yolana's 2013 reading

I was very under-read for me last year so I will set a goal of 50 books minimum. I have no idea what I'll start with yet. Also, today is my 3rd Thingaversary.

1. Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit" Cory Olsen
2. American Gods Neil Gaiman
3. Murder Ballads Jake Adam York

Happy Thingaversary! Did you know that in the 75 group that means you can buy (guilt-free) the number of books equal to your thingaversary year plus one?

Only four books? Nonsense!

I'm trying to limit myself to buying only 30 books this year, not including library sales and gift certificates being spent. maybe I''ll tack on 4 more to the doesn't count list.

So number 1 for this year is Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" read and reviewed. I didn't think I could learn anything new abouttThe Hobbit after so many years and so many wrong, but I've been happily proved wrong.

Ooohhh, that looks fun! I love The Hobbit, but I've never read any criticism on it. Have you seen the movie yet? I saw it the other day, and while there were parts that irked me, overall I really enjoyed it.

Terrific review! Now I want to read Olsen's book.

ETA it's now on my wishlist

and in the #2 spot, American Gods It was the extended version which I read on the kindle, thank goodness, if I had read the physical copy I would have quit after 60 pages or so. Very slow beginning but was so worth it in the end. It's odd how Gaiman's books each has a personality (at least the ones I've read) outside of the story and the style of his prose. This one had a kind of stubborn gravitas that I hadn't seen before. of course I've only read Neverwhere, Stardust, The Anansi Boys, The Graveyard Book and Odd and the Frost Giants so far so I have a ways to go.

I'm with you on reading large books on the kindle. I prefer the physicality of books present in paper and glue and dog ears, but the kindle means I can bring a large book with me and can read it without straining my eyes or my wrists. Also, Infinite Jest has footnotes, which are easy to flip back and forth with on the kindle.

#9 The kindle is great for going to footnotes, and I love to have it with me on a plane since it makes carry-on so much more pleasant.

Finished Murder Ballads by the gone-too-soon poet, Jake Adam York. I read A Murmuration of Starlings and it was one of my favourite reads. He died over the holidays (age 40) and i think he had something that was due to come out this year or next. Not sure what's going to happen with with that. A big loss to poetry.

How sad. I haven't heard of Jake Adam York...actually it's not that easy to get a hold of a book by him. I will keep my eye out for one.

ETA: After a little searching I did find one of his poems online, and was intrigued: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/22684

ah well the best laid plans, but I'm posting now.

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, very good but my book buying habit continues unabated.

Concerto to the Memory of an Angel by french author Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt which I read in English Translation. It was highly recommended but I found it underwhelming. It's hard to tell with works in translation what is off though. Is it the original text or did the translator not pick up on the flavor of the original language.

The Resurrectionist by E.B. Hudspeth read ad reviewed for early reviewers. It was an ARC that was missing a good deal of its illustrations so it was hard to judge. The illustrations that were there were beautiful but the text stopped just a bit shy of living up to the promise of its description.

The Unfeathered Bird by Katrina van Grouw what a beautiful book. It showcases the musculature and skeletons of birds in a way you never see in field guide and the text is wonderful as well. It's a large book put out the the Princeton University Press.

Tales of Ancient Egypt by Roger L Green. My oldest son is taking a mythology course in school this sememster so I've been reading a lot of mythology lately see

Myths of the Norsemen retold from old Norse poems and tales both were fine.

An Oresteia: Agamemnon by Aiskhylos; Elektra by Sophokles; Orestes by Euripides translated by Poet Anne Carson. Carson teaches Ancient Greek as well as being a phenomenal poet and both hats serve her well in this translation.

A Naked Singularity by Sergio de la Pava. Huge time consuming and immensely funny. so worth the time spent on it.

TransAtlantic: a Novel by Colum MCann read and reviewed for early reviewrs. I love it unabashedly.

Currently I'm reading The Black Count by Tom Reiss which is a biography of Alexandre Dumas' father and so far the truth is at least as thrilling if not more so than the fiction.

Hi Yolana - I'm new to Club Read this year and I have to say I love that you love something unabashedly!

ETA: That's a word you can FEEL, isn't it?

Hi mkboylan, welcome to Club Read, may I say Merrikay., I'll need to go in search of your thread. It seems so old fashioned in jaded these jaded days to love something without reserve or irony, doesn't it, but there it is.

