Constant Reader discussion

I'm halfway through 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric Cline. Absolutely fascinating how much more we know now--as opposed to just a few decades ago--about this time and how the so-called Sea Peoples ravaged the lands of Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean. What we don't know yet is who the Sea Peoples were ... or at least we don't through the first half of the book. ;-)

Started reading The Seventh Child, it was free as a pre-release. Almost finished with The Silver Swan. On a murder mystery kick lately.

Elegy for April will be up later in the month.

Sheila wrote: (from March thread)...Cateline, I read Blood Work some years back at the start of my detective spin and like you I enjoyed it. I've been meaning to read another and your post reminded me.

I'm not sure there is another one, I searched on Amazon and only came up with one that only had a reference to McCaleb. Not a story starring him.

Also, a friend told me there was a Clint Eastwood movie of the book.

Cateline wrote: "Sheila wrote: (from March thread)...Cateline, I read Blood Work some years back at the start of my detective spin and like you I enjoyed it. I've been meaning to read another and your post reminded..."

Sheila and Kate, see the following for the three novels in which Terry McCaleb appears. ~Larry

http://www.michaelconnelly.com/extras...

Thanks, so much, Larry! :) Much appreciated.

Still reading Eliot's DANIEL DERONDA. I loved the first two sections, but am less enamored of this one. She has a way of making certain characters so virtuous and noble that they are unconvincing. Of course Dickens does the same thing. My reaction is invariably either to cringe or to snooze. But I'm going to keep reading, we'll have to get back to the beautiful, selfish, and more interesting Gwendolyn at some point.

Joan wrote: "It does, but rather briefly. Mansfield is another of my obsessions, esp. her letters and journals. The Garden Party is a masterly story. Of course, she was influenced by Chekhov, but why is that a bad thing."

I was extremely interested in KM's life and work at one time. One of my favorite stories of hers is Bliss, I love it. "Why must it always be tomato soup?"

Kat wrote: "Why must it always be tomato soup?"

I say it's spinach and to hell with it.

I'm about 1/2 way through Mansfield Park which is picking up steam now. Also reading a couple of other books, as always. Finishing The Ballad of the Sad Cafe which I first read some 40 years ago. Love the title story. Also reading Dust a difficult novel of Kenya, difficult in the emotions it evokes and events it deals with.

I just started Pillars Of Gold, and it's all Kat's fault.

Albert Goldbarth's Great Topics of the World--essays, if you can call them that.

I am reading Suicide Game bdy Haidji.. And will soon start reading Fahrenheit 451 :) my currently reading shelf will explode now!!!

Read Robert Sawyer's Neanderthal Trilogy and his WWW trilogy -- both highly inventive, intellectually driven SF with interesting characters. Very fast reads. Also read Triggers, which left me queasy at the end with its celebration of values I find disturbing (although he tried to isolate my concerns, I don't think he quite succeeded). Let's just say Captain Kirk would reject his future as well :)

Starting Jenny Uglow's The Lunar Men: Five Friends Whose Curiosity Changed the World. Science history -- quite fascinating look at Erasmus Darwin and his circle of friends, including James Watt and Joseph Priestley.

I finished Driven by James Sallis. Crime Noir and a sequel to his book DRIVE, which was turned into a movie. Exciting, but a little too dark for my tastes.

Cateline wrote: "Sheila wrote: (from March thread)...Cateline, I read Blood Work some years back at the start of my detective spin and like you I enjoyed it. I've been meaning to read another and your post reminded..."

yes I saw the movie - it was OK.

Larry tx for the links

Nicole wrote: "I just started Pillars Of Gold, and it's all Kat's fault."

Uh-oh. Let me know what you think of it.

Kat wrote: "Uh-oh. Let me know what you think of it."

So far, so good.

Am thinking of celebrating the opening of the season by reading a baseball novel and am looking for recommendations. Have already read The Celebrant: A Novel, In Days of Awe, Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series, Shoeless Joe, The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant, The Dreyfus Affair: A Love Story, The Art of Fieldingand For Love of the Game. Also, on the kid side,Free Baseball by Sue Corbett and High and Outside by Linnea Due. What should I read next?

Hi all, new here. Great to be part of the group.

