Constant Reader discussion
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Constant Reader
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What I'm Reading July 2012
Tina wrote: "John wrote: "I'm a couple of hours into listening to Stewart O'Nan's Emily, Alone, story of an 80-year-old upper-middle-class Pittsburgh widow. Very well written, but not much actually happens, alm..."From the reviews I've seen, Emily, Alone is easier to get through than the first book.
Reading The Breaking of Eggs: A Novel. I find myself getting aggravated with the content, but I am keeping an open mind. I don't particularly like the extolling of communism. But as I say open mind, Powell certainly inserts his political veiws. I would venture to say a socialist, though I am probably wrong. If anyone has read it, I am wanting opinions. We could open a new thread.
Carol,Keep reading. At the beginning, the writer is just presenting things through the eyes of the naive main character. It is by no means a pro-communist book. The protagonist is definitely a socialist, but that is not a dirty word (like it has become here) in the context of European politics. I don't know about the politics of the author.
Carol wrote: "Reading The Breaking of Eggs: A Novel. I find myself getting aggravated with the content, but I am keeping an open mind. I don't particularly like the extolling of communism. But as I say open min..."The Review I posted: Serviceably written. But no moments where I wanted to savor the words. At times it felt like a thinly disguised political screed. Way too many repetitive interior mullings by the principal character, Feliks. Plot was fascinating, if a bit contrived. All in all an entertaining read, but not a great one.
Thanks for the input, Ann and Ruth. I will keep your comments in mind.
Sherry wrote: "Sara wrote: "John wrote: "Sara wrote: "Sue wrote: "John wrote: "I realize that it's not the type of thing that most here read, but wanted to give a shout-out to Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little L..."I'm sure I did, and the little shit will get over it. :-)
Heh. A few years ago my neighbor's kid ran right out in front of my car, in front of her horrified father. He brought her to my house later and made her apologize for scaring the crap out of me.
Jennifer wrote: "Sherry wrote: "Sara wrote: "John wrote: "Sara wrote: "Sue wrote: "John wrote: "I realize that it's not the type of thing that most here read, but wanted to give a shout-out to Gunn's Golden Rules: ..."Now that's good parenting.
I just read a very light for fun book,Girl Walks into a Bar . . .: Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters, and a Midlife Miracle. Very sweet and funny.
I loved that one, Lyn. The author, Rachel Dratch, was a regular on SNL for many years. I'm not a regular SNL viewer, so that isn't what drew me to the book. You're right - it is sweet and funny.
I'm about 2/3 thru Thy Neighbor: A Novel. Boy, it was a bit of a struggle to make it this far, but NOW the story is getting very interesting. I'm glad I stuck with it.
John wrote: "I'm listening to Ann Tyler's The Clock Winder, which isn't bad, but not riveting either."Have you read/listened to other books of hers? I know a lot of people adore her, but I've never been able to work up much enthusiasm (or finish one of her novels).
Yes, a few - some are better than others; I bailed on her newest one early on.
A Separate Peace – John Knowles
Book on CD performed by Scott Snively
3***
The boys who attend Devon School have always lived in an insular world. Gene and Phineas are roommates and best friends, sharing their dreams of Olympic glory, inventing games and participating in secret societies. But it is the summer of 1942 and their peaceful environment is threatened by World War II. What begins as innocent fun will have long-lasting repercussions. Rivalries and jealousy lead to suspicion, betrayal and violence.
I’d never heard of this book until a few years ago, but it was first published in 1960, and I’m sure many of my peers in high school and college must have been reading it. I like the way Knowles develops the boys and their relationships. The competition for recognition and the ability to hurt one another with a “casual” remark seem very realistic for this age group (16-18 years old).
Snively does a good job on the audio book, maintaining a good pace and sufficiently differentiating the various characters.
An Abundance of Katherines – John Green
2**
Colin Singleton is a prodigy (not to be confused with a genius) who can anagram just about any word or phrase. But he has just been dumped by his girlfriend, Katherine XIX. Yes, she is the 19th consecutive Katherine he has loved, and been dumped by. Having graduated from high school, he’s at a loss for what to do for the summer, so he and his best friend, Hassan, decide to take a road trip. They have no destination in mind, but wind up in Gutshot, TN, working for the owner of the Gutshot Textiles factory.
This is a mildly entertaining coming-of-age novel. The premise is a somewhat inventive and interesting. Maybe I’m just too far past adolescence to relate, but the characters are just a little too quirky to ring true.
I do like that there are some valuable lessons learned here about true friendship, believing in yourself, and standing up for what’s right. But mostly I was bored, so it gets only 2 stars from me.