So, I've finished The Black Count by Tom Reiss. The true story of Alexandre Dumas' father whose life provided so much inspiration to the son. Quite a thrilling read and I feel a Dumas binge might be in order,

The Iron Duke by the father of scientology for early reviewers. I'm not sure what I expected, something cracked out I suppose, but it was really a pulp fiction book, easily read, easily forgotten. My 11-year-old son enjoyed it quite a bit.

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. Purchased solely because of the title but wow, what a book. Two extreme outsiders trying to find humanity in themselves and the world. What makes a soul, and is one necessary to be a humane person?. Quite a lot of serious questions raised in a hard to put down book.

Antigonick by Anne Carson and, of course, Sophocles. Carson is fast becoming one of my favourite poets. this translation/interpretation has a street feel to it and an almost tangible cadence. Antigone is one of my favourite greek plays and I was happy to see such a physically beautiful copy. Kudos to the book designer it's right up there with the hand printed Tara Press version.

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena Go out and read this book--- today. That is all.

Currently toggling back and forth between Guns at Last Light the final book in Rick Atkinson's liberation triology and American Canopy by Eric Rutkow, which is a sort or arboreal history of America.

Yolana, As you have strongly suggested, I have put A Constellation of Vital Phenomena on my wishlist. :) It sounds quite interesting.

Thinking I might also check that one out. AND my library has the ebook.

#16 &17 you will love it (more than likely), as an added bonus you will learn a lot about the history of chechnya as well as a really terrific novel.

Well, you have left me curious about A Constellation of Vital Phenomena...also intrigued by your comments on Anne Carson.

Have added a spoiler-free review for A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
http://www.librarything.com/work/13082658/reviews

and it is truly outstanding! - the review!

Thanks, Merrikay, I hope it convinces you to read the book.

A lot of interesting reads here, but the one that jumps out for me is The Golem and the Jinni - I think I'm going to have to hunt that down.

well, despite my best intentions I did not do well keeping up over the summer, but here's what I remember:

I finished off Guns at Last Light the last of Rick Atkinson's WWII western theatre trilogy, excellent even though it was not quite up to the very high standard set by the first two volumes.

Benjamin Britten: A Life for Music by Neil Powell for early reviewers while it covered the basics the author had a strange fixation on Britten's sex life and an unfortunate lack of objective distance from his subject.

City of Bohane by Kevin Barry which was exhilarating, even during the first 50 or so pages during which I was convinced I was reading gibberish written by a mad man.

Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, slight but not at all disappointing.

The Hobbit a re-read of course, we went out west for vacation and it was nice to read about another journey.

The Legacy of Mormon Furniture: The Mormon Material Culture, Undergirded by Faith, Commitment, and Craftsmanship I read this somewhere during vacation, I'm guessing it was Utah, but it was a fascinating look at pioneer furniture making,

Nick and Tesla's High Voltage Danger Lab for early reviewers. A great read for children 8-12 and the adults that have to keep them company, highly recommended for any vacation down time.

The Bookman's Tale by fellow North Carolinian Charlie Lovett. A very appealing biblio-mystery.

Fäviken by Magnus Nilsson, technically a cookbook, but really a look at the way of life for an arctic chef for whom nothing is off
the table.

There were several books I read on vacation including an excellent book of poems by Robert Service, but all the titles have left my memory.

Right now I have On Paper by Nick Basbanes (the touchstones can't seem to deal right now and The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt lined up.

I'm looking forward to finding out what you think of The Goldfinch.

Last of the year!!

I finished The Goldfinch and really enjoyed it. I didn't necessarily like Theo Decker (the main character) but I do pity him. Tartt has obviously thought a lot about the role art plays in our lives but she also seems to ask to what degree can one escape fate, and is it worth even trying. I will have to reread this one after I've let it simmer in my mind for a while,

The Conductor by Sarah Quigley a fictional account of Shostakovich and the writing of the 7th symphony. It was vaguely reminiscent of A constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Maara in that it looked at how people survived and attempted to thrive in atrocious conditions. Also a look at art's (in this case music) role in helping to maintain humanity in these conditions. It is told from the view point of the composer (Shostakovich), a violinist Nikolai, and a conducter, three different views of the same art form which I found fascinating.

Seraphina a young adult novel by Rachel Hartmann, very enjoyable as a palate cleanser type of book.

Right now I'm reading The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England which is going well.

Only 30 odd books read this year, I really have to set my mind to doing better next year.