Constant Reader discussion

I'm currently reading Adam Brookes' Night Heron. British MI6 tries to deal with a Chinese man who has escaped from a Chinese prison camp who is carrying a valuable secret. Good depiction of modern China.

I continue to be impressed with The Sexual Life of Catherine M.

I stayed up most of the night readingThe Robber Bridegroom, all I can say is hmmmmm.

A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck – 5*****
Audio book performed by Ron McLarty. What a wonderful novel of a time gone by. I was laughing aloud at several of the shenanigans Grandma perpetrated. The writing is very atmospheric. I itched with the memory of chigger bites, felt the torpidity of a humid summer day, and heard the sounds of a summer night. When I finished listening, I immediately picked up the hardcover book and started reading from the beginning. This may be a children’s book, but I’ll wager that adults will appreciate it even more.
This is a Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

In July thread CAROL wrote: Finished up Lamb in His Bosom. This was an accurate portrayal of backwoods life in Georgia. The harshness of the environment and the perseverance of the farmers in the early to mid 1800's. I rate it 4 stars.

Loved this book! Not frequently read these days, and that's a pity.

I have started The March, Sherman's march through Georgia, and the people who followed the Union army , slaves and slave owners alike. I am on a Civil War kick this summer. Three years ago I was in Virginia a few days, and was deeply moved by the battlefields there.

I enjoyed THE MARCH when I read it. Many POV characters, which did produce a different kind of novel than you would get from a more concentrated treatment, especially in terms of emotional reaction. But it gave a strong overall sense of a complicated historical moment.

I am enjoying it so far. Definitly lighter than Killer Angels, but not by much.

Jim the Boy by Tony Earley – 5*****
Earley’s debut novel is quiet, peaceful and yet powerful. The story may focus on one boy, his family and friends but the lessons conveyed are universal. Jim is a wonderful character. He starts the novel feeling so BIG now that he writes his age in double digits “just like the uncles.” Slowly he becomes aware that instead of being big, he is really rather small, “I’m just a boy.” Earley’s writing is luminous and evocative. This short gem of a novel should be read by more people. It is simply marvelous.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Book Concierge wrote: " Jim the Boy by Tony Earley – 5*****
Earley’s debut novel is quiet, peaceful and yet powerful. The story may focus on one boy, his family and friends but the less..."

I loved it.

Book Concierge wrote: "In July thread CAROL wrote: Finished up Lamb in His Bosom. This was an accurate portrayal of backwoods life in Georgia. The harshness of the environment and the perseverance of the f..."

Lamb in His Bosom has always been one of my favorite novels. I've read it at least twice.

I came across The Lovely Bones on my bookshelf and realized that I never read it so I will be starting it today.

Almost finished with A Feast of Crows, the 4th in the George R R Martin fantasy series - it's ok. And just started Roz Chast's Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant. It's her memoir of caring for her parents through their old old age, a phase I've entered with my parents. I've smiled and laughed and remembered and nodded my head in recognition.

Book Concierge wrote: " Jim the Boy by Tony Earley – 5*****
Earley’s debut novel is quiet, peaceful and yet powerful. The story may focus on one boy, his family and friends but the less..."

One of my favorite books!

I am currently reading Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity and We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves.

Karen,
We read Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity on Constant Reader last year. It really opened my eyes to a whole different kind of life and impressed on me how very lucky most of us are in this country. I think it helped me understand the scale of the problems in developing countries and left me with much respect for the people in the slums that Boo wrote about. Life was such a struggle, but they did what they could to better themselves.

I also read We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. That got some great reviews and I hope you enjoy it. I wasn't so enthusiastic myself - probably just me.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon – 4****
Audio book performed by Davinia Porter. What a rollicking good story! I had avoided it because of the time travel aspect, but I found it very entertaining. I do have several issues with the book. There are parts that are a tad too “bodice-ripper” for my taste. I also wasn’t too keen on the whole “I’ll beat you to punish you and then we’ll make mad passionate love” scenario. And I was irritated with Claire’s continued insistence on going off by herself only to have to be rescued by Jamie (or another strong man). Still, it held my interest and Davinia Porter’s performance on the audio is worth a star all by itself.
This is a Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Ann,

Yes, definitely Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity is an eye-opening book. I find myself thinking about it throughout the day. I tell my family bits and pieces of it, simply because it's just that astounding.

