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1souloftherose
In 2010 I read 4 Orange books although I didn't manage to read any of them in January or July!
2010 reads
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
The Boy Next Door by Irene Sabatini
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2011 reads
The Observations by Jane Harris
Great House by Nicole Krauss
Grace Williams Says it Loud by Emma Henderson
The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
The Night Watch by Sarah Waters
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer (Did not finish)
List of Orange books read/to read
Winners
Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels (1997)
Small Island by Andrea Levy (2004)
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2007)
The Road Home by Rose Tremain (2008)
Shortlist
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood (1997)
The Siege by Helen Dunmore (2002)
The Autograph Man by Zadie Smith (2003)
Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel (2006)
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (2006)
Longlist
Ursula, Under by Ingrid Hill (2005)
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (2006)
A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (2011)
2souloftherose
January plans
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
The Help by Kathryn Stockett (I know this isn't in my TBR pile but I'm going to borrow my Mum's copy)
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
The Help by Kathryn Stockett (I know this isn't in my TBR pile but I'm going to borrow my Mum's copy)
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
3lkernagh
Love the orange! ;-)
I haven't read the books you have planned for your January reading so I look forward to finding out what you think of them when you are finished!
I haven't read the books you have planned for your January reading so I look forward to finding out what you think of them when you are finished!
4mrstreme
Welcome, Heather! Love your Orange picture! =)
I think there may be a group discussion thread for Alias Grace since it's on a lot of people's list. I also loved The Help. I think you'll have a great Orange January!
Welcome!
~Jill =)
I think there may be a group discussion thread for Alias Grace since it's on a lot of people's list. I also loved The Help. I think you'll have a great Orange January!
Welcome!
~Jill =)
5wookiebender
Case Histories was a great read, I really liked that one (and the subsequent Jackson Brodie novels). I also liked Alias Grace! And I've got The Help requested at the library. I'll get my hands on a copy by hook or by crook!
Welcome, Heather!
Welcome, Heather!
6mrspenny
Welcome Heather - I loved Alias Grace - I hope you enjoy your orange January.
7fannyprice
ooooh, that orange is making me thirsty.
8souloftherose
Thanks everyone! Glad to hear other people enjoyed the books I have planned for January :-) I have a couple of (very short) books I want to finish for December but I'm itching to get started on my Orange reads!
9souloftherose
I finished my first book for Orange January:
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
It's winter in Canada in 1867 and a trader has been brutally murdered in the small, isolated settlement of Dove River. The seventeen year old son of one family has mysteriously disappeared and as suspicion falls on him, his mother sets off against the frozen landscape to find him and prove his innocence.
This story took me a while to really get into. The narration is shared between several characters, unusually one of the narrators tells the story from a first person perspective whilst the others are all third person. It may be that this was why I felt a bit distanced from the characters at first. What really struck me about the book was the way Penney so vividly managed to get across the cold and the frozen landscape of Northern Canada. I live in a country where we a few inches of snow gets us panicking but I felt like I knew what it would be like to walk through the wilderness for miles when it is so cold that the tearducts in your eyes freeze.
I particularly liked the ending of this book; there's enough resolution to give a good ending but not so much that there was nothing left for me to think about after the book had ended.
3.75 stars
Next up is Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
It's winter in Canada in 1867 and a trader has been brutally murdered in the small, isolated settlement of Dove River. The seventeen year old son of one family has mysteriously disappeared and as suspicion falls on him, his mother sets off against the frozen landscape to find him and prove his innocence.
This story took me a while to really get into. The narration is shared between several characters, unusually one of the narrators tells the story from a first person perspective whilst the others are all third person. It may be that this was why I felt a bit distanced from the characters at first. What really struck me about the book was the way Penney so vividly managed to get across the cold and the frozen landscape of Northern Canada. I live in a country where we a few inches of snow gets us panicking but I felt like I knew what it would be like to walk through the wilderness for miles when it is so cold that the tearducts in your eyes freeze.
I particularly liked the ending of this book; there's enough resolution to give a good ending but not so much that there was nothing left for me to think about after the book had ended.
3.75 stars
Next up is Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
10lauralkeet
>9 souloftherose:: I know what you mean about the winter in that book. I felt like I needed to wear a coat while I was reading!
11lkernagh
Oh - I love books that are able to convey the feeling of coldness.... interesting story as well. I might need to add that one to my TBR pile. Good review.
