On the Southern Literary Trail discussion
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General Bookishness
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Retired: What are you reading?
The Ex-Debutante
– Linda Francis Lee – ZERO stars Where to start? Cardboard characters. Tortured dialogue. Ridiculous plot. “Clever” writing devices that aren’t. This is just a disaster.
LINK to my review
NOT Southern, but a very good non-fiction read ...
People of the Deer
– Farley Mowatt – 4**** Farley Mowatt examines the various factors that led to the demise of The People of the Deer in this fascinating book. He went into the vast Barren Plains of North central Canada to study the caribou, and the Ihalmiut people who depended on “the deer” for their very existence, living among them in the late 1940s, when their tribe had dwindled from several thousand in about 1900 to less than 50 individuals in 1947.
LINK to my review
Mod
People of the Deer – Farley Mowatt – 4****
Farley Mowatt examines the various factors that led to the ..."
Farley Mowat has been a favorite of mine ever since I was a teen and read Never Cry Wolf.
Like our Book Concierge, Ive recently finished something terrific but definitely not southern lit. If you have been seeing previews for the new movie Arrival with Amy Adams, it is really worth going to see. The movie may not be what you are expecting when you think of aliens arriving here.In general, I am not a fan of sci-fi, but will occasionally give it a go when others rave about a particular book. A recent four and five star novel about multiple realities left me rolling my eyes - so it says something that the movie was so good that I turned around and immediately read a sci-fi book!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The movie is based on a novella that is part of this short story collection by Ted Chiang. This writer is genius, and the intelligence in the mathematics and linguistics he writes about thrilled me. If you are not much of a science or math nut, you can skip the other stories and go straight to The Story of Your Life.
See the movie. Then read the little novella. It will bring beautiful circle and might leave you with your eyes wet.
NOT Southern ... unless you count Mexico ... LOL
Malinche
– Laura Esquivel – 4**** Malinalli was a Native woman from Tabasco, whose ability to speak Spanish as well as two native languages brought her to the attention of Hernan Cortes. In this lyrical, poetic novel, Esquivel gives us a strong woman with deeply held beliefs who wanted to free her people, and realized her mistake far too late. I love Esquivel’s writing. Her imagery is vivid and tangible. This is a decidedly Mexican novel. Esquivel infuses the story with magical realism, mysticism, and spirituality. It reminds me of the oral story traditions of my grandparents.
LINK to my review
I literally just deleted 100 books from My to read pile that I accumulated over the course of the year. My tastes have changed and I look forward to my next year of reading.
Mod
I have narrowed it down from 430 to 340. I doubt I will ever read all those books. I have found my books mainly to be five categories: classics, contemporary award winners- Pulitzer, national book award, etc, history/ biography, mystery, and baseball books for the group I moderate. I almost wish that goodreads would eliminate the recommendation button. People are always giving each other recommendations. It is nice once in a while but isn't that why we read each other's reviews- to find what to read next. Between groups and review I have more than enough to last for the next 4-5 years lol.
Mod
I narrowed my shelves down to 250. Many are short stories and plays. Many classics. I decided for next year and going forward that I can't get caught up in the hype every time some one reviews a book or marks as to read a new book. Some are good, many are not. Most of the published in 2016 books I have deleted from my list.
I have been working on clearing shelves and giving away some of the books that I own for the past two weeks. Some of the books I bought at the time I thought I was interested in reading and now I am not as excited about them and others I have read and will probably not read again but it is still difficult. I also need to delete some of the books from my Goodreads "to read" shelf as well. I plan to work on this as I am staying home today to hopefully get lots of chores done.
Beverly I agree with you This year I listened to too much hype and the result was me not even finishing half of them so that s my lesson learned, finally
Brina wrote: "I narrowed my shelves down to 250. Many are short stories and plays. Many classics. I decided for next year and going forward that I can't get caught up in the hype every time some one reviews a bo..."I rarely get onto the desktop version of Goodreads, but believe that when one adds a new friend, they're automatically listed as a "top friend." I'm wondering whether one could possibly sort friends in such a way that their star ratings for books could help prioritize which reads are solid keepers for us and those that aren't.