I originally passed on reading We Are All Completely Beside
Ourselves, but the Man Booker nomination and author recommendations (Barbara Kingsolver being one) enticed me to read it. I'm only about 75 pages in to it, but I can see why it gets mixed reviews. I'm intrigued with where the story is headed, but I'm not sure how I feel about it yet......it's different.

I started a new (for me) mystery series: Deborah Crombie's Duncan Kincaid/Jemma James set in England. I am not reading these in order, which is probably a mistake, but I have enjoyed both Dreaming of the Bones and No Mark Upon Her. The explanation of the mystery in the first book was a little forced for me - too much speculating on the part of the detectives almost miraculously leading to a full explanation. I liked the way the second unraveled much better. However, I enjoy the human interest aspects of these books and will definitely be reading more. Thanks to those who recommended them here.

I also read William Boyd'sAn Ice-Cream War, about the World War I battle between Britain and Germany in east Africa. It is a dark satire and anti-war novel. This is not my favorite Boyd book, but, as usual it was very well done. It's about a war, so expect some horrors, but he is very insightful into his characters' psyches. For me, it was unpredictable, and I liked that.

I've read two books by Herman Koch lately. They are....different. I'd probably classify them as noir, but a bit more.
Here are two reviews, first of Summer House With Swimming Pool, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and
The Dinner, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Their structuring is different, and rather interesting.

Still doing research. Read two Dean Martin biographies. Memories Are Made of This, by his daughter, Deana. Touching, although not as thorough as one would like. Nick Tosches' Dino is a weird one: vulgar, foul, cynical, and utterly compelling. Just started a recent Marilyn Monroe bio, by women's historian Lois Banner -- a bit too full of "I did this first" bragging by the author, which is unusual (one doesn't expect first person voice from a historian who didn't personally know her subject). Seems well-researched, though.

Cateline wrote: "I've read two books by Herman Koch lately. They are....different. I'd probably classify them as noir, but a bit more.:

I like noir and I liked Koch's The Dinner. Looking forward to Summer House With Swimming Pool.

Marge

Marjorie wrote: "Cateline wrote: "I've read two books by Herman Koch lately. They are....different. I'd probably classify them as noir, but a bit more.:

I like noir and I liked Koch's The Dinner. Looking forward to Summer House With Swimming Pool.
..."

Then you'll definitely enjoy the latter. :) Same feel.

A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute – 5*****
A young English woman survives WW2 as a prisoner of the Japanese, and then finds her way to Australia and a new life. Nevil Shute is a wonderful story teller. I was engaged and interested from page one. Jean is a remarkable young woman – brave, intelligent, level-headed, and resilient. Joe Harman is a strong, quiet, resourceful young man. His steadfast belief in Jean, and hers in him, forms a solid basis for a strong and loving relationship. There is a fair amount of adventure in the story, and some horrific circumstances to be got through. But on the whole it is a quiet tale of a life well-lived.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Robert wrote: "Still doing research. Read two Dean Martin biographies. Memories Are Made of This, by his daughter, Deana. Touching, although not as thorough as one would like. Nick Tosches' Dino is a weird one: v..."

Have you read Jerry Lewis's memoir: Dean and Me: A Love Story?

Book Concierge wrote: " A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute – 5*****
A young English woman survives WW2 as a prisoner of the Japanese, and then finds her way to Australia and a new..."

Have this on my Kindle. Must get to it.

Book Concierge wrote: " A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute – 5*****
A young English woman survives WW2 as a prisoner of the Japanese, and then finds her way to Australia and a new..."

Great review. I've read it twice. First time when I was 15, then again a few years ago. I think I'm due for another reread. :)

Re Book Concierge's review of Nevil Shute's A Town Called Alice. I read this some time ago and found it to be a fascinating story. The part about the women's experience in Malaysia during the war was based on an actual story.

