Book Lovers Club
Comments
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ok- kind of bummed- just realized The Sense of Ending is only 150 Pges
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Sense of an Ending, if I recall won the Booker last year. There was some controversy about the book because some believed it was a "novella" and didn't meet the criteria of a "novel." Barnes had written a previous book that arguably was a better book but had been overlooked, so they awarded him instead for Sense. My favorite writer, Geoff Dyer REALLY trashed the book. Look it up! When I read Dyer's criticism, I just had to read the book. I did not like it at all. IMHO, the back story is more interesting.
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I agree, I liked Mudbound and The Kitchen House, too. Hillary Jordan has another book When She Woke that I plan to get on Kindle for an upcoming trip. I'll let you know if it is as good as Mudbound. I am reading a Rosamund Lupton book, Afterwards. It's written from a unique point of view. She also wrote Sister, which was very good. I also read Still Summer by Jacquelyn Mitchard. It started slowly but picked up and I did like it. I read Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh. It was well written but a rather depressing depiction of a PA mining town after WWII. She also wrote Mrs. Kimble which I read a few years ago.
I did like Loving Frank, mainly because I only live about an hour away from Taliesin. FLW is a big part of our area's history and lore. I was so horrified/fascinated by the end, I had to read a non fiction that delved deeper into FLW's childhood, Taliesin and the crime.
I have a recommendation from another good reader The Art of Hearing Heartbeats. I haven't read it but I think I will add it to my Kindle for my trip. I can usually count on her recommendations. Happy Reading to all!
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Laurie08: I should have warned you it's a short one. Everyone in my book club works at a university and so we decided on a quick read since the start of the semester is already running us ragged.
voracious: You are correct. It did win the Booker Prize. I think that's why someone picked it. I'll check out Dyer's critique after I finish reading it.
ginadmc: Let me know how you like Jordan's other book!
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Mcsushi.... If you want to read a terrific book that also won an award, read Geoff Dyer's book of previous published essays, Otherwise Known as the Human Condition. Or start with his approximate 150 page book, Out of Sheer Rage. I've read numerous articles that refer to Dyer as arguably today's Britain's greatest writer. I had the pleasure of meeting him last year. I dragged my brother, SIL and best friend with me. Eighty-seven year old mom was in a different city, South Florida, to be more precise and was disappointed that she couldn't join us. Well, Dyer rocked the room! Brother and SIL had never read his work before and are now Dyer groupies like me, my BF and mother! Furthermore, while Dyer was autographing his latest book, Zona for my mother, he was SHOCKED that my 87 year old mother enjoyed his writing. He then asked where she lived and I told him, South Florida. He then replied that he would have to let his publisher know that he found a new demographic that appreciated his writing! He was brilliant and hilarious and charming! And boy oh boy, can he write!
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Has anyone read Barbara Kingsolver recently?
Went to buy Loving Frank and was distracted by a display for Ann Patchett. Read Bel Canto years ago and she slipped off my "Return to Read" list and haven't read her in a long time.
I have started "State of Wonder" and I think it is going to be a good read.0 -
State of Wonder is outstanding. I'm up to date on Kingsolver, but have not read her most recent book.
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HighTide, I enjoyed "State of Wonder." For those of you who like historical fiction, I recommend "Bring Up the Bodies," by Hilary Mantel, the sequel to "Wolf Hall." It's about King Henry VIII's efforts to rid himself of Ann Bolyn. I just finished it last night, and it's better than the first novel.
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WaveWhisperer,
I am really enjoying "State if Wonder. I have read the reviews for "Bring Up the Bodies". It is at the top of my list. I am going to start with "Wolf Hall". I love historical fiction.
My reading list is rich with recommendations. Almost makes me look forward to sleepless steroid nights.
I am glad I found you ladies. This is a wonderful thread!0 -
I absolutely loved both the Mantel books--Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. Started the first one after a "Tudor-fest" on HBO/Netflicks, and then the second as soon as it wa published. Can't wait for her last in this trilogy!
I loved loved loved the Queenan book. Now I need to find some of his other stuff.
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Anne... So Queenan's book was.... Astonishing?!
Before you read any of his other books, such as Red Lobster, Imperial Caddy and The Unkindest Cut.... would you be interested in reading Geoff Dyer's Out of Sheer Rage?0 -
OK Voracious - I give in. I'll look at ordering Out of Sheer Rage when I order the Queenan's book/book with my Amazon Christmas gift card.
Just finished an old book of Margaret Atwood stories apparently not published in the US - Wilderness Tips. I always find wonderful things in her writing. Picked up a Joan Didion book I haven't read - Play It As It Lays, and a book of Mark Helprin stories - The Pacific. Also plan to re-read A.S. Byatt's Possession, delve into Ann Patchett's The Patron Saint of Liars and a Joyce Carol Oates' short story collection - Will You Always Love Me. Wonder how I got off on short stories? In the meantime I'm reading one of the JA Jance's Joanna Brady mysteries, and both a Val McDermid and a PD James mystery are on tap.
