Constant Reader discussion

It's time to start a new thread!

I am currently reading The Brothers K by David James Duncan and The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill, both of which have been mentioned here on CR recently.

Mary Anne wrote: "It's time to start a new thread!

I am currently reading The Brothers K by David James Duncan and The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill, both of which have been mentione..."

I was going to start this book by Susan Hill, but I was not sure, because I rarely read thriller/mystery, but I'd heard only great things about it. How do you like it for now?

As for me, I'm currently reading Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, and The Children of Húrin by JRR Tolkien, and I'm enjoying both by now.
And I just finished A Thousand Nights, which was a fine read for me! Pretty interesting.

I would never have survived these times in old Ireland, but I'm glad a lot of my ancestors did. The Good People were anything but good fairies in Hannah Kent's excellent novel.
4★ Link to my review

Andreea Beatrice wrote: "Mary Anne wrote: "It's time to start a new thread!

Andreea, there are a variety of characters with different story lines so the Susan Hill book has taken me about 50 pages to get into. But now I've got the rhythm, and it seems to be a good read.

I haven't read Tolkien for a long time. Let me know how it goes.

I posted this in November in the wrong (old) thread. Oops.
Ah, another good Aussie debut! Love seeing such good new talent. In The Nowhere Child by Christian White, Aussie Kim is told - surprise! - you're actually American Sandy!
4.5★ Link to my review

I just enjoyed Kit de Waal's latest book, The Trick to Time. She's got a good handle on how people work and what keeps them from breaking.
4★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just started, 2 chapters in, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin along with my in person book group which is maintaining its annual tradition of reading a book by a recently deceased author. I was first introduced to this book via a BBC drama adaptation. I also treated myself to a hardback illustrated edition of her The Books of Earthsea: The Complete Illustrated Edition as a long winter read.

The Great Alone – Kristin Hannah – 2.5**
Ernt Allbright is a damaged man; a former Vietnam POW he is prone to fits of anger and depression. So, moving his family to a remote homestead in Alaska is clearly a sign that things are going to go badly. I was engaged and interested in the story from the beginning, but … I quickly grew tired of Cora’s constant excuses for her sorry husband. She seemed to never take seriously the signs that he was a danger to her … and to their child! On the plus side, I really did enjoy the depictions of the majestic natural beauty of Alaska. I liked the self-sufficiency of many of the characters, and particularly liked the strong women of the community. In general, however, the things I liked couldn’t make up for what I didn’t like, so this gets a below average rating.
LINK to my review

Two VERY different books ...



Die Trying – Lee Child – 3.5***
Gosh but these books are addictive! Reacher is former military police, and now is roaming about taking odd jobs. He’s certainly got his hands full this time. I like that in this book, Holly Johnson is a strong female …. She may be on crutches, but she is far from helpless. Implausible though it may be, Child gives the reader a fast-paced thriller full of action and intrigue.
LINK to my review

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Yellow Crocus – Laila Ibrahim – 3.5***
Good historical fiction set in 1837 to 1860 Virginia. The novel explores the ways in which family bonds are formed regardless of biological connection. I loved Mattie. She’s a strong woman who works hard and smart, watching and learning skills that will help her and her family find their way to freedom someday. I did not like Lisbeth too much for most of the book, but once she was forced to confront her assumptions she showed strength of character.
LINK to my review

Aussie author Caroline Overington is an award-winning investigative journalist, so I knew I'd enjoy her story of a celebrity's missing toddler. The Ones You Trust reveals the ins and outs of publicity vs police.
4★Link to my review

Anne of Ingleside – L. M. Montgomery – 2.5**
This is the sixth book in the series that follows the irrepressible Anne Shirley as she grows from a young orphan to adulthood. This book focuses on Anne and Gilbert’s six children, who seem to all share their mother’s gift of imagination and tendency toward fantasy. But, I read the earlier books in the series for Anne, and she wasn’t as prevalent in this episode. I’m not sure I’ll continue reading the series at all.
LINK to my review

Heidi – Johanna Spyri – 4.5****
This classic of children’s literature tells the story of Heidi, a young orphan girl who lives with her gruff grandfather up on a Swiss mountain. It’s a wonderful story about a child who has lost much but relishes all that she has. She’s intelligent, open-minded, kind-hearted and has a great generosity of spirit.
LINK to my review

I read Young Jane Young, and am not enthusiastic about it, though it has caused me to review my feelings about how much responsibility a young woman has when she carries on an affair with a married man. (Basically, I continue to hate how society becomes so involved in shaming everyone involved, and feel that it's only the business of the wife, not society at large).

I just reread Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. I rarely reread books, but even knowing the outcomes, really did enjoy the process of reading this one again.

