Constant Reader discussion

A new thread for the next two months - enjoy!

I'm reading DENIAL OF JUSTICE by Mark Shaw. I don't read a lot of non-fiction or true crime and especially not conspiracy theories involving people who were before my time (Dorothy Kilgallen), but I know the author of this book, and I know the man he considers his chief suspect, who used to date my sister. They almost got engaged. The book is okay, but is more for JFK conspiracy theorists and Kilgallen fans than readers wanting to be entertained. Shaw, by his own admission, is not a great writer, but he's quite prolific in this area.

I decided to read it now because I'm kind of stuck on BRING UP THE BODIES. I love the writing in that one. It's so beautifully written, but I found I couldn't connect emotionally with the characters. I don't think that's Mantel's fault. I think it's mine. I started reading it right after the 20th installment of the "Inspector Lynley" series, THE PUNISHMENT SHE DESERVES, and it was so good, I think I wanted to stay in the current century, or close to it. Not yet willing to drop back to Henry Tudor's time.

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot is a brand new favourite! It's hard to believe this is Marianne Cronin's first novel. Wonderful characters and story.
5★ Link to my review of One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

I just enjoyed Aussie author B Michael Radburn's second Taylor Bridges mystery, The Falls. Creepy murders in the Victorian bush.
4★ Link to my review of The Falls

I recently finished The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine who Outwitted America's Enemies. It was a frustrating reading experience, in part because of the writing style and the amount of irrelevant detail. Elizebeth Smith Friedman and her husband were groundbreaking codebreakers in the US, from the WWI era forward, but Elizebeth had been neglected by history while her husband William gained (largely posthumous) praise. Though the author wanted to correct the neglect, he gave a disproportionate amount of space to William, IMHO. Some interesting historical nuggets, but it seemed to be a longer book than it was....

I just started The Dutch House and look forward to reading the CR discussion when I'm done.

A Bookshop In Berlin – Françoise Frenkel – 4****
Subtitle: The Rediscovered Memoir of One Woman’s Harrowing Escape From the Nazis. Originally titled ”No Place To Lay One’s Head”, this is an interesting first-hand account of the author’s ultimately successful journey to safety in Switzerland.
My full review HERE

Sarah Vowell’s ASSASSINATION VACATION. I’d never heard of Sarah Vowell until I learned of the existence of this book. I did know about the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley. I was unprepared for Sarah Vowell’s voice. I could only listen to it for short periods of time and really didn’t get used to it until I was about halfway through her book, which is full of trivia - mostly interesting - and snarky humor and social commentary - which made me laugh out loud from time to time. I decided to read this book to satisfy a monthly read for our library’s annual book challenge; otherwise, it never would have made it to my reading list; I could have made worse choices.

Mary wrote: "Sarah Vowell’s ASSASSINATION VACATION. I’d never heard of Sarah Vowell until I learned of the existence of this book. I did know about the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinl..."

I’ve seen her once or twice on Book TV. I like her humorous take on history. I listened to and enjoyed Lafayette in the Somewhat United States.

A friend of mine loaned me Lincoln's Last Trial: The Murder Case That Propelled Him to the Presidency and I warned her that it might take me a while to get to it. I don't often take loans from friends anymore given all of the books on my towering To Be Read list. However, it was intriguing enough that once I got used to the language of the trial, it became a bit of a page turner.

It is a record of Abraham Lincoln's last trial before his presidency. He had debated Stephen A. Douglas and was very well known locally but not nationally. The book is largely based on a meticulous transcript which was just unearthed in the late 20th century. Trials rarely had court stenographers at that time so this was unusual. It gave me a different sense of Lincoln. He was quite a wily though seemingly very honest lawyer. If you have any experience with the law and courtrooms, I think you would like it even more. My husband is a retired trial lawyer and I found myself reading a number of sections aloud to him. There was also some brief legal history about how certain courtroom practices have evolved. A few of them even my husband didn't know about though he had heard about this case in law school.

