The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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GETTING TO KNOW YOU
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<closed thread>What are you currently reading?
Finished Chaos Vector and started Nuanua: An Anthology of Pacific Writing in English Since 1980 and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. Still working on The Last of the Departed.Trying to get a handle on my unfinished (but liked) series, but my library doesn't have the sequel to Chaos Vector. Think I'll cue Ancestral Night for next so I can get that series up to date. Also see Nuanua as a sequel to Lali: A Pacific Anthology, so getting that series up to date too.
Coming Home For Christmas – Fern Michaels – 2**
This is a collection of three novellas all set during the Christmas season. If you’ve seen even one Hallmark Christmas movie you know the basic plot line here. I found the scenarios pretty unbelievable and the chosen novella length left some significant holes in the plots. Still, they’re fast reads, and moderately enjoyable.
My full review HERE
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Heaven, Texas – Susan Elizabeth Phillips – ZERO stars
Book # 2 in the Chicago Stars romance series. No. Just No. A “gentleman” does NOT play mind games for his own amusement to trick a virgin into succumbing to him so that he can then drop her like a hot potato when the fun is over. There is nothing remotely romantic or appealing about these scenarios. Shame on Phillips for propagating such a misogynistic message.
My full review HERE
Finished The Last of the Departed, A Translation from Armenian Into English of the Poems of Zahrad, 1960-2004, and Blood Heir. The Last of the Departed was very depressing. So was the Poems of Zahrad despite the intro's claim the poems wouldn't be. Blood Heir (Ilona Andrews, not the other one) was light and readable. They seem to have a side character checklist they work of off (gotta give each character at least 1 scene per book) but it manages to not be annoying.
Picked up Azerbaijanian Poetry after a break and still working on Nuanua: An Anthology of Pacific Writing in English Since 1980 and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. Think I'm going to start The Memory Police tonight.
I don't like Kavalier & Clay but I'm unwilling to drop it. Going to procrastinate on it with other books. :\
Decided to DNF The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. Not for me.Finished Nuanua: An Anthology of Pacific Writing in English Since 1980, Azerbaijanian Poetry, and Anthology of Armenian Poetry. All fine.
Started Three Apples Fell from the Sky, The Memory Police, and Ancestral Night
A Long Petal Of the Sea – Isabel Allende – 4****
A family epic covering six decades of history from 1930s Spanish Civil War to 1990s in Chile. This is the kind of historical fiction at which Allende excels. She seamlessly weaves the real historical events into the story line, while giving the reader characters that come alive on the page and about which we come to care. Central to this work, as to all of Allende’s novels, are the strong women. Roser and Ofelia certainly take center stage. But the older women – Carme, Laura and Juana – are equally strong, resilient, intelligent and determined.
My full review HERE
A Gathering Of Old Men – Ernest J Gaines – 4****
A dead man. A running tractor. A white woman who claims she shot him. A gathering of old men with shotguns. A sheriff who knows everyone is lying. A father who needs revenge. What is so marvelous about this work is that Gaines tells it from a variety of viewpoints, as different characters narrate chapters. One by one they tell their stories simply but eloquently.
My full review HERE
Adequate Yearly Progress – Roxanne Elden – 3***
A year in the life of teachers at a struggling urban high school in a large Texas city. I’m not a teacher, but I have friends who have worked as teachers, and Elden includes scenarios that are familiar to anyone who has ever been required to attend yet another motivational speech or meeting to discuss implementation of a new process. There are moments of serious reflection, scenes of tenderness and of hilarity.
My full review HERE
Finished:
- 3*,
- 5*,
- 4*Reading:
A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle
Last Day - Audiobook
The Sign of the Book - Owned
i have 3 on the go at the momentPhysical book
New York I love this man's country specific historical fiction BUT they are big books
Kindle
Missing Pieces this I got via Netgalley and I am struggling
Audio
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler
it is OK , an easy listen
Reshuffled the "Currently Reading"Finished Three Apples Fell from the Sky, The Death of Vivek Oji, The Greek Plays: Sixteen Plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, Suite Française, Recipes for Sad Women, and The Back Room. All fine.
Currently reading The Country of the Pointed Firs and Other Stories. Library holds came in so I have a bunch more to get started with. :D
Finished:
- 4*,
- 4*Reading:
A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle
Finished: Reading:
A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle
For Love and Duty - Owned
Norse Mythology - Audiobook
Lady Osbaldestone’s Christmas Goose – Stephanie Laurens – 3***
Set in 1810 England, just on the cusp of the Regency period, this delightful Christmas mystery focuses on the recently widowed Lady Therese Osbaldestone, her three young grandchildren, a flock of missing geese, a “spinster” forgoing her own happiness to look after her younger brother, and a wounded war veteran. Lady O is a marvelous character; bright, opinionated, kind, inquisitive (some might say nosy), and confident in her right – nay, duty – to oversee everyone’s business. From the marvelous characters to the charming scenes of Regency village holiday life I found it entertaining and engaging.