12raidergirl3
I didn't read the review, as plan to read it in the next few weeks. I'll come back and compare, but (from the comments) I really don't need to 'feel winter' right now, as it is snowy and cold here in PEI. Not bad enough to cancel school however. That would be lovely - a day to read, and maybe correct some labs. Oops, I rambled.
13Soupdragon
I had similar feelings about The Tenderness of Wolves. It took me a little while to get into but once I did I was very impressed- particularly with the way Penney evokes the power of the landscape. I liked the ending for the same reasons as you but I've read that some found it frustrating.
Of the others on your TBR Orange pile, I've read Bel Canto, Beyond Black, Case Histories and Half of a Yellow Sun. Half of a Yellow Sun was my favourite. Case Histories is also great for all the reasons Cushla and others have said
Edited to add: I've just noticed Alias Grace is on your pile. I loved that too but read it too long ago to remember why!
Of the others on your TBR Orange pile, I've read Bel Canto, Beyond Black, Case Histories and Half of a Yellow Sun. Half of a Yellow Sun was my favourite. Case Histories is also great for all the reasons Cushla and others have said
Edited to add: I've just noticed Alias Grace is on your pile. I loved that too but read it too long ago to remember why!
14souloftherose
#10 I think I snuggled up with a blanket on the sofa!
#11 Thanks Lori, hope you enjoy it as and when you get to it.
#12 I know what you mean about the cold, it probably helped that our snow had all melted and the weather warmed up a little. Hope you enjoy it when you get to it.
#13 I'm hoping to get to Alias Grace this month so I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it.
Currently reading Case Histories which I'm also enjoying.
#11 Thanks Lori, hope you enjoy it as and when you get to it.
#12 I know what you mean about the cold, it probably helped that our snow had all melted and the weather warmed up a little. Hope you enjoy it when you get to it.
#13 I'm hoping to get to Alias Grace this month so I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it.
Currently reading Case Histories which I'm also enjoying.
15kirsty
I loved Case Histories glad you are enjoying it too. I see you have Beyond Black in your TBR list. I am keen to read more Hilary Mantel after reading Wolf Hall last year.
16souloftherose
I got rather behind on my threads I'm afraid, but I have finished another two books for Orange January.
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
A compelling book but difficult to describe. Brenzi described it as 'so much more than a detective novel' in her review and I think that's a good description.
Case Histories opens with the events leading up to three different cold cases and then switches to the present day with an introduction to Jackson Brodie, a police detective turned private investigator with a messed up private life. He's asked to investigate a couple of the cold cases. So far, it sounds very much like a typical detective novel but it's really not.
Whilst in a traditional detective novel the focus is very much on 'who dunnit' in Case Histories the focus seemed to be more on the effect these crimes had on those affected by them. The characterisation was fantastic and quirky. Although parts of the book were fairly gritty and dark there was also a lot of humour.
Anyway, if you're interested, look at the reviews on the book page sorted by votes. There are some wonderful reviews of this book which put things much better than I could.
4.25 stars
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
I had seen so many rave reviews of this book before I read it that I was rather worried that it wouldn't live up to all the hype, but in the end I read the whole thing in a day and stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it because I couldn't put it down.
Having said that I gave it 4.5 stars rather than 5 stars. It was a gripping and very enjoyable read and I can understand why it's been so popular but I felt that it wasn't quite as well written as some of the other Orange nominees for 2010 (particularly Wolf Hall and The Lacuna which were 5 star reads for me).
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
A compelling book but difficult to describe. Brenzi described it as 'so much more than a detective novel' in her review and I think that's a good description.
Case Histories opens with the events leading up to three different cold cases and then switches to the present day with an introduction to Jackson Brodie, a police detective turned private investigator with a messed up private life. He's asked to investigate a couple of the cold cases. So far, it sounds very much like a typical detective novel but it's really not.
Whilst in a traditional detective novel the focus is very much on 'who dunnit' in Case Histories the focus seemed to be more on the effect these crimes had on those affected by them. The characterisation was fantastic and quirky. Although parts of the book were fairly gritty and dark there was also a lot of humour.
Anyway, if you're interested, look at the reviews on the book page sorted by votes. There are some wonderful reviews of this book which put things much better than I could.
4.25 stars
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
I had seen so many rave reviews of this book before I read it that I was rather worried that it wouldn't live up to all the hype, but in the end I read the whole thing in a day and stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it because I couldn't put it down.
Having said that I gave it 4.5 stars rather than 5 stars. It was a gripping and very enjoyable read and I can understand why it's been so popular but I felt that it wasn't quite as well written as some of the other Orange nominees for 2010 (particularly Wolf Hall and The Lacuna which were 5 star reads for me).
