold the overall story together. But when I finally got hold of the hardcover of BH, it all made sense. As much sense as Burns' work makes, that is.
If you've read Burns' other work, you know what dark, nauseating worlds he creates, and "X'ed Out" is no exception. The narrative alternates between the real-world story of Doug, a young artist, and an alien and mysterious dream world he inhabits. In the dream world, he appears as a dazed, shell-shocked version of the Belgian comic character Tintin, and some of the landscapes in "X'ed Out" resemble the kind of thing you'd see in Tintin, except as seen through a dark lens. Tintin fans will also note that Doug has a black cat named Inky rather than a white dog named Snowy.
I look forward to the next installment.
At first I thought this was a stand-alone graphic novel, but it's only the first chapter of what promises to be a much longer work. I am intrigued, baffled and creeped out in the same manner that I was intrigued, baffled and creeped out by "Black Hole" when I first read the comic book installments. With "Black Hole", one of the problems of reading it in installment format was the length of time between issues, sometimes a year or more. I would tend to forget key images and plot points that hold the overall story together. But when I finally got hold of the hardcover of BH, it all made sense. As much sense as Burns' work makes, that is.
If you've read Burns' other work, you know what dark, nauseating worlds he creates, and "X'ed Out" is no exception. The narrative alternates between the real-world story of Doug, a young artist, and an alien and mysterious dream world he inhabits. In the dream world, he appears as a dazed, shell-shocked version of the Belgian comic character Tintin, and some of the landscapes in "X'ed Out" resemble the kind of thing you'd see in Tintin, except as seen through a dark lens. Tintin fans will also note that Doug has a black cat named Inky rather than a white dog named Snowy.
I look forward to the next installment.
Sandi wrote: "Becky wrote: "Started A Secret Kept last night"
I won that through FirstReads and still don't have it. :("
Sandi, I can pass along my copy of A Secret Kept to you if you don't receive the one you are expecting.
Personally I was disappointed in it but maybe I was expecting too much after Sarah's Key which I loved.
I won that through FirstReads and still don't have it. :("
Sandi, I can pass along my copy of A Secret Kept to you if you don't receive the one you are expecting.
Personally I was disappointed in it but maybe I was expecting too much after Sarah's Key which I loved.
Jay wrote: "Just started Skippy Dies. This could take awhile."Skippy Dies is great! One of my favorite books of the year...
Just finished The Zookeeper's Wife and am trying to get back intoA Fraction of the Whole. I am on page 120 and have been interrupted by life and other books. Ann loved this book and I did enjoy the beginning and besides who hates a dysfunctional family around the holidays?
Books on the Nightstand
Books mentioned in this topic
Erfyl (other topics)A Fraction of the Whole (other topics)
The Zookeeper's Wife (other topics)
Skippy Dies (other topics)
A Secret Kept (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Jostein Gaarder (other topics)John Connolly (other topics)
Edith Wharton (other topics)
David Mitchell (other topics)
A.S. Byatt (other topics)
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Great reads, indeed, but The Book of Joe has created a dilemma!
I have been disappointed when I discover an author I like after she/he has written several books and I continue with their earlier works. Often it's more satisfying to just move forward with them.
That being said, I started reading David Mitchell's work with Cloud Atlas and have read his three previous works to great satisfaction, though Cloud Atlas remains my favourite.
So, Ann, which of Tropper's other books you would recommend?