Retired: What are you reading? Showing 901-950 of 5,490

[Lawyer, "Moderator Emeritus"]

John wrote: "Inside the Lodz Ghetto: photos by Henryk Ross
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/ph...

Archaeologists: We've found 'Nazi lair' deep..."

Fascinating, John.

[John]

Indeed Mike it is.

That Shindler book was pretty good.

Here is the story of Adolph Eichmann's capture in
Argentina. Another fascinating story.
The House on Garibaldi Street
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[John]

A Beautiful, Cruel Country

Wonderful book about the author growing up on an Arizona ranch just a few miles north of the Mexican border. At 10 yrs old she was an accomplished horseman and ranch hand. Responsibilities included managing grown men. Just a wonderful read about life in the real west. It ends at the Great Indian Migration to Mexico.

[John]

The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Another good book. Story moves back and forth between current time and Japanese POW camp working on the Burmese RR. I like how the story twists and turns bringing characters together from unexpected ports of origin. Personas are vivid.

Think it is time to read Basho again.

Very stream of consciousness, keeps one's attention sharp.

[John]

Taiko: An Epic Novel of War and Glory in Feudal Japan

A waste of time

Not very good. Written at a 12yo level. Perhaps someone that knows nothing of Japan might find this of value but it doesn't really fit the bill. Events involving Bushido are shallow. Yes of course duty and social position are everything and everywhere but there just isn't any depth. Every feudal society is immersed in duty and position but Japan's is unique.

[Ruthie]

John wrote: "The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Another good book. Story moves back and forth between current time and Japanese POW camp wor..."

I'm reading this one right now, not an easy read! The subject matter was new to me and while it is tough to read I feel it is an important book! Beautiful writing!

[Jane]

Never Isn't Long Enough http://southernlitreview.com/authors/...

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Delicious Foods
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... And have started The Memory House

[Lane]

I'm enjoying Sophie's Choice. Styronon has been one of my favorite writers since the mid-1990's, but I had waited to read this work hoping the movie would not overwhelm any images the written word created. I believe I sold Styron short, as that has not happened once.

[Scott]

A Single Shot by Matthew F. Jones

[Josh]

For a fun little wade through (actually it's hard to wade in the mucky swamps) lower Louisiana, give The Marauders: A Novel by Tom Cooper a read. Similar in style to Pollock or Woodrell, but in my mind much gentler and loving. Drugs and murder, yes, but not in the same gritty ways. Another reader mentioned it as Carl Hiaasen meets HBO's "The Wire"......I'd say that pretty darn close. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tina]

Check out Rick Bragg's column in the March issue of Southern Living Magazine titled "The Plane Truth". It is both hysterical and accurate for those of us who remember the glory days of bigger planes and non-stop flights to places like Birmingham and Baton Rouge across the south. The last flight I took was less than a week ago and I think I've still got a kink in my back from sitting on a 2x4 now referred to as a seat.

[[deleted user]]

The Bridegroom: Stories reading. So far a really good short stories collection. The first book I read from this writer was aA Good Fall but that was not really good.
Just got done with The green mile that i will put up to vote next time we vote.
also thinking of putting outer dark up to vote too.
Outer Dark

[Beverly]

I just finished reading American Rust for my local book club. It reminds me of some of the Southern Noir we have been reading although it takes place in what was once a booming "steel" town in southwestern PA. Since the steel mills have closed residents have trouble coping both socially and economically causing many to make poor decisions. Highly recommended.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Beverly
Agree, I enjoyed this one too.

[[deleted user]]

Just got done with The Bridegroom: Stories

[[deleted user]]

I think i am head of my self have 2 book to put up to vote

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I have moderator permission to post this here, just to clarify. :)

One of the other members of this group and I have recorded a few podcast discussions together and I thought you might be interested in listening! I have a podcast called Reading Envy where I bring in all types of readers to talk about books read lately.

Episode 014 is my co-host and I along with Jason from this group!

More recently Jason and I recorded again for Episode 026.

Just sharing!

[Sue]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I have moderator permission to post this here, just to clarify. :)

One of the other members of this group and I have recorded a few podcast discussions together and I thought you might be interest..."

Both look interesting Jenny--I will bookmark them to check them out.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I picked up a copy of the Spring issue of Oxford American today to peruse at lunch. I was excited to see a piece by Ron Rash on his last book tour. I laughed so hard I literally spit my lunch out. I had no idea he was so funny. It was certainly a change from his darker, more serious books. As good a writer as he is, I would love to see him write some comic novels or stories, it really was that good. If you get a chance to read it, it's a real mood lifter.

[Tina]

Diane, read Ron Rash's short story called "The Night the New Jesus Fell to Earth". It will give you a chuckle.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Tina, I just got on the list at the library for that book of short stories. Thanks.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I noticed that the SC Book Festival has an "Understanding Ron Rash" panel this year, featuring... Ron Rash! And a few scholars. :)

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I am reading Ron Rash ' s first book of short stories "The Night the New Jesus Fell to Earth". It was published in 1994 and all the stories are interconnected to form a loose novel. I am loving this book so much that when I return it to the library I may have to buy a copy for my shelves. Although I really like his darker novels, I hope he writes some more like this, his sense of humor is fantastic.

