Constant Reader discussion

I'm going to look for that series also, Ruth. Thanks for mentioning it. Many decades ago, I first found out about England's canals and narrowboats from a National Geographic article and became enthralled with the romance of it. It seemed like nothing we have in the US. The book was perfect to satisfy my curiosity.

Lynn wrote: "Ruth wrote: "A few years ago, I spent a lot of time watching a guy called Country House Gent navigate his narrowboat around, so the idea of this appeals to me."
.."

Interesting!

Postscript Murders – Elly Griffiths – 3.5***
This is book two in the series featuring Detective Sergeant Harbinder Kaur, but it can easily be read as a stand alone. DS Kaur is “assisted” by three amateur sleuths: Natalka (Ukrainian immigrant and caretaker for the dead woman), Benjamin (former monk and now owner of a coffee shop), and Edwin (80-year-old neighbor of the deceased). This is the first book by Griffiths that I’ve read; it won’t be the last.
LINK to my full review

Weyward
Currently listening to this on audio while I do a really boring work project. I like the way it is put together - 3 different women from 3 different centuries, all connected through their love of the natural world. It's a bit witchy, somewhat predictable, but I'm willing to go on the ride as it is a really nice way to keep my brain awake as we head into fall.

I've put Narrowboat Summer on my list--I'll be traveling in October and hope to have some time to read (on a Kindle, which is not quite as satisfying as a real book). I've just finished When We Were Vikings, by Andrew David MacDonald, and I loved it. It's told in first person by a young woman, Zelda, who has fetal alcohol syndrome, and lives with her older brother in challenging circumstances. Zelda is a delightful character, feisty, determined and loyal, obsessed with Vikings, and painfully aware of her limitations even as she fights to transcend them.

I'm listening to Tom Lake, Ann Patchett's latest, in an audiobook production read by Meryl Streep. It is very good, but Streep makes it great. I found it on Libby from my library. Highly recommended. This might even be for you if you think you don't like audiobooks.

Based on the enthusiasm I've heard about this book, I read The Narrowboat Summer by Anne Youngson. A very easy, non-taxing, and enjoyable read about three very different women who form a bond over a narrowboat. It was just the kind of relaxing book I needed to help me get over my bout with bronchitis. Thanks to all who recommended it.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read When I Sing, Mountains Dance by Irene Solà, translated from the Catalan by Mara Faye Lethem.
It is unlike anything I've ever read before. Multiple narrators, including a rain storm, mountains, a dog, ghosts, etc. The language was rhythmic, bursting with life, and reminded me of the poetry of Walt Whitman.
A remarkable achievement and highly recommended.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Last night I stayed up late to finish The Bee Sting, by Paul Murray. This book is on the Booker short list.

The plot revolves around an Irish family whose financial and personal lives are spiraling out of control after the big recession of 2008. The story is told from the rotating perspectives of the family members: father Dickie, mother Imelda, teenage daughter Cass, and 12 year old son PJ.

It has much to recommend it – excellent writing, psychological insight, a propulsive plot with numerous unexpected revelations, and even a touch of humor (but not as much as you’ve been led to expect).

However, the plot gets darker and darker as the book goes on. Murray keeps the suspense going as the reader comes nears the conclusion. And then – the book suddenly stops. Some readers found the ending ambiguous. Murray does not spell it out, but I had little doubt what happened.

And I felt cheated by that conclusion.

I read The High House (Thanks, Lyn!) and wow! The back cover praise has lots of stuff like "thoughtful," "beautiful," "profoundly moving," and they aren't wrong. But it left me with no words. It feels like it was written for me. Just a walloping experience. (And here's the problem with reading a 5-star book--I probably won't be able to start another book for quite a while. This one is in my bones.)

I just finished Remarkably Bright Creatures. It was a sweet story that was also very enjoyable. Along with some interesting humans, it has an octopus narrator, and I looked forward to those sections the most.

I read Nothing But the Night by John Williams.
I've read Williams' other three novels and have loved them. This is his debut novel and it shows. It has flashes of the great writer he was to become, but it lacks the subtlety of his later works.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm about 4 chapters into this on audio and I am still not sure what to make of it. Has anyone else read it or is in the middle of it?
It seems to be a retelling of fairytales, which I do enjoy, but I'm not sure where this is going... or maybe it isn't going anywhere at all, in which case I'd rather know before I get too invested.

The Code Breaker – Walter Isaacson – 5*****
This is an engaging, interesting, informative and thought-provoking biography cum history. While the focus is on Jennifer Doudna, Isaacson gives almost equal time to the many other researchers who contributed to the scientific discoveries and applications. He takes time to address ethical questions on the applications of new technology, and ends with the international cooperation required to address COVID19.
LINK to my full review

I thought this was a good one too, BC. Due my very sketchy science background, it was sometimes challenging, but very interesting nonetheless.

