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[Gheorghe]

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Nora Roberts: "Păcatele Inocenților". The original title I think is "Carnal Innocence" . It´s really a thrilling book. Somewhere I have heard that they even made a film out of it, but probably only in English. 

I will have to read more slowly and only before sleeping since I read to fast and need some unread books for my 14 days vacance in the first two september weeks. 

Edited July 28, 2023 by Gheorghe

[Referentzhunter]

[BillF]

[ejp626]

13 minutes ago, BillF said:

While this is a fairly short novel, I found it got a bit baggy by the end.  It could have made a killer novella or extended short story, however.

I got halfway through Austen's Mansfield Park over the weekend.  I don't think it really stands up as well as P&P or S&S.

I dipped into Maugham's Cakes and Ale as well.  Some very biting commentary on the London literary scene.  I'm definitely looking forward to this after wrapping up Austen.

[BillF]

On 7/31/2023 at 3:33 PM, ejp626 said:

While this is a fairly short novel, I found it got a bit baggy by the end.  It could have made a killer novella or extended short story, however.

 

 

As his final novel, published when he was 85, Ravelstein is certainly not one of Bellow's best, but still worth reading IMHO.

On 7/31/2023 at 3:33 PM, ejp626 said:

 

I got halfway through Austen's Mansfield Park over the weekend.  I don't think it really stands up as well as P&P or S&S.

 

 

I could never read Jane Austen for pleasure, but as a student or teacher have had to read several of her novels.

Perhaps a university tutor of mine got it right when he complained that the biggest event in one of her novels (I've forgotten which one) is where someone falls from a four-foot wall! As for her prissiness, he said that after reading Austen, he felt like "taking a bath in Rabelais".

In roughly the same period as Austen, my man is Fielding. Joseph Andrews is a favourite.

Edited August 2, 2023 by BillF

[Matthew]

On 7/21/2023 at 9:02 PM, Brad said:

I know this isn't his best writing but I really love this novel. 

[medjuck]

On 7/27/2023 at 8:31 AM, ghost of miles said:

New bio of Connie Converse:

… and the book that was the basis for Christopher Nolan’s brilliant new movie Oppenheimer:

Reading the Oppenheimer too. Fascinating and makes me even more impressed with the film.

[GA Russell]

[BillF]

[GA Russell]

[Brad]

On 8/2/2023 at 1:50 PM, Matthew said:

I know this isn't his best writing but I really love this novel. 

It was a bit of a struggle but finished it. Due to the way he put it together, it’s uneven.  I can’t say I loved it but glad I read it. 

[GA Russell]

[jlhoots]

Claire Keegan: Small Things Like These

[GA Russell]

[ejp626]

Salman Rushdie The Enchantress of Florence

Managed to get most of the way through this book on a very long bus trip.  It's an interesting tale of how the Mogul Empire and Renaissance Florence were linked through an Indian princess written out of history but restored through the telling of (tall?) tales.  I should be able to finish it in the next few days.

And then I will turn to Maugham's Cases and Ale,  an amusing story with some very catty writing about the London literary world.  I should have gotten further on this, but I was wrapping up Austen's Mansfield Park, which I felt was quite a dud, and the final stories in Mavis Gallant's Varieties of Exile.

Edited August 20, 2023 by ejp626

[BillF]

[medjuck]

4 hours ago, BillF said:

Funny I just finished an obscure Highsmith called "Found on the Street" and recently read a short story by Flynn that reminded me of her (Highsmith). I've never seen a quote from Flynn about her before  but  I've joked that I wouldn't want to live next door to either of them. 

Edited August 20, 2023 by medjuck

[BillF]

2 hours ago, medjuck said:

Funny I just finished an obscure Highsmith called "Found on the Street" and recently read a short story by Flynn that reminded me of her. I've never seen a quote from Flynn about Highsmith but  I've joked that I wouldn't want to live next door to either of them. 

Not so obscure! I've read it. I liked its Greenwich Village location - something different for Highsmith.

[Brad]

[adh1907]

Love, Leda by Mark Hyatt. Interesting mid 60s London novel only recently discovered and published. Takes a while to get into the staccato poetic style. As an aside, trying to work out which jazz club operated on Museum St. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/feb/23/a-great-lost-work-love-ledas-candid-tale-of-1960s-gay-life-is-a-touching-time-capsule

[ghost of miles]

[GA Russell]

[BillF]

[Referentzhunter]

[ghost of miles]

Clearing the decks to read John Szwed’s new biography of Harry Smith: