A Room of Charl08's Own: Feminist Penguins #5

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A Room of Charl08's Own: Feminist Penguins #5

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1charl08
Edited: Apr 10, 2018, 8:54 am

I'm Charlotte, I've had an important birthday this year (ouch) and I'm celebrating 100 years since (some) UK women were (finally) given the vote in 1918 in 2018.

My plans for this year include attending lots of talks, seminars and exhibitions on this theme, organising a few myself, and - you guessed it- reading about the history of the campaigns, feminism and women's fiction and non-fiction more broadly , likely to be heavy on the autobiographies and biographies.


At the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in central London, part of a red bus tour organised by the Museum of London.

ETA Given the poor photo-taking, please take my word for it that it is Mrs Pankhurst. Honest.
Much better photos / info here: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/victoria-tower-gardens/things-to-see-and-do/...

2charl08
Edited: Apr 10, 2018, 1:57 am

I love penguins, both this kind

And the book kind.

Every year, increasingly tenuously, I attempt to shoehorn these two themes into one thread.

3charl08
Edited: Apr 10, 2018, 1:42 am

My theme book for January was one by Jill Liddington, I haven't finished it! I have however, just read Women & Power: a manifesto a powerful short read by an impressive Professor of Classics.

I'll be working my way through the others here, (*hopefully* mostly on my TBR shelf already) through the year. I'm half way through Hearts and Minds: the real story of the Great Pilgrimage and Helen Pankhurst"s new book about the history of UK progress on gender equality.



4charl08
Edited: May 13, 2018, 2:45 pm

Books read in 2018 92

January 19
Broad Strokes: 15 women who made art (F, US, art history)
Slow Horses (M, UK, fiction)
Zen and the Art of Murder (M, Germany, fiction)
The Burgess Boys (F, US, fiction)
A Study in Scandal (F, US, fiction)
The Huntsman's Tale (F, UK, fiction - audio)
The Burning Gates (M, UK, fiction)
The Break (F, Canada, fiction)
His Lordship's Last Wager (F, US, fiction)
Slow Horses (M, UK, fiction)

On Balance (F, UK, poetry)
I am Hutterite (F, Canada, memoir)
Persepolis (F, Iran, graphic memoir)
Someone to Wed (F, Canada, fiction)
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk (F, US, fiction)
A Duke in Shining Armor (F, US, fiction)
Rain Dogs (M, Australia, fiction)
Frogkisser (M, Australia, fiction)
The Wedding Date (F, US, fiction)

February 17 (Running total 36)
Real Tigers (M, UK, fiction)
Velkom to Inklandt (F, UK, poetry)
Miss Wonderful (F, US, fiction)
The End of Days (F, Germany, fiction)
A Hat Full of Sky (M, UK, fiction - audio)
The Woman at 1000 degrees (M, Iceland, fiction)
Spook Street (M, UK, fiction)
Lullaby (F, France, fiction)
A Long Way From Home (M, Australia, fiction)
The Darkness (M, Iceland, fiction)

Topaz (F, US, fiction)
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History (F, US, history for children)
Johannesburg (F, South Africa, fiction)
Hotel Silence (F, Iceland, fiction)
Wintersmith (M, UK, fiction - audio)
The Book of Forgotten Authors (M, UK, non-fiction)
Visitation (F, Germany, fiction)

March 22 (Running total 58)
Priestdaddy (F, US, memoir)
Women and Power (F, UK, history / politics)
The Lying Down Room (F, France, fiction)
Brazen: rebel ladies who rocked the world (F, France, history/politics graphic)
The Last Summer (F, Germany, fiction)
The Killers of the Flower Moon (M, US, history)
MI5 and Me: A Coronet amongst the Spooks (F, UK, memoir)
Claire of the Sea Light (F, Haiti - US, fiction)
Loop of Jade (F, UK, poetry)
Three Things About Elsie (F, UK, fiction)

Girl in Disguise (F, US, fiction)
More than a Mistress (F, Canada, fiction)
Miss Burma (F, US, fiction)
The Confession (F, Ireland, fiction)
Sing Unburied Sing (F, US, fiction)

Black Earth City (F, UK, travel writing)
Frankenstein in Baghdad (M, Iraq, fiction)
My Brother's Husband (M, Japan, GN)
Darkness, Darkness (M, UK, fiction)
Bookworm: a memoir of childhood reading (F, UK, memoir)

A Wrinkle in Time (F, US, children's fiction)
London Rules (M, UK, fiction)

April 25 (Running total 83)

The Grass Dancer (F, US, fiction)
A Rogue of her Own (F, US, fiction)
Force of Nature (F, Australia, fiction)
Psychoanlysis: the impossible profession (F, US, non-fiction)
Lovecraft Country (M, US, fiction)
The lost Duke of Wyndham ((F, US, fiction)
H(a)ppy (F, UK, fiction)
Magpie Murders (M, UK, fiction)
See what I have done (F, Australia, fiction)
The lost (F, UK, fiction)

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (F, UK, fiction)
Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves (F, UK, fiction)
Imagine Wanting Only This (F, US, graphic memoir)
Prussian Blue (M, UK, fiction)
Mrs Weber's Omnibus (F, UK, comic/ fiction)
Sight (F, UK, fiction)
A Boy in Winter (F, UK, fiction)
When I Hit You (F, India, fiction)
The Beige Man (F, Sweden, fiction)
The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock (F, UK, fiction)

Memento Mori (F, UK, fiction)
Swallowing Mercury (F, Poland, fiction)
The Dead Ground (F, UK, fiction)
The Savage Dead (F, UK, fiction)
A Bold and Dangerous Family (F, UK, non-fiction)

May 9

The Fire Court (F, UK, fiction)
The World Gone Mad (F, Sweden, non-fiction - diary)
Chicken with Plums (F, Iran, graphic memoir)
Home Fire (F, UK, fiction)
Something New (F, US, graphic memoir)
A Midsummer's Equation (M, Japan, fiction)
Illegal (Multiple authors, GN)
Meatless Days (F, Pakistan, memoir)
Bad Girls: a history of rebels and renegades (F, UK, history)

Overall stats

Gender This Month F 7 M 1 Joint 1 Running Total F 68 M 23 Joint 1
Fiction/Non? This Month Fiction 4 Non-fiction 5 Poetry 0 Running Total Fiction 69 Non-fiction 21 Poetry 3
Source This Month Library 6 Mine 3 Running Total Library 40 Mine 52
Author home
This Month: Africa 0, Asia 2, Australasia 0, Europe 4 (UK 3), Middle East 1, US & Canada 1, Other 1 Multiples 1.
Running Total: Africa 1, Asia 4, Australasia 5, Europe 50 (UK 36), Middle East 3, US & Canada 27, Other 1 Multiples 1.

5charl08
Edited: May 9, 2018, 7:48 am

2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge -23 down!
http://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Reading-Challenge-2018-44138581

1. A book made into a movie you've already seen
2. True crime The Killers of the Flower Moon
3. The next book in a series you started Dead Lions
4. A book involving a heist
5. Nordic noir The Darkness
6. A novel based on a real person Girl in Disguise
7. A book set in a country that fascinates you Miss Burma
8. A book with a time of day in the title
9. A book about a villain or antihero
10. A book about death or grief Claire of the Sea Light
11. A book with a female author who uses a male pseudonym
12. A book with an LGBTQ+ protagonist My Brother's Husband
13. A book that is also a stage play or musical
14. A book by an author of a different ethnicity than you Persepolis
15. A book about feminism Women and Power
16. A book about mental health Psychoanalysis: the impossible profession
17. A book you borrowed or that was given to you as a gift Frogkisser
18. A book by two authors
19. A book about or involving a sport
20. A book by a local author -
21. A book with your favorite color in the title
22. A book with alliteration in the title Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
23. A book about time travel
24. A book with a weather element in the title
25. A book set at sea
26. A book with an animal in the title Magpie Murders
27. A book set on a different planet
28. A book with song lyrics in the title
29. A book about or set on Halloween
30. A book with characters who are twins The Grass Dancer
31. A book mentioned in another book
32. A book from a celebrity book club
33. A childhood classic you've never read A Wrinkle in Time
34. A book that's published in 2018 The Wedding Date
35. A past Goodreads Choice Awards winner
36. A book set in the decade you were born
37. A book you meant to read in 2017 but didn't get to
Broad Strokes: 15 women who made art
38. A book with an ugly cover
39. A book that involves a bookstore or library Bookworm: a memoir of childhood reading
40. Your favorite prompt from the 2015, 2016, or 2017 POPSUGAR Reading Challenges - a book set in a hotel Hotel Silence

Advanced Reading Challenge

1. A bestseller from the year you graduated high school
2. A cyberpunk book
3. A book that was being read by a stranger in a public place
4. A book tied to your ancestry
5. A book with a fruit or vegetable in the title Chicken with Plums
6. An allegory
7. A book by an author with the same first or last name as you MI5 and Me
8. A microhistoryBad Girls: a history of rebels and renegades
9. A book about a problem facing society today When I Hit You
10. A book recommended by someone else taking the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

6LovingLit
Apr 10, 2018, 2:03 am

Happy new thread!
You said about no-device-holidays on your last thread...indeed, in a strategic move knew there was a Play Station console in the holiday house somewhere, and intentionally did not let anyone know as I really didn't want the holiday to be dominated by video games. Mwa ha ha.

7Deern
Apr 10, 2018, 2:31 am

Happy new thread Charlotte and Happy Tuesday! Settling here before catching up on the last thread.

8vancouverdeb
Apr 10, 2018, 3:14 am

Happy New Thread, Charlotte. Push the button on Home Fire. It's so worth the read. I'm afraid of See What I Have Done. I think it might be be too gruesome for me, and not really a contender for the shortlist, but who knows. I don't think H(A)ppy is available in Canada yet, and it sounds too " experimental " for me.

9vancouverdeb
Apr 10, 2018, 3:17 am

Say, you and others can rank your Women's Literature Longlist reads here http://www.librarything.com/list/18504/all/2018-Womens-Prize-for-Fiction-Longlis...

It was created by another member on LT, but it seems not many are aware of it.

10Helenliz
Apr 10, 2018, 4:39 am

Happy New Thread. That's an extensive reading list there.

11Deern
Apr 10, 2018, 4:56 am

Okay, caught 2 BBs from the old thread - The Magpie Murders which I bought directly (under 5 EUR) and the Astrid Lindgren book which right now is still too expensive as ebook, but which I'd love to read later. I'd already seen it in the Guardian, and I love AL's books so much that this is one of the rare cases where I'd like to know more about the author's life.

12FAMeulstee
Apr 10, 2018, 5:08 am

Happy new thread, Charlotte!
I have downloaded Woman at 1000 degrees (and some other books) from the library on my e-reader, to read while we are on vacation next week.

13charl08
Apr 10, 2018, 6:27 am

>6 LovingLit: Ooh. Dasterdly (can't spell it) parental move there Megan. Bonus points to you.

>7 Deern: Thanks Nathalie! Hope comp-sci guy is recovering...

>8 vancouverdeb: If you say so Deborah, will do.

>9 vancouverdeb: Done! Thanks, I do love a list.

>10 Helenliz: Thanks Helen. I'm thinking I should probably cut off January. Maybe next thread.

>11 Deern: I want to read the Astrid Lingren too. I wonder if it is available in the library.... The full review makes her sound so fascinating.

>12 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita. Hope you have a wonderful time.

14msf59
Apr 10, 2018, 7:02 am

Happy New Thread, Charlotte. I hope your week is off to a good start.

15susanj67
Apr 10, 2018, 7:22 am

Hi Charlotte! Happy new thread. Sixty-nine books already!

16BLBera
Apr 10, 2018, 7:54 am

Happy new thread, Charlotte. Love the topper. You are zipping through the Women's Prize books!

17jnwelch
Apr 10, 2018, 8:16 am

Happy New Thread, Charlotte. I'm thorough enjoying Brazen Rebel Ladies. I just read the section about Tove Jansson. I used to read the Moomin stories to our daughter.

18ChelleBearss
Apr 10, 2018, 8:38 am

Happy new thread! Loving all the penguins :)

19Crazymamie
Apr 10, 2018, 8:50 am

Happy new one, Charlotte! From your previous thread - I have not read the Astrid Lindgren book, but it's on my radar now. What I read was the book of her war diaries, A World Gone Mad - the diaries she kept from 1939-1945.

20PaulCranswick
Apr 10, 2018, 9:41 am

Happy new thread, Charlotte.

A week or two at the most until you pass 75 once again. xx

21drneutron
Apr 10, 2018, 1:15 pm

Happy new thread!

22charl08
Apr 10, 2018, 1:28 pm

>14 msf59: Hi Mark - I've been busy, but it's so nice that LT is back up and working.

>15 susanj67: Hi Susan! I'm hoping to hit 75 soon.

>16 BLBera: I do like this prize Beth - nice to discover some new authors and new books!

>17 jnwelch: Aw, that's a lovely image, and the penguins are nice too.

>18 ChelleBearss: Thanks Chelle!

>19 Crazymamie: Ah, that makes sense. My library doesn't have the bio, but it does have the diaries, so that's on the list.

>20 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul - hope so!

23charl08
Apr 10, 2018, 1:28 pm

>21 drneutron: And thanks Doc! Hope the rockets are treating you well.

24vancouverdeb
Apr 10, 2018, 8:57 pm

Charlotte, I'm not sure if you pushed the buy now button for Home Fire, but I searched Abe books and found a US seller of Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves , and purchased it. Supposedly it should be here by April 26th, but we will see. I hoping that mail from Texas in the USA ( still a long way from here ) will arrive a little quicker than the UK. Crosses fingers.

25Familyhistorian
Apr 10, 2018, 10:36 pm

Happy new thread, Charlotte. I am a fan of that Norfolk archaeology series so you got me with your review of The Lost.

