Constant Reader discussion

I'm reading Linda Ronstadt's Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir. Short but very deep. I find myself just stopping and thinking for a good while when she shares some insights about music. Ronstadt is a good writer.

I'm 3/4 of the way through The Interestings now and happy to report that I'm hooked. This book went in a direction I didn't expect it to.

I've started an e-book, Rivers: A Novel by Michael Farris Smith. Seemingly hurricanes are constantly inundating the Gulf Coast, and the government has finally declared anything 90 miles north of the Coast itself off limits, and it's turned into a no man's land.
Great characters, so far.

I am working my way through Victoria Wilson's mammoth bio of Barbara Stanwyck. Reads quickly, and impeccably researched. V. 1 is a thousand pages long, and stops in 1940..,

Just happened to finish Angelology this morning, which means I'm reporting it as a March read, but it was really February. I was just too tired to finish it last night, although I would have liked to. I liked this book a lot. I skimmed some of the other reviews and it seems that people feel very strongly about this story. Either they really hated it or they found it intriguing. I wonder how many of us who enjoyed it and found it fascinating and wonderfully inventive are lapsed RCs. I will definitely put the sequel on my TBR list if it's not already there.

Mary wrote: "Just happened to finish Angelology this morning, which means I'm reporting it as a March read, but it was really February. I was just too tired to finish it last night, although I would have liked ..."

Tried to see what this was on GR but it comes up with 3 Angelology titles, each with a different author. Which is the one you read, Mary?

Sorry about that...it was Danielle Trussoni's book.

Thanks, Mary.

Ruth wrote: "I'm 3/4 of the way through The Interestings now and happy to report that I'm hooked. This book went in a direction I didn't expect it to."

My experience too. I thought it was one of the best novels I've read recently.

I just finished Walt Whitman: The Song of Himself by Jerome Loving. A brilliant, comprehensive and moving biography.

I've put both the All-Girl Filling Station Attendant book and The Interestings on hold at the library re the above recommendations (so many of the books I'm reading these days start with hearing about them here, thanks).

I've pleasantly wasted most of today reading Laurie Notaro's The Potty Mouth at the Table, a book of essays that are wonderful and hilarious in their candor. She also happens to live in my little home town, so I nodded a lot at many of her references.

It's fun to read something set in a place you know well.

March has arrived and I am STILL reading Infinite Jest, which is perhaps not surprising to anyone but me. I don't know why I thought I could just whip through it, but apparently you really can't. It's slow going, but not in a bad way: kind of the way that you couldn't sit down and eat a giant bowl full of chocolate ganache all at once, even if you do really love the rich and chocolately taste. So far, it's just spectacularly good; it absolutely deserves the hype that it gets.

I've also just discovered Angela Thirkell, and am pages away from finishing my first of her novels (another waits on the big book pile even now). Apparently the library here has a large number of her novels, but they are squirelled away in some kind of off-site special collection storage. I will definitely be reading more of her novels, even if I do need to have them specially paged. They deserve exactly the place that they have: intelligent, enjoyable, and literary, that enduring second layer of the literary cannon that never makes it to the status of really big book, but is absolutely worth reading as more than a diversion. She has an eye for the details of her neighbors and country life which is both razor-sharp and fundamentally kind.

I also started Continental Drift, but am having some trouble getting into it. At this point I don't know if it's the book or if it's me; I started reading it the evening of a day off spent almost entirely reading, so it may just have been a kind of language fatigue. So far the writing feels (for lack of a better term) heavy.

Finally I hope to read a few Mavis Gallant stories: she died recently, so she's sort of in the news lately. I listened to a podcast of Margaret Atwood reading "Voices Lost in Snow" at the New Yorker website, and quite liked it. I don't know if it's just Canadian pre-expectation, but it reminded me of Alice Munro, who is one of my favorites.

You make me want to reread Angela Thirkell, Nicole. I remember them being delicious but I think I found them a little light-weight. But since I gave upon INFINITE JEST after 100 pages maybe I'm not the best judge!

