Wgat are you reading the week of February 2, 2019?

I finally have an assistant who is sharp, and hard working. I'm actually starting to catch up on all of my work. Which means I can start to spend more time reading. I paused my reading of Gilgamesh: A Reader to tackle An Introduction to Ancient Mesopotamian Religion. I also recieved my copy of The Harps That Once...: Sumerian Poetry in Translation by Thorkild Jacobson.

Happy new week, all, and kudos to you on your new savior-of-sanity Fred.

Greetings, all! I am only about 50 pages from finishing the 786-page The Life of Andrew Jackson by Marquis James. I've found the picture of this very interesting figure and his extremely interesting times good to read, all in all, though there are some pretty heavy and unpleasant "well, that's what they still thought then" (the book was published in 1938) factors, as well. I'll have more to say when I finish, maybe even tomorrow!

Hi all! I am currently reading Becoming by Michelle Obama and what a wonderful, intelligent way of writing she has!!

Finishing this OverDrive audiobook ~

Rock with Wings by Anne Hillerman

(Leaphorn & Chee series/present-day Navajo Nation/gravesite/family issues/movie shoot)

Currently reading The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay and I am Malala by Malala Youszafai. I hadn't intentionally set out to read two books set in close geographical proximity, but it's been interesting reading them both together because one informs the other in surprising ways.

Just finished reading the darkly profound The Temple of The Golden Pavilion by Yukio Mishima.

Next up to read is an Early Reviewer selection (I have 4 to catch up on!), The Fearless Benjamin Lay: The Quaker Dwarf Who Became The First Revolutionary Abolitionist by Marcus Rediker.

I'm reading Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett for my book club. I kind of wasn't into the beginning, but now I'm a little over 100 pages in and starting to enjoy the humor.

I’m enjoying another Dick Francis mystery, To the Hilt.

>4 NetraH: So good!

I am so very happy to be able to breathe and not hack a lung out that I could spit. It's a great deal warmer today than yesterday, which was warmer and less windy than the vortex days. It will be 40°/4C tomorrow!! Break out the swimmys, time to beach it.

Not really, but "Break out the rolly-cart, time to have a grocery run" is so much less colorful and interesting an image, no?

I'm busily tarting up a grateful warble for The Reluctant Widow's ability to engage my fragile attention span without challenging my (temporarily, one hopes) diminished powers. I'm almost at "I rilly likeded it" level, so "I found it a typical high-Heyer dish of froth" is positively Shakespearean by comparison.

Still reading The Neutronium Alchemist, The Book of Swords, and The Fourth Monkey.

Milk!: A 10,000-Year Food Fracas
Mark Kurlansky
4/5 stars
Kurlansky noted for his non-fiction writing doesn’t disappoint in this book on the history and science of milk. Never boring, he makes the topic of milk extremely interesting from its very beginnings up until today. The studies they did on homogenized milk before allowing the public to drink it were interesting and I learned that the yogurt I thought I was eating is actually a cheese product. There are recipes scattered throughout the book and the older ones are quite shocking, making me feel happy I was not born several centuries ago. Highly recommended!

I finished Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters. Some parts of this book were very enlightening, thought provoking, and awe inspiring. Other times when writing about something I knew about, the treatment was simplistic. The author also displays some prejudice on topics of nurture and psychotherapy.

>10 richardderus: It's been horribly cold here as well. -32 celsius/-25 fahrenheit. It's now zero degrees and feels practically like spring in comparison.

I've been reading Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey, and Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari. Both are excellent. Peter Carey tells stories slowly and beautifully with exquisite detail. Sapiens is so lovely and cerebral, and when Harari worries that he's not explaining things well, he uses pop culture references which clear up any uncertainty. I've had so many things to think about after reading some of what Harari posits.

>8 PaperbackPirate: Have you met t the Four Horsemen! War and Famine are esp hilarious!

Becoming Michelle Obama
Im not big into memoirs, but her writing keeps me reading. So intelligent, so engaging....hard to put down, even tho I pretty much know the story

Finished The Fourth Monkey by J. D. Barker. Just a bit creepier than I like.

Next up is Shōgun by James Clavell.

8PaperbackPirate: It took me a while to get into Good Omens as well. Ended up enjoying it though.

9Copperskye:Didn't read To the Hilt till recently. The wonderful descriptions of the mountain terrain particularly stand out in my memory.

May have mentioned being terribly restless lately. After reading further in Great Short Works of Joseph Conrad, I switched to Our Angry Earth by Isaac Asimov and Frederick Poll, which I'm about halfway through. Then flitted to Forgiveness Is a Choice by Robert B. Enright and, though it's promising, switched again to The Golden Crucible by Jean Stubbs, which I started and set aside ages ago, but is currently holding my attention pretty well, knock on wood!