26charl08
Apr 11, 2018, 2:40 am

>24 vancouverdeb: Not yet Deborah - I have at least three books from the longlist to get through / enjoy and the books are starting to pile up! Hope you get Miss B and Miss H soonish: I think you'll like it.

>25 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg. I am intrigued to see what LT friends will make of it - I certainly enjoyed the first book, and am sorely tempted to jump straight into book two!

I'm still reading Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves which is making me want to read the more of the longlist too.

http://www.walterscottprize.co.uk/the-2015-prize/

The Last Man In Europe by Dennis Glover (Black Inc Books)
April, 1947. In a run-down farmhouse on a remote Scottish island, George Orwell begins his last and greatest work: Nineteen Eighty-Four

Sugar Money by Jane Harris (Faber)
A tale of slavery and freedom, innocence and experience, love and despair set in the 18th century Caribbean

Prussian Blue by Philip Kerr (Quercus)
France, 1956. Bernie Gunther is on the run. The twelfth book in the renowned series

The Draughtsman by Robert Lautner (Borough Press)
1944, Germany. A novel which shines a light on the complex contradictions of human nature and examines how deeply complicit we can become in the face of fear

The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley (Bloomsbury)
Set in the magical forests of South America in 1859

27susanj67
Apr 11, 2018, 3:46 am

Charlotte, I dropped in to say that The Hunger by Alma Katsu is a Kindle Daily Deal today and I was sure it was from the Walter Scott list, but no. I wonder where I read about it...Anyway, carry on!

28charl08
Apr 11, 2018, 5:31 am

That's a new one to me, Susan. Or at least, it's one that hasn't stuck in my memory...

29charl08
Apr 11, 2018, 9:44 am

Signs of life in the garden :-)

30Caroline_McElwee
Apr 11, 2018, 9:56 am

>17 jnwelch: haha Joe.

>29 charl08: Good to see signs of life Charlotte. I love fritillaries.

31BLBera
Apr 11, 2018, 10:51 am

>29 charl08: Lucky you!

32charl08
Apr 11, 2018, 12:05 pm

>30 Caroline_McElwee: This is my first attempt at them Caroline - the return on the pack of bulbs has been, er, mixed!

>31 BLBera: Yes. Not shown is the verbena, which appears to have popped its clogs, and another bush that is supposed to go on and on and only shows small signs of life at the root, which I'm hoping means something has survived the frost / snow and it might eventually recover. My thistle, which I carefully planted in a pot in the ground to try and protect it from the beech roots, has Completely Disappeared. Mysterious.
Good news on the raspberry and blackcurrent transplants though, I'm hoping for a bumper crop this year. (or some, at least!)

33EBT1002
Apr 11, 2018, 7:54 pm

Happy New Thread, Charlotte. I'm impressed with your progress on the PopSugar Reading Challenge.

And you haven't even finished Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves yet and you're making me want to add it to my wish list!

34charl08
Edited: Apr 12, 2018, 2:16 am

Ellen, there's been some flukey reading in there which has helped add a few categories!

Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves is highly recommended, I hope that lots of people find this novel.
As she stood watching the board, there was a sudden outbreak of clickety-clacks and times and places began to disappear. For some minutes there was nowhere; everything seemed suspended; odd strings of letters flittered across the board and the tiles clicked as one departure after another was spun away. The ripples of sound grew quieter and louder as journeys moved along the board; others appeared from nowhere. Rene held her breath, finally the clickety-clacks slowed and stilled, and she saw the train to Penzance again – it had moved...
Rene and Elsie meet when Rene comes to work for Elsie as a land girl during WW2. Elsie loses her farm due to 'efficiency' measures (read local scepticism about a small female only farm) and they start travelling as workers all over the country. Things are hard but manageable until they have to care for a family member with dementia. I thought this book was really unusually structured, which the epilogue explains. The book is full of lovely descriptions of living in the countryside: birdcalls, muddy walks and farm animals.
The kingfisher, always promised by the tour-boat captain but rarely seen, chose this day to appear. Flitting close by Rene and Elsie, apparently casual, he stabbed at the water and disappeared, reappearing, moments later, with a silver, shiny fish.


There is also a creeping sense of insecurity, done very well, showing the prejudices of the time and how couples tried to live anonymously under the official gaze. Reading this I was reminded of a friend of mine who was in a relationship where her partner wasn't "out" to her family. She told me they used to keep their spare room made up as if it was hers for when family came to visit. I hope things have changed.

35SandDune
Apr 12, 2018, 2:45 am

>34 charl08: Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves looks great. Added it to the wish list.

36susanj67
Apr 12, 2018, 4:19 am

>34 charl08: Charlotte, I've just reserved that one. Amazingly I have two slots free. I typed "Malik," intending to add "Rachel" but the library catalogue suggested "Art", so evidently it thinks I am Smeeta Smitten, Showbiz Kitten. I was all prepared to encounter Art Malik in the library when I popped in to pick up a reserve.

37charl08
Apr 12, 2018, 6:50 am

>35 SandDune: I think it's a great read Rhian, hope you like it.

>36 susanj67: I'm guessing it's a good thing he didn't turn up...?! My mum has finished the Philip Kerr from the longlist, so I should be able to read that one next.

38BLBera
Apr 12, 2018, 8:33 am

>34 charl08: Wow, this does look great. I'm hoping it's available here.

39charl08
Apr 12, 2018, 11:25 am

Hope you like it Beth. I may have pushed an amazon order button for books :-)

40BLBera
Apr 12, 2018, 11:53 am

Confess. What did you order?

41vancouverdeb
Apr 12, 2018, 10:26 pm

>39 charl08: Pray tell, which books have you ordered? I'm waiting for confirmation that Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves has been posted by the seller in the USA via Abe Books . Fingers crossed.

42charl08
Apr 13, 2018, 8:52 am

>40 BLBera: >41 vancouverdeb: Someone wrote a review of Africa in Alabama about a community forcibly brought to the US by a blockade-runner. Just sounds fascinating. And I can't seem to persuade the library to get more GN's, so I have ordered my own copy of Imagine Wanting Only This for which I blame Joe and Mark for getting me into GNs in the first place.
(and Deborah may be interested to note I have asked the book group if they might read Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie. Fingers crossed!)

They've already been delivered :-)

43charl08
Edited: Apr 13, 2018, 9:55 am

Two more have arrived so no shortage this weekend Tomorrow there will be apricots and Red wolf, a thriller. :-)

44Crazymamie
Apr 13, 2018, 9:06 am

I love when books arrive at my door! Tomorrow there will be apricots looks good, but I am guessing that the touchstone is wrong for the second book.

45charl08
Apr 13, 2018, 9:55 am

Well spotted Mamie - it should have been scandi crime!

46charl08
Edited: Apr 14, 2018, 5:53 am

Imagine Wanting Only This
I thought I would like this a lot more than I did (what a start to a review!). Radke has been rave reviewed - the back of the book is covered with them - so don't let my lack of enthusiasm put you off. It's supposed to be a reflection on homesickness, illness and grief, framed around towns and cities that have been abandoned.

For me the sections that talked about her own experience (her family has a rare genetic condition linked to heart failure) were the most successful. I loved the cover, but the style didn't work for me otherwise. I also found the protagonist unsympathetic, she describes finding out she's done something bad, and rather than doing a simple thing that would make it better, she makes a book out of it...

Here is the beautiful cover:

47charl08
Apr 14, 2018, 5:56 am

Now reading: Prussian Blue

RIP Philip Kerr.

48charl08
Edited: Apr 14, 2018, 3:12 pm

Guardian Reviews


The best recent science fiction and fantasy novels – reviews roundup
Autonomous by Annalee Newitz; Blackfish City by Sam J Miller; The Wolf by Leo Carew; The Silenced by Stephen Lloyd Jones and The Tangled Lands by Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias S Buckell
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/apr/12/science-fiction-and-fantasy-roundu...


Macbeth by Jo Nesbø reviewed by Steven Poole
"After such entries as Howard Jacobson’s take on The Merchant of Venice, Shylock Is My Name, and Dunbar, Edward St Aubyn’s King Lear, we now have a Macbeth by the king of Scandi-noir crime, Jo Nesbø. It turns out to be rather an inspired choice: the bloody tragedy of political ambition translates well to a corrupt police department in a lawless town, where the cops are just one more armed gang."
Tempting! (45 reservers ahead of me at the library!)


The Overstory by Richard Powers reviewed by Alexander Larman
"...a mighty, at times even monolithic, work that combines the multi-narrative approach of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas with a paean to the grandeur and wonder of trees that elegantly sidesteps pretension and overambition"
(compare to the review by Benjamin Markovits - https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/mar/23/the-overstory-by-richard-powers-re...


While You Sleep by Stephanie Merritt reviewed by Caroline O'Donoghue
"If you’re willing to embrace Merritt’s use of classic gothic tropes, this is a compelling novel."
Nope. Gothic does little or nothing for me.


Patient X by David Peace reviewed by Ian Sansom
"...engages with Japan in an entirely new and unexpected way. ... a novel composed of 12 stories which retell incidents from the life and work of the writer who lived from 1892 to 1927 and is often referred to as the father of the Japanese short story; he is renowned in the west as the author of “In a Grove”, which was the basis for Akira Kurosawa’s film Rashōmon."
This might be the book that gets me to pick up David Peace.


Never Greener by Ruth Jones reviewed by Carrie O'Grady
"Her screen work has that elusive quality of the top-notch writer, a “voice” that wins you over instantly.
So it’s disappointing to open her debut novel and find that voice subdued to the point of absence. Can this flavourless work really have come from the same writer who gave us the outrageously quirky Nessa?"
Sad to read that this isn't so great - her tv work (e.g. Gavin and Stacey) is v funny.


Painter to the King by Amy Sackville reviewed by Sarah Perry
"Throughout, the reader is accorded glimpses of the narrator, a melancholy meditative presence walking the streets of contemporary Madrid and Seville, feet blistered by ill-fitting sandals, surveying empty spaces where Velázquez had been and finding him still there. In this respect, the novel calls WG Sebald to mind, if he’d struck out for Spain, and not East Anglia: the author is concerned not only with her subject, but with her relation to it. “Oh, poor painter – I am with him, I have been here.” The novel is not propulsive in the ordinary sense. Rather, it is entirely immersive, as if the reader comes slowly to realise that they have been inhabiting a Velázquez canvas all along. What especially thrills is Sackville’s style, which revels in risk and play."
An ARC that is hanging around my neckwaiting delightfully and patiently for me to read.

The return of Fighting Fantasy books -
“a thrilling fantasy adventure in which YOU are the hero”
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/apr/04/fighting-fantasy-game-books-charli...


From the publisher:
PART STORY, PART GAME - PURE ADVENTURE! Are YOU ready to venture beyond the Gates of Death?

Bestselling author, and long-time fan of Fighting Fantasy, Charlie Higson brings his own brand of heart-stopping action, terrifying monsters and page-turning plotting to Allansia...

YOU must respond to a call for help from the people of Allansia. People and animals are being struck down by a Demon Plague and only YOU carry the cure.

Your quest to the Temple of Throff in the Invisible City will be challenging and dangerous. Once there you must face the legendary Gates Of Death, on the other side of which waits the Ulrakaah, Queen Of Darkness and Mother of Demons.
Step up, hero, it's time to fight!

49Carmenere
Apr 14, 2018, 8:56 am

Happy weekend, Charlotte! > 29 what beautiful signs of life in your garden. Mainly our signs of life are weeds but the daffodils and tulips are showing teeny weeny buds within the foliage. Won't be long now, I hope!
Such good looking books on Guardian reviews. If only bla bla bla!

50susanj67
Apr 14, 2018, 8:58 am

Hi Charlotte! Happy Saturday, DIY next door notwithstanding. I would reserve Autonomous, except I seem to have run out of reserve slots again, dangit. Thank goodness for my wishlist.

51Crazymamie
Apr 14, 2018, 9:32 am

Hello, Charlotte! Happy Saturday! I also like the looks of Autonomous. And definitely the Nesbø because I love his books.

52BLBera
Apr 14, 2018, 10:21 am

Thanks for the reviews, Charlotte. What a lot of good books! I do like the looks of Autonomous, I have reserved Macbeth, but most of these look good.

I'll pass on the Radke. I trust your judgment.

Nice book haul; it is lovely to have books arrive at one's door.

Have a wonderful weekend. Maybe you can get in a nap to make up for the noisy awakening.

53charl08
Apr 14, 2018, 3:23 pm

>49 Carmenere: Lynda, I'm losing hope for my headless daff stems, but there are some lovely signs of life coming back - including iris, which are my favourite. The gardening lady on our street says that she has lost some to frost, so I feel like I'm in good company.

>50 susanj67: Thanks Susan. Sunshine here (shocking) and had a bit of an outing to a local farm-for-visitors, so fortunately didn't have to listen to the DIY for too long! I have a few (cough) lists on the library site. Hope they give plenty of warning when they upgrade...

>51 Crazymamie: I hope the Nesbo is as good as this review sounds, Mamie! The library system has got quite a lot of branches (about 60) and most of them seem to have put a request in for a copy, so hopefully 45 reserves will go quite quickly.

>52 BLBera: I do love having next day delivery - rather dangerous. I also ordered a fun "jumbo" world map jigsaw for the group where I volunteer - mum and I tested it out last night - surprisingly challenging!

54banjo123
Apr 14, 2018, 5:42 pm

I also have Nesbo’s Version of the Scottish play on hold. Very excited! Did you hear the NPR interview with Nesbo about the book? I would try to post a link but am on my tablet and that’s too much for me.

55vancouverdeb
Apr 14, 2018, 10:24 pm

As far as weather and gardens go, daffodils , magnolia trees , tulips etc are all in full bloom here. The difficulty is finding a dry day to enjoy them in. I'll be interested in your book group's take on Home Fire should they decide to choose it .

56Helenliz
Apr 15, 2018, 2:47 am

The weather was certainly looking up yesterday, but it seems to have reverted to type again this morning. I've also got evidence of life in the vege patch, which has almost been completely weeded and the grape vine is showing signs of buds bursting into life. Which is good as I wasn't sure how it would cope with it's first winter being a bit on the cold side.

