TBR@59 Robertgreaves's Challenge for 2016/17 part 2b
This is a continuation of the topic TBR@59 Robertgreaves's Challenge for 2016/17 part 2.
Talk 2017 ROOT (READ OUR OWN TOMES)
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1Robertgreaves
As the thread for part 2 of 2016/17 is now over 200 posts, I'm starting a new thread. My next read is my No. 126, Caleb Williams by William Godwin. It is my fifty-fourth ROOT for 2017 and brings the physical TBR pile to 60. I'm reading it now for the AlphaKIT.
2MissWatson
Happy new thread, Robert. I'm looking forward to your comments on Caleb Williams, I got stuck twice on that.
4Jackie_K
Happy new thread from me too! I've picked up some good BBs from you previously, let's see what this thread brings my way! :)
5billiejean
Looking forward to seeing all the great books you are reading.
6connie53
Hi Robert, just stopping by to say Hi. I've been away from LT due to RL things, but I'm trying to be better about keeping up.
Happy New Thread!
Happy New Thread!
7Robertgreaves
Thanks for continuing, everyone.
My No. 127 is What We Believe But Cannot Prove, a series of essays edited by John Brockman. This is my ffity-fith ROOT for 2017. I'm reading it for the AlphaKIT.
My review of Caleb Williams:
A murder is committed and two men are hanged for the crime. When our hero finds out who really did it, he is framed as a thief and imprisoned. He escapes but where can he go with a notorious thief-taker on his trail and the real murderer seeking to ensure his silence?
Although I read this because it was said to be the first detective novel, the solving of the crime is a comparatively small part of the book (about 30 pages when it took us about 100 pages to actually get to the murder). The chase is nearly 2/3 of the book, so really it deserves recognition as an early example of a chase thriller. It wasn't hugely exciting but it was an interesting picture of the time.
My No. 127 is What We Believe But Cannot Prove, a series of essays edited by John Brockman. This is my ffity-fith ROOT for 2017. I'm reading it for the AlphaKIT.
My review of Caleb Williams:
A murder is committed and two men are hanged for the crime. When our hero finds out who really did it, he is framed as a thief and imprisoned. He escapes but where can he go with a notorious thief-taker on his trail and the real murderer seeking to ensure his silence?
Although I read this because it was said to be the first detective novel, the solving of the crime is a comparatively small part of the book (about 30 pages when it took us about 100 pages to actually get to the murder). The chase is nearly 2/3 of the book, so really it deserves recognition as an early example of a chase thriller. It wasn't hugely exciting but it was an interesting picture of the time.
8Jackie_K
>7 Robertgreaves: That book you've just started looks intriguing! I'll look out for your review and maybe take a BB!
9floremolla
>7 Robertgreaves: >8 Jackie_K: ditto, looking forward to your review and following your new thread!
10Robertgreaves
Starting my No. 128, a selection of poems by John Donne, just called "Selected Poems" (not very useful for touchstone purposes). It's not a ROOT. I did have the complete English poems, but it seems to have disappeared.
My review of What We Believe But Cannot Prove:
A collection of just over a hundred short essays (ranging from half a page to four pages) in answer to the question "What do you believe even though you cannot prove it?" The answers include topics such as belief or non belief in a deity, whether there is a personal life after bodily death, whether life or even intelligent life exists outside the solar system, the nature of consciousness, our similarity to or difference from other primates, and speculations on future developments in science, technology and society.
Perhaps better as a dipping-into rather than reading book. It's probably ideal for keeping in the loo, if you have that sort of loo. Some answers were interesting, some were overly technical descriptions of what someone thought was going to be the next big development in their field. there were enough different answers regarding some topics to make one realisee that a definitive answer to some questions is not possible in our present state of knowledge however dogmatic some people might get. The book was published in 2005, and I would like to know whether some of the contributors would give the same answer now.
My review of What We Believe But Cannot Prove:
A collection of just over a hundred short essays (ranging from half a page to four pages) in answer to the question "What do you believe even though you cannot prove it?" The answers include topics such as belief or non belief in a deity, whether there is a personal life after bodily death, whether life or even intelligent life exists outside the solar system, the nature of consciousness, our similarity to or difference from other primates, and speculations on future developments in science, technology and society.
