Retired: What are you reading? Showing 3,551-3,600 of 5,490

[Janie]

Did anyone else find themselves moved to tears when John Lewis accepted the National Book Award for "March?" He spoke of not being able to get books from the white library when he was growing up. I cannot imagine!

[Book Concierge]

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues – Tom Robbins – 2**
Entertained as I was by the occasional wild description and laugh-out-loud moment, however, in general I was bored by the book. All those interludes to wax poetic about this or that philosophy seemed nothing but an attempt to distract the reader from the lack of a story. Clearly, Robbins is not the writer for me.
LINK to my review

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I liked Tom Robbins a lot when I was in my 20's, now I just get impatient with his style of writing. Another case of "not the right time of life" for him. I find that a lot when I try to re-read some authors I used to love. Thomas Wolfe, for one, Henry Miller, Kurt Vonnegut, etc. I'm just not that idealistic any more. (Sigh)

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Diane wrote: "I'm just not that idealistic any more. (Sigh) .."

That, and arthritis too. I think it comes with the territory.

[Sue]

Tom wrote: "Diane wrote: "I'm just not that idealistic any more. (Sigh) .."

That, and arthritis too. I think it comes with the territory."

Tom--fantastic and so true!

[Brina]

Thank you to whoever originally nominated Keepers of the House. Amazing gem, loved. Along with A Convenant With Death, Keepers was published in 1964-65 and yet I never heard of either in school, only To Kill a Mockingbird. Appropriate with this week, I am thankful that I found this group so that I could read these two diamonds at this time.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Happy to have you with us too, Brina. You always add a lot to our discussions.

[Brina]

Aw, thanks Diane. Today I'm reading Driving Miss Daisy and I think I'm caught with plays for awhile. I love the discussions that go on here.

[Kim]

I read Even Cowgirls Get the Blues years ago, I probably appreciated it some then, I read books that I don't bother with now. Read all of Vonnegut, Jerzy Kosinski, Ken Kesey, on and on. But I read for work when I was teaching, which meant keeping up with the world of literature, and when I was younger I read to learn and broaden. I am less resilient emotionally, a book like We Need to Talk about Kevin can darken my mood for a month and I simply do not need that. There is enough darkness just listening to the headlines. Now I read for myself, and I have finite time available...the last few years have made me more picky about what I will spend my time reading. Life is short, eat dessert first, and do not waste time on books that do not give me something positive. There is a lot of empty cleverness, plot manipulation, narrative high kinks, and such that ultimately leave me with feeling like it engaged my head but not my heart, and leave me cold. Do not want to waste my time anymore.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I'm with you, Kim. I don't regret anything I read in the past, but time is short and precious. I am also much quicker to abandon a book that doesn't resonate in some way.

[Kim]

Yes, when I was a kid, I read books like my husband eats potato chips. It was more work to get them, new books were a treat, and the library was my lifeline. Now it feels like there are so many being published but many feel more packaged, more artificial, less authentic. The good ones get lost in all the marketing noise. A successful book sets off a plethora of imitation. If I hear one moe book is this year's Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train (which was last year's GG) I will be tempted to throw something across the room.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

When I worked at B&N and would see all these imitation books come in, I would think, "Where is the pride in the writer's craft when you just repurpose another author's ideas, and many times the parts of the title too. I suppose for money, just as James Patterson has others write his books for him and uses his reputation to sell them. But I don't get the readers snapping these books up like candy, with no regard for quality. I do not mean to belittle anyone who enjoys these books, but after a while it's like reading the same thing over and over.

[Kim]

There does seem to be a segment of society that like to read the same story over and over. Heavens, remember Barbara Cartland & her heart-shaped face heroines? And Harlequin definitely made $$ on the formulaic. But I like to think good readers mature beyond that and look for authentic, fresh, surprising voices.

[Brina]

Sometimes formulaic is good-- I have a mystery series I enjoy as a comfort read. It's just not good all the time. When I see friends read the same books over and over I wonder because there are so many books out there. Goodreads has made me branch out on my reading and I have read countless new authors this year, not including the mystery series.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Kim wrote: "There does seem to be a segment of society that like to read the same story over and over."

Yes. Children. I'm pretty sure I had to read Green Eggs and Ham over a thousand times to my daughter.