Robert wrote: "Still doing research. Read two Dean Martin biographies. Memories Are Made of This, by his daughter, Deana. Touching, although not as thorough as one would like. Nick Tosches' Dino is a weird one: vulgar, foul, cynical, and utterly compelling...."

Boy, you got that right about the Tosches book. He really has written a number of very, very different kinds of books. Robert, have you ever read the Jimmy Roselli bio, Making the Wiseguys Weep: The Jimmy Roselli Story ... about the other great singer from Hoboken. It's not a great book and not even that well written. But is it ever fascinating! (And Roselli really is a great singer.)

From the review: ""When I started singing big", Roselli told biographer David Evanier, "the tough guys were in the front row with the big cigars. They loved me so much they wanted to kill me. But their mothers and sisters and their wives wouldn't allow it". Roselli sang his best-loved song, "Little Pal" at John Gotti, Jr.'s wedding reception. Mobster Larry Gallo was buried with a Roselli record in his hands. "Hell of a guy", Roselli says of Gallo. "Nice, warm individual"."

Marjorie wrote: "Re Book Concierge's review of Nevil Shute's A Town Called Alice. I read this some time ago and found it to be a fascinating story. The part about the women's experience in Malaysia during the war..."

Yes ... my edition had an author's note at the end which talked about the Dutch women & children who were captured by the Japanese in Sumatra and marched all over that island because none of the Japanese officers wanted to take responsibility for them. I really want to find some book that deals with that episode specifically.

Larry, that will have to wait :)

I'm not a big fan of historical fiction, but wanted to recommend one where I was fully invested in the outcome: The Crooked Maid, set in 1948 Vienna. It's (what's called) a "loose sequel" to The Quiet Twin, set there in 1939, featuring some of the same names. I didn't read the earlier book, and don't feel I missed much.

The brash, in-your-face attitude of the title character, who spent the war in an orphanage, versus the (faux) gentility of the household where she's employed makes for a fascinating contrast.

Thanks for the heads up, John. That sounds good.

Finished Roz Chast's graphic memoir, can't we talk about something more pleasant?, and recommend it to all of you who are watching and caring for your parents as they near the ends of their lives. An apt subject for my life right now. I smiled, laughed out loud a few times, nodded my head in recognition often, and yes, felt sadness too. It's comforting to know for sure that I'm not alone in my experiences and reactions and those middle of the night uncomfortable feelings.

I am ploughing through The Luminaries, Eleanor Catton's Mann-Booker prize winner. If this were a library book, I would have tossed this 800
+ page tome, but I bought it and am now half way through. It mimics a 19th century adventure/mystery novel, and the author saddles herself with an unusual structure based on astrology, a subject beyond both my knowledge and interest. It has constant twists, but she sacrifices character to the structure, so I am having a hard time keeping everyone straight.

Has anyone else read this book?

Ann wrote: "I am ploughing through The Luminaries, Eleanor Catton's Mann-Booker prize winner. If this were a library book, I would have tossed this 800
+ page tome, but I boug..."

I purchased it for kindle, on sale, a while back. Tried to start it, but somehow it irritated me. Didn't make much progress. I liked the premise, but the execution lacked. I'm not saying I won't try again though. :)

Ann wrote: "I am ploughing through The Luminaries, Eleanor Catton's Mann-Booker prize winner. If this were a library book, I would have tossed this 800
+ page tome, but I boug..."

I have been debating if I want to tackle it for the up coming discussion. It is too long, and right now I want shorter books to read.

I started Wilderness of Spring, but have been side tracked by Jim the Boy. Both stories are about young boys and the coming of age. Wilderness is about brothers in the early 1700's Massachusetts, and Jim is about a young boy during the early part of the 20th century in North Carolina.

I finished reading Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg.

I am also reading Shame by Salman Rushdie.

Ann wrote: "I am ploughing through The Luminaries, Eleanor Catton's Mann-Booker prize winner. If this were a library book, I would have tossed this 800
+ page tome, but I boug..."