A good read! Bitter Wash Road is the first of a series about a rural Aussie copshop run by a 'disgraced' ex-detective. (Moral: never ever rat on crooked cops.) Add me to the list of Garry Disher's fans!
4.5★ Link to my Bitter Wash Road review

Olive Kitteridge – Elizabeth Strout – 4****
After my F2F book club chose to discuss the sequel, Olive, Again , I decided to revisit the original. I can clearly see her growth as a character. And I’m more sympathetic to Olive, even though she is still hard to like.
My full review HERE

I just finished American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird, a wonderful biography about the scientist who became an American icon after his role in producing the atomic bomb. The American post-war paranoia and the beginnings of the nuclear arms race were fascinating to read about as was Oppenheimer, the man.

Also, I just started Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. It’s a series of beautifully written essays by Kimmerer, who is an indigenous botanist, professor, and nature writer.

I am reading Bevelations Lessons From A Mutha, Auntie & Bestie by Beverly Smith and Just As I Am by Cicely Tyson.

The Dutch House – Ann Patchett – 4****
Patchett uses the youngest member of the Conroy family, Danny, to tell this decades-long story of the family’s fortunes. I love Patchett’s writing. I love the way she reveals her characters in what they say and do. We see Danny grow from a young child to a middle-aged man with children of his own. And we watch Maeve take on the mantle of responsibility for her younger brother, encouraging and pushing him to succeed, to prove that they can thrive without the legacy they expected.
My full review HERE

I already read The Dutch House, but for an upcoming book group, I'm listening to the audio of it by Tom Hanks, as I thought he'd make an awesome Danny.

I'm also reading a book of fun sci fi short stories: Sorry Please Thank You.

Aussie author Susan Johnson has just released From Where I Fell. Two women from opposite sides of the world reveal more about themselves than they intended in their accidental email 'penpalship'. I loved the slightly naughty feeling of spying on them.
4.5★ Link to my review of From Where I Fell

I am determined to finish BRING UP THE BODIES. It's beautifully written, but I cannot get into it. I have to finish it, though, because I have another book coming I want to read, THE OTHER PASSENGER. It's a mystery that supposed to be very surprising in several places.

Kiki, Sometimes I have SO much trouble getting into a book or finishing one up. That's where I find myself with Traveller. It's a story of the civil war as told by Robert E. Lee's horse, Traveller. I enjoyed so much of it but it seems to drag down in the middle. I think I may do some skimming.

The Jungle Book – Rudyard Kipling – 3.5***
Of course I was familiar with Mowgli, Shere Khan, and Baloo, but I had never this classic of children’s literature. This edition had Mowgli’s tale, but also included three bonus stories: Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (the mongoose), Toomai (who watches the elephants dance), and Kotick (the white seal). They are marvelous adventure stories with a few life lessons included. The exotic nature of the setting appeals to the imagination as well.
My full review HERE

I finished Traveller by Richard Adams and I'm really glad I stuck with it. I don't know how many books I'd want to read with a horse as a narrator, but overall it worked. In the middle of the book, my score went to 3*** but by the end, it was back up to 4****.

I'm probably the only person of my generation not to have read Adam's Watership Down but The Girl on a Swing has long been one of my favourites.

Gina wrote: "Kiki, Sometimes I have SO much trouble getting into a book or finishing one up. That's where I find myself with Traveller. It's a story of the civil war as told by Robert E. Lee's hors..."

I'm doing a little better with BRING UP THE BODIES, Gina. I think part of the problem is that it's all so beautifully written. It'a kind of like too much sunshine. Or too many delicious cookies.

I read GIRAFFE, and part of that was narrated by a giraffe, so I understand your difficulty.

Ben wrote: "I'm probably the only person of my generation not to have read Adam's Watership Down but The Girl on a Swing has long been one of my favourites."

I loved GIRL ON A SWING!