Some of the great folks I'm friends with have very different tastes from me, and if I follow their star ratings in order to choose a book, there is no guarantee it is going to end well.
It would be pretty easy to write an algorithm that creates a recommendations list based on one's top ten most compatible friends ratings. That would help!
We likely all have friends on this site that are kind, intelligent, and fair in their ratings - but have entirely different tastes from us.
I don't think goodreads would want that to happen only because they are owned by Amazon. If all I am seeing are classic books, most likely I will have to get them at the library rather than buy them. On the other hand if I am seeing a steady stream of best sellers even if it isn't what I generally read, then there is a higher likelihood that I will purchase the books on Amazon. Even now I have to go into my groups to find friends whose reviews I respect.
Brina wrote: "I don't think goodreads would want that to happen only because they are owned by Amazon. If all I am seeing are classic books, most likely I will have to get them at the library rather than buy the..."That's a great point about sales. I tend to buy the one cent hardbacks with $3.99 shipping from Amazon sellers, but yeah - they want us to buy everything!
The book compatibility test - not the "compare books" tab is pretty helpful. On the book comparison, you and I only have 71% similarity in taste, but our compatibility is 84%. So, say I have love reading YA novels but you don't. Whenever you do decide to read one that I've rated as 5 star, chances are you are going to like it as well.
Kirk and I found out some time ago that we have 91% similarity in taste and 87% compatibility in how we feel about those books. That's why he is one of my Go-To friends for finding new books or culling my TBR stack.
Anyway, I'd love for there to be a shelf based on all my assorted Kirks, but it might keep me from reaching out of my favored genres.
Brina wrote: "I literally just deleted 100 books from My to read pile that I accumulated over the course of the year. My tastes have changed and I look forward to my next year of reading."I recently realized that I rarely actually read the books that I put on my To Read list. It's like once I put them there, they're out of my sight and out of my mind. The excitement of discovery is put at bay, the thrill is gone.
LeAnne wrote: "The book compatibility test - not the "compare books" tab is pretty helpful. "Yo LeAnne, Help me figure out where to find this test please? I'm looking and looking but am totally lost.
Doug wrote: "Yo LeAnne, Help me figure out where to find this test please? I'm looking and looking but am totally lost."Never mind. Found it. You have to go to "Compare Books" first, then it's up near the top on the right. Pretty cool. This is the closest I've ever been to a dating service site.
Doug wrote: "LeAnne wrote: "The book compatibility test - not the "compare books" tab is pretty helpful. "Yo LeAnne, Help me figure out where to find this test please? I'm looking and looking but am totally l..."
Doug, you have to be on a desktop version to do this, but...
1. go to your friend's profile
2. in TINY green letters in the upper middle, click COMPARE BOOKS. It is right where you can click send message, etc.
3. it pops up a page stating how similar your tastes are
4. on the upper right, again in tiny font, click BOOK COMPATIBILITY TEST.
You'll get overall compatibility, but it also has a bar chart showing the genres of books you both rated. Sometimes, you may have 70% compatibility, but it is skewed that way because your friend may highly rate YA books and you do not. If one were to strip out the YA, then obviously compatibility is higher.
This is how Kirk and I discovered ages ago our brother from another mother and sister from another mister reading relationship. Despite both of us having read dozens of books since our first compatibility test, we're still twins.
LeAnne wrote: "Doug wrote: "LeAnne wrote: "The book compatibility test - not the "compare books" tab is pretty helpful. "Yo LeAnne, Help me figure out where to find this test please? I'm looking and looking but..."
You and I are at 76 in taste and 75 in compatibility - but we have low agreement on nonfiction. If we strip it out, you and I have 80% compatibility on everything else across the board. Makes sense that practically everything you recommend, I love.
