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What I'm Reading August 2012
I am finishing #4 in Anne Perry's WWI series - one more to go, and at this point I am going to finish for the sake of finishing, once I can get #5 from the library.Would love to do Stegner's BRC Mountain with this group. IIRC, I didn't love it as I did Crossing to Safety and Angle of Repose, sO I'd appreciate the insights of my CR buddies. But I don't think I can fit it in....
I've started Stegner's Big Rock Candy Mountain for our discussion and am about two chapters in. Definitely a summer read with its length!
Am involved in two novels at present: The humorous and delightful The Last Report on the Miracles of Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich and the thought provoking The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman. Good combination as one is light while the other is sad and serious.
I'm finishing up a listen of The Circular Staircase, which is amazingly modern, despite being over 100 years old--and is keeping me guessing as to the solution. Enjoying it very much!
Sara wrote: "I'm finishing up a listen of The Circular Staircase, which is amazingly modern, despite being over 100 years old--and is keeping me guessing as to the solution. Enjoying it very much!"I used to read Rinehart all the time when I was young. That one scared me to death, like you , I didn't forsee what was going to happen. The movie is still crazy scary for me. It sets my heart racing everytime.
Rusty wrote: "Am involved in two novels at present: The humorous and delightful The Last Report on the Miracles of Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich and ..."I just loved The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse when we read it for discussion in February 2011. My favorite Erdrich, actually.
Today I started Acqua Alta, a Commisario Brunetti mystery by Donna Leon. I'm hoping to hit the library in the next couple of days, and to find Big Rock Candy Mountain when I do...
I got my copy of The Big Rock Candy Mountain from the library too, Mary Ellen. That's a very nice thing about these older books on our lists. The library usually has them and there are no holds so I can renew them a couple of times if needed.
I just finished the audio book of Laura Ingalls Wilder's The Long Winter, performed by Cherry Jones. What a delight to revisit these classics of children's lit!
Sara wrote: "I'm finishing up a listen of The Circular Staircase, which is amazingly modern, despite being over 100 years old--and is keeping me guessing as to the solution. Enjoying it very much!"After reading your comment, I decided to download this book to my Kindle and started reading last night. Just the thing to offset some of the other books I'm reading. Thanks for the reminder. Nice to find one of these freebies.
I finished the 3rd book in the Maeve Kerrigan series The Last Girl by Jane Casey last night - I really enjoyed this novel and I can't wait till the next one! Jane Casey is becoming one of my favourite crime authors. This morning, I began reading One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf.
Rusty wrote: "Am involved in two novels at present: The humorous and delightful The Last Report on the Miracles of Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich and the thought provoking The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Acker..."I thought both of these books were wonderful and really enjoyed them.
jbunnii wrote:Just started Cloud Atlas, and after only 20 pages I can already see that I'm going to get along just fine with this book.I can't wait to read it, great quotes!
I just finished
The City and the Cityand am rereading some parts of American Falls: The Collected Short StoriesNext one to start, like right now: The Big Rock Candy Mountain
I've decided to tackle Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, via an audio download from my library, read by actress Phyllida Law (Emma Thompson's mother) - story a bit ... introspective for me, but the outstanding narration brings all of those mundane details to life!
John wrote: "I've decided to tackle Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, via an audio download from my library, read by actress Phyllida Law (Emma Thompson's mother) - story a bit ... introspective for me, but the o..."I have the print version around here somewhere. If I can find it maybe I will join you, as it has been on the list for this year.
John wrote: "I've decided to tackle Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, via an audio download from my library, read by actress Phyllida Law (Emma Thompson's mother) - story a bit ... introspective for me, but the o..."Brave. I never have figured it out--made it through To the Lighthouse (sort of) but she does perplex me.
THE HOBBIT!! I'm rereading The Hobbit and it's so brilliant because I haven't read it since I was young and I'm off to do another happy dance :D
John wrote: "I've decided to tackle Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, via an audio download from my library, read by actress Phyllida Law (Emma Thompson's mother) - story a bit ... introspective for me, but the o..."Found it. So I will start it and see how far I get.
