Paul's Grand European Tour 18
This is a continuation of the topic Paul's Grand European Tour 17.
This topic was continued by Paul's Grand European Tour 19 .
Talk 75 Books Challenge for 2025
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2PaulCranswick
The Opening Words
I am reading When We Flew Away by Alice Hoffman for the American Author Challenge this month. It imagines the life of Anne Frank immediately before she goes into hiding.
"They were walking home through the River Quarter in Amsterdam on the day before everything changed. The sisters were three years apart, and at fourteen and nearly eleven they were opposites in practically every way. Margot, the older girl, was beautiful, although she didn't seem to know it. The younger girl, Anne, had always been envious of her sister, for Anne might be considered ordinary, if you didn't know her."
Interested..................................?
I am reading When We Flew Away by Alice Hoffman for the American Author Challenge this month. It imagines the life of Anne Frank immediately before she goes into hiding.
"They were walking home through the River Quarter in Amsterdam on the day before everything changed. The sisters were three years apart, and at fourteen and nearly eleven they were opposites in practically every way. Margot, the older girl, was beautiful, although she didn't seem to know it. The younger girl, Anne, had always been envious of her sister, for Anne might be considered ordinary, if you didn't know her."
Interested..................................?
3PaulCranswick
Poetry
I think some poetry extolling peace is in order. This is by Philip Britts a pacifist poet from Devon who died at 31 years old in South America in 1949. Considered by many as the British forerunner of Wendell Berry.
This is "Down the Years a Murmur Runneth"
Down the years a murmur runneth,
Bleeding hearts that wince in pain,
While the boasting politicians
Vaunt the claims of man in vain.
Building cities, stone on stubble,
Seeking safety in their might,
Till they grind the men to rubble
With their bombers of the night.
Through the earth there runs a challenge
Clearer than the trumpet call:
“Oh, forsake your ancient folly,
Build the Brotherhood of all.
“Seek the city that God buildeth,
City of the heart and hand,
Not beyond the grave of shadow,
Here on earth, in your own land.”
I think some poetry extolling peace is in order. This is by Philip Britts a pacifist poet from Devon who died at 31 years old in South America in 1949. Considered by many as the British forerunner of Wendell Berry.
This is "Down the Years a Murmur Runneth"
Down the years a murmur runneth,
Bleeding hearts that wince in pain,
While the boasting politicians
Vaunt the claims of man in vain.
Building cities, stone on stubble,
Seeking safety in their might,
Till they grind the men to rubble
With their bombers of the night.
Through the earth there runs a challenge
Clearer than the trumpet call:
“Oh, forsake your ancient folly,
Build the Brotherhood of all.
“Seek the city that God buildeth,
City of the heart and hand,
Not beyond the grave of shadow,
Here on earth, in your own land.”
4PaulCranswick
BOOKS READ IN 2025 (1-75)
By the way my completed dates are using the British system of DD/MM/YY
1. Colonel Chabert by Honore de Balzac (1832) 101 pages Fiction from before the last decade. (Completed 1/1/25)
2. Forest of Noise by Mosab Abu Toha (2024) 77 pages Poetry/Plays (completed 1/1/25)
3. Now Then by Rick Broadbent (2023) 433 pages Non-Fiction (Completed 2/1/25)
4. The Hunter by Tana French (2024) 467 pages Thriller (Completed 4/1/25)
5. Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood (2023) 293 pp Fiction from the last decade (completed 5/1/25)
6. The Great Fortune by Olivia Manning (1960) 318 pp Fiction before this decade (completed 7/1/25)
7. Stag's Leap by Sharon Olds (2012) 89 pp Poetry/Plays (completed 8/1/25)
8. The Wild Places by Robert Macfarlane (2007) 321 pp Non-Fiction (Completed 12/1/25)
9. The Reborn by Lin Anderson (2010) 424 pp Thriller (Completed 25/1/25)
10. The Cold Millions by Jess Walter (2020) 337 pp Fiction from this Decade (Completed 28/1/25)
11. Lost Empires by J.B. Priestley (1965) 308 pp Fiction before this decade (Completed 28/1/25)
12. After You Were, I Am by Camille Ralphs (2024) 71 pp Poetry/Plays (Completed 28/1/25)
13. The Junior Officers' Reading Club by Patrick Hennessey (2009) 327 pp Non-Fiction (Completed 29/1/25)
14. Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths (2013) 390 pp Thriller (Completed 31/1/25)
15. Fen by Daisy Johnson (2016) 190 pp Fiction from the last decade (Completed 31/1/25)
16. In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin (2009) 237 pp Fiction before this decade (Completed 1/2/25)
17. The Power of Geography by Tim Marshall (2021) 356 pp Non-Fiction (Completed 2/2/25)
18. Macbeth by William Shakespeare (1606) 97 pp Poetry/Plays (Completed 2/2/25)
19. Night Blind by Ragnar Jonasson (2015) 210 pp Thrillers(Completed 4/2/25)
20. Take it Back by Kia Abdullah (2020) 373 pp Fiction from the last decade (Completed 5/2/25)
21. Nagasaki by Eric Faye (2012) 109 pp Fiction before this decade (Completed 6/2/25)
22. The Shepherd's Life by James Rebanks (2015) 287 pp Non-Fiction (Completed 7/2/25)
23. Alphabet by Inger Christensen (1981) 77 pp Poetry/Plays (Completed 8/2/25)
24. Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson (2012) 427 pp Sci-Fi/Fantasy (Completed 9/2/25)
25. The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane (2023) 379 pp Fiction from the last decade (Completed 10/2/25)
26. Silence by Shusaku Endo (1966) 201 pp Fiction before this decade (Completed 15/2/25)
27. In the Land of the Cyclops by Karl Ove Knausgaard (2018) 297 pp Non-Fiction (Completed 16/2/25)