Mod
Diane wrote: "Only us book nerds would get excited over a "book compatibility test". I'll have to mention it to my daughter just to see her face and to hear her say "I cannot believe you are such a dweeb!""You ARE such a dweeb. Which is why we are at 78 and 86...dweeb sisters.
Doug wrote: "Doug wrote: "Yo LeAnne, Help me figure out where to find this test please? I'm looking and looking but am totally lost."Never mind. Found it. You have to go to "Compare Books" first, then it's up..."
LOL! We were apparently typing at the same time... I guess we are speed dating.
According to their tests, Leanne I am 84% compatible with you and 90% with Diane. I probably could have figured that out already. Goodreads doesn't take into account subgenres that we like- southern, magical realism, cultural books, etc. That's the skeptic in me talking but I am proud to be a book dweeb.
Mod
I finished World, Chase Me Down by Andrew Hilleman. My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
This week- Casino Royale, Lillian Hellman plays, An Interpreter of Maladies.
Mod
This sounds like one I need to check out.
Mod
Just finished a desert read ! I love to read quick read of lusciously delivered Psychological Thiller/ crime novels in series . Val McDermid has a continuing series with a Special task force set in England with all the right people ! At the top of the list is the Leader DCI Detective Carol Jordon the strongest women of justice and character you will ever meet but not everyone is perfect . Carol is also a high functioning alcoholic as most in her line of duty . Dr. Tony Hill is the #1 psychological profiler and he is definitely a strange and awkward man with way too much compassion and empathy for people which makes him excellent when relating to the killers they seek . Tony's one flaw - Carol Jordan . Then you have DS Paula McIntyre brilliant with interviews - flaw or advantage being her lovely and supportive partner Elinor who is a medical Doctor and knows just how important work is to Paula and visa versa. Paula's major flaw -- she would go to the ends of the earth to protect her boss , Carol Jordan. Then we have Stacy , the Asian beauty and magical whiz with cyber space . You name it she can hack it and produce results . Just don't ask how . Her flaw -- a heart for a vindictive cop that used to be on the elite squad . Then we have The strong and just DS Alvin Ambrose and DI Kevin who round out the team's exclusive squad with a 100% solve rate among some serious criminals . In these books you learn so much from the varied interests of the multilayered characters and their jobs along with their personal interconnections . Just the kind of book deserts I gobble in a day or two . This latest read was Splinter in the Bone and it was book # 9 and McDermid's latest in this series . I have read all 9 in order so far this year and I have also read all of Tana French too. She is yummy too in the Dublin murder squad !
I started my Swedish LOVE with the Wallander series this year too and have just bought the first in Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole series .
I suppose my love of these mysteries or thrillers is why I like the Southern Noir . I really loved the James Lee Burke , and I want to go back and read the series now . I also think he writes a bit like our Ace Atkins and Greg Ilies . We should check some of these reads in the new year. Serial reads are great to me . I loved Daniel Woodrell because of his use of trilogies and same for McCarthy .
This year I was privileged to be a part of the group read of the twelve volume set of Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Movement of Time and what a wonderful series and experience . There were , I believe 332 characters throughout the novels and you think you will never Romberg these characters , but surprisingly you spend a year with these characters and they become people to you. I want to do this more . If any of you have the chance to do something like this with a great author's work , do not pass it up !
I have not been placing my books on goodreads ! So at the last minute , I am trying to add my already read stack of books onto my shelves online and I am in trouble here at home ! I have run out of bookshelves in my home and my parents want me to get rid of my books ! LOL !