Perhaps better as a dipping-into rather than reading book. It's probably ideal for keeping in the loo, if you have that sort of loo. Some answers were interesting, some were overly technical descriptions of what someone thought was going to be the next big development in their field. there were enough different answers regarding some topics to make one realisee that a definitive answer to some questions is not possible in our present state of knowledge however dogmatic some people might get. The book was published in 2005, and I would like to know whether some of the contributors would give the same answer now.
11Robertgreaves
Starting my No. 129, Awakenings by Oliver Sacks, which counts as my fifty-sixth ROOT for 2017. I'm reading it now for the Random CAT.
12Robertgreaves
I went in for just one book, honest. But it was 15% off. And other books were 20% off and 50% off. What can you do?
Volpone and Other Plays by Ben Jonson (15% off)
A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman (20% off, but justifiable as it's my September bookclub book)
The Copenhagen Connection by Elizabeth Peters (50% off - a stand alone, not Amelia Peabody)
Volpone and Other Plays by Ben Jonson (15% off)
A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman (20% off, but justifiable as it's my September bookclub book)
The Copenhagen Connection by Elizabeth Peters (50% off - a stand alone, not Amelia Peabody)
13Tess_W
>12 Robertgreaves: I see the conundrum, Robert! ;)
14Robertgreaves
Starting my No. 130, Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. It's a re-read off my shelves so it counts as my fifty-seventh ROOT of 2017. I'm reading it now as my RL bookclub's choice for August.
My review of Awakenings:
In the years after WWI, an epidemic of encephalitis swept the world. Many people died but others seemed to recover only to suffer from a kind of Parkinson's which led to their permanent hospitalisation years or decades later. Often they were shunted off into side wards and forgotten about. In 1969 Oliver Sacks decided to try them on a new drug called L-Dopamine.
The core of the book is the stories of some of the patients and how L-Dopamine benefitted them until reactions to it took over. Extended introductions give background information about Parkinson's and the epidemic of encephalitis and its aftermath. An epilogue and postscript to later editions give updates on the patients, while appendices explore some of the themes of how the patients experience the world, later medical understandings, and the various dramatisations of the book.
The book can be a bit heavy-going in places if you don't have a medical background, but through it all Dr. Sack's human compassion for the patients and the patients' own resources of courage and character shine through. Dr. Sacks argues for a medicine that does not just focus on scientific puzzles and cases but also on the care of human beings. A wonderful book.
My review of Awakenings:
In the years after WWI, an epidemic of encephalitis swept the world. Many people died but others seemed to recover only to suffer from a kind of Parkinson's which led to their permanent hospitalisation years or decades later. Often they were shunted off into side wards and forgotten about. In 1969 Oliver Sacks decided to try them on a new drug called L-Dopamine.
The core of the book is the stories of some of the patients and how L-Dopamine benefitted them until reactions to it took over. Extended introductions give background information about Parkinson's and the epidemic of encephalitis and its aftermath. An epilogue and postscript to later editions give updates on the patients, while appendices explore some of the themes of how the patients experience the world, later medical understandings, and the various dramatisations of the book.
The book can be a bit heavy-going in places if you don't have a medical background, but through it all Dr. Sack's human compassion for the patients and the patients' own resources of courage and character shine through. Dr. Sacks argues for a medicine that does not just focus on scientific puzzles and cases but also on the care of human beings. A wonderful book.
15Jackie_K
I really want to read Awakenings. And A Man Called Ove is on my wishlist.
I think that sale had your name on it.
I think that sale had your name on it.
16Robertgreaves
>15 Jackie_K: Two books where I saw the film first!
17Robertgreaves
My planned reading for August 2017:
18Tess_W
>17 Robertgreaves: Some great authors there; should be some great reading!
19floremolla
>17 Robertgreaves: you're always so organised and I admire your advance commitment to your reading list. Looking forward to your thoughts on Oryx and Crake and Year of the Flood.
20Robertgreaves
>19 floremolla: Unfortunately, reality doesn't always live up to my plans for it. Sometimes I get distracted by series, sometimes I'm just not in the mood for a particular book, and sometimes RL gets in the way.
21Robertgreaves
Starting the second in the trilogy, The Year of the Flood. I think this is the ebook which has been waiting for me on the virtual TBR shelf for the longest, so it is my fifty-eighth ROOT for 2017.