I loved Mrs. Dalloway, but then it was a Classics selection and I had CRs to help me through it. If I'm not mistaken, we did it in conjunction with The Hours. Here's our old discussion: http://constantreader.com/discussions...
Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) – Jerome K Jerome3***
Three friends decide to spend a fortnight going up the Thames in a skiff - even if it kills them, which it just may do. Their misadventures are humorously recalled in this "travelogue" which has withstood the test of time. There are some laugh-out-loud moments, but it's slow going in places. Made me really sympathize with their struggles to row (or tow) UP stream. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for this very British memoir that was first published in 1889. Glad I finally read it, but I won’t be raving about it.
I'm about 100 pages into The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris and loving it. The author is David McCullough and it's the story of American writers, artists, doctors, architects, etc. who traveled to Paris between 1830 and 1900 to study, learn and experience that great city. I love the way McCullough writes history and I love Paris so it's a great combination. I may be reading this around the CR list selections because it's not short, but so far, it's flying.
Well, now ... here comes an admission I'm slightly embarrassed to make. After posting the above, I listened to another hour of Dalloway, deciding I just wasn't getting into it, and deleted the book.I found The Diary of a Nobody funnier Victorian humor than Three Men in a Boat.
Well, now ... here comes an admission I'm slightly embarrassed to make. After posting the above, I listened to another hour of Dalloway, deciding I just wasn't getting into it, and deleted the book.I found The Diary of a Nobody funnier Victorian humor than Three Men in a Boat.
BC,Oxford Publishing has many easy English versions of old classics, including THREE MEN IN A BOAT. I remember a Sudanese girl reading it and laughing out loud.
This week I finished In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin and The Newlyweds. Thanks to those who have recommended them on Constant Reader. I wouldn't have read them without you, and they were both very, very good.
John wrote: "Well, now ... here comes an admission I'm slightly embarrassed to make. After posting the above, I listened to another hour of Dalloway, deciding I just wasn't getting into it, and deleted the book..."Don't be embarassed, you didn't ask people to join you. I am finding it my cup of tea. I like it so far, I am about 100 pages in, so unless it falls terribly short I will finish it.
I have finished The Book of Madness and Cures and Swamplandia!, both of which I found disappointing (2 stars each).Now I am 70 pages into The Orphan Master's Son, and am finding it hard to get into it. It's dull, not easy writing, and all about kidnappings, spying, fishing boats. Yawn. And the chapters are PAINFULLY long, and I like to stop reading between chapters, as a nice stopping point. It makes me cranky when that is not reasonable :)
Ann wrote: "BC,Oxford Publishing has many easy English versions of old classics, including THREE MEN IN A BOAT. I remember a Sudanese girl reading it and laughing out loud."
Somewhere around the house, we have a version in Norwegian.
Ann wrote: "BC,Oxford Publishing has many easy English versions of old classics, including THREE MEN IN A BOAT. I remember a Sudanese girl reading it and laughing out loud."
I didn't find it difficult. I just didn't find it hilarious.
Red Sky at Morning - Richard Bradford
4****
A coming-of-age story set in a small mountain town in New Mexico during WW II. 17-year-old Josh has to become the man of the household when his father goes into the Navy and moves the family from Mobile, Alabama to the small mountain town of Corazon de Sagrado, New Mexico to wait out the war. Josh's mom cannot deal with the change in social life and different cultural norms. Josh finds new friends and himself.
Bradford writes believable teens (and adults), making sense of a world whose rules have changed. I was caught up in the story of Josh and his family, as they tried to make the best of the situation. Certainly some characters dealt with life’s blows better than others. The setting shields the characters from the war in that they are isolated by mountains, poor roads, and winter weather. Of course, war will intrude eventually. In the meantime Josh and his friends maintain some of the innocence of youth, while still stretching the boundaries as they rush head-long towards adulthood. The humor in the book helps the reader keep the war at a distance … but not forever.
The first time I heard about this book was circa 1969 when my mother checked it out of the library and I would hear her laughing as she read. I kept asking her about it and she read snippets aloud. I could hardly wait for her to finish so I could read it also. Many years later I checked it out of the library and read it again. For a while it was out of print and unavailable, but I'm happy that it's available again. I have my own copy now.
