Constant Reader discussion

Nicole and Kat, thanks for the Murdoch recommendations. I've wanted to read the best of hers for a long time. Since she is so prolific, it's hard to know where to start.

Lynn wrote: "Dear Committee Members sounds like it could be right up my alley. I'm going to see if I can find it in my online library."

It's a quick read - just 182 pages - and some of the letters are very entertaining.

The Martian by Andy Weir – 4****
A great story with a great cast of characters. I love Mark Watney! Weir’s writing completely captured me and transported me to a different planet. I have no clue if the science is accurate, and I don’t care. The novel grabbed me from the beginning and never let go! R C Bray does a superb job performing the audio version.
Full Review HERE

I'm reading a very good spy thriller, The Unlikely Spy, by Daniel Silva. This is his first book and does not have his popular character Gabriel Allon, which series I have also just started and has made me want to read more by him. The book is set mostly in England during World War 2. The book's title refers to a beautiful young and cold-hearted female spy who has been assigned the task of finding the secret of where the allies plan their attack in France. To do this, she is to try to find and meet a young engineer, a widower, who German Intelligence believes knows the secret. Silva does a very good job of developing his characters, several of whom I found from Wikipedia were real people, There is much suspense in this book as the woman and some other agents go about their spying business, careful to avoid M15 British Intelligence who could have them hanged if they are caught. I'm almost to the end of this book, and much as I hate to see it end, I'll finally have time to start on my 20-some other books I have out from the library, one of which is A Woman in Berlin..

*I hope I'm not repeating this message. Thought I'd posted it but could not find it posted.

Happy New Year's reading to everyone!

Marge

The Maias by Eça de Queiros - 19th century novel by the writer who has been called Portugal's Flaubert, though it is far livelier with more sympathetic characters and wit than anything I have read by Flaubert.

The Toynbee Convector by Ray Bradbury – 3***
This collection of short stories was originally published in 1988. Most of the stories are the type that we more typically associate with Bradbury – time travel, science fiction, paranormal, horror. One completely delightful surprise was Junior featuring a group of senior citizens with healthy libidos. For me, the star of this book is a tender love story titledThe Laurel and Hardy Love Affair. It’s the story that forced me to look at Bradbury with new eyes and to appreciate his skill at crafting a story that engages, entertains, and kindles the reader’s emotions.
Full Review HERE

I've finally started the giant and difficult to prop up Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon. I'm only about 150 pages in, but so far, it's tremendously good, possibly the best of the Pynchon I've read.

If only I could read it in the bathtub.....

Nicole wrote: "I've finally started the giant and difficult to prop up Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon. I'm only about 150 pages in, but so far, it's tremendously good, possibly the best of the Pynch..."

That's been on my list for a while, Nicole, so I'll be interested to hear your review.

I'm in the middle of West with the Night and am really enjoying it.

Just started keeping my list for 2016. Here's the first one that was memorable.
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. Told as a journal being kept by the elderly Reverend John Ames for his six year old son, whom he naturally doesn’t expect to raise to manhood, the story reveals the complex nature of a good man. Ames questions his attitudes, his abiding faith, his family history, and particularly his godson whose life has been a series of deliberate misadventures. Robinson is a wonderful writer. Ames’ voice throughout is convincing and entrancing, both. Excerpts such as this on two children playing made me mark the page: “you two are dancing around in your iridescent little downpour whooping and stomping as sane people ought to do when they encounter a thing as miraculous as water.” And another observation that struck me, an agnostic edging toward atheism, as indubitably right. “Nothing true can be said about God from a posture of defense.” I will pursue more of Robinson’s books, which I avoided for years, based on their religious framework—what a mistake that was.

Lyn wrote: "I'm in the middle of West with the Night and am really enjoying it."

West With the Night was enjoyable reading. There's an enduring question as to whether Beryl Markham actually wrote the book. Her then husband, a journalist, claimed he did the writing and people who knew Beryl say she was practically illiterate.

I loved West w the Night.

Joan wrote: "Just started keeping my list for 2016. Here's the first one that was memorable.
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. Told as a journal being kept by the elderly Reverend John Ames for his six year old son..."

We discussed Gilead here in 2008. Here is a link to that discussion: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I really enjoyed West With the NIght As Well.

I tried twice to read The Martian, but couldn't get thru the technical bit. I got a 6% on a mechanical aptitude test I took several years ago. Would likt to see the movie, tho.