IJ didn't really get its hooks into me until after page 100, Kat. I think it takes a big push to get through the initial pages until you have some sense of where you are among all the characters and events. To be fair, this is quite a lot to ask of the reader.

It was about page 150 (?) with a long (fictional) history of why the (fictional) videophone never took off that I knew I was really going to like it. Since then, it's just gotten funnier and funnier.

Maybe we could do Infinite Jest as a two-month book on the Reading List. I would like to try it, but I know it would put me way behind on all my other reading.

I am reading a Young Adults book set in and before WW1 Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo

Nicole wrote: "March has arrived and I am STILL reading Infinite Jest, which is perhaps not surprising to anyone but me. I don't know why I thought I could just whip through it, but apparently you rea..."

I bought a collection of Mavis Gallant stories in Toronto a few years ago because it was remaindered. I've read the first few but was not hooked. I think I'm going to try some of the later ones and see if I like them better. When she died, the New Yorker listed their published stories by her and one was available to nonsubscribers so I saved it for possible inclusion in a future Short Stories conference schedule. Alice Munro is my favorite contemporary writer so comparison to her makes me even more interested.

Also, you are making me interested in Angela Thirkell, Nicole. I've never heard of her. Any suggestions as to the best book to try first?
ETA: I just checked my library and they own 11 of her books and they are on the shelves, not in storage!

Barbara, this is the link to the audio of "Voices Lost in Snow" if you want to give it a try. I think what reminds me of Munro in it is how it moves in time: there's an incident or period from the past which is seen at least partly from the perspective of a future time. So you have a sense of the same person at two moments which feels familiar to me from Alice Munro as well.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2013/04/fiction-podcast-margaret-atwood-reads-mavis-gallant.html

The Thirkell I just read is The Headmistress, and the one sitting on my chair as yet unread is August Folly. The poking around I did about her suggests that most (or even all?) of her books are set in the same fictional county, so I fully expect to enjoy the others as I did the first.

I honestly can't remember how I came across her to begin with. It may have been the goodreads if-you-like-that-wait-until-you-read-this algorithm.

@Sherry, I am hopelessly behind on your read my own books challenge as a result of Infinite Jest right now, in fact. It's the owned book I've been reading forever. There are a couple of his pieces from Harper's magazine available as free pdf downloads; both include the (in)famous footnotes. I think reading them gives a pretty good sense of whether or not a person will like him enough to commit to 1000+ pages of novel.

I liked the short story "The Depressed Person" http://harpers.org/wp-content/uploads/HarpersMagazine-1998-01-0059425.pdf and the essay "Shipping Out" http://harpers.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/HarpersMagazine-1996-01-0007859.pdf enough to dive into something longer.

If you feel like a test run you could see how everyone feels about some shorter pieces (there are others also available online) before subjecting the group to the full DFW experience. I've also been using some older discussion threads and the Infinite Summer website to try and replicate a little of the group read experience for him. I think it definitely helps to have others' reactions.

I'm just shy of the halfway point right now. I'm hoping to pass this milestone this afternoon....

My book-o-the-day (I really need to get less sedentary soon, but diving in and reading until I'm done is so luxurious) was Reality Hunger: A Manifesto, composed of 618 (he numbered them) observations of varying length. Two I liked, about reading and writing respectively, are as follows:

"I don't know what it's like inside you and you don't know what it's like inside me. A great book allows me to leap over that well: in a deep, significant conversation with another consciousness, I feel human and unalone."

"I know of nothing more difficult than knowing who you are and having the courage to share the reasons for the catastrophe of your character with the world."

I finished Linda Ronstadt's memoir, Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir. What a wonderful book, so full of generosity toward almost all the people she has encountered throughout her decades of making music. She even finds something nice to say about one manager who cheated her out of some of her money. The only person she is totally negative about is Jim Morrison, the lead singer for the Doors. I learned a lot about the challenges that singers face from this book, both in the recording studio and while performing live.

