Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Yes! to Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

For those interested in writing and publishibg world, those interested in relationships between writers, those interested in cancel culture, this book could be for you. The information here could have been covered in a nonfiction book for academics--not accessible and not fun for many. This novel covers so many aspects of writing life. . . . Now I renew my commitment to read Erasure by Percival Everett.

I finally finished another book, my reading getting a bit back on track after getting really stuck. The warm weather isn't helping my focus any :) .
Ernest Maltravers by Edward Bulwer-Lytton [3/5] review

Also while i'm here, unrelated, i just thought i'd mention the public domain section of the Merril Collection in canada is still being updated and i've been updating my shelf along with it for easy perusal My Merril Collection Shelf.

I've recently read A Town Like Alice and The Far Country by Nevil Shute. Both were really good and I plan to read more by him soon. I'm surprised to see this group hasn't read A Town like Alice before - unless I missed it somehow?

I also finished The African Queen by C.S. Forester. I didn't like it nearly as much; it just never pulled me into the story.

I'm about a third of the way through The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon. It's pretty interesting.

I’ve been meaning to read more Neville Shute. On the beach is one of the best books I’ve ever read. This must be my sign to buy more.

Callum wrote: "I’ve been meaning to read more Neville Shute. On the beach is one of the best books I’ve ever read. This must be my sign to buy more."

It is a sign. Clearly. :)

Though I think On the Beach stands apart, as a post-apocalyptic novel. The others I've read by him are more positive and hopeful.

While technically it is post apocalyptic in the sense that a nuclear war has occurred, the book focuses on places where there is no fallout or destruction from bombs. It is about the lives led by the “survivors” who grapple with the fact that they are the last people alive on earth. I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially because of how incredible the ending is. It sat on my shelf for months without me giving it a second thought, only when I picked it up I was hooked and it immediately became one of my favourite books of all time.

I agree, it's a thoughtful and thought-provoking book. Well worth reading!

Coincidentally On the Beach is one of the pdf available from the Merril Collection i mentioned. Free and legal (at least in canada) i presume given that its the toronto public library.

I can't say i enjoyed it myself, i thought it was quite flat, but its there if anyone is looking for an e-copy.
https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/advance...

Teri-K wrote: "I've recently read A Town Like Alice and The Far Country by Nevil Shute. Both were really good and I plan to read more by him soon. I'm surprised to se..."

There are a couple of Nevile Shute books that were nominated but lost in the polls. I actually purchased two but they're still on that long TBR list.

Bought a whole bunch of classics recently. Currently reading “No Longer Human” by Osamu Dazai. I see it constantly recommended and for good reason. It’s my first book from Japan and will definitely not be the last one of Dazai’s books that I read. It’s quite short but still very deep. Really enjoying it so far.

Lynn wrote: "Teri-K wrote: "I've recently read A Town Like Alice and The Far Country by Nevil Shute. Both were really good and I plan to read more by him soon. I'm ..."

Thanks, Lynn. I've never nominated a book before, but maybe I will soon. :)

A Pair of Silk Stockings

4 stars

short story. classic. female author. 131 year old story. 19th century

My review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished a random sci-fi book i grabbed to try to unstick my reading-blockage The Last Yggdrasill by Robert F. Young [2/5] review and also completed Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72 by Hunter S.Thompson [3/5] review

Reading A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley, a retelling of King Lear by William Shakespeare, a decidedly Great Plains retelling of the English play.

Finished Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto. I wanted a non-Miss Marple and non-Dectective Poirot. Love the brashness and initiative of Vera Wong. Maybe I will read more of the series.

I also loved Vera Wong. I just finished listening to Queens of Crime, also very good.

Finished a number of books since my last post several of them pretty obscure, they include
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin [4/5] review
21st Century Design by Marcus Fairs [3/5] review
Marigold(1905) by Edith Allonby [4/5] review
The Seven Deadly Sins of Science Fiction(1980) by various [3/5] review
Ebony and Crystal(1922) by Clark Ashton Smith [1/5] review
The Puppet Planet(1964) by Russ Winterbotham [3/5] review
Stories of the Seen and Unseen(1870) by Mrs. Oliphant [4/5] review

I'm reading the collection The Dragon Variation by Sharon Lee and Stan Miller. I just finished Local Custom, Scout's Progress is next, and then Conflict of Honors. This is my first Liaden Universe book, and I'm quite enjoying it.

Mollie: The Journal of Mollie Dorsey Sanford in Nebraska and Colorado Territories, 1857-1866

A young woman's journal as she travels to Nebraska and the Colorado territories, well worth a read for her wit, cheeky sense of humour and insight into prospecting life.

Lamb in His Bosom

Just finished this Pulitzer Prize winning work of historic realism, set in rural Georgia, Miller's character have depth, they make mistakes, they struggle and they are worth getting to know.

Hi All,

I just completed reading Little Men by Louisa May Alcott. Here is my review on it:

https://youtu.be/nN-q7aiZdTM

Moll Flanders! it’s a little slow/struggle, so if it was a bit shorter with better arrangement, it’d suit me better. but it’s interesting/ informative because it really emphasizes the hardships women had to go through during that time! i would recommend it if you have time and patience ☺️

Even though I know to be patient with the early novels--the art form was being developed--I want the books to move faster. Someday I may reread Moll Flanders. I read it when I was a young woman during a time when long books were fun, not time consuming. Oh age. . . .

Currently I am reading A Gathering of Old Men by Ernest J. Gaines
I watched the movie many years ago on television and have wanted to read it since--since last century. I am glad to be finally reading it. Better than I thought.

Right now I am reading and close to finishing The Red and the Black by Stendhal for our group (I started early but the book has been a slog at times). Also I'm reading Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe and will be starting The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester very soon.