Book Concierge wrote: "Red Sky at Morning - Richard Bradford
4****
A coming-of-age story set in a small mountain town in New Mexico during WW II. 17-year-old Josh has to become the man of ..."
Oh my has it been forty-two years. I had a copy ,but it is long gone. I bought it when it first came out, and as I recall I liked this book quite a bit.
I finished reading
by Heather Gudenkauf yesterday - It's a brilliant novel. I couldn't put it down! I honestly couldn't recommend it highly enough. Now I'm about to start the 9th book in the Stephanie Plum series
by Janet Evanovich.
I think we've been forgetting about this here so I'll post another reminder. When you use book covers in a note, please post the title as well. On smartphones, the book covers appear as black rectangles. And, for those of us with aging eyes, they are even a bit hard to read on computers. Thanks!
I'm currently reading Snopes: The Hamlet, The Town, The Mansion. I started The Hamlet from the library but couldn't read the old yellowed text. Sooo...I decided to download the trilogy for Kindle. Now it's effortless to read and I'm really enjoying being back in Faulkner country after many long years. Also started A Lonely Death while waiting for 4 September books from the library.
I just finished A Fine Balance. I thought it was so very, very good, and became extremely absorbed in the fortunes of the characters. I loved how often just when you thought one character had a cold heart, they would turn out to be the one who's heart had melted to become warmer.
There were several events that were hard to read about, but it made for what seemed like real and compelling events, and there was such an excellence to the portrayal of all the manifestations of humanity within us, the wonderful, the horrible, and so many shades of gray in between. I turned the last page with a renewed and deeper appreciation for my life, and I'm sure that must be one of the tests of a really good book.
When the Whistle Blows - Fran Cannon Slayton
3***
A coming-of-age story set in a Rowlesburg WV from 1943 to 1949. The Cannon men have always worked on the steam engines at the Baltimore & Oriole railroad. Jimmy can hardly wait to grow up and take his turn as a machinist. His father keeps warning his boys that the era of the steam engine is coming to an end and that a good education will give them more options, but Jimmy’s older brothers – Bill and Mike both quit school at sixteen to work on the engines.
The book shines a light on boyhood – night time mischief, football games, first day of deer hunting season, favorite teachers and hated principal. It’s also an exploration of the father-son relationship, and how one boy struggles to figure out just what kind of man his father is.
Slayton has organized the work as a series of snapshots. Each of the seven chapters takes place on the same calendar date but in seven successive years. I thought she handled this pretty well, though if the reader doesn’t notice the year changing (chapter subheadings are not something I usually read), it can be confusing.
I've given up on the thought of re-reading Big Rock Candy Mountain. Still haven't made it to the library and it is too long (and my memory of my reaction too negative) for me to tackle it now. I'll just have to lurk during the discussion.I am happily coming to the close of Anne Perry's WWI pentalogy, with We Shall Not Sleep: A Novel. I liked the third installment better than the rest and I think this fifth book is the worst of the lot. Her great research into the minutiae of life in the trenches carried the series for me. Character, plot & dialogue have all been poor. But in this last volume, she keeps asserting that Wilson's peace plan will punish Germany severely. A quick Wiki search of The Fourteen Points would have corrected that massively glaring error. (Sorry, Anne! It was the French who wanted to punish the Germans!) And her Grand Conspiracy plot is ludicrous on so many levels....
Don't touch this series unless you are a great fan of Anne Perry or are looking for a really odd ascetical practice.
Julie of the Wolves - Jean Craighead George
Audio book performed by Christina Moore
5*****
Julie Edwards Miyax Kapugen is a 13-year-old Eskimo girl on the cusp between childhood and womanhood, between traditional Eskimo life and modern “white” life. Orphaned and living with an aunt Julie leaves the village to find her own way. When she encounters a wolf pack she recalls her father’s story of wolves, and learns more about surviving on the Alaska tundra. Leaving Julie behind, she becomes Miyax, an Eskimo girl.
