Retired: What are you reading? Showing 1,651-1,700 of 5,490

[Diane S ☔]

Saw Lehane years ago at a book signing, wonderful speaker. Remember he commented that when he told his father he was going to be a writer his father told him not to give up his day job. And here we are, one of my favorites too.

Finished The Shut Eye
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kim]

I totally agree, Tom. From the Kenzie/Gennaro books to Mystic River to his scripts for The Wire to The Drop, he has always achieved exceptional quality. I care about his characters, I feel immersed in his world, he gets the language just right, and the books always feel right in the pacing. The plots feel organic, everything feels like it is happening as it should without being predictable or artificial. He is a reread author for me. I remember I started noticing the credits for writing on The Wire and saw his name, George Pelecanos, Richard Price, and Laura Lippman (Mrs. Simon) & was dee-lighted.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Diane S.✨ wrote: "Saw Lehane years ago at a book signing, wonderful speaker. Remember he commented that when he told his father he was going to be a writer his father told him not to give up his day job. And here we..."

Agreed. I saw him a few months ago and he was great. He said this about why he wasn't big on doing long series:

If you’re a writer whose core is based in realism or naturalism it’s very hard to go too far down the road of a series because the series starts to become very artificial. It just seemslike – how many cases can these guys get? How many times can they fight the fight against the heart of darkness? I mean how many times can serial killers come to their door?

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

LeAnne wrote: "Well, there's no easy way to stick in the Goodreads hyperlink, but I am reading a goodie! If you liked "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena" by Anthony Marra, his latest is excellent! It is in that ..."
Both books are so good.

Tom wrote: "It may not be Southern but it is definitely discussion-worthy. I just started Between the World and Me. not since [book:Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World through Islamic Eye..."

It's an amazing book.

[Kim]

Very timely read.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

LeAnne wrote: "Well, there's no easy way to stick in the Goodreads hyperlink, but I am reading a goodie!"

Is this it?

The Tsar of Love and Techno

[Kim]

I just have gotten Citizen an American Lyric by Claudine Rankine, winner of many awards. It is the book a young woman was reading while she was sitting behind Donald Trump at one of his rallies. It is a heartbreaking look through the eyes of a biracial woman who has reached wonderful levels of the American Dream, but gets smacked in the face by quotidian racism. It is beautifully, poetically written. My wonderful son-in-law lives with this every day. It makes me unutterably sad.

[LA]

Thanks, Tom! Can't perform the insert on this dern mobile app.

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Fallen Land
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Angela M]

Last night I Fallen Land. 5 stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

I just finished Between the World and Me. All I can say is Wow! My review is here.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

I just finished A Different Kind of Christmas. I was less than impressed with it. My review is here. Next up, a couple graphic novels followed by Landfall.

[LA]

Wow. If any of you read A Constellation of Vital Phenomena and thought Marra could not get much better, his latest just blew my doors off. The Tsar of Love and Techno is utterly outstanding.

The only thing darker than the three cities the book is set in is the hilarious black humor punctuating the timeline of interconnected lives and loves. Beautiful book!

[Connie]

I loved both of his books too, LeAnne. He's so talented for a young writer.

[LA]

Connie, A friend of mine from bookclub said that he supposedly wrote both books concurrently. I have not read or listen to any interviews with him yet. Do you know if that is the case?

[Connie]

LeAnne wrote: "Connie, A friend of mine from bookclub said that he supposedly wrote both books concurrently. I have not read or listen to any interviews with him yet. Do you know if that is the case?"

I hadn't heard that. I loved the way he connected the short stories in The Tsar of Love and Techno. Here is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Diane S ☔]

Agree, love his writing too. Have finished It Ended Badly: Thirteen of the Worst Breakups in History
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and am now reading Beale Street Dynasty: Sex, Song, and the Struggle for the Soul of Memphis.