28. God's Gift to Women by Don Paterson (1997) 56 pp Poetry/Plays (Completed 16/2/25)
29. Our Fathers by Rebecca Wait (2020) 334 pp Thriller (Completed 16/2/25)
30. The Other Americans by Laila Lalami (2019) 301 pp Fiction from the last decade (Completed 20/2/25)
31. Dart by Alice Oswald (2002) 48 pp Poetry/Plays (Completed 21/2/25)
32. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (2012) 294 pp Fiction before this decade (Completed 22/2/25)
33. Afternoons with the Blinds Drawn by Brett Anderson (2019) 278 pp Non-Fiction (Completed 23/2/25)
34. Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson (1946) 203 pp (Completed 27/2/25)
35. Othello by William Shakespeare (1602) 145 pp (Completed 28/2/25)
36. Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell (2025) 382 pp (Completed 8/3/25)
37. Selected Poems 1969-2005 by David Harsent (2007) 133 pp (Completed 8/3/25)
38. Zero Days by Ruth Ware (2023) 339 pp (Completed 15/3/25)
39. The Pigeon Tunnel by John le Carre (2016) 342 pp (Completed 16/3/25)
40. The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (2024) 258 pp (Completed 31/3/25)
41. Selected Poems by Zbigniew Herbert (2007) 249 pp (Completed 31/03/25)
42. Picture Her Dead by Lin Anderson (2011) 438 pp (Completed 4/4/25)
43. Poetry for and Other Chronic Conditions by A.K. Davidson (2024) 55 pp (Completed 5/4/25)
44. Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout (2024) 326 pp (Completed 14/4/25)
45. The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk (2008) 728 pp (Completed 19/4/25)
46. The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey (1975) 538 pp (Completed 20/4/25)
47. Richard II by William Shakespeare (1595) 109 pp (Completed 20/4/25)
48. Blaming by Elizabeth Taylor (1976) 168 pp (Completed 7/5/25)
49. The Blue Bird by Maurice Maeterlinck (1908) 287 pp (Completed 9/5/25)
50. Wild Grass by Ian Johnson (2004) 292 pp (Completed 12/5/25)
51. Original Sin by P.D. James (1994) 551 pp (Completed 13/5/25)
52. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (1977) 178 pp (Completed 16/5/25)
53. Swell by Maria Ferguson (2025) 81 pp (Completed 21/5/25)
54. Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq (2022) 212 pp (Completed 31/5/25)
55. October by China Mieville (2017) 329 pp (Completed 31/5/25)
56. All Our Yesterdays by Natalia Ginzburg (1952) 418 pp (Completed 7/6/25)
57. Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (1599) 104 pp (Completed 7/6/25)
58. Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton (2024) 279 pp (Completed 9/6/25)
59. Don't Skip Out On Me by Willy Vlautin (2019) 293 pp (Completed 11/6/25)
60. Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix (2023) 122 pp (Completed 17/6/25)
61. The Forward Book of Poetry 2025 edited by William Sieghart (2024) 121 pp (Completed 20/6/25)
62. The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan (1978) 133pp (Completed 23/6/25)
63. Crooked Seeds by Karen Jennings (2024) 190 pp (Completed 29/6/25)
64. The White Album by Joan Didion (1979) 223 pp (Completed 29/6/25)
65. Crow Lake by Mary Lawson (2002) 338 pp (Completed 4/7/25)
66. The Experience of Pain by Carlo Emilia Gadda (1963) 225pp (Completed 5/7/25)
67. Coriolanus by William Shakespeare (1608) 307 pp (Completed 6/7/25)
68. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (1961) 282 pp (Completed 7/7/25)
69. The Eloquence of the Sardine by Bill Francois (2019) 194 pp (Completed 8/7/25)
70. House of Lords and Commons by Ishion Hutchinson (2017) 68 pp (Completed 9/7/25)
71. Theory & Practice by Michelle de Kretser (2024) 183 pp (Completed 12/7/25)
72. The Seeker by S.G. MacLean (2015) 398 pp (Completed 16/7/25)
73. The Pigeon by Patrick Suskind (1988) 77 pp (Completed 27/7/25)
74. The End of Eddy by Edouard Louis (2014) 192 pp (Completed 30/7/25)
75. The Artist by Lucy Steeds (2025) 294 pp (Completed 31/7/25)
By the way my completed dates are using the British system of DD/MM/YY
1. Colonel Chabert by Honore de Balzac (1832) 101 pages Fiction from before the last decade. (Completed 1/1/25)
2. Forest of Noise by Mosab Abu Toha (2024) 77 pages Poetry/Plays (completed 1/1/25)
3. Now Then by Rick Broadbent (2023) 433 pages Non-Fiction (Completed 2/1/25)
4. The Hunter by Tana French (2024) 467 pages Thriller (Completed 4/1/25)
5. Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood (2023) 293 pp Fiction from the last decade (completed 5/1/25)
6. The Great Fortune by Olivia Manning (1960) 318 pp Fiction before this decade (completed 7/1/25)
7. Stag's Leap by Sharon Olds (2012) 89 pp Poetry/Plays (completed 8/1/25)
8. The Wild Places by Robert Macfarlane (2007) 321 pp Non-Fiction (Completed 12/1/25)
9. The Reborn by Lin Anderson (2010) 424 pp Thriller (Completed 25/1/25)
10. The Cold Millions by Jess Walter (2020) 337 pp Fiction from this Decade (Completed 28/1/25)
11. Lost Empires by J.B. Priestley (1965) 308 pp Fiction before this decade (Completed 28/1/25)
12. After You Were, I Am by Camille Ralphs (2024) 71 pp Poetry/Plays (Completed 28/1/25)
13. The Junior Officers' Reading Club by Patrick Hennessey (2009) 327 pp Non-Fiction (Completed 29/1/25)
14. Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths (2013) 390 pp Thriller (Completed 31/1/25)
15. Fen by Daisy Johnson (2016) 190 pp Fiction from the last decade (Completed 31/1/25)
16. In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin (2009) 237 pp Fiction before this decade (Completed 1/2/25)
17. The Power of Geography by Tim Marshall (2021) 356 pp Non-Fiction (Completed 2/2/25)
18. Macbeth by William Shakespeare (1606) 97 pp Poetry/Plays (Completed 2/2/25)
19. Night Blind by Ragnar Jonasson (2015) 210 pp Thrillers(Completed 4/2/25)
20. Take it Back by Kia Abdullah (2020) 373 pp Fiction from the last decade (Completed 5/2/25)
21. Nagasaki by Eric Faye (2012) 109 pp Fiction before this decade (Completed 6/2/25)