17souloftherose
And I would still like to read Alias Grace this month but not sure whether I will manage to squeeze it in.
18cushlareads
You summed up exactly what I thought about The Help! I think I gave it 4 stars.
19lauralkeet
>16 souloftherose:: look at the reviews on the book page sorted by votes.
Well, whaddaya know. I never noticed you could do that (sort by votes) ! I learn something new all the time here.
Well, whaddaya know. I never noticed you could do that (sort by votes) ! I learn something new all the time here.
20buriedinprint
It sounds like you've had a great Orange January. I've read the three that you chose for this month and we had similar responses to each of them. I hope your Orange reading continues to have you turning pages so contentedly!
21souloftherose
#18 Great minds think alike Cushla?
#19 Glad I could help Laura!
#20 I think I picked some great Orange reads for January! I don't think I'm going to be able to finish Alias Grace this month as I still haven't started it yet, but I might finish in February and post some thoughts here anyway.
#19 Glad I could help Laura!
#20 I think I picked some great Orange reads for January! I don't think I'm going to be able to finish Alias Grace this month as I still haven't started it yet, but I might finish in February and post some thoughts here anyway.
23souloftherose
And again, I have been guilty of not updating this thread.
Other Orange books read so far this year:
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (2002 shortlist) - no review but a solid 4 stars, very enjoyable
And two from the 2011 shortlist which I read before the winner was announced. I actually preferred the one that didn't win but I enjoyed both and can certainly see the merit in Obreht's book.
Grace Williams Says It Loud by Emma Henderson (2011 shortlist) - 4.25 stars
Meet Grace Williams, born with physical disabilities, unable to speak more than a few words and has lost the use of one arm after a bout of polio. At 11, she’s sent to The Briar, an institution for those with mental and physical disabilities after her parents realise they’re no longer able to look after her at home.
Meet Daniel Smith, whom Grace meets on her first day at The Briar hospital. Debonair and dashing, Daniel is an epileptic who has lost both of his arms in a car accident.
Could there be a more unlikely love story than that of Grace and Daniel? And yet, it works so well that I fell in love with both Daniel and Grace. Daniel, almost from the moment we first meet him when he bows so low that his hair brushes the tops of his shoes. Grace, as I got to know her over the course of the book.
Initially I found the style of writing difficult to follow but after 20 or so pages I’d got into the flow of it. Due to Grace’s inability to speak, other characters in the book often assume that she is mentally deficient as well as physically disabled. But as the readers we get to read Grace’s story from her own, unique point of view.
Although this book contains many descriptions of disturbing incidents in Grace’s and Daniel’s life which occasionally made the book difficult to read, there is enough beauty and wonder in their story to prevent this from becoming a depressing read.
What made this even more moving for me was reading that this story was partly based on Emma Henderson’s sister, Claire who spent 35 years institutionalised for similar reasons to Grace, and to whom the book is dedicated.
The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht - 3.75 stars
This is a complex tale set in unnamed Balkan states (although I think they were Serbia and Croatia or Bosnia) with the narrative split into several different strands. In one strand we follow Natalia, a trainee doctor, as she travels to a children's orphanage to vaccinate them. On her way their she learns that her grandfather has just died and this triggers the additional narratives. The first takes us back to her grandfather's days as a boy, living in a remote village where a tiger which has escaped from a zoo comes to live in the surrounding woods and this leads to the tale of the eponymous tiger's wife. The second narrative follows her grandfather as a young doctor and the tale of the deathless man he meets.
The tales of the deathless man and the tiger's wife are almost on the verge of introducing a sort of fantasy/gothic/magical realism element to the book which occasionally reminded me of Life of Pi or Shadow of the Wind.
For a first novel, it's certainly ambitious and whilst Obreht's writing is very, very good it felt to me like the multiple narratives never completely worked. However, I still really enjoyed this book and I will definitely look out for any future books she writes.
Other Orange books read so far this year:
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (2002 shortlist) - no review but a solid 4 stars, very enjoyable
And two from the 2011 shortlist which I read before the winner was announced. I actually preferred the one that didn't win but I enjoyed both and can certainly see the merit in Obreht's book.
Grace Williams Says It Loud by Emma Henderson (2011 shortlist) - 4.25 stars
Meet Grace Williams, born with physical disabilities, unable to speak more than a few words and has lost the use of one arm after a bout of polio. At 11, she’s sent to The Briar, an institution for those with mental and physical disabilities after her parents realise they’re no longer able to look after her at home.