[Lawyer, "Moderator Emeritus"]

I just got a beautiful first edition of Addie Pray published in 1971. I gave that book to my grandfather for his birthday that year. The book made its rounds through the entire family and was a hit with everyone. While most Americans know the story through Peter Bogdanovich's movie, "Paper Moon," the novel is Southern through and through. Adding a book back to my shelves, lost to my family, brought back very special memories.

[Diane S ☔]

Finished A Little Life
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Ann]

Just this minute I finished Natchez Burning by Greg Iles Natchez Burning and I have tremendously mixed feelings about this book set in the South but evocative more of the Nazi regime than the Old Folks at Home.

I enjoyed the characterization and the writing itself. The female characters had depth and range especially, and Iles has an excellent hand at creating setting and mood, in this case the mood of desperation and fear.

I won't be reading another of his Penn Cage series or anything else because of the intense violence, unrelentingly described in painstaking detail with a lurid enjoyment, I felt. I remember too well the days of the KKK (my mother experienced the Klan firsthand as a daughter of Catholic immigrants in Kansas in the 30's), the deaths of MLK and RFK and the disappearance of the civil rights workers in the Deep South. I was a small child but the adults in my life were desperately angered and disgusted by these heinous crimes against humanity, as they surely were.

Perhaps if I weren't se emotionally close to the events of Natchez Burning I would have enjoyed it more, but honestly? The graphic and unrelenting nature of the crimes in this novel made me feel nauseated.

I will have to warn potential readers of this book about the incessant violence in it.

[Diane S ☔]

Have not read Natchez Burning but I received for a mother day's gift the second book The Bone Tree, so we will see.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I recently finished a slightly advanced copy of The World Is On Fire: Scrap, Treasure, and Songs of the Apocalypse by Joni Tevis - the bookstore that had her book tour kickoff sold copies even though it's not "officially" out until June. A book of essays by a southern writer, some very local featuring locations and characters from the upstate of South Carolina to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Also a few jaunts outside of the south, from the Pushcart Award-winning essay set in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ("What the Body Knows") and even one from the Isle of Patmos.

Joni Tevis has a very distinct style, and I always have to look a bunch of stuff up while I'm reading her works because she comes across information I've never heard and combines ideas together in ways you wouldn't expect. My review is here but it is pretty vague, I have yet to review each essay separately.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Diane S
I'm starting Adeline....a 5 star read for you. I hope I like it.

I just finished Child 44. Pretty good book.

[John]

I went to the library to try and hitch a ride on the Unvanquished train. My copy still hasn't come in. Found, for sale, a 1929 Modern Library edition of Look Homeward Angel instead. Guess I'll be traveling with Wolfe instead. This will be my first of him. Tell me it'll be ok and not to worry.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I'm not sure it will be okay, John. I loved this book in my 20's, thought it was a work of genius. Tried to re-read it last year for this group, but couldn't even finish. I think it was a casualty of age (mine). I'll be really interested in what you think. Don't give up on Unvanquished, it is wonderful.

[Diane S ☔]

Laura wrote: "Diane S
I'm starting Adeline....a 5 star read for you. I hope I like it.

I just finished Child 44. Pretty good book."

And you ended up not liking it. Sorry. I am a big Virginia Woolf fan and felt the author did a remarkable job writing like, Virginia and getting inside her head. we usually agree on books but one has to slip through every once in a while.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Diane
I tend to not like all the inner thoughts just bouncing around. It wasn't suited for me. I kept thinking my husband would love this book. Not any reflection on you.

[Diane S ☔]

That is why so many books are written. We are all different and really Laura I am not upset at all. It would be extremely boring of we all agreed all the rime. LOL

[John]

Thanks Diane for the encouragement. I've just started and following Oliver Gant through his marriage to Eliza.

Unvanquished? I've read twice now, but always get something new with a Faulkner reread. Maybe the part with the Negros and the river will make more sense to me this time around. I always thought of it as 'lemmings to the sea'.

[Angela M]

Finished Ruby. 4 stars. My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Ruby is an excellent read but some of the toughest content I've ever read. It's scary that this is really happening today with human trafficking. It's scary.

[Angela M]

Laura , definitely a tough read but so well written . I had to stop at times - do brutal .

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Lemmings to the sea is an apt analogy, John. The "freed" slaves followed the northern army thinking they would lead them to a better life and take care of them, not knowing that the army had no interest in them and considered them a hindrance and burden. It was one of the sadder aspects of the end of the war.

[Diane S ☔]

Finished The Love Object: Selected Stories
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[LA]

Does anyone have an easy read to recommend? I have recently done girl on a train and how to be a good wife but I am recovering from surgery and am looking for something Else. It is not anything life-threatening just a shoulder but I have to type with one hand while I lie around. Siri is not good at typing. Thank you

[Diane S ☔]

Dollbaby. Try this one Leanne and good luck with your recovery.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Oooh, Dollbaby was good. Or try Whistling past the Graveyard.

[Jane]

Diane S. wrote: "Dollbaby. Try this one Leanne and good luck with your recovery."I loved this one and what a twist you won t see it coming Lovely book easy read

[LA]

Thanks, sweet girls!

[LA]

Thanks, sweet girls!

[John]

A Masterpiece.

Each individual sentence has a life time underneath.

The Buddha in the Attic

[Diane S ☔]

She is a very good writer, John.

[Sue]

John wrote: "A Masterpiece.

Each individual sentence has a life time underneath.

The Buddha in the Attic"

I agree, John. I intend to read this again one day. Beautifully written and so powerful.