What book are you currently reading?
I am almost finished ” The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt
I wanted to view the movie as it is just out now in theaters, but first I want to read the book , since movies cut out most of the story line.
As this book is 962 pages long I doubt that the screenwriter got the whole story down.
In fact some reviews already state that the screenwriter must had just read the notes on it instead?
Next book maybe is “Where is Bernadette” and is in movies soon. Anyone read any of these books? Any to recommend?
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A Death in the Family, by James Agee, and Plokhy’s Chernobyl: History of a Tragedy
I enjoyed “The Goldfinch” (as well as “The Secret History” by the same author, though it had some issues).
Currently I’m reading “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving and “The Power and the Glory” by Graham Greene. I would love something nonfiction to read next, but I don’t have anything in mind at the moment.
Just finished Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. It hit me pretty hard actually, highly recommend.
Currently reading The Far Pavilions by MMKaye, planning to read A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier when it comes out next Tuesday.
Travels in Alaska” by John Muir
I’m reading a biography of Paramahansa Yogananda and enjoying it.
About to read “Hotel Europa” by Ilja Leonard Pfeiffer.
As soon as I get home.
“The West Indies – A Nation of Cricketers” by Ted Cunterblast
@Demosthenes How was the Secret History? And what was it about?
@Inspired_2write
It is a very short book. “The West Indes aren’t much good at cricket”.
There are some interesting titles of books that each has posted, curious now.
I just made a rough list of the books mentioned and will check out online later.
Any more suggestions for books?
Mine isn’t a story it’s an account of a visit to Alaska made by John Muir the naturalist in the late 1800’s. There are good descriptions of the landscape and the plants and animals and the native Indian tribes.
@Inspired_2write The Secret History is a “campus novel” (a novel of college life, a favored topic of mine) about a group of students in an eccentric professor’s classics program who get involved in some unsavory events. That’s the best I can describe it without giving away the plot. It’s one of those stories where the first half is better than the second half. An unfortunate trait of a few novels I know. Overall I would recommend it, but that is my caveat.
Currently, our book group is reading “There, there.” I have to get cracking on it because the group date is coming up. It seems to be a tapestry of (at least) four different people’s lives.
A literary friend loved “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt. I tried to read it a long time ago but I couldn’t get into it. I also have “Where the Crawdads Sing” and I know so many people loved it. I started to read it and I’m kind of nervous because I feel like something bad is going to happen.
@Inspired_2write The Bernadette movie was already out here in the US. I liked it a lot. It was kind of wacky and kind of serious, and gave me a new appreciation of Cate Blanchett.
The Plantation #2 in series of 11 by Dorothea Benton Frank. This is a series of tales in the “low country” of South Carolina.
“Hotel Europa” is about mass tourism, and how it destroys (Europe’s) big cities (virtually becoming open air museums, inhabitants leaving for surrounding areas).
The story is set in Venice, but it applies to other cities, like Barcelona, Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, etc. as well.
I can attest to it being the case in Venice.
As requested, A Death in the Family is about a father who died in a car accident back in the 1930’s or so, and how it affects his family. Much of the story is as seen through the eyes of his little boy. The Plokhy book is about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
Lord of the Flies. First time reading.
I actually just finished “Where’d You Go, Bernadette?” last night. Now I’m debating whether to keep reading “The Dogs of Babel”. It might be too intense for me at this time.
I might read “Not Forgetting the Whale” next, for a book club my husband goes to.
Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy.
“Call Sign Chaos – Learning to Lead” by Jim Mattis and Bing West. I’d like to see Mattis run for President.
^^Just based on his looks it seems he wouldn’t be an asshole President so yes, might be a good idea.
@longgone How was the book on Where’d you go Bernadette?”
Rick snagged a whole bunch of hardback John Grisham books at a Garage Sale for $6.00. They’re not his usual legal thrillers tho, so I haven’t read them! Can’t wait to get started.
Just a bit of John Grisham trivia…he wrote “Christmas with the Cranks” but he called the book “Skipping Christmas.”
@Dutchess_lll Whoo hooo, I have read some of his books in the past! Good for you!
I thought I’d read ALL of his stuff—more than once—so I was very excited to find some I hadn’t read.
I have a cool story. Right after HS graduation a guy I had graduated with, and who probably had a silent crush on me, moved to California. One day, out of the blue, I got a package from him. In it was a tea strainer in the shape of a bell, some groovy California tea, and a copy of the book Shogun. If y’all have seen how thick that book is then you know it’s not for the faint of heart!
I got it all read, then the next day my mom was reading it…..and after that my dad read it! They’d never shown any interest in reading the same books as me until that moment.
I was flattered….but also curious. I asked my dad why he didn’t just pull rank and take the book when he became intetested.
He said “That would have been rude and I don’t want any of you girls to be rude so I have to set.a good example.” I was floored and flattered. I kinda even felt like a grown up a little bit.
I do think it’s time to read that book, and The Thornbirds, again.
@mazingerz88 He is so educated and well informed, and his leadership style is so effective he would be a great President. He is totally focussed on the mission and is apolitical. That is a strong plus.
The Noonday Demon. Gosh can’t believe it’s been a year since I started reading that, mostly because it’s over 500 pages long and this is the first time I’ve read such a long book. It’s been a great journey though, I learned more about depression than I hoped to :)
@Demosthenes
I just finished the book ( The Goldfinch) and was so surprised that the last 7 pages
( from page 954 -962. of the paperback book)
Was Philosophical!
What a great way that the writer Donna Tartt had finished off this book, it kind of fits all the chaos,good & bad,events,people, thoughts etc into a surprising explanation of life!
And discovered the perfect the solution to the situation in which a difficult choice had to be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones.
One that the main character voiced but no one paid attention until his friend thought more on what the main character (Theo Decker) suggested and tried it successfully.
I am happy that I slogged through this long novel as the end was well worth the wait!
Thank you to all who posted the book titles of good books to read.
I have noted them down for further research into which ones that I personally would be excited about reading.
The more the merrier.So if you have a book to recommend please do add it on this post I will return to it periodically.
On that note I recommend another book that I came across the other day:
Title: “Something Deeply Hidden” by Sean Carroll
@Inspired_2write I liked it, though I enjoyed the ending slightly less. It’s well-written, the characters are believable, and it does keep you wondering where Bernadette went. It’s a light book and parts are funny, but be prepared for some angst too.
Washington Post | 30 August 2019
In The Future Is Asian, Khanna,
who specializes in international relations, argues that the 21st century is “the time of Asianization,” and that the U.S. can’t afford to continue misunderstanding the region. The book, Khanna’s sixth, was published in February. “It’s basically, [the U.S. economy is] done, and the Asian economy is the next big thing,” Arana says, summarizing its thesis. Khanna has an impressive résumé: He’s the founder and managing partner of FutureMap, a strategic advisory firm, and he has degrees from the London School of Economics and the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.
Just bought Where the Crawdads Sing. Delia Owens
@Sagacious Tell us what you thought of it after OK?
@Sagacious
Thanks will check in on this once in awhile as it pops up when someone answers.
For my book group, for this month we’re reading “There’s a Place for Us” and the author’s name is Mirza.
@jca2 Come back and post on what you liked or not liked about his book and what the story is?
@Sagacious Its amazing. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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