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Constant Reader
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What I'm Reading - February 2012
I'm starting Stolen Souls, third in Stuart Neville's series featuring detective Jack Lennon. The first one, The Ghosts of Belfast blew me away.
Ruth wrote: "Finished Rules of Civility. I know I'm going to disappoint those of you who really loved this book. I apologize in advance. Here's my review.I found this book an entertaining read, But about half..."
I've been waiting on your review, Ruth. I've been tempted, but it always seemed a little "thin" to me. I'm going to skip it. Thank you for the review.
Charles the particular The Ghost Writer Kitty and I are talking about is a different one from the movie The Ghostwriter, which I found dreadful. The book Kitty is reading, and I read, is about a lonely Australian boy with perhaps too much imagination, who uncovers some dark family secrets in England.
No, the one Kitty is reading is by John Harwood and has no relationship to the Roman Polanski movie which was an intrigue/politics thriller. I don't know about that.
Sue, you have to read The Ghost Writer. Shivery !!. This morning I was reading it at work before my customer came, he tapped on the glass and scared me to death. I thought the ghost was there to get me. LOL
Just finished The Awakening by Kate Chopin. Anyone know what a skirt dance is?
I don't know if this is it ?http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract...
Definition of SKIRT DANCE
1
: a ballet dance popular in the 19th century distinguished by the dancer's manipulations of her long flowing and varicolored skirts or drapery
2
: a folk dance (as the chiapanecas) accompanied by the manipulation of full skirts or drapery
This looks interesting, but I don't think this is what you mean.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP8kGT...
Ann wrote: "Jane,I'm a fan of THE COOKBOOK COLLECTOR too. I also liked Goodman's INTUITION, which is about integrity or lack thereof among research scientists. The books are quite unalike, but both good.
I a..."
I am a huge fan of INTUITION, one of my favorite books over the past few years. Only read THE YELLOW WALLPAPER once, a few decades ago, but I still remember the impact!
Just finished the fourth V.I. novel (Sara Paretsky) and I'm very much enjoying the series. I don't think I read much of it originally before deciding not to go on. Now listening to The Revisionists, yet another time travel book (can't seem to shake them or WWII right now!) which is pretty good so far.Also listened to the first of a completely preposterous mystery series, Her Royal Spyness, but for all its absurdity, it was utterly engaging for me.
Planning to rustle up my copy of State of Wonder in the next little while.
Kitty wrote: "Sue, you have to read The Ghost Writer. Shivery !!. This morning I was reading it at work before my customer came, he tapped on the glass and scared me to death. I thought the ghost was there to ge..."Oh, wait till you read the end, Kitty! But don't skip ahead! When I read it, I thought, "Oh, wow!" And I almost never do that with books.
Sue wrote: "No, the one Kitty is reading is by John Harwood and has no relationship to the Roman Polanski movie which was an intrigue/politics thriller. I don't know about that."I have read it Kitty and liked it a lot. I think I want to read it again some time. I read and liked his second book, The Seance too. For some reason I can't recall many details of The Ghost Writer, which is the reason I think I'd like to read it again some time.
Sara wrote: "Just finished the fourth V.I. novel (Sara Paretsky) and I'm very much enjoying the series. I don't think I read much of it originally before deciding not to go on. Now listening to [book:The Revi..."I put THE REVISIONISTS on my TBR list, I love time travel.
Kitty; That must be it. A child does a skirt dance in The Awakening. From the context I thought it might be something of that type. Thanks!
Sara wrote: "Just finished the fourth V.I. novel (Sara Paretsky) and I'm very much enjoying the series. I don't think I read much of it originally before deciding not to go on. Now listening to The Revi..."</i>Sara, I read the first few V.I. Warshawski books when they first came out and have kept up with them ever since. She's a very appealing character to me and it's probably even more fun for you since you live in Chicago. My biggest disappointment was Sara Paretsky's novel [book:Bleeding Kansas. I was sure it would be good and it wasn't. My review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22...
Slogging through seven books-- none of them is really blowing me away at the moment. Not bad, just not... Well, none of them seems to be what I'm in the mood for, but nothing else is leaping out at me so no impetus to move on to something else. Maybe I can finish a couple of them this weekend and the act of finishing them will arouse some enthusiasm for something else.
Jennifer -- I've juggled that many books on occasion, between print, ebook and audio formats, would you mind sharing what (some of) those titles might be, as I'm quite curious as to how varied the lot might be?My suggestion would be to finish a couple, decide if there are one or two that you're honestly reading from compulsion/obligation-to-finish, and say goodbye to those, set the others aside, and start a book you feel you want to read next. You can go back to the partially read ones after that.
I hate returning library books unread, but I've been known to return more than one that way in a trip.