One Good Dog – Susan Wilson
Audio book performed by Fred Berman and Rick Adamson
4****
Adam March is a self-made man. He has steadily climbed the corporate ladder and is sure he’ll be the next CEO of Dynamic Industries. His wife and only daughter lack for nothing. His hard work has provided well for his family, with a large home in the suburbs, as well as vacation homes in Florida and Martha’s Vineyard. His wife, Sterling, chairs all the best charity events, and they belong to the best club. But one tear in the tight mantle of self-control he wears will change everything.
Chance is a man-made fighter. A 3-year-old brindled pit bull, he’s been bred to fight and has fought his way to championship. But when he sees his opportunity for freedom he takes to the streets.
Happenstance brings these two together, and each gets a second chance for a new life.
I really enjoyed this novel that explores what it means to be a man. Humility is a hard lesson for Adam to learn. He is in turn arrogant, angry, frustrated, superior, despondent, and condescending. But he has the capacity to be tender, understanding and loving. His journey is echoed by that of Chance – a dog destined to be euthanized, but smart enough to recognize he must quickly learn to be “nice” to people, for his very life depends upon it. How they both learn to be (rather than merely act) open and loving is the central plot.
Wilson peoples the book with a variety of secondary characters, from street people to high-powered executives, from Adam’s high-priced psychiatrist to the newsstand owner who offers advice for free. Berman and Adamson do a fantastic job of the narration. I really got the sense of how tightly wound and ready-to-explode Adam was.
I've finished reading by Stolen: A Letter to My Captor Lucy Christopher and now I'm a few chapters into Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith.
As a teacher, A Separate Peace is one of the few books that young men will actually read, so it's taught in lit classes a lot. I sped through Last Night at the Lobster, and can see why O'Nan is known for getting details of everyday working class people right.
Just finishing You Are Not Your Brain: The 4-Step Solution for Changing Bad Habits, Ending Unhealthy Thinking, and Taking Control of Your Life, and though it was as redundant as most self-help genre books are, it was interesting to revisit how habits become a well trodden neural pathway so that if they are bad habits they are somewhat self deceptive and hugely reinforcing. And, to realize how plastic and adaptable the brain can be if encouraged to make new pathways.
Lyn,If you are interested in the plasticity of the brain, you might also enjoy The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science. I found it fascinating, and also very hopeful.
I also enjoyed My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey. This is about a brain scientist who suffered a devastating stroke, but managed to recover by using the other side of her brain.
I just finished In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin. Fascinating book. It's so packed the details, that it's a slow starter, but hang in there, it's worth it. The ins and outs and intrigues both in US foreign policy and in Hitler's government are amazing.
Read and really liked Doubt by John Patrick Shanley and Fences by August Wilson. Onto Lucretius's De Rerum Natura.
Thanks for the encouragement on In the Garden of Beasts, Ruth. I have it on my Nook and started it last spring but got distracted by other reads when it didn't hold my attention. I usually enjoy Larsen's books (just read Thunderstruck last month and loved Devil in the White City years ago) so I should have stuck with it. I'll make a point of picking it up again when I'm done with my current reads.
Last night: Almost done with The Hard Way
-- guess I won't be off this Reacher roll until I run out of unread books in the series. Also about halfway through Very Valentine
and It Takes a Witch
. Still haven't started Four of a Kind: A Novel
which, along with Murder With Puffins
, is next-up.N. B. from today: Well I thought the two I mentioned above were my next-ups but I needed an audio book this morning so ended up starting Defending Jacob
. New author for me and also unusual for me to read so recent a fiction release. Usually I'm a decade or two back for general fiction, but I just finished 11/22/63
and I downloaded Gone Girl
-- unusual for me.
Re: Gone GirlGillian Flynn's thrillers are unusual for me, too
Finished Shadow of Night yesterday, which isn't quite as good as the first book, but still very smart. Spends a lot of time setting things up for the conclusion of the trilogy, I think.Picked up the first three Easy Rawlins mysteries on a 3-for-2 credit sale at audible, and wow, loving the first book. I saw at least part of the movie a million years ago, but the writing is so great, and there's an excellent narrator.
"John wrote: "I'm a couple of hours into listening to Stewart O'Nan's Emily, Alone, story of an 80-year-old upper-middle-class Pittsburgh widow. Very well written, but not much actually happens, alm..."But isn't that life for an 80-year-old woman and isn't that the point of the story?
Sara Grace ('00-'05) wrote: "Just finished Lost by Michael Robotham. I really enjoyed this one. Rarely is a detective novel so satisfying. I am still working through The Master and Margarita but I have also picked up Rules o..."
John wrote: "As a (male) kid, I found A Separate Peace depressing."
I,too, really enjoyed Lost and have read all of his novels. I like the way he will involve a minor character in one mystery to a major player in another story (book)
Zorro wrote: " "John wrote: "I'm a couple of hours into listening to Stewart O'Nan's Emily, Alone, story of an 80-year-old upper-middle-class Pittsburgh widow. Very well written, but not much actually happens, a..."I suppose some, but Emily seems unusually withdrawn, keeping up with essentially no one.