I like the cover in >46 charl08: but your review makes me think I'll give it a miss.

>53 charl08: love those big jigsaws >:-) Like that it was mote difficult than you expected!

57susanj67
Apr 15, 2018, 3:58 am

I always thought Jo Nesbo was a girl. Oops.

>53 charl08: Excellent jigsaw! I am pleased to see that it includes New Zealand, because not every map does. You could tell your tiny charges that you know people from that very distant place :-)

58Crazymamie
Apr 15, 2018, 9:47 am

It's raining cats and dogs here today, Charlotte. A perfect excuse for staying in and reading. Last night I finished Frankenstein in Baghdad, and it was so very good. I am thinking about putting it in the allegory category of the PopSugar challenge - what do you think? No one is calling it an allegory, but I think it fits. Surprisingly, someone has tagged it dystopian, which boggles the mind.

>57 susanj67: Okay. This cracked me up, Susan! (the Jo Nesbø part)

59charl08
Apr 15, 2018, 11:34 am

>54 banjo123: Hi Rhonda, I haven't heard that interview. I was going to counterpost a UK interview, but nada.
https://www.npr.org/2018/04/12/599919038/jo-nesb-gives-macbeth-a-gritty-action-p...

>55 vancouverdeb: It might be a while Deborah, but if they don't pick it, I'll get hold of the book.

>56 Helenliz: It was so warm here Helen I got a bit red in the sun!
What will be very funny is when the kids get hold of it and do it in ten seconds flat!!

>57 susanj67: I'm wondering what they'll make of it altogether - I love maps (now) but I don't remember doing very much with them as a kid, and even though most of these children have travelled big distances with their famiiles, they don't seem to be very familiar with understanding it on paper either. But maybe they're just doing that 'nod along with the teacher' thing!!

>58 Crazymamie: Sounds good Mamie. The weather has (sadly) greyed over again here too.
I don't get the dystopia thing either. Allegory works for me though. I was struggling about the colour challenge one but Owen Sheers has a book out this year which fits perfectly.

60charl08
Apr 15, 2018, 11:43 am

Prussian Blue
I've been reading Bernie Gunther books since 2005 - first they were a trilogy and then (somehow) 12 books worth of a series. Kerr got round the fact that the most interesting part of his protagonist's life was living in the nazi years by including a lot of flashbacks in the later books, and this one is no exception - a dual narrative between a case in 1939, and being chased by the Stasi in the 1950s. If you haven't come across these books, try March Violets: the level of detail really is impressive.

61susanj67
Apr 15, 2018, 12:14 pm

>60 charl08: "If you haven't come across these books, try March Violets"

That's the first one in the series!

*so PROUD*

*rushes off to check the library catalogue*

62charl08
Apr 15, 2018, 12:22 pm

>61 susanj67: Yup Susan, definitely following instructions.
(Let's not speak about which one I read first!!)

63susanj67
Apr 15, 2018, 12:23 pm

>62 charl08: Let's not :-) I checked the library, but no luck. However, it was only 99p on Amazon, so now I have it :-)

64Crazymamie
Apr 15, 2018, 12:36 pm

I also love those Bernie Gunther books! I might have been reading them out of order, but I did start with the first one. *blinks*

65charl08
Edited: Apr 15, 2018, 2:53 pm

>63 susanj67: 99p? Bargain!

>64 Crazymamie: I wonder if we can apply a flashback exclusion clause Mamie? Do you think this will wash with Susan? No?!


Read Mrs Weber's Omnibus Enormous collection of cartoons by Posy Simmonds from the 1970s to 1990s, published in the Guardian and documenting the lives of a cast of Guardian reading families including Mrs Weber, nurse turned mother of six. What's fascinating is the distance of time - and the same issues that are so contemporary now: young people unable to find work, living at home, university cuts, sexism, second homes, house prices, gentrification... You can see links to her other work - Tamara Drewe and Gemma Bovery too.

66msf59
Apr 15, 2018, 4:24 pm

Happy Sunday, Charlotte. A cold, wet, drab day here, in the Midwest. Perfect conditions, to stay indoors, curled up with the books. I am taking full advantage.

About 2 weeks ago, I was reorganizing my books and I came across Becoming Unbecoming, which got tucked under a few other titles, so I brushed it off and dug in. I finally finished it and was quite impressed. It is a very, very dark, read but well-crafted and completely heart-breaking. It would make a good companion read with I'll Be Gone in the Dark, which I recently read. Thank you, so much for sending this my way. Very thoughtful. I will pass it on to another appreciative LTer.

I hope you are having a good weekend.

67Crazymamie
Apr 15, 2018, 5:08 pm

>65 charl08: Yeah, I am guessing that will be a no go, but it was a good thought.

68SandDune
Edited: Apr 16, 2018, 2:47 am

>65 charl08: Oh I used to have Mrs Weber’s Omnibus at one stage. I don’t think it survived our major book clear out in the early 2000’s, most of which I now regret.

69charl08
Edited: Apr 16, 2018, 2:40 am

>66 msf59: Glad you liked it Mark - I agree, it was very dark. I thought the writer was very brave to be approaching such a challenging topic. I'll be gone in the dark sounds like a similarly tough topic.

>67 Crazymamie: Me too Mamie!

>68 SandDune: Oh, clutter-clearer's regret. Ouch. I see there are copies on amazon now Rhian! I particularly liked the feminism cartoons. Have you read Literary Life: revisited the more recent collection? My library doesn't have copies, and I am very tempted.

70Ameise1
Apr 16, 2018, 4:19 am

A bit late to the party. Happy new one Charlotte. I put >34 charl08: on my library list.

71ChelleBearss
Apr 16, 2018, 8:35 am

>48 charl08: Ahh, too many book bullets here!! I enjoyed Hag-Seed from the The Hogarth Shakespeare so I'd like to give Nesbo's version a try as I've enjoyed some of his books!

72charl08
Apr 16, 2018, 8:48 am

>70 Ameise1: Lovely to see you Barbara. I hope you like it, it was quite unlike anything else I've read recently.

>71 ChelleBearss: I'm looking forward to see what he makes of the story - 70s Scotland sounds like a great setting.

73charl08
Apr 16, 2018, 8:55 am

After a brief spurt, I've slowed down on the women's fiction longlist. Still reading Sight, which is good, but I was so tired after going to the kids farm on Saturday all I wanted was crime (Philip Kerr) and comics (Posy Simmonds).

Read - in ranked order
Miss Burma by Charmaine Craig
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
H(A)PPY
Manhattan Beach
The Idiot
Three Things About Elsie
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
See What I Have Done

Still to read from the longlist:
The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar (I have a copy, just haven't read it)
A Boy in Winter by Rachel Seiffert (ditto)
Elmet by Fiona Mozley (tried last year, didn't like it, didn't finish it)
Sight by Jessie Greengrass (have a copy from the library)
When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife by Meena Kandasamy (ditto)
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy (ordered at the library)
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie (have recommended to my book group, so might wait and see with this one)
The Trick to Time by Kit de Waal (lots of copies are on order at the library - not sure if it will make it in time)

Short list is announced on the 23rd April, so only a week to go now...
https://www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk/reading-room/news/longlist-2018

74vancouverdeb
Edited: Apr 17, 2018, 1:06 am

Oh, the pressure of the Women's Fiction Longlist, Charlotte. I think I'm currently reading The Idiot by Elif Batuman, but I am about 105 pages in and while it's amusing, it is going nowhere fast. Perhaps that is the plan??? I dunno. You are doing so well with the Long list.

75charl08
Edited: Apr 17, 2018, 5:02 pm

I found that too Deborah.

Sight by Jessie Greengrass
There's an awful lot here about motherhood and being pregnant, and the gap between a parent and child. And whilst I don't think that I have to identify with a character to enjoy a book, I felt quite shut out by this one. I was reminded of Rachel Cusk (the slightly blurred I narrative, the focus on personal experience). I did enjoy the sections about the history of medicine: the problem was I didn't want to go back to the navel gazing mother narrative. Fascinating stuff about discovering the anatomy of pregnancy, and Freud and his daughter Anna though.

Read - in ranked order
Miss Burma by Charmaine Craig
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
H(A)PPY
Manhattan Beach
The Idiot
Three Things About Elsie
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Sight
See What I Have Done

76charl08
Apr 17, 2018, 5:15 pm


I stalled on an ARC of Rachel Seiffert's book A Boy in Winter, but with the nomination I've picked it up again. I'm glad I did, although the reason I'd stalled - that the book was building up to a German atrocity against the Jewish community in a small Ukrainian town did happen, the book was about more than that. Seiffert's other books (that I've read) have often included a journey, travel to unknown or barely known spaces. In Field Study short stories explore lives across German borders, in Afterwards, it's lives affected by colonial violence and The Troubles. Here it's when three children are travelling across frozen countryside that the book really came alive for me. She writes beautifully, especially uncertainty, loss.
'Learning weights nothing,' he told him, over and over. 'Lessons you can carry with you. Don't you see it's our learning, it is our knowledge that has carried us, all through the centuries?'

Women's Fiction ranking (for those I've read)
Miss Burma by Charmaine Craig
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
A Boy in Winter
H(A)PPY
Manhattan Beach
The Idiot
Three Things About Elsie
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Sight
See What I Have Done

77vancouverdeb
Edited: Apr 17, 2018, 7:20 pm

Wow! Charlotte, 9 of the Women's Fiction Longlist read. Thanks for the info re The Idiot and A Boy in Winter . If I stall out on The Idiot and I'm reading it slowly, A Boy in Winter is available here in Canada.

78LovingLit
Edited: Apr 17, 2018, 8:09 pm

>46 charl08: this cover reminds me of a picture I made when fooling around on photoshop :)



79charl08
Edited: Apr 18, 2018, 2:25 am

Now reading When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife by Meena Kandasamy - really compelling account of domestic violence.

Can I write this novel? Will the fear in my state of mind eat into my writing? Will I be betrayed by the words I choose? How many words can you write before they turn traitors?


>77 vancouverdeb: Five still to read (six including Kandasamy), but I don't think the de Waal or the Roy is going to arrive in the library in time, so not expecting to read many more before the 23rd.
Although they are both available on kindle, so...

>78 LovingLit: Ha! I saw that picture and thought "what is she talking about?" and had to go back to the original post. Talk about three second memory...

80charl08
Apr 18, 2018, 11:09 am

81RidgewayGirl
Apr 18, 2018, 11:51 am

You're doing so well with the longlist! I'm waiting for the shortlist and hoping that the five I've read are on it.

The reviews have been mixed for Miss Burma, but you've added a vote to the "read it" side for me.

82Helenliz
Apr 18, 2018, 3:15 pm

>80 charl08: It was a beautiful day! I had washing drying on the line and mowed the lawn. I do love the sun. >:-)

83BLBera
Apr 18, 2018, 5:40 pm

Charlotte - You are doing well with the list; I've only read seven and doubt I will get to more before the short list is announced is announced. Home Fire is my top read so far. You ranked Miss Burma high...I loved it, but thought the relationship stuff bogged it down in places.

84charl08
Apr 19, 2018, 2:53 am

>81 RidgewayGirl: Thanks Kay - it helped I'd already read two or three anyway! I do like a historical novel that explores a setting I know nothing about - so that might be why it was extra successful for me.

>82 Helenliz: Wasn't it Helen! We had visitors to campus so it was especially nice to host them in good weather. Our lawn is a bit desperate. Wondering about a wildflower meadow...

>83 BLBera: "only" seven?! I've still to get to Home Fire - Deborah has been nudging me about it. I wasn't so bothered by the relationship stuff, I think.

Heard a talk last night by a garden designer with some amazing 'before' and 'after' shots. I want a pergola now :-)

85charl08
Edited: Apr 19, 2018, 9:27 am

Booking for a local lit festival next month - some exciting authors, including Michela Wrong, Benjamin Zephaniah and Reni Eddo-Lodge. Shami Chakrabarti is already sold out!
I feel slightly guilty for not booking for Carmen Bugan, but her book was a bit of a mixed bag for me.
https://www.wowfest.uk/events
(ed to fix the www)

86BLBera
Apr 19, 2018, 9:19 am

>85 charl08: What a fun job! I'm not familiar with any of the authors. :( It looks like I have some reading to do.

87charl08
Edited: Apr 20, 2018, 3:09 am

>86 BLBera: I only went on the site to order tickets for an event about refugees and the arts. Oops.

When I Hit You
Told in the first person, this is an incredibly powerful account of an abusive marriage in India. Kandasamy's protagonist is no victim, but horribly penned in by her new husband's jealousy and paranoia. From wanting her email passwords to violent abuse, she chronicles the loss of writing career, sense of self and control of her own body, as doctors, family and friends fail to see what is happening and her parents urge her not to leave her husband for fear of loss of 'face'. Tracking her experiences through imagining it as a film, a book, a love letter, the (never named, I think) protagonist distances herself from her own abuse. When she is finally able to leave, which we know has happened at the very beginning of the book, her parents' reactions are some kind of light relief: her mother's attempts to talk about her appearance when she arrived at the family home (her feet!), her father's denial that he has any influence over his daughter. The contrast between her 'modern' freelance lifestyle, and being uninvited from a wedding as a divorced woman, is particularly stark.
I am the woman whose reputation is rusting. Who dissolves her once-upon-a-time in vodka with sliced lime, whole green chillies and sea salt. Who swallows it in the sweet heat of a neat whisky and rolls it into tight joints, smoking it up in circles of regret. I wear it in leopard print. I walk it around in red, outrageous stilettos. I take it to every seedy bar in town... I am the woman who did not know this woman myself, wild and ecstatic, trapped inside me. She is the stranger I am taking to town. She is the stranger I am getting to know, the rebellious stranger under my skin who refuses to stand to any judgement.
Highly recommended. This is the first one from the longlist I've felt really passionate about.