22. The Shepherd's Life by James Rebanks (2015) 287 pp Non-Fiction (Completed 7/2/25)
23. Alphabet by Inger Christensen (1981) 77 pp Poetry/Plays (Completed 8/2/25)
24. Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson (2012) 427 pp Sci-Fi/Fantasy (Completed 9/2/25)
25. The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane (2023) 379 pp Fiction from the last decade (Completed 10/2/25)
26. Silence by Shusaku Endo (1966) 201 pp Fiction before this decade (Completed 15/2/25)
27. In the Land of the Cyclops by Karl Ove Knausgaard (2018) 297 pp Non-Fiction (Completed 16/2/25)
28. God's Gift to Women by Don Paterson (1997) 56 pp Poetry/Plays (Completed 16/2/25)
29. Our Fathers by Rebecca Wait (2020) 334 pp Thriller (Completed 16/2/25)
30. The Other Americans by Laila Lalami (2019) 301 pp Fiction from the last decade (Completed 20/2/25)
31. Dart by Alice Oswald (2002) 48 pp Poetry/Plays (Completed 21/2/25)
32. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (2012) 294 pp Fiction before this decade (Completed 22/2/25)
33. Afternoons with the Blinds Drawn by Brett Anderson (2019) 278 pp Non-Fiction (Completed 23/2/25)
34. Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson (1946) 203 pp (Completed 27/2/25)
35. Othello by William Shakespeare (1602) 145 pp (Completed 28/2/25)
36. Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell (2025) 382 pp (Completed 8/3/25)
37. Selected Poems 1969-2005 by David Harsent (2007) 133 pp (Completed 8/3/25)
38. Zero Days by Ruth Ware (2023) 339 pp (Completed 15/3/25)
39. The Pigeon Tunnel by John le Carre (2016) 342 pp (Completed 16/3/25)
40. The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (2024) 258 pp (Completed 31/3/25)
41. Selected Poems by Zbigniew Herbert (2007) 249 pp (Completed 31/03/25)
42. Picture Her Dead by Lin Anderson (2011) 438 pp (Completed 4/4/25)
43. Poetry for and Other Chronic Conditions by A.K. Davidson (2024) 55 pp (Completed 5/4/25)
44. Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout (2024) 326 pp (Completed 14/4/25)
45. The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk (2008) 728 pp (Completed 19/4/25)
46. The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey (1975) 538 pp (Completed 20/4/25)
47. Richard II by William Shakespeare (1595) 109 pp (Completed 20/4/25)
48. Blaming by Elizabeth Taylor (1976) 168 pp (Completed 7/5/25)
49. The Blue Bird by Maurice Maeterlinck (1908) 287 pp (Completed 9/5/25)
50. Wild Grass by Ian Johnson (2004) 292 pp (Completed 12/5/25)
51. Original Sin by P.D. James (1994) 551 pp (Completed 13/5/25)
52. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (1977) 178 pp (Completed 16/5/25)
53. Swell by Maria Ferguson (2025) 81 pp (Completed 21/5/25)
54. Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq (2022) 212 pp (Completed 31/5/25)
55. October by China Mieville (2017) 329 pp (Completed 31/5/25)
56. All Our Yesterdays by Natalia Ginzburg (1952) 418 pp (Completed 7/6/25)
57. Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (1599) 104 pp (Completed 7/6/25)
58. Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton (2024) 279 pp (Completed 9/6/25)
59. Don't Skip Out On Me by Willy Vlautin (2019) 293 pp (Completed 11/6/25)
60. Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix (2023) 122 pp (Completed 17/6/25)
61. The Forward Book of Poetry 2025 edited by William Sieghart (2024) 121 pp (Completed 20/6/25)
62. The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan (1978) 133pp (Completed 23/6/25)
63. Crooked Seeds by Karen Jennings (2024) 190 pp (Completed 29/6/25)
64. The White Album by Joan Didion (1979) 223 pp (Completed 29/6/25)
65. Crow Lake by Mary Lawson (2002) 338 pp (Completed 4/7/25)
66. The Experience of Pain by Carlo Emilia Gadda (1963) 225pp (Completed 5/7/25)
67. Coriolanus by William Shakespeare (1608) 307 pp (Completed 6/7/25)
68. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (1961) 282 pp (Completed 7/7/25)
69. The Eloquence of the Sardine by Bill Francois (2019) 194 pp (Completed 8/7/25)
70. House of Lords and Commons by Ishion Hutchinson (2017) 68 pp (Completed 9/7/25)
71. Theory & Practice by Michelle de Kretser (2024) 183 pp (Completed 12/7/25)
72. The Seeker by S.G. MacLean (2015) 398 pp (Completed 16/7/25)
73. The Pigeon by Patrick Suskind (1988) 77 pp (Completed 27/7/25)
74. The End of Eddy by Edouard Louis (2014) 192 pp (Completed 30/7/25)
75. The Artist by Lucy Steeds (2025) 294 pp (Completed 31/7/25)
5PaulCranswick
Books Read 76-
Completion dates are based on the British system of (DD/MM/YY)
July
76. The Pine Islands by Marion Poschmann (2017) 180 pp (Completed 31/7/25)
August
77. Audition by Katie Kitamura (2025) 197 pp (Completed 2/8/25)
78. Girlhood by Julia Copus (2019) 73 pp (Completed 3/8/25)
79. Home Boys by Alex Wheatle (2018) 231 pp (Completed 3/8/25)
80. The South by Tash Aw (2025) 270 pp (Completed 4/8/25)
81. Safe as Houses by Simone van der Vlught (2012) 262 pp (4/8/25)
82. The Wrecking Light by Robin Robertson (2010) 90 pp (8/8/25)
83. Highway 13 by Fiona McFarlane (2024) 296 pp (8/8/25)
84. The Cafe With No Name by Robert Seethaler (2023) 220 pp (Completed 10/8/25)
85. The Heeding by Rob Cowen (2021) 118 pp (Completed 16/8/25)
86. Once the Deed is Done by Rachel Seiffert (2025) 455 pp (Completed 16/8/25)
87. Canoes by Maylis de Kerangal (2021) 152 pp (Completed 17/8/25)
88. The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller (2024) 371 pp (Completed 24/8/25)
89. The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien (1954) 407 pp (Completed 24/8/25)
90. Universality by Natasha Brown (2025) 156pp (Completed 31/8/25)
September
91. Misinterpretation by Ledia Xhoga (2024) 321 pp (Completed 5/9/25)
92. Woke Racism by John McWhorter (2021) 187 pp (Completed 5/9/25)
93. Lit Up Inside by Van Morrison (2014) 201 pp (Completed 7/9/25)
94. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (2020) 377 pp (Completed 7/9/25)
95. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann (2017) 291 pp (Completed 11/9/25)
96. When We Flew Away by Alice Hoffman (2024) 282 pp (Completed 15/9/25)
97. Devotions by Mary Oliver (2017) 442 pp (Completed 15/9/25)
Completion dates are based on the British system of (DD/MM/YY)
July
76. The Pine Islands by Marion Poschmann (2017) 180 pp (Completed 31/7/25)
August
77. Audition by Katie Kitamura (2025) 197 pp (Completed 2/8/25)
78. Girlhood by Julia Copus (2019) 73 pp (Completed 3/8/25)
79. Home Boys by Alex Wheatle (2018) 231 pp (Completed 3/8/25)
80. The South by Tash Aw (2025) 270 pp (Completed 4/8/25)
81. Safe as Houses by Simone van der Vlught (2012) 262 pp (4/8/25)
82. The Wrecking Light by Robin Robertson (2010) 90 pp (8/8/25)
83. Highway 13 by Fiona McFarlane (2024) 296 pp (8/8/25)
84. The Cafe With No Name by Robert Seethaler (2023) 220 pp (Completed 10/8/25)
85. The Heeding by Rob Cowen (2021) 118 pp (Completed 16/8/25)
86. Once the Deed is Done by Rachel Seiffert (2025) 455 pp (Completed 16/8/25)
87. Canoes by Maylis de Kerangal (2021) 152 pp (Completed 17/8/25)
88. The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller (2024) 371 pp (Completed 24/8/25)
89. The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien (1954) 407 pp (Completed 24/8/25)
90. Universality by Natasha Brown (2025) 156pp (Completed 31/8/25)
September
91. Misinterpretation by Ledia Xhoga (2024) 321 pp (Completed 5/9/25)
92. Woke Racism by John McWhorter (2021) 187 pp (Completed 5/9/25)
93. Lit Up Inside by Van Morrison (2014) 201 pp (Completed 7/9/25)
94. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (2020) 377 pp (Completed 7/9/25)
95. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann (2017) 291 pp (Completed 11/9/25)
96. When We Flew Away by Alice Hoffman (2024) 282 pp (Completed 15/9/25)
97. Devotions by Mary Oliver (2017) 442 pp (Completed 15/9/25)
6PaulCranswick
Currently reading
7PaulCranswick
THE GRAND EUROPEAN BOOK TOUR
January : Prelude - 19th Century Europe : https://www.librarything.com/topic/367210 - Colonel Chabert by Balzac
February : Nordic Nations : https://www.librarything.com/topic/368107
1. Night Blind by Ragnar Jonasson (Iceland)
2. Alphabet by Inger Christensen (Denmark)
3. In the Land of the Cyclops by Knausgaard (Norway)
4. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (Sweden)
5. Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson (Finland)
March : Warsaw Pact : https://www.librarything.com/topic/368897
Selected Poems by Zbigniew Herbert
April : Ottoman Empire
The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk
May : Non-National Languages : https://www.librarything.com/topic/370571
June : Caesar to Meloni : https://www.librarything.com/topic/371345
All Our Yesterdays by Natalia Ginzburg
The Experience of Pain by Carlo Emilia Gaddo
July : The Germanic World :
1. The Pigeon by Patrick Suskind
2. The Pine Islands by Marion Poschmann
3. The Cafe With No Name by Robert Seethaler
August : Anita Fameulstee Memorial Month (Benelux) :
https://www.librarything.com/topic/372858
1. The Blue Bird by Maurice Maeterlinck
2. Safe as Houses by Simone van der Vlught
September : Books About European Places : https://www.librarything.com/topic/373424#n8936462
October : La Belle France
1. Nagasaki by Eric Faye
2. Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix
3. The Eloquence of the Sardine by Bill Francois
4. The End of Eddy by Edouard Louis
5. Canoes by Maylis Kerangal
November : Iberian Peninsula
December : Back to the Future : 21st Century in translation
January : Prelude - 19th Century Europe : https://www.librarything.com/topic/367210 - Colonel Chabert by Balzac
February : Nordic Nations : https://www.librarything.com/topic/368107
1. Night Blind by Ragnar Jonasson (Iceland)
2. Alphabet by Inger Christensen (Denmark)
3. In the Land of the Cyclops by Knausgaard (Norway)
4. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (Sweden)
5. Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson (Finland)
March : Warsaw Pact : https://www.librarything.com/topic/368897
Selected Poems by Zbigniew Herbert
April : Ottoman Empire
The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk
May : Non-National Languages : https://www.librarything.com/topic/370571
June : Caesar to Meloni : https://www.librarything.com/topic/371345
All Our Yesterdays by Natalia Ginzburg
The Experience of Pain by Carlo Emilia Gaddo
July : The Germanic World :
1. The Pigeon by Patrick Suskind
2. The Pine Islands by Marion Poschmann
3. The Cafe With No Name by Robert Seethaler
August : Anita Fameulstee Memorial Month (Benelux) :
https://www.librarything.com/topic/372858
1. The Blue Bird by Maurice Maeterlinck
2. Safe as Houses by Simone van der Vlught
September : Books About European Places : https://www.librarything.com/topic/373424#n8936462
October : La Belle France
1. Nagasaki by Eric Faye
2. Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix
3. The Eloquence of the Sardine by Bill Francois
4. The End of Eddy by Edouard Louis
5. Canoes by Maylis Kerangal
November : Iberian Peninsula
December : Back to the Future : 21st Century in translation
8PaulCranswick
British Author Challenge (Hosted by my friend Amanda)
January - The stage : https://www.librarything.com/topic/366934#8710962
Lost Empires by J.B. Priestley
February - Kia Abdullah : Take it Back & Adrian Tchaikovsky
March - Norah Lofts & Gerald Durrell
April - PD James & Paul Bailey
Original Sin by PD James
May - Nancy Mitford & Paul Scott
June - Elizabethan & Jacobean : Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
July - Dodie Smith & Mervyn Peake
August - Emily Tesh & Alex Wheatle
Home Boys by Alex Wheatle.
