Book Lovers Club
Comments
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Pat, I read and enjoyed A Man Called Ove. Hope you do, too!
Did a few errands yesterday but mostly binge-read the remaining books in the Jane Jameson (librarian turned vampire) series by Molly Harper. There are four books in the series, starting with Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs, which I read while on vacation. Pure escapist fiction in the paranormal romance genre (who knew?).
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I just finished Manderley Forever: A Biography of Daphne du Maurier by Tatiana de Rosnay. I read it for my Book Club & will be interested in the discussion.
I would say if you LOVE everything du Maurier has ever written, then you'd love the biography. If you loved her most famous book, Rebecca, but aren't familiar with her other works, then you will probably like the biography (I'm in that group. I loved Rebecca as a teenager & in fact, had a sketchbook full of drawings I made based on her descriptions of Manderley). If you know nothing of du Maurier or her works,then the biography would be really boring.
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Just finished Anna Quindlen's Still Life with Bread Crumbs. She's an interesting author who has won prizes for fiction & non-fiction. This one is fiction about an artist/photographer who has been an unlikely heroine for many women and now is 60ish & nothing is easy or working anymore Her career is waning, her finances shaky and both her parents and her unmarried son dependent on her for support. She leaves NYC for the country - WAY out of her comfort zone - and discovers a new way forward. I loved the 'questions' section at the end and the interview with the author. One comment she made is that women seek authenticity at a certain point in their lives and stop worrying so much about how we present ourselves and even "being nice to people we don't like". Quindlen says this is her first book with a happy ending.
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minus...i read still life, a few years back...enjoyed it too
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this is so nice.....and fits in with the books we've shared:
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Ruth - that's lovely and I needed to hear that tonight.
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ruth....soooooo true!
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Ruth, so very nice and so very true, we never know our impact on others.
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Ruth!I'm working my way through the Private series (private investigations, very discrete, costly, and dangerous) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. The first few were good but the later ones are becoming formulaic (rich people in trouble all around the world - London, Paris, Sydney, Vegas...).
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I’m going to check out that Private series, badger. Reading about the very rich is fun escapism for me. Have any of you read Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan? Also great escapism about the filthy rich.
I’m currently reading Underground Airlines by Ben Winters. It’s kind of alternate history where there is still slavery in the US and the Underground Railroad is called Underground Airlines. It’s good, but a little heavy for me right now. When I’m finished with that I’m going back to light Christmas/Winter themed reading. I just read Let It Snow which is 3 young adult romance novellas. If you guys have any other favorite holiday themed books I’d love to hear them.
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VR & Ruth - or other non-fiction experts... Has anyone read Ursula K. LeGuin's essay collection No Time to Spare? I have only read her fiction, (called "literary science fiction" WTH ??) Anyway this non-fiction collection supposedly offers ruminations on politics, literature and growing older.
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Haven't read it, but it sounds interesting!
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not familiar with her work...But having just spent the week with my 92 1/2 year old mom, my observations and her stories could fill a book....entitled... Growing Super Duper Old is Not for the Faint of Heart....
I'd start the first chapter with the following...
While mom is laying in her bed trying to “finish" reading YESTERDAY'S newspaper, I say, “Mom, didn't you promise me if I bought you a new bed you wouldn't ruin it by spending so much time in it especially since I bought you that really expensive lift chair and reading lamp that are gathering dust in the living room?"
Mom replies, “I changed my mind."
I reply, “ You lied."
Hiding behind her newspaper and not missing a beat, Mom says, “Shhhhhhh...you're interrupting my reading."
And now you all know where that reading gene of mine came from!
I have seen my future (I sincerely hope)....and it isn't pretty!
And on a much lighter note...a very clever book...
50 Ways to Lose Your Glasses...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24819517-50-ways-to-lose-your-glasses
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Minus, I've read earlier books by Ursula K. LeGuin - The Lathe of Heaven (1971) and The Left Hand of Darkness (1969) - but none of her later works. She's a prolific writer! Lots to check out including the essay collection you mentioned and an intriguing title The Wild Girls (2002).
Here's the description from her website - Included: Nebula winner "The Wild Girls," newly revised and presented here in book form for the first time, several essays, including the scandalous and scorching "Staying Awake While We Read," and several poems, including "City of the Plain."
I figured this group would get a kick out of the thought of staying awake while we read LOL.
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She was born in 1929 and still giving readings.
VR - love the exchange with your Mother. Oh well, as long as I'm still reading, I'll know I'm still alive. Moving or eating or talking are optional.
