All About Books discussion

I started reading Stories of God by Rainer Maria Rilke. The German edition can be downloaded for free on Amazon.
It seems a collection of short stories, but in each story there is always the same narrator and a couple of characters we find in more stories. But yes, these are short stories because the narrator tells stories to the other characters.

I will begin Solo Faces. I have been binging on books by James Salter!

I have several ebooks and an audiobook checked out from the library but a regular hold came in today so I felt the need to start it! The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson. It got my attention from the start so I’ll probably stick with it.

I have begun Benediction by Kent Haruf. Reading a book where the central protagonist has terminal caner is not something I particularly enjoy, but I am putting myself in Haruf's hands because he has never let me down yet.

I've started Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet by Stephanie Cowell.

Starting The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea

I started Flight Without End by Joseph Roth and I'm liking it so far. I have already read other books by the same author and I enjoyed them, so I'm pretty sure I will like also this one.

I will soon begin another by W. Somerset Maugham. This time it will be: Liza of Lambeth.

JoAnn wrote: "The Red and the Black by Stendhal"

That gave me trouble. Let¨s see what you think.

JoAnn wrote: "The Red and the Black by Stendhal"

This is on my favorites shelf!

Just finished Eastern Standard Tribe by Cory Doctorow and am listening to Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky and reading We Are All Completely Fine by Daryl Gregory on Kindle and a tree copy of Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard

Starting Census by Jesse Ball

I have started The Oasis by Mary McCarthy today.

I am fixated on W. Somerset Maugham. I have begun Then and Now. Each book is so completely different from his others; reading his books never becomes boring. This one is set in 1502 and is about about Machiavelli!

Chrissie, That sounds interesting- I look forward to your review

Joan wrote: "Chrissie, That sounds interesting- I look forward to your review"

The Italian names are a bit confusing but so far I do understand what is going on.

Chrissie wrote: "Joan wrote: "Chrissie, That sounds interesting- I look forward to your review"

The Italian names are a bit confusing but so far I do understand what is going on."

Why Italian names?

LauraT wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Joan wrote: "Chrissie, That sounds interesting- I look forward to your review"

The Italian names are a bit confusing but so far I do understand what is going on."

Why Italian names?"

It is set in Italy 1502, and it is about Machiavelli and............it takes place near Perugia! I thought that might grab your interest. We follow four months in his life. There are warring city states and a love affair, but keep in mind this is Machiavelli we are reading about --who is sly, cunning, conniving and devious, not a central character you are going to like. The story is well done....if a person doesn't mind reading about yucky people.

Chrissie wrote: "JoAnn wrote: "The Red and the Black by Stendhal"

That gave me trouble. Let¨s see what you think."

Me too.

Chrissie wrote: "LauraT wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Joan wrote: "Chrissie, That sounds interesting- I look forward to your review"

The Italian names are a bit confusing but so far I do understand what is going on."

..."

That sounds interesting, Chrissie!

I am still reading Infinite Jest at a snail's pace.

And I am struggling with Purge - I was enjoying it, then put it aside for a while and now can't seem to get interested again. The character of Aliide bothers me...

In audiobook, I am listening to Rebecca as part of the buddy read. Even though I have read this several times before so know what is going to happen, du Maurier draws me in to the suspense.

Have started The Eight Mountains and The Gunners

Leslie, I just finished Then and Now and I will give it five stars, but have not written a review yet. I think it is a book YOU will like.

Chrissie wrote: "Leslie, I just finished Then and Now and I will give it five stars, but have not written a review yet. I think it is a book YOU will like."

I looked for it but it seems it has never been translated into Italian. Weird, since the author is famous and the book is set in Italy.

I've started reading a very short book, The Daydreamer.

dely, I've searched Wikipedia and it seems that there a lot of works by Maugham which haven't been translated into Italian. I have no idea why that is, as you say the author is famous here as well as elsewhere. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opere_d...

I did not like Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall. I felt I should give her another chance. I have begun A Change Of Climate. It starts out confusing, but now I am beginning to make sense of who is who. Is there perhaps a purpose to the initial confusion? Otherwise, why do that?

dely wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Leslie, I just finished Then and Now and I will give it five stars, but have not written a review yet. I think it is a book YOU will like."