September - Leone Ross & Alan Moore
October -
November -
December -
January - The stage : https://www.librarything.com/topic/366934#8710962
Lost Empires by J.B. Priestley
February - Kia Abdullah : Take it Back & Adrian Tchaikovsky
March - Norah Lofts & Gerald Durrell
April - PD James & Paul Bailey
Original Sin by PD James
May - Nancy Mitford & Paul Scott
June - Elizabethan & Jacobean : Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
July - Dodie Smith & Mervyn Peake
August - Emily Tesh & Alex Wheatle
Home Boys by Alex Wheatle.
September - Leone Ross & Alan Moore
October -
November -
December -
9PaulCranswick
American Author Challenge (Hosted with occasional assistance this year by my friend Linda)
JANUARY - Pacific North West : https://www.librarything.com/topic/367006
The Cold Millions by Jess Walter
FEBRUARY - American Muslims (Guest Host) : https://www.librarything.com/topic/367970#n8746462
1. In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin
2. Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson
3. The Other Americans by Laila Lalami
MARCH - Stewart O'Nan (Guest Host; Katie)
APRIL - Appalachia - The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey
MAY - Pulitzer History Prize Winners
JUNE - Willy Vlautin - Don't Skip Out on Me
JULY - Romance
AUGUST - True Crime - Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
SEPTEMBER - Alice Hoffman - When We Flew Away
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER -
DECEMBER -
JANUARY - Pacific North West : https://www.librarything.com/topic/367006
The Cold Millions by Jess Walter
FEBRUARY - American Muslims (Guest Host) : https://www.librarything.com/topic/367970#n8746462
1. In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin
2. Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson
3. The Other Americans by Laila Lalami
MARCH - Stewart O'Nan (Guest Host; Katie)
APRIL - Appalachia - The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey
MAY - Pulitzer History Prize Winners
JUNE - Willy Vlautin - Don't Skip Out on Me
JULY - Romance
AUGUST - True Crime - Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
SEPTEMBER - Alice Hoffman - When We Flew Away
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER -
DECEMBER -
10PaulCranswick
NON-FICTION CHALLENGE
Hosted this year by my friend Benita. Challenge thread is here : https://www.librarything.com/topic/366835
January - Award Winners : The Wild Places by Robert Macfarlane
February - Maps : The Power of Geography by Tim Marshall
March - Espionage : The Pigeon Tunnel by John le Carre
April - Revolutions : October by China Mieville
May - China : Wild Grass by Ian Johnson
June - Natural Disasters
July - Creatures of the Sea - The Eloquence of the Sardine by Bill Francois
August - The Movies -
September - Means of Transport
Hosted this year by my friend Benita. Challenge thread is here : https://www.librarything.com/topic/366835
January - Award Winners : The Wild Places by Robert Macfarlane
February - Maps : The Power of Geography by Tim Marshall
March - Espionage : The Pigeon Tunnel by John le Carre
April - Revolutions : October by China Mieville
May - China : Wild Grass by Ian Johnson
June - Natural Disasters
July - Creatures of the Sea - The Eloquence of the Sardine by Bill Francois
August - The Movies -
September - Means of Transport
11PaulCranswick
50 Modern Classics of the last 50 years
1975 : The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey
1976 : Blaming by Elizabeth Taylor
1977 : Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
1978 : The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan
1979 : The White Album by Joan Didion
1988 : The Pigeon by Patrick Suskind
2002 : Crow Lake by Mary Lawson
2008 : The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk
2009 : In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin
2012 : Nagasaki by Eric Faye
2014 : The End of Eddy by Louis Eduoard
2017 : The Pines Islands by Marion Poschmann
2019 : The Other Americans by Laila Lalami
2020 : The Cold Millions by Jess Walter
2021 : The Heeding by Rob Cowen
2022 : Heart Lamp Stories by Banu Mushtaq
2023 : Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
2024 : The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
2025 : Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell
1975 : The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey
1976 : Blaming by Elizabeth Taylor
1977 : Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
1978 : The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan
1979 : The White Album by Joan Didion
1988 : The Pigeon by Patrick Suskind
2002 : Crow Lake by Mary Lawson
2008 : The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk
2009 : In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin
2012 : Nagasaki by Eric Faye
2014 : The End of Eddy by Louis Eduoard
2017 : The Pines Islands by Marion Poschmann
2019 : The Other Americans by Laila Lalami
2020 : The Cold Millions by Jess Walter
2021 : The Heeding by Rob Cowen
2022 : Heart Lamp Stories by Banu Mushtaq
2023 : Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
2024 : The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
2025 : Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell
12PaulCranswick
Big Book Challenge
Link to thread : https://www.librarything.com/topic/368910#n8778254
March - Fyodor Dostoevsky or alternatives
April - Orhan Pamuk, Nikos Kazantzakis or much further back
The Museum of Innocence
May - Iberian Tomes : Cervantes, or alternatives
June - Victorian Ladies : George Eliot, or alternatives
July - Gunter Grass or alternatives