Marge

I loved Gilead - it is one of my all-time favorite books. There are 2 more in the trilogy, each interesting in its own right as they cover some of the same events as Gilead from different perspectives, but in my view they were not quite as good as the first.

I haven't read Lila yet, though I definitely will. I didn't think Home was as good as Gilead. But I liked Housekeeping a lot, though it wasn't part of the trilogy and was along quite different lines.

Marjorie, your post made me smile. I, too, have no mechanical aptitude. I also took an aptitude test - a lot more than a few years ago - and to this day I remember looking at the bar graph of the results; all the bars were fairly uniform and quite tall, except for mechanical which was a 7.

Having been totally entranced and immersed in the imagined history in The Moor's Account by Laila Lalami which was shortlisted for the 2015 Pultizer I have decided I have to read the one which won - Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See, as what could be better!?
But for now I am reading Beasts of No Nation by Uzodinma Iweala. I'm listening to the audible version, which although read by an Englishman is quite authentic to the Nigerian voice of the young boy soldier. Horrific story, sadly all too common. I think the author captures the youngster's voice really well, his innocence (of many things) amongst the brutality of the rebel army during a horrific war. Although the country and the war is not specified I am certainly reading it as Nigeria during the Biafran War, but it could be many places. A difficult topic, but so far a worthy read.

Beasts was an amazing book. The writing was wonderful. Sadly, I suppose that quality is lost in the film, leaving us only the brutality to deal with.

Ruth, I haven't seen the film yet but intend to at some time. I agree about the book.

I'm reading Sophie's Choice and Drums of Autumn.

Sheila wrote: "Having been totally entranced and immersed in the imagined history in The Moor's Account by Laila Lalami which was shortlisted for the 2015 Pultizer I have decided I ..."

My F2F book group is reading All the Light We Cannot See in March ...

I'm 19 on the waiting list for All the Light We Cannot See having moved up from 40th when I last checked so progress!

Richard A Muller's Energy for Future Presidents: The Science Behind the Headlines. Surprisingly good. I read this book only because it was recommended as preparation for a short course I'm taking in February. I learned a lot. I'm also re-thinking some of my beliefs and positions and have a trove of data to support others. It's also a quick and easily understood read, which contributed to my appreciation of the book.

I tried twice to read The Martian, but could not understand all the technical jargon. However the movie was easy to understand and very interesting.

Marj

Still reading Eça's The Maias. It is fabulous. The settings are lushly painted. The characters wonderfully drawn. At this point Carlos is taking off to Sintra to stalk the woman he has fallen in love with. Eça's description of the town makes me ready to drop everything and move there tomorrow. Actually, I have wanted to do that for years, but now...It is especially fun watching Jose Eça de Queirós lampoon himself as the effete João da Ega. Eça must be the wittiest adherent of the school of Naturalism.

Reading Between the World and Me by Coates and I thought it would be another preachy book about injustice in America but it's such an easy read considering the content. I love the way he writes.

Shawn wrote: "Reading Between the World and Me by Coates and I thought it would be another preachy book about injustice in America but it's such an easy read considering the content. I love the way he writes."

He's an excellent writer. I enjoy his articles in The Atlantic.

my stubborn heart becky wade

I am just starting Ron Rash's The Cove, A new author for me, picked up after hearing lots of folks mention him here on CR

Sheila wrote: "I am just starting Ron Rash's The Cove, A new author for me, picked up after hearing lots of folks mention him here on CR"

He teaches at a college pretty close to me. I really liked his short story collection, Chemistry and Other Stories. I liked Serena, but it was a bit over the top.

Sherry wrote: "Sheila wrote: "I am just starting Ron Rash's The Cove, A new author for me, picked up after hearing lots of folks mention him here on CR"

He teaches at a college pre..."
I picked up a Kindle copy of Serena for GBP0.99! so its on my TBR pile as well. Tx for the heads up on the good short story collection which I shall keep an eye out for at a reasonable price

I loved Chemistry and Other Stories as well, Sheila. And, I didn't like Serena as much but mostly because I didn't believe the title character. But, his writing was still very evocative. I've been wanting to read The Cove so I will be interested in your impressions.

I like all Ron Rash's books--his stories a little more than the novels.

I'll be interested to hear what you think about The Cove, Sheila. I liked it much better than Serena. It's a good example of a book that evokes a sense of place and time, plus there's some mystery involved as well.