[Kim]

Well, children grow beyond the comfort of "Sam I am"...I could do Where the Wild Things Are in the dark, sitting with my wild child on my lap, I read it so many times to all three of my lids. I sometimes would do it while in pain in the dark while waiting for meds in the hospital to distract myself. But many middle-age women love their formulaic romances, my dad loved his Louis L'Amour westerns, and James Patterson just churns out a lot of predictable schlock these days. There is room for it, but it would be nice if more people stretched their minds a little. Think it would be good for society. The statistics on people who actually read for pleasure, Goodreads notwithstanding, are not good...and what people choose to read of their 6 books in a year tend to be the best-sellers and beach reads. Just finished a book about 19th-century Iceland, and they had nearly 100% literacy, it is taken as a societal norm. Here we have people suing schools under the 4th amendment because they are being given little or no education in our inner-city schools. And I suspect that's about to get worse...sorry, I seem to have found my soap box. Sigh.

[LA]

Goodreads is something that I wish casual readers will check out more, just to broaden their horizons.When I joined Goodreads a few years ago, the only reason I did so was because its algorithm did a better job than Amazon.com on giving me reliable recommendations based on the books that I really loved.

Being part of this group, though, has not just given me new titles to read each month but also a list of "the bridesmaids " who were nominated but ultimately not voted in. I have absolutely enjoyed making friends, but also finding a handful of readers who have very similar tastes to my own that I can reliably follow in reading selections - so much so that if One of them tells me I will love a book, I will immediately get online to buy a used hardback of it. I trust them that much.

The Power of the Dog, The Birthday Boys, and Black Wings Has My Angel are old, semi obscure books that I would never even have heard of let alone pick up to read if it were not for people here. Bird Box is a HORROR BOOK (retyped for Siri) that I'd never would have read if it were not for my friends here either.

During this week of American Thanksgiving, I would just like to say I am thankful for the wonderful books I've had the chance to read this year But mostly I am thankful for each of you in my world.

[Sue]

Definitely GR can be a widening experience. I still read my comfort books (mysteries) especially when I'm tired and also when I just want a relaxing read, but I read so much beyond my favorite genres now and read more non-fiction, biographies and memoirs, international literature, poetry. Various people and groups here have given me such great ideas on authors and specific books. There is something for everyone -- more than one something actually.

[Jane]

I would just like to thank everyone in the group for making this such a special experience.

This group has got me through some very difficult times the past two years and thankyou for the insight that has enabled me to discover some wonderful reads !

Happy holidays reading mates !

[Book Concierge]

What a wonderful discussion on the merits of reading, the joy of finding new books to read, and new friends who share my love of reading!

All because I wrote a little review of a book I didn't love all that much ...

[Book Concierge]

The Harmony series takes place in Indiana ... not exactly "Southern" but they have the Southern feel of small towns with colorful characters ...

Signs and Wonders – Philip Gulley – 3***
Book three in the Harmony series looks at a year in the life of the Quaker community’s residents. I just love this series. Each book gives us a glimpse of all the good – and not so good – in human nature, but with the hope that the good will outweigh the bad. They are a perfect break from the stresses of life, and a reminder that there is much good in this world.
LINK to my review

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I'm going to give this series a try. Sometimes it's nice to have a quiet peaceful book about good people.

[Brina]

Family movie night is on. Kim thank you so much for the idea. We are watching Rocky II and Return of the Jedi. Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Brina wrote: "Family movie night is on. Kim thank you so much for the idea. We are watching Rocky II and Return of the Jedi. Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!"

Same here, Whether y'all enjoy your turkeys with dressing or stuffing I wish all of my friends on the trail a very happy Thanksgiving.

[Faith]

I finished Mississippi Noir edited by Tom Franklin. My review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

[Jane]

Anybody reading this ? http://southernlitreview.com/reviews/...

[Kim]

Happy Thanksgiving! About to head out to our friends' home in SF. We will talk books and movies and drink a little wine. I am taking a bunch of Thanksgiving dinner friendly small vineyard appellations from Farmstead Wine & Cheese, also a fabulous Proscecco which is a pick of the month. Was reading a strange combo of books last night/this morning...Fingersmith, Leviathan Wakes, and Life or Death. Am halfway done with The Valley of Bones in A Dance to the Music of Time. My husband is sunk into Evan Thomas's WWII book which he found at the pharmacy while getting my prescriptions. My son is reading about the damage done to Central and South America by US intervention, not very holiday-esque, but important. I am taking pome grantee tart, as well as lemon tart, and a chocolate ganache tart for dessert.

[Carol]

Kim wrote: "Happy Thanksgiving! About to head out to our friends' home in SF. We will talk books and movies and drink a little wine. I am taking a bunch of Thanksgiving dinner friendly small vineyard appellati..."

Sounds absolutely wonderful.

[Kim]

*pomengranate tart. Not sure what predictive text intended.

[LA]

I totally understood that pomegranate tart! And would love the recipe if you have it! Sounds like your whole day was headed to be pretty wonderful.