August - Harry Mulisch or alternatives
September - Americana - Larry McMurtry or alternatives
Link to thread : https://www.librarything.com/topic/368910#n8778254
March - Fyodor Dostoevsky or alternatives
April - Orhan Pamuk, Nikos Kazantzakis or much further back
The Museum of Innocence
May - Iberian Tomes : Cervantes, or alternatives
June - Victorian Ladies : George Eliot, or alternatives
July - Gunter Grass or alternatives
August - Harry Mulisch or alternatives
September - Americana - Larry McMurtry or alternatives
13PaulCranswick
Booker Prize Longlist
https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/prize-years/2025
One Boat by Jonathan Buckley (UK) Owned
Seascraper by Benjamin Wood (UK)
Audition by Katie Kitamura (USA) READ SHORTLISTED
The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovitz (USA) Owned SHORTLISTED
Flashlight by Susan Choi (USA) Owned SHORTLISTED
Endling by Maria Reva (Canada) Owned
Flesh by David Szalay (Canada / UK / Hungary) Owned SHORTLISTED
The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller (UK) READ SHORTLISTED
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai (India) SHORTLISTED
The South by Tash Aw (Malaysia) READ
Love Forms by Claire Adam (Trinidad) Owned
Universality by Natasha Brown (UK) READ
Misinterpretation by Ledia Xhoga (Albania / USA) READ
Read 5/13
Ranking to date: Very difficult no duds but no outstanding ones either really:
1. Miller, 2. Aw, 3. Kitamura, 4. Brown 5. Xhoga
https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/prize-years/2025
One Boat by Jonathan Buckley (UK) Owned
Seascraper by Benjamin Wood (UK)
Audition by Katie Kitamura (USA) READ SHORTLISTED
The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovitz (USA) Owned SHORTLISTED
Flashlight by Susan Choi (USA) Owned SHORTLISTED
Endling by Maria Reva (Canada) Owned
Flesh by David Szalay (Canada / UK / Hungary) Owned SHORTLISTED
The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller (UK) READ SHORTLISTED
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai (India) SHORTLISTED
The South by Tash Aw (Malaysia) READ
Love Forms by Claire Adam (Trinidad) Owned
Universality by Natasha Brown (UK) READ
Misinterpretation by Ledia Xhoga (Albania / USA) READ
Read 5/13
Ranking to date: Very difficult no duds but no outstanding ones either really:
1. Miller, 2. Aw, 3. Kitamura, 4. Brown 5. Xhoga
14PaulCranswick
Alternative Booker Longlist
Because it is all about opinions:
The Artist by Lucy Steeds READ
Three Days in June by Ann Tyler
Confessions by Catherine Airey
Juice by Tim Winton
Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko
Ripeness by Sarah Hall
Muckle Flugga by Michael Pedersen
Let Me Go Mad in My Own Way by Elaine Feeney
Saraswati by Gurnaik Johal
Time of the Child by Niall Williams
Nobody's Empire by Stuart Murdoch
The Names by Florence Knapp
Once the Deed is Done by Rachel Seiffert READ
Ranking to date:
Both would be 1st and 2nd in my list overall to date:
1. Steeds, 2. Seiffert
Because it is all about opinions:
The Artist by Lucy Steeds READ
Three Days in June by Ann Tyler
Confessions by Catherine Airey
Juice by Tim Winton
Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko
Ripeness by Sarah Hall
Muckle Flugga by Michael Pedersen
Let Me Go Mad in My Own Way by Elaine Feeney
Saraswati by Gurnaik Johal
Time of the Child by Niall Williams
Nobody's Empire by Stuart Murdoch
The Names by Florence Knapp
Once the Deed is Done by Rachel Seiffert READ
Ranking to date:
Both would be 1st and 2nd in my list overall to date:
1. Steeds, 2. Seiffert
15PaulCranswick
Women's Prize Longlist (Announced 4/3/25)
1. Aria Aber, Good Girl owned
2. Kaliane Bradley, The Ministry of Time owned
3. Jenni Daiches, Somewhere Else owned
4. Saraid de Silva, Amma owned
5. Karen Jennings, Crooked Seeds READ
6. Miranda July, All Fours owned
7. Laila Lalami, The Dream Hotel owned
8. Sanam Mahloudji, The Persians owned
9. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Dream Count owned
10. Roisín O’Donnell, Nesting READ
11. Rosanna Pike, A Little Trickery owned
12. Rose Ruana, Birding owned
13. Lucy Steeds, The Artist READ
14. Elizabeth Strout, Tell Me Everything READ
15. Yael van der Wouden, The Safekeep READ
16. Nussaibah Younis, Fundamentally owned
My order
1. Steeds, 2. van der Wouden, 3. O'Donnell, 4. Strout, 5. Jennings
1. Aria Aber, Good Girl owned
2. Kaliane Bradley, The Ministry of Time owned
3. Jenni Daiches, Somewhere Else owned
4. Saraid de Silva, Amma owned
5. Karen Jennings, Crooked Seeds READ
6. Miranda July, All Fours owned
7. Laila Lalami, The Dream Hotel owned
8. Sanam Mahloudji, The Persians owned
9. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Dream Count owned
10. Roisín O’Donnell, Nesting READ
11. Rosanna Pike, A Little Trickery owned
12. Rose Ruana, Birding owned
13. Lucy Steeds, The Artist READ
14. Elizabeth Strout, Tell Me Everything READ
15. Yael van der Wouden, The Safekeep READ
16. Nussaibah Younis, Fundamentally owned
My order
1. Steeds, 2. van der Wouden, 3. O'Donnell, 4. Strout, 5. Jennings
16PaulCranswick
Incumbent Award Winners
Here are 85 active awards that I keep an eye on across the Anglosphere together with the incumbent winners. All are fiction of a sort - non-fiction awards will be subject of a separate post. I have not included foreign language awards from France, Germany, Scandinavia, Italy etc which again will be subject to a separate post
Given my background 44 of the awards are British, 20 are from the US, 9 from Australia, 4 from Canada, 4 from NZ and 2 from Ireland and 2 are international awards not tied to a particular country.