Larry wrote: "I finished Linda Ronstadt's memoir, Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir. What a wonderful book, so full of generosity toward almost all the people she has encountered throughout her dec..."

Good to know ... definitely going on the tbr list!

I just started Our Tragic Universe on the recommendation of my husband. So far I'm enjoying it.

Just starting my first Simon Serrelier detective novel Susan Hill's A Question of Identity

You're in for a treat, Sheila.

I just saw your post about Tahir Shah's The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca. I love the breadth of your reading tastes! You are leaving me with lots of TBR suggestions.

Ann, that's what I love about reading groups they encourage you to be eclectic in your tastes - the Simon Serrelier was recommended by someone - I forgot who - here in CR, and I am reading it for my in person book group although I already had on order The Various Haunts of Men the first in the series so am reading them out of sequence. That book group's next choice, if we can find enough copies, will be a real change for me, a non fiction read, Gitta Sereny's book Cries Unheard: Why Children Kill: The Story of Mary Bell which should make for an interesting discussion and I am suspecting our group will have the whole breadth of opinion on this one.
I just noticed Tahir has made some additional comments to the discussion on his book on the other board.
Will see if I can add some more to your TRB list :)

Cries Unheard: Why Children Kill: The Story of Mary Bell sounds fascinating. It should be a great discussion.

Isn't it fun with authors stop by for the discussion? I always remember when Andrew Solomon, later author of The Noonday Demon: An Atlas Of Depression andFar from the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity, visited Constant Reader to actively discuss his novel A Stone Boat: A Novel, as well as our comments on the book.

If anyone is interested, here is a link to the discussion that Ann just mentioned:

http://constantreader.com/discussions...

I finished Mansfield Park, it was so so, but that is for discussion. I had never read Raintree County, it has been on my radar for years. I have seen the movie numerous times, but the book gives the character's depth, that the movie lacks.

Started Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, a nonfiction book about faith-based violence. I'm skimming it; I completely agree that religion is responsible for a lot of violence throughout history, but that doesn't make it enjoyable to read about.

Carol wrote: "........I had never read Raintree County, it has been on my radar for years. I have seen the movie numerous times, but the book gives the character's depth, that the movie lacks.
..."

I've had it on the shelf for several years, and in fact picked up a beautiful copy at a recent Library Sale. I believe it was the only book by Lockridge. I have his bio around here as well.

It makes you wonder what he could have done, if he had not commited suicide. Such a waste.

Lyn wrote: "Started Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, a nonfiction book about faith-based violence. I'm skimming it; I completely agree that religion is responsible for a lot ..."

I did not think this book was up to Krakauer's usual productions. It skipped around too much between Mormon history and current conflicts.

I've been reading Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson. This story of the Viet Nam war was told through several eyes: an Canadian aide worker helping the Vietnamese children, an older CIA agent who uses the war for his own enjoyment and profit, his nephew - a young ambitious CIA agent, a Viet Cong double agent, his Vietnamese handler, a German assassin, and a petty criminal who becomes a delusional tunnel rat. There are no good deeds in this story, no one to trust. Yet I was pulled into the story as it becomes a warning of what war does to the human psyche. At 600 pages, it takes commitment.

I started this as an audiobook, but bailed pretty soon.

The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle –Audiobook performed by Lily Rabe – 3.5***
12-year-old Alice Winston has to shoulder far too much responsibility on her family’s failing horse ranch. There were times when the writing and the storyline simply took my breath away and I was left gasping. But there were times when I was left wondering “Where is this going?” Alice is clearly intelligent, but she is an unreliable narrator given her penchant for telling lies, both small and large. Alice has perfected the art of turning people away before they can reject her; she is so good at this, that she also keeps the reader at bay. Lily Rabe does a fine job performing the audio version.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Sorry if this sounds arrogant, but I just finished Mark Doty's Still Life with Oysters and Lemon: On Objects and Intimacy, coming away with the feeling that he wrote it specifically with Constant Readers as a target audience. To say he's "gifted with words" is like saying "that van Gogh fellow was pretty good with a brush!"