Zorro wrote: "I am reading A Summons to Memphis - good book so far!"Read that years ago right after Taylor died-- hasn't ever heard of it before then. Really liked it.
Zorro wrote: "I am reading A Summons to Memphis - good book so far!"We read this years ago. If you're interested, here's the discussion. Unfortunately, the formatting is off: http://constantreader.com/discussions...
After finishing Anne Tyler's okay-but-great The Clock Winder, I've started A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian - narration is great, and I like the main character (P.O.V. for the story), although the trainwreck ahead is depressing. The sister's taking what she wanted of their deceased mother's effects without asking, and her insistence on not dividing things 50/50, but on the basis of how many kids each sister has is painfully familiar.
The taking what she wanted without discussion was my mother's sister, and the "I have more kids than you so 50/50 'shouldn't apply' " was my paternal grandmother's sister.
Sherry wrote: "We read this years ago. If you're interested, here's the discussion. Unfortunately, the formatting is off: http://constantre..."Thank you! I was hoping to find a discussion somewhere on Goodreads!
John,I read A SHORT HISTORY OF TRACTORS IN UKRAINIAN a few years back and found it funny and very entertaining.
I'm reading A First-Rate Madness: Uncovering the Links Between Leadership and Mental Illness by Nassir Ghaemi. Tag line for the book reads "Uncovering the links between leadership and mental illness."So far he has covered U.S. General Sherman, Winston Churchill, Ted Turner and Pres. Lincoln. Fascinating aspects I had not been aware of before, covering their illnesses in conjunction with history.
I'm reading The Man Who Smiled by Henning Mankell. The Nordic setting complements the summer weather here. Enjoying it more than I expected.
Ruth wrote: "I just finished In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin. Fascinating book. It's so packed the details, that it's a slow starter, but hang in there, it's wo..." I thought this book was excellent. You are right, it is packed with details and I had to read it slowly. He is one of my favorite authors.
Kat wrote: "Sherry wrote: "I'm reading and enjoying The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud. It reminds me a bit of Brian Morton's books and has shades of Rules of Civility, too. Different characters, connecte..."I just finished The Emperor's Children, Kat, and really enjoyed it: Here's my review:
I had no preconceptions going into this book; I imagined it had to do something with Chinese royalty. How wrong I was--it has to do with an iconically American subject: The notion of being self-made, and how success affects family relationships, friendships and one's personal honesty. Murray Thwaite is a modern-day cross between Bob Woodward and Norman Mailer. He's a popular/populist journalist whose professional life started with covering the Vietnam War demonstrations. At the time of the novel, he is a much sought-after lecturer and essay writer. To me the most interesting relationship is between Murray and his daughter, the beautiful and maybe-not-so talented daughter, Marina.
Messud gives us several combinations of friend/family/lover with a cast of multidimensional original characters. I thought she did a wonderful job of keeping my interest in how the stories intertwined and related to each other.
Mary Ellen wrote: "I'm reading The Man Who Smiled by Henning Mankell. The Nordic setting complements the summer weather here. Enjoying it more than I expected."I always enjoy Mankell. The Man Who Smiled was one of the Mankells that the BBC made into a film. Kenneth Branagh's version.
Ordinarily I like the Swedish Wallanders, however the BBC versions are more tailored to the books.
Sherry wrote: "Kat wrote: "Sherry wrote: "I'm reading and enjoying The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud. It reminds me a bit of Brian Morton's books and has shades of Rules of Civility, too. Different characte..."I bought this for my son's girlfriend when it first came out because both of them went to Brown and both lived in New York City for a few years afterward. Neither of them are from privileged families as I understand those in the book to be, but they knew plenty of those people there. She didn't rave about the book, but I don't think she disliked it either. I've been meaning to read it ever since.
Barbara wrote: "Sherry wrote: "Kat wrote: "Sherry wrote: "I'm reading and enjoying The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud. It reminds me a bit of Brian Morton's books and has shades of Rules of Civility, too. Dif..."Only one of the Brown characters is from a privileged home, the other two are not. I think you would like it, Barb.
I've having one of those periods in which my TBR stack, as well as back issues of the New Yorker that accumulated while I was on vacation, is getting especially towering. However, I'm a extra motivated by your recommendation, Sherry, and by the fact that I like to talk to my son's girlfriend about books, a very nice thing about her.
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Constant Reader
Books mentioned in this topic
Family Matters (other topics)The Man Who Smiled (other topics)
Hoot (other topics)
The Bone Yard (other topics)
A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Olga Tokarczuk (other topics)Leonard Pitts Jr. (other topics)
Cheryl Strayed (other topics)
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (other topics)
You really need to read it! I'm almost done with Dance, Dance, Dance and although I enoyed it, I find the other one even better:)