All About Books discussion

Started reading Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry. Liking it so far.

I have already veered off my reading plan for April and am listening to the audiobook of Sue Grafton's last book, Y is for Yesterday.

I am reading Elmet by Fiona Mozley. I've almost finished it and am really enjoying it so far.

Reading The Winter of Our Discontent

The book swap led me to 2 good books in genres I normally would not consider.
Thanks to CARRIE!

A Tale Dark & Grimm is a diverting and creepy fairytale.

Black Butler, Vol. 1 surprised me. I’ve never enjoyed the scattershot arrangement of comic books but this manga book sucked me right in. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.

The hearts invisible furies by John boyne

I've started reading Saint Mazie. Seems okay so far.

I have begun The Italian Teacher, the latest by Tom Rachman.

Chrissie, I am slowly reading that one too.You will I'm sure finish way before me as I a reading multiple books as usual. Wonder what we will both think?

Marina wrote: "I've started reading Saint Mazie. Seems okay so far."

Marina, I really liked Saint Mazie, and hope you do as well.

Diane and Chrissie , I really liked the Italian Teacher. Hope you both do too . Have enjoyed his other novels as well .

Diane , we’ve both read several novels recently set in Italy. Part of my next read is in Italy too !

Marina, I also enjoyed Saint Mairzi. Hope you do
too.

Diane S ☔ wrote: "Chrissie, I am slowly reading that one too.You will I'm sure finish way before me as I a reading multiple books as usual. Wonder what we will both think?"

I have not come far enough yet to have an opinion.

Angela M wrote: "Diane and Chrissie , I really liked the Italian Teacher. Hope you both do too . Have enjoyed his other novels as well .

Diane , we’ve both read several novels recently set in Italy. Part of my nex..."

I have previously had trouble getting a hold of Tom Rachman's books. I read his The Rise & Fall of Great Powers--thought it was good but did not love it. I am very curious to see how I react to his latest.

Angela M wrote: "Diane and Chrissie , I really liked the Italian Teacher. Hope you both do too . Have enjoyed his other novels as well .

Diane , we’ve both read several novels recently set in Italy. Part of my nex..."

Do you want the real story about Mazie? Then you must read the collection of stories and essays in Up in the Old Hotel by Joseph Mitchell. I highly recommend it, and not just for this story! Please tell me if you think I should pick up the fictional version: Saint Mazie by Jami Attenberg? I cannot get get it.

I am finally chugging along War and Peace. Started about a month ago. The size of the book was daunting but my ego didn't allow me to set it aside. I must admit that the first 300 pages were a drag for me. Once I got past that point, it has become much more interesting. Half way mark reached at over 600 pages. More to go!

I am sure my ego will be satiated when I finish :D . As to the book itself, I have only read half. I have to read the rest to be able to wrap my head around it.

Diane and Angela, I'm halfway through Saint Mazie and I'm not loving it, though I still find it a good read. Unfortunately, the translation is not helping. It's not bad, but the translator uses lots of terms which are specifically Tuscan. I'm sure she didn't do this intentionally, though. Having lived for 4 years in Florence, I can tell you that the problem with many Florentines is that they firmly believe the words they use are standard Italian, while many of them are not. No offence meant to any Tuscans out there. But I've frequently noticed this as a copy-editor, too. So, I'm mostly able to understand what the translator means, being familiar with Tuscan dialect (and, yes, it is a dialect, as much as some people would argue that they do not have a dialect at all), but I guess other Italians who are not familiar with it would have difficulties. We need more copy-editors who don't come from the same region as the translator!

Marina, sorry it’s not working for you .


Chrissie, I read that Attenberg read the essay and then did research before writing the book . I can’t say whether you will like it or not . I enjoy reading about historic New York City so that was a draw for me .

I’ll be interested in seeing what both you and Diane think of The Italian Teacher .

Reading:
The Frontiersman: The Real Life and the Many Legends of Davy Crockett
And
Killing England: The Brutal Struggle for American Independence

Angela M wrote: "Marina, sorry it’s not working for you .


Chrissie, I read that Attenberg read the essay and then did research before writing the book . I can’t say whether you will like it or not . I enjoy readi..."

I STILL do not know know what I think of the The Italian Teacher. It does have some good lines, but it still is not grabbing me yet.