I love it when it's cold and I can stay in and read. And I love when it's hot & I can sit outside and read. And I love my new book bag that says: "She is too fond of books and it has addled her brain." - Louisa May Alcott
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Minus Two, you mention several that I haven't read,but I LOVED "Patron Saint of Liars."
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Minus....if you think you laughed hard at watching Shakespeare Retold, you are in for an even greater laugh with Out of Sheer Rage! Try getting it from your library first! If you are anything like me, this reading addiction can be very expensive!
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My reading addiction has been very expensive, too VR. And yes, I thought the Queenan book was amazing. I wish I had time for two hundred books a year, and re-reading some, and letting others linger for decades. He would be a great dinner party guest, or someone to get stuck in an elevator with!
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Anne... What a wonderful idea of getting stuck in an elevator with him...IMHO it wouldn't be such a terrible experience if us book lovers here got stuck on an elevator.... We might not want to get off... for awhile!
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Add me to the list of those reading Queenan's One for the Books, loving it so far. What a sense of humor he has!
Finished Provenance: How a Con Man and a Forger Rewrote the History of Modern Art. Liked it although it dragged a bit about half-way into it. Statistic from the book states that 20 to 40 percent of fine art that we see in museums is fake. It made me look with a different eye at the art presented in the Cezanne exhibit that is here in Budapest right now. hmmm .......
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Joy... Speaking of museums, check out Michael Gross's book about the Metropolitan Museum of Art... Especially his first and last chapters.... For sure in the future you will enter a museum with a new mindset....
Glad to hear everyone is loving Queenan's book!0 -
Love the MoMA, VR! And will look into Michael Gross's book.
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After downloading the Kindle sample of Michael Gross's book, realized that he's writing about the Met! Love the Met too - heehee! VR Have you read any of his other books?
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Joy...Yep! All of them...emailed him too to let him know how much I enjoyed reading his books. He replied ASAP!
The book about the Met is VERY facinating. As a native New Yorker and lover of architecture, I also enjoyed his book about 740 Park Avenue.
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I finished The Sense of an Ending last night. I really liked this book. Yes, it is short but so good non the less. The first day I read about 30 pages and put it down for a couple of days. I must have been in a different state of mind when I picked it up because I could not put it back down. Love the way the author/character analyzes memories and history.
I down loaded a book for 1.99 called Breaking Night. I started it last night and it is interesting from the first page. Some would compare it to The Glass Castle I am told. We shall see....
Natalie- Did you finish Loving Frank?
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Laurie08: I'm glad you enjoyed it even though it was short!I loved The Glass Castle and Half Broke Horses. Let me know if Breaking Night is anywhere near as good.
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mcsushi- I am almost half way through it and can't put it down.
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I'm beginning to think that my brain isn't wired for novels........
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Laurie08 and McSushi - Did you read any of Mary Karr's memoirs? She is very clever, but dark. This summer I read Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. I had never heard of her but I guess she writes a blog. Some of the passages about her childhood were hilarious and I had to read them to my husband. It is very over the top and you wonder how much is true. If you are easily offended, you won't like it.
Also, I'm not going to download Hillary Jordan's new book. I read about it on Amazon and it has a futuristic theme. I don't do well with that genre. I think I'll look at The Sense of an Ending or Breaking Night instead. I usually like same books that you two do. Gina
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ginadmc: Did Mary Karr write The Liar's Club? I have it on my to-read shelf. Someone recommended it when I said I loved The Glass Castle. I also have Let's Pretend This Never Happened on my Kindle. Haven't gotten around to reading either, but they're on the list!
Laurie08: I just looked on Amazon and Breaking Night is now $9.50. I'll have to put it on my wish list for the time being.
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Mcsushi- I get an e mail daily from e reader with deal for the day. I just went to the e mail and don't see a way to copy and paste a link? The e mail its self has the content and if you click on a book it leads to amazon. If you- or anyone else is interested pm me your e mail and I will forward it to you where you can subscribe to the e mail. They have some great books for free or for under 3 dollars.
I'll have to check out The Liars Club. I like the Glass Castle and am loving this book as well.
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Breaking Night sounds good. I too have put it on my to read List. I get daily emails from Amazon's "deal of the day" as well as BookBub. Both offer e-books for $1.99-$2.99. Not often, but it does happen, a book from my to read list is available as a daily deal. It's always exciting to check!
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Voracious: Is it only "new" novels you feel un-wired for? (mis-wired?) How about Agatha Christie? Just read Evil Under the Sun, copyright 1940. Still couldn't figure out 'who done it' until Hercule Poirot revealed his solution. Now reading an Alice Walker book from 1970, The Third Life of Grange Copeland. I read The Color Purple years ago but nothing else of hers since.
Speaking of un-wired, my 40 year old son recently told me he just didn't inherit the book reading gene. What a depressing genetic legacy after all the thousands of hours we spent reading in his youth. Couldn't be me - so must be his Dad's side of the family.
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