Currently rereading Practicing Peace in Times of War by Pema Chödrön Practicing peace within oneself can be a challenge. I am committing to rereading each year. The text is fewer than 100 pages.

I am also reading Arboreality by Rebecca Campbell. To me this is scarier than the Earthseed duology Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents. I am being brave and reading on.

Oh, I bet the Pema Chödrön is helpful, Cynda. I'm going to look for that one. There may be too much reality in Arboreality for me right now--I admire your bravery.

This seems to be the summer of classics for me, all group selections. Ovid's Metamorphoses, Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge and Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. Plus my IRL book club nonfiction selection The Fever by Lon Wagner & something from my physical TBR pile The Tale of Murasaki by Liza Dalby. Whew!! I think I committed to more than I can manage at one time.

Kathleen, I think you would like it. The book is full of good quotes and powerful examples :)

I just started reading Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore.

Franky wrote: "I just started reading Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore."

800 pages? Out of the blue? That's quite some commitment.

Luffy Sempai wrote: "Franky wrote: "I just started reading Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore."

800 pages? Out of the blue? That's quite some commitment."

Actually, I've been wanting to read this for quite some time, and the book was just there in my bookshelf staring at me every day so.... I am going to try to take my time with it and balance out with shorter reads.

Franky wrote: "Luffy Sempai wrote: "Franky wrote: "I just started reading Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore."

800 pages? Out of the blue? That's quite some ..."

Okay, will keep an eye on your rating of this.

I have so long wanted to read Lorna Doone. Maybe someday.

This last weekend I read Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America by Firoozeh Dumas. Some here on how-to-translate-oneself-in-a-new-culture. Some on Iranian culture in California. As many hypenated Americans experience something similar when they go to school, I found this enlightening, validating, delightful.

Reading Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America by Firoozeh Dumas was like going back in time before the Iranian Hostage Crisis, before fear and other complications got in the way of the cultural exchange and relations sometimes described here.

I saw this book in my Goodreads feed, and knew I had to read. I was here in South Texas when the Iranian students were lining up at bus stations at university towns to go back to their country. I discovered Iran because of a crisis. What would be like to discover Iran and its people without a crisis or without the news feed.

Cynda wrote: "Reading Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America by Firoozeh Dumas was like going back in time before the Iranian Hostage Crisis, before fear and other ..."

This one sounds really interesting i'll add it to my to-do list. I try to read a few non-fiction each year but there arn't many that appeal.

At the moment i've accidently put myself in a position of reading 3 sci-fi books at the same time.. not ideal. However they are pretty far apart within that genre so should be fine.
Currently Reading:
A Little Way Ahead by Alan Sullivan (1930), i would describe it as a Twilight Zone plot, so just a little bit sci-fi.
Apostles of Mercy by Lindsay Ellis (2024), the 3rd (and maybe final?) book in this sequence. Set in modern times circa 2010s, with aliens.
And Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert (1969)

I put too many sequels as my achievement target this year. Still 2 more to go, i mean plenty of time for the year but i think I’ll take it back a bit in future, not feeling very sequential right now ;) .

@Wreade1872 I've been reading a lot of sequels this year also and want to get to Dune Messiah before the end of the year. I read Dune for the 1st time at the end of last year.

Wreade, hope you come back to tell us your thoughts if you do read Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America, :)

The House on First Street: My New Orleans Story by Julia Reed. Another memoir, this one I read because New Orleans is often the focus of attention here on the Gulf (of Mexico) Coast during hurricane season.

Family, friends, and household staff and contractors make up the the heart of the story.

Buying a new house and experiencing and recovering from Hurricane Katrina makes up the focus of this memoir.

A gem.

Hi All, I completed reading Love and Friendship and other early works by Jane Austen. Here is the review:

https://youtu.be/IHEyq48YSc0

I just reread Frankenstein. I went in with worry. Would it be the same as my first read. It did better than that. Here's my review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

That was my experience too, Georgia. The second read was better, easier to enjoy.

I am rereading One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez for participation in a sci-fi and fantasy group. The first time I read this book, I just did my best to understand. This time I am better understanding and focusing on the science fiction. This time I sometimes smile and even chuckle. I'm getting it!

Finished A Little Way Ahead by Alan Sullivan [4/5] review which has no extant bookcovers so i had chatgpt make one to my design, its not bad :D .

Georgia wrote: "I just reread Frankenstein. I went in with worry. Would it be the same as my first read. It did better than that. ."

If you're the type to watch You Tube essays, I highly recommend Books'n'Cats video "What can Frankenstein teach us about bigotry?" (it's done by an actual literature scholar and professor). I am someone who tethers forever on the brink of turning into a full-fledged Frankenstein apologist, so I'll just leave my comments at that!

Cynda wrote: "I am rereading One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez for participation in a sci-fi and fantasy group. The first time I read this book, I just did my best..."

I'm glad you are enjoying your reread of this. I am in that GR group too and reread it this past month as well. I just do not think I'll ever warm up to that particular author.

Cynda wrote: "I am rereading One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez for participation in a sci-fi and fantasy group. The first time I read this book, I just did my best..."

LOL - I had literally just decided to start re-reading this a few mins before seeing this post - I too am hoping that I "get" it second time around...

Good Darren! Let us know.

I am rereading One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. I may not have made it all the way to the end of the story last time. And this time I am reading quickly to make connections. I will have to read a third time for enjoyment.

Hi All, I completed review of Persuasion by Jane Austen. Here is the review:

https://youtu.be/3bqK7jo-WSo

Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.. Now I get it: Vonnegut's narrators are describing how humans are dehumanized by society. Many felt that way after WWII. Vonnegut can describe the emotional disconnect in different ways, better than most!