If you like reading about NYC, you MUST read Up in the Old Hotel

Lalitha wrote: "I am finally chugging along War and Peace. Started about a month ago. The size of the book was daunting but my ego didn't allow me to set it aside. I must admit that the first 300 pages ..."

You are a literary hero! Good luck with the second half.

Boy by James Hanley

Ensoleillé: have you loved A Little Life as I have?

I'm reading Vanity Fair, which is a group read in another group. I've read only three chapters so far, so it's definitely early to say whether I like it or not. I hope I'm going to like it, though. Even though I didn't like Barry Lyndon, when I read it many years ago for University.

Marina wrote: "I'm reading Vanity Fair, which is a group read in another group. I've read only three chapters so far, so it's definitely early to say whether I like it or not. I hope I'm going to like..."

One of my favourite book! I wanted to call my daughter Rebecca because of Becky Sharp! But my husband can't well roll his Rs, so we changed it into Marta. But she is now 18 and she is a real "Becky" in her heart!

@laurat I love that book so much I wish I never finished it

I finished Red Rising last night. At first it seemed a little derivative but after about the first thrid the pace took of and it provided a surprisingly good ending and some great characters. 4.5 stars
I am now reading Jaz, Tall Men, & Mayhem which is light and fun and set in Tel Aviv.
(Read so little set in Israel because whether the authors are Israeli or US born they nearly all seem to be post-modern, introspective and angst-ridden)

I also really like Vanity Fair, great book!

I currently have 3 books on the go which is unusual for me. Reading Les Miserables slowly with another group here (50/60 pages a week), The Assassins Apprentice by Robin Hobb and I’m listening to our group read, White Teeth on cd audiobook.

Luckily they are all quite different so I’m not getting too confused. I am halfway through Mansfield Park as well but I’m having a quick break as I wasn’t loving it (finished the first half)

I'm starting The Moor's Account by Laila Lalami. I've heard good things about it.

LauraT wrote: " I wanted to call my daughter Rebecca because of Becky Sharp! But my husband can't well roll his Rs, so we changed it into Marta."

Laura, this made me chuckle ;) Now I just need to read Vanity Fair to know what you mean by 'she's a real Becky in her heart'.

I am currently reading Running Away by Jean-Philippe Toussaint. It's a strange little book, so far it's basically the story of a fairly confused, utterly jet-lagged guy in Shanghai. I am at least as confused as the guy in the book by what this is all about, but not in an unpleasant way.

I am also reading or rather listening to Cold Granite by Stuart MacBride, a crime novel by a Scottish writer. It's quite dark, both in subject matter but also in humour of which there's lots of.

I am currently listening to the full cast narration of Oral History by Lee Smith. I am returning to an author I have enjoyed.

Marina wrote: "I'm reading Vanity Fair, which is a group read in another group. I've read only three chapters so far, so it's definitely early to say whether I like it or not. I hope I'm going to like..."

I thought Vanity Fair was a lot more fun than Barry Lyndon, if that helps Marina!

I am reading our group fiction book White Teeth, which I need to hurry up and finish as it's due back to the library in a few days. And on my Kindle, I am reading our group classic, Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family. On audiobook, I am listening to a cozy mystery called Curiosity Thrilled the Cat...

Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a FamilyLeslie wrote: "I am reading our group fiction book White Teeth, which I need to hurry up and finish as it's due back to the library in a few days. And on my Kindle, I am reading our group classic, [..."

Leslie, so what are you thinking of [book:White Teeth|3711]? I would be curious to hear your thoughts. I have been considering reading it.

I found Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family absolutely excellent, but it was too much of a book to reread now with the group. Rereading I find kind of boring. My overall feeling, which I wrote in my review, was: "Absolutely excellent, descriptive writing. Writing that pulls the reader in. Characters that are fully developed and totally real. A book with humor. A book with serious topics to consider. A book about life’s ups and downs. Every time the theme changed I was astonished to once again see how this topic and that topic and every topic touched upon had something to say to me. A long book that does not drag."

I will put a link to my review here to encourage others to pick it up: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I thought it was so excellent I gave it five stars, and as you know I rarely give books five stars.