My plough [intended pun] got smashed by a rock about 10-20 pp. in, so I gave up and didn't even count it on GR. Too dense for me and not interesting enough. The astrology aspect wouldn't have bothered me.

I finished Stephen Hunter's Sniper's Honor this morning. An aging U.S. sniper, Bob Lee Swagger, the protagonist of several of Hunter's books, investigates what ever happened to a female Russian sniper who had been sent to assassinate a German SS officer in the Ukraine. All references to her later history in WW2 have been erased from history and Swagger wants to find out what really happened and why the secrecy of her story is still an issue in modern times. Good job of combining what is going on with Swagger now and what was going on with Mili the sniper in World War 2. It's maybe the best of his Swagger the sniper books.

Paakhi,
I have enjoyed Fannie Flagg's books. Have you ever seen the movie FRIED GREEN TOMATOES?

I started Garry Wills' 2008 translation of St. Augustine's CONFESSIONS. [I couldn't find the link to the right edition ... I found over 500 editions and didn't want to search them one by one.] Wills is always illuminating. In this book, it starts in the introduction, when he explains that CONFESSIONS, which is usually presented as Augustine's biography is not that at all.

I don't think I ever mentioned how much I liked Roger Ebert's Life Itself after I finished it. You expect the many stories about actors like Lee Marvin, but what I enjoyed greatly was his stories about a hotel owner in London or a restaurant owner in Venice ... and most of all the story of the love between him and his wife, Chaz.

The Luminaries

I can't believe I read the whole thing.

I think the majority of readers on this one will join Cateline, Carol, and Jane in abandoning it early on. I persisted, because of some of the rave reviews and because there were enough hooks at the end of chapters and sharp turns in the story to keep me interested.

When I got to the final 200 pages, I thought there was finally a payoff. In contrast to the first 600 pages or so where a very large cast of characters told bits and pieces of the story out of sequence, this section of the book was a linear and straight forward prequel of events before the main action in Hokitika, New Zealand. This really cleared up a lot of the muddle in my brain. HOWEVER, I guess Catton got bored with this approach, because then she ended with very short chapters which merely suggested what could have happened with some of the other confusing happenings.

All in all, you will probably enjoy this if you like approaching a novel as an intellectual game. Catton is very good at twisting and interleaving the narrative strands. She comes up short in making us care about the characters or helping us feel immersed in the time and place.

I am surprised that this book won the Mann Booker prize. I guess it must have been the novelty and technical skill that appealed to the jury.

Maybe I should just read the last 200 pages. Haha!

Carol wrote: "Maybe I should just read the last 200 pages. Haha!"

Maybe it would have been worth reading if it were shorter in the first place. Carol, you could have a point; maybe last 200 pages would have made a decent novel in themselves. :)

I ended up giving the book only 2 stars. Of course, that is only my perspective. Those very short ending chapters really irritated me. For me there wasn't enough payoff for that big investment of time.

I agree that Catton would have written a more readable book if she had made it much shorter, but her whole objective seems to have been to experiment with narrative. The "astrology" set up of the book also provided challenges for her because she needed so many characters to represent all the heavenly bodies.

Ah well, some people will not doubt enjoy this book.

Ann wrote: "I ended up giving the book only 2 stars. Of course, that is only my perspective. Those very short ending chapters really irritated me. For me there wasn't enough payoff for that big investment of t..."

Things move slower in New Zealand, both in the past and in the present. I do not think that I have the patience for this novel, and I really appreciate hearing CR readers' opinions about it.

This is too bad , since it will be up for discussion the last of the year. I will see if I can get it from library in the ebook form. It will be too big to lug around, and I definitely don't want to purchase it.

Carol wrote: "This is too bad , since it will be up for discussion the last of the year. I will see if I can get it from library in the ebook form. It will be too big to lug around, and I definitely don't want ..."

I think I'll skip that discussion. But I'll be reading what folks say.

I have trouble finding time to read in the run up to the Winter Holidays. I'll give The Luminaries a shot on December 26.