Reading with Style discussion
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SP 18 Completed Tasks
From Post 638Don (The Book Guy) wrote: "20.9 Jumbo
Ordeal of the Union, Vol 1: Fruits of Manifest Destiny 1847-52 by Allan Nevins pub. 1947, 593 pages, 24 ratings.
+20 Task
+10 Not a novel
+5 Oldies
+5 Com..."
+10 Combo 20.6, 20.8
From Post 641Lagullande wrote: "10.9 Double Trouble (Karen Michele's Task)
The Perfect Nanny by Leïla Slimani
+10 Task (97 Contemporary, 81 Cultural)
Points this post: 10
RwS total: 415
RtD to..."
+5 Combo 20.4
20.6 dead soulsThe Fuller Memorandum by Charles Stross
+20 Task
+5 Combo 10.3
Post Total: 25
Season Total: 1845
Kate S wrote: "From Post 641.....+5 Combo 20.4"
Are you sure, Kate? I can only see the Bulgarian (Нежна песен) and Ukrainian (Солодка пісня) versions, not Russian.
Lagullande wrote: "Kate S wrote: "From Post 641.....+5 Combo 20.4"
Are you sure, Kate? I can only see the Bulgarian (Нежна песен) and Ukrainian (Солодка пісня) versions, not Russian."
You are correct - I probably was in a hurry (or something). Thank you, and we'll fix that next time.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Lagullande wrote: "Kate S wrote: "From Post 641.....+5 Combo 20.4"
Are you sure, Kate? I can only see the Bulgarian (Нежна песен) and Ukrainian (Солодка пісня) ve..."
No worries. Glad I don't have to change my spreadsheet ;-)
20.4 Night WatchAmericanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
+20 Task
+10 Combo 10.8 (Africa & Nth America), 10.9 (cultural & Contemporary)
Post Total: 30
Season Total: 1890
Chess Bitch: Women in the Ultimate Intellectual SportJennifer Shahade20.2 Blazing World (Feminism)
20.6 Double Consonants
Task 15.7 Reading the DecadesYear: 1950
Cosmic Engineers (1950) by Clifford D. Simak
+25 Task
Task Total: 25
Grand Total: 615 + 25 = 640
10.2 RavioliTourmaline by Joanna Scott
More than anything, this novel makes you interested in visiting Elba. Scott must have spent time exploring this island thoroughly, and clearly loves it. The novel takes place in the mid 1950s. An American man uproots his family (wife, 4 sons, and the cat) to move to Elba, in order to chase a dream. The narrator is the youngest son (Ollie), and he is trying to get a clearer, adult understanding of their time there (just over a year).
As I said, Ollie is generally the narrator but the POV changes randomly and without warning. I found this confusing at first, because you have to figure out who is speaking. This is a work of metafiction. You notice this more toward the end, and I found it affected. There are many things I quite like about this novel, yet I wasn’t excited to ‘get back to it’ and am left with a lack of enthusiasm to explore more of her work. 3* (This is the second novel I’ve ‘damned with faint praise’ this month. I’m having a tough reading month!!).
10 task
5 combo 10.5
10 review
____
25
Running total: 790
20.6 - Dead SoulsThe Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison
Non consecutive H's
+20 task
Task total: 20
Grand total: 690
15.3 – Reading the DecadesLove in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford
+15 Task (pub. 49)
Task Total: 15
Grand Total: 920
15.4 – Reading the DecadesThe Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
+15 Task (pub. 50)
Task Total: 15
Grand Total: 935
Post 682 Bill wrote: "Ripple10.3, combo 10.7"
Welcome, Bill! I didn't do a good job of looking at this one for you, and it is a YA at BPL with a Lexile of 730. Task but no styles.
To the rest of you: Bill is my friend who has given us some free time to look at the database for us, at things that were beyond the skills of your mods. (And, yes, I did a better job of "schooling" him in the proper posting method.)
Post 686 Norma wrote: "20.6 - Dead SoulsThe Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison
Non consecutive H's
+20 task
Task total: 20
Grand total: 690"
combo with 20.4
10.2 - RavioliThe Passion of Artemisia - Susan Vreeland
sitting on my shelves for a couple of years because I didn't know anything about it. I didn't even know that the artist it was based on was an actual person. After reading this fictionalized account of her life though, I'm eager to learn more about Artemisia!
I loved the author's approach to her subject. She manages to keep the history and culture of 17th century Italy perfectly intact, while modernizing a lot of the speech and interactions between the character. In less talented hands, this could have come across as gimmicky or clumsy, but Vreeland pulls it off beautifully. Artemisia is strong, passionate and completely compelling as a characters. I loved following her story as she overcame challenge after challenge, and knowing it's all based in truth made it all the more fascinating.