I really enjoyed Max Porter's unique young character, Lanny, in this unusual, fascinating mix of contemporary family story and ancient spirits. So good! (Made the Booker longlist)
5★ Link to my review of Lanny

Some people make arrangements for their own, inevitable Exit from life, but things don't go to plan in this mystery by Belinda Bauer. I loved its warmth and humour.
5★ Link to my Exit review (with no spoilers)

The Last Rhinos – Lawrence Anthony & Graham Spence – 3.5***
Lawrence Anthony has been called the Indiana Jones of conservationism. He certainly lives up to that moniker in this memoir of his efforts to save the last remaining Northern White Rhinos in the wild. Anthony went to great lengths to plan a rescue of these magnificent beasts. I only wish that more of the book was focused on the animals rather than on the negotiations with government officials and rebel group leaders.
My full review HERE

I finished THE OTHER PASSENGER by Louise Candlish in three days, and that was without much reading time. It's a fast read. I'd heard so much about it and was so anxious to read it that I bought a copy from a third-party Amazon seller, as the book hasn't been released in the US yet.

Well, it was a good way to whittle away a few hours, but all of the characters are odious and shallowly drawn, and the middle bogs down so much, I considered abandoning the book. The twists and turns come in the final third. They were good, but some were quite predictable. Even I could guess them, and I'm not good at guessing the ending of mysteries.

I've reviewed it and given it three stars.

Back to BRING UP THE BODIES for me. A beautifully written book. I'm finally making real progress with it. Not so restless.

M.L. Stedman’s THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS. This book has been on my TBR list for years, and every year I try to actually read some of those books. This is the story of a young Australian couple living on an island where the husband is the lighthouse keeper. They have 2 miscarriages and a son who is stillborn. Then they make a fateful decision. It is a touching story with interesting characters facing difficult dilemmas. The path the author chose for them to follow held my attention although I sometimes wondered about the decisions she made. The voice of the young Lulu didn’t seem developmentally authentic to me. I enjoyed Noah Taylor’s narration.

Mary wrote: "M.L. Stedman’s THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS. This book has been on my TBR list for years, and every year I try to actually read some of those books. This is the story of a young Australian couple livin..."

That sounds interesting to me, Mary. I will check it out.

Kiki wrote: "Mary wrote: "M.L. Stedman’s THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS. This book has been on my TBR list for years, and every year I try to actually read some of those books. This is the story of a young Australian..."

Enjoy it, Kiki! The Light Between Oceans a great read - here's my review (no spoilers):
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'll bet you've never heard of some of the great festivals in A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals: Over 90 fun and fabulous festivals from around the world! by Claire Grace and Christopher Carr. What fun - I love any excuse to celebrate!
4.5★ Link to my review of Festivals and Celebrations

Megan Rapinoe is such a champion of soccer that it's going to be hard to top her. This is another great addition by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara to the Little People BIG Dream series for kids.
4★ Link to my review of Megan Rapinoe

Coraline delightfully spooky and skillfully read by the author Neil Gaiman. Somehow I enjoy his books for children more than his adult novels.

Amanda Eyre Ward’s SLEEP TOWARD HEAVEN. This is another book that’s been on my TBR list for years. As I was reading, I was trying to remember why I put it on my list in the first place and I’m not really sure. I think I thought it was an interesting idea for a novel (women on death row in TX, a doctor, and the widow of a murdered man cross paths), a topic about which I know very little (women in prison), and I was curious how the author would handle it. Curiosity satisfied. But AEW is not an author whose works I am likely to read again.

What’s your favorite book by Beverly Cleary ?
The Mouse and the Motorcycle is mine.

Beverly Cleary died today; she was 104, wow.

Debra Oswald is a popular Aussie playwright, scriptwriter, and novelist whose brand new 'what-would-you-do' mystery/thriller, The Family Doctor, has just been released. What a nerve-wracking read!
4.5★ rounded up Link to my Family Doctor review

Just finished Sorry Please Thank You. An interesting dive back into science fiction, but though he's intellectually very clever, I didn't have more than a passing interest in most of the stories.

Just about to finish the Tom Hanks audio of The Dutch House. Hanks is so very good here.

Started Abigél (the English translation is "Abigail"). I had liked this author's "The Door," but am liking Abigail even more, becoming absorbed from the very start.

