Constant Reader discussion

A new month ... so many books to read!

Tell me about it. I read several of Ricard Lamparski's Whatever Became Of? series this weekend. Not a bad way to get a snapshot into the lives f stars and bit players who had slipped off the radar by the time e wrote these 11 books in the seventies and eighties. Also swallowed whole Last Night at the Lobster, a bittersweet little character study of the lives of the working class at a Red Lobster in 2007. Quiet condemnation of corporate greed as well.

I finished The Painted Veil ready for the Classics discussion here and am halfway through Mr Penumbra's 24 Hour Book Store, which I am finding a little too light for my tastes. Later on I'm starting My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell, because I heard it's a good book for summer reading.

Helen, your comments about queasiness in reading the first three Bernie Gunther books. That is far more than giving a series a chance! Quite brave on your part, I would say.

Larry, I think you've made me decide on my next book. :) I've been debating what to read next. Started several, only to put them down.

So, I'm starting If The Dead Rise Not by Philip Kerr.

Although I really want to get back to Walsingham. Soon.

And, btw, thanks for starting this thread! :)

Cateline wrote: "Larry, I think you've made me decide on my next book. :) I've been debating what to read next. Started several, only to put them down.

So, I'm starting If The Dead Rise Not by Philip Kerr.

Alt..."

Cateline, IF THE DEAD RISE NOT is definitely one of the better written Bernie Gunther novels. I might argue a bit for starting with

March Violets, the first in the series, but either will do for letting you know if you want to read more.

And I was most happy to start the new thread! Thanks.

I actually have March Violets....somewhere on the shelf, but this one was the one that came to hand immediately. lol My shelves are a mess.

I had my books at least categorized, but then when my husband and I married, his books came in too, and that was the end of organization!

Cateline wrote: lol My shelves are a mess.
I had my books at least categorized, but then when my husband and I married, his books came in too, and that was the end of organization! ..."

I'm the one in our marriage that does almost all of the arranging and re-arranging of our books ... on the shelves ... from the shelves to boxes in the basement .. from the boxes back onto the shelves. And when we can't find something, it truly is my fault ... and I blame myself much more than Cina, my wife, blames me. Although she has been asking for the past two years what happened to Julia Child's first cookbook. ;-)

Charles,
You mentioned that you are reading Robert Caro's biography of Lyndon Johnson. Did you start with the first volume? I read the first one many years ago and the most recent one a few months ago. I second what you said about Caro. His history reads like fiction it is so engrossing. Of course it doesn't hurt that Johnson is such a fascinating character - lots of bad, but he also did much good.

I have the middle volumes and hope to get to them when I have time.

Somebody should nominate one of them (I always like to start at the front) for our list. How long has the first one been around? Could it be considered a classic yet?

Could be. I read the first Caro when it was published in installments in The New Yorker back in the 80's when my personal jury was still out on LBJ. I found it fascinating and very, very informative.

Sherry wrote: "Somebody should nominate one of them (I always like to start at the front) for our list. How long has the first one been around? Could it be considered a classic yet?"

So if we did decide to read it , would it be over a period of months?

The Path to Power (LBJ, vol. 1) was written in 1982. I don't think that's old enough to be considered for the Classics list. If we voted it into the Reading List, we could give it two months. It's about 900 pages, about two of our normal books. It's something to think about.

Sherry wrote: "The Path to Power (LBJ, vol. 1) was written in 1982. I don't think that's old enough to be considered for the Classics list. If we voted it into the Reading List, we could give it two months. It's ..."

I would be interested. He would be another step to reading about all our president's.

The Bean Trees is what made me resolve never to read another Kingsolver. What clumsy writing.

Sherry wrote: "The Path to Power (LBJ, vol. 1) was written in 1982. I don't think that's old enough to be considered for the Classics list. If we voted it into the Reading List, we could give it two months. It's ..."

I like that idea! I have the set staring at me...

Larry wrote: "Cateline wrote: lol My shelves are a mess.
I had my books at least categorized, but then when my husband and I married, his books came in too, and that was the end of organization! ..."

I'm the ..."

Well, I don't really fault Charles, but when his 60 boxes of books arrived.....well, they just got thrown up on shelves where we could. So, I'll take a bit of "blame". :)

Ruth, I've tried a couple of Kingsolver's books, never have been able to finish. Or make much of a start for that matter.

I agree that Kingsolver often lets her message overpower her books, but I loved The Poisonwood Bible, which was set in Africa. More recently I read her The Lacuna, which I didn't like because she portrayed Trotsky as too much of a hero.

Agree with you Ann regarding The Poisonwood Bible, which is the only one of Kingsolver's works I've read so far. I do intend to read more.

I've attempted The Poisonwood Bible many times, but could just never keep going with it.