John wrote: "Sorry if this sounds arrogant, but I just finished Mark Doty's Still Life with Oysters and Lemon: On Objects and Intimacy, coming away with the feeling that he wrote it specifically w..."

Isn't that a wonderful book! One of his best, and one of my all time favorites.

He manages to integrate the art, memoir, and general philosophy about life so easily with all those seamless transitions.

Just finished Baldacci's "The Hit". If you like this genre, this a really good read - not perfect, but it grabbed my rapt attention in the first 3 pages and except for a brief space about 3/4 of the way through kept me reading avidly.

Finished "Two Lives: A Conversation in Paintings and Photographs". Received this book from my mother's collection. It reminded me of how enamored of the O'Keefe-Stieglitz story I was when I first discovered it as a young adult. It also helped me rediscover my love of their work. This is from the Editor's Introduction: "This book was conceived and developed....in conjunction with an exhibition of the same title curated by Elizabeth Hutton Turner of The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C." It contains 3 thoughtful essays discussing how the two artists influenced each other's work over their years together and reproductions of works to illustrate the comparisons. It was published in 1992.

John wrote: "He manages to integrate the art, memoir, and general philosophy about life so easily with all those seamless transitions."

Yes. He does it in Dog Years, too. Only of course it's dogs, not art. Still, I loved the book.

Mary wrote: "Finished "Two Lives: A Conversation in Paintings and Photographs". Received this book from my mother's collection. It reminded me of how enamored of the O'Keefe-Stieglitz story I was when I first d..."

Looks interesting. I can snag a used copy for under $5.

Go for it, Ruth. If you're a fan of O'Keefe and Stieglitz, it would be well worth $5.

I started Denis Johnson's Tree of Smoke sometime ago, but did not finish it, possibly because it was so long. But then I read and liked his TRAIN DREAMS, so put Tree of Smoke on my TBR list to try again. Thanks, Gina, for reminding me of it.

Marge

Mary wrote, "Just finished Baldacci's "The Hit". If you like this genre, this a really good read - not perfect, but it grabbed my rapt attention in the first 3 pages..."

The first in his Will Robie series, THE INNOCENT, was great. I love Baldacci's CAMEL CLUB series as well.

Marge

Ruth wrote: "John wrote: "He manages to integrate the art, memoir, and general philosophy about life so easily with all those seamless transitions."

Yes. He does it in Dog Years, too. Only of cou..."

Ruth, I loved Dog Years. I was so thrilled with it I read Firebird, another book by Mark Doty. Not only a book on not fitting in because Doty realizes he is gay, but a book on not fitting in just because . . . . This books explores loving family connections and how they are sometimes destroyed by alcohol, sorrow , apathy and neglect. This book is a gem because Doty is such a contemplative soul. Finished it last night , wait, early this morning, about 1:30 am. It was worth staying up to read.

I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but I enjoyed The Blood of Flowers byAnita Amirrezvani. It has an unusual setting - the 17th Persian city of Isfahan. The heroine is an impoverished teenage girl who learns to weave carpets and achieve some independence in a society where women's lives were severely restricted. Thanks for the recommendation, Sheila.

Gina wrote: "Ruth wrote: "John wrote: "He manages to integrate the art, memoir, and general philosophy about life so easily with all those seamless transitions."

Yes. He does it in Dog Years, too..."

Ive read Firebird, too. In fact, I think I've read almost everything Doty has written. I love the way he writes. Have you read his poetry?

Speaking of art, I'm reading Scribble, Scribble, Scribble: The Selected Writings of Simon Schama - I knew the author from his documentaries on famous artists, as well as British history. I'm nerdy enough that while others on the plane were watching action films I was watching Schama on Carravaggio.