Constant Reader discussion

I just started Jim Crace's Harvest and my first status says it all -- it's hooked me fast.

I tend to like Crace's books, don't think I've read this one, tho.

Ruth -- it's brand new as of February this year. I wouldn't have it except that my brother-in-law chose to send it to me for my birthday gift. One of his more successful guesses.

Ann wrote:Cateline,
I thought of Nabokov too when I read Banville's The Untouchable - exquisite writing, but a tendency to use words I had never heard of. Over many years of reading, I have developed a pretty good vocabulary, so I think that if the words are unfamiliar to me, most readers don't understand them either. It's as if the authors feel compelled to use words that express their exact meaning, even if the words don't really communicate.

Ah well, I have read several Nabokov's that I really liked, most particularly Lolita, Pnin, and Speak, Memory. The first two I owe to Constant Reader. I would definitely be willing to read another Banville if it is chosen as a group read. There are lots of layers to Banville's writing.

It's true, both Banville and Nabokov do search for exactly the right word, to convey their moods.
It's one of the things I love about them. :)

I can recommend Vera:, by Stacy Schiff. It is Vera Nabokov's bio. The couple was so entwined that reading hers is as though reading his and is a very nice addition to Speak Memory

I'm listening to the audio of Cousin Bette, which is moving slowly compared with the 1971 TV production, starring Margaret Tyzack ("The Forsythe Saga" and "I, Claudius") and a young Helen Mirren.

I just started "the End of Your life Book Club" and am enjoying it so far.....I just found Benjamin Black's (aka John Banville) A Death in Summer at my local library's used book store for $1.....that made my day!

I am still working on Trollope. I don't know why it's taking me so long, except that my work life is crazy. But just for ear-candy, I'm listening to The Devil Wears Prada. Not a great book, but it's making me feel better about my job!

I read most of one of Banville's novels once, and I remember making a list of words I didn't know and looking them up-I kind of enjoyed that. But then I was supposed to go on an extended trip and didn't want to take along a book when I had only twenty pages left to read, so I didn't--and I never did pick it up again and finish it. This feels strange, and I keep wondering what it means...

Mary Anne wrote: "But just for ear-candy, I'm listening to The Devil Wears Prada. Not a great book, but it'..."

Arrrggg! I couldn't finish it. Just. Couldn't.
Although the movie wasn't bad. But the film had Meryl Streep. 'Nuff said. :)

I finished James Salter's All That Is yesterday. Great writing and I enjoyed it until the end. Many surprises, most of them not happy ones. I was left with a feeling of how isolated the protagonist was throughout his life.

That's the same feeling I'm getting. I'm about 3/4th of the way through. Sad, sad, sad. Unfulfilled in the ways that count.

Cateline,
When I was in my Nabokov phase, I also read Stacy Schiff's biography of Nabokov's wife, Vera:. I like biographies and this was a great one. He was incredibly lucky to have her. She recognized his genius and dedicated her life to supporting him and his writing. They were truly a team.

RE: April discussion The Good House. I wonder if we could nominate a book in the audio format? I also appreciated Mary Beth Hurt's narration of the book - and I think that the audio format would be far more enjoyable than the hardcopy. But in any event - it would have been a great group read.

I was rather surprised that it didn't make the cut, but I understand books can be re-nominated? Not everyone listens to audiobooks; if you feel a finalist might be better heard than read, I'd say the time to say so is when the winners are announced (sorry, don't mean to step on any toes here).

Yes, John, I agree and understand. Great idea. Thank you.

We can always start an independent read and discussion of any book for those that are interested. We used to do that all the time.

Well, my May reading is NOT getting off to a good start. But it's bound to get better (can't get much worse) ...

Finished A Superior Death by Nevada Barr – 2**
Second Anna Pigeon mystery set in Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior. The mystery thriller is well written, but there are editing issues and a serious misstep with a joke about a pedophile that I cannot believe got past the editors.
Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...


----- ***** -----

Finished listening to the audio of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender (read by the author) – 2**
Nine-year-old Rose discovers she can taste the emotions of anyone who prepares food she eats. On the whole, this was a disappointing effort at magical realism.
Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Reading Otto Friedrich's history of Hollywood in the 40s -- City of Nets. Very much immersed in the connections with Europe (Friedrich has written hisotires of Berlin and Paris, and a bio of Glenn Gould, which I quite liked.

Beginning the month with Skinwalker by Faith Hunter and Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear.