My review of Oryx and Crake:
Snowman lives up a tree after an ecological catastrophe, haunted by his memories of his mother and of Oryx and Crake and acting as a sort of prophet for the not-quite-human Children of Crake.
Compellingly believable dystopia showing where certain technologies and social trends might be leading us. I first read it when it came out in 2003 and am rather perturbed how my reaction to some aspects which I then found shocking has become a blasé shrug.
Having said that, I do think it would have been better to have the plague an accident rather than being deliberately set off by Crake as a mad scientist figure.
My review of Oryx and Crake:
Snowman lives up a tree after an ecological catastrophe, haunted by his memories of his mother and of Oryx and Crake and acting as a sort of prophet for the not-quite-human Children of Crake.
Compellingly believable dystopia showing where certain technologies and social trends might be leading us. I first read it when it came out in 2003 and am rather perturbed how my reaction to some aspects which I then found shocking has become a blasé shrug.
22Robertgreaves
The last in the trilogy, MaddAddam is my No. 130. As a new ebook, it doesn't count as a ROOT.
My review of The Year of the Flood:
Jimmy was not the only human to survive the catastrophe, known here as the Waterless Flood. Most of the characters we follow here are tied one way or another with a fringe sect called God's Gardeners, which was mentioned in passing in the previous book. This is their story before, during and after the Waterless Flood.
The two main survivors we follow here narrate in the same way as Jimmy/Snowman in the previous book, with their post Waterless Flood existence interspersed with memories of their past. In some ways they were too similar so that I occasionally had to backtrack to work out whose narrative we were following. They needed more distinctive voices.
I loved the Gardeners, and the way the book was punctuated by feast-day sermonettes from their leaders and their hymns. It gave the social criticism and the book as a whole more focus than the rather scatter gun approach of Oryx and Crake.
My review of The Year of the Flood:
Jimmy was not the only human to survive the catastrophe, known here as the Waterless Flood. Most of the characters we follow here are tied one way or another with a fringe sect called God's Gardeners, which was mentioned in passing in the previous book. This is their story before, during and after the Waterless Flood.
The two main survivors we follow here narrate in the same way as Jimmy/Snowman in the previous book, with their post Waterless Flood existence interspersed with memories of their past. In some ways they were too similar so that I occasionally had to backtrack to work out whose narrative we were following. They needed more distinctive voices.
I loved the Gardeners, and the way the book was punctuated by feast-day sermonettes from their leaders and their hymns. It gave the social criticism and the book as a whole more focus than the rather scatter gun approach of Oryx and Crake.
23Robertgreaves
There is a playlist for The Year of the Flood based on the Oral Hymnbook of God's Gardeners. But TBH the music doesn't seem right for communal singing.
24Robertgreaves
Starting my No. 131, Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett. This brings the physical TBR pile down to 60. It is my fifty-ninth ROOT for 2017. I'm reading it now for the SFFKIT.
My review of Maddaddam:
Although Ren and Amanda have been rescued, the problem of what to do with the bad guys still remains.
The book follows the pattern of the others, action in the present post-Flood world interspersed with one character's memories of the pre-Flood world. In some ways this was the most enjoyable because it was very, very funny, especially Toby telling stories to the Children of Crake. There was also a weepy bit at the end, in the last 20 pages or so. I think this quotation sums up the whole trilogy:
"There's the story, then there's the real story, then there's the story of how the story came to be told. Then there's what you leave out of the story. Which is part of the story too."
My review of Maddaddam:
Although Ren and Amanda have been rescued, the problem of what to do with the bad guys still remains.
The book follows the pattern of the others, action in the present post-Flood world interspersed with one character's memories of the pre-Flood world. In some ways this was the most enjoyable because it was very, very funny, especially Toby telling stories to the Children of Crake. There was also a weepy bit at the end, in the last 20 pages or so. I think this quotation sums up the whole trilogy:
"There's the story, then there's the real story, then there's the story of how the story came to be told. Then there's what you leave out of the story. Which is part of the story too."
25rabbitprincess
>24 Robertgreaves: Yes! I cracked up whenever anyone mentioned the god called Fuck.