This book was everything that a good historical novel should be. I'm very glad it mistakenly made its way onto my shelves!
+10 task
+10 review
+10 combo (10.9; 20.2)
Post total: 30
Grand total: 30
10.3 - SeriesThe Cruelest Month - Louise Penny
I'm just the tiniest bit torn on my rating for this book. On the one hand, I wasn't a huge fan of the spiritual/supernatural element of the third novel in the Gamache series; it felt like it just didn't quite fit. But then THAT ENDING. SO. GOOD. The last 50 or so pages completely won me over on this novel, otherwise I was leaning more towards a 3-star rating on this one.
I wish this one had been just a bit more Three Pines-y. The town didn't feel like as much of a character in this book as it did in the previous two books, and it's definitely a huge factor in what makes this series so great. I think with having the mystery and the Sûreté element all in one novel, some of the charm of the series got lost. I still enjoyed the novel, but until the last bit of the novel (which, did I mention the ending? SO GOOD!) it didn't grab me quite as much as the previous novels in the series.
That said, I'm glad we got some resolution (to an extent) on the Arnot drama, and I look forward to reading the next in series; here's hoping it goes back to its (pine)roots!
+10 task
+10 review
+10 combo (10.9; 20.4)
Post total: 30
Grand total: 60
10.5 - Green StoneHard Core Logo - Michael Turner
In scanning through other reviews, it seems like quite a few are reviewing the book after having seen the movie, which adds a lot to the experience. I haven't seen the movie, so maybe that's why I found this to be lacking.
I absolutely loved American Whiskey Bar, and I was ready for a less-than-conventional storytelling style here, but there just wasn't enough meat to the book to make me care. At 197 pages this is already a veeeery slim book, but when half those pages are either pictures or only a sentence or two of type, it doesn't leave much room to actually tell a story. What there is, is a very generic punk rock story: old band reunited, tours, fights, breaks up. I guess it's "unique" in that it's set against a Canadian backdrop, but even that aspect felt pretty generic.
It was a quick enough read that I don't regret the time spent on it, but I can't say I understand the cult appeal. Maybe if I watch the film I'll have an aha moment, but as of right now this was a disappointing read.
+10 task
+10 review
+5 combo (20.6)
Post total: 25
Grand total: 85
10.6 - JustineLeila - Prayaag Akbar
I came across this book in a BookRiot article, and immediately set about hunting down a copy. The blurb was fantastic, and it sounded completely different from any dystopian novel I've read to date. Luckily, the book delivered on all of my expectations and more!
I think this may be the first time I've read a dystopian with a clearly non-western setting; most are set in North America, with a smattering of European settings, but I don't think I've ever read one set in Asia. So that alone made this book unique and interesting to me; it offered a much different view on a dystopian society, one that feels frighteningly possible. It reminded me a bit of The Handmaid's Tale, though with an opposite scenario where women who don't "fit" the new society isolated and not allowed to have or raise children.
This is a spectacularly emotional read. I got literal chills reading certain parts of the novel, and found myself riveted to the page. Between the unique plot and the incredible writing, the author truly brings the reader into his world. An excellent read, and well worth hunting down for anyone who enjoys a good dystopia.
+10 task
+10 review
+5 combo (10.5)
Post total: 25
Grand total: 110
20.5 The Queen's NecklaceThe Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
Its been a while since I had tears in my eyes when reading a book. Its been even longer since I have read a book that spans a range of human emotions all found within the confines of a family spanning three generations. Its been a terribly long time since I decided that there will always be a book I will return to when I just need a hug from someone I love. The characters are all here and who wouldn't love to have a Sophie, Doris or Penolope in their lives?
The Shell Seekers is a family saga set in England, primarily told through the eyes of a 64 year old Penolope Keeling, as she reminisces her past - the days of bonhomie with her aged artist father and a young mother more a sister than a mother. War, unhappy marriage, failed love and three children are the outcomes of her life. She comes to terms with a life lived to the best of her abilities with no regrets and does the best she can for her children and the next generation. The various characters in the novel fill in like a jigsaw puzzle and the narration is beautiful.
I am relatively young and there may be years ahead for me or not. Regardless, this novel has simply inspired me to have no regrets, to take the time out to smell the proverbial roses, make the effort to cook meals with love and just take every opportunity to admire nature.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+ 15 Combo (20.9, 20.4, 10.9)
+ 5 oldies
+5 Jumbo
Task Total = 55
Season Total = 720+55 = 775
20.4 - Night WatchAn Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth - Chris Hadfield
Let me start this review by saying that space scares the bejesus out of me. This is, therefore, not the kind of book I would normally grab, but I was going to an event where Chris Hadfield was the keynote speaker, so I figured I should probably at least give his book a try. And I'm very glad I did, because this is probably the best memoir I've ever read!