[Angela M]

Finished The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto. 4 stars . My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Breaking Wild
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

First Harper Lee, then Truman Capote, now:
Lost William Faulkner play published for first time.

[Anne]

I am reading Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom!. I just joined this group recently, and I know that this novel was discussed in the group a few years ago. I recently read Salvage the Bones and An Hour Before Daylight: Memoirs of a Rural Boyhood.

[Lawyer, "Moderator Emeritus"]

I just finished To Hell and Back: Europe 1914-1949 by Ian Kershaw. Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... . I'm now half way into Landfall by Ellen Urbani. It's an incredibly good read.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Sarah Waters fans out there? I read or tried to read The Paying Guests. I don't want to be a one and done reader....what specific book would you recommend? Noting I did NOT like The Paying Guests.

[penneminreads]

After finishing a somewhat disappointing Alpine crime novel, I just started reading Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave.

[Diane S ☔]

I only finished half of paying guests. I did love her The Little Stranger .

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Thanks Diane!

[Diane S ☔]

Finished My Name is Lucy Barton
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tina]

Up next, The Book of Lost Things

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Tina that's on my favorite list. I even shed a tear when reading this one. I hope you enjoy.

[Jane]

Anne wrote: "I am reading Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom!. I just joined this group recently, and I know that this novel was discussed in the group a few years ago. I recently read [book:Salvage the ..."

Hi Ann, An Hour before Daylight is one of my all time favorites

[Kim]

Ann, I read Absalom, Absalom in one of my honors seminars, and it an mad other Faulkner books ignited a lifelong love affair.

[Sue]

I've read many Faulkner books but Absalom, Absalom is still waiting. Hopefully next year -- and I want to take some time when I'm not busy with a lot of other reading.

[Kim]

*many other Faulkner books. Predictive text struck again.

[Sue]

Kim wrote: "*many other Faulkner books. Predictive text struck again."

don't you just hate that!

[Anne]

Kim wrote: "*many other Faulkner books. Predictive text struck again."

Kim, that is certainly understandable. I am hooked and am already checking out Faulkner's complete bibliography.

[LA]

We have a six hour pilgrimage to make for Thanksgiving, so Ill be listening to an old favorite with hubby and son - "City of Thieves." I just started another book club, and gave them this to kick it off. Best end-of-the-book-realization ever :)

Also reading Ron Rash's "Burning Bright" stories.

[Angela M]

Loved City of Thieves !

[LA]

Me too! THE GRANDMA <3 !!!

[John]

Sue I think you would like Absalom, Absalom. it's one of his that takes a few reads. Every time I find something new.

[John]

here is the link to a quiz I put together on A/A

https://www.goodreads.com/quizzes/res...

[Sue]

John wrote: "Sue I think you would like Absalom, Absalom. it's one of his that takes a few reads. Every time I find something new."

John, I have it on my shelf and definitely will read it. I hope to get back to Faulkner next year. I have read one of the Snopes Trilogy and want to finish that and probably move on to Absalom then.

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Coal River
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

I just finished The Secret Chord. I don't think this is Geraldine Brooks' best effort. My review is here.

[Marie]

I just finished Kate Chopin "Awakening". Such a powerful big-little book!

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Anyone have a Christmas book recommendation? Something not too cheesy or lengthy? I thought Alex Haley's book would do the trick but it came up short. Maybe something like A Christmas Memory, One Christmas, & The Thanksgiving Visitor. I know that's a big request, I may just reread Capote's book.

[LA]

A Very Southern Christmas (I just wrote a very quickie review because my iPhone will not let me recommend this to you) has some oddball stories. Donna Tartt's is awesomely dark & amusing. This might not be the set of tales you blunt, but I loved them.

[LA]

**want. Not blunt!
Siri!!

[Jane]

LeAnne wrote: "**want. Not blunt!
Siri!!" ;)

[LA]

And again I will say, Siri cannot understand Southern!

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Great, my library has a copy!!!! Thank you!