26Robertgreaves
>25 rabbitprincess: Please don't sing
27Robertgreaves
Starting my No. 133, A Hat Full of Sky, the next in the series. Another new ebook and so not a ROOT.
My review of The Wee Free Men:
Tiffany Aching is discovering that she a witch and what that means.
This children's book is not as funny as the adult Discworld books. It's OK as a fantasy but I miss the satire and humour.
My review of The Wee Free Men:
Tiffany Aching is discovering that she a witch and what that means.
This children's book is not as funny as the adult Discworld books. It's OK as a fantasy but I miss the satire and humour.
28Robertgreaves
Starting my No. 134, Wintersmith, and No. 135 The Mammoth Book of Roman Whodunnits. Both are new ebooks and so don't count as ROOTs.
My review of A Hat Full of Sky:
Tiffany Aching goes to serve an apprenticeship with Miss Level. Unfortunately, an entity called a hiver has got Tiffany in its sights, and those the hiver takes over tend to become insane and violent.
Much funnier than the previous Tiffany Aching. Very enjoyable.
My review of A Hat Full of Sky:
Tiffany Aching goes to serve an apprenticeship with Miss Level. Unfortunately, an entity called a hiver has got Tiffany in its sights, and those the hiver takes over tend to become insane and violent.
Much funnier than the previous Tiffany Aching. Very enjoyable.
29Robertgreaves
Starting my No. 136, I Shall Wear Midnight. Not a ROOT because it's a new ebook.
My review of Wintersmith:
Wintersmith, the elemental spirit of winter, falls in love with Tiffany Aching.
Creepy, with horror lurking just below the surface, and yet funny as well. Top form Pratchett, except that I still don't like Tiffany Aching. She is more of a didactic device or good example than a real character.
My review of Wintersmith:
Wintersmith, the elemental spirit of winter, falls in love with Tiffany Aching.
Creepy, with horror lurking just below the surface, and yet funny as well. Top form Pratchett, except that I still don't like Tiffany Aching. She is more of a didactic device or good example than a real character.
30Robertgreaves
Starting my No 137, The Classics Magpie by Jane Hood. This is my sixtieth ROOT for 2017 and the physical TBR pile now stands at 59.
My review of I Shall Wear Midnight:
There is a power heading for Tiffany Aching which does not like witches and works by turning others against them till the burning starts.
Good fun with laughter and touches of horror.
My review of I Shall Wear Midnight:
There is a power heading for Tiffany Aching which does not like witches and works by turning others against them till the burning starts.
Good fun with laughter and touches of horror.
32Tess_W
Waiting to see your review of The Classics Magpie.
33Robertgreaves
>32 Tess_W: Once I get hooked on one of his subseries, I like to keep going if I can.
34connie53
>34 connie53: Understandable.
35Robertgreaves
Starting my No. 138, Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar. This is my sixty-first ROOT of 2017 and brings the TBR pile down to 58.
My review of The Classics Magpie:
A miscellany of facts and anecdotes about the ancient Mediterranean world.
It could have been an interesting and fun read but was shoddily produced with lots of typos, errors of fact, and sentences which made no sense at all.
My review of The Classics Magpie:
A miscellany of facts and anecdotes about the ancient Mediterranean world.
It could have been an interesting and fun read but was shoddily produced with lots of typos, errors of fact, and sentences which made no sense at all.
36billiejean
Just catching up. Loved the review of Oryx and Crake.
37avanders
Oh Happy new thread! So very belated :)
I couldn't possibly catch up on the threads here (explanation on my own thread), though I wish I could!
I hear that you feel like you have a little more time again at some point after having a kid... here's to hoping ;)
(and nice seeing you around Litsy :))
I couldn't possibly catch up on the threads here (explanation on my own thread), though I wish I could!
I hear that you feel like you have a little more time again at some point after having a kid... here's to hoping ;)
(and nice seeing you around Litsy :))
38Robertgreaves
>38 Robertgreaves: I expect I'll still be here somewhere when you have time to come back. :-) And Litsy is fun, isn't it?
Starting my No. 139, Imperium by Robert Harris, which is my sixty-second ROOT for 2017. The third in the trilogy is my online bookclub's book for September, but I'm reading this, the first in the trilogy, again now because it's more than 10 years since I last read it and I need to refresh my memory.