I just started reading Trapped by Kevin Hearne--it's number five in the Iron Druid series. A light, entertaining read is in order since Northern California is in the middle of a massive heat wave. My brain won't function for anything weightier. But when it cools off I'm planning to read some of the books about Elizabeth and Walsingham that Cateline recommended.

I'm looking forward to The Painted Veil discussions, too!

Ruth wrote: "The Bean Trees is what made me resolve never to read another Kingsolver. What clumsy writing."

Well A Fine Balance ends similar to one of Shakespeare's tragedies "everyone dies" or you live and wish you were gone. My Lord! Well I ended up with Pigs in Heaven by Kingsolver has anyone read this one? I read Animal Dreams a few weeks ago and enjoyed it. This has the same characters, which for me is usually a non-starter but Ruth scared me away from The Bean Trees so I went in this direction. See the clout have with your literary analysis Ruth lol.

Sherry wrote: "The Path to Power (LBJ, vol. 1) was written in 1982. I don't think that's old enough to be considered for the Classics list. If we voted it into the Reading List, we could give it two months. It's ..."

I would definitely vote for it, Sherry. Maybe we would be required to give it two votes if we wanted to read it for two months?

Good idea, Barb. Let's remember this when the time comes.

I'm currently reading The Curiosity: A Novel by Stephen P. Kiernan. It is about a scientific team that is searching for a viable, frozen lifeforms to try to reanimate. After having success with small creatures, mainly krill, they stumble upon a block of ice that contains the remains of a man. With the discovery, they are forced to grapple with the implications of their discovery and the moral vs. scientific components of bringing him back to life.

I finished The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum. I'm reading Thornspell by Helen Lowe. It's the tale of the widely known fairy tale Sleeping Beauty told from the Prince's point of view. It's an awesome read so far :)

Frank wrote: "Ruth wrote: "The Bean Trees is what made me resolve never to read another Kingsolver. What clumsy writing."

Well A Fine Balance ends similar to one of Shakespeare's tragedies "everyone dies" or yo..."

I've read The Bean Trees, Pigs in Heaven and Animal Dreams. I remember liking them, but that was nearly twenty years ago.

Right now I'm reading this book called Big Brother by Lionel Shriver. So far at the halfway point in Big Brother (the point where her husband's chair breaks). I really am impressed with the descriptions about eating and food/weight, etc. I think the author is really focusing on something she has thought a lot about and maybe we all have. That line at the beginning about how she really hasn't had any memorable food experiences..digestionwise vs. celebrationwise, etc. is an interesting way to look at our psychological perspective on food. I often think of meals and food in a way that probably has very little to do with the actual food vs the company or ritual, etc. This is particularly true with eating in restaurants. Sometimes traveling a lot of my memories are connected to restaurants we've visited, etc. Anyway, I'll be interested to see what she does with the second half. I know in real life the author lost her brother to being morbidly overweight. I'm sure she is also focusing on love for family, etc. but I'm glad there's a book examining our drive to eat. There certainly have been many books which have made observations on other essential drives.

Ed

Thanks, Ed. Big Brother is on my actual stack and I am looking forward to it. Shriver gave what I consider to be a good interview on NPR recently: trenchant, cogent, and personal.

Finished the audio version of The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde – 3*** (Audio performed by Elizabeth Sastre.)
This is book #3 in the Thursday Next series. I love the inventive plots in this series, the numerous literary references, and unexpected (though perfect) pairings (i.e. Miss Havisham reading Heathcliff the riot act). They are fast-paced, action-packed, intricate and highly entertaining. Elizabeth Sastre does a wonderful job of performing the audio version.
Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Finished reading Of Men and Their Mothers by Mameve Medwed – 3***
Maisie Grey is divorced and raising her teen son, Tommy, in a modest but nice apartment. Her ex-mother-in-law, Ina, however, cannot step away from criticizing, belittling and otherwise insinuating herself into Maisie's life. This is a comedy of manners with modern complications – custody battles, unfit mothers, meddlesome mothers-in-law, and the Goth craze. The characters ring true, if a bit over the top at times. It's a quick, entertaining read.
Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Ann wrote: "Charles,
You mentioned that you are reading Robert Caro's biography of Lyndon Johnson. Did you start with the first volume? I read the first one many years ago and the most recent one a few months ..."

I read v1 when it came out, and it put Johnson in an entirely new light. I would certainly nominate it, probably as non-fiction rather than a classic. I confess to treating the middle volumes lightly, which is why I was moved to re-examine them when the current volume was published. I would strongly advocate beginning with v1 to anyone who wants to read this massive biography, since so much about Johnson flows from his early life.

Incidentally, the Johnson library in Austin is quite impressive. In the 'foyer' one faces a multi-story wall of red and gold archival boxes which give some idea of the amount of material Caro has spent a lifetime mastering.

Charles, I'm sure we'll visit that library when we have our convention there.