Meet Daniel Smith, whom Grace meets on her first day at The Briar hospital. Debonair and dashing, Daniel is an epileptic who has lost both of his arms in a car accident.
Could there be a more unlikely love story than that of Grace and Daniel? And yet, it works so well that I fell in love with both Daniel and Grace. Daniel, almost from the moment we first meet him when he bows so low that his hair brushes the tops of his shoes. Grace, as I got to know her over the course of the book.
Initially I found the style of writing difficult to follow but after 20 or so pages I’d got into the flow of it. Due to Grace’s inability to speak, other characters in the book often assume that she is mentally deficient as well as physically disabled. But as the readers we get to read Grace’s story from her own, unique point of view.
Although this book contains many descriptions of disturbing incidents in Grace’s and Daniel’s life which occasionally made the book difficult to read, there is enough beauty and wonder in their story to prevent this from becoming a depressing read.
What made this even more moving for me was reading that this story was partly based on Emma Henderson’s sister, Claire who spent 35 years institutionalised for similar reasons to Grace, and to whom the book is dedicated.
The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht - 3.75 stars
This is a complex tale set in unnamed Balkan states (although I think they were Serbia and Croatia or Bosnia) with the narrative split into several different strands. In one strand we follow Natalia, a trainee doctor, as she travels to a children's orphanage to vaccinate them. On her way their she learns that her grandfather has just died and this triggers the additional narratives. The first takes us back to her grandfather's days as a boy, living in a remote village where a tiger which has escaped from a zoo comes to live in the surrounding woods and this leads to the tale of the eponymous tiger's wife. The second narrative follows her grandfather as a young doctor and the tale of the deathless man he meets.
The tales of the deathless man and the tiger's wife are almost on the verge of introducing a sort of fantasy/gothic/magical realism element to the book which occasionally reminded me of Life of Pi or Shadow of the Wind.
For a first novel, it's certainly ambitious and whilst Obreht's writing is very, very good it felt to me like the multiple narratives never completely worked. However, I still really enjoyed this book and I will definitely look out for any future books she writes.
24souloftherose
And for July?
Well, I have several books from the 2011 longlist/shortlist on loan from the library which I really need to get through sooner rather than later:
Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer
The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forma
Great House by Nicole Krauss
And if I manage to read any more Orange books next month I would like to read some of the winners from previous years that are sitting in my TBR pile:
Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels (1997)
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (2002)
Small Island by Andrea Levy (2004)
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2007)
The Road Home by Rose Tremain (2008)
I'm particularly keen on reading Fugitive Pieces after it won the Youth Panel Award last year and also Bel Canto as Patchett's newest book, State of Wonder has caught my interest.
Well, I have several books from the 2011 longlist/shortlist on loan from the library which I really need to get through sooner rather than later:
Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer
The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forma
And if I manage to read any more Orange books next month I would like to read some of the winners from previous years that are sitting in my TBR pile:
Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels (1997)
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (2002)
Small Island by Andrea Levy (2004)
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2007)
The Road Home by Rose Tremain (2008)
I'm particularly keen on reading Fugitive Pieces after it won the Youth Panel Award last year and also Bel Canto as Patchett's newest book, State of Wonder has caught my interest.
26rainpebble
Purple Hibiscus; a wonderful read....just absolutely wonderful.
27sally906
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie a wonderful read, wonderful!
28souloftherose
I really enjoyed Purple Hibiscus although I found it quite an emotional read. I must admit I've been putting off reading Half of a Yellow Sun for that reason; I'm sure I will find it wonderful but I think I will also find it quite emotional...
29sally906
I lived in Nigeria as a child - was there when the Biafran war broke out - Half of a Yellow Sun was a very emotional read for me because I was old enough to remember what the war was like but not old enought to understand what I was seeing.
30lauralkeet
>29 sally906:: wow, I had no idea Sally.
32lkernagh
Hi Heather - Stopping by to wish you Happy Orange Reading and to say, great review of Grace Williams. I am impatiently waiting for a copy of that one from my local library. ~LOri
33vancouverdeb
Hi Heather! Your reviews are so interesting! I'm currently reading Case Histories - and I'm very much enjoying it! May I reccomend Small Island? I just loved it!!! I really enjoyed Grace Wiliams too. Great review!