My review of Memoirs of Hadrian:
Hadrian's memoirs in the form of a long letter to his adoptive grandson, the future emperor Marcus Aurelius.
The cool, sedate prose is just the right vehicle for these reflections of what a wise man has learnt from his life. I don't know whether the real Hadrian would recognise himself in this detached view but he might recognise it as an aspiration, and an aspiration that we seem to be discarding, more's the pity. It's slightly disconcerting to realise that when the book opens Hadrian is only a year older than I am but I have not attained anything like his wisdom.
I first read this book as a teenager, and it's one of those books that has forever after coloured my perception of a historical character whatever other factual or fictional account of the character I've read.
Starting my No. 139, Imperium by Robert Harris, which is my sixty-second ROOT for 2017. The third in the trilogy is my online bookclub's book for September, but I'm reading this, the first in the trilogy, again now because it's more than 10 years since I last read it and I need to refresh my memory.
My review of Memoirs of Hadrian:
Hadrian's memoirs in the form of a long letter to his adoptive grandson, the future emperor Marcus Aurelius.
The cool, sedate prose is just the right vehicle for these reflections of what a wise man has learnt from his life. I don't know whether the real Hadrian would recognise himself in this detached view but he might recognise it as an aspiration, and an aspiration that we seem to be discarding, more's the pity. It's slightly disconcerting to realise that when the book opens Hadrian is only a year older than I am but I have not attained anything like his wisdom.
I first read this book as a teenager, and it's one of those books that has forever after coloured my perception of a historical character whatever other factual or fictional account of the character I've read.
39LauraBrook
My gosh, I don't know how I missed this new thread! Wow, you are chugging right along this year - congratulations! I've wanted to read Robert Harris for quite a few years, but don't know if there's a good place to start his work or not. Any recommendations? Normally I start with the authors first published work, but with over a dozen books, I'm not sure if that's a good idea or not since it's a lot to get through.
40Robertgreaves
>40 Robertgreaves: I've only read his Roman ones, Pompeii and the first two of his Cicero trilogy. They were bookclub choices rather than books I've chosen myself, so I'm probably not the best person to ask as I see from my reviews that I wasn't particularly enthused about any of them.
41rabbitprincess
>40 Robertgreaves: I'd probably recommend Pompeii, myself, but I have an affection for Roman books. Enigma was OK when it wasn't focusing on the love story, and I liked the idea of An Officer and a Spy, but I found it a slog. Most of his books are on my TBR list for whatever reason, and he writes about a variety of subjects, so you're bound to find something that meshes with your interests.
42Robertgreaves
Starting "Lustrum" (no touchstones today), the second in the series as my No. 140 and my sixty-third ROOT for 2017.
43Robertgreaves
My shortlist of books to read in September:
Dictator and A Man Called Ove are bookclub choices and so I will definitely be reading them. The others are possibilities for the various category challenges.
Dictator and A Man Called Ove are bookclub choices and so I will definitely be reading them. The others are possibilities for the various category challenges.
44rabbitprincess
I remember really liking Victorian London when I read it several years ago. I hope you like it too!
I'm enjoying Imperium, although I want to follow it up with a non-fiction book about Cicero and Rome of that time period to check how accurate everything is!
I'm enjoying Imperium, although I want to follow it up with a non-fiction book about Cicero and Rome of that time period to check how accurate everything is!
45Robertgreaves
>45 Robertgreaves: You could try Cicero: The Life and Times by Anthony Everitt. It's more times than life, but it covers the ground.
46Robertgreaves
Starting the third in the trilogy, Dictator. This is my No. 141, but is a new-ish ebook and so does not count as a ROOT.
47Robertgreaves
Started today, A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. This is my No. 142 but a relatively recent purchase, so does not count as a ROOT. I'm reading it now for my bookclub.
My review of Dictator:
The last in the trilogy takes us from Cicero's exile to his death.
Dull. I had to finish it for my online bookclub otherwise I would have abandoned it. It reads like a regurgitated school textbook and didn't add to my understanding of the life and times.
My review of Dictator:
The last in the trilogy takes us from Cicero's exile to his death.
Dull. I had to finish it for my online bookclub otherwise I would have abandoned it. It reads like a regurgitated school textbook and didn't add to my understanding of the life and times.
48Robertgreaves
Starting my No. 143, A Secret Edge by Robin Reardon. This is my sixty-fourth ROOT for 2017. I'm reading it now for the CATWoman YA category.
My review of A Man Called Ove:
Ove is a 59-year-old widower who has been forced into early retirement. His life takes some unexpected turns when new neighbours move in.
Loved it. It's one of the few books I've read where I saw the film first and they were both excellent. It has some of the funniest suicide scenes since "Harold and Maude" and yet without playing on our sympathies in a sentimental way was also heartbreaking. 5 stars are not enough.
My review of A Man Called Ove:
Ove is a 59-year-old widower who has been forced into early retirement. His life takes some unexpected turns when new neighbours move in.
Loved it. It's one of the few books I've read where I saw the film first and they were both excellent. It has some of the funniest suicide scenes since "Harold and Maude" and yet without playing on our sympathies in a sentimental way was also heartbreaking. 5 stars are not enough.
49clue
>49 clue: I'm generally a lurker and saw earlier that you were reading A Man Called Ove. I was interested in what you would think about it and I'm so glad you liked it, I wasn't sure you would. I haven't seen the movie but I will.
50Robertgreaves
>50 Robertgreaves: Interesting. Why did you think I might not like it?
51Robertgreaves
Starting my No. 144, Victorian London by Liza Picard. This is my sixty-fifth ROOT for 2017 and brings the TBR pile down to 56. I am reading it now for the AlphKIT and RandomCAT.
My review of A Secret Edge:
Jason Peele is a high school student, good at English and a champion runner for relay and dash events. He is also gay.
I don't know why, but I had a feeling of dread most of the time I was reading this YA novel. It confirmed my belief (derived entirely from films and books) that American high schools are violent hell-holes. And yet, it has a broadly positive message without ignoring the realities of life. Although it does repeat the mythical origin story for the American slur 'faggot'. From what I understand human beings are, to put it bluntly, not combustible enough to make good fuel and anyway witches were generally hanged, not burnt - that was reserved for heretics. But anyway, a good read.
My review of A Secret Edge:
Jason Peele is a high school student, good at English and a champion runner for relay and dash events. He is also gay.
I don't know why, but I had a feeling of dread most of the time I was reading this YA novel. It confirmed my belief (derived entirely from films and books) that American high schools are violent hell-holes. And yet, it has a broadly positive message without ignoring the realities of life. Although it does repeat the mythical origin story for the American slur 'faggot'. From what I understand human beings are, to put it bluntly, not combustible enough to make good fuel and anyway witches were generally hanged, not burnt - that was reserved for heretics. But anyway, a good read.
52clue
>51 Robertgreaves: I just thought you might find it too sentimental. Maybe a bit twee. I have recommended it quite a lot and I often get that response. In my case, I'm almost afraid to read another of his books because I think I'll be disappointed.
53Robertgreaves
>53 Robertgreaves: I've got his second book sitting on my virtual TBR shelf but I don't know when I'll get round to it.
54connie53
Hi Robert, catching up on threads again. You hit me with a BB with 'a man called Ove'. So I'm going to search for it.
55Robertgreaves
Starting my No. 145, Dictionary of the Khazars by Milorad Pavić. This is my sixty-sixth ROOT for 2017 and brings the TBR pile down to 55. I'm reading it now for the AlphaKIT.
My review of Victorian London:
Liza Picard uses diaries gov,ernment statistics, and other non-fictional contemporary sources to look at different topics such as Food, Clothes, Health, Religion as they were experienced by different social classes in London in the first half of Victoria's reign.
Absolutely fascinating with lots of interesting titbits that show just how different life was then in all sorts of ways we might not realise now.
My review of Victorian London:
Liza Picard uses diaries gov,ernment statistics, and other non-fictional contemporary sources to look at different topics such as Food, Clothes, Health, Religion as they were experienced by different social classes in London in the first half of Victoria's reign.
Absolutely fascinating with lots of interesting titbits that show just how different life was then in all sorts of ways we might not realise now.
56Robertgreaves
Starting my No. 146, Something to Answer For by P. H. Newby. This is my sixty-seventh ROOT for 2017. I'm reading it now for the AwardsCAT as the first Booker winner.
