spinlps Posted October 30, 2009 Report Posted October 30, 2009 Juliet, Naked is a good, fun read. I was enjoying The Enthusiast... until my son vomitted on it Sunday night. Threw it out (haha) and ordered another copy. Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted October 30, 2009 Report Posted October 30, 2009 (edited) Just finished: One of those rare novels that can really communicate an enthusiasm for music, in this case chamber music. Also reaching the end of: Tells the life story in a very matter of fact way, working hard to nail the myths. But in the process is a bit colourless with virtually no commentry on the music itself. 'Testimony' (which I read about 30 years ago) and Ian Macdonald's book on Shostakovich might get criticised for being inauthentic (Testimony) or overcoloured and speculative (MacDonnald) but they both really made me want to listen to the music. The historian in me approves of Fay's account...but it didn't excite me. Edited October 30, 2009 by Bev Stapleton Quote
ejp626 Posted October 30, 2009 Report Posted October 30, 2009 Finished up Glen Gold's Carter Beats the Devil Really plot-driven, and a bit over the top, but in a good way. I could absolutely see this as a movie. I'm about 1/3 of the way into Ted Mooney's Traffic and Laughter. This is somewhat reminiscent of Crash, though it actually came out a few years before the movie. I suppose any book set primarily in LA with a large cast of characters is going to remind me of Crash. It is also set in a slightly alternative future. As far as I can tell, the book is set in the late 1980s-early 90s, but they are only now getting around to testing the atomic bomb. Most parts of the book are fun, but when Mooney leaves LA, he leaves his footing. For example, when he shows us diplomats arguing about testing the bomb (in South Africa!), the dialogue is not convincing. Quote
Royal Oak Posted November 1, 2009 Report Posted November 1, 2009 Just finished Anthony Burgess's "1985". Sort of a reply/alternative to "1984", only the UK is in the grip of the unions (It's been renamed TUCland). Quite apt, now strikes are back in the news in the UK. Quote
jazzbo Posted November 1, 2009 Report Posted November 1, 2009 Burgess wrote so many great books! Quote
Matthew Posted November 1, 2009 Report Posted November 1, 2009 Been traveling a lot, still more to go, but the book I've brought with me is the Library of America edition of F. Scott Fitzgerald: Novel and Short Stories 1920 - 1922. I was much more impressed with This Side of Paradise this time, it just struck me in a more powerful manner than the last time I read the book. Flappers and Philospohers -- meh, I could take it or leave it. Getting ready to reread The Beautiful and Damned, which, the last time I read it, I thought was one of the most amoral books by an American writer that I ever held in my hands. Quote
Matthew Posted November 2, 2009 Report Posted November 2, 2009 Doubleday Anchor Bible volume of Genesis -- translation and extensive notes and commentary by E.A. Speiser. Have read this Genesis before, and each time it's like veils are lifting. The relationship between the various authors or teams of authors (J., P., and E.) is quite clear, and Speiser's account of what those authors were "saying" (quotes are necessary here, for reasons Speiser explains lucidly and at some length) is convincing and enlightening, at least to me; but I'm no scholar here. That is a good commentary, I think that Genesis and Ezekiel are two of the strangest books in the Old Testament -- sometimes I read them and I don't understand a thing, others, it's a life enhancing experience. Quote
BillF Posted November 2, 2009 Report Posted November 2, 2009 (edited) J M Coetzee, Disgrace I think this must be one of the best novels written in the last dozen years. Edited November 10, 2009 by BillF Quote
paul secor Posted November 3, 2009 Report Posted November 3, 2009 David Fulmer's novel, Lost River Quote
Matthew Posted November 8, 2009 Report Posted November 8, 2009 Henry David Thoreau: Journals Vol. 1. The cool thing here is that the very first entry is dated October 22 1837, which is my birthday (the October 22, that is). The main cool thing though is Thoreau himself, who is such a unique character, and saw the world with such depth, that it is amazing. Enjoying this so much that I ordered volume two, and heaven's above, we're on a street called love, are they expensive at $79.00 a pop! Don't know how I'm going afford to keep getting them, but I have to find a way. Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted November 8, 2009 Report Posted November 8, 2009 'To Serve Them All My Days' by R.F. Delderfield. Saw a TV adaptation of this back in '79/'80 just as I was starting my teaching career. It tells the story of a shell-shocked ex-WWI chap from the Welsh valleys who finds himself teachinh history in a minor public school on Exmoor in Devon. Old fashioned sort of book but completely absorbing. Follows the events of the mid-20thC in Britain from the perspective of this isolated place. A good tale well told. Quote
BillF Posted November 10, 2009 Report Posted November 10, 2009 Just finishing Margaret Attwood's latest, The Year of the Flood. Quote