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minus...i noticed she was born in 1929! Yay for her! I was just thinking of some pretty old authors that I love and are still publishing. David McCullough was born in 1933. His most recent book, The American Spirit, a little gem of short stories was published this year....and his next book, The Pioneers, is scheduled for release in 2019! Recently, I saw him on Charlie Rose (Yuk), and he is sharper than anyone I know!
I guess there are those who are as devoted to writing AND reading as those devotees are to just reading....what an extraordinary gift to be so old and STILL be able to read AND write.....
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Did morning errands concluding at the public library. Picked up three titles on the new books shelves:
Full Wolf Moon by Lincoln Child (a harrowing new thriller), Children of the Fleet by Orson Scott Card (return to the universe of Ender's Game), and Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance (a memoir of a family and culture in crisis).
Threw in a load of laundry, now lunch, then read for a while. It's inevitable, I'll fall asleep while reading. :-)
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Already through Full Wolf Moon, even with a nice long mid-book nap. An OK read featuring a paranormal investigator "on the trail of a killer who cannot possibly exist" but I prefer his work with Doug Preston.
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Minus...so....i open my weekly email from Mary Popov's website, Brain Pickings....a wonderful website devoted to books...and what do I see...Le Guin's new book! I very much enjoyed reading the review. It focused on Le Guin's essay on her interpretation of anger.....her thoughts are quite meaningful in today's heavily charged political atmosphere. In one of her descriptions, however, I was taken aback....Here is the quote:
“The racism, misogyny, and counter-rationality of the reactionary right in American politics for the last several years is a frightening exhibition of the destructive force of anger deliberately nourished by hate, encouraged to rule thought, invited to control behavior. I hope our republic survives this orgy of self-indulgent rage.
As I read that statement, I thought to myself that THAT behavior did an extraordionary job of describing an opposing group ....ANTIFA.
I loved reading about her idea of anger in brush strokes, but once she wrote specifically, as in the above case, she left me with a bitter taste.
Her quote speaks to Columbia University'sDr. Mark Lilla's ideas about the corrosive effects of identity politics. In his book, The Once and Future Liberal, he lays bare the quandrary of identifying one group, while sparing or demonizing another. Clearly, Le Guin only sees the demonization of one group.....
IMHO,I think Lilla would say that everyone needs to step up to the plate and recognize not only their own anger, but also the anger within the group that they are apart of AND the anger of the people who identify with your own group even if their ideas are more extreme than your own....only then can you discuss anger of an opposing group....
Brain Pickings:
https://www.brainpickings.org/2017/12/05/ursula-k-le-guin-no-time-to-spare-anger/
Mark Lilla:
https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062697431/the-once-and-future-liberal
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Thanks for posting the links VR. I'll try get to them tonight.
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Started the new Orson Scott Card but got side-tracked. Looking forward to getting back to it.
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Hello Everyone! I have been reading your posts for awhile and have a question for you all. I read like crazy on vacation , usually two to three books, and I find that I like a series. I guess once I become involved with the characters I like to continue.
Any suggestions?
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welcome!
If you like thrillers...pick up a copy of any of the following authors...
Lee Child
Daniel Silva
John Lescroart
David Baldacci
Vince Flynn is also great. He passed a few years ago, and another wrier has taken over writing his works.
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cindyanne, I would also add Louise Penny - a recommendation I got here! I’m currently reading book three of her Armand Gamache series. While a reader could pick up any book in the series, I’ve already found great character development from book to book.
MJ
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Just finished reading Still Alice by Lisa Genova. I saw the movie several years ago and have had a mental note to buy the book forever. I don't go to many movies, and usually refuse to see a movie until AFTER i read the book. This book was good & it was worth reading, but the movie was so well done & such a shock and profound experience for me that I think it colored my reading experience. For those of you who aren't aware of this book, it's about a Harvard psychology & linguistics who develops early onset Alzheimers.
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Anyone want to move to Iceland with me?
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Jolabokaflod! I love it. I may adopt the tradition!
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Jeffery Deaver has two series of books: Lincoln Rhyme and Kathryn Dance. I prefer the Lincoln Rhyme series. Also, enjoy his stand alones.
Baldacci has three series: The Camel Club (love this one but he hasn't done one in this series for awhile), John Puller, and Will Robbie. All good reads as well as his stand alones.
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Don't forget JA Jance. I like her Joanna Brady series best, then JP Beaumont.
Also like Lisa Scottoline books. Characters may be the same but you can start anywhere.
Ruth - yes I'll move to Iceland with you. Even better, maybe we could go somewhere warmer and start the same tradition.
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