Ensoleillé wrote: "@laurat I love that book so much I wish I never finished it"

Same mind!!!!

Little children by tom perrotta

Started Happiness by Aminatta Forna

I have begun another by W. Somerset Maugham. This time it is The Magician. I will be reading all of this author's books. It is funny, but his most famous, Of Human Bondage, is the one of his books I have liked least!

Chrissie wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I am reading our group fiction book White Teeth, which I need to hurry up and finish as it's due back to the library i..."

Chrissie, I am still thinking over White Teeth -- I raced through the second half in order to get it back to the library. I think you might like it as it deals with the relationships between the various members of 2 families over several decades.

Listening to Sing, Unburied, Sing, I’m having trouble separating the characters at the beginning- I hope it gets easier.

Joan wrote: "Listening to Sing, Unburied, Sing, I’m having trouble separating the characters at the beginning- I hope it gets easier."

Joan wrote: "Listening to Sing, Unburied, Sing, I’m having trouble separating the characters at the beginning- I hope it gets easier."

Oh my, I had serious trouble with that. The disjointed writing, the overuse of metaphors and the time switches gave me trouble. Listening to unpleasant characters can grate on one's nerves! An audiobook brings what is written unpleasantly closer. In addition, in Ward's book, the supernatural failed me totally. I just read a book where the supernatural WAS done well!

I dumped the book you are listening to and that is unusual for me.

Good luck.

Chrissie- I am struggling with it - I have two weeks before my book club meeting, so I’m going to to knuckle down and get it done.

I've not read much at all recently, but have now started reading Our Endless Numbered Days and I'm quite intrigued by it. Reminds me a little of The Glass Castle as it's about a dysfunctional childhood.

I have begun another by James Salter. I know, I know--I am stuck on both James Salter and W. Somerset Maugham. I want to read everything they write! I am now reading Cassada.

Chrissie wrote: "I have begun another by James Salter. I know, I know--I am stuck on both James Salter and W. Somerset Maugham. I want to read everything they write! I..."

I have All That Is by Salter sitting on my bookshelf, waiting to be read Chrissie, did you read this one? I've read a few others by him already, and I enjoyed his writing very much, so I am fairly optimistic I will like this one as well. Cassada sounds really interesting, the blurb says that it is the complete re-write of a novel once already published under a different name. I don't know of many authors that do that, the only example I can think of off the top of my head would be Peter Matthiessen with Shadow Country that was originally published as three independent books and then re-written and shortened to make up one novel.

I am reading a German author at the minute, a book called Hool referring to Hooligan culture. It's a reality of life so far removed from mine it's both intriguing and off-putting. The slang, the violence. I am not sure if I will be able to finish it, but I will try.

Jenny, yes, I liked All That Is. It is not my favorite by the author though. In my review of Solo Faces I have listed each of his that I have read and my respective ratings. I VERY much like Salter's writing style. I would say more than Matthiessen's. I have read Shadow Country too. I liked it. I thought he put the three novels together because that was how he thought they should be read. As I understand it, they were not significantly shortened. There must be other instances where authors rewrite books! When Maugham's book The Magician was to be republished about fifty years after its first publication, he reread it, liked it a lot but added a foreword. I would not want to read it without this excellent foreword.

Joan wrote: "Lalitha wrote: "I am finally chugging along War and Peace. Started about a month ago. The size of the book was daunting but my ego didn't allow me to set it aside. I must admit that the ..."
Thank you! It is a rubicon of sorts of course. That said, I am really enjoying it now. In parallel I am also reading Midnight's Children. This is a jumbo as well (over 600 pages). I might do some light reading after that.

Chrissie wrote: "I have begun another by W. Somerset Maugham. This time it is The Magician. I will be reading all of this author's books. It is funny, but his most famous, [book:Of Hu..."
I am a huge fan of Maugham. I like Razor's Edge the best. How do you like the Magician?

Lalitha, I am a fan too of this author. NONE of his books are like any of his others! The weird thing is that I read Of Human Bondage first and it is the one I have liked least!

I do not usually read Gothic horror stories, which is what The Magician is. As I listened I was totally enthralled; after completing the book I came back my senses.

I say more about it in my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I do recommend it. If I could like a book in this genre, it is certainly not what I usually read, I think others would too. Maugham can write.