My full review HERE
Both on Kindle: Finished:
The History of the Thirteen Colonies of North America 1497-1763 (1908) by Reginald Welbury Jeffery.Started:
History of the United States (1921) by Charles A. Beard
Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee – Dee Brown – 5*****
Subtitle: An Indian History of the American West. Brown’s interest in the history of the American West took him to many resources that were previously ignored in crafting the official textbooks from which millions were taught American history. This work is one attempt to correct the information so many thought they knew. Brown relates the systemic plunder of Native lands region by region, tribe by tribe, battle by battle, broken treaty by broken treaty. It is a very personal account. And it is heartbreaking.
My full review HERE
Reading:A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle
For Love and Duty - Owned
In the Spirit of Murder - Kindle
Floating Twigs - Library
Clara and Mr. Tiffany - Library
Women Of the Silk – Gail Tsukiyama – 3***
This work of historical fiction takes us to early 20th century China and the unique position of the women who worked in the silk factories in lieu of marriage. I loved the unexpected strength and determination of these young women as they made their own way in a culture that restricted opportunities for women. The independence they gained, though initially forced on them, became their most prized attribute.
My full review HERE
Still reading The Country of the Pointed Firs and Other Stories and added The Complete Plays of Sophocles: A New Translation. Finished The Green Hat, The Galaxy, and the Ground Within, and Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
Wish I could comment more on what other people are reading but I haven't read much - a reminder that there's so much out there to read. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is very heartbreaking. My mind refuses to fully comprehend it.
I am reading The Visitors am about a third throughThis book is wicked, amazing, thought provoking and Oh so Different
I cannot believe it's rating is not higher
ETA I can see where it loses star quality now and it is such a shame
Kitchen Confidential – Anthony Bourdain – 3.5***
Subtitle: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly. This is a wonderful memoir, as well as a bit of a tutorial, a travelogue, and a warning of what NOT to do. Bourdain is honest, profane, funny, enlightening and engaging. As a plus, he narrated the audio version himself.
My full review HERE
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A Nantucket Christmas – Nancy Thayer – 3***
Thayer writes charming Christmas-themed stories where the reader knows in advance that things will all work out in the end. In addition to the blended family tension, this one also has a charming subplot involving a stray dog.
My full review HERE
Friends Like Us – Lauren Fox – 3***
I really enjoyed this exploration of friendship and the choices one makes as one matures. I remember close friends I had in my twenties … I have witnessed (and been part of) break-ups that hurt so badly you wondered how you would ever survive. And I recognized how a best friend can say just the right thing to help you through what you believe to be the darkest moments. So, the relationships between these people and their emotions were completely relatable to me.
My full review HERE
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The Secret Life of Violet Grant – Beatriz Williams – 3.5***
Williams uses a dual timeline and dual narrators to tell this story of Vivian Schuyler, Manhattan socialite and wanna-be advertising exec in 1964, and her aunt Violet Schuyler Grant, who endured an unhappy marriage to pursue her dreams of scientific research in 1914 Europe. I was quickly engaged and continuously interested in this story line. While I’ve grown tired of the dual timeline that is so popular these days with historical fiction, I thought Williams did a very good job of using this device.
My full review HERE
Finished The Complete Plays of Sophocles: A New Translation, The Country of the Pointed Firs and Other Stories, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Ali and Nino, and The Summer BookStarting The Memory Police and reading The Fourth World/El Cuarto Mundo.
Not going to finish everything I have planned for the challenge by September. :'(. Think I'm going to start Fall later - everything I have planned seems so intriguing that I'm unwilling to drop anything.
Very impressive selections, in case anyone thought that people doing challenges only read short or "easy" books, this shows the depth of the group's reading!I just finished The Black Arrow for a classics group. Now reading Désorientale, which was recommended by several people. I can read French, which is the original language it was written in. It used to be an expensive and lengthy process to acquire a French book, but with ebooks, it's wonderfully easy.
Finished The Memory Police, The Fourth World/El Cuarto Mundo, and The Calculating Stars.Going to start The Poisonwood Bible, which I find super intimidating for some reason. Noting that it only has like 100 more pages than The Calculating Stars... but I think they've crammed twice as many words on there. Should be okay once I get a bit into it, unless it's a DNF.