Hamnet – Maggie O’Farrell – 5*****
Wow. You think you know where a story is headed because you know something of the historical figures depicted, and then an author completely surprises you. O’Farrell focuses the story on Agnes, the wife, mother, sister, daughter, stepdaughter, and daughter-in-law. The writing is beautiful and engaging. I kept reading passages aloud. The last 20 pages or so were simply marvelous. And the last line … perfect.
LINK to my full review

I loved Hamnet.

Me too.

I enjoyed it as well Maggie O’Farrell is wonderful author.

I have that ahead of me. Glad to know so many have enjoyed it. O’Farrell is on my list of writers to read as much as I can.

Molly wrote: "

I'm about 4 chapters into this on audio and I am still not sure what to make of it. Has anyone else read it or is in the middle of it?
It seems to be a retelli..."

Molly, I had not heard of this book but I read a little about it. I don't know if I would enjoy it or not. I heard someone say that others are writing parallel scripts of fairy tales, then finishing them in interesting ways. Once you finish, let us know your thoughts about it.

I definitely will! This has a sinister thread running through it - a mystery man who suddenly seems to be orchestrating I-don't-know-what, so I'm hoping that all the pieces will come together and the mystery will pay off in the end.

The Diving Pool – Yoko Ogawa – 4****
The subtitle calls them “three novellas”, but none is longer than 56 pages, so they are more accurately categorized as short stories. Regardless, I really enjoyed this collection; each was very different from the other two, but all dealt with relationships. It is the kind of literary fiction I love.
LINK to my full review

Horse – Geraldine Brooks – 5*****
The novel is based on the real story of the horse known as Lexington, his extraordinary racing career, and even more extraordinary career as a stud. But it is more than a story of racing; it is a novel about race and racism, not just in the 19th century, but in contemporary America, as well. Moving back and forth between the contemporary discoveries of the horse’s skeleton and painted portrait, to the events in antebellum Kentucky, she weaves a story that I found compelling, fascinating and moving.
LINK to my full review

I always love reading the responses in this thread. It's one reason my "To Read" list is so long.

I am currently reading Trespasses by Louise Kennedy. I'm hooked after only a few chapters!

I am also reading These Precious Days: Essays by Ann Patchett. I love it so far! I've lived in the Nashville area for over 10 years now and love Parnassus Books, co-owned by Ann Patchett. When I moved to Nashville I bought quite a few of her novels, but I have not read any of them because reviews are always so mixed and I don't know where to start. If you were to recommend an AP novel, which one would it be?

Since early summer, I have been travelling to France through two mystery series: M.L. Longworth's Verlaque/Bonnet mysteries, set in Provence, and Martin Walker's Bruno, Chief of Police, set in the Dordogne. I've read a few of the former and one of the latter. Bruno reminds me of Brunetti, but the one mystery I read had something of a Louise Penny Conspiracy Theory feel. Verlaque - an investigative magistrate, if I have the title right - strikes some readers as insufferable, but I can put up with him. So far, he and sometime flame Bonnet, a law professor, are involved in more straightforward crime investigation, which suits me just fine.

I think a few CR friends would enjoy these, especially Leon and Penny fans!

K wrote: "I am also reading These Precious Days: Essays by Ann Patchett. I love it so far! I've lived in the Nashville area for over 10 years now and love Parnassus Books, co-owned by Ann Patchett. When I moved to Nashville I bought quite a few of her novels, but I have not read any of them because reviews are always so mixed and I don't know where to start. If you were to recommend an AP novel, which one would it be?"

My favorite books by Ann Patchett are The Dutch House and her latest one, Tom Lake. I also enjoyed the book of essays that you're reading right now.

Thank you for responding, Lynn! I have both of those.

The same for me as for what Lynn wrote. I also really enjoyed Commonwealth. I'm waiting for my library copy of Tom Lake.

I'm also an Ann Patchett fan, and have read everything of hers (except I'm on a wait list for Tom Lake). My favorite is still Bel Canto.

Thank you so much, Gina and Lyn. I have Bel Canto, too. The only one by Ann Patchett that does not interest me is State of Wonder. It seems that one has the most mixed reviews.

I liked the other Ann Patchett books recommended here, bu I also thoroughly enjoyed State of Wonder. It has a really unusual plot dealing with the Amazon region, some indigenous tribes who live there, and their interaction with medical researchers who are looking for a medical wonder drug. There is also a mystery involving the search for a missing scientist.

Not everyone's cup of tea for sure, but I had a hard time putting it down.

I liked State of Wonder too, Ann. I know the reviews were mixed but I liked the setting, plot and characters.

