Joining this late, but am in a little slump right now and thought this might help me read more.
This message has been deleted by its author.
Welcome to the group! If ever there were a place to get out of a slump, this is it.
Welcome to the group!
What did you think of the Millar book?
Thanks guys. I have been reading through the threads in this group and some others, so it's fun to finally make my own. As for the Millar book, I enjoyed it a lot, but it wasn't as weirdly charming as The Good Fairies of New York or Lonely Werewolf Girl.
Welcome!
Thank you!
60.
The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor
A quietly sad story about a woman who has put her life on hold because of a choice she made as a child. Trevor describes the way this choice affects all who were involved throughout the rest of their lives. The descriptions of coastal Ireland are very atmospheric - it also made me realize how little I know about the Troubles. A melancholy novel about sacrifice, patience, forgiveness, and the passage of time - it was perfect fall reading. Four stars.
Message edited by its author, Nov 9, 2009, 10:02am.
#10:
The Story of Lucy Gault was my introduction to William Trevor and I loved it. I know some people that the story did not work, but it really clicked for me. I am glad to see you enjoyed it as well.
61.
Some Hope : A Trilogy by Edward St. Aubyn
Bleakly comic but ultimately moving set of novels that cover three periods in the life of wealthy Englishman Patrick Melrose. The first, Never Mind, takes place over two days or so at the Melrose house in Provence when Patrick is five. Set around a dinner party, Patrick and his mother endure abuse at the hands of David Melrose (Patrick's father and Eleanor's husband) and the guests deal with his extreme snobbery. Told from multiple points of view, the most serious, but not without its comic moments.
The next novel, Bad News, shows Patrick in his early twenties as a drug addict as he travels to New York to collect his father's ashes. Told solely from Patrick's point of view, it had some particularly funny moments as Patrick tries to purchase drugs in various NYC locations.
The third, my favorite, Some Hope, has Patrick (in his late twenties and miserably clean) and others as they get ready for and attend a country house party. Characters seen or heard of in the first two volumes make appearances. This part especially skewers the British upper class, but also has the most touching moments. A scene near the end nicely mirrors a scene at the beginning of Never Mind, but with a better outcome, and shows that while things may never be perfect, some mistakes don't have to be repeated and that people can be redeemable. I loved
Mother's Milk in August and liked these very much too. Four and a half stars.
62.
Thus Was Adonis Murdered by
Sarah CaudwellThe second of her mysteries I've read - they feature Professor Hilary Tamar and four young and attractive barristers(?). This one takes place in Venice and London. These are mysteries where the plot itself is secondary to the characters. I find the characters and their banter entertaining. Highly enjoyable. Four stars.
Message edited by its author, Nov 12, 2009, 4:00pm.
#12: I will look for
Some Hope. Thanks for the recommendation on that one.
I have
Thus Was Adonis Murdered sitting on my shelf waiting patiently to be read. One of these days I will get to it!
I hope when/if you do read them you enjoy them - both funny in different ways, one with very black humor and the other in a witty, British way.
63.
How to Paint a Dead Man by
Sarah HallI'm not sure how I felt about this one. It took me a couple of months to read (with large breaks in between). The writing in this novel that deals with art, life, love, identity, sex, and death was often very beautiful. It was fun discovering the connections between the four different threads in the novel as the story unfolded. I would probably rate this a three and a half star novel, maybe raised half a star to four because of some of the beautiful writing.
Message edited by its author, Dec 2, 2009, 8:47am.
#14: I already added that one to the BlackHole after seeing it on kidzdoc's thread. Sounds like it will be an interesting read.
64.
Queen of the Flowers by
Kerry GreenwoodLightish mystery set in Melbourne, Australia in the late 1920s. Enjoyable - on the whole I prefer to read mystery series in order, but this mystery, while fun, does not make me NEED to go out and purchase these books in order. I will however read those that are available at my library and probably those from the author's other series (apparently contemporary) as well.
Message edited by its author, Dec 2, 2009, 8:47am.
Welcome to our friendly well read group!
Thank you! I'm definitely getting lots of good reading ideas from various threads.
65.