Hana's Suitcase: A True Story is the simple but fascinating account of a child of the Holocaust researched by a young Japanese woman for Japanese school children. Canadian author Karen Levine's book has been published around the world. Lots of photos with my review.
5★Link to my review

Speaking From Among the Bones – Alan Bradley – 3***
Book five in the series starring eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, amateur chemist and amateur sleuth. I love Flavia. She’s an intrepid explorer, pedaling about Bishop’s Lacey on her trusty bicycle, Gladys, and doing experiments in her laboratory. She is smart, independent, curious and determined.
LINK to my review

Kristin Hannah’s THE GREAT ALONE, narrated by Julia Whelan. Good book. Gripping plot tells a story of the beauty and wildness of Alaska, love, domestic violence, bodies damaged by the violence of war, survival, and abuse. Every once in a while I thought the plot asked me to believe too much. But all in all I found it difficult to put this book down.

The Skin Above My Knee, a memoir by Marcia Butler, is really a wonderful book. In spite of the odds against her, such as distant and abusive parents, and questionable relationships, Butler had an inner drive to take on and succeed in a career in classical music. There are many hurdles along the way, but her writing is superb. Someone recommended this book to me, and I am thankful for it. I give the book 5*****.

This brand new children's picture book, My Friend Sleep by Laura Baker, could help youngsters deal with with some sleep problems. I've included lots of Hannah Peck's artwork.
4★ Link to my review with illustrations
[For some reason, illustrations aren't showing in the Goodreads app, but they're fine if you use GR in a web browser.]

Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck – 5***** and a ❤
Steinbeck’s novella is taken from an incident in his own background. His emotional closeness to the story is evident in this tragedy. This is the third or fourth time I’ve read it; second time listening to the audio. Steinbeck’s genius here is to write a spare story that still tells volumes about the human condition. It is a story of friendship, loyalty, and love.
LINK to my review

The Incredible Journey – Sheila Burnford – 4****
Three beloved family pets – a young Labrador, an aged bull terrier, and a Siamese cat – head home across 300 miles of wooded and mostly uninhabited territory in Ontario, Canada. I saw the original Disney movie when I was a child and read the book at about that same time. I’m glad I revisited it now. It’s a wonderful tale of adventure, friendship, loyalty, teamwork, and kindness.
LINK to my review

Ivan Doig’s THE BARTENDER’S TALE, narrated by David Aaron Baker. This book has been on my TBR list for quite some time. My husband has repeatedly recommended it to me. Obviously I’ve been procrastinating - Western settings are not my usual taste in fiction. But I’m so glad I finally got to it. It’s a really terrific story about a son loving his father and finding the love of his life. And I thought the narrator was very good.

Thank you, Mary. I'm actually a fan of Ivan Doig's writing so this goes on my list. I read his memoir, This House of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind and really enjoyed it. Last Bus to Wisdom, his last, is also waiting for me on my bookshelf.

This 55-year-old "lost American classic" has lost none of its power or relevance and certainly does deserve to be republished.

A Different Drummer by William Melvin Kelley takes place in a fictitious US State in the Deep South.
5★ Link to my review

An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten. The title says it perfectly. Maud is 88, lives independently, and it isn't a spoiler to say that being an annoyance to Maud is a bad move. The book is a series of stories about Maud. In all but one story, Maud is the narrator.

I gave it 4****

Mary wrote: "Ivan Doig’s THE BARTENDER’S TALE, narrated by David Aaron Baker. This book has been on my TBR list for quite some time. My husband has repeatedly recommended it to me. Obviously I’ve been procrasti..."

Love Doig's writing. Not "typical" westerns (whatever that means) at all. Beautiful writing. So glad you enjoyed it.

The Ruins – Scott B Smith – 3***
I read Smith’s earlier novel A Simple Plan , which was a great novel full of psychological nuance, family drama and several twists and turns. I didn’t see the same level of writing with this book. On the plus side, the action moves fairly quickly, though it does start off slowly. On the other hand, this group of young “adults” is almost uniformly unlikeable.
LINK to my review

For a group read, I read Raymond Carver's short story Cathedral, which was curious indeed. It is the title story of a collection that was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. I included a link to where The London Magazine has published it online.
Link to my review

I've mostly been reading kind of dumb mysteries, but I also dip in and out of Lin-Manuel Miranda's {(Gmorning, Gnight)} Gmorning, Gnight , which is a compilation of some of his morning and evening Tweets, many of which are inspiring and sweet, a sure cure for reading 45's inhuman tweets.

Lyn wrote: "I've mostly been reading kind of dumb mysteries, but I also dip in and out of Lin-Manuel Miranda's {(Gmorning, Gnight)} Gmorning, Gnight , which is a compilation of some of his morn..."

Sounds like a good antidote, Lyn!

Wendell Berry shows us a lifetime in the moving short story Stand By Me. (Available free online)
4.5★ Link to my review

I can't remember who recommended it in the previous thread, but The Tsar of Love and Techno was exactly the book I needed after a reading slump. Delightful descriptive writing and a collection of interwoven short stories that come together at the end like a puzzle box. I wish I could read it for the first time again.