Started Tami Hoag's Ashes To Ashes ,but had to put it down as the plot was'nt for me and started Blood Bros. Nora Roberts

Charles you are not the first person to change your opinion about Johnson. Now I will have to read it.

Ruth wrote: "The Bean Trees is what made me resolve never to read another Kingsolver. What clumsy writing."

You've absolutely got to read "The Lacuna"-- a wonderful book that I loved!

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. One of the best novels I have read in a long time. Mantel develops Cromwell’s character as complex, pragmatic, opportunistic and sometimes kind though never to his disadvantage. His rise from a blacksmith’s son to counselor to Henry VIII seems meteoric and unprecedented. Thomas More, his adversary at times, is shown as less saintly than the popular view. He persecuted the Biblemen as virulently as Henry later dispersed with those who rejected the oath that confirmed him as head of the church. Anne Boleyn is depicted as cunning, audacious and above all patient. It took seven years before she was united in marriage to Henry. By then she was a woman in her 30’s. Her first child Elizabeth was a huge disappointment to Henry, whose rationale for divorcing his wife of over 20 years, Katherine, was that she could not produce a living son. Anne’s next child was stillborn and Henry was already vacillating now that he’d won his bride. Political and religious conflict intermingled with Henry’s infatuation. Cromwell, who first rose to eminence as an aide to Cardinal Wolsey, who fortuitously died, before he could be imprisoned in the tower for opposing Henry, quickly changed horses in midstream to be a supporter of Henry and Anne. His eye was always on the main chance and throughout his career he made sure to enrich himself. The novel, first of a planned trilogy, concludes with More’s death on the block. Throughout the book, the point of view is Cromwell’s told interestingly in the third person, in a way that allows one to know him intimately. I loved this book.

I gave up early on. Lay it to Mantel's overuse of pronouns. I never knew who she was talking about.

Finished Pegasus Descending and am jonesing already for his new release. Still reading The Dilemma which I've since discovered was Vincenzi's first book. Listening to Thin Is the New Happy.

Ruth wrote: "I gave up early on. Lay it to Mantel's overuse of pronouns. I never knew who she was talking about."

She used "he" whenever she was referring to Cromwell--his POV but used in 3rd person, an atypical tactic, but for me it worked.

Joan wrote: "Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. One of the best novels I have read in a long time. Mantel develops Cromwell’s character as complex, pragmatic, opportunistic and sometimes kind though never to his disad..."

Great description, Joan, and I heartily agree in your assessment of this book.

Ruth wrote: "I gave up early on. Lay it to Mantel's overuse of pronouns. I never knew who she was talking about."

Joan and Ruth,

I also loved Wolf Hall although there were many occasions when due to the extravagant use of pronouns as mentioned by Ruth, I also wondered who was being referred to. I read the book VERY slowly and enjoyed it accordingly ... not the way I usually zip through a book.

One off-the-wall comment ... I'm using my new Chromebook to look at Goodreads right now ... and it shows the following with the Chrome browser. "This page has been translated from English to English." Strange. But perhaps this might be a good option within an E-reader for reading books like WOLF HALL. ;-)

Joan wrote: "Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. One of the best novels I have read in a long time. Mantel develops Cromwell’s character as complex, pragmatic, opportunistic and sometimes kind though never to his disad..."

Joan wrote: " She used "he" whenever she was referring to Cromwell--his POV but used in 3rd person, an atypical tactic, but for me it worked."


If possible, Bring Up the Bodies is even better. :) Def two of my favorites.

I am halfway through 'Burial Rites' by Hannah Kent. It is her debut novel and it is simply brilliant-I have been sitting up late reading it loathe to put it down-It is one of those books where I'll be sorry to finish it....beautiful and eloquent prose.

This is one book I'll be keeping in my library!

Finished Kathleen Ann Goonan's This Shared Dream yesterday. An adult (in the best sense of the word) SF novel and a worthy sequel to her wonderful In War Times. I started Watching Baseball Smarter: A Professional Fan's Guide for Beginners, Semi-experts, and Deeply Serious Geeks, which really does seem to be for beginners, and Laura Lippman's And When She Was Good

Caitline's comment about Bring up the Bodies made me think why I've been waiting to read it in context with what I just finished. I've had Goonan's This Shared Dream for months and knew that it would be great. I was keeping it unread sort of like you keep a great wine ... waiting for the right occasion. I think that I've been holding Bring Up the Bodies similarly. I think ... hmmm.

finished Blood Bros and going on to the hollow

I finally managed a longish reading session yesterday for If The Dead Rise Not, and am not quite half into it. There was a stretch that was a bit overdone...but through that, and now it's absolutely riveting. I hated putting it down. :)

In reading Ill Wind in preparation of our trip to Mesa verde.

Ed

Re: Kingsolver: I ended up admiring (rather than loving) The Poisonwood Bible. It often felt more like work than pleasure. But there were a lot of great things about it.

I'm about halfway through Robert Stone's A Flag for Sunrise.