WHAT ARE YOU READING? - Part 4

The last thread is getting too long so time to restart :)

How is everyone doing? How is your reading year going?

Stop by to tell the group what you are reading (and/or had read) and to see what everyone else is up

posted in the last thread, posting here in case it got lost

so a book forced its way in between my Wilkie Collins and practically demanded that I read it. So I took the challente and started reading james last night. (touchstones not working; author is percival everette) stayed up way to long in the morning and having trouble putting it down. Love Mark Twain and loved the way the author put Jim front and center with Huck along for the ride. This is the first Ive read from this author and it will not be my last.

One caveat; there is a lot of italizied dialect; I get why hes using it, But ive always had trouble reading that. Not having as much trouble with this, but if you are the same way, be aware of making an extra effort. its certainly not going to take any star away for this.

ok back the the book, its calling me

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto.

I'm continuing my exploration of Chinese history. I just finished the excellent Mao's Great Famine by Frank Dikötter and have ordered his book on the Cultural Revolution. In the meantime, last night I started Half of Man is Woman by Zhang Xianliang, the author of Grass Soup. I continue to pick away at Dictionary of Maqiao but have lost a bit of steam.

I finished The Silver Bone by Ukranian author Andrey Kurkov today. It's due back at the library Monday. And I started Crooked Plow by black Brazilian author Itamar Vieira Junior, due back Saturday, in a week. Both are on the International Booker longlist, and Crooked Plow is on the shortlist (and gets lots of positive responses).

I'm listening to A Brief History of Japan, but I'm not really taking much in. Too many unfamiliar sounds and complex associations flying by too fast.

I'm straggling to the end of The Parson's Tale in Canterbury Tales. It's the last tale, and it's really long, and all prose. A sort of translation of several works to guide in penitence, combined together.

I finished Jamel Brinkley's short story collection Witness on a work trip—it had been sitting on my e-reader half read for more than half a year. I'm glad I picked it back up. I didn't think it packed quite the punch as his first book, A Lucky Man, but he's a wonderful writer and I liked his difficult characters a lot.

Now reading Alice Winn's In Memoriam—lots of people I know, including some here, liked it, so I put a library hold on it months ago and here it is.

I'm finishing up The Easy Life in Kamusari which is good but not great. I think I am going to read some Zola next - I have Ladies' Paradise on my kindle that I haven't gotten to yet.

For nonfiction, I tried Soil: A Black Mother's Garden and though I could tell it's an interesting memoir, I wasn't in the mood for something quite so introspective and poetically written. Instead I'm starting Shakespeare's Sisters that tries to uncover several Renaissance era English women who were writers to bring their work to light.

I'm now about 3/4 of the way through the very interesting The Mountains Wait by Theodor Broch. Broch was the mayor of a small, far northern Norwegian town when the Nazi invaded. This book is his memoir of the years preceding that invasion and of the invasion period itself. We're told on the first page that the Nazis eventually put out an order for his arrest, causing him to flee into Sweden. The narrative begins with him crossing the border, high in the mountains. This book was published in 1942, so while the war was still ongoing.

I’m reading short stories again. Though I prefer novels I do enjoy short stories by novelists I like. I’m about to start Interpreter Of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri.

I am reading The House of Hidden Meanings: A Memoir by RuPaul.

I finished What I'd Rather Not Think About by Jente Posthuma, my second book from this year's International Booker Prize shortlist, and reviewed it not long ago (hint: I liked it).

I've read the first chapter of Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward this afternoon, and I've returned to Black AF History: The Un-whitewashed Story of America Michael Harriot.

I’m reading My Husband by Maud Ventura. Very French, very amusing, and looking good, so far. Hoping it will lift my spirits.

>2 cindydavid4: There was little chance I could get a physical copy of James from the library, so I opted for the audio on Audible. I'm usually not the biggest fan of audiobooks but the narrator, Dominic Hoffman, is absolutely perfect IMHO. After reading your post, I'm glad I went the audio route. Like you, it's got all my happy reading attention!

I'm still working my way through Robert Caro's massive biography (The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York) for a year-long book club read. I finished Mary Roberts Rinehart's 1931 mystery novel, Miss Pinkerton and am now about to start Magda Szabó's The Door.