Just finished reading the interesting, if too repetitive, story The Fearless Benjamin Lay: The Quaker Dwarf Who Became The First Revolutionary Abolitionist.

Next up to read is another Early Reviewer selection, Paris Echo by Sebastian Faulks.

I have just finished a wonderful book The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry it was shortlisted for 2008 Man Booker. Great writing from Barry with some wonderful twists at the end, and so very very Irish. I have two more of his on my TBR list, looking forward to more of his writing.

I finally finished The Life of Andrew Jackson by Marquis James. This detailed biography, actually two books republished together as one volume in 1937, won a Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1938. It is very detailed (786 pages worth), well written and quite fascinating for anyone with an interest in American History. However, it is a product of its time in that James white-washes almost entirely Jackson's duplicitous and in many cases murderous actions towards Native Americans, both as a military leader and as president (the Trail of Tears, for example, is not mentioned other than as what is implied to be a benign forced movement of Indians from Georgia and Florida to west of the Mississippi) and James actually comes up with a short but jaw-dropping defense of slavery. So in the reading I learned about Jackson's life and times, and also was reminded about what attitudes would still have been in 1938. You'll find my more in-depth review on the book's work page and on my own 50-Book Challenge thread.

I've started Milkman by Anna Burns. Over the first the first 17 pages, or so, I seems like it's going to be an excellent though somewhat grim reading experience. I'm reading this book because my wife found it to be very good, indeed. We recently decided upon a new practice between us: once a year we each get to recommend a book to the other based on our own reading experience. This is as opposed to giving each other books as gifts. I've chosen her Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada for her to read.

Cheers, all!

Finished listening to Ghost Wall which was somewhat reminiscent of "The Lord of The Flies". Intense, interesting, and well written.

Next up for listening is Circe by Madeline Miller.

Finished The Golden Crucible in the watches of the night.

Enjoying this OverDrive audiobook ~

Curious Minds: A Knight and Moon Novel by Janet Evanovich

(book #1 in this new series/tongue-in-cheek humor/romance/suspense)

I’m well into the WWII era historical novel, the lost girls of Paris, and finding it quite compelling.

Started Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman and enjoying it so far.

How much I loved The African Queen, and its stars, and its astounding ability to convince my air-conditioned Texan body that I was in fact in World War I Equatorial Africa sweating and...

...TMI, sorry, I was reading The Making of The African Queen by Katharine Hepburn and decided to write a review of it.

Just finishing up Coffin Following by Gwendoline Butler tonight. Haven't picked out the next one yet. Took a pause on non-fiction (except for some cookbooks) for a bit, but will probably be delving back into those this week as well.

I guess I'm into reading 'memoirs' lately. I finished, and enjoyed My Turn. the Memoirs of Nancy Reagan. I've just been given a book by a local author -- I actually worked with her husband way back in my mid 20's (a few years ago!). It's called Shifting Currents by Paula Dunning. I'm impressed when anyone has a life interesting enough to write a memoir about. I guess, I'm interested in my life, but not really sure that anyone else would be!

I finished Patrick O'Brian's Joseph Banks: A Life - the author did a wonderful job of bringing the world of Banks and The Royal Society and George III to life.

Next up: Pat Barker's The Silence of the Girls

( excuse this curmudgeon old dinosaur but could someone please fix the thread title? Many thanks :)

27richardderus: That's okay, Richard. The African Queen is one of my favorite movies too. It's also one of the few cases I know of where the movie is better than the book.

31cindydavid4: Ah, thanks. I hesitated to say anything, but it has been driving me crazy too. Thanks for speaking up.

I am well into and so enjoying The Temporary Gentleman by Sebastian Barry the characters follow from the book before that I so enjoyed The Secret Scripture. So pleased that I have been able to read both.

Finished Neverwhere, an enjoyable read.

>35 Catreona: Neverwhere is one of my favourite books. Glad you enjoyed it.

I finished Oscar and Lucinda late last night. I really enjoyed it until I was about 95% through, at which point Carey's precision seemed to leave him, and I had to re-read several sections to figure out what was going on. My liking for Carey is undiminished, and I'll be reading more. Have already read His Illegal Self and The True History of the Kelly Gang.

I think I'm going to read The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens next. It's big and rather scary, but the back cover practically promises melodrama and deeply sad deaths, and a happy resolution, so how can I resist?

I’m also a big fan of neverwhere

And l love stardust and the graveyard book by Gaiman

>36 ahef1963:

I am sure you would enjoy Jack Maggs by Peter Carey I think it is one of his best.

Starting this library audiobook ~

If I Live by Terri Blackstock

(last in the 'If I Run' trilogy/Casey continues to hide/Dylan is looking for the true killers/Christian suspense)

>38 aussieh: I will put Jack Maggs on my reading list. Thank you for your recommendation!