ejp626 Posted November 10, 2009 Report Posted November 10, 2009 Wrapped up Ted Mooney's Traffic and Laughter. As I said, definitely some parallels to Crash. The ending is supposed to be ambiguous I guess, but also seems to imply that a fission bomb could be set off by being struck by a bullet. Highly unlikely I believe, not that I would want to test this out. Anyway, surprised myself by finishing American Fuji by Sara Backer on a long airplane ride. This is one of those books that tries to get at the truth of contemporary Japan and explain it to American audiences. For that, it was still well done. Some parts of the plot stretch credibility, and yet the ending was still more moving than I expected. Am in the midst of a short story collection by Lynne Schwartz called Acquainted with the Night. I am very underwhelmed and probably will just read a few more and drop it. The stories are from the late 70s and early 80s and just feel completely dated, particularly a few where everyone is in therapy. I wonder in general if short stories date worse than novels, or at least those that rely heavily on their setting rather than aiming for "the universal." Quote
BillF Posted November 10, 2009 Report Posted November 10, 2009 Wonderful book! Supposed to an eighties novel, but I think it's great reading for any time. Did you read it in French translation or the English original? Quote
BillF Posted November 10, 2009 Report Posted November 10, 2009 Henry David Thoreau: Journals Vol. 1. The cool thing here is that the very first entry is dated October 22 1837, which is my birthday (the October 22, that is). The main cool thing though is Thoreau himself, who is such a unique character, and saw the world with such depth, that it is amazing. Enjoying this so much that I ordered volume two, and heaven's above, we're on a street called love, are they expensive at $79.00 a pop! Don't know how I'm going afford to keep getting them, but I have to find a way. Read Thoreau's Walden at university 45 years ago. Very unusual stuff for British university courses at the time. Hugely impressed and have never forgotten it. Perhaps one day I'll re-read it! Quote
sal Posted November 10, 2009 Report Posted November 10, 2009 "Walden" is a true classic. A great and important book. I read it 2 or 3 years ago and it changed the way I look at my life and my role in the natural world. I don't think time has nullified its messages in any way. I'm about to start reading Haruki Murakami's "Dance Dance Dance". Quote
sjarrell Posted November 10, 2009 Report Posted November 10, 2009 Michael Chabon's Manhood for Amateurs. Essay collection, fun read. Quote
sal Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 Michael Chabon's Manhood for Amateurs. Essay collection, fun read. How are his novels? I have a copy of "The Yiddish Policemen's Union" but haven't read it yet. A friend also recommended "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" to me recently. Quote
BillF Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 (edited) "Walden" is a true classic. A great and important book. I read it 2 or 3 years ago and it changed the way I look at my life and my role in the natural world. I don't think time has nullified its messages in any way. On the contrary, it fits in with today's ecological thinking in a way that wasn't possible when I read it in the 60s. Truly great book. Edited November 11, 2009 by BillF Quote
ejp626 Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 Michael Chabon's Manhood for Amateurs. Essay collection, fun read. How are his novels? I have a copy of "The Yiddish Policemen's Union" but haven't read it yet. A friend also recommended "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" to me recently. Well, I really enjoyed Yiddish Policemen's Union, but you have to be a fan of alternative worlds/speculative fiction to appreciate it. As you may have heard, in this universe the state of Israel was never founded and most European Jews ended up in Alaska. Quote
Nate Dorward Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 (edited) I liked Adventures of Kavalier & Clay & Wonder Boys--the film adaptation of the latter is also good though it cuts out my favourite chunk of the novel, the family dinner involving the Korean-Jewish daughters & a dead snake. Currently reading: James's The Princess Casamassima (which is a real change of pace after having recently worked through a lot of his 1890s fiction--this one comes off something like a mix of Dickens, Zola & Conrad's Secret Agent) & a pile of Sjowall/Wahloo mysteries. Edited November 11, 2009 by Nate Dorward Quote
medjuck Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 (edited) Is that a great cover or what?! I'm also reading the new Monk biography and have finished 4 of the 5 books of Bolano's 2666. (only took me 10 months). Edited November 11, 2009 by medjuck Quote
jlhoots Posted November 12, 2009 Report Posted November 12, 2009 (edited) Michael Chabon's Manhood for Amateurs. Essay collection, fun read. How are his novels? I have a copy of "The Yiddish Policemen's Union" but haven't read it yet. A friend also recommended "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" to me recently. They're both well worth your time. As I recall, Kavalier & Clay won the Pulitzer. Just started Barbara Kingsolver: Lacuna Edited November 12, 2009 by jlhoots Quote
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.