34gennyt
Hello Heather, just dropping in to see what your Orange July plans are. I've not yet read any of the 2011 longlist/shortlist ones you mention, but of the older ones, I can strongly recommend The Road Home and Bel Canto, both of which I enjoyed very much.
Did you see the recent TV adaptation of Case Histories? It actually covered the first three of the Jackson Brodie books in three 2-part episodes. I thought it was quite well done although a bit disconcerting that they'd relocated the first story, ie Case Histories itself, to Edinburgh (where the second and third books are mainly located) presumably to save costs and streamline the production by having a single location.
Did you see the recent TV adaptation of Case Histories? It actually covered the first three of the Jackson Brodie books in three 2-part episodes. I thought it was quite well done although a bit disconcerting that they'd relocated the first story, ie Case Histories itself, to Edinburgh (where the second and third books are mainly located) presumably to save costs and streamline the production by having a single location.
35laytonwoman3rd
OK, now I must read Half of a Yellow Sun because I will imagine I know a little girl on the fringes of the story. I enjoyed Purple Hibiscus, so I know Adichie's writing appeals to me.
36mrstreme
When I polled my blog readers, they overwhelmingly recommended Purple Hibiscus as one of the Orange July reads. I think Adichie has such a universal style. =)
37gennyt
#36 I'm hoping to read that one this month. I've had it out from the library for ages. Not read any Adichie yet.
38LizzieD
Hi, Heather. I'll add my 2¢ worth....... Not having read *Tiger's Wife* I shouldn't really say, but I don't see why The Memory of Love didn't win. From your list I also enjoyed The Invisible Bridge, but I didn't think it should have won. Of the old ones, The Road Home is simply one of my all-time favorite books. Happy Reading!
39souloftherose
Oops, long absence.
#32 Lori, I hope your copy of Grace arrives soon.
#33 Thanks Deb - I've heard lots of good things about Small Island. Glad you're enjoying Case Histories.
#34 Hi Genny. I'm glad I have so many good Orange books to look forward to but there's no way I'm going to read them all this month!
I started watching the recent TV adaptation but wasn't quite in the mood. Also, I didn't want to watch the episodes that covered the books I hadn't read yet. I'm afraid I completely missed the fact that they'd relocated it to Edinburgh despite having lived in both cities for a while.
And hello to Linda, Jill and Peggy too!
My orange reading has got off to a bit of a slow start. I found out that there is going to be a BBC adaptation of The Night Watch by Sarah Waters on Tuesday so decided to read that rather than any of the books listed in msg 24.
The Night Watch by Sarah Waters (2006 shortlist)
It follows several women and a man during and after WWII, starting in 1947 then going back to 1944 and then going back to 1941. Like Fingersmith there's quite a strong element of mystery to the characters and their situation which Waters reveals by taking the story back through time until you eventually find out what happened to everyone to get them to the situations they were in in 1947.
Although I studied WWII quite a bit at school, my parents were born just after the war and it's never been something my grandparents really spoke about. At school, Anderson shelters and air raids always sounded quite exciting and I thought Waters did a good job in this book of making me realise how hopeless everyone felt as the war dragged on and on and then how difficult it must have been to adjust after the war. A lot of the characters are left not really knowing what to do with themselves in 1947.
What stopped this book from being more than a 4 star read for me was the slight frustration I felt at the end of the book. Although we went back in time to find out what had happened to each character, it felt like there was still a lot left out and we didn't find out what happened to each character after 1947. I think I was expecting another jump in time back to 1947 at the end of the book to resolve things and it didn't happen. This flaw is probably more with the reader than in the writer though.
#32 Lori, I hope your copy of Grace arrives soon.
#33 Thanks Deb - I've heard lots of good things about Small Island. Glad you're enjoying Case Histories.
#34 Hi Genny. I'm glad I have so many good Orange books to look forward to but there's no way I'm going to read them all this month!
I started watching the recent TV adaptation but wasn't quite in the mood. Also, I didn't want to watch the episodes that covered the books I hadn't read yet. I'm afraid I completely missed the fact that they'd relocated it to Edinburgh despite having lived in both cities for a while.
And hello to Linda, Jill and Peggy too!
My orange reading has got off to a bit of a slow start. I found out that there is going to be a BBC adaptation of The Night Watch by Sarah Waters on Tuesday so decided to read that rather than any of the books listed in msg 24.
The Night Watch by Sarah Waters (2006 shortlist)
It follows several women and a man during and after WWII, starting in 1947 then going back to 1944 and then going back to 1941. Like Fingersmith there's quite a strong element of mystery to the characters and their situation which Waters reveals by taking the story back through time until you eventually find out what happened to everyone to get them to the situations they were in in 1947.
