All About Books discussion

I have started another by Muriel Spark. This time Loitering with Intent. It is delightfully narrated by Nadia May.

Wow! I certainly understand why Chekhov is called the "creator of the modern short story." I love this collection Forty Stories by Anton Chekhov, and I'm really not a lover of short stories. I now remember reading other stories of his way back during my college years - and loving them. How could I have forgotten this?

Nichole wrote: "Wow! I certainly understand why Chekhov is called the "creator of the modern short story." I love this collection Forty Stories by Anton Chekhov, and I'm really not a..."

I am tempted. .....but I too dislike short stories! Every time I do read something by Chekhov I am totally caught up in his world. I cannot figure out how to read a book of short stories; I can sit and listen/read for two hours and so I fear a book of short stories will become a total blur.

I can relate. I can lose myself for hours in the world of a novel. The briefness of a short story kills the reading momentum. The tale ends too quickly, and the dream ends. My senses are jarred.

For Chekhov, however, I will sacrifice that peace. His stories are that good.

Nichole wrote: "I can relate. I can lose myself for hours in the world of a novel. The briefness of a short story kills the reading momentum. The tale ends too quickly, and the dream ends. My senses are jarred.

F..."

I am with you in all that you say.

I've started The Brewer of Preston. I'm about 30% in and have yet to understand whether I like it or not. It IS fun, though.

Marina, that book looks kind of fun. I like it because it is NOT part of an inspector series. Is this you first by the author?

Chrissie wrote: "Marina, that book looks kind of fun. I like it because it is NOT part of an inspector series. Is this you first by the author?"

No, I've read a lot of books by this author, I think more than 20 for sure. I love his Montalbano series. However, my favorite is not part of the series and it's titled La scomparsa di Patò. I see that unfortunately there is no English edition :(

Marina wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Marina, that book looks kind of fun. I like it because it is NOT part of an inspector series. Is this you first by the author?"

No, I've read a lot of books by this author, I thin..."

Should one read the series in order? If so, I guess I should start with The Shape of Water?

Is this author kind of likeMagdalen Nabb Magdalena Nabb ?

Have you read The Revolution of the Moon by Camilleri?

Chrissie, I will put Loitering with Intent on my to-read list. I am intrigued by Muriel Spark's writing.

I put it on mine as well.

Started Sweet Bean Paste.

Nicole and Diane, I want to know if Sparks is just a perfect fit for me or if others also will appreciate her humor, her wit and what she is saying. HER mysteries appeal to me b/c they are clever and they say something about society. There is a sarcasm in her writing that appeals to me. I have found this book:Appointment in Arezzo: A friendship with Muriel Spark and will be reading it soon. If you look at the book description it says: "Once, she commented sitting over a glass of chianti at the kitchen table, that she was upset that the academic whom she had appointed her official biographer did not appear to think that she had ever cracked a joke in her life. In Appointment in Arezzo Alan Taylor sets the record straight about this and many other things." It occurs to me that the humor I see maybe is not seen by others! I have decided to put all her remaining books which I have not yet listened to, except a collection of short stories, on my wish list. (Nicole, you might be braver than me with the short story collection!)

Her books are short and they have a mystery element, two characteristics that I do not usually appreciate, bu tin Spark's hands it works. Her books are not heavy on character portrayal, which is usually a must for me, but I realized, when I completed Loitering with Intent, that I HAD come to know Fleur and the wonderful great old lady Edwina VERY well. Also, this book might even be classified as historical fiction - it throws in how it was to live in London after the war with the petrol rationing, food shortages and bombed buildings. There are also references to literature, but these usually went over my head.

The book is short but has so much in it.

Chrissie, Muriel Spark's books appeal to readers with a keen appreciation of intelligent writing. Truly gifted writers can fuse genres; combine anything (mystery, sarcasm) to make a point, to create unforgettable stories. Spark was subtle, well-learned, witty, and clever: she had a way with words, description, and set-up. She could recapture an era. She did this well in her most famous novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. The first pages described the Brodie Set. I could feel the mystery of Jean Brodie and her set of special girls. The beginning of the end. Some kind of devastation was coming later on. What would it be? Had Brodie created monsters in those girls? All this intrigue from just the first few pages. Perfect literary fiction. I loved it.