I agree with Lynn. Cove is far better than Serena. I think RR is a good novelist but a masterful short story writer.

We were at Cade's Cove last year so Cove was particularly interesting to me.

I finished The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordano last night and gave it four stars. (I very rarely give five.) Though by an Italian author you would hardly know it; settings tend to be monochromatic. But the stories of Alice and Mattia, whose childhood traumas leave wounds that never heal, are told with urgency and compassion in a way that makes for compelling reading.

Lynn wrote: "I'll be interested to hear what you think about The Cove, Sheila. I liked it much better than Serena. It's a good example of a book that evokes a sense of place and time, plus there's some mystery ..."
I just finished The Cove. Loved it. Yes, a beautiful rendering of time and place. I liked the build up of the story which held me all the way through. Sadly the same insular narrow mindness and bigotry continues as Rash attempts to show with his Prolog, and as can be seen still today albeit the target of it has shifted.
Cannot recall who first mention Rash to me on this board, but thanks are due as this was my first reading of his work and I was mightily impressed by his storytelling abilities. I will read more, so recommendations welcome.

Just finished July's People by Nadine Gordimer, Very deep book about what happens when a master and servant relationship is reversed - July saves the liberal white family he serves in South Africa. In doing so, he becomes the powerful one in the relationship because the white family totally depends on him.

But, I was confused about the end. To those who've read the book, where did Maureen run?

who was reading Yiyun Li's The Vagrants a while back? Having added it to my TBR list I just tested the water with her short story A Sheltered Woman, posted on the Short Story thread about it. Loved, it, so thanks to whoever it was who recommended her writing. Apologies for not having noted or recalled who it was.

Sheila, thanks for posting your reactions to The Cove. After Serena, I thought I might just stick to his short stories but now I am motivated to read this novel.

Gina wrote: "Just finished July's People by Nadine Gordimer, Very deep book about what happens when a master and servant relationship is reversed - July saves the liberal white fami..."

It's been decades, but I think I remember being confused about that same thing!

I am currently a little over halfway through The Story of the Lost Child and just started Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín.

I liked the first two books of Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels the best, so far anyway. I may change my opinion upon completion of this final one. I gave the first three 4 solid stars, but the reading of them is a 5 star experience. I doubt that makes much sense...

I wanted to read Brooklyn before seeing the movie and I love it so much more than I thought I would. The reviews are a mixed bag, but it's an absolute gem so far.

Karen wrote: "I liked the first two books of Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels the best, so far anyway. I may change my opinion upon completion of this final one. I gave the first three 4 solid stars, but the reading of them is a 5 star experience. I doubt that makes much sense...."

It makes perfect sense, at least to me. I gave the first of the Neapolitan novels five stars, which I think was at least as much about the reading experience as about the novel itself. The next two I gave four stars each. I think the final novel suffered from the fact that I had to wait for it, which broke the tremendous momentum that had carried me through the first three. I also felt the ending was a hair off--that it required another paragraph or page of build up to give it the weight it needed.

Patti Smith, M Train. A memoir, but not the garden variety. Smith mooches around Greenwich Village recalling the past in thematically organized chapters. Elegaic, suffused with longing, but subtle. Parts of it must seem made up, but not if you know something about Smith -- but you won't find that here. It's not that sort of memoir. Four stars so far.

Umberto Eco's The Prague Cemetery. Good. But the ending wasn't very satisfying. Dark. Solidly based on 19th c history in Italy and France. A fascinating what-if premise.

Karen wrote: "I am currently a little over halfway through The Story of the Lost Child and just started Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín.

I liked the first two books of Fe..."

I liked Brooklyn too, Karen. In fact, I've become a huge fan of Tóibín's writing in general. I loved Nora Webster and The Master. He's been pretty prolific so I'm looking forward to reading more.

Kat wrote: "Karen wrote: "I liked the first two books of Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels the best, so far anyway. I may change my opinion upon completion of this final one. I gave the first three 4 solid stars, b..."

Oh, Kat, I think it would have been difficult for me to have wait for the fourth novel to be available. I read them all, including the current one I'm reading, as if they were one long book. I had to keep looking at the list of characters throughout the first two novels just to keep some of the minor characters straight. I am very thankful for that list. I think I would definitely need a refresher if I did not read them all one after the other.