That is not an alternative ! My books are like people in my life . They have shared experiences good and bad with me . They have really been there for me. Sometimes I think of quotes and characters and I pick up the volume and I cannot stop myself from reading them again . I have a collection of my favorite children's books and I often visit those ! I have revisited The Little Prince this year especially on his 75th year ! I purchased the special edition and the memoir written by Rose the wife of Saint DeEstuary . I think I will read her book soon . She was obsessed by him to the end but I do know how that love feels . Anyway else ever felt an obsessive harmful love? I know I am so thankful I broke away . I also know that I must be so unusual to have been able to love that way . What really convinced me to break away was my realization that you must never love anyone more than the lord himself . He is the one that should always come first in your life and then everything else will fall into place. Your desires are selfish to put them before what God has set as your purpose in life . You are born with a gift and you hopefully will recognize it and use it with God's guidance. My gift was being wasted on my own selfish desires . I am saying this right now because it is the season when these things should be remembered . You are all so wonderful and gifted . Listen for the whispers to guide you to share your personal gifts with others this season . Spread your love , kindness, hope and giving spirit everywhere .
Give books too ! They give life back !
Love and happiness to all of you ... Dawn
The WWII novel Mischling has gotten a lot of buzz lately, so I listened to the audio version of it these past couple of days. The subject material is about the multiple sets of identical twins that were kept at Auschwitz so that Mengele could perform pseudoscientific tests on them. Because I am in my 50s, I am familiar with some of the terrible terrible things he did, although younger readers may not know much about him.There were so many four and five star ratings for the book, that I was expecting something pretty fantastic. The writing was a bit of a letdown for me, but I tend to rate books a little bit lower than most people. If you are unfamiliar with these sort of atrocities, this might be a good way to educate yourself.
All of us need to keep these stories alive so that as a society, a global society, we will never forget or allow this to happen again
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I had this on my to read list also . The concept of the novel sounded interesting . I was going to do the audio too. There were so many horrid things done under Hitler's rule that were unimaginable. Yes, everyone needs to read these stories to understand why WWII was the worst. ISIS may do many cruel things but at least Thayer do not experiment on the genetic makeup of the human beings . ISIS is still horrific and needs to be dealt with. I do not understand how we did not hesitate to go in and rescue those in WWII and we are indecisive about ISIS . It is not just a religion to the strict followers of old and ancient radical Islamic believers , it is their law and way of life that they feel is justified . They feel they are justified to kill in any way they can because this is what their religious views demand of them .
Hitler had a similar feeling he demanded about anyone who just did not agree with him . He was a true psychopath. So we're his followers .
Everyone asks how to solve the problem of ISIS ??? Separate the wheat in harvesting as it says in the Bible . Remember the process of carefully shaking the wheat in baskets to separate the grains from the chaffe. Do that here first and then help to keep them in their own space to conquer . Remember " divide and conquer " not ignore and they will go away.
We cannot handle memories of another horrific cleansing by people who do not respect the beauty of all lives. We need to get this point across all around the world . People can surely understand that. Even the Muslims that are nonviolent can understand what needs to be done and what they must do to live in a free country that is good for them. They must love America too.
I know you know this though and I do not need to say this to any of you ! Another sad rant . SORRY ! I will go stick my head in a corner! LOL!
Dawn
The Scribe by Matthew Guinn★★
A serial killer is terrorizing Antebellum Atlanta, who if not caught quickly will jeopardize the success of the upcoming 1881 International Cotton Exposition. Prominent black businessmen are found dead with a single letter carved into their forehead. Detective Thomas Canby, a disgraced former Atlanta policeman, is called back into town to help find the killer. He is partnered with Atlanta's African-American police officer, Cyrus Underwood.
After reading the blurb on the inside dust jacket flap, I was eager to read this book, especially the relationship between the two officers. I was disappointed to find that Underwood made very few appearances in the book. When he did make make appearance there was little substance, the character was not fleshed out. The reader never understood the motivations behind this character. Did he have a past? How did he break the racial barrier to become the first black police officer? For a character that received top billing on a book's dust jacket flap, I expected more than I read.
The Visitor by Amanda Stevens★★
The fourth book in the Graveyard Queen series opens with Ameila being haunted by a spirit which leaves a series of ominous clues. She wonders if she should heed her father's warnings told to her since she discovered her childhood gift (curse):
1. Never acknowledge the dead.
2. Never stray too far from hallowed ground.
3. Keep your distance from those that are haunted.
4. Never, ever tempt fate.
Her haunting appears to be linked to Knoll Cemetery, a private graveyard associated with a religious cult. When she is invited to visit the cemetery, she discovers ancestral links to the former residence of a neighboring house.