Chrissie, I haven't read The Revolution of the Moon and I must confess I didn't even know of it. It seems interesting.

I don't know Magdalena Nabb so I can't say if the two authors are similar in any way, sorry.

As for the Montalbano series, there is no obligation to read it in order, meaning that you can perfectly understand each book without reading the previous ones. However, I am reading them in order (I've read till #18 so far), because in this way I can see how Montalbano evolves as a character. If you decide to read them in order, yes, you should start with The Shape of Water. Here you can see the whole series: https://www.goodreads.com/series/5107...

Nichole wrote: "Chrissie, Muriel Spark's books appeal to readers with a keen appreciation of intelligent writing. Truly gifted writers can fuse genres; combine anything (mystery, sarcasm) to make a point, to creat..."

In my view The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is good but not as good as some of her others. We both agree on her talent.

Marina wrote: "Chrissie, I haven't read The Revolution of the Moon and I must confess I didn't even know of it. It seems interesting.

I don't know Magdalena Nabb so I can't say if the two authors..."

I spelled Nabb's name incorrectly and the link was wrong. Here it is corrected: Magdalen Nabb. Her detective series is good.

I think I too would prefer to read the Montalbano series in order .

Thanks, Chrissie. I didn't know Magdalen Nabb, but her detective series seems interesting. I lived in Florence for 4 years, so that makes it even more interesting for me.

Chrissie wrote: "LauraT, could you tell us how you are thinking after the weekend, when you have come further?"

I'm almosto done with it - just something like 75 pages - had more to do this week end than I expected!
I liked it, even if it dealt more on war and politics details than I generally appreciate. But I've learnt much; not a masterpiece, but to be suggested in my opinion, if you like history books

Really? I consider The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie her best. I will add Appointment in Arezzo: A friendship with Muriel Spark to my list, also.

Marina wrote: "Thanks, Chrissie. I didn't know Magdalen Nabb, but her detective series seems interesting. I lived in Florence for 4 years, so that makes it even more interesting for me."

The Monster of Florence is super creepy! I think it was The Marshal and the Murderer that I thought was best. The books are good b/c you come to really like Marshal Guarnaccia.He feels like a rather normal guy. I have not read them in order.

Nichole wrote: "Really? I consider The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie her best. I will add Appointment in Arezzo: A friendship with Muriel Spark to my list, also."

Yeah, well I just rate according to how I personally react to a book. I know the one you name is more famous. For me, character portrayal is better in Loitering with Intent.

LauraT wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "LauraT, could you tell us how you are thinking after the weekend, when you have come further?"

I'm almosto done with it - just something like 75 pages - had more to do this week e..."

OK, maybe I will consider it. You didn't find the spying too difficult to understand?

Your discussion has convinced me to give Muriel Sparks’ books a try! I love reading your different reactions.

Joan wrote: "Your discussion has convinced me to give Muriel Sparks’ books a try! I love reading your different reactions."

I am hoping you like her writing. I have a book with several of Spark's novellas. I got the book from my Mom, and NEVER read them while she was alive....... so NOW I cannot read the paper book, but I see it has Loitering with Intent so I am sending it to my son. If he doesn't like it I told him to exchange it in the second hand book store for something else. It is terribly annoying b/c it has stories I have not read.

Chrissie wrote: "I have started another by Muriel Spark. This time Loitering with Intent. It is delightfully narrated by Nadia May."

I love this book! My favorite Spark (so far)... I hope to read Robinson next month...

I am reading David Copperfield right now. I have seen multiple adaptions of various works by Charles Dickens, but this is the second (or third) work I have read by him (on account of not being a big fan of the 19th century 800-900 page novel form). As I am a big fan of this work from what I have seen (particularly the 1999 BBC adaptation), I decided to read this one for the holiday season.

Leslie wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I have started another by Muriel Spark. This time Loitering with Intent. It is delightfully narrated by Nadia May."

I love this book! My favorite Spark..."

I think it is amazing how she can put together so many different stories, even if mystery, murder, blackmail, occult are common ingredients. What is completely impossible to see from each one's book description is the humor and the wit and the clever lines delivered.

I have just finished Forest Dark which was disappointing and started Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore which I am not sure about.

Esther , I actually gave up on Forest Dark . It was a disappointment to me since I loved other novels.