I'm working on Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship which is slow going; I can't seem to settle into it. The subway read is Sometimes a Great Notion which is wordy and discursive and requires a fair bit of attention, so I also have a short story collection on going when I need a break from the former two, Lake Like a Mirror.

>13 avidmom: OMG this book is amazing! I love how he weaves twains Jim and Huck together with these characters and turns it upside down. I read this in two days. its still not letting me go. Highly recommended review coming

review for James by Percival Evertte is here

https://www.librarything.com/topic/359757#n8508678

Reading too many books at the same time as always, but currently especially enjoying Saint Death’s Daughter.

I’ve finished Crooked Plow by African Brazilian writer Itamar Vieira Junior, my first read on the International Booker shortlist. This extraordinary novel was a 5-star read for me, and after some reflection, I’ll try to write a review.
I’m hoping to read at least two more of the Booker finalists, possibly all of them, and will read either Kairos or Mater 2-10 by Hwang Sok-Yong next. I’m still so under the spell of Crooked Plow, though, that it’ll take some time before I can give my attention to another novel.

I’m reading Kate Jenning Crooked Seed. It’s set in the near future in South Africa. I have high expectations as I loved The Island.

>19 dianelouise100: great to hear! I’m working through it

I flipped audiobooks this morning. I finished A Brief History of Japan which was certainly not written to all tastes. And i started A Memoir of My Former Self, which is not a memoir at all but a posthumous collection of essays by Hilary Mantel. The 1st two are spectacular - “On the One Hand” (2007) and “Once I stole a Book” (2009).

>21 dchaikin: I love her short stories and essays. Have you read Mantel Pieces?

>22 kjuliff: no. It’s my 1st nonfiction by her

>23 dchaikin: I think you’ll enjoy it. I reviewed Mantel Pieces on my thread. She’s so spot on.

>21 dchaikin: I dont think I have that Mantel sounds familiar; Ill have to look. akways eager to find new reads by her evern if they are posthumous

I've just finished The Mountains Wait, a memoir by Theodor Broch. Broch was the mayor of the far northern Norwegian town of Narvik when the Nazis invaded in 1940. The book begins with Broch getting away over the mountains into neutral Sweden, having escaped arrest for his resistance activities several months after the Nazi's arrival. But then, quickly, we go 10 years back in time to Broch's arrival in the town with his wife. He is a young lawyer intent on starting a practice away from the bustle (and competition) of Oslo. Pretty soon, Broch finds himself on the city council, and then the town's mayor. In the meantime, war clouds are gathering over Europe, though the folks of this sleepy town somehow assume they'll be spared.

But, of course, they aren't. In April 1940, German destroyers show up in the fjord. Broch describes the Nazi's arrival and occupation of the town, their temporary departure when the English attack, and then their return. He describes well the town's day-to-day life during this time, as well as the dangers and tragedies of the various bombings and naval bombardments that take place. Broch eventually had to flee Norway. He made his way to the U.S. where he was engaged in lecturing and fundraising on behalf of occupied Norway. This memoir was very well written, although, published as it was in 1943, its intent as a propaganda tool is evident. You can find a somewhat longer review on my Club Read thread.

Next up for me will be re-read of Harlem of the West: The San Francisco Fillmore Jazz Era. The Fillmore District was an African American/Latino/Asian neighborhood that was a hotbed of bebop through the 1960s, when it was deemed blighted and made a victim of urban renewal. Harlem of the West was originally published in 2004. Almost 20 years later, it was updated, expanded and republished. I've read the original edition, and I'm very much looking forward to reading this expanded edition.

I'm a little ways into Beyond the Wall: A History of East Germany by Katja Hoyer and it's very good so far.

>27 mabith:

Ha, I'm on page 76! Yes, very good, and so much stereotypical junk done with already.

I just found a nice used copy of north woods by Daniel Mason will probably start it tomorrow. looking forward to it

I just returned from a business trip combined with a short vacation, and managed to break my rule of only having a non-fiction book, a novel, and an audio book going at the same time. So, in addition to Organizing Information: Principles of Data Base and Retrieval Systems (started before trip), I'm reading Structured Analytic Techniques for Intelligence Analysis by Randolph Pherson for non-fiction; and Labyrinth of the Spirits by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (started before trip), Slay Ride by Dick Francis, and The Poacher's Son by Paul Doiron. I finished listening to Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate and immediately started listening to Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons.