Women's Fiction ranking (for those I've read)

Ones I want to see shortlisted:
When I hit you
Miss Burma by Charmaine Craig
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
A Boy in Winter
H(A)PPY
--------------------
Manhattan Beach
The Idiot
Three Things About Elsie
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Sight
See What I Have Done

Still to read:
The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar (I have a copy, just haven't read it)
Elmet by Fiona Mozley (tried last year, didn't like it, didn't finish it)
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy (ordered at the library)
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie (have recommended to my book group, so might wait and see with this one)
The Trick to Time by Kit de Waal

88vancouverdeb
Edited: Apr 19, 2018, 7:47 pm

You are doing so well with the Longlist, Charlotte. I am currently a little stalled in my reading of The Idiot and my reading in general. I agree, I'd like to see Miss Burma and Sing, Unburied, Sing on the short list. Of the books that I have read ( only 5 and part a 6th ) , I'd like also see Home Fire on the short list. I'm not sure I'm up to reading When I Hit You at the moment. I am seeking something light and fun to read. But not long now until the shortlist.

Excellent review of When I Hit You.

89BLBera
Apr 20, 2018, 12:36 am

>87 charl08: Wow - great review Charlotte. You should read Home Fire - I loved that one and would like to see your thoughts on it.

90charl08
Apr 20, 2018, 3:51 am

>88 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah - it's a good read and I hope that lots of LTers find it.

Hope you find something lighter that you like to pick up - I've gone straight from the heavy to a Swedish police procedural The Beige Man.

>89 BLBera: Thanks Beth - I do need to get on and read some of the TBR pile, it feels a bit self-indulgent to buy another one!

On the back of The Beige Man there is a quote from a review in the Library Journal
Fans of Henning Mankell and Hakan Nesser will enjoy Tursten. For readers new to the series, there is no need to start at the beginning....

91Helenliz
Apr 20, 2018, 4:04 am

>90 charl08: >:-o Don't tell Susan!

92susanj67
Apr 20, 2018, 4:26 am

>90 charl08:, >91 Helenliz: OMG! I have just written the name of the Library Journal on a piece of paper and put it in a drawer.

>87 charl08: That one sounds like a good read, Charlotte, and if you rate it so highly then I will get it :-) I've just wishlisted it, waiting for a slot to clear. Where are all my reserves?! Yeesh.

93Crazymamie
Apr 20, 2018, 10:22 am

Happy Friday, Charlotte! You should post that most excellent review of When I Hit You to the book page, as there are no reviews of it yet. If you do, I will add my thumb.

>92 susanj67: You made me snort my coffee, Susan!

94jnwelch
Apr 20, 2018, 12:52 pm

Hi, Charlotte. I know what you mean about looking for lighter reading when you're tuckered out. We're bushed from the arrival of the new little guy, and I'm reading the third Invisible Library fantasy after trying something more difficult and thinking, uh-uh.

95charl08
Apr 20, 2018, 2:06 pm

>91 Helenliz: It is rather troubling, Helen.

>92 susanj67: You've filled all your reserve slots? Is that the original amount or the new total permitted to the select few? Either way, good work :-)

>93 Crazymamie: OK Mamie! I have followed instructions :-) Hope you can find a copy. I'm going to buy my own I think. One I want to press on people.

>94 jnwelch: Congrats Grandpa Joe!

96Crazymamie
Apr 20, 2018, 2:08 pm

Thanks, Charlotte! I have added my thumb!

97Berly
Apr 20, 2018, 2:45 pm

Book Bullet for When I Hit You! I need life to lighten up a little before I attempt it, but it sounds like a great story. Thanks! Only 3 more days until the short list....

98charl08
Apr 20, 2018, 4:47 pm

Thanks Mamie!

The Beige Man
Irene Huss is facing an empty nest, her elderly mother's fragility, her husband's recovery from a breakdown - and a murder investigation. This was the second Irene Huss novel I read, and I continue to enjoy the reality of the character: she has a 'normal' life as well as a job in the police force. Although this time she also gets to go to Tenerife.

99charl08
Apr 20, 2018, 5:47 pm

How Many Books Have You Read From the List of 100?

http://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/quiz/

100Berly
Apr 20, 2018, 5:51 pm

73!! : )

101evilmoose
Apr 20, 2018, 6:34 pm

Only 65 (I think) (roughly)

102charl08
Edited: Apr 21, 2018, 4:57 am

>100 Berly: >101 evilmoose: Kim and Megan, you both did much better than me!

Now reading The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock (couldn't sleep)

Guardian Reviews - Non-fiction


Mothers by Jacqueline Rose reviewed by Tessa Hadley
"We punish mothers, she thinks, because the figure of the mother is “held accountable for the ills of the world, the breakdown in the social fabric, the threat to welfare”. And she believes there are reasons for that – psychic reasons, if you like. "


A Higher Loyalty by James Comey reviewed by Jonathan Freedland
"...the Hillary chapters will be hard going for those who hoped she would become America’s first woman president. Yet Comey makes a good defence of his actions, showing how he was repeatedly confronted with a series of lose-lose choices."


Municipal Dreams by John Boughton reviewed by Lynsey Hanley
"...celebrates an era during which dreams of shelter and security for all – not just those who could afford to purchase it – were in large part made a reality, and asks us if we oughtn’t to consider reviving that dream before it gets destroyed completely.
Some five million homes were built by and on behalf of local authorities in the first three-quarters of the last century, reaching a point where, at the end of the 1970s, around a third of all households, more than 40% of the population, lived in council housing. "


Elastic by Leonard Mlodinow reviewed by Steven Poole
"...a theoretical physicist who has also worked as a writer on Star Trek, so he is obviously annoyingly good at the kind of boundary-hopping cognition he champions. “Elastic thinking” is the name he gives to the way new and creative ideas pop up into the conscious mind in moments of insight. It is contrasted with “analytic thinking”, which is our rule-led, logical, conscious thought."


Our Place by Mark Cocker revivewed by Alex Preston
"...an elegy for a beloved landscape, an anguished lament, a manifesto, a call to arms."

Lots more reviews www.guardian.co.uk/books

103Helenliz
Apr 21, 2018, 3:31 am

>99 charl08: 28. Not sure what the list is comprised of, as it seems a mixture.

104susanj67
Apr 21, 2018, 4:30 am

>95 charl08: Charlotte, I filled the 12 hard copy + 5 e. BUT at the library yesterday (where I may have gone to impulse-borrow something from Julia's thread) I saw a hard copy of one of my e reserves, so I grabbed that, deleted the e reserve and free up one whole slot. Triumph! The book was Stay With Me, which I thought I had read about here, but maybe it was Beth.

Thanks for the Guardian reviews - Municipal Dreams looks good but hasn't shown up in the library catalogue so far, hrmph. Or as a touchstone on T, it seems.

I hope you have the sun and the general loveliness.

105ChelleBearss
Apr 21, 2018, 7:25 am

>99 charl08: Only 45 with another 14 I'd like to try. The rest, meh.

106PaulCranswick
Apr 21, 2018, 7:34 am

>99 charl08: 36 for me but most of them on the shelves awaiting attention.

Nice to see a Guardian list but none of the books really grab me - the James Comey book maybe.

Have a lovely weekend.

107charl08
Apr 21, 2018, 7:58 am

Sunshine here, although not so warm, and bees in the garden appreciating the (few) flowers. It turns out I should have put gravel under the bulbs, the gardening lady on the street tells me, as our soil has too much clay. Maybe next year I will exceed my daffodil record (3!). I should be out running errands, but The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock is proving pretty gripping a read (although long).

>103 Helenliz: One of the comments on Litsy (for yes, I stole the link from there) suggested it was a popular vote, as they are pretty wide ranging.

>104 susanj67: I admire your moves there Susan. The reviewer of Municipal Dreams was on campus giving a talk last year - I must read her book, seeing as I bought it (Estates)!

>105 ChelleBearss: I was reminded I'd like to be able to say I've read Dostoevsky, Chelle. Some of the others, not so much!

>106 PaulCranswick: Nice to see you about the threads Paul. Hope things are calming down a bit for you. The James Comey is getting a lot of attention (Litsy) but I don't think I'll bother. I've ordered Clinton's new bio from the library, but I'm going to have to wait a while. There are just four copies in the system, and 20 people ahead of me, although Jo Nesbo's new one puts her in the shade with 45 reservers ahead.

108PaulCranswick
Apr 21, 2018, 8:41 am

Missing a library system as I don't have that privilege here, Charlotte - have to buy 'em.

109katiekrug
Apr 21, 2018, 9:12 am

>99 charl08: - I've read 39 of the books. I thought it was a really weird list, and then read that it was determined by popular opinion. I am looking forward to following the series on PBS, though.

Happy Saturday, Charlotte!

110susanj67
Apr 21, 2018, 9:27 am

>107 charl08: Charlotte, Estates is good. And I see you've reached 75! (or now 77) Congratulations :-)

111BLBera
Apr 21, 2018, 9:47 am

>99 charl08: It is a very weird list, Charlotte. It will be interesting to follow the series on PBS. There are only a couple that I haven't read that I want to read.

Thanks for the reviews. I'm resisting this week.

Flowers. Bees. Sigh.

Another Women's Prize good one. They did good this year.

112Crazymamie
Apr 21, 2018, 10:21 am

>99 charl08: 48 for me.

Happy Saturday, Charlotte!

113SandDune
Apr 21, 2018, 2:21 pm

>107 charl08: >110 susanj67: Estates is good - I'd second that. I've also read her next book Respectable: The Experience of Class but that seemed to rehash a lot of the same ideas and I didn't think it was so interesting.

114libraryperilous
Apr 21, 2018, 3:42 pm

\Insert rant about the Comey book and the double standard in coverage of it here.\

\Insert rant about Comey's refusal to understand why he did the wrong thing here.\

Looking forward to catching up on your thread soon. Lots of interesting books here, especially Municipal Dreams and Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves.

115Familyhistorian
Apr 21, 2018, 6:07 pm

Your thread is very dangerous, Charlotte. Good thing I am on transit and can't take note of the BBs. It's good to see garden flowers on your thread. Ours have been out for a while now.

116banjo123
Apr 22, 2018, 12:28 am

Hi Charlotte! I read 62. It is a pretty odd list.

I am reading Miss Burma now, partly on your recommendation, and was interested to realize that it is mostly a true story about the authors family.

117charl08
Apr 22, 2018, 6:25 am

The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock (F, UK, fiction)
I bought a shiny new, signed hardback copy (discounted) when I was off on travels in Birmingham. It has blue edges and is really rather nice. However, that was back in ?January? so I really did need to get on with this. Did the usual pick it up and within a couple of chapters wondered why on earth I hadn't read it straight through when I bought it.

Late 18c setting, a merchant is presented with a mermaid, which turns out to be rather less attractive than the usual images. At the same time, a parallel narrative: a young woman whose 'protector' has just died: should she return to her former procuress/madam? How the two stories intertwine, the clashing cultures of merchant trader and those who serve the tastes of the 'elite', as well as the ongoing story of mermaids, make this a gripping, but also unlikely read. Even more impressive, this is a first novel.

Women's fiction longlist (my) ranked choices for the shortlist - announcement is tomorrow:

When I hit you
Miss Burma by Charmaine Craig
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock
A Boy in Winter
H(A)PPY
--------------------

Manhattan Beach
The Idiot
Three Things About Elsie
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Sight
See What I Have Done

118charl08
Apr 22, 2018, 6:30 am

>108 PaulCranswick: The library manages to constantly distract me from the TBR Paul! Mixed blessing :-)

>109 katiekrug: Will the American public choose 50 Shades, Katie?(!)

>110 susanj67: I need to get on with it Susan! Thanks for the nudge (and the congrats!)

119charl08
Apr 22, 2018, 6:35 am

>111 BLBera: They did very well I think Beth. Although I have my favourites, none of them were poor reads - although See What I Have Done just wasn't my cup of tea, I could see that it was well done.

>112 Crazymamie: Fun to see what different people have read Mamie!

>113 SandDune: Thanks Rhian. I was a bit sad I didn't get the book signed when she came to speak, but someone was monopolising her and I couldn't be doing with standing around any longer, so to some degree my own choice!

120charl08
Apr 22, 2018, 6:40 am

>114 libraryperilous: The review made it sound like a rather self-justifying book, and I can't say I'm particularly tempted as a result. I've had some great reads recently, glad if the thread helps someone else pick something up.

>115 Familyhistorian: It's just so nice not to have the snow and frost!

>116 banjo123: The 'true' bit does add to the power of the story, I thought, look forward to hearing what you make of the novel.

121susanj67
Apr 22, 2018, 7:11 am

>117 charl08: I'm glad you liked it :-) I loved the bossy sister and I agree that it was amazing for a first novel, in particular.

122msf59
Apr 22, 2018, 9:01 am

Happy Sunday, Charlotte! I hope you are enjoying the weekend and getting plenty of reading in. I have not started a new GN, although I have Alpha, my latest, ER win, waiting in the wings. I know a couple other LT pals, who have enjoyed it.

123BLBera
Apr 22, 2018, 9:44 am

Both you and Susan had great things to say about The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock - I have no idea when I will be able to get to it.

124charl08
Apr 22, 2018, 1:55 pm

Now reading A Bold and Dangerous Family for the non-fiction thread. I'm about half way through, and the mini-history of fascism in Florence in the 1920s is one of those histories that keeps making me shake my head and wonder at all the history I don't know anything about. Apparently the British royal family visited Mussolini in this period, and their were British-Italian fascist groups in Edinburgh (and all over the country). Yuk.

Also picked up Memento Mori the latest one in the Roman doctor Ruso crime series on the kindle.

125charl08
Apr 22, 2018, 2:31 pm

This was lunch... (with a chicken wing dish and a lime fizz) - absolutely delicious.

https://www.wahaca.co.uk/menu/food/

126susanj67
Apr 22, 2018, 2:35 pm

>125 charl08: Ooh, nice :-)

I also heard there was a small book haul, and I am hoping for details very soon.