[Brina]

I'd also like the pomegranate tart recipe. I will file it for Rosh Hashanah next year. Not doing too much reading with everyone home but hope to get to some easy reading done over the next few days. Continuing with movies and organizing book shelves here.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Me too on the Pomegranate Tart. I think there's a recipe thread around here somewhere, Mike started it years ago.

[Faith]

I finished The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. My review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Faith]

I finished Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters. My review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Ruth]

Just two days ago, I finished reading a debut novel that was recommended at one of the many websites, including Goodreads, of course, which I seem to skim through just before heading for the main branch of the public library. No idea which one it was at this point in time.

Stephanie Danler is the author of Sweetbitter, a novel which is definitely worth a read if you are fascinated with food, cooking, high end restaurants and New York City.

Prefer to not give the reader of this review a synopsis, as I enjoyed not knowing much about it and about what other people thought of it before I plunged right in to give it a read myself.

Just approach this novel as you would like, after perhaps re-reading the second paragraph here in this review, and then, if any mention of a topic listed therein seems to resonate with your interests ... go for it!

Ms Danler can write some excellent sentences, she displays an outstanding vocabulary and her characters and their emotions are sometimes nuanced and occasionally somewhat sociopathic.

[Book Concierge]

Diane wrote: "I'm going to give this series a try. Sometimes it's nice to have a quiet peaceful book about good people."

Oh, I hope you like the Harmony novels, Diane.

[Book Concierge]

This cozy mystery series is set in Atlanta GA

Homemade Sin – Kathy Hogan Trochek – 3***
This is a pretty good series. I like the premise of the House Mouse cleaning service for these cozy mysteries; Trochek gives the reader a nice cast of colorful supporting characters who work for the heroine. Callahan Garrity is a strong, intelligent, resourceful woman. It’s a speedy read, the action is fast-paced, and I like the characters. I’ll read more of the series.
LINK to my review

[Brina]

I have a lot of fun reads coming up as I attempt to finish the year on a positive note. Finishing up The Iowa Baseball Confederacy by W. P. Kinsella. Getting from library- Trials of the Earth; thank you Diane for great review/recommendation; What Matters in Mayhew by our own group member Cassie Selleck; Booked by Kwame Alexander; and In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Brina wrote: "I have a lot of fun reads coming up as I attempt to finish the year on a positive note. Finishing up The Iowa Baseball Confederacy by W. P. Kinsella. Getting from library- Trials of the Earth; than..."

I read that one a long time ago and just happened to mention it in a conversation although I couldn't remember the title. Someone asked me how long a baseball game could last and I responded that I once read a book about a game that lasted a month.

[Brina]

40 days and 40 nights in a flood. I love Shoeless Joe and magical realism is one of my favorites but it seems that Kinsella is trying to cram too much magic into one book. The gist is that he loved baseball and wanted to show how magical the game is. I want to wake up early and finish it.

[Connie]

I just finished a haunting book about the AIDS crisis and addiction in New York City, covering about forty years. It's very well written with characters that will be hard to forget.
Christodora by Tim Murphy

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jane]

Okay I have just started Matthew Guinn s The Scribe as it does not look as if it s going to win although it does start off very well

[Franky]

Finishing up Galveston right now.

[Brina]

Starting Cassie's book What Matters in Mayhew. If anyone else has read it, looking forward to sharing notes.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

After years of putting this book off, I finally bit the bullet and read Lolita. I am so glad I did. Nabokov is absolutely brilliant. Don't let the subject matter turn you away from this book.

Here is my review.

[Laurie]

Tom wrote: "After years of putting this book off, I finally bit the bullet and read Lolita. I am so glad I did. Nabokov is absolutely brilliant. Don't let the subject matter turn you away from thi..."

Tom, I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of this classic. I too avoided reading it for years because the thought of reading about a pedophile was so disturbing. I finally tackled it a few months ago. It is disturbing to read, but it is also amazing. I saw it as a masterful examination of a tortured soul. I definitely recommend to others who have avoided it as we did.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I felt exactly the same after reading "Lolita". For an author to take such a subject and turn it into the incredible piece of writing that it is, is beyond belief.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Loved your review, Tom.

[Book Concierge]

Black Beauty – Anna Sewell – 4****
I had a copy of this book when I was a child, but for some reason I never read it, even during my “horse crazy” phase. I’m so glad I finally got to it. It’s a timeless tale with a simple message: Be kind to everyone (and everything). Sewell manages to convey this through Beauty’s experiences, both good and bad. The hardcover text edition I got from the library was also beautifully illustrated by Lucy Kemp-Welch.
LINK to my review

[Karen]

Hi Tom
I really liked Lolita, and had put it off reading it because of preconceived ideas. Glad that you liked it, too:)