I've juggled up to seven, too, Jennifer and John, but I have to admit I really don't like juggling that many at once. I used to stick to one at a time, but I found I could get a lot more reading done if I juggled at least two or three.Jennifer, I, too, would love to see what you're reading.
I started the newest Elizabeth George "Inspector Lynley" mystery, then quickly decided on "The Cairo Trilogy" by Naguib Mahfouz, instead. (I might have mentioned that book before because I've been juggling it for some time.)
I juggle my books with magazines, especially the NYer.
A Moveable Feast
– Ernest HemingwayBook on CD performed by James Naughton
4****
Early in his career as a writer, Hemingway lived in Paris with his wife and infant son. This is his memoir of that time, when he was young, curious, and soaking up atmosphere with a sponge. He may have been poor but he could still afford to spend an afternoon in a café sipping wine and writing. He could have a nice luncheon and visit with friends, even gamble on the horse races. He and Hadley were in love and had time to enjoy themselves and each other. At the same time, he was immersed in a world that fueled his creative juices. He remembered encounters with Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, James Joyce and Scott Fitzgerald, among others.
Here’s a quote wherein Hemingway describes Fitzgerald:
His talent was as natural as the pattern that was made by the dust on a butterfly’s wings. At one time he understood it no more than the butterfly did and he did not know when it was brushed or marred. Later he became conscious of his damaged wings and of their construction and he learned to think and could not fly anymore because the love of flight was gone and he could only remember when it had been effortless.
Oh, what I wouldn’t give to have shared even one afternoon with these young writers! I’ve been a Hemingway fan since I first read The Old Man and the Sea when I was in high school (or junior high?). There is immediacy to his writing that just draws me into the world of his work. I thank Hemingway for letting me live vicariously through his memories. Naughton does a wonderful job of narrating. His bass is perfect for the uber masculine Hemingway, though his deep voice didn’t do justice to the women, especially Zelda Fitzgerald.
Just read The Enchanted April. What a delight. I saw the movie in the theater years ago. Now I'll need to see it again.
Sue, I love the movie, and we had a good discussion of The Enchanted April here:http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...
Sue wrote: "Just read The Enchanted April. What a delight. I saw the movie in the theater years ago. Now I'll need to see it again."I have the DVD, and I'm longing for some of that wistaria and sunshine, too, Sue.
Thank you for the link, Sherry, I'm anxious to read that discussion, too.
I've never been clear on where the women went. They say Italy, but they mention Monte San Salvatore, and Monte San Salvatore is in the Italian canton of Ticino, near the city of Lugano. I've been there myself many times when I lived in Switzerland. It was wonderful to get away from a chilly, gray, rainy German Switzerland to the warm, sunny south. I felt like the women in the book.
Next up for me in text is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.I started the audio of Kingsolver's The Lacuna ... but my car CD player just stopped in the middle of track 10 on disc 1. Now it won't eject the disc! Drats, Drats DRATS ...
You all intrigued me so much I downloaded The Enchanted April and I am being carried away to Italy.
Lovely, lovely book, Carol. I keep meaning to get Netflix to wing the dvd to me.
Kitty wrote: "You all intrigued me so much I downloaded The Enchanted April and I am being carried away to Italy."Enjoy Kitty!
I'm right in the middle of The Stranger's Child and am hoping that there will be some payoff for finishing it. The first chapter was mildly interesting, but then the character that made that interesting was killed off, and after that it's so far endless tea party type chatter by boring rich English people.(But typing "rich English people" reminded me of Downton Abby being on tonight! It's very good.)
I see "The Enchanted April" was filmed at Castello Brown in Portofino, Italy. Wish I were there! It's chilly here! :(
Roxanne wrote: "I have started Reamde by Neal Stephenson. So far it is interesting. Large tome."I read it last year, and loved it.
Lyn wrote: "I'm right in the middle of The Stranger's Child and am hoping that there will be some payoff for finishing it. The first chapter was mildly interesting, but then the character that ..."All my favorite novels have boring rich English people in them. (Anthony Trollope. Henry James.) Looking forward to this one!
Charles wrote: "Cateline wrote: "Flora wrote: "I haven't posted anywhere in a while now. I got bogged down with 1Q84 among other things...."I read 1Q84 a few months ago, how did you find it? :) "bogged" just ..."
I was moved to buy this book because I've disliked everything else he wrote. Peculiar motivation. Howsomever, I was liking it for a while, but then... I dunno, it just seemed more interesting to go re-read Zuleika Dobson or something. A zen detective novel by van de Wetering. Borges on writing. Gertrude Stein's Blood On the Dining Room Floor. Anything.
..."