Thank you.

127charl08
Edited: Apr 22, 2018, 4:20 pm

A small haul from the very nice Waterstones in Liverpool

(Not the haul: the penguin modern classics table. V tempting)

Ada Twist Scientist

Home Fire
The Trick to Time
Paris by Julian Green

128evilmoose
Apr 22, 2018, 5:20 pm

The Penguin modern classics are delightfully enticing. It would be hard to just buy one.

129vancouverdeb
Apr 22, 2018, 5:28 pm

>117 charl08: Great list for the Women's Fiction Shortlist. I'm very curious too as to what the short list will be.

Quite a few books are not available in Canada as yet, including The Mermaid and and Mrs Hancock, A Trick to Time, among others. I've begun reading A Boy in Winter and so far it has quite grabbed me.

>127 charl08: Nice haul So, you purchased Home Fire and A Trick to Time. I'm a bit thick and since I see the cover for Ada Twist, Scientist but the others just listed in title format, I'm not entirely sure which one you purchased. I'm assuming all?

Happy Week ahead. We have temps heading into 16 - 17 C later this week. I'll be digging up my shorts.

130charl08
Edited: Apr 23, 2018, 3:16 am

>128 evilmoose: It was hard! I just came away with a copy of Paris.

>129 vancouverdeb: Glad you are enjoying the Seiffert Deborah.

My post wasn't clear enough I think - I just loved the illustrations in Ada Twist and wanted to include the cover - I bought all the books I listed, your assumption was completely correct.

Temps are back down again here but I am hoping I will be ok in my 'spring' coat...

From the women's prize website:
https://www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk/reading-room/news/revealing-2018-womens-...

Sarah Sands, 2018 chair of judges and Editor of BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme said: “The shortlist was chosen without fear or favour. We lost some big names, with regret, but narrowed down the list to the books which spoke most directly and truthfully to the judges,” said Sarah Sands, Chair of Judges. “The themes of the shortlist have both contemporary and lasting resonance encompassing the birth of the internet, race, sexual violence, grief, oh and mermaids. Some of the authors are young, half by Brits and all are blazingly good and brave writers.”

The shortlist is as follows:

Elif Batuman, The Idiot
Imogen Hermes Gowar, The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock
Jessie Greengrass, Sight
Meena Kandasamy, When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife
Kamila Shamsie, Home Fire
Jesmyn Ward, Sing, Unburied, Sing

Of those chosen, I just didn't love either Sight or The Idiot and have yet to read Home Fire. I'm sad Miss Burma won't get the wider promotion that the shortlisting would have provided, but otherwise pleased.

131susanj67
Apr 23, 2018, 4:56 am

>127 charl08: Nice haul! At first I thought it was the table and I thought OMG *piles*, but then I realised :-)

>130 charl08: I'm glad that Mermaid made it, and I love the chair's comments - "oh and mermaids". I have also read Home Fire, but that's it, although I know you recommended the Kandasamy.

132Caroline_McElwee
Apr 23, 2018, 5:13 am

>130 charl08: I've read the last two, both fine novels in very different ways I thought Charlotte.

133Helenliz
Apr 23, 2018, 5:54 am

And now I need to update my Orange prize spreadsheet. Yes, I'm behind the times...

134vancouverdeb
Edited: Apr 23, 2018, 6:48 am

Hi Charlotte. I woke up to check on the Women's Literature Shortlist . I'm pleased that Home Fire is on the shortlist, as that is my favourite read of the three books that I have already read on the shortlist. I also not surprised to see Sing, Unburied, Sing on the shortlist, I would have predicted that too. The Idiot, just no! Such a tedious read and I really did not feel I gained much by reading it. I'm also sad that Miss Burma did not make it onto the shortlist , as I thought it was a very illuminating read and well done. I've yet to read Sight, When I Hit You or The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock. Of the remaining three, I'm most keen to read The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock, but it's not available in Canada until September or so, I wonder if they will speed up the release date now that it is on the shortlist.

135katiekrug
Apr 23, 2018, 7:05 am

I've only read Home Fire and Sing, Unburied, Sing but if they are indicative of the quality of the short list (and, really, the long list, too), then it looks like a great year!

136charl08
Edited: Apr 23, 2018, 8:56 am

>131 susanj67: I was sorely tempted Susan - so many books! Although it doesn't match the huge one in Manchester, the Liverpool Waterstones is pretty impressive. Although my friend likes books, I didn't feel I could also drag her into the two second hand bookshops I usually also visit, which was sad (except I don't need more books, so probably also good).

>132 Caroline_McElwee: I liked Sing Unburied Sing Caroline, but it wasn't as compelling to me (in that way when you can't put a story down) as some of the others on the list.

>133 Helenliz: Have fun Helen. Do you have special codes for the books you like / read? In colour?

>134 vancouverdeb: That's dedication Deborah! I know what you mean by not gaining much from reading The Idiot. I hope the mermaid book gets an earlier date - it was a fun read. I'd send you mine but it's a big brick of a hardback.

137charl08
Apr 23, 2018, 7:08 am

>135 katiekrug: I'd definitely say it's been a great year for the prize. Also getting rid of the Baileys thing. I've got my fingers crossed for When I Hit You to win (possibly the kiss of death, apologies to the author).

138Caroline_McElwee
Edited: Apr 23, 2018, 8:26 am

>136 charl08: I agree Charlotte, I had some mixed feelings. My review is here:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/279761#6331715

139Deern
Apr 23, 2018, 11:15 am

>127 charl08: *Want, want, want, want, want, want, (...), want!* :) It looks similar in an Italian Feltrinelli store. (un)furtunately the nearest one is in Verona. I'd buy myself into debt.

140charl08
Apr 24, 2018, 9:12 am

>138 Caroline_McElwee: I think it was too realistic for me - too dark. I wanted a happier ending. And a happier middle. Not to take away from the writing at all.

>139 Deern: I try to take a picture now and walk away.
I'm hoping that will work at some point.

141charl08
Edited: Apr 24, 2018, 5:51 pm

Two books! Memento Mori the latest one in the Medicus series by Ruth (also known as R.D.) Downie. I saw this on Lucy's thread and ran over to the kindle store to pick it up. I really enjoy the humour in the stories, as well as the Roman / British histories. Here, they're in (what is now) Bath, a natural hot springs and centre of pilgrimage.
Oh, and there's a murder.


Swallowing Mercury I picked up in Waterstones last month - translated from the Polish. A short book, episodes in the life of a young girl growing up in rural Poland in the 1980s. It's centred on personal experience, so stories of puberty, school and family disagreements. However as the translator points out in the afterword, politics is there too, from the (almost) visit of the Pope to shortages in the shops. Although there is a lot of humour, there's a dark thread too. I will look for her other books.
In January, I had entered a province-wide competition entitled 'threats around your farm'. I had painted a potato beetle climbing out of an empty Coca-Cola bottle. Nobody believed that I had really seen my grandfather collecting potato beetles in such a bottle. The jury at the provincial level concluded that my drawing 'portrayed, in a deeply metaphorical manner, the crusade of the imperialist beetle'.

142jnwelch
Edited: Apr 24, 2018, 5:41 pm

>99 charl08: 70 of them - and that includes all 15 in the Wheel of Time series. There should be some kind of bonus for that! They're whoppers.

I just read Ada Twist, Scientist, and got a good smile out of it.

143charl08
Edited: Apr 25, 2018, 7:26 am

Oh definitely bonus points Joe!

I am still reading Caroline Moorehead's latest A Bold and Dangerous Family: The Rossellis and the Fight Against Mussolini.

144susanj67
Apr 25, 2018, 5:12 am

>143 charl08: I keep seeing that one at the library, on the new NF shelf. No-one has stolen it yet. I'll wait for your review before deciding. I read her book about Jewish children being hidden in France and it was heavy going.

145BLBera
Apr 25, 2018, 8:51 am

Nice haul, Charlotte. My top two so far, Home Fire and Sing, Unburied, Sing both made the short list, so I am happy. Actually, the whole list seems good - at least the ones I've read - it's been a good year. I hope to get to the three I haven't read yet.

146charl08
Apr 25, 2018, 8:59 am

>144 susanj67: I really liked Village of Secrets, Susan, this does seem similar theme - unreasonable bravery in the face of tyranny.

>145 BLBera: Hope you have the time to get to them soon Beth - some great books.

147charl08
Edited: Apr 25, 2018, 6:13 pm

The Dead Ground Second book in this gripping crime series featuring a young Northern Irish psychologist. Tempted to just download the next one and keep reading...

148charl08
Apr 26, 2018, 2:32 am

Cherry blossom is out!

149Berly
Apr 26, 2018, 2:36 am

Just catching up on all things Charlotte. And delurking to say Hi! : )

>147 charl08: Sometimes giving in to temptation is just the thing to do!!

150charl08
Apr 26, 2018, 2:42 am

>149 Berly: I've resisted for now, Kim, mostly because *too many books*!

151charl08
Apr 26, 2018, 7:50 am

On a whim I applied to be on mastermind thinking I was unlikely to get a call back, and they have called back. Argh. I don't think I've thought this through...

152charl08
Apr 26, 2018, 8:05 am

In more bookish news, I have booked to hear Meena Kandasamy speak about her amazing book When I hit You next week, and later in the month, and event about 'radical shyness' which I am intrigued by (and know nothing about).

https://www.kandasamy.co.uk/

153Caroline_McElwee
Apr 26, 2018, 8:06 am

>148 charl08: lovely. I've been enjoying the blossom out in the past couple of weeks. It really lifts you to see it.

154FAMeulstee
Apr 26, 2018, 9:21 am

>148 charl08: I love it when the blossoms come out. I have always loved Japanes cherry trees since I was a little kid.
I missed the plum blossom in my garden this year, they came and went in the 10 days I was away...

155Helenliz
Apr 26, 2018, 11:06 am

>151 charl08: how exciting! With what as your specialist subjects?
>148 charl08: lovely picture. Spring is really sprung.

156charl08
Apr 26, 2018, 11:45 am

>153 Caroline_McElwee: Yes, it almost makes up for the hay fever!

>154 FAMeulstee: I love them too - there are some lovely ones on the walk home too :-) Sorry you missed the plum though.

>155 Helenliz: This also I have not thought through.
Nigerian fiction of the last 20 years (ie Adichie, Habila Segun Afolabi, Elnathan John etc)
Millicent Fawcett, life and times (error: should have chosen someone with not such a long campaigning history)
The prize formerly known as Orange. (Just as an excuse to read more fiction :-)

157evilmoose
Apr 26, 2018, 3:37 pm

Thanks to all for the discussion of the women's prize list - lots of inspiration for more reading, as I've not got to any of them yet. (And I'm very excited to hear how this mastermind thing pans out too!)

158vancouverdeb
Edited: Apr 27, 2018, 4:39 am

No worries about sending me the mermaid book, Charlotte. If I wanted I could order it from The Book Depository or Wordery etc, but the time for books to ship to Canada drives me crazy. I'm still waiting on Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves that I ordered from Texas through Abe Books. I'm not despairing yet, but it was supposed to arrive for April 24th at the latest. Of course there is no tracking number, and I'll wait another week or so, until I contact the seller . What is up with Canada Post? And what is the Royal Baby's name?

I do have When I hit You and it might be my next read - I'm not sure yet. Exciting that you get to hear her speak.

159susanj67
Edited: Apr 27, 2018, 4:29 am

>151 charl08: OMG this is so exciting! I love your specialist topics too - maybe you could shrink down Fawcett by making it about her life and campaigns etc between x and y years? But if you choose the Nigerian fiction one, ask for LT volunteers to read a book each and quiz you on it. I'd be up for that :-)

160charl08
Apr 27, 2018, 5:41 am

>157 evilmoose: One of the things I love about this group - the way trying to read a longlist / shortlist isn't seen as a mad thing!

>158 vancouverdeb: Sorry about the postage Deborah - crazy. Maybe the drones will sort things out for these long distance deliveries? (I have no idea). I'm intrigued to hear Meena Kandasamy - especially the whole 'auto-fiction' thing, which I'm not sure I really understand.

>159 susanj67: I am rather counting on it not being soon, so that I can revise. One of the scary things is you have to choose three, and I'm not sure that you get them in a particular order, or if they all have to be ready at the same time...
The Fawcett focus is a good idea. As is the LT pop quiz! Why didn't I think of that?

161ChelleBearss
Apr 27, 2018, 9:59 am

>148 charl08: Beautiful!!
Our spring plants are just starting to show above the soil. Makes me happy :)

162Helenliz
Apr 27, 2018, 11:57 am

>161 ChelleBearss: I know what you mean. my Asparagus decided this week to put it's head above ground for the first time. When I left monday, I had 1 spear showing, now all 6 plants are showing. I lurve asparagus, so I keep an greedy eye on them.

>156 charl08: I reckon we would divide that up between us and help test you.

163charl08
Apr 27, 2018, 1:01 pm

>161 ChelleBearss: Me too!

>162 Helenliz: Ooh, asparagus! I've just noticed my iris plants have managed more than just a little bit of green, so fingers crossed :-)

Er, so on the mastermind front - lady called and asked me some general knowledge questions, which I was told not to put online, but I can reveal that I got lots wrong (thank you, google). It was a 'don't call us, we'll call you', but I reckon it still justifies reading about Millicent Fawcett, so you Have Been Warned...

164charl08
Apr 27, 2018, 1:15 pm

Small child comedy moment from my volunteering today:

Child: Where is your mother?
Me: She is on holiday.
Child: (tones of disbelief) Again?!

165susanj67
Apr 27, 2018, 1:32 pm

>164 charl08: LOL! Love it! (And you were probably thinking that yourself, weren't you? :-) )

166Crazymamie
Apr 27, 2018, 1:38 pm

>164 charl08: Too funny!! Thanks for sharing, Charlotte!