I looked for it but it se..."

Definitely weird. Your English is so good you could choose that instead, and then you know it has not been messed up in translation. I gave it five stars.

Chrissie wrote: "Definitely weird. Your English is so good you could choose that instead, and then you know it has not been messed up in translation. I gave it five stars. "

Yes, I was thinking the same. It's good to know more than one language!

You, Marina and LauraT might be interested too . I tried to entice her with what it has about Perugia.

Thanks, Chrissie, it does seem interesting. I have added it to my wishlist but I don't think I'll get round to reading it soon. By the way, I've never read anything by Maugham, shame on me!

Marina wrote: "Thanks, Chrissie, it does seem interesting. I have added it to my wishlist but I don't think I'll get round to reading it soon. By the way, I've never read anything by Maugham, shame on me!"

Well,you really should read something of his, not necessarily what I like best.

I've decided to try reading more than one book. In addition to two others, I have opened Yesterday, at the Hotel Clarendon by Nicole Brossard today.

Starting The Friend by Teresa Driscoll

I haven't posted on here for a while.
After Persuasion I read The Forever War which is considered classic military sci-fi. It was seriously, and cringe-worthily, dated at certain points but still quite exciting.

Then I continued my Christie chronology with The Secret of Chimneys.

Next I had a book club read: Kindred. This book had been recommended to me several times as a classic sci-fi written by a woman and person of colour. It wasn't sci-fi and didn't really live up to the hype - good but not great. I will probably try the author again though because I found her style a lot easier-going than I had expected.

Finally there was Big Little Lies which I enjoyed more than I expected considering chick-lit is not one of my favourite genres.

Now I am reading The Murder of Roger Ackroyd the next book in my Christie chronology.
And I will soon be starting Red Rising.

I have also finished a reread of Persuasion recently - one of my favorite Austens :)

Both Kindred and The Forever War are on my TBR so I was glad to hear what you thought. Isn't there some sort of time travel in Kindred? I thought that was why it was considered sci fi... Though I I have read some 'sci fi' which didn't really have any science (Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series for example).

Enjoy Roger Ackroyd - one of Christie's best imo!

I am listening to the audiobook of I'll Give You the Sun - I wasn't sure at first if I would like it but it has drawn me in. The story is told from two points of view (each in a slightly different time frame) by each of a pair of fraternal twins.

And I have given up on Purge for now and started If on a Winter's Night a Traveler. I love it so far!

I have been listening to and reading News from Tartary: A Journey from Peking to Kashmir by Peter Fleming, who was the older brother of Ian Fleming. Ian idolized his older brother, who was one of the models for James Bond. Peter's style is humorous, detailed, and entertaining - quite different from Ian's! I'm almost finished and I've been enjoying it so far, though the plight of the animals can get very sad. I'm glad I'm listening to the audio version at the same time, or I would never know how to pronounce any of those names!

I've started Mephisto by Klaus Mann.

Leslie wrote: "I have also finished a reread of Persuasion recently - one of my favorite Austens :)

Both Kindred and The Forever War are on my TBR so I was glad to hear what..."

The time-travel in Kindred just happens, no explanation. It is more like magical realism than sci-fi. ( I don't consider Outlander sci-fi either, more historical-fantasy-romance)

This is a reread of Roger Ackroyd but I read it several decades ago. I remember the ending so I keep looking for hints... but I am still enjoying it alot.

The song of Achilles by Madeline miller

Room by Emma donoghue

Ensoleillé wrote: "The song of Achilles by Madeline miller"

How are you liking it? I read it several years ago.

I have started A Loyal Character Dancer, the second in a mystery series set in contemporary China.

I am reading American Pastoral. Interesting to compare to what I just finished Herzog!

The heart is a lonely hunter by Carson McCullers

Ensoleillé wrote: "The heart is a lonely hunter by Carson McCullers"

You will like that book.

Reading I Was Anastasia

@nichole. Sorry that I can’t reply properly I’m on the iPhone app. I’m enjoying it so far :).

The people in the trees by hanya yanagihara

Started The Madonna of the Mountains