Genre wise 52 could be termed as literary awards
14 are crime and thriller awards
6 are SF and Fantasy awards
3 are YA awards
Here is the list for those interested
1 Stella Prize : Theory & Practice by Michelle de Kretser, Australian Award READ
2 Miles Franklin : Praiseworthy by Alexis Wright, Australian Award Owned
3 Australian Book Industry Literary Fiction Winner : Dusk by Robbie Arnott, Australian Award
4 Australian Book Industry International Book : The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, Australian Award Owned
5 Prime Minister's Literary Awards : Anam by Andre Dao, Australian Award Owned
6 Giller Prize : Held by Anne Michaels, Canadian Award READ
7 Governor General's Prize : Empty Spaces by Jordan Abel, Canadian Award
8 Atwood Gibson Prize : Batshit Seven by Sheung-King, Canadian Award
9 International Dublin Literary Prize : The Adversary by Michael Crummey, Irish Award
10 Kerry Irish Fiction Award : Time of the Child by Niall Williams, Irish Award Owned
11 Acorn Prize for Fiction : Delirious by Damien Wilkins NZ Award
12 Hubert Church Best First Fiction : Poorhara by Michelle Rahurahu NZ Award
13 Sir Walter Scott Prize : The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller UK Award Owned
14 British Book Awards Best Novel : James by Percival Everett, UK Award READ
15 British Book Awards Best Debut Novel : Butter by Asako Yazuki, UK Award Owned
16 Rubery International Book Award for Fiction : The Heron Catchers by David Joiner, UK Award
17 James Tait Black Prize : My Heavenly Favourite by Lucas Rijneveld, UK Award Owned
18 Jhalak Prize for Prose : Namesake by N.S, Nuseibeh, UK Award
19 The Dylan Thomas Prize : The Coin by Yasmin Zaher, UK Award Owned
20 Ondaatje Prize : Clear by Carys Davies, UK Award Owned
21 Orwell Fiction Prize : Heart, Be at Peace by Donal Ryan, UK Award Owned
22 Booker Prize : Orbital by Samantha Harvey, UK Award READ
23 International Booker Prize :Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, UK Award READ
24 Saltire Fiction Book of the Year : What Doesn't Kill Us by Ajay Close, UK Award
25 Rhys Davies Trust Fiction Award (Wales) : The Unbroken Beauty of Rosalind Bone by Alex McCarthy, UK Award
26 Goldsmith's Prize : Parade by Rachel Cusk, UK Award Owned
27 Hawthornden Prize : Orbital by Samantha Harvey, UK Award READ
28 Republic of Consciousness Prize : There's A Monster Behind the Door by Gaelle Belem, UK Award Owned
29 Writers Prize for Fiction : The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright, UK Award READ
30 Portico Prize : Toto Among the Murderers by Sally J Morgan, UK Award
31 Waterstone's Book of the Year: Butter by Asako Yazuki, UK Award Owned
32 Waterstone's Debut Novel : Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon, UK Award READ
33 Reader's Award for Fiction : You are Here by David Nicholls, UK Award Owned
34 Gordon Burn Prize : Ootlin by Jenni Fagan, UK Award
35 Nota Bene Prize : Kala by Colin Walsh, UK Award Owned
36 Betty Trask Award : Winter Animals by Ashani Lewis, UK Award Owned
37 Author's Club Best First Novel : Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon, UK Award READ
38 Sunday Times Young Writer Award Rural Hours Harriet Baker UK LIT
39 Nero Fiction Award Lost in the Garden Adam S. Leslie UK LIT
40 Nero Debut Fiction Award : Wild Houses by Colin Barrett, UK Award Owned
41 Pulitzer : James by Percival Everett, USA Award READ
42 National Book Award : James by Percival Everett, USA Award READ
43 National Book Critics Circle Award : My Friends by Hisham Matar, USA Award Owned
44 LA Times Book Prize : Say Hello to My Little Friend by Jennine Capo Crucet, USA Award Owned
45 Andrew Carnegie Medal : James by Percival Everett, USA Award READ
46 Carol Shields Prize : Code Noir by Canisia Lubrin, USA Award Owned
47 Center for Fiction First Novel : God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer by Joseph Earl Thomas, USA Award Owned
48 Chautauqua Prize : Whale Fall by Elizabeth O'Connor USA Award Owned
49 Pen Hemingway Debut Fiction Early Sobrieties Michael Deagler USA LIT
50 Pen Faulkner Award Small Rain Garth Greenwell USA LIT
51 Kirkus Prize : James by Percival Everett, USA Award READ
52 LA Times Art Seidenbaum First Fiction Award Cinema Love Jiaming Tang USA LIT
53 Aurealis Best Fantasy Novel Thoroughly Disenchanted Alexandra Almond Aust SF
54 Aurora Book Award Valkyrie Kate Heartfield Canada SF
55 Arthur C Clarke Award : Annie Bot by Sarah Greer, UK Award Owned
56 Robert Holdstock British Fantasy Novel Talonsister Jenn Williams UK SF
57 Hugo Awards : Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh, USA award Owned
58 Nebula Award Someone You Can Build a Nest In John Wiswell USA SF
59 Ned Kelly Best Book : Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth, Australian Award Owned
60 Ned Kelly Best Debut Book Murder in the Pacific: Ifira Point Matt Francis Aust Thriller
61 Ned Kelly International Award : The Only Suspect by Louise Candlish, Australian Award Owned
62 Macavity Best Mystery Novel : All the Sinners Bleed by S.A.Cosby Owned
63 Macavity Best First Mystery Novel : The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S. Berry Owned
64 Ngaio Awards Best Novel Ritual of Fire D.V. Bishop NZ Thriller
65 Ngaio Awards Best Debut Novel Dice Claire Bayliss NZ Thriller
66 CWA Gold Dagger : The Book of Secrets by Anna Mazzola Owned
67 CWA John Creasey First Novel Dagger All Us Sinners Katie Massey UK Thriller
68 CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Dark Ride Lou Berney UK Thriller
69 CWA Historical Dagger The Betrayal of Thomas True AJ West UK Thriller
70 CWA Crime Fiction in Translation : The Night of Baba Yaga by Akira Otani Owned
71 CWA Twisted Dagger : Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra Owned
72 CWA Whodunnit Dagger The Case of the Singer and the Showgirl Lisa Hall UK Thriller
73 Sue Feder Award for Best Historical Mystery The Mistress of Bhatia House Sujata Massey UK Thriller
74 Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Book of the Year : In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan, UK award Owned
75 McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Novel : The Cracked Mirror by Christopher Brookmyre, UK Award Owned
76 Bloody Scotland Debut Book of the Year The Silent House of Sleep Allan Gaw UK Thriller
77 British Book Awards Crime & Thriller Award : Hunted by Abir Mukherjee, UK Award Owned
78 Shirley Jackson Award : The Reformatory by Tananarive Due Owned
79 Edgar Best Novel Award : The In Crowd by Charlotte Vassell, USA Award Owned
80 Edgar Best First Novel by American Author : Holy City by Henry Wise, USA Award Owned
81 Anthony Award for Best Novel : All the Sinners Bleed by S.A.Cosby Owned
82 Anthony Award for Best First Novel : The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S. Berry Owned
83 Carnegie Medal for YA Fiction Glasgow Boys Margaret McDonald UK YA
84 Nero Children's Fiction Award The Twelve Liz Hyder UK YA
85 Newbery Medal Winner : The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly, USA Award Owned
Own or Read 53/85 award winners
Here are 85 active awards that I keep an eye on across the Anglosphere together with the incumbent winners. All are fiction of a sort - non-fiction awards will be subject of a separate post. I have not included foreign language awards from France, Germany, Scandinavia, Italy etc which again will be subject to a separate post
Given my background 44 of the awards are British, 20 are from the US, 9 from Australia, 4 from Canada, 4 from NZ and 2 from Ireland and 2 are international awards not tied to a particular country.