I am reading non-fiction, namely "Macachiavellian Intelligence" (no typo!) by Dario Maestripieri,a professor at the U Chicago. It looks at the political behavior of the macaque monkeys.

Before Dario's book I had started "Unaccustomed Earth" by J. Lahiri but lost some steam with it, and I can only blame that on the macaque monkeys, whose tactics in getting what they want via nepotism, aggression and dominance tactics, etc) are fascinating.

I'm on vacation going from San Cristobal de las Casas to San Miguel de Allende. While traveling between all the Mayan ruins and small villages, I read Hunter's Horn by Harriette Simpson Arnow. It's set in Appalachia. The poverty is devastating but the story is sometimes warm then raw with grief. I love Arnow's writing and plan to read more of her books. The Dollmaker is one of my all time favorites.

Kat wrote: "Am thinking of celebrating the opening of the season by reading a baseball novel and am looking for recommendations. Have already read The Celebrant: A Novel, [book:In Days of Awe|118..."

Kat, I great enjoyed THE CELEBRANT when I read it, but SHOELESS JOE is simply one of my favorite novels of all time. THE ART OF FIELDING is very well written and another one that I enjoyed, but it did seem way too derivative of John Irving's novels.

THE ART OF FIELDING wasn't bizarre enough to remind me of Irving, but maybe there were other similarities.

Someone on FB has just recommended The Rio Loja Ringmaster, which doesn't sound like a baseball novel but apparently is (among other things). No GR or Amazon description but I found a Kirkus review that says "A blatantly talented first novel sure to be appreciated where Sports Illustrated and Paris Review circles intersect." !!

Started a book of short stories One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak. The raves on the book jacket promised a lot, so I anticipated really enjoying them. One-third of the way in, I am reminded of the time I tried stand-up comedy with a class, and the teacher said (rightfully so) that I was "more clever than funny" . Novak's stories are clever and intelligently constructed, no doubt (and I'll definitely finish the book), but they aren't making me feel very connected to anything.

It's not a novel, but about two weeks ago I was given a book by a friend who actually has written a few freelance pieces for Sports Illustrated himself. He told me that it was the most inspirational book about baseball that he has ever read. The book is One Shot at Forever: A Small Town, an Unlikely Coach, and a Magical Baseball Season by Chris Ballard, who is a senior Sports Illustrated staff writer. A young man who is basically a hippie arrives in a very small Illinois town and begins to teach English and coach the baseball team. He tells the baseball players on the team that they have to decide which positions they are going to play themselves and then he tells them that they will decide if they want to practice or not on any given day. He says that what he expects out of them is that they should have fun. And then this team plays unbelievably well. And it's all true.

Excited about the first 25 pages of A Fan's Notes by Frederick Exley.

The Star Factory,Ciaran Carson's memoir of growing up in Belfast, is a lyrical rollick, full of whimsy and humor and poignancy and vastly entertaining leaps of association, historical and personal. His method best summed up in following passage:
“It is instructive to watch a master storyteller in action as he manipulates his various latitudes of anecdote and parable, and suits them to contemporary circumstances, bending the previous rules of the story a little to make it fit whatever conversation in whatever venue; and the room becomes a geodesic dome in which he moves through longitudes of time, incapable of being here and now without remembering the previous narrative zones he’s passed through.”
By any criteria, Carson is a master storyteller, though if you like your memoirs more like a stroll down a well-tended and straight path, this one is probably not for you.

Gina wrote: "I'm on vacation going from San Cristobal de las Casas to San Miguel de Allende. While traveling between all the Mayan ruins and small villages, I read Hunter's Horn by Harrie..."</i>

I read a memoir about San Miguel named [author:Skwiotand am curious what you will think of the place. That mix of poverty and exotic beauty.

I much prefer Anna Karenina to War and Peace, despite having read War and Peace twice. The things men do to impress literate women...

I just finished Under the Volcano. It was just god awful. There is no way that this is one of the hundred best books ever written. The people writing these lists owe me....an apology? Something.

Alice Thomas Ellis, by contrast, was a surprising treat, so thanks to Kat for that. I also read my first Elizabeth Bowen novel, The House in Paris, and found it, too, surprisingly good. I find I am typing "suprising" a lot with respect to these books, and I think it's because they're not by authors I've heard of or been told to like. I am starting to suspect the gender of the author has much to do with this.