I'm reading Yet We Sleep, We Dream which is a riff on A Midsummer Night's Dream (not my favourite), set in space (generally I love). I very much want to like this because it's written by a member of my bookclub.

oh pls tell me how it is!

In light of what's happening in the Middle East (SSDD, as teenagers would say), I cracked open Said's treatise The Question of Palestine. Although first written in the '70s and updated in the '90s, it's still a timely read, considering where Said comes from (he is Palestinian) and the personal angle he takes with issues of place and identity that remain unresolved.

I found both Kairos and Mater 2-10 too dense for now and have started Sympatía, a BI longlisted novel from Venezuelan author Rodrigo Blanco Calderón that I can add to my global reading challenge. And I continue to listen to the Iliad and to read from the Collected Essays of James Baldwin.

I finished Crooked Plow yesterday. It got a lot of praise in a Facebook Booker Prize Book Club. I liked it. Not sure what’s next. Might finally be time to start The Sound and the Fury.

Finished Beyond the Wall: A History of East Germany (for which my only complaint is that I'd have loved an even longer book), and I've started Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell.

finished north wood there was so much I loved about this book, but about 3/4 through it just stalled for me, too much telling and not showing. But then the end made up for it. Review coming

My book club is reading Apeirogon, and since I had made so little progress with the audiobook, despite starting over at one point hoping it would be easier the second time around, I bought the book. Wise move for me. Not only is it easier for me to follow, but there are also photos inserted in the text a la Austerlitz.

to follow up >35 dchaikin: , I did start The Sound and the Fury today.

Thanks to all the driving I have been doing this month I am 4 books ahead of schedule in my annual reading goal.
Audiobooks just finished:
Secrets of the Sprakkar
The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner
The Wolf Den
The Seed Keeper
The Cloisters
How's that for variety? The new bluetooth speaker is just perfect. I am no longer a victim of the vagaries of a wonky SYNC system in the car.

Just started:
To Shield the Queen - 1st of a mystery series featuring a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I. I am liking it so far.

Also reading, but not audio:
The Unquiet Bones - on hold on Libby for a long time. I probably would have postponed it, but I forgot it wasn't audio when I checked it out. Oh well - my other print books in progress will just have to wait.

\ Now reading the bird king, the diary of a provincial lady both recommended by folk hereabouts. and a Douglas Adams book starship titanic which just has to be fun

I finished Harlem of the West: The San Francisco Fillmore Jazz Era by Elizabeth Pepin Silva and Lewis Watts

From the 1930s through the late-1960s, the Fillmore district of San Francisco was an ethnically-mixed working class neighborhood, alive with minority-owned businesses, a with a bustling neighborhood feel where different groups got along as a matter of course. Starting in the early '40s, the Fillmore became a hotbed of blues, R&B and jazz clubs where local musicians flocked and famous musicians came to jam after their paid downtown gigs, blowing until dawn in bars and cellar sessions alike. This book contains dozens of short oral histories by the musicians who played in the clubs, as well as pocket histories of many of those landmark night spots, as well as many, many beautiful photographs of the people and places that made the neighborhood jump and the community so vibrant. A reading of this book is a visit back in time to a wonderful era of jazz and inclusiveness in San Francisco history. I've posted a longer summary and review on my Club Read thread.

I've got a couple of baseball histories lined up to read next. First will be Crazy '08: How a Cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History by Cait Murphy. After that I'll be reading The Miracle at Coogan's Bluff by Thomas Kierman, about the wild National League pennant race of 1951. For the non-baseball fans in the crowd, yeah, I'll see yuz in a while.

Started The Children by Edith Wharton, for my Litsy Wharton group.

Finished Alice Winn's In Memoriam, which was very engrossing—a really strong first novel, well done for such a couple of big, big subjects. I had a few issues with the pacing, but it kept my attention all the way through. Now (finally!) reading Daniel Mason's North Woods, which is so far delightful.

>43 dchaikin: That looks interesting. I’m in need of another Wharton, but this one doesn’t seem to be on audio. Reminds me of the Kevin Barry short story I recently review.

>43 dchaikin: I just started this and am loving it! that wharton can write children so well just makes her more wonderful for me to read. think Ill try to drop in for the Litsy group; when does it start?

Lois is reading Born Into This (stories) by Adam Thompson (Indigenous Australian writer)

Michael is now reading Transition by Iain M. Banks (SF)

>47 avaland: I liked Thompson's book when I read it.