I loved it too, Peggy. My short review on Goodreads included the words "truly brilliant." It was a group read here as well. You can find the discussion under Reading List without scrolling too far.

Also chiming in about The Tsar of Love and Techno. My review:

Marra creates a necklace of stories with small connections between them. It is often difficult subject material to read about, as the stories often involve people living in inhumane times, places, and situations, but this book is a reminder that excellent writing is always rewarding to read.

Evan Smoak is still answering his phone and asking the desperate callers "Do you need my help?" Well, duh! Of course, that's why were given the secret number of The Nowhere Man! This is #2 in Gregg Hurwitz's action-packed Orphan X series.
4★ My review

Peggy wrote: "I can't remember who recommended it in the previous thread, but The Tsar of Love and Techno was exactly the book I needed after a reading slump. Delightful descriptive writing and a..."

As soon as I finished it, I started right over again. I think it was my favorite book the year we read it.

I also loved THE TSAR OF LOVE AND TECHNO. I listened to the audio edition last year and gave it 5 stars. I thought the narration added flavor and texture to this excellent collection of stories. I read it because of the discussion here.

Just starting Oral History Manual. I have a dream for an oral history project but have no idea how to do it. I hope this book helps me get started.

The early teens sure can be tricky! Crush, by Svetlana Chmakova, is Awkward #3 in a big comic series for kids in middle school. Covers heaps of issues. My review, with many screen shots:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Madeleine Albright’s FASCISM: A WARNING, narrated by the author. Former Secretary of State Albright’s book is an interesting review of the historical roots of fascism, a thoughtful survey of authoritarian leaders around the world today, a reasonably balanced summary of DT’s leadership style and accomplishments to date, and an argument for vigilance and deepening commitments to improving societal conditions that are conducive to a resurgence of fascism. Considering her personal and professional background and experiences, she is a person whose opinion on this topic I respect.

I am coming to the end of an interrupted read of The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan. Although it has been too much for my often-otherwise-occupied (and aging!) brain to retain, its non-Euro-centric view of world history is both disorienting (in a good way!) and fascinating. Recommended for a different slant on those world history classes we took (and, in my case, taught) back in the day!

I'm finishing up The Little Drummer Girl. Not sure what is next for me.

Maurice Swift, author, is the thoroughly reprehensible creation of wonderful real author John Boyne in his new book A Ladder to the Sky. I absolutely loved hating him - Maurice, of course, not John!
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

George Saunders’ LINCOLN IN THE BARDO. Sometimes when I view contemporary visual arts I can feel great appreciation and respect for the artist’s talent, inventiveness, and willingness to take risks - great leaps of faith into unexplored territory, pushing boundaries, or re-inventing the familiar - and yet not like or even necessarily enjoy the particular work I’m looking at and exploring. I feel exactly that way about this book. It was odd, fascinating, confusing at times and brilliantly insightful at other times. The language and rhythm and imagery were terrific. And yet, I didn’t really like it. I appreciated the full cast performance of the audio edition (166 narrators). Maybe some day I will read it again by actually turning pages. That happens with contemporary visual arts as well - I like them much more on a second viewing several years later. I did find this group’s discussion of the book, which I read after I’d finished listening to it, thoughtful and helpful.

I’m enjoying The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. I find myself thinking of novels I’d like to slip into & slightly change the story.
I’m not enjoying the narration of the audiobook, however.

Joan, I enjoyed THE EYRE AFFAIR very much. I’ve gone on to read almost everything he’s written.

After 58 years, he’s given me a new perspective on reading novels. It sounds lame, I know—
I had never envisioned the characters as real people, about actually entering the story. My imagined interactions, if any, were with the author - not the world in the book.

I love any writer who uses lugubrious so I’ll be reading more of Jasper Fforde’s books.

I just finished (only because persistence is one of my defining qualities) Transcription. I was bored, didn't care about any of the characters, and somehow the writing made the plot uninteresting to me as well.

Mary wrote: "George Saunders’ LINCOLN IN THE BARDO. Sometimes when I view contemporary visual arts I can feel great appreciation and respect for the artist’s talent, inventiveness, and willingness to take risks..."

I read it and enjoyed it, Mary, and I've heard that the audio is terrific. But, I think what I'd really like is to listen with the book in front of me, like following a script. It is an unusual format, which worked fine for me, although I admit I'd seen reviews so I realised there were lots of characters. I don't know what I'd have thought if I'd just pulled it off a shelf with no prior knowledge!

In My Real Name Is Hanna, author Tara Lynn Masih gives us a "Ukrainian Anne Frank", based on real, terrifying events during WW2.

An excellent read for adults and easy enough for YA readers, who should all read it!
4.5★ Link to my review