I sometimes wonder, as I get older (and crankier) if I am turning more and more to women's writing and liking men's less and less. I don't want to think that this is true, and I am extremely skeptical of claims that there are somehow inherent styles or content in women's and men's fiction.

But there is something in literary history -- who gets canonized, who gets lost -- and I find recently that I am enjoying the forgotten "second tier" women a lot more than the "100 best books you have to read or you're not a truly educated person" list type men. I think that somewhere here is where I am having my problem; it does seem to come up with books that are a couple generations back, not so old as to be firmly canonized (like our Jane Austen), but not fresh off the presses this year, either. The books that are currently being sorted into keep or forget piles.

That's probably more than enough musing for today. Time to start fresh with a new book; hopefully I will like this one better than the Lowry.

Nicole wrote: "I just finished Under the Volcano. It was just god awful. There is no way that this is one of the hundred best books ever written. The people writing these lists owe me....an apology? ..."

Funny, there's a guy in my f2f bookgroup that keeps wanting us to read UNDER THE VOLCANO but I read it years ago and hated it, so I keep resisting. I'm a huge Elizabeth Bowen fan. We had a discussion here on CR of The House in Paris which I'm sure you can find if you're interested.

Nicole wrote: "I just finished Under the Volcano. It was just god awful. There is no way that this is one of the hundred best books ever written. The people writing these lists owe me....an apology? ..."

Well no wonder I've failed at the movie. Twice.

Kat wrote: "Nicole wrote: "I just finished Under the Volcano. It was just god awful. There is no way that this is one of the hundred best books ever written. The people writing these lists owe me...."

It is staring me in the face everytime I go to the bookshelf. Maybe I should just pass it on. I tried to read it , but didn't think it was worth investing my time. I finished one more book for my read my own book challenge, My Enemy's Cradle. Not bad, but not exceptional either. Predictable ending.

I am on the 4th volume of the Game of Thrones--A Feast for Crows. This one is not as gripping as the earlier books, it goes in too many directions and lacks emotional focus and impact. So I struggle on...

Ruth wrote: "Nicole wrote: "I just finished Under the Volcano. It was just god awful. There is no way that this is one of the hundred best books ever written. The people writing these lists owe me...."

I hated it too.

Gina wrote: "I'm on vacation going from San Cristobal de las Casas to San Miguel de Allende. While traveling between all the Mayan ruins and small villages, I read Hunter's Horn by [author:Harrie..."

I loved Hunter's Horn and also The Dollmaker. Arnow deserves more attention. Have you read any of Ann Pancake's books about Appalachia?

Gabriela wrote: "Gina wrote: "I'm on vacation going from San Cristobal de las Casas to San Miguel de Allende. While traveling between all the Mayan ruins and small villages, I read Hunter's Horn by [..."

Gabriel, welcome to Constant Reader. My husband and I were talking about the poverty and beauty just last night at dinner at a wonderful quaint French restaurant here.

There is a lot of poverty all over Mexico but I've felt that the Indian women here are sadder, more burdened and troubled. Men here seems to be happier. I also don't like all the Americans here who feel they "own" the place. Many homes are in the millions and I've seen a lot of arrogance among them. I don't like that. It bothers me.

We've visited many traditional Mayan villages (Chamula, Zinacantan, and St. Andreas) where the entire community seems happier and more content.

What is the name of the book you were referring to. I don't think it came across in your post.

Joan wrote: "Gina wrote: "I'm on vacation going from San Cristobal de las Casas to San Miguel de Allende. While traveling between all the Mayan ruins and small villages, I read Hunter's Horn by [..."

Joan, I haven't read anything by Ann Pancake, but thanks so much for the recommendation. I will read one of hers soon. I also think Arnow deserves more attention. My face to face book club will read The Dollmaker later in the year. This was my recommendation and I'm looking forward to reading it again.

I have startedThe Blackwater Lightship, a family brought together after years of estrangement, by one member dying of Aids. Just started it. It will probably be a tear jerker. This is another one for my read my own book challenges.

Joan wrote: "Gina wrote: "I'm on vacation going from San Cristobal de las Casas to San Miguel de Allende. While traveling between all the Mayan ruins and small villages, I read Hunter's Horn by [..."