>46 cindydavid4: hi. Wharton’s having fun. We discuss book 1 Saturday (book is The Children) I’ll tag you on the litsy post.

I began today (25 April, 2024) the book The Woman In Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. This will be the third book that I have read by Ruth Ware.

>50 dchaikin: thanks; I just finished and wow, she just continues to knock it out of the park. Ill wait to review it but Im pretty sure Ill be rating this a 5

I am trying to finish the worst book I’ve read for a while. I was hoping I’d discovered another good Moroccan writer but sadly this one is not delivering. The Other Americans.

Oh, Ive always confused that author with Leila Aboulela who has written the kindness of enemies one of my fav HF about the background of russia and checnya in the middle ages. I tried reading Lalami but for some reason just didnt take

I am reading Butter by Asako Yuzuki which is the 'it' murder mystery right now. It was a mistake. It's 60% about food and I'm hungry constantly.

>55 rv1988: oh that sounds perfect for me. I love a good murder mystery and need to put on weight!

>56 kjuliff: Three full pages dedicated to a loving, voluptuous description of butter with rice and soy sauce. Enjoy!

the library lent me an audio book - Lost on Me by Veronica Raimo from the International Booker longlist. So, I've set Mantel aside to listen to this.

>9 kjuliff: I'm suddenly reading short stories as well. Partly it's because I picked up an audio Great Courses on short stories ( or short fiction - some selections are pretty long), and am diligently reading the item to be discussed before each session. Luckily I've already read the title for the book group meeting on Monday - Myra Breckinridge. If I can call that luck.

The next piece of short fiction is Pantaloon in Black, first published in Harper's as the touchstone indicates, but actually part of Go Down, Moses, which has been languishing on my Faulkner pile for many years. I'm pleased to be led to read it.

I finished Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell, now I've started Ignition! An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants.

my review of the children here https://www.librarything.com/topic/359757#n8519655

now trying crooked plow and the new Haynes divine might

I set myself a goal at the beginning of the year to read more short stories from my shelf of anthologies and short story collections. I finished The Three Strangers by Thomas Hardy this morning before work. I've read longer works by Hardy, so this was not a surprise for me as it's set in his fictional Wessex countryside. It's a tale of three strangers who "crash" a christening party at an isolated shepherds cottage, and revolves around the identity of the first stranger.

>63 janoorani24: After realising how many anthologies I have on my TBR shelves, I'll be adding it as a "category" for my monthly planned reads from May.

I read A Prayer For The Crown-Shy in one sitting this afternoon. So lovely.

I’ve just finished When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut and What I’d Rather Not Think About, my second read on the IBP shortlist. I was surprised that I really liked the first so well—it’s a “novel” focussed on physics and physicists, so not my interest. I was going along with a well trusted Indie bookseller’s recommendation, and she was right. Labatut’s approach to his subject reminds me of Eric Larson’s books. The second I cannot rate as high as Crooked Plow, but I liked it well enough.

I’m now about a third of the way through Anil’s Ghost by Michael Ondaatje, which I’m really enjoying, and continuing my read/listen of Emily Wilson’s translation of The Iliad. And I’m having a Hoopla Binge with a Great Studies Course, “The Greek World.”

I’m reading my first Graham Green - The Heart of the Matter. Hadn’t realised he could be so depressing.

I finished Apeirogon and System Collapse, the most recent Murderbot book. I love the series and need to purchase them so that I can reread them while waiting for the next one. Next I want to finish Half of Man is Woman and A Dictionary of Maqiao. I also have a library book, A Faraway Island, in the queue.

>65 dianelouise100: I loved Anil's Ghost when I read it many years ago. The line (paraphrased), "I would tell the truth if I thought it would make a difference," has stuck with me.

>67 labfs39: I’ll be finished with Anil today and that line you remember seems a theme that pervades the book. I have close to 100 pages left, but at this point the mood of sadness is so strong…

>67 labfs39: loved that book as well as the english patient and the cats table

I started The Good People yesterday. I've tried reading this before and stopped around about where I'm up to now and I can see why I put it aside previously - it's making me quite uncomfortable. I'm determined to see it through this time.

>70 rhian_of_oz: sounds interesting.

I’m thinking of reading some Rafael Sabatini. Today is his birthday.