What I'm Reading - March

[A.J.]

Denise wrote: "Marialyce wrote: "I am reading The Cellist of Sarajevo. "

I bet it was here somewhere that I first saw that title mentioned...it looks interesting. What do you think of it?"

Welllll ... I didn't entirely like it. Which is to say, I felt it was a good novel, but marred by a kind of sentimentality inherent to its structure.

Mind you, some critics I respect liked it a lot.

It is certainly well written. I'd say it's worth reading to make up your own mind.

[Al]

Ruth: I will be quite curious to hear your thoughts when you are finished with A Visit from the Goon Squad

I've just started The Tiger's Wife

[Lyn]

Love reading here for suggestions. My reading seems pretty pedestrian by comparison, but I tend to read just for enjoyment quite a bit. Finished Reading Lolita in Tehranwhich I'm glad I read, but it was a little sleepy, maybe even overly reflective, for me. Next I inhaled Roomread in one night, now I'm into Ape Housewhich is similarly a page turner (but mostly because I loved the apes and then they disappeared from the story for awhile and I'm reading fast to get to the part that's again about them.

[Scott]

I started Duma Key yesterday. So far it is really good.

[Flora]

Scott wrote: "I started Duma Key yesterday. So far it is really good."

I'm not a huge King fan, but I really liked Duma Key.

Currently, I've just gotten started on The Meaning of Night: A Confession

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

I loved The Meaning of Night, Flora. The author wrote one more book, then sadly he passed away. He was still quite young as well, making it all the sadder. He didn't get to live a long life.

I finished The Postmistress and am now reading The Anatomy of Ghosts.

[Llevinso]

Right now I'm reading All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren. But I'm almost done.

[Ruth]

I've read ATKM more than once. I think it's an excellent book. And discouragingly current.

[Sue]

I've always intended to read some of Warren but never got to it. That's something I should rectify.

[John]

That was one of the books we had to read in high school that I absolutely hated.

[Ann D]

Al,
I just finished THE TIGER'S WIFE and am very interested in your response to the book. I thought it was interesting and liked the individual stories, but I thought it lacked cohesiveness. There has been tremendous hype for the book, in part because the writer is so young (25).

Ann

[Carol]

Gabrielle said:I finished The Postmistress and am now reading The Anatomy of Ghosts

What did you think of the Postmistress. I wasn't too keen on it.

[Al]

Ann:
I know that the hype has been crazy - I am trying to just read it and not think about any of that. I'm only about 50 pages in but so far I like it. I will definitely be back to you when I am finished - so far you are the only one I know who has read it.

[John]

I've been slowly making my way through ... inter-related, though discrete, stories, each focusing on a different employee at an English-language newspaper in Rome. The author writes very well, but it's not exactly an "uplifting" collection.

[Sylvia]

I read the Postmistress, it was slow reading for me-and honestly I had to go back and look at it to even remember it at all. In the end I decided it was worth the read, but was glad to finish it. I think I even liked the conclusion-but honestly am not sure I recall it exactly.

[Flora]

I'm still working on The Meaning of Night: A Confession but I've also just started Tipping the Velvet which I really like so far, and also Faerie Wars

[Merty]

The Seamstress by Frances de Pontes Peebles

[Sue]

I just completed The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry which I loved and am moving quickly toward the end of Evil for Evil by James Benn which also takes place in Ireland. It's very interesting to have these varied pictures of the country and the lasting results of the "troubles".

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Kitty wrote: "Gabrielle said:I finished The Postmistress and am now reading The Anatomy of Ghosts

What did you think of the Postmistress. I wasn't too keen on it."

Kitty, I thought the book was too slow in the first third. Frankie's part of the book seemed to be the "meat and potatoes" of the story to me. I found the most affecting part the part where Frankie is in France, riding the trains with Jewish people who are hoping to get to Spain or Portugal and board a ship. Each visa check left me tense.

I liked Emma, but she was a little too spineless for me. I think she should have supported Will or told him about her condition and asked him to remain in Franklin.

I also liked Iris, but I felt we really didn't get to know her well enough. I thought a lot more could have been done with her character.

All-in-all, I thought it was well researched, but lacking that special something. For a book taking place during WWII, I didn't feel it had anything special or new to offer.

Sue, I read The Secret Scripture a few years ago, and I really enjoyed it. Some coincidence there, but the story was just so darn interesting.

[Carol]

That was my feeling also nothing really stood out and the character's were pat. I have read better books on that subject.(WWII)

[Sylvia]

I read The Cellist of Sarajevo a couple of months ago and really liked it-it is very thought provoking. I highly recommedn it.

[Ruth]

Finished A Visit from the Goon Squad a couple of days ago. This book puzzled me. Here's my review.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Melissa]

Sue, maybe one of us should nominate Sebastian Barry's book The Secret Scripture for the next go-round. Still, when my in-person book discussion group read and discussed that a year or two ago, some people mentioned that they liked his earlier work even better - if I remember correctly that would be his war novel A Long Long Way, which I've yet to manage to read

[Carol]

I am reading Scaramouche. I need to tackle my first TrollopeThe Way We Live Nowsoon and I need to track down a good translation for Don Quixote any suggestions?

[Sue]

Philip wrote: "Sue, maybe one of us should nominate Sebastian Barry's book The Secret Scripture for the next go-round. Still, when my in-person book discussion group read and discussed that a year or two ago, so..."

I've been told that The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty is also very good and I think it will be my next by him. I wonder which of his would be the best. I think he would be great to discuss. I guess we'll have to talk about this.

[Marialyce]

I am finishing up The Portrait of a Lady tonight and starting To a Mountain in Tibet

[John]

Kitty wrote: "I am reading Scaramouche. I need to tackle my first TrollopeThe Way We Live Nowsoon and I need to track down a good translation for Don Quixote any suggestions?"