John wrote: "I'm listening to the audio of Cousin Bette, which is moving slowly compared with the 1971 TV production, starring Margaret Tyzack ("The Forsythe Saga" and "I, Claudius") and a young Helen Mirren."

Did you see the Jessica Lange film based on this book? I read the book a few years ago and found it slow moving, although I ended up liking it.

No, I didn't see that adaptation. I'm finding the book quite slow moving and am halfway through it -- if I weren't aware of its dramatic ending, I'd be drumming my fingers regularly. It reminds me a bit of a French version of The Way We Live Now with all that greed!

John wrote: "No, I didn't see that adaptation. I'm finding the book quite slow moving and am halfway through it -- if I weren't aware of its dramatic ending, I'd be drumming my fingers regularly. It reminds me ..."

Good comparison. I found the Lange film did a better job of embodying the malevolence than the book did, possibly because of the book's slow pace.

Funny you should say that I was thinking earlier today that Bette's malice seems understated in the book - in the TV production she was Out For Blood.

I am really glad that Joan's review pointed in the direction of Kristin Kimball's The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, and Love. I won't even try to repeat Joan's excellent review. (You may wish to look for it in last month's WHAT I'M READING thread.) In some way, the book reminds me of Cheryl Strayed's Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. Both deal with a young woman challenged by the physical demands of farming or hiking and the emotional challenges that come with that particular physical challenge. In any case, Kimball's writing is excellent. I am surprised that the book, which was published in 2010, hasn't found a wider audience. It deserves it.

Finished Harvest very quickly. Moved on to finish Daphne du Maurier's Mary Ann and then picking up the M.F.K. Fisher Map of Another Town which has been languishing a long while. Also picked up The Longings of Women from the shelf.

Just finished Silence of the Grave my 2nd by Arnalder Indridason after Jar City. Highly recommend this one. I've put all his other books on my list at the library. Whoopee!! another excellent mystery series.

Just finished All That Is by James Salter. I posted a review here... http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...

I have very mixed feelings about the book. But, it'll stick with me for quite a while.

Think I'll pick up Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician by Anthony Everitt. I read Everitt's Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor last year and enjoyed it. Cicero is a favorite of mine anyway. :)

Cateline wrote: "Just finished All That Is by James Salter. I posted a review here... http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...

I have very mixed feelings about the book. But, it'll stick with me f..."

Cateline, I read Everitt's The Rise of Rome: The Making of the World's Greatest Empire and enjoyed it immensely. I haven't read his other books but would appreciate knowing what you think of the the Cicero biography. (I actually have the Cicero, Augustus, and Hadrian biographies lying around, but haven't seriously thought about reading them anytime soon.)

John wrote: "Funny you should say that I was thinking earlier today that Bette's malice seems understated in the book - in the TV production she was Out For Blood."

Makes me wonder whether the tone of the later production was driven by the tone of the earlier production, or if they both were driven by a somewhat fiercer interpretation of the book than emerged on my reading.

Perhaps Balzac's reference to Bette's motivation gets lost for modern readers, in all that flowery description of characters and relationships?

I am reading the 4th Quirke mystery by Benjamin Black (aka John Banville) "Death in Summer". His writing is exquisite ...!!!

Larry wrote: "Cateline, I read Everitt's The Rise of Rome: The Making of the World's Greatest Empire and enjoyed it immensely. I haven't read his other books but would appreciate knowing what you think of the the Cicero biography. (I actually have the Cicero, Augustus, and Hadrian biographies lying around, but haven't seriously thought about reading them anytime soon.)
"
Will do. :) I found Augustus slightly slow, but fascinating.

Wanda wrote: "I am reading the 4th Quirke mystery by Benjamin Black (aka John Banville) "Death in Summer". His writing is exquisite ...!!!"

I just listened to the third one, but the fourth is waiting for me on my iPhone.

Finished listening to the audio of A Million Shades of Gray by Cynthia Kadohata (Audio narrated by Keith Nobbs) – 3***
Set from 1973 to 1975 in the highlands of Vietnam, Kadohata weaves an interesting and harrowing tale of bravery, friendship and loyalty. There are no happy endings when war is involved, but this ending is hopeful. The book is suitable for readers 9+ years old, although there are some scenes of war atrocities which may be frightening for the younger and/or more sensitive reader.
Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

A review in NY Times last week of a new collection of Willa Cather's letters made me decide to catch up on her. I'm reading O Pioneers! now and liking it. It's about Swedish settlers in Nebraska and reads like a companion to Rolvag's Giants in the Earth.

