Saxton B. Library Reads - Columbia, CT discussion

CarolK is reading Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt on the recommendation of LindaS.

What impresses me immediately is the way Brunt's use of phrase as she expresses her character's world. Beautiful phrasing and imagery. I'm really enjoying this and know it's going to be a favorite.

I'll move that higher on my to-read list.

Speaking of beautiful phrasing, I'm savoring my way through Kathi Appelt's oeuvre. They're on the juv. shelves, but are, imo, beautiful for all ages. Especially The Underneath.

I'll see if our library owns this.

I'm reading The Financial Lives of Poets by Jess Walter. It is wild but very topical. I am really enjoying it so far.

Cheryl wrote: "I'm reading The Financial Lives of Poets by Jess Walter. It is wild but very topical. I am really enjoying it so far."
Did you read Beautiful Ruins before trying this one?

I hope you-all don't mind, but I like links:
The Financial Lives of the Poets
Beautiful Ruins

links are good...feel free to use them.

I finished Tell the Wolves I'm Home last night. Highly recommended just as suspected. This debut novel delivered. I was caught up in the story and loved how Carol Rifka Brunt fave voice to her character's thoughts and feelings.

I've just started The Coyote Road: Trickster Tales. I'm not normally a fan of Loki, Anansi, et al, but this was recommended to my by my husband, and the introduction is interesting and enlightening, so we'll see.

I just started Ghostman. An Atlantic City heist goes bad. Lots of action, stings. I'm still not certain how I'm going to rate it. Will let you know.

Ghostman If you look for me, Carol Kubala, as a member of this group, you'll find my comments about this...

After all the hype, I was a bit disappointed. It wasn't bad, actually quite good for a debut, but just too much for me. It was if the author tried too hard to make his protagonist tough and larger than life. Good heist story though with lots of action. CarolK

This week I read The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. Jodi is one of my adopted authors at our library and this one was worth paying for. Though many fictional stories have been written about The Holocaust, Picoult manages to put a new spin on this one. I would have rated 5 stars if not for some things I can't mention as they are spoilers. Pick it up, read it. Carolk

So now I'm into The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom ThumbI just know I'm going to want to read more about the real people, particularly Lavinia. I'm not certain there's much written about her. This is for book group. Should be an interesting discussion.

I always have a book going for short bits, in addition to the one(s) that I'm reading in more sustained sessions over fewer days. They're usually poetry, trivia, something like that.

Currently my 'short bits' book is The King's English: A Guide to Modern Usage which is an absolute delight. If you liked Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation but want more entries, and more emphasis on semantics than on punctuation, try this. I've no interest in the novels of Kingsley Amis but I'm charmed by these little rants - even the ones that I don't agree with.

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "I always have a book going for short bits, in addition to the one(s) that I'm reading in more sustained sessions over fewer days. They're usually poetry, trivia, something like that.

Currently ..."

I like the idea of "short bits" but mine are less intellectual than yours. I save magazines, cereal boxes, junk mail and stuff like that for those bit times :). Actually, I'm with you. I call these type of books "dipping in" and I'll read professional books, Chicken Soup for the Soul, etc. I've got a few at home and I'll add some browsing reads in a day or two.

Oh trust me, this collection of mini-essays by Amis is not intellectual. I mean, any grammar nerd would enjoy it, anyone who notices bad editing in the books they read, or likes to compare English to American.

Magazines are fun, too. I borrow stacks from my library's free exchange bin.

I look forward to seeing titles of your browsing & dipping in reads.

Browsing and dipping...lots of times it's travel that catches my eye. Recently Cooks, clowns and Cowboyswhich has some great ideas of things to do if you just happen to be somewhere at the right time. Ok, I've been on elephants in Thailand, went to the Peking Opera in China but haven't taken a pole dancing lesson in Vegas :) but what really intrigued me was Wing Walking on a biplane in Britain. "Fell the wind and adrenalin whip through you with every dive and 'loop the loop' as you wing walk on top of a biplane." Now that's exciting! CarolK

I've just picked up Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, C.S. Forester. I am looking forward to the whole series. KL Coyle