Loved my read of Abi Dare's Girl with a Louding Voice. Some critics slammed its use of a fictional broken English for the Yoruba speaking girl narrator but for me it worked well, better than Nigerian pidgeon which I always found incomprehensible, and beautifully narrated on audio by one if my favourite vocalists, Anjoh Andoh. I know a number of CR have read it but if you haven't I definitely recommend it.

Sometimes you just need to escape ...



Hot Six – Janet Evanovich – 4****
Episode Six in the Stephanie Plum series has our charmingly inept bounty hunter on the trail of her mentor, and man of hot dreams, Ranger. This is possibly the funniest of the books in the series that I’ve read. I first read this in about March 2003, and I remember clearly reading in the cafeteria during my lunch break and bursting out in laughter loud enough to have people several tables away look up to see what was going on.
My full review HERE

I just started my ARC of The Final Revival of Opi and Nev which feels like it’s going to be excellent. Very interesting in its approach and execution.

I completely enjoyed both the story and the audio narration of Honeybee by Aussie author Craig Silvey. Sam is only 14 years old, but it's been a long 14 years when you can't trust anybody. Loved it!
5★ Link to my Honeybee review

The City We Became is eerily appropriate as the cities we know struggle through this COVID crisis.
I feel the need for some super heroes.

I recently read The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. I would have given the book 3*** except that I listened to the audiobook with Carey Mulligan (The Dig) narrating. She does a wonderful job, so I gave the book 4****.

My review with spoilers: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

White Fragility – Robin DiAngelo – 3***
I’m not sure what to think about this book. I am a person of color. And this book is written by a white woman, trying to explain why it is so difficult for white people have meaningful conversations – and, more importantly, change behaviors – about racism. I agree with some of her perspectives and applaud her efforts at calling out racism in a tactful manner. Not that her tactic always works. I listened to the audio because it was the version that arrived first, and I needed to read it for my F2F book club discussion. But I think this is a book best absorbed via text format.
My full review HERE

Just finished Their Eyes Were Watching God, one of those books I’ve always meant to read but never got to it. One thing I was wary of was the language—I’ve heard for a long time that Hurston’s use of dialect was quite controversial (among Black critics, especially). But as I listened to Ruby Dee’s masterful reading, I couldn’t understand what the problem with the dialog was. At one point midway through, I looked at the actual text to find a particular quote, and I was really surprised by how it’s written. I can see why people were critical of it, but at the same time, my own experience of it has been just rich and gorgeous. It’s one of the best examples I’ve seen of the difference a great reader can make.

Mark Twain’s A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR’S COURT, narrated by Norman Dietz. I enjoyed this classic. I added it to my TBR list last year because I took an astronomy short course in which the professor recommended it. He had structured his course around the 4-part story “Conversations with Papa Joe”. It was a wonderful course. Here is his description of the course: “This 4-week course on contemporary astronomy is based on a four part story, titled, "Conversarions With Papa Joe", from Alan Lightman's book, "A Modern Day Yankee in a Connecticut Court". The story is dramatically read by Sam Wormley and Mike Meetz (co-hosts of Science Bytes on KHOI Community Radio). The
story serves as an outline for the various astronomical topics we delve into to bring you up2date as to progress made in the various aspects of astronomy.”

Twain’s 19th century tale is a vehicle for his commentary on sociological, political, economic and religious ideas and practices in the 19th century. The Connecticut Yankee’s first act of wizardry involves an eclipse. It was an interesting tale and commentary. I’m happy to have it in my literary bank of knowledge

If you’re interested, here is a link to the narration of “Conversations with Papa Joe referenced earlier.

http://edu-observatory.org/olli/Astro...

Spoko, that production of Their Eyes Were Watching God is what hooked me on audiobooks about 30 years ago. My library owned it on cassettes or cds. Ruby Dee’s performance was remarkable. I listened to it again a few years ago just to see if my initial impression still held and it did, most emphatically.

Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss

Carol, that looks very good and like a book I would like. Thanks.

Just started it. Lots of great essays.