Bruce wrote: "A review in NY Times last week of a new collection of Willa Cather's letters made me decide to catch up on her. I'm reading O Pioneers! now and liking it. It's about Swedish settlers in Nebraska an..."

I loved O Pioneers!, My Ántonia and Death Comes for the Archbishop by Cather. I'd be very interested in your reaction to those letters when you finish, Bruce.

My favorite Cather is The Song of the Lark. I'll bet her letters will be interesting, she lived an unusual life for her times.

Bruce wrote: "A review in NY Times last week of a new collection of Willa Cather's letters made me decide to catch up on her. I'm reading O Pioneers! now and liking it. It's about Swedish settlers in Nebraska an..."
Our book club just read Cather's "The Professor's House." We had a great discussion and found the writing and the story surprisingly modern and applicable to daily problems and feelings we have today. The writing was uncomplicated, poetic and gentle. Really enjoyed it and wondered why I'd never heard of it before.

Kat wrote: "My favorite Cather is The Song of the Lark. I'll bet her letters will be interesting, she lived an unusual life for her times."

That's my favorite too. I'm looking forward to reading her letters.

All this talk of various books by Cather has me looking forward to my next read. I really enjoyed O Pioneers and also enjoyed Death Comes for the Archbishop when I read it many years ago. Nice to know there are many more yet to read.

Just finished The Long-Legged Fly by James Sallis. Detective story, told in four episodes, taking place over a 26 year period (1964-1990), reflecting the social changes in those years. The author's sense of place is fantastic. I'm from New Orleans, and Sallis has it down pat.

I finally finished 'Insurrection' on the Sunday. I enjoyed the book though I found the beginning a bit of a slog. But once the Robert had grown it became more interesting. I'll now start 'Renegade' and see what it's like...I am not quite sure when the third and final book will be published.

Almost finished with Hemon's The Lazarus Project, which is quite good. Except for subject matter, it isn't much like his Nowhere Man, which I also liked.

About 25 years ago, I read Willa Cather's The Professor's House. I thought it was fabulous, but I've never read another Cather novel. I can't explain my own reading behavior sometimes.

Larry, you're not alone -- I did the same thing, with the exact same book. Sometimes we forget to go back to a great restaurant and see what else is on the menu.

Robert wrote: "Larry, you're not alone -- I did the same thing, with the exact same book. Sometimes we forget to go back to a great restaurant and see what else is on the menu." That's a great way of describing it!

I'm re-reading Cordwainer Smith's The Rediscovery of Man. I read all of Smith's SF years ago ... I'll dip into some of the stories in this book. Just finished THE LADY WHO SAILED THE SOUL. Beautiful and odd at the same time.

Larry wrote: "About 25 years ago, I read Willa Cather's The Professor's House. I thought it was fabulous, but I've never read another Cather novel. I can't explain my own reading behavior sometimes."

Cather's My Antonia is one of my favorites of all time. Death Comes for the Archbishop is also fantastic.

Finished The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez – 4.5****
I really enjoyed this YA historical novel that focuses on the Cuban Revolution, and the evacuation of children from Cuba to the U.S.
Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Just finished Part Wild: One Woman's Journey with a Creature Caught Between the Worlds of Wolves and Dogs A powerful and tragic story that is as much about Terrill as the high-content wolf-dog Inyo that she raised form a cub. Inyo is 85% wolf which was guaranteed to make her more difficult as a companion than a lesser mix. Terrill, however, had a compelling need to have a wolf, in part due to her confessed craziness (OCD), and other personality flaws which led to her living with an abuser for years, unable to find the grit to leave—when she finally does so, she flees to another state, leaving a flock of restraining orders in her wake. Then she links up with Ryan, a classic loser who suffers from depression, won’t take his meds, spends money (hers) irresponsibly, is pursued by creditors for unpaid student loans and IRS debts, and devotes himself to video games involving warlocks. But Terrill is entranced because he is a rock climber and he is willing to join her in wilderness treks and adventures. The acquisition of Inyo would put pressure on even a good relationship (she Marries Ryan for gods sake) and her position as a grad student means they can afford only rentals where Inyo’s frequent escapes and howling result in evictions. Terrill does her best to contain Inyo whose destructive escapades are legendary, but even an experienced wolf-dog owner would find Inyo a challenge. Ultimately, Terrill completes her doctorate and becomes an assistant professor of environmental journalism and her book is a caution to anyone contemplating the romantic notion of taming a wild thing.