Although I studied WWII quite a bit at school, my parents were born just after the war and it's never been something my grandparents really spoke about. At school, Anderson shelters and air raids always sounded quite exciting and I thought Waters did a good job in this book of making me realise how hopeless everyone felt as the war dragged on and on and then how difficult it must have been to adjust after the war. A lot of the characters are left not really knowing what to do with themselves in 1947.
What stopped this book from being more than a 4 star read for me was the slight frustration I felt at the end of the book. Although we went back in time to find out what had happened to each character, it felt like there was still a lot left out and we didn't find out what happened to each character after 1947. I think I was expecting another jump in time back to 1947 at the end of the book to resolve things and it didn't happen. This flaw is probably more with the reader than in the writer though.
40souloftherose
And I've started Great House by Nicole Krauss but I'm struggling a bit with it so far. It's very literary and on Sundays I need something a bit easier to get into to distract me from thoughts of Monday morning.
41vancouverdeb
My sympathies Great House. I know I just could not get into it - best of luck to you. Night Watch sounds fascinating. I think it needs to go onto my TBR list.
42Soupdragon
Hi Heather
I unreservedly loved The Night Watch but I was prepared for the unusual structure and that we wouldn't be going back to 1947. I think it would have been disorienting if I hadn't been!
Did you perservere with Great House? You do need to be in the right mood to start it, I think. The writing is very dense and I seem to remember being quite intimidated by that when I first picked it up.
Dee
I unreservedly loved The Night Watch but I was prepared for the unusual structure and that we wouldn't be going back to 1947. I think it would have been disorienting if I hadn't been!
Did you perservere with Great House? You do need to be in the right mood to start it, I think. The writing is very dense and I seem to remember being quite intimidated by that when I first picked it up.
Dee
43souloftherose
And belatedly posting to say I did get more into Great House and ended up finding it a rewarding read:
Great House by Nicole Krauss - 4 stars
I feel very ill-equipped to do a proper review of this book. I found this a difficult book to get into although ultimately very rewarding (although I'm still not sure I fully understood it). My problem was that although Krauss' writing is extremely good, I really didn't like a couple of the characters we are introduced to at the beginning of the book. But after 100 pages or so I was much more into the stories Krauss was telling. Challenging but rewarding.
And that was the last book I managed for Orange July which meant I only managed two Orange reads, didn't get through all my library books and didn't manage to get to any of the previous winners I own. But I am going to try and keep going with them through the rest of the year.
For August, I'm currently reading The Invisible Bridge from the 2011 longlist, also hoping to get to The Memory of Love from the 2011 shortlist as well as Bel Canto which was the 2002 winner. I'll probably update this thread with my thoughts if/when I finish those.
Great House by Nicole Krauss - 4 stars
I feel very ill-equipped to do a proper review of this book. I found this a difficult book to get into although ultimately very rewarding (although I'm still not sure I fully understood it). My problem was that although Krauss' writing is extremely good, I really didn't like a couple of the characters we are introduced to at the beginning of the book. But after 100 pages or so I was much more into the stories Krauss was telling. Challenging but rewarding.
And that was the last book I managed for Orange July which meant I only managed two Orange reads, didn't get through all my library books and didn't manage to get to any of the previous winners I own. But I am going to try and keep going with them through the rest of the year.
For August, I'm currently reading The Invisible Bridge from the 2011 longlist, also hoping to get to The Memory of Love from the 2011 shortlist as well as Bel Canto which was the 2002 winner. I'll probably update this thread with my thoughts if/when I finish those.
44gennyt
I hope you enjoy Bel Canto - I really did when I read it a few years back (before being conscious that it was an 'Orange' book).
45lauralkeet
>43 souloftherose:: I hope to write my review of Great House tonight but I have to be sure not to just repeat what you said!
46PaulCranswick
Heather - you ladies have talked me into reading more feminine works next year! Am hooked and my thread is http://www.librarything.com/topic/127358# - would be grateful of your input from time to time.
47PaulCranswick
Heather - you ladies have talked me into reading more feminine works next year! Am hooked and my thread is http://www.librarything.com/topic/127358# - would be grateful of your input from time to time.
48souloftherose
Thanks for the link Paul, you've reminded me I haven't updated this thread for a long time :-) I've duly found and starred your Orange thread - hope you enjoy your're reading.