Hi Gina, somehow I messed up the title. It is "San Miguel de Allende, Mexico: Memoir of a Sensual Quest for Spiritual Healing" by Rick Skwiot. It is based on the journal Skwiot kept while living there more than 20 years ago, I believe.

I'm currently reading WILSON, an excellent recent biography of President Woodrow Wilson, by A. Scott Berg. I'm finding the man very interesting. And, what surprised me was that I'm sure, had I lived during his time, I would have found him very sexy!

Am also re-reading Ken Follett's FALL OF GIANTS. Wanted to read again before starting in on some of the recent books on World War I. Follett's book, besides telling an interesting story, really helped me understand just how WWI began and why all those countries became involved.

Marge

Thanks Gabriella. I'll get this book. So many books and so little time, but I love being in a hurry to read.

Geoff wrote: "Excited about the first 25 pages of A Fan's Notes by Frederick Exley."

Geoff, I've read A FAN'S NOTES three times over the past 20 years. It's such a wonderful novel. The next two books in Exley's trilogy (PAGES FROM A COLD ISLAND and LAST NOTES FROM HOME) are worth reading also but show the effects of a slow loss of talent due to Exley's alcoholism.

Nicole wrote: "I just finished Under the Volcano. It was just god awful. There is no way that this is one of the hundred best books ever written. The people writing these lists owe me....an apology? ..."

I think I made it through perhaps 20 pages and just couldn't go on any further. But I do have friends who swear by it ... instead of at it.

Last night I finished A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry. It's only the second book by Barry I've read, and again his prose and story leave me gob smacked. My review here... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Also, last night, I finished I Am Livia by Phyllis T. Smith, a fictional take on Livia, Caesar Augustus's third wife. My review here... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Well, Larry and Nicole, since I was one of those who recommended it, I suppose I ought to apologize. I suppose you mean awful with regards to the drunken Consul. It's a very intense book. The authorial control is meticulous, absolutely perfect in every aspect. Also, there is no fudging regarding the alcoholic mind, but at the same time there is no K-Mart, gratuitous sordidness, nor any sentimentality. It's an honest book. I find it impressive and humane. Oh, well.

Charles wrote: "Well, Larry and Nicole, since I was one of those who recommended it, I suppose I ought to apologize. "

I was going to read it anyway; plus you should never have to apologize for liking a book! The list where I orginally found it was the Time Magazine list, I think.

Weirdly, it was actually Lowry, and not the Consul, who seemed awful to me. Some of the parts I disliked the least were those that succeeded in showing what his thought processes might be like.

No, it was the writing itself, and especially the heavy use of symbol and allusion, that I really disliked. I found the exercise to be sort of over-wrought and self-involved, and the difficulty of the prose not merited by the final experience. I'm okay with something hard, but I feel there should be rewards for the reader in the difficulty, and Lowry did not do it for me.

In happier book news, I may need to rescind my earlier thoughts about forgotten women in the canon. I've started The Go-Between, and so far it is spectacular. L.P. Hartley also seems to be more forgotten than he deserves. If the book continues as good as it is so far, I'll be seeking out more of his work.

Charles wrote: "Well, Larry and Nicole, since I was one of those who recommended it, I suppose I ought to apologize. I suppose you mean awful with regards to the drunken Consul. It's a very intense book. The autho..."

The book has a lot of fans, and I think there's no doubt that it's well written. One man I know who really likes it feels it describes a profound spiritual journey. I read it so long ago I only retain a feeling of claustrophobia at having to spend so much time in an obsessive mind. But no book pleases all readers.

Charles wrote: "Well, Larry and Nicole, since I was one of those who recommended it, I suppose I ought to apologize. I suppose you mean awful with regards to the drunken Consul. It's a very intense book. The autho..."

Charles, likewise, you never have to apologize for your recommendations. You have given us many great ideas for reading books. Anyway, I tried to read it long before I joined A Constant Reader. I think it's just a matter of preferences to a large degree. I am always surprised by people's tastes when they are so congruent with my own and then there is some jarring difference. Jo Walton, the science fiction writer, has a great book of book reviews called, What Makes This Book So Great. I found myself going through one after another in great agreement with her judgments about book after book, and then she gets to Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow, which I loved. And Walton absolutely detests this book. And she explains why, but I don't really understand her explanation. It's like she's describing a different book almost. Oh well, it really is a matter of tastes.