This is a lovely and compelling story. More than just a coming-of-age tale, it is a tale of survival. She shows intelligence, drive, persistence, patience, empathy and spirituality. She is truly torn and her final decision on whether to stay on the tundra as Miyax or return to a village as Julie is a heart-wrenchingly difficult one.
George paints a desolate landscape that still has beauty and majesty. Julie’s character unfolds as her confidence in her skills grows. We feel her excitement and despair. Relish her successes and worry over her missteps. The book is aimed at children ages 10 and older, but adults will enjoy it as well. Christina Moore does a wonderful job performing the audio, bringing not only Julie but the animals and landscape of Alaska to life.
Doc - Mary Doria Russell
Audio book performed by Mark Bramhall
5*****
John Henry “Doc” Holliday was educated, a Southern gentleman, an accomplished pianist, a compassionate dentist, a gambler, and tubercular. Wyatt Earp and his brothers, Morgan and James, were the proof that sons raised by a bully will either follow in his footsteps or rebel by becoming champions of the downtrodden. These iconic figures of the American West are forever linked by the events of one afternoon in Tombstone Arizona. But this book introduces us to the real men behind the legend, giving us their backgrounds from childhood to a year spent in Dodge – a city on the edge of the frontier, but where fortunes could be made servicing the cowboys who drove cattle to market. Saloons, brothels, hotels, restaurants, stables, racetracks, boxing rings, poker games, banks and retail stores all flourished. Doc went there because “that’s where the money is.” And Wyatt Earp, along with his brothers and Bat Masterson maintained the peace.
Russell certainly did her homework in crafting this work. She gives us a real place and real people who are every bit as colorful and fantastic as the legends they became. I love the way she drew these characters, letting them unfold little by little, much as we would get to know someone over time. And still she held back a surprise or two to stun us. Her prose is so evocative; several times I exclaimed aloud, “Oh!” In this respect, especially I have to give some of the credit to Mark Bramhall’s performance of the audio book. I felt he was drowning in fluid as he voiced Doc in the throes of an attack. I felt Wyatt’s embarrassment, Morgan’s thoughtfulness, Kate’s impatience and fear, everyone’s love of Doc. This is a book that even non-fans of Westerns will be able to appreciate and enjoy.
I remember seeing something about Doc before, BC, and had forgotten about it. Thanks to your review, I checked my library and they own this audiobook.
I love Maria Doria Russell. I'll look for this audiobook, too. Has anyone read A Thread of Grace? I really enjoyed that one.
Book Concierge wrote: "Doc - Mary Doria Russell
Audio book performed by Mark Bramhall
5*****
John Henry “Doc” Holliday was educated, a Southern gentleman, an accomplished pianist, a compassionate dentist..."
BC, this one is calling my name, it sounds good.
Thanks for the review of Doc, BC. My in person book club is planning to read it this year, so I am glad to know that I have something to look forward to.Russell is very versatile. I have never forgotten her science fiction book The Sparrow.
I really like writers who can do different genres well.
I've started Saints and Sinners: Stories by Edna O'Brien as an audiobook. The beginning, at least, sounds familiar. Could I have "read" it before?
In between Family Matters and The Big Rock Candy Mountain, I'm rereading Gone with the Wind. It has really engaged me again. I'm about half way through. Will break off soon to read Goon Squad.
I'm halfway through Gone Girl
and there isn't one of these characters I would want in my life. I'm enjoying the book, and they're holding my interest, but these people are basketcases from the starting bell on, and more than once I've asked "what in god's name do you SEE in him/her?" about just about every one.
Ruth wrote: "I've started Saints and Sinners: Stories by Edna O'Brien as an audiobook. The beginning, at least, sounds familiar. Could I have "read" it before?"Ruth, we read The Country Girls Trilogy and Epilogue on Classics Corner a while ago. Could the initial stories be part of that book?
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Constant Reader
Books mentioned in this topic
The Sparrow (other topics)Broken Harbour (other topics)
The Book of Margery Kempe (other topics)
How Italian Food Conquered the World (other topics)
Gone Girl (other topics)
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Janet Evanovich (other topics)Heather Gudenkauf (other topics)
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Both books are..."
I was slow in reading only because of the Olympics, but it clips along very nicely.