Kitty, Edith Grossman's translation of "Don Quixote" is by far the best in the English language.

[Melissa]

Sue, it may well have been Whereabouts that my group mentioned back in ... 2009 I think it was. Just don't remember exactly.

[Ruth]

Kitty wrote: "I am reading Scaramouche. I need to tackle my first TrollopeThe Way We Live Nowsoon and I need to track down a good translation for Don Quixote any suggestions?"

I've failed on Scaramouche twice. I'm told it was my grandfather's favorite book. And it has one of the best opening sentences in the world. "He was born with the gift of laughter and the sense that the world was mad."

Just finished watching the Masterpiece production of The Way We Live Now for the second time. Did you see that, Kitty?

[Sue]

Philip wrote: "Sue, it may well have been Whereabouts that my group mentioned back in ... 2009 I think it was. Just don't remember exactly."

I noticed that both this and the other one about WWI you mentioned both have high ratings here on GR.

[Marialyce]

Has anyone watched the BBC's production of Downton Abbey? It is wonderful and available for streaming on Netflix. Jillian Fellows is the producer/director and he has done a great job of creating a period piece that follows a titled English family and their servants. The acting and the settings are fabulous.

[Sue]

I have it on my DVR but haven't watched it yet. I've heard good things about it. I should start watching soon.

[Ruth]

Marialyce wrote: "Has anyone watched the BBC's production of Downton Abbey? It is wonderful and available for streaming on Netflix. Jillian Fellows is the producer/director and he has done a great job of creating a ..."

We lasted only a couple of programs. A little too cute for us.

[John]

Marialyce wrote: "I am finishing up The Portrait of a Lady tonight and starting To a Mountain in Tibet"

I'm in my library queue for "Tibet" as an audiobook.

One more story to go in The Imperfectionists - great writing, but most of the entries are rather grim (downers).

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Kitty wrote: "That was my feeling also nothing really stood out and the character's were pat. I have read better books on that subject.(WWII)"

I think a lovely book that takes place during the time of WWII is Kate Walbert's The Gardens of Kyoto, Kitty.

I wouldn't read any Don Quixote translation but Edith Grossman's, Kitty.

I think it's one of the brothers of Eneas McNulty who was married to the female protagonist of The Secret Scripture. If I remember correctly, her name was Rose McNulty. Barry likes to recycle his characters, something I like.

I'm reading The Anatomy of Ghosts.

[Melissa]

We liked all four episodes of Downton Abbey and are looking forward to the promised sequel.

[Sheila]

Philip wrote, 555726 Sue, maybe one of us should nominate Sebastian Barry's book The Secret Scripture....

This is on my to be read list after many recommendations, I'd be up for a read.

[A.J.]

I'm reading the Seamus Heaney Beowulf: A New Verse Translation.

[Sheila]

Wow March is turning into a stonker of a good reading month with 3 great books so far.

I just finished Lyrics Alley I really really liked this slow seductive simmer of a book.

A big SPOILER ALERT for anyone reading my GoodReads review post

[Carol]

John wrote: "Kitty wrote: "I am reading Scaramouche. I need to tackle my first TrollopeThe Way We Live Nowsoon and I need to track down a good translation for [book:Don Quixote|3836..."

Thanks. I knew someone would have a good suggestion.

[Cathy]

Lyn wrote: "Love reading here for suggestions. My reading seems pretty pedestrian by comparison, but I tend to read just for enjoyment quite a bit. Finished Reading Lolita in Tehranwhich I'm g..."

I loved Reading Lolita in Tehran as it reminded me of the best part of majoring in English (without fear of grades). I kept having the nagging thought that Iranians should be exploring their own literary culture over western culture though.

[Cathy]

Marialyce wrote: "Has anyone watched the BBC's production of Downton Abbey? It is wonderful and available for streaming on Netflix. Jillian Fellows is the producer/director and he has done a great job of creating a ..."

I enjoyed this production very much although initially I feared a retread of Up the Down Staircase.

[Hazel]

Ruth wrote: "Marialyce wrote: "Has anyone watched the BBC's production of Downton Abbey? It is wonderful and available for streaming on Netflix. Jillian Fellows is the producer/director and he has done a great ..."

I liked Julian Fellowes' Gosford Park and his novel Snobs, but didn't think much of Downton Abbey. It's been a big hit here though.

[Carol]

My hubby enjoyed Downton Abbey. I could take it or leave it.

[Cateline]

I'm reading two at present, The Boat by Nam Le, and Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor by Anthony Everitt.

[Diana S]

There are two books I'm reading right now, " Thousand Pieces of Gold " By Ruthanne Lum McCunn and " gods behaving badly " By Marie Phillips. The first book - I'm really enjoying the read. The second is off to a shaking start. Last Thursday, My book group discussed
" The Secret Scripture " . We all had a good time reading and talking about this book.

[Barbara]

A.J. wrote: "I'm reading the Seamus Heaney Beowulf: A New Verse Translation."

A.J., we read Heaney's translation of Beowulf on Constant Reader some years ago before we came to goodreads. I don't know if the discussion is still available. But, I was amazed at how accessible Heaney's translation made it. I expected a chore and, instead, got an adventure.

[Kat (A Journey In Reading)]

I started The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle last night and enjoying it so far.

[John]

Kat,

Rupert Degas did such an outstanding job reading Murakami's Dance, Dance, Dance that I got that one for my TBR pile for when I need a really long book to get lost in. Great to hear how much you like the story!

[Sheila]

A.J. - I absolutely echo what Barb says about Heaney's translation of Beowulf - it is just great!