Decided not to read Dickens. It's dark and freezing rain here, and I thought something a little less bleak might be a good idea. So I'm going to read Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts and see how that goes.

I finished To the Hilt and really liked it.

Now I’m reading Rennie Airth’s The Reckoning. I love this series!

>36ahef1963: Don't be scared of The Old Curiosity Shop. It's one of Dickens' lighter books and, yes, chock-a-block full of action and melodrama. Dick Swiveller is one of my favorite Dickens characters.

>>37nrmay: So far, I prefer Gaiman's children's and YA books to his adult ones. That is assuming Neverwhere is considered a YA novel. I also like those of his short stories I've read. He reminds me quite a bit of Douglas Adams in his humor, though perhaps rather gentler.

Er, how do I make the post number and name of the person I'm replying to clicky?

>44 Catreona: Use ONE left carat, no space, the number of the post, a space, and your response. The system fills in the link and the OP's handle.

Forgot to say: Found The Dreams Our Stuff Is Made Of by Tomas M. Dish in my CR list but, mysteriously, it was not on my iPad. So, I re-downloaded it from BARD, but am not sure how far I'll get. There's something about Dish's tone that turns me off. But, I'll persist for a while, being an avid if not very well read SF fan.

Little Big Lies
by Liane Moriarty
4/5 stars
A young, single woman with a child comes to a new town to rebuild her life but things go awry from day one. Her child is accused of hurting a girl in class and the school becomes divided with those on her side and those against her. Did he do it? It was compelling till the very end. I had seen the mini-series previous to reading this and thought that they did a great job in staying within the story line of this book.

Now reading the dreamers by Karen Walker. Very intriguing.
I mean to go back and find her first one, age of miracles.

>40 ahef1963:

Again from me a mention on Jack Maggs by Peter Carey it is full of dickensian characters.

Finishing The Selection by Kiera Cass, the 1st novel in the best-selling teen "The Selection" series.
I borrowed the complete series and the Happily Ever After: Companion to the Selection Series novella collection from the library.

Finished The Book of Swords by Gardner Dozois. Overall, I enjoyed it.

Next into my reading rotation is A Killer's Mind by Mike Omer.

Sorry I've been MIA these past few weeks. A dear friend's husband became critically ill and passed away unexpectedly and I was sitting vigil with her.

Anyway ... gonna try to catch up.

Other Voices, Other Rooms – Truman Capote
3.5***

Capote’s debut novel is a semiautobiographical coming-of-age story. After the death of his mother, thirteen-year-old Joel Knox leaves New Orleans to travel to rural Alabama, and the home of the father who abandoned him at birth. Skully’s Landing is his stepmother Amy’s dilapidated mansion, set far in the woods, and without electricity or indoor plumbing. Among the residents of the estate are a centenarian Negro, Jesus Fever, his granddaughter Missouri (known as Zoo), who keeps house for the family, and the mysterious cousin Randolph. The person who is obviously missing is Joel’s father. Nearby live two sisters, Florabel and Idabel, the latter a tomboy who provides a glimmer of love and approval to the lonely Joel.

This is a classic Southern Gothic novel, full of ghosts, haints, superstitions, secrets and closed off rooms. There are real dangers aplenty as well: poisonous snakes, quicksand, and people with guns. Joel is isolated not only by the remote location, but by the lack of connection with these people. He is confused and cautious, and his loneliness and despair are palpable.

Capote’s writing is wonderfully atmospheric. Here is what Joel sees on his journey to his new home:
Two roads pass over the hinterlands into Noon City; one from the north, another from the south; the latter, known as the Paradise Chapel Highway, is the better of the pair, though both are much the same: desolate miles of swamp and field and forest stretch along either route unbroken except for scattered signs advertising Red Dot 5c Cigars, Dr. Pepper, NEHI, Grove’s Chill Tonic, and 666. Wooden bridges spanning brackish creeks named for long-gone Indian tribes rumble like far-off thunder under a passing wheel; herds of hogs and cows roam the roads at will; now and then a farm-family pauses from work to wave as an auto whizzes by, and watch sadly till it disappears in red dust.

Like Joel, I felt somewhat lost in unfamiliar surroundings. Was Capote trying too hard to be atmospheric? Was he forced by the standards of the day to be so circumspect regarding his message of awakening homosexuality? It makes Cousin Randolph’s statement all the more poignant: ”The brain may take advice, but not the heart, and love, having no geography, knows no boundaries; ... any love is natural and beautiful that lies within a person's nature; only hypocrites would hold a man responsible for what he loves, emotional illiterates and those of righteous envy, who, in their agitated concern, mistake so frequently the arrow pointing to heaven for the one that leads to hell.”