167Caroline_McElwee
Edited: Apr 27, 2018, 5:10 pm

>156 charl08: sorry to hear about the hay fever Charlotte, but if you are an early life sufferer, you may find it goes in your forties, as mine did (something to look forward to!). Late life sufferers often start in their forties!

168charl08
Edited: Apr 28, 2018, 4:35 am

>165 susanj67: >166 Crazymamie: It did make me laugh, because yes, it was pretty much what I was thinking too :-)

>167 Caroline_McElwee: That would be good Caroline. I'd not heard that. Mine didn't get really bad until uni - something about the trees I think? Fortunately the NW doesn't seem to be as bad as some of the places I've lived.

The Silent Dead
Part III of a crime series where in contravention of my usual policies it Really Does Matter that you read them in order. Paula's cross-border missing person's team is working on the case of five people who were legally, but controversially, acquitted of an Omagh type bomb. Everyone knows they're guilty. One has already been found dead in the first few pages. Plus lots of Personal Stuff which can't be referred to without major spoilers, but suffice it say that there are Ructions in the team.*

*Apologies, too many capital letters.
There was pink everywhere – pink bunting, pink cupcakes (or ‘wee buns’, as Paula’s father insisted on calling them), pink wrapping paper, pink rosé wine, pink flowers. It was like an explosion in a patriarchal factory.

169charl08
Edited: Apr 28, 2018, 5:21 am

Guardian Reviews (Fiction this week)
www.guardian.co.uk/books

The Neighbourhood by Mario Vargas Llosa
"...a busy fresco of betrayal and retribution, though Vargas Llosa’s handling of his material isn’t wholly assured. The colouring can be rather crude, and his tendency to repeat scenes and phrases is surprising in a writer awarded the Nobel prize in 2010."
Ouch.

Arkady by Patrick Langley
"A distinctly post-Brexit novel"

The Illumination of Ursula Flight by Anna-Marie Crowhurst
"The book is impeccably researched, and she recreates the Restoration period in vivid detail. She deftly describes the minutiae of Ursula’s hairstyles and gowns, the menus served at luxurious court dinners – as well as the squelching mud of London’s streets, and the smell of orange peel mingled with sweat in the city’s seedy yet seductive playhouses. Written in the first person with a faithfulness to 17th-century slang and dialect, the novel draws the reader intimately into Ursula’s inner life. "

The Sing of the Shore by Lucy Wood
"When the tourists leave, the landscape remains but there are mysterious dishes that rotate on the clifftops, a tapestry of plastic floating on the waves, and empty holiday homes everywhere for bored teenagers to break into. It looks the same, but it feels alien. The 13 stories flit between people and places, but the sea is a constant presence. "

Circe by Madeline Miller
"Miller anchors her story – in the emotional life of a woman. She is not the first to see the potential in Circe, who over the centuries has been interpreted as everything from a parable against drunkenness to an embodiment of emasculation. "

The Leavers by Lisa Ko
"quietly sensational debut novel"

Gun Love by Jennifer Clement
"Clement’s spare, often oblique style makes this book feel like a great lost murder ballad by the likes of Johnny Cash or Nick Cave."

170susanj67
Apr 28, 2018, 5:11 am

>169 charl08: Thanks for those, Charlotte. There are some good ones this week! I'm going to hunt for the Ko and the Crowhurst and I've got my eye on the e version of the Miller. I wonder what a "post-Brexit" novel, is too...

171msf59
Apr 28, 2018, 7:18 am

Happy Saturday, Charlotte. Hooray for cherry blossoms & The Leavers. I love both. I really want to read The Neighborhood & Circe.

Have a great weekend.

172BLBera
Apr 28, 2018, 10:53 am

>148 charl08: Love the trees blooming, but my nose doesn't.

What's Mastermind?

>168 charl08: The McGowan series sounds great - I hope my library has them.

Thanks for the reviews: I've read The Leavers, and I just read one by Clement that I really liked - but all of these sound good. Darn!

173charl08
Apr 29, 2018, 6:05 am

>170 susanj67: Susan, I think I want to read all of them. Although maybe not the Llosa, after trying and failing with him a couple of years ago.

Beyond being written after the vote, I have no idea what a "post-Brexit" novel, is either!

> 171 Ah, a Llosa fan. Maybe you can persuade me to change my mind about him. This review has made me rethink my vp on Circe. After Amber was so scathing re the Penelopiad I rather went off retellings.

>172 BLBera: Mastermind is a British quiz show with disturbing close-ups of contestants as the pressure increases and the time runs out. You have to nominate specialist subjects, and they come up with questions. Sometimes pleasingly obscure, quite often Harry Potter. Although apparently now that's not allowed anymore: too much Rowling.

I thought I recognised The Leavers from somewhere. I am tempted.

I bought The White Book (because Megan said so) and two charity shop books yesterday, partly in consolation to myself after being a bit overwhelmed from taking two non-swimmers swimming. Good results, but a bit of a leap in the dark for me, which has renewed my admiration for swimming teachers everywhere.
(Except the overly shouty ones, who I still relentlessly judge despite my best intentions.)

Right: garden!

174LovingLit
Apr 29, 2018, 6:34 am

>127 charl08: I love the Penguin Modern Classics editions! I have a small but loved collection of about 10. :)

175susanj67
Apr 29, 2018, 6:43 am

>173 charl08: Charlotte, I've reserved the Ko and now the Miller. The Crowhurst and the post-Brexit one haven't made it into the library's consciousness yet.

Excellent re the swimming - good for you. It's such an important skill. In NZ we all learned (that may be different now) but the swimming rates seem low here for kids.

176Crazymamie
Apr 29, 2018, 10:00 am

>173 charl08: I think you would be safe with Circe, Charlotte - as I recall, Amber loved Miller's The Song of Achilles, and I did, too. It was beautifully done.

I was also wondering what Mastermind was, so now I know. Most exciting!

I think all the books in this batch of reviews sound good - I have not read any Llosa, but I do have Feast of the Goat on my shelves somewhere. Which of his was a fail for you?

Hoping your Sunday is full of fabulous!

177BLBera
Apr 29, 2018, 10:46 am

That is exciting. You're going to be a star! Have you decided on your fields for sure yet?

I like Vargas Llosa - The Feast of the Goat and The War of the End of the World are both wonderful historical fiction. The first is a retelling of Trujillo's assassination and the aftermath, and the other is about a cult that arose in Brazil.

178charl08
Apr 29, 2018, 12:43 pm

>174 LovingLit: I have a collection, Megan. I haven't counted though (I label some 'penguin', but some of these are orange, and some are classics, and some are just ordinary ones).

>175 susanj67: I agree Susan, something I am very glad I learned to do as a kid.

>176 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie. I did wonder, but was too lazy to go and check what she had said about it. I think it was Aunt Julia - I think I brought it home and then it sat on the shelf and nagged at me. I've not got a great record with fiction from Latin America, should probably do something about it.

>177 BLBera: Well, if they call back Beth! Since the phone call with the lady from the research team I have been repeatedly reminded of all the general knowledge I do not know. What is the capital of x? Who won such and such a sporting event? (Any science question at all)
I might pick up Llosa with further encouragement. Possibly! I want to find out more about Millicent Fawcett, and the nudge to read and re-read Nigerian novels is a handy one :-)

179charl08
Edited: Apr 29, 2018, 1:10 pm

A Bold and Dangerous Family

Great and gripping account of history that I didn't know - the story of the Rosselli family and how they opposed the Mussolini regime. I had no idea that there was organised resistance to Mussolini, or the existence of prison islands full of protestors (surely the perfect setting for a novel?) or that Paris became the new home for these antifascists who'd escaped and were trying to encourage opposition to the Italian regime. As well as an overarching story of opposition told through a focus on one Jewish, principled family, it is full of minute details from the archives - the fascists not only sent spies to follow their opponents, they read their mail and archived recorded conversations in triplicate. It also adds little gobbets from contemporaries, highlighting the obsessions of the period with gender and health. So when Italy invaded Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) in the 1930s:
Winston Churchill and Austen Chamberlain called for sanctions against Italy if she violated the covenant of the League (of Nations), causing Marinetti to decry British 'snobismo', alcoholism, degeneracy, lack of genius and above all their 'sexual abnormalities'.
!!
In one of those weird reading serendipities, given my current focus on the history of feminism, Sylvia Pankhurst kept turning up, along with other feminists, supporting work against Mussolini and trying to persuade the British government to stand up for the rights of those imprisoned unfairly.

Rather than telling the story as if Italy was alone in the madness, it's clear from this book that not only did the British fail to support the opponents of fascism, but they and other Europeans all but looked the other way. It's frightening to think of fascist youth groups meeting in cities across the UK in the 1920s and 30s and the lack of political will to oppose extremism, even as Franco and Hitler expanded the web of dictatorships across Europe.
This is the second Caroline Moorehead I've read. It had a hard act to follow, I thought Village of Secrets was an amazing book, but this is another I'd like on my shelf permanently.

180Helenliz
Apr 29, 2018, 1:31 pm

I learnt to swim as an adult. As a more rotund person, I have an advantage in being a natural float! Doesn't help with the speed of progress of course.

I love quizzes (and have been known to be slightly competitive about it), but I'd not be brave enough to enter one.

181BLBera
Apr 29, 2018, 2:05 pm

>179 charl08: OK, you sold me on that one.

182charl08
Apr 29, 2018, 3:50 pm

>180 Helenliz: One of my mum's friends learnt so that she could celebrate her 60th in a house with a pool and surprise her grandchildren. So impressive.

I love a quiz. But I never know the sport bits.

>181 BLBera: My work here is done!

The TLS this week has a feature on graphic novels ('comics') with different articles about a range of books.


"Nicola Streeten on the coming of age of comics as a powerful and transformative cultural force". Not sure I'm with Streeten on this one after some mixed recent GN experience, but...
https://www.the-tls.co.uk/article-section/comics/

183BLBera
Apr 29, 2018, 5:10 pm

When I used to play Trivial Pursuit I would learn the name of one sport figure from each sport - for example, for basketball, I would always guess Michael Jordan -- and eventually I would be right.

184charl08
Apr 30, 2018, 2:55 am

Ha! I think I will nab that idea Beth!

185charl08
Apr 30, 2018, 2:59 am

Listening to drama on the radio last night, retellings of Boccaccio's Italian stories from the middle ages, an influence on Chaucer. Here introduced by Terry Jones, who is a fan.

Has anyone read the originals?
Essay - @BBCRadio3 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04sv8p

186The_Hibernator
Apr 30, 2018, 5:16 pm

>148 charl08: Oh how beautiful! I was so sad that I missed the cherry blossoms when I went to DC last year. I hear they're beautiful there.

187charl08
Apr 30, 2018, 5:51 pm

Congrats on your news Rachel!

Went to the cinema. The book was better.

188Ameise1
Apr 30, 2018, 5:57 pm

Big waves from Switzerland.

189banjo123
May 1, 2018, 12:34 am

Congrats! Mastermind sounds incredibly stressful, but I am ready to talk about Nigerian literature anytime.

190charl08
May 1, 2018, 5:53 am

>188 Ameise1: Barbara! Lovely to 'see' you here.

>189 banjo123: Hi Rhonda - we shall see if they call back. Nice to hear that about Nigerian fiction. Where shall we start?!

The Fire Court
Sprawling historical crime fiction set in the aftermath of the Great Fire of London. The 'Fire Court' has been established to sort out leases and rents for owners and tenants in the aftermath of the destruction of much of London. There are opportunities for making a lot of money on new building developments, but the King is keen to promote fairness as well as quick reconstruction. James Marwood is asked to investigate a curious death of a young woman found near land being contested by tenant and leaseholder. With murky lawyers, even murkier courtiers, and a thoroughly disgusting-smelling city, there is ripe grounds for much plotting. The descriptions of 17th c London are very detailed, making me want to go take a bath.

191Ameise1
May 1, 2018, 6:12 am

I just bought The Ashes of London (kindle) because my library doesn't get a copy of this series.
Happy Tuesday, Charlotte.

192Caroline_McElwee
May 1, 2018, 6:22 am

>187 charl08: totally agree.

193charl08
May 1, 2018, 8:02 am

>191 Ameise1: Hope you like it Barbara - very atmospheric, I thought.

>192 Caroline_McElwee: I wanted to like it more than I did. Boo.

194susanj67
May 1, 2018, 8:08 am

>190 charl08: Oooh, another series! I haven't read The Ashes of London either, but it is now wishlisted in the elibrary :-)

195charl08
May 1, 2018, 8:14 am

>194 susanj67: I have read The Ashes of London, Susan. I read it first. *Proud*
(let's not point out the second one has only just been published...)

196susanj67
May 1, 2018, 8:14 am

>195 charl08: I am also going to read it first :-) (And I am very proud of you).

197charl08
May 1, 2018, 12:40 pm

>196 susanj67: Lol. thanks Susan.

Have rather dropped the ball on the suffrage events. I am very tempted by the 'archives at night' event (if it wasn't in Kew)

https://nvite.com/eb/42784731283

Interesting looking talk being held as part of City of London festival :Centenary of Women's Suffrage: How the Vote was Won

With discussions from researcher and writer, Elizabeth Crawford and academic historian Dr Sumita Mukherjee, produced by the Fawcett Society and chaired by Lord Daniel Finkelstein. This talk will explore the detailed history of the fight for the vote, the role of suffragists and Suffragettes: revealing some of the untold stories of the suffrage movement including the Indian Suffragettes and the international fight for the vote.

Centenary of Women's Suffrage: How the Vote was Won is part of The City of London's Women: Work & Power festival. A programme packed full of events and activities that lament, or celebrate the unsung women that have shaped our history and helped define our national identity.

For more information on the festival go to cityoflondon.gov.uk /womenworkpower
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/centenary-of-womens-suffrage-how-the-vote-was-won...
https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/mayor-london/get-involved-behindeverygreatcit...

I'm still keen to get to the HoP exhibition and (possibly) the Albert Hall one, not to mention several national trust events which look good.