Angela M wrote: "Esther , I actually gave up on Forest Dark . It was a disappointment to me since I loved other novels."

I kept hoping it was going to end in something meaningful but it just stopped in the middle of nowhere.

I'm really enjoying reading this thread right now at work.

I have just begun another book by Amos Oz. This one: Judas. Usually his writing is good.

Oz's book A Tale of Love and Darkness is on my to-read list. I could not finish his book Jews and Words. It did not hold my attention. I will try A Tale in maybe January.

Nichole wrote: "Oz's book A Tale of Love and Darkness is on my to-read list. I could not finish his book Jews and Words. It did not hold my attention. I will try A Tale in maybe January."

I do not know really what you like, so I can only speak for myself. I liked A Tale of Love and Darkness a lot. It is my favorite by the author, even if I have given all the books I have read by him four stars. I have not read his non-fictional essays though. I am definitely enjoying Judas. I just like what and how he describes places and people. The Jewish trait of discussing a point in and out and from all sides attracts me. It is more often silence that causes problems rather than open discussion. I think the author feels this way too, but I am certainly no expert.

I have Antarctica on hold b/c my checkout expired before I could finish it. Also reading An Instance of the Fingerpost

Nichole wrote: "Really? I consider The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie her best."

I have not yet read many of the other Spark books being mentioned; so I can't say if I'd like others better, but I do agree Nichole that this one is very good.

Chrissie wrote: "I have begun Cat's Eye, my fourth book by Atwood. I like her way with words, but usually the plot and the fantasy elements give me problems,. I chose this because it is reality based. ..."

I'm glad you liked it Chrissie!

Tonight, I started Simon Armitage's new verse translation of the epic poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A New Verse Translation from the 1400s. Joan originally recommended it and I am definitely not dissapointed so far!

I love the simplicity and grandeur of old epics like this one and Beowulf. Armitage's translation is indeed very fine as well, much better than the other translations I've read in the past.

The beginning of the second part with the description of the cycle of seasons was a high point. I'm already 1/3 done, and I'm forcing myself to slow down to savor it. It's not quite at the level of Heaney's Beowulf, but it's very close!

Greg wrote: "Nichole wrote: "Really? I consider The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie her best."

I have not yet read many of the other Spark books being mentioned; so I can't say if I'd like others bette..."

I am certainly not saying The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is only mediocre, but that others of hers are even better. Her writing is witty and intelligent. For a person like me who rarely enjoys either mysteries or short books, she is amazing in her ability to make me throw out all rules.

Greg wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I have begun Cat's Eye, my fourth book by Atwood. I like her way with words, but usually the plot and the fantasy elements give me problems,. I chose this because it i..."

Yeah, I really, really liked it. I wish I could read Surfacing, but since I cannot get that I will tryHag-Seed: The Tempest Retold. I wish she wold do more reality based books.

I have moved from one Israeli author to another. I have finished Judas by Amos Oz and moved on to A Horse Walks into a Bar by David Grossman.

Reading White Houses by Amy Bloom.

Curious how you will about the Grossman, Chrissie.

Diane S ☔ wrote: "Reading White Houses by Amy Bloom.

Curious how you will about the Grossman, Chrissie."

Re A Horse Walks into a Bar. Stand-up comedy is not my cup of tea, so I am hoping that the message of the book is worth the read. I know the book is really not meant to be "funny". I am only reading it b/c I loved the author's To the End of the Land. So far, I am thinking only that I am glad it is short.

About to start One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez.

A couple of days ago I started reading The Moor's Last Sigh by Salman Rushdie. Not an easy writing style because there are long sentences, several brackets with the narrator's thoughts, sometimes italics when it's someone else thoughts, etc.

Just started The Loney for our AAB December group read. It is eerie.
It’s the third book that I’ve read recently about the north of England - is it really as bleak and dismal as the authors describe it.

I've started The Brothers Karamazov. This is going to need all of my time and attention.

Now I have returned to Amos Oz. I wanted more . This time I have chosen The Same Sea:

Chrissie wrote: "Now I have returned to Amos Oz. I wanted more . This time I have chosen The Same Sea:"

Have you tried Meir Shalev or A.B. Yehoshua. Not really my cup of tea but from my experience in the library they are enjoyed by the same people who like Amos Oz.

I will go and check out both authors. Thank you, Esther.