Edit: Noting again that The Poisonwood Bible has frequent section breaks, prolly shaves at least 50p from the page count.
Reading:A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle
For Love and Duty - Owned
In the Spirit of Murder - Kindle
Signs in the Blood - Library
The Ghost Clause - Library
Shinju - Library
Lions – Bonnie Nadzam – 3.5***
I can always rely on my F2F book club friend to recommend interesting, “odd” books! Nadzam’s work reminds me of classic fables with tragic heroes, especially opening with a mysterious stranger and his little dog. Her characters are familiar and yet distant. I recognize some of their emotions and motivations: loyalty, inertia, longing, adventure, boredom, duty, wonder, love.
My full review HERE
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What Alice Forgot – Lianne Moriarty – 3.5***
After a head injury, Alice Love awakes thinking herself 10 years younger than she is, and with no memory of the last decade. What an interesting concept! Moriarty does a great job writing about women and their relationships – with friends, with siblings, with spouses. Here we have a woman who is possibly getting a “do-over” … or is she? Can she really erase the last ten years? Does she want to? I liked this approach to how our past shapes our present and future.
My full review HERE
This Tender Land – William Kent Krueger – 4****
Krueger references both The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and Homer’s The Odyssey in this epic adventure set in America’s upper Midwest during the Great Depression. Krueger is a marvelous storyteller, and he keeps the plot moving with a variety of incidents. The travelers show intelligence, resourcefulness, and tenacity. They are also children - immature and prone to misunderstanding or misinterpretation of information they gather. And, of course, they are vulnerable. I loved watching them grow, both individually and in their relationships, through these experiences.
My full review HERE
I just finished my last book for the summer challenge and I have to say... I'm addicted!To the SRC I mean. This was my first season, and I can't wait to dive in the next! (Help!)
I'll start reading The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler.
After a LOT of e-books, finally some real paper books again.
I expect the book to be good, since the last one I read from Lars Kepler was well written too.
Finished:
- 3*,
- 3*,
- 4*Reading:
A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle
For Love and Duty - Owned
Signs in the Blood - Library
The Guardian - Library
The Diary of a Bookseller - Library
Unnatural Causes – P D James – 3***
Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh’s planned seaside holiday goes awry when a headless, handless body washes ashore. First is the mystery of who the victim is; then comes determining the culprit. Plenty of suspects, some red herrings, and a thrilling climactic scene. I’ll keep reading this series.
My full review HERE
Reading:A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle
For Love and Duty - Owned
Signs in the Blood - Library
The Guardian - Library
The Diary of a Bookseller - Library
Started: Murder in the South of France
The Forgotten Affairs of Youth
The Next Thing On My List – Jill Smolinski – 3***
After her passenger dies in an auto accident, guilt drives June to complete the dead woman’s bucket list by a certain deadline. This was about what I expected. I was not a big fan of the main character, June, who really seemed to have her priorities backwards. The plot moved along and there were some entertaining scenes. All told, it was fine, but not stellar.
My full review HERE
Finished:
- 4*,
- 4*,
- 3*Reading:
A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle
For Love and Duty - Owned
Murder in the South of France - Kindle
The Forgotten Affairs of Youth - Library
Speak - Library
That Churchill Woman – Stephanie Barron – 3***
A novel of Jennie Jerome, American heiress of the Gilded Age, who married Lord Randolph Churchill and was the mother of Winston Churchill. I find Jennie a fascinating character. Barron does a good job of bringing her to life and giving the reader a “modern” woman who was able to bend the rules of the restrictive society in which she found herself to achieve some measure of personal happiness and fulfillment. The novel has piqued my interest in her, and I’ll seek out a biography of Jennie.
My full review HERE
A History of Loneliness – John Boyne – 5*****
Against the backdrop of the priest pedophile scandal, Father Odran Yates narrates his life story, from early childhood to his time in seminary to his long career as a priest and the final conflict that forces him to examine his part in the scandal. Boyne’s writing is marvelous. His characters are complex. This is a book I will be thinking about for a long time.
My full review HERE
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The Seasonal Reading Challenge
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The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is queued for next.
I like this challenge - it's letting me get in books I wanted to read "sometime or another" but possibly never would have gotten to. Kavalier & Clay was one of my old roommate's favorites but it looks very large and intimidating. So did The House of Styx, but that one has large font, wide spacing, and full page breaks between its very short chapters (I think it's a 200p book pretending to be 600p lol).