Must try harder

198charl08
Edited: May 1, 2018, 12:45 pm

Also bought some books (Verso were having a sale) - gone a bit crazy. I really need to buy shelves next, not books...

(1) Precarious Life by Judith Butler, paperback / softback, 9781844675449

(1) State of Insecurityby Isabell Lorey, paperback / softback, 9781781685969

(1) Tear Gas by Anna Feigenbaum, paperback / softback, 9781784780265

(1) Violent Borders by Reece Jones, paperback / softback, 9781784784744

(1) Europe’s Fault Lines by Liz Fekete, hardback, 9781784787226

(1) Radical Happiness by Lynne Segal, hardback, 9781786631541

(1) Hara Hotel by Teresa Thornhill, hardback, 9781786635198
https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/2619-50-off-for-may-day

199susanj67
May 2, 2018, 9:20 am

>197 charl08: With discussions from researcher and writer, Elizabeth Crawford and academic historian Dr Sumita Mukherjee, produced by the Fawcett Society and chaired by Lord Daniel Finkelstein.

Srsly? Daniel sounds a lot like a boy's name. Can women not be trusted to moderate conversations? I wish I was on Twitter so I could be outraged. I even checked his biography to see if perhaps he had made some amazing commitment to scholarship on the issue, but apparently not.

200charl08
Edited: May 3, 2018, 3:04 am

>199 susanj67: He means nothing to me, but according to google he is 'friend of George Osbourne'. Great. I thought he might have some connection to the City, who are apparently sponsoring the festival this is part of - but can't see it online.

Finished A World Gone Mad, diary by Astrid Lindgren, which I really enjoyed - recommended by Mamie (thank you).



Translated from the Swedish, is her account of living through the war years in neutral Sweden, before she became famous as the author of Pippi in 1945. Working in a censor's office, she (presumably illegally?) recorded some of the letters she was censoring (although they aren't translated, only referred to by a note in the text). The original also included Swedish newspaper articles, which also aren't included. I was really struck by how she read accounts of war atrocities whilst the war was still on - I didn't realise this happened, e.g. reading ' Remarque's refugee book Liebe Deinen Nachsten' (Love they Neighbour, published in English as Flotsam) ) but also books about Warsaw, and about Lidice. Mixed in with the war news are worries about food and safety, her children's exam results and nights out, which for me made for a more readable book, an ordinary person experiencing very strange years of global war.

201banjo123
May 3, 2018, 1:27 am

>190 charl08: Well, one kind of has to start with Achebe, I think. But perhaps it would be more fun to talk about younger writers?

Also, I stopped here to say that I think you should put your review of Miss Burma on the work page, because I just went there to look for your review, and it wasn't there. And your review was what got me to read it. I really enjoyed it, though not, perhaps, as much as you did.

202charl08
May 3, 2018, 3:05 am

Thanks Rhonda. I tried to duck the Achebe for the quiz by saying fiction in the last twenty years. Not least because there is no way I could talk about all the Nigerians published as part of the African Writers' Series. Thanks for the lovely comments about the review.

203Carmenere
May 3, 2018, 9:35 am

Hey Charlotte!

>187 charl08: I just love Lily James since her days on Downton Abbey and though she's been productive since then; War and Peace, Cinderella and now Guernsey , it seems to me, she just hasn't made the break out movie to shoot her to the top, at least in the US, like say Keira Knightley. I think she's got the IT factor to do it.

204charl08
Edited: May 3, 2018, 4:56 pm

Oh, I'm not a fan - sorry! I think she was one of the reasons the film annoyed me.

Chicken with Plums

A short GN, the story of Satrapi's uncle, who lay down and died after his instrument was broken (he was a musician) by his wife. In telling the story of his last days, the significance of the broken Tar (the instrument) is explained. Satrapi's usual beautiful black and white illustrations, plus the humour of family life.

205Ameise1
May 4, 2018, 3:17 am

Interesting book about Astrid Lindgren. I know not much about herself but all her children books by heart. I've read them to my own kids as well as still reading them to my pupils. They love her stories.

206FAMeulstee
May 4, 2018, 4:11 am

>200 charl08: Sounds like a good read, Charlotte!
I tried my luck and requested the library to get this book, as they had no copy.

207EllaTim
May 4, 2018, 4:46 am

>206 FAMeulstee: Good idea Anita. I liked your review as well Charlotte!

208Ameise1
May 4, 2018, 6:51 am

>200 charl08: Update:
I got this book from the library at noon today and will take it with me to the wellness holiday. Oh my gosh, actually I wanted to remove some books from my TBR mountain during my stay in the Black Forest. Well, I'll probably be busy with this book most of the time. While browsing I have seen that the newspaper clippings etc. are translated to German on the following pages. That is why this book has 573 pages.

209charl08
Edited: May 4, 2018, 8:26 am

>205 Ameise1: >208 Ameise1: Ooh, I'd like to see a copy with the papers in too - think it will be much more interesting. If longer! Hope you have a wonderful, relaxing break.

>206 FAMeulstee: Fingers crossed they can find it, Anita!

>207 EllaTim: Thank you! Have you come across the book?

I started A Midsummer's Equation last night, but was exhausted so didn't get very far. I've also picked up Meatless Days, but finding this rather dense and hard going.

210Crazymamie
May 4, 2018, 11:07 am

Happy Friday, Charlotte! I am having trouble keeping up these days. I am so glad that you enjoyed A World Gone Mad - I wish there was some way they could have included the newspaper clippings and letters, even untranslated, it would have been lovely to see what the diaries actually looked like.

I picked up the second book in the Slough House series as a Kindle deal the other day, so I am excited to see what happens next.

Hoping your weekend is full of fabulous!

211EllaTim
May 4, 2018, 12:19 pm

>209 charl08: Yes, I looked it up in the Amsterdam library. It's been translated into Dutch, and there are several copies. Not in my branch, but I can request it easily. For Anita it would be an interlibrary loan, much more expensive. And I think her library should have it!

212charl08
May 4, 2018, 4:39 pm

Meena Kandaswamy was very good. I bought her first novel the Gypsy Goddess and got it signed. I tried not to roll my eyes at the MA lit students who talked about their essays in Loud Voices as if everyone in the room was interested. Preti Taneja grew on me, especially when she talked about the difficulties she had getting her novel published in the UK.

Also, I thought the K in Knopf was silent, but based on tonight's speakers, no. Whoops!

>210 Crazymamie: Mamie, I hope that the slow horses continue to bring you as much laughter as they do me.

>211 EllaTim: Always impressed by the amount of books translated into Dutch.

213charl08
May 5, 2018, 1:23 am

I'm reading Home Fire which I'm about half way through and tempted to stop so that I can imagine the characters have a nice life. I suspect they won't though.

Some books have arrived from amazon.

214charl08
Edited: May 5, 2018, 5:27 pm

Guardian Reviews Non-Fiction
www.guardian.co.uk/ fiction

Tom Gauld on Karl Marx
https://www.theguardian.com/books/picture/2018/may/05/tom-gauld-on-karl-marx-car...

Curlew Moon by Mary Colwell reviewed by Caroline Crampton
"Mary Colwell, a natural history producer and ardent curlew fan, decided in 2016 to walk 500 miles from the west of Ireland to the east coast of England to raise awareness of the bird’s plight. This “Curlew Walk”, as she calls it, forms the spine of her book’s narrative. Along the way, she visits nesting grounds and joins eager birdwatchers in the field. There is something of the pilgrimage to her efforts..."


House of Nutter by Lance Richardson reviewed by Anthony Quinn
"...lively, affectionate, occasionally breathless book is a double narrative, the story of two brothers who rose from modest north London origins to the fringes of international stardom."


21729959::Municipal Dreams by John Boughton reviewed by Rowen Moore
"Council housing, talked down and eroded for decades, looks appealing again. If, in a country suffering from rationing and postwar austerity, the state could build hundreds of thousands of homes, why not now? ..... the history of council housing from its 19th-century origins in Liverpool and London up to and past the Grenfell Tower disaster, is timely."


Chasing Hillary and Dear Madam President reviewed by Peter Conrad
"Both Chozick and Palmieri were traumatised by the unexpected result – perhaps more so than Hillary, who in a petulant transference of blame declared: “They were never going to allow me to be president.”"


The Secret Barrister by ? reviewed by Afua Hirsh
"in part a guide to the system – a reminder of how few of us understand it – and in part a first-hand account of the personal dilemmas facing someone whose professional life is spent in and out of crown courts, police cells and prisons. It is above all a plea to rescue a justice system that has become utterly broken. “Hell” is the word used by one supreme court judge. “Despair” is the experience of another in the court of appeal. Over the last near decade of austerity, justice has endured the deepest cuts of any departmental spending in the UK. Whole areas of law, including family, housing, immigration, debt and employment, have been taken outside the realm of publicly funded legal representation, leaving some of the most vulnerable people at the mercy of a system that is designed to be incomprehensible to even the most highly educated lay person."


The Language of Kindness: A Nurse’s Story by Christie Watson reviewed by Molly Case
"...a plea to the public to continue supporting our NHS, to the government to provide the resources it so desperately deserves. It is also a portrait of nurses, depicting both their colourful collegiality and the muted tones of long night shifts spent tending to a patient for hours. In Watson’s honest memoir, we are reminded that we are all made from the same fibres and are all in this together..."


The End of the French Intellectual by Shlomo Sand reviewed by Stuart Jeffries
"What Sand’s book lacks, despite its refreshing absence of deference, is a sense of what made French intellectual production since the war so compelling. Lévi-Strauss, Barthes, Kristeva, Lacan, Derrida, Cixous, Deleuze and Guattari are scarcely mentioned and Foucault only gets a cameo. The Maoist philosopher Alain Badiou once told me that, while British postwar philosophy has its “côté somnifère” (its soporific aspect), French intellectual life in the same period has been a wild adventure. I’d like to read that adventure story, but Sand doesn’t tell it. Instead, he explores the embarrassing truth that, while in the new millennium the quality of French intellectual life has plummeted, its reputation remains. He bracingly compares media-friendly intellectuals such as Houellebecq, Éric Zemmour and Alain Finkielkraut to Nazi-collaborating writers such as Robert Brasillach and Pierre Drieu La Rochelle. Like such past figures, Sand argues, they cling to a France that is “totally imaginary” and yearn for it to be purified of the Other. In 1940 that meant Jews, in 2018 Islam."


In Byron’s Wake and Ada Lovelace: The Making of a Computer Scientist reviewed by Kathryn Hughes
"If Annabella’s story is a warning about how quickly posthumous reputations can warp into ugly new shapes, her daughter’s case demonstrates the exact opposite. At the time of her death in 1852, also at 36, the name “Ada Lovelace” meant nothing to the general public. Yet to a small group of established scientific figures including Mary Somerville, Charles Babbage and Augustus de Morgan she was simply extraordinary. At the age of 11 she designed a flying machine based on the structure of a crow’s wing. When still in her 20s she translated Luigi Menabrea’s seminal article on Babbage’s Analytical Engine, supplemented by her own dense appendices, one of which has been described by people who know as the world’s “first computer program”. Among those knowledgeable people are three academic mathematicians who have collaborated to produce a short account of Lovelace’s intellectual development, organised around reproductions of key documents from her archive in the Bodleian Library in Oxford."

215Ameise1
May 5, 2018, 3:51 am

>210 Crazymamie: I try to take some photos of the diary and post them on my thread. Could be tomorrow, beccause today I'm leabing for my spa holiday.

Happy weekend, Charlotte and Mamie.

216EllaTim
May 5, 2018, 6:27 am

>214 charl08: Interesting stuff! I'd love Curlew Moon because I'm a curlew fan as well.
Municipal Dreams (wrong touchstone) sounds very timely and interesting. If we could build lots of housing not only in the fifties, but also in the twenties (and those still of good quality) why not now indeed?

217BLBera
May 5, 2018, 9:25 am

Hi Charlotte - I hope you have a lovely weekend. Thanks for the reviews; I'm averting my eyes because you already got me with the Lindgren, Satrapi and The Fire Court; I didn't realize this was going to be a series. I read The Ashes of London and really enjoyed it.

>198 charl08: Nice haul. Amazon sent you books? How nice...

Is gardening on your weekend agenda?

218Crazymamie
May 5, 2018, 11:09 am

>215 Ameise1: Oh, thanks for that, Barbara!

Hello, Charlotte! Happy Saturday!

219jnwelch
May 5, 2018, 11:13 am

Hi, Charlotte.

Ada Lovelace continues to fascinate. Did you read the graphic Lovelace and Babbage? It's a fun treatment of the story.

220charl08
May 5, 2018, 5:32 pm

>215 Ameise1: That would be great Barbara - safe travels

>216 EllaTim: I don't know the answer to that one - but agree: why not?

>217 BLBera: I may have gone a bit OTT with the books. But I have time planned sitting in the (hoped for) sunshine in the back garden. Garden is looking pretty good, though still needs work in places. I've not persuaded the owners to let me a) dig up the tiny lawn b) commission guys to lay new patio c) knock down garage to give me more planting space.
Sadness.
Spent today as a helper on a refugee women's day in a local outdoor activity centre. Sun shone, and lots of laughter - felt like a great use of time.

>218 Crazymamie: Hey Mamie! Happy weekend!

>219 jnwelch: She does Joe. I have to say a lot of the GN went over my (non-mathematical) head, but beautifully drawn.

221charl08
May 5, 2018, 5:46 pm

Read Home Fire (we had a really good minibus driver on the trip, so I was able to read in the supersmooth drive there and back - almost unprecedented for me). Because of the subject matter of this book (jihadis and 'British born' terrorists) I was not really tempted by this one, and only picked it up because of so many rave reviews (Deborah, Beth) and the Women's Prize. *So* good. Loads of stuff here about what the state's reaction to Islam is doing to everyday communities, and young people in particular. Loads to chew over.