The Remains of the Day by
Kazuo IshiguroThe effect of this 1989 Booker Prize winner is mostly cumulative. It tells the story of very dignified, very professional butler Mr. Stevens as he journeys to meet the former housekeeper of the house where he has spent much of his life working as well as his reflections on his past career. Stevens, whose life has been subsumed by that of his employer, is very controlled throughout, and it is only at the end when he lets some of that control slip a little, that the emotional power of the novel is felt. The book also portrays some of the differences in pre- and postwar British society. Ishiguro writes beautifully, and while overall it is a very melancholy novel, there are also quite a few funny scenes. Four and a half stars.
Message edited by its author, Dec 2, 2009, 8:46am.
That book has been on my list for a long, long time, and I got a copy of it at the book fair in October. Maybe I'll make it the first book in my downsizing-the-stacks challenge.
Terri
As I mentioned to Stasia last night, I've downsized the stacks each time I move -- only to resize the stacks again.
Well, to be truthful, the downsizing of the stacks only refers to what's there now. No guarantee that they won't increase in size; I'm just going to try to start reading some of them!
19 - I would recommend it.
19/20 - My own unofficial downsize the stacks (read 5 of my own before purchasing 1) failed horribly when I heard about the bookcloseouts.com sale on the kitchen thread and I ordered seven books. Justified of course by the fact that some of them were hard to find, and one I was going to buy no matter what and it was much cheaper there than in a store, but still... it's definitely not the time of year to do that.
66.
The Complete Persepolis by
Marjane SatrapiFunny, sad, sometimes horrifying graphic novels about an Iranian girl's life from the time right after the Revolution when she was ten up through when she leaves for France at the age of 24. Satrapi does especially well at showing the personalities of the people in her life. Very interesting and I'd like to know more about Iran. Four and a half stars. Has anybody seen the movie?
#23: Yes, I've read the book and saw the movie. They are quite similar, as the same drawings are used in the movie, but it is worth to watch it.
67.
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Many here have already read this year's Booker Prize winner, and all the excellent reviews made me eager to read it. It's interesting to see how Mantel's style seems to differ in her historical novels from that of her novels set in a more modern era. All the characters in
Wolf Hall are wonderful and recognizably human. They have memories and lives that extend beyond the scope of the novel, and Mantel does an excellent job making us feel that. Cromwell is fascinating, intelligent, and quite modern (for his time) character. The beginning of the transition of England from a fairly isolated island to a nation heavily involved in the political, religious, and economic affairs of Europe is one of the most interesting aspects of this novel, and it is a change in which Cromwell has a large part.
Wolf Hall is evocative of the times and helped me to realize why people may have done what they did or thought how they thought. A well-deserved winner. I'm looking forward to the sequel. Five stars.
Message edited by its author, Dec 19, 2009, 2:32pm.
There is a sequel?! I did not know that. Any details?
I think it is in the process of being written now, and I've heard a tentative title, but can't remember. I'll see if I can find it.
Ok, after reading something in The Guardian about the prize, it is still in the notes stage and will be called The Mirror and the Light.
Message edited by its author, Dec 19, 2009, 7:09pm.
Thanks for the info!
No problem!
68.
Out of Sheer Rage by
Geoff DyerA book about not writing a book about D.H. Lawrence, and the human need for activity or occupation. It discusses various aspects of Lawrence's life (with some Rilke) thrown in, but mostly covers the writing process and how Dyer felt while writing the book, which was not shelved under literary criticism but under memoir - which is not what Dyer intended when he set out to write the book initially. I find Dyer funny, but there are probably people who might find his neuroses and tendency to overthink (as written in this book) obnoxious - I just have similar characteristics and so could relate, also I don't think he takes himself entirely seriously. Dyer writes well about places and in this volume he discusses Italy, Mexico, and the United States, both his experiences as well as Lawrence's. The book made me interested in reading some of Lawrence's nonfiction at some point, as well as Rilke. Four stars.
#29: I already have that one in the BlackHole. I can really relate to the overthinking problem!
Any opinions as to which of the three books that I am taking with me on vacation I should read first? Choices are:
White Teeth by
Zadie SmithMoon Tiger by
Penelope LivelyThe Summer Book by
Tove JanssonMessage edited by its author, Yesterday, 12:27am.
I have not read any of those, so sorry, I am not going to be any help.
Another overthinker here... :)
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