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Post by spindrift on Oct 15, 2009 16:26:08 GMT
I am halfway through An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro.
It is set in Japan just after WW2. I am fascinated by the descriptions.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2009 0:20:13 GMT
I see in the NYT where he just published a new book of stories, "Nocturnes",five stories of music and nightfall. Fabulous writer SD.
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Post by spindrift on Oct 17, 2009 18:44:04 GMT
Thanks, Casimira, I'll look out for "Nocturnes".....
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2009 0:07:27 GMT
I have started Sarah Water's "Night Watch". I had not read anything of hers previously and so far am enjoying. It concerns a group of Londoners who were all together during WWII and their subsequent post war lives and interactions.
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Post by traveler63 on Oct 18, 2009 1:21:35 GMT
While in the apartment in Paris, I found a book called The House on Riverton by Kate Morton. I really liked this book. It is set in present day and back in the 20's and 30's. The main character is an old woman, who worked as a servant at the house in the 20's and 30's. It is a mystery wrapped by a love story and it is so good.
Right now, am reading nothing, we had our reserves at the library put on hold. Well, now, I have been notified that I have 4 books ready for pickup, one of them is Dan Brown's the Lost Symbol. So, it looks like I will be a busy flipping pages at a record pace.
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Post by bjd on Oct 19, 2009 12:35:10 GMT
I am re-reading a collection of Dorothy Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey stories.
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 19, 2009 14:53:04 GMT
I am still slogging through the last part of the Revolutionary War. Report soon. In the meantime, one the things I read and greatly enjoyed was a two part report by Ian Frazier in the New Yorker about his trip across Siberia. I am hoping that like The Orchid Thief, which began life as a New Yorker article, it might be turned into a book. If you have access to New Yorkers, it's in the August 3 and the August 10/17 issues.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2009 23:58:51 GMT
This was an EXCELLENT series. Have you got to the part about the insects,the mosquitoes? Yes,it would make for an excellent book. I savoured every word.
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 20, 2009 1:57:15 GMT
Oh, I read it all the way through -- couldn't stop. I don't want to derail this thread, so will post links to photos and to Frazier's sketchbook in the Europe board.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2009 5:16:20 GMT
My reading is bogged down at the moment, but I hope to get some serious reading done in Cairo at the end of the week, since I have absolutely no tourism plans.
It's probably an illusion, because the others will probably drag me out of my room kicking and screaming.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2009 23:48:41 GMT
I broke down this weekend and purchased A.S. Byatt's new novel, The Children's Book. I was number 18 on the waiting list at the library and they haven't even purchased yet. It is a hefty tome,675 pages. Will keep me busy. Am so looking forward to.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 4, 2009 4:01:15 GMT
I'm overdue with my book report on The Hornet's Nest by Jimmy Carter.
It's hard to know what to say about this book. I would have enjoyed it more if I'd simply given up the idea that it was going to be an entertaining novel. It is really a history book on a thin framework of novel. What really makes it worthwhile is all the detail about the war for independence. I found I knew pretty much nothing about that period of history. For one thing, I didn't know it lasted so long, nor that it was so much like a "real" war. Ignorant, I know. The truly amazing thing about the book is how completely balanced it is, to the point that at times I found myself rooting for the British. Reading the facts made the confused situation of that period very real -- were we loyal British subjects? what was an American? The standing of the different states in the emerging country is quite interesting, as is the unfolding story of how parts of the country became the US and other parts British.
The book would have strongly benefited from some maps, and possible an appendix &/or afterword.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 11, 2009 21:55:04 GMT
Icy ~~ please don't forget us when you get back from India! ===========================================================================
I was waiting until I finished the second of my most recently read books until I reported. That happened just a few minutes ago.
The one I read first was Run, by Ann Patchett. I disliked this book so much that it's making me reassess my long-time admiration of the author. It starts with a tale of the auld sod that is fey in the extreme, and the piling of sentiment never abates. There are interesting plot devices completely undermined by the fact that Patchett has all her characters speaking in exactly the same voice. Her version of character development is to assign some cutesy traits and quirks that irritate more than illuminate. Truly, I don't know why I even finished reading the damned thing. Looking at the back of the book, I see quite a few critical raves. I do not concur.
============================================================================
Now for A Sudden Country by Karen Fisher. I hope I can be coherent about this book, as I'm so blown away by it. Seriously, I'd like to buy up boxes of it and go around to people's houses, pressing the book into their arms when they open their doors. How often do you read a book that, even as you read you're thinking, "I must read this again"? It took me a longer time than usual to read it, as I'd stop, read phrases or passages again, and simply savor it. It is so compelling emotionally that I also needed to "rest" from it. Very briefly, the plot concerns a group of people going west to the Oregon Territory in 1847. There is nothing conventional about Fisher's telling of the story, but nothing could feel more right than her method. Her writing is pure poetry, assured and true, with never a false step nor hint of preciousness. It is a rare treat to discover a writer with such a deft touch. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2009 22:05:05 GMT
I am finally finishing a book from two months ago, even though I have read about five other books in between, and I am also bogged down on another one which seems to be mislaid and to which I must get back ASAP (if ever I find it).
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 12, 2009 16:06:12 GMT
Those sound excellent, Kerouac. I'll have to look them up.
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Post by lola on Nov 17, 2009 23:45:07 GMT
I just finished our book club book, The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Ironically, this is the first of our offerings I've really admired for awhile, and I'll be working that evening and unable to attend. Lately we've discussed what I think of as compromise titles that no one could really love or hate, and it's all tipped too far into the PC zone for me.
The last book was The Help, which I refused to buy and because it is wildly popular right now I was 156th in line for at the library. The discussion, though pleasant because of being held around a campfire after a walk in the woods, was dominated by one woman who told us all about the maid they had when she was young, and how they treated her just like family. Yawn.
So here's The Road, post apocalyptic bleakness itself and really well written. Lingers in the mind with little flashes of thankfulness when snuggling into warm bed or having plenty to eat. The characters, a man and his son mostly, travel though burned out country years after a global disaster, trying to evade marauders and to find something to eat. Once started, it's worth finishing.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2009 0:27:56 GMT
didn't realize icy was in India. Missed that somehow.Do hope she comes back to us. I am still reading A.S. Byatt's novel as mentioned earlier. Am enjoying immensely,am not reading it fast as I usually do.Am only 200 pages into it.It's quite different from her other novels.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 18, 2009 0:39:27 GMT
The Road sounds so much like my cup of post-apocalyptic disaster fun! You are obviously as good as I've always thought you are, to not have done something socially unacceptable but deeply satisfying to the campfire twit.
I know what you mean about slowing down in order to enjoy a book, Casimira. If you'll note, it's how I felt about A Sudden Country. A.S. Byatt generally has too much going on in her books for me to be able to zip through one in any case.
Re: Lola's remark about literally clearing the palate works in reverse, too. When I've just finished something that blew me away with its quality and beauty, I look for something radically different in the next book -- either a mystery novel or fun fluff. I knew almost anything would suffer by comparison with A Sudden Country, so was thrilled to find the new Lee Child book, Gone Tomorrow, at the library. I am a huge fan of this author, who delivers suspense, interesting facts, and a fascinating lead character is very well written prose. If you haven't read him, I suggest starting with the first in the series.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 18, 2009 0:45:43 GMT
Oh yeah ~~ about Icy:
You all may remember that she reported that she'd lost her job and was thinking about going to India. I visited her blog & saw that she was indeed India-bound. Just go to the OP & click on the home icon in her mini-profile.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2009 0:51:11 GMT
Yes,one thing about Byatt is she KNOWS so much about a topic in the novel,whether it's flora or medieval music,whatever,she's really knowledgeable. In this novel it's the Arts and Crafts movement in England. William Morris and the boys. Fascinating how she weaves it in and out of the story line.