My review of Dictionary of the Khazars:
In the 8th century, the Khan of the Khazars had a dream and invited a Muslim, a Christian, and a Jewish scholar to interpret it and debate each other, promising that he and his people would convert to the religion of the scholar who gave the best performance. This novel takes the form of three dictionaries, one for each of the three religions, which give accounts of the Khazars, the disputation, the scholars, and people involved with the first, 17th century, edition of the dictionaries.
The first time I read this, I quite enjoyed it as a puzzle looking at the way individuals and events were seen through different lenses and echoed down the years, but this time I just found it tiresome. I don't know whether it's just that I'm getting older or the internet is decreasing my attention span or because the book doesn't have the same impact without the accompanying hype.
My review of Dictionary of the Khazars:
In the 8th century, the Khan of the Khazars had a dream and invited a Muslim, a Christian, and a Jewish scholar to interpret it and debate each other, promising that he and his people would convert to the religion of the scholar who gave the best performance. This novel takes the form of three dictionaries, one for each of the three religions, which give accounts of the Khazars, the disputation, the scholars, and people involved with the first, 17th century, edition of the dictionaries.
The first time I read this, I quite enjoyed it as a puzzle looking at the way individuals and events were seen through different lenses and echoed down the years, but this time I just found it tiresome. I don't know whether it's just that I'm getting older or the internet is decreasing my attention span or because the book doesn't have the same impact without the accompanying hype.
57Tess_W
>57 Tess_W: I've been asking myself the same thing, am I tiring of reading because I'm spending more time on the internet doing other things or I'm aging (we don't say getting old lol!)
58Robertgreaves
Starting my No. 147, Marx: A Very Short Introduction by Peter Singer. It is my sixty-eighth ROOT and brings the TBR pile down to 54. I'm reading it now for the AlphaKIT.
My review of Something To Answer For:
Jack Townrow answers a plea for help from an Englishwoman living in Port Said he is acquainted with who believes her Lebanese husband was murdered. His first night in Port Said he gets drunk, is knocked unconscious and left for dead in the desert. The resulting injuries and concussion give him memory problems as he tries to piece together what happened to the deceased and to himself.
I found this book annoying because I kept misreading Townrow (as the author continually referred to the character) as tomorrow and having to backtrack. I don't like inconclusive endings.
My review of Something To Answer For:
Jack Townrow answers a plea for help from an Englishwoman living in Port Said he is acquainted with who believes her Lebanese husband was murdered. His first night in Port Said he gets drunk, is knocked unconscious and left for dead in the desert. The resulting injuries and concussion give him memory problems as he tries to piece together what happened to the deceased and to himself.
I found this book annoying because I kept misreading Townrow (as the author continually referred to the character) as tomorrow and having to backtrack. I don't like inconclusive endings.
59Robertgreaves
Starting my No. 148, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. This is my sixty-ninth ROOT. I'm reading it now for CATWoman and because it's getting a lot of attention over on Litsy at the moment.
My review of Marx: A Very Short Introduction:
What it says on the tin.
We start with an overview of the life and then an introduction to the thought as it developed with a very clear exposition. One of the few Very Short Introductions where I came in knowing next to nothing and felt I understood something at the end.
My review of Marx: A Very Short Introduction:
What it says on the tin.
We start with an overview of the life and then an introduction to the thought as it developed with a very clear exposition. One of the few Very Short Introductions where I came in knowing next to nothing and felt I understood something at the end.
60Jackie_K
Interested to see your response to A Wrinkle in Time, Robert. I've had L'Engle recommended to me many times over the years, but never managed to get to her yet. I have though recently got the first couple of volumes of her memoirs(ish - I think) (thanks to kobo cheap recommendations!), so I'm curious as to what I'll think when I get to them.
61Robertgreaves
My No. 150 is The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson. This is my seventy-first ROOT for 2017. I'm reading it now because somebody at work is on a Bill Bryson kick at the moment.
My No. 149 was Caesar's Grief: Vale Julia by Alex Johnston. This was an ebook freebie I got long enough ago to count as my seventieth ROOT. It was worth about what I paid for it, and fortunately was a novella, so I didn't waste much time on it.