Thank you, Ann and Sue, for your comments. I have to admit that I can definitely be enticed into reading a book that I might not otherwise read. Some of my favorite books are ones that I didn't think were for me. I usually peruse reviews of likeminded GR friends, but for some reason I'm stumped with which AP book to choose. I had a subscription to her monthly book club and her books were often among them, so I have almost all of them to choose from. I love Anne Tyler and Elizabeth Strout and it is so interesting to see which of their novels are the favorites among fans. One person's favorite AT novel is another one's least favorite and so on. So I thought since I am absolutely in love with These Precious Days: Essays, I thought I'd get some suggestions from this group.

Thank you so much!

I read Emily Wilson's translation of The Iliad by Homer. I loved it! I think I even preferred it to her translation of The Odyssey, which was also wonderful. She is an accomplished scholar with a unique sense of style. She breathes fresh life into this classic.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Tamara, I just read a great article about Emily Wilson’s translations of the Odyssey and The Iliad in The New Yorker entitled “How Emily Wilson Made Homer Modern”. I’ll include the link here. I think the NYer allows a limited number of free articles online. I originally read both with a group on Classics Corner. I wonder if people here could be tempted into a reread using Wilson’s translation.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...

Barbara, thanks for the link to the article. I had no idea about Wilson's family history or her background, so this was really interesting. She is so unusual and says some of the strangest things. She engages with Homer's characters and those of the Greek pantheon as if they're living, breathing entities walking alongside her.

I've watched her Youtube videos where she puts on different weird hats and reads from her translation of the Odyssey. It's a riot. She is such an accomplished, gifted scholar, but not at all stuffy. I'm a big fan of Emily Wilson.

Thanks, again, for the link to the article.

Oh good, Tamara, I'm glad that you found the article interesting too. And, thanks for the information about the YouTube videos! I'll be watching them.

I just finished Strange Flowers by Donal Ryan. I gave this book 5*s. It's our October CR discussion book.

I'm looking forward to the discussion, beginning October 15.

I’m looking forward to the discussion too, Ann. I like his writing.

I read Strange Flowers before, after reading some of his short stories. I hope you all enjoy the book as much as I did.

currently reading John William’s Butchers Crossing. After watching 1883, 1923 and Yellowstone I felt I wanted to read a western. not disappointed so far

Sheila wrote: "currently reading John William’s Butchers Crossing. After watching 1883, 1923 and Yellowstone I felt I wanted to read a western. not disappointed so far"

I enjoyed Butcher's Crossing. I've read all four novels by John Williams. I think my favorite is still Stoner.

I read The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin.
Some people may find it helpful. It just wasn't for me.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Cloud Cuckoo Land – Anthony Doerr – 5*****
It’s hard to describe this book. It is equal parts historical, contemporary and futuristic. It took me a while to get into the rhythm of Doerr’s storytelling. I was so confused at the beginning by the changing scenarios and could not imagine how he would weave this into a cohesive story. But I’m glad I persevered, and I finally saw how intricately he managed to weave these stories together. The teenagers, who are lonely and/or alone, find solace in an ancient fantasy and ultimately in reaching out to others.
LINK to my full review

Book Concierge wrote: "

Cloud Cuckoo Land
– Anthony Doerr – 5*****
It’s hard to describe this book. It is equal parts historical, contemporary and futuristic. It took me a while..."

When I saw Doerr speak in Iowa City last year, I was fascinated by a picture of the schematic he developed to help him conceptualize all the various storylines and time frames of CCL. You can see it here if you're interested:
https://www.anthonydoerr.com/book-sch...

Book Concierge wrote: "

Cloud Cuckoo Land
– Anthony Doerr – 5*****
It’s hard to describe this book. It is equal parts historical, contemporary and futuristic. It took me a while..."

Oh yes, I loved this one, too.

Book Concierge wrote: "

Cloud Cuckoo Land
– Anthony Doerr – 5*****
It’s hard to describe this book. It is equal parts historical, contemporary and futuristic. It took me a while..."

BC, Cloud Cuckoo Land was on our reading list. I gave it 5 stars: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

And sometimes you just need a little palate cleanser ...


An Irish Country Girl – Patrick Taylor – 3***
On Christmas Eve, Mrs Kinky Kincaid, Dr O’Reilly’s unflappable housekeeper, welcomes a group of young carolers into the doctor’s house to warm up. While they enjoy a hot drink, Mrs Kincaid tells them a tale of her girlhood, and how she found her gift of “sight.” Taylor has written a very atmospheric book. I could practically feel the cold of a snowy day, smell the smoke of a welcoming fire, and hear the banshee’s wails or the eerie sounds of bagpipes.
LINK to my full review

I read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. I thought it was very well done and gave me some insight into the mind of an autistic child. It was handled with sensitivity and gentle humor.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...