Carnegie’s Maid – Marie Benedict
Book on CD narrated by Alana Kerr Collins
3***

Irish immigrant Clara Kelly comes to America in hopes of finding employment so that she can send money home to her impoverished family. She winds up as a lady’s maid to Mrs Carnegie, Andrew Carnegie’s mother, in the family’s Pittsburgh mansion. Mrs Carnegie has a reputation for being an exacting mistress, and for showing dissatisfaction by firing her previous lady’s maids nearly on a whim. Clara has to use her wits and education to keep this job in order to save her family from starvation, while trying her best to learn all she can so that she can better herself.

I was intrigued by the story and quickly caught up in the tale of this intelligent, resourceful, determined and diligent young lady. I saw the potential relationship with Andrew Carnegie coming a mile off; no surprise, really as it’s pretty much revealed in the prologue. But watching it unfold was still interesting to me, as was the resolution. The Author’s Note at the end was very interesting as well, giving some clue as to the facts that sparked the idea behind the novel.

On the other hand, I did think it was rather repetitious. How many times must Clara comment on her duty to her family? On her need to “keep this job”? On the lack of support / companionship / friendship between herself and the other house staff?

Alana Kerr Collins does a fine job narrating the audiobook. She sets a good pace and I had no difficulty keeping the many characters straight.

The Hamilton Affair – Elizabeth Cobbs
4****

If you don’t already know about Alexander Hamilton’s role as a founding father, then not only did you not pay attention in history class, but you’ve been living under a rock these past few years as the musical H✰milton has swept the Tony awards.

Cobbs is an historian, who also occasionally writes a work of historical fiction. She started researching this novel, got intrigued by the subject, and was told by her publisher that “No one knows about this guy or wants to read about him … Snooze!” But she was convinced that the story was a good one. Several years into the project, a friend told her, “You have to see the You-Tube video of this guy reading a rap poem about Hamilton at the White House!” (It was Lin Manuel Miranda, and this eventually became the hit musical.)

I thought I knew Hamilton’s story, but there were still things in this novel that caught my attention and made me take notice. I was interested and engaged from beginning to end.

Cobbs tells the story in alternating perspectives: Alexander and Eliza each get a turn at relating events. In this way we get some insight into each character’s background, guiding principles, joys, sorrows and desires. I really appreciated how strong a character Cobb’s Eliza is. And while Cobbs’ sympathies were clearly with Hamilton, she did not shy away from pointing out his faults, infidelity being perhaps the least of them.

Our F2F book group had a spirited discussion, made all the more enjoyable by a Skype visit from the author.

All My Sons
Arthur Miller
4/5 stars
Based on a true story, this Miller play relates the tale of a manufacturer of plane parts who knowingly sent defective plane parts to be used in the WWII which resulted in pilots dying, his partner being sent to jail and the effects of that action on his family. Well-written and compelling!

>52 BookConcierge: I'm very sad to learn of your loss. I hope your friend is able to grieve without falling into despair.

I read another comic book. I'm very pleased with myself, since I am fundamentally not a comic-book kind of a guy. This one was Tom's Midnight Garden as illustrated by the French artist Edith. It was...okay.

>15 cindydavid4: Not yet, but I think it's coming up soon...

>18 Catreona: Yes, that's probably going to be my experience as well. All of the groundwork has been laid and now I'm enjoying the story.

>45 richardderus: Thanks, Richard.

>57 richardderus: I read the original children's book Tom's Midnight Garden a few years ago and enjoyed it. Can't imagine it as a comic book. (Er, aren't we supposed to call them graphic novels now?)

>58 PaperbackPirate: Glad you're enjoying it now.

Finished The Dreams Our Stuff is Made Of by Thomas M. Disch and was not impressed.

However, I forgot to say that before beginning that, I finished Our Angry Earth which is a superb read. It's distressing how little has changed for the better since the book was published in 1992, yet it remains not only relevant but compelling.

This evening I finished The Girl Who Heard Dragons, a short story collection by Anne McCaffrey, a fine read as always. Haven't decided what to read next.

The new thread is up over here.

2> It's been a long week, but I keep trying to remind myself that "annoying does not equal wrong." We hired a new receptionist who is very OCD. She's nearly driven me nuts this week. (The clock on her computer was off by three minutes. Her keyboard was too filthy to use.) However, I keep reminding myself that she is actually very capable and has a lot of promise. I feel a strangely overwhelming urge to protect her from the inevitable consequences of her behavior. She exasperates everyone. She's been let go from a variety of jobs over the past several years, but I see potential there. Am I nuts? I hate being a middle ages single man. It makes me question my own judgement.

Fred give her time and maybe give her some guidance with certain things that are overly annoying. Hopefully she will listen and change some behavior. Good luck!!