Chris Hadfield is a Canadian icon, and while I knew a bit about him going in from his various viral videos and social media, I didn't know anything really about his background. He's lived an incredibly interesting life. He's had his share of challenges along the way, but even in describing those parts of his life, he remains humble and gracious, and every part of this book comes across as being incredibly genuine. He worked ridiculously hard to get to where he is, but he never brags or acts conceited about us achievements. The combination of his humbleness and the amazing things he's achieved make for a refreshingly enjoyable read.
I'm so glad I read this book, especially since it gave me a deeper insight into some of the situations he talked about in his speech. I was lucky enough to meet him and have my copy signed, and he's every bit as gracious and genuine in person as he is on paper.
+20 task
+10 review
+10 not a novel
+10 combo (10.7; 20.6)
Post total: 50
Grand total: 265
20.10 My Comfort ZonePride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
This is probably my all-time-favourite novel and it’s hard to know where to start with a review, as I imagine just about everybody knows the story. But to put a slightly different spin on it, the five Bennet sisters are desperate to marry and marry well, because as soon as their father dies (which could happen at any moment in those unpredictable days) their home will go to a distant male cousin, and they will be left without enough to live on respectably.
The male cousin arrives, intending to marry one of them, which would give them all some security. Unfortunately, however, his first choice, Jane, has her heart set on someone else, and his second choice, Elizabeth, despises him. A “friend” of Elizabeth’s then grabs him before he can try any more sisters. With friends like that …
Anyway, they have serious obstacles in their path even before the youngest sister does something that is likely to wreck all their chances completely. Elizabeth’s courage in turning down not only Mr Collins but also the uber-eligible Mr Darcy in these circumstances is staggering. And Jane Austen succeeds in telling a nail-biting story and making it funny while keeping our sympathies exactly where they should be … in my opinion.
+20 task
+20 combo (10.4, 10.9 historical & contemporary, 20.2 approved, 20.4 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... )
+10 review
+15 oldies (1813)
Post Total: 65
Season Total: 1520
20.2 -The Blazing WorldThe Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
Task - 20
Combo- 10 : (10.9- historical, cultural, 20.4)
Post total : 30
Season total: 425
20.2 The Blazing WorldOne Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul
This is a collection of essays by Koul, who is a Canadian-South Asian (as we white folks would say – she says she is ‘brown). Even though I am quite a bit older than Koul, and a white woman, this collection of essays really spoke to me. I like her strong, individualistic voice (kind of ‘damn the torpedoes’ style). She writes bravely, insightfully and with a lot of humour. I get the impression that she is a straight shooter and says what she thinks. She clearly loves her family, even though they have the capacity to drive her nuts (as all families do). I found it very interesting, and sad (since things haven’t changed for the better since my youth) to read about her experiences and biting insights into rape culture and internet trolls. This collection of essays is a quick read, and I would recommend it. 4*
20 task
10 review
10 NaN
___
40
Running total: 830
20.6 Dead Souls Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
(Shakespeare)
Review
Two sets of identical twins twins, one set both named Antipholus and the other both named Dromio--the Dromios being servants as they were bought from their parents--and the parents of the Antipholus pair are separated at sea during storm in the Mediterranean. Thirty odd years later the Antipholus who grew up with his father, and his servant Dromio, reach Ephesus in a long search for the other Antipholus. However, before he can learn anything, we find each Dromio running into the wrong Antipholus, then the right one, problems because one is married and the other not, in a comedy of mistaken identity.
This is an early Shakespearean play, nevertheless it's quite good, although a bit hard to believe that the men would be dressed alike.
+20 Task
+25 Oldie
+10 Review
+ 10 Not a Novel
+10 Combo,20.1 – two sets of twins one pair both named Antipholus and the other both named Dromio; 20.4 Link to Russian edition https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Task Total = 75
Season Total = 290
20.3 SanctuaryAbout Grace by Anthony Doerr
The three star rating here is in comparison to Anthony Doerr's other books that I have read. Not necessarily in comparison to the universe of novels. I can see Doerr's emerging talent and the experience and practice that lead up to All the Light We Cannot See. This leans on science--snow, insects, coral--rather that history but is also an exploration of what family and human connection means.
The narrator, David Winkler, is one, weird dude and reading the parts where he descends into madness are difficult (as in, uncomfortable) to read. Doerr's descriptions are beautiful to read, if a bit laborious in places and don't quite match his later work.
+20 Task
+10 Review
Task total: 30
Season total: 500
10.8 - Double ContinentBanthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations, edited by Sarah Cleave
Huzzah for Deep Vellum bringing this book to the US - it highlights stories we need to hear. Writers from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, and Libya were "asked to develop a fictional response to Trump's discriminatory ban, exploring themes of exile, travel, and restrictions on movement". The resulting short stories, all in translation, range from realistic to fantastic.