I found this novel the least interesting of the four, which may indicate that I'm tiring of it.
Dawn wrote: This year I was privileged to be a part of the group read of the twelve volume set of Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Movement of Time and what a wonderful series and experience . There were , I believe 332 characters throughout the novels and you think you will never Romberg these characters , but surprisingly you spend a year with these characters and they become people to you. Glad to find on the 'Trail' another Anthony Powell fan! Not sure what the verb 'Romberg' means but, no doubt, all the ADTTMOT players make a lasting impression. The incredible thing is, nothing ever "happens" in these novels. That is, the entire series seems to consist of nothing but extended conversations and reflections, yet you feel like your life has been deeply enriched by coming to know these Brits so intimately against the backdrop of two world wars and enormous cultural upheaval. Still have one more volume to read (Book 4, the last three novels), and could not be more eager to begin.
Mod
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race Margot Lee Shetterly has put light on stories of the woman of Langley, NACA and NASA removing the Hidden nature of these little known computers that helped propel Americas aeronautics and space age dreams into reality.
The story is well worth reading and I did enjoy the information brought forward as well as the ladies stories that are highlighted from so many. I was however left felling a bit flat overall. The writing never really took off and I was not tugged as I had hoped. The fact that these beautiful historical figures endure so much and witnessed so much... I had hoped that I would get a better sense of the emotions and struggles along with the historical and scientific achievements - The highs and lows so to speak.
Instead I found it all rather matter of fact. There is nothing wrong with matter of fact in non-fiction. I guess I just expected a bit more. Perhaps expectations were too high. But I am glad I read it and I did enjoy it. Like, but not love.
Just one persons opinion.
Better late than never, i suppose...but I have eventually read an old moderator's choice (an old choice, I hasten to say, not an old moderator), namely The Night of the Hunter. Very impressed by it - review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...I would immediately look for other fictions by Davis Grubb, but the consensus seems to be that his later work isn't too good. True?
Peter wrote: "Better late than never, i suppose...but I have eventually read an old moderator's choice (an old choice, I hasten to say, not an old moderator), namely The Night of the Hunter. Very impressed by it..."Peter, I purchased a copy of that earlier this year, and the darn thing is still sitting there waiting for me! I think one of my New Year's resolutions is to gather up all of the books I have acquired in hardcopy, give them their own shelf, and read them in a binge!
Peter wrote: "Better late than never, i suppose...but I have eventually read an old moderator's choice (an old choice, I hasten to say, not an old moderator), namely The Night of the Hunter. Very impressed by it..." I enjoyed A Fool's Parade by Grubb a great deal. it reminded me of The Clearing by Gautreaux, another favorite. I'm trying to read 2-3 others of his, but don't expect to be as impressed.
Hope to read before year's end: The Piano Lesson and Fences both by August Wilson, Miller's Valley by Anna Quindlen, The G-D of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.
I finished The Death of Caesar: The Story of History’s Most Famous Assassination by Barry S. Strauss. My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished The G-D of Small Things, starting Miller's Valley. Happy holidays to all of you!
Mod
Anna Quindlen is one of my favorites. I wanted to get this book in before the year ends.
I finished Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly. My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Faith wrote: "I finished Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly. My revi..."My friend and I are reading this next for our movie/book club. Just have to wait for it to come in. It's very popular now with the movie out.
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On the Southern Literary Trail
Books mentioned in this topic
Happy Land (other topics)Take My Hand (other topics)
Happy Land (other topics)
Happy Land (other topics)
Somewhere Toward Freedom: Sherman's March and the Story of America's Largest Emancipation (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Bennett Parten (other topics)Wes Browne (other topics)
Hubert Skidmore (other topics)
Mark Twain (other topics)
Delia Owens (other topics)
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...