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Post by cristina on Nov 18, 2009 0:52:24 GMT
I read The Road earlier this year. It is beautifully written, especially for those who appreciate spare prose. I think you would really enjoy it, Bixa.
I'm totally into cleansing the palate in the literary sense. I started doing it in college when transitioning from textbook reading to anything else during the summers. I would always choose the trashiest novel I could find first, in order to clear my head. Then I could move on to something a little more thoughtful (slightly different methodology, but the same effect.)
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 18, 2009 1:52:09 GMT
Oh gosh ~~ the Arts & Crafts movement is SO A.S. Byatt -- just perfect! What is the name of that one, again? I want to read it, partly because I'd gone off Byatt, but want to start liking her again. Thank you, Cristina -- that solidifies my desire to get my hands on that book. I've used the transition you describe also. In one way, I feel it's more fair to the books and authors to not force them to compete outside their game. Just a little note here, please ........... we all know how easy it is to open up whatever thread shows on the main page. That would be this one in Library right now. However, if you haven't seen it already, I direct everyones attention to Tilly's lovely and thought-provoking OP about "The Gift of Books". I haven't replied yet, as it deserves a truly thoughtful response.
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Post by lola on Nov 18, 2009 2:36:52 GMT
Thanks, bixa. It's nice being in this book club with you all anyway.
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Post by lagatta on Nov 18, 2009 13:22:14 GMT
I haven't been reading nearly enough literature recently - just obscure social history and books on languages. A friend is very big on graphic novels (oh, he reads "real" books too) and is going through the Aya series - I do enjoy this look at the life of a contemporary young African woman. On the subject of Africa but up in Algeria, has anyone read the "Rabbi's Cat" series? I have no idea as to the quality of the English version as of course I read the books in French. It is fun light reading, but also provides a glimpse of the North African Jewish culture in times of great upheavals. I thought of this series with respect to Aya because of the Cat's human, the Rabbi's beautiful daughter, as both are strong young female characters in traditional, authoritarian societies. But the Rabbi is not much of a success as an authoritarian patriarch...
Anyone who is studying French or speaks it a bit should read it in the original, as it really isn't hard to read. They are comic books after all, and not of the obscure type.
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Post by tillystar on Nov 19, 2009 14:24:40 GMT
I am reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo after so many people mentioned the triology on this and other threads. I only started reading it last night and this morning on the way into work and already it has invaded my brain and I keep wondering about it...
I just finished reading Human Croquet by Kate Atkinson. I have tried her before and not been keen but I recently read When Will There be Good News and really enjoyed it so tried again but after Human Croquet I am back in the not keen camp. I would write "tries too hard" on her school report.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 19, 2009 15:23:21 GMT
My friend brought the third book in the trilogy back from the States & says I'm first on her lend-list for it. The first Kate Atkinson I read was Behind the Scenes At the Museum. I remember thinking, "oh goody -- a new contemporary writer who I really like!" It's been all down hill from there.
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Post by traveler63 on Nov 19, 2009 18:29:48 GMT
I started Scarpetta Factor and put it down. I am tired of her same old, same old, returning to the past. I just finished Kindred in Death by J. D. Robb and I thought it was one of the better ones with Eve Dallas. I also have read the Lost Symbol and I still haven't made up my mind if I liked it. I do think that it was weak prose and I think it wasn't Brown's best. Just started The Professional by Robert B. Parker, it is a Spenser novel. I will let you all know what I think.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2009 20:49:48 GMT
At the moment I'm reading a book by Dean R. Knootz. I've read many books by him.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 19, 2009 23:45:48 GMT
*hissssssssses at T63*: look at my last paragraph in #77 above. Have you read that one yet? I was sure you were a Lee Child fan? Yeah, I went way off Patricia Cornwell too, and never went back.
I remain a fan of the Spenser books, even though they marched down the formula road long ago. I'll be curious as to how you like this one. Did you read Appaloosa? Someone gave it to me & I read it in an emergency, but quite liked it.
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Post by cristina on Nov 20, 2009 3:01:55 GMT
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