My review of A Wrinkle in Time:
Meg is a bit of a misfit at school. Her father disappeared a couple of years ago. She has a genius 5-year-old brother, Charles Wallace, who may or may not be the next step in human evolution. Three mysterious old ladies, Mrs. Who, Mrs, Which, and Mrs. Whatsit, offer her, Charles Wallace, and Calvin, an athletic, popular boy from school with a miserable home life, an opportunity to find and rescue her father.
Still wonderful after all these years. Ideas like tessering and Aunt Beast still strike resonances. And of course we have good v. evil on an epic scale -- and the evil is so much more chilling than Rowling's replay of the Holocaust.
My No. 149 was Caesar's Grief: Vale Julia by Alex Johnston. This was an ebook freebie I got long enough ago to count as my seventieth ROOT. It was worth about what I paid for it, and fortunately was a novella, so I didn't waste much time on it.
My review of A Wrinkle in Time:
Meg is a bit of a misfit at school. Her father disappeared a couple of years ago. She has a genius 5-year-old brother, Charles Wallace, who may or may not be the next step in human evolution. Three mysterious old ladies, Mrs. Who, Mrs, Which, and Mrs. Whatsit, offer her, Charles Wallace, and Calvin, an athletic, popular boy from school with a miserable home life, an opportunity to find and rescue her father.
Still wonderful after all these years. Ideas like tessering and Aunt Beast still strike resonances. And of course we have good v. evil on an epic scale -- and the evil is so much more chilling than Rowling's replay of the Holocaust.
62floremolla
I'd never come across A Wrinkle in Time till LT and it often pops up - you've convinced me to give it a go. Sounds like it will also make a timely gift for my nieces who are just getting into HP.
63Robertgreaves
Although my birthday isn't till Friday, I had my party last night so as not to clash with a friend whose birthday is the day after mine. We're both changing decades this year, so we thought we deserve separate events.
Two books among the goodies and one comment, "I wanted to get you a book, but you've read everything."
Welcome to my TBR shelves:
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande and
Night Shift by Charlaine Harris
Two books among the goodies and one comment, "I wanted to get you a book, but you've read everything."
Welcome to my TBR shelves:
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande and
Night Shift by Charlaine Harris
65rabbitprincess
>64 Tess_W: Happy early birthday! And my parents have made similar comments about the perils of buying me books. This is why I make them a list of books that are on my TBR and that I wouldn't mind owning.
66connie53
Happy Birthday, Robert! Changing decades! Wow. I guess you are now in my decade? That's what I deduct from the name of your thread ;-))
67floremolla
Happy Birthday when it comes, Robert!
68MissWatson
Happy birthday, Robert!
69Jackie_K
Happy upcoming birthday from me too, Robert! I'm trying not to think about my forthcoming significant one (just under 2 years to go), but might have to go on a spending spree nearer the time to make myself feel better about it.
70Robertgreaves
Starting my No. 151, The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch. This is my seventy-second ROOT for 2017, so I have reached my goal. Yaaaaaay.
My review of The Lost Continent:
Bill Bryson goes on a road trip round the US from his native Iowa, first going anti-clockwise for the eastern half and then clockwise for the western half.
It was entertaining but not as good as "Notes From a Small Island". I'm not sure whether that was because this was his first book and he hadn't quite found his voice yet or whether because I'm much less familiar with what he's describing or maybe (ducking) small town America is just less interesting than Britain.
My review of The Lost Continent:
Bill Bryson goes on a road trip round the US from his native Iowa, first going anti-clockwise for the eastern half and then clockwise for the western half.
It was entertaining but not as good as "Notes From a Small Island". I'm not sure whether that was because this was his first book and he hadn't quite found his voice yet or whether because I'm much less familiar with what he's describing or maybe (ducking) small town America is just less interesting than Britain.
71floremolla
Good work, Robert! Are you soldiering on or resting on your laurels?
72Robertgreaves
I'm going to continue contributing my ROOTs to the total. Lots of books become eligible as ROOTs on my birthday.
73floremolla
Oh, yes, that works out rather well!
77billiejean
Congratulations on reaching your goal and happy birthday!!
78MissWatson
Happy birthday, Robert. I hope it means you get a stack of lovely new books! And congratulations on reaching your goal!
80Robertgreaves
Thank you all for the good wishes and congratulations.
As I usually do, I'm starting a new thread on my birthday.
As I usually do, I'm starting a new thread on my birthday.