Heh :) yeah, I'm afraid my OCD took over. Although, finally, I was glad to have finished it.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
– Rebecca Skloot5*****
In 1951 Henrietta Lacks died of an aggressive form of cervical cancer, but her cells live on. For the first time, scientists were able to successfully culture living cells from a tissue sample; a tiny sliver of tissue from the cancer that killed Henrietta became the world-known HeLa cells, used in countless research projects. Yet the donor of this remarkable gift to science was never acknowledged, and, in fact, her family was unaware of her contribution for decades. This is the story not only of the HeLa cells, but of the descendants of Henrietta Lacks.
Skloot joins the ranks of Laura Hillenbrand, Erik Larson and Richard Preston in crafting a work of nonfiction that reads like a thriller. I was totally immersed in the book. The scientific story was both fascinating and understandable; the personal story was inspiring and heartbreaking. The scene where Henrietta’s daughter Deborah, who was only a baby when her mother died, shows Skloot the Mother’s Day card she wrote to Henrietta brought me to tears. If I have any complaint at all it’s that the book ended – I wish I were still reading it.
Lyn wrote: "I'm right in the middle of The Stranger's Child and am hoping that there will be some payoff for finishing it. The first chapter was mildly interesting, but then the character that ..."Lyn, we're planning on reading The Stranger's Child for the Reading List, so don't give away too much, okay?
Began reading Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James. Great book to read during wakeful nights. The beginning, in particular, captures the feel of Austen's work.
I knew nothing about this (latest?) P.D.James book. What a great marriage: Austin & James. I can't wait to read it.
Jane and Susan, let us know what you think. Then I will tell you what I thought.
I've started listening to The Big Sleep, read by Elliott Gould. His delivery is so disappointing that if it were a longer story I'd switch to the print version. The story itself is awesome!
Jane, I finished the Harry Dolan and liked it even more than the first. Now I'm halfway into Rules of Civility; Ruth, you didn't scare me off enough, although I'm just getting to the part that bored you, I think. I like the clever writing, but I do agree that Katey comes with no backstory, and that's annoying for me every time.I have such riches waiting on my bedside table, I'm not sure what will follow the Towles. Reamde? I Capture the Castle? House Divided? State of Wonder? The Night Circus? The Wasp Factory? Pulphead? Yikes. I understand how an increase in options can increase anxiety. However, it's some of the best anxiety I can have.
Roxanne wrote: "I have started Reamde by Neal Stephenson. So far it is interesting. Large tome."Loved REAMDE ... never got tired of it, but it is a long slog.
Just finished What it Was. As usual, one of the main characters in the book is really Washington, DC itself. Pelecanos recreates the feeling of what it was to live there during 1972. For a few more days, the Kindle edition of the book is available for only $0.99. I guess Amazon is trying to see what low price will get a lot of people to buy a new book right away.
Charles wrote: "Cateline wrote: "Flora wrote: "I haven't posted anywhere in a while now. I got bogged down with 1Q84 among other things...."I read 1Q84 a few months ago, how did you find it? :) ..."
I know what you mean, but after getting so far into the book I was determined to finish.
Charles wrote: " ...Gertrude Stein's 'Blood On the Dining Room Floor' ..."Good heavens - talk about bringing back not-so-fond memories! I once saw that performed as a "recitive" (spoken to music) play/opera/whatever.
Thanks, Larry. I love Pelecanos, so was happy to get the buck deal. I wonder how one discovers those deals on a regular basis?
Sarah wrote: "Thanks, Larry. I love Pelecanos, so was happy to get the buck deal. I wonder how one discovers those deals on a regular basis?"If you have a kindle or use the kindle app, sign up to get the newsletters for kindle deals or free books. There's lots to look at. The Pelecanos is still 99cents.
"Lyn, we're planning on reading The Stranger's Child for the Reading List, so don't give away too much, okay?" Oops sorry, and also sorry that I don't know how to quote just the end of a previous post! Now I realize where I got the idea to read this book, though. (I don't think I gave away more than was told on the book jacket, though).
BC, I heard Rebecca Skloot, author of THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS speak last fall. She was a wonderful speaker. Like you, I found the book difficult to put down.
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Constant Reader
Books mentioned in this topic
The Stranger's Child (other topics)The Terror (other topics)
Three Women (other topics)
The House in Good Taste (other topics)
Truly, Madly (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Stephen King (other topics)Henning Mankell (other topics)
Pam Houston (other topics)
Henning Mankell (other topics)
Henning Mankell (other topics)
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I read 1Q84 a few months ago, how did you find it? :) "bogged" just ..."
I was moved to buy this book because I've disliked everything else he wrote. Peculiar motivation. Howsomever, I was liking it for a while, but then... I dunno, it just seemed more interesting to go re-read Zuleika Dobson or something. A zen detective novel by van de Wetering. Borges on writing. Gertrude Stein's Blood On the Dining Room Floor. Anything.