I ended up reading each story in one gulp, often while on the train to work. When I got to the end I'd sit with it while the landscape slid past - people are going through this. It's fiction, but it's real. Even the most fantastic stories have an air of 'lying to tell the truth', using unbelievable circumstances to skewer reality. All but one use first person, holding us close, refusing any comfort afforded by distance.
We follow someone doing whatever necessary to get to safety, visit a fantasy-like village above the clouds, and follow refugees as they put on a play (of sorts). As with any collection I liked some stories more than others, but they all got me out of my brain and own life experiences, which is the point. A great starting point for anyone interested in the people and cultures that some in power would rather we ignore.
+10 task (25% Africa, 20% Europe)
+5 combo (10.5)
+10 not-a-novel (short story anthology)
+10 review
Task total: 35 points
Grand total: 660 points
20.6 - JustineThe Theory of Attraction by Delphine Dryden
Nerd erotica review under the spoiler:
(view spoiler)
+20 task (two Ds)
+10 review
Task total: 30 points
Grand total: 690 points
10.5 - Green StoneIncendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber and the Invention of Criminal Profiling by Michael Cannell
I feel a true crime binge coming on and I started with this book because hey, "the invention of criminal profiling". It makes you think the how of profiling would be discussed.
But no.
Don't get me wrong - this is a good account about the "Mad Bomber of New York" who set off pipe bombs in the city for the better part of two decades. He started small, putting bombs in out of the way places, and got more adventurous as time went on. The NYPD was getting criticized for allowing him to continue unfettered for years. Desperate, they asked a psychiatrist for help.
This is the part I was waiting for - how did Dr. Brussel come up with a profile? What medical knowledge did he draw on to arrive at the picture of a killer?
Sadly we don't know. Cannell sticks close to the police so we see Brussel make a prophecy (a Slavic guy in a double breasted suit, probably living with female relatives) and that's about it.
I desperately wanted more info on the invention and process of profiling (see title) so I was disappointed. If you're a fan of true crime there's a good story here, just expect more 'whats' and 'whys' than 'hows'.
+10 task
+10 review
+10 not-a-novel
Task total: 30 points
Grand total: 720 points
10.3 - SeriesHello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas
Kleypas is one of my comfort read authors. Her historical romance is always solid, and now and then it's really good. This one is great.
The good:
- This is a 'historical not in a ballroom'. A good chunk doesn't even take part in a nice part of town, a change of pace from the usual.
- Garrett knows what she wants and goes for it. She wants to tend to poor people in a sketchy part of town so she takes self-defense lessons and is mean with a staff. A couple of times Ethan is like, 'You shouldn't come' and she's all, 'Nice of you to this so, I'm coming anyway' while never falling into Too Stupid To Live territory.
- The heroine is based on a real person that I totally have to research now.
- We get to see some characters develop over these four books in the Ravenel series and it's done well, especially with West. He has blossomed and is almost too awesome now, and to think the next book is his! I can't wait.
The neither-here-nor-there:
- This installment has a bit more suspense than other Kleypas novels in that there are happenings all the way through instead of a single, isolated event. I'm not the biggest romantic suspense person but it still worked for me.
My favorite Ravenel book so far.
+10 task (#4 in series)
+10 review
Task total: 20 points
Grand total: 740 points
15.10 Reading the DecadesMiss Julia Delivers the Goods by Ann B. Ross
year: 09
+40 task
+50 RtD completion
+50 for all different years and decades
+50 for decades read in order
+50 for years read in order
Post Total: 240
Season Total: 1760
10.5 Green StoneHow to Make a Living as a Writer by James Scott Bell
Yet another book about how to be a writer and make money at it. In many ways it says the same as others (write every day, keep learning and growing, stay fit and healthy, don’t give up because of critical reviews) but he did offer some new-to-me ideas (e.g. if you write in the morning, also write a little bit right before going to sleep, so your unconscious is focused on the story while you’re drifting in and out of sleep).
Like most of these how-to books, there’s a lot of filler in between the nuggets of gold. However, I thought it was definitely worth buying.
+10 task
+10 review
+10 not a novel
Post Total: 30
Season Total: 1790
10.2 RavioliThe Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino
+10 Task
+10 Combo: 10.9 Double Trouble / 20.4 Night Watch
+ 5 Oldies (1957)
Task Total: 25
Season Total: 1200
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Reading with Style
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Cory Day wrote: "10.2 Ravioli (Italy)
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
Review: I read this in high school, and have seen it at least once or twice since then, but for whatev..."
+5 Combo 20.4