So I've now read the whole of the shortlist -

Elif Batuman, The Idiot
Imogen Hermes Gowar, The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock
Jessie Greengrass, Sight
Meena Kandasamy, When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife
Kamila Shamsie, Home Fire
Jesmyn Ward, Sing, Unburied, Sing

I want Shamsie or Kandasamy to win - but having heard something about the judges weeping over the Greengrass, suspect this one might pip them both to the post.


Something New turned up today and I have read it in one gulp. Knisley writes another charming memoir, this time about the year she spent planning a wedding. Except it's about a lot more than that - relationships with parents, how she came to be marrying in the first place, and the joy of friendship. I really liked the discussion of some of the more patriarchal aspects of getting hitched, and how she and her other half approached them.

222BLBera
May 5, 2018, 6:13 pm

The Knisley looks great, Charlotte.

I KNEW you would love Home Fire. I have three from the short list yet to read. After grades are in...

223Deern
May 6, 2018, 1:38 am

>221 charl08: Home Fire is something special, it was my favorite of last year's Booker LL. The Greek drama frame was perfect imo because it gave her the opportunity to really make that last part "over the top". I thougt it felt staged in a very good way, it really made all those conflicts believable.

And BB caught for the wedding book.

Happy Sunday! :)

224Ameise1
Edited: May 6, 2018, 2:20 am

Happy Sunday, Charlotte. I'm currently reading the Lindgren diaries. Very interesting, especially the newspaper clips and personal notes. I've started to post them on my thread but I have to tell you that I can't translate everything into English. Therefore my English is too bad.

225susanj67
May 6, 2018, 4:49 am

>220 charl08: Charlotte, what you really need for your gardening plans is for the owners to go on holid - oh, wait a moment...

Well done on reading the whole shortlist! I hope one of your favourites wins :-)

226vancouverdeb
May 6, 2018, 4:50 am

Delighted to see that you have read Home Fire and enjoyed it. Like you, I hope that either the Shamsie or the Kandasamy win. I don't think that Sight is available here . I still wish that Miss Burma has made it to the short list. Something New sounds like fun. Truthfully, my own wedding was quite a breeze to plan. I think - gasp - nearly 35 years ago, weddings were simpler affairs. Now , my son and his wife - that was a lot of planning and agony . Mother of the Groom - yikes, talk about dress indecision among other things.

227PaulCranswick
May 6, 2018, 5:31 am

>214 charl08: Some interesting titles there this week, Charlotte.

Barristers and Byron - the former themselves unto the law the latter a law unto himself!

Have a lovely Sunday. xx

228charl08
May 6, 2018, 4:56 pm

A Midsummer's Equation (M, Japan, fiction)
Crime in a dying Japanese tourist spot. Mysterious physics professor takes on the time honoured role of Miss Marple (so to speak). Interesting for the Japanese setting, but a little long winded.

Illegal (Multiple authors, GN)
Eoin Colfer and co-writers take on the story of a child travelling to Europe from Africa, aimed at young(ish) readers (there's no graphic violence or sexual exploitation explicitly shown here, although there is certainly threat and death). Ebo travels from Ghana to try and find his brother, who has already set off, in search of their lost sister. The book is told in flashback as the brothers are on a sinking boat trying to make it to Italy from Libya. It's a compelling read about an important subject, portraying people who are often dismissed as statistics in the news as individuals. I think I will be gifting this book.

229charl08
Edited: May 6, 2018, 5:06 pm

>222 BLBera: I really like her work, glad I have the funds to buy my own copy of her latest one. I see from her website she also does children's books - in case Scout's shelf is in need of any additions (!)
Thanks for the nudges re Home Fire. I'm glad I overcame my scepticism about "another terrorism book".

>223 Deern: Yes, that's a good point Nathalie - there definitely is a melodramatic element to it (in a good way).

>224 Ameise1: Barbara, no worries re the English. You really are not the one to apologise for linguistic skills, given my sad lack and your facility in so many! Glad you are enjoying the book.

>225 susanj67: Shucks, why didn't I think of that?! Ha. Maybe with another year of negotiation I might get the paving relaid.

I have no faith in one of my favourites winning, but v glad I went to hear Meena Kandasamy - she was well worth the ticket, and I don't think I'd have picked up the book without the prize.

>226 vancouverdeb: The stats Knisley quotes on what average spend is on weddings in the book are frankly jaw-dropping Deborah. It seems to be a mini industry now.

>227 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul - sun is shining for a bank holiday weekend - what's going on?!
Hope yours is relaxing and full of books.

230vancouverdeb
Edited: May 6, 2018, 6:04 pm

Well , given what my son and DIL spent a2 1/2 years ago, yes, I'd agree it has turned weddings have turned into a mini industry, or even a pretty big industry. One does not really need to spend that much, but people have their ideas. I know my son and DIL had an all day videographer, a couple of photographers, a downtown Vancouver Hotel - only the finest etc. " Every Girl Deserves a Tiffany " ring was the belief of my DIL and I guess my son. And they did have Tiffany Rings . For me, I wanted a more simple affair. A morning wedding, my dress came off the rack - gasp - we only had a photographer for the church and some posed pictures afterwards. A lovely lunch at a local hotel here in Richmond , but nothing overboard. Dave and I definitely had a budget. I nearly eloped, but the girl that was my maid of honour convinced me I'd want the memories and the photographs. She was right, but I just wanted to get married. My maid of honour wanted to wear Royal Blue and I wanted pink - so I told her - okay, go ahead and you and the other brides maid pick out a whatever dresses you like but we are going to carry pink flowers. I wasn't into arguing and I figured we could just have a colourful wedding . My dad pulled out his only suit - a checked blue and grey number that he said he only wore to funerals and weddings. It was all good with me. He wore it to my other sister's wedding again two years later. He spiffed up with a new suit for my brother's wedding some 10 years later. My other brother eloped, but he had to borrow my mom's car to get married, so my parents knew. But my now SIL had immigrated from Germany and her parent's could not attend the wedding due to her mom's flying phobia, so my parents didn't attend on purpose, so as not make the in-law parents feel badly. In my books, it's all good. I'm a bit more for the easy going wedding. The brother that had to borrow the car to get married - well, he and his wife now own two cars and home and have two kids. They just weren't well off at the time of their wedding.

231BLBera
May 6, 2018, 6:04 pm

Oooh, I'll have to check out the children's books. Scout can never have too many.

232Ameise1
May 7, 2018, 2:27 am

>230 vancouverdeb: Thanks so much for sharing your wedding experience, Deb. Here, most couples make it the old fashion way. The American industry way didn't swap over at our place so far.

Hi Charlotte, wishing you a good start into the new week.

233jnwelch
May 7, 2018, 8:59 am

Good short review of the Lucy Knisley book, Charlotte. I've liked her others, and will check this one out.

Our son's wedding a few years ago was more like Deb's than her daughter's, and we all had fun with it. The best part for me was when the young flower girl ended her joyful walk down the aisle with a bow and a Wonder Woman, arms-straight-out, twirl. :-) But I'm sure all the planning leading up to it had its PMS moments.

234charl08
May 7, 2018, 11:06 am

>230 vancouverdeb: I think you're right, Deborah, not so much of the 'mini' about things in the wedding business now. I went with a friend trying on dresses, and the frocks were so expensive they only gave us the prices as we left! Knisley's in the book was pretty small, but even that way there were definitely tensions, which she describes rather kindly, I think.

>231 BLBera: Sounds good Beth. Hope the marking is going smoothly.

>232 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara - you too.

>233 jnwelch: A wonder woman twirl sounds perfect, Joe. Hope you like the Knisley - I've enjoyed all of hers I've read. Apparently there is a new one in the works about pregnancy. Another author to thank LT for, as I'd not come across her before reading the threads here. I came across a series of posts from Twitter about a day when a lot of comic/ GN writers (including Knisley) do a visual diary, hour by hour. Have followed lots of the writers in the hope that I might find some new-to-me authors.

Meatless Days
I have been reading this on and off for a month or two: Suleri comes highly recommended (by Kamila Shamsie), who wrote the short introduction to this new penguin edition.

Suleri's writing is very elaborate and sometimes rather dense. This is a memoir about her family, but not linear at all. Short chapters touch on her mum's teaching university students Austen, her father's repeated inprisonment for printing what the Pakistani government did not want to hear, and the family's dispersal across continents. Looking online I can see this book is extensively discussed on postcolonial lit courses, but not a favourite for me.

235charl08
May 8, 2018, 1:11 am

Now reading Bad Girls, a history of Holloway Prison. The author is a journalist, so she mixes history with her meetings with descendants of prisoners and executed women. Sobering to read an interned Jewish woman's daughter discussing refugee policies in the UK now and their similarities to the way refugees from Hitler were treated.

236charl08
May 8, 2018, 2:43 am

Fail: arrived in work before the coffee cart opened...

237katiekrug
May 8, 2018, 9:42 am

>236 charl08: - Ouch.

238Helenliz
May 8, 2018, 12:56 pm

>236 charl08: oh no no no. That's just not cricket.
Hope the day improved.

239charl08
May 8, 2018, 3:54 pm

>237 katiekrug: >238 Helenliz: Yeah, increasingly a personal cafetiere in the office kitchen looks like a good choice.

240vancouverdeb
May 8, 2018, 6:16 pm

Well, Charlotte, I might as well give up. You recall I ordered Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves from a US seller via Abe Books? It was supposed to arrive on or before April 24th . So I waited an extra week of two before contacting the bookseller, only to be told the book has been " lost in transit" I'm very discouraged about ordering book from other than amazon ca. They don't seem to arrive very often otherwise. Or else it is in the "lost in the mail" for for a few months. sigh.

241vancouverdeb
Edited: May 8, 2018, 8:07 pm

Charlotte, scratch my above post. Despite the bookseller offering to either resend the book or issue a refund -and I chose the refund, she / he has resent the book and tells me it will be here in 3-4 days. That will be quite a trick if arrives that quickly. Hope springs eternal?

242Familyhistorian
May 9, 2018, 1:17 am

>221 charl08: I like Knisley's GNs and have a few on the shelves but I haven't read Something New yet. From your review it looks like another good one.

243charl08
May 9, 2018, 2:39 am

>240 vancouverdeb: >241 vancouverdeb: Well, that's rather confusing Deborah! I hope that it arrives for you. I am "patiently" waiting for a book by the author of Brazen, the GN about women's history. This one is about Mama Cass before she was in the Mamas and the Papas, which sounds wonderful.

>242 Familyhistorian: Lovely to hear from another Knisley fan! I was a bit nervous about this one, as I'm not exactly in the marriage planning market, but she makes it much more universal than that.

I'm still reading Bad Girls about Holloway prison - I was so tired last night I came in and slept for two hours, so hoping for a bit more reading time tonight.

244charl08
May 9, 2018, 8:01 am

Finished Bad Girls: a history of rebels and renegades whilst wondering why the campus is so quiet....

A history of Holloway prison (a famous prison for women) written by a journalist, this is accessible reading. Davies debates the rights and wrongs of imprisonment, prison architecture, government policy on prisons as well as some fascinating history of some of the prison's most famous residents. She describes the accommodation of Diana Mosley, rumoured to be living it up but actually fairly basic accommodation (although they did let her and her husband live together). This makes a rather shocking contrast to the women refugees from Germany who weren't allowed to see their children or know very much of anything about what might happen to them before they were sent to the Isle of Man. The suffragettes get a pretty meaty chapter, with Davies explaining the complicated ways in which their class contributed to how they were treated, and how some women went on to use their experience in prison to lobby for reform. Not many women were executed during the life of the prison over more than 100 years. The author suggests this was a combination of patriarchal attitudes to women and a reluctance to hang anyone. Those women that were hung, fell foul of attitudes to working class women who refused to be penitent, suspicion of 'foreigners' and those who broke unstated sexual norms. Her discussion of the Greenham Common protests (anti-nuclear camps at the site of US missiles in the UK) was perhaps the most interesting for me - I'd like to read more about this movement. As she discusses, faced with women who worked together to oppose state policy, the state worked to ridicule them with accusations that ranged from 'mad' to misogynistic.

Davies wants to have her cake and eat it in the discussion of prison reform, I thought. She describes the extensive work in the 70s to tear down most of the Victorian building, and build a facility that was more like a hospital. Most of the voices of those who lived in the new prison describe it as ineffectual and badly thought out, in terms of safety and facilities. Yet when the state decided to close the facility (in central London, so the land is worth a fortune) she criticises the loss of a female friendly site. Whilst I can see that having a prison in a central location means that women can be visited more often by family members, the evidence from previous chapters didn't support a facility that deserved to be saved (I felt).
Nonetheless, never less than an interesting read, and well worth your time if you are interested in social reform, the history of crime or gender more generally.

245charl08
May 9, 2018, 8:09 am

246charl08
May 9, 2018, 8:12 am

Reservations waiting at the library:
The drugs that changed our minds intriguing-sounding follow up to prozac nation.
The green hollow for the popsugar challenge.
A Savage Hunger fourth book about the NI psychologist.

247charl08
Edited: May 9, 2018, 8:19 am

Recent book haul
Forget Sorrow: An Ancestral Tale GN that I came across and failed to note down where, exactly.

The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies 1897-1914 (Routledge Revivals) Could also be titled 'Routledge makes a killing from putting books out without spending anything on modernising the text'. More mastermind reading.

Women's Suffrage: A Short History of a Great Movement Trying to read about Millicent Fawcett

California Dreamin': Cass Elliot Before the Mamas & the Papas Penelope Bagieu (after her amazing Brazen)

Stay With Me Ayobami Adebayo,- mastermind category

Ordinary People Diana Evans, - mastermind category but also SUCH a beautiful cover!

Nigerians in Space Deji Bryce Olukotun,. Awesome title. Also hoping it counts for the category 'set in space'.

Christ Stopped at Eboli (Penguin Modern Classics) mentioned in the Caroline Moorehead book about anti-fascist action, plus beautiful penguin classic.

This topic was continued by A Room of Charl08's Own: Feminist Penguins #6.