Genre wise 52 could be termed as literary awards
14 are crime and thriller awards
6 are SF and Fantasy awards
3 are YA awards
Here is the list for those interested
1 Stella Prize : Theory & Practice by Michelle de Kretser, Australian Award READ
2 Miles Franklin : Praiseworthy by Alexis Wright, Australian Award Owned
3 Australian Book Industry Literary Fiction Winner : Dusk by Robbie Arnott, Australian Award
4 Australian Book Industry International Book : The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, Australian Award Owned
5 Prime Minister's Literary Awards : Anam by Andre Dao, Australian Award Owned
6 Giller Prize : Held by Anne Michaels, Canadian Award READ
7 Governor General's Prize : Empty Spaces by Jordan Abel, Canadian Award
8 Atwood Gibson Prize : Batshit Seven by Sheung-King, Canadian Award
9 International Dublin Literary Prize : The Adversary by Michael Crummey, Irish Award
10 Kerry Irish Fiction Award : Time of the Child by Niall Williams, Irish Award Owned
11 Acorn Prize for Fiction : Delirious by Damien Wilkins NZ Award
12 Hubert Church Best First Fiction : Poorhara by Michelle Rahurahu NZ Award
13 Sir Walter Scott Prize : The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller UK Award Owned
14 British Book Awards Best Novel : James by Percival Everett, UK Award READ
15 British Book Awards Best Debut Novel : Butter by Asako Yazuki, UK Award Owned
16 Rubery International Book Award for Fiction : The Heron Catchers by David Joiner, UK Award
17 James Tait Black Prize : My Heavenly Favourite by Lucas Rijneveld, UK Award Owned
18 Jhalak Prize for Prose : Namesake by N.S, Nuseibeh, UK Award
19 The Dylan Thomas Prize : The Coin by Yasmin Zaher, UK Award Owned
20 Ondaatje Prize : Clear by Carys Davies, UK Award Owned
21 Orwell Fiction Prize : Heart, Be at Peace by Donal Ryan, UK Award Owned
22 Booker Prize : Orbital by Samantha Harvey, UK Award READ
23 International Booker Prize :Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, UK Award READ
24 Saltire Fiction Book of the Year : What Doesn't Kill Us by Ajay Close, UK Award
25 Rhys Davies Trust Fiction Award (Wales) : The Unbroken Beauty of Rosalind Bone by Alex McCarthy, UK Award
26 Goldsmith's Prize : Parade by Rachel Cusk, UK Award Owned
27 Hawthornden Prize : Orbital by Samantha Harvey, UK Award READ
28 Republic of Consciousness Prize : There's A Monster Behind the Door by Gaelle Belem, UK Award Owned
29 Writers Prize for Fiction : The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright, UK Award READ
30 Portico Prize : Toto Among the Murderers by Sally J Morgan, UK Award
31 Waterstone's Book of the Year: Butter by Asako Yazuki, UK Award Owned
32 Waterstone's Debut Novel : Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon, UK Award READ
33 Reader's Award for Fiction : You are Here by David Nicholls, UK Award Owned
34 Gordon Burn Prize : Ootlin by Jenni Fagan, UK Award
35 Nota Bene Prize : Kala by Colin Walsh, UK Award Owned
36 Betty Trask Award : Winter Animals by Ashani Lewis, UK Award Owned
37 Author's Club Best First Novel : Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon, UK Award READ
38 Sunday Times Young Writer Award Rural Hours Harriet Baker UK LIT
39 Nero Fiction Award Lost in the Garden Adam S. Leslie UK LIT
40 Nero Debut Fiction Award : Wild Houses by Colin Barrett, UK Award Owned
41 Pulitzer : James by Percival Everett, USA Award READ
42 National Book Award : James by Percival Everett, USA Award READ
43 National Book Critics Circle Award : My Friends by Hisham Matar, USA Award Owned
44 LA Times Book Prize : Say Hello to My Little Friend by Jennine Capo Crucet, USA Award Owned
45 Andrew Carnegie Medal : James by Percival Everett, USA Award READ
46 Carol Shields Prize : Code Noir by Canisia Lubrin, USA Award Owned
47 Center for Fiction First Novel : God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer by Joseph Earl Thomas, USA Award Owned
48 Chautauqua Prize : Whale Fall by Elizabeth O'Connor USA Award Owned
49 Pen Hemingway Debut Fiction Early Sobrieties Michael Deagler USA LIT
50 Pen Faulkner Award Small Rain Garth Greenwell USA LIT
51 Kirkus Prize : James by Percival Everett, USA Award READ
52 LA Times Art Seidenbaum First Fiction Award Cinema Love Jiaming Tang USA LIT
53 Aurealis Best Fantasy Novel Thoroughly Disenchanted Alexandra Almond Aust SF
54 Aurora Book Award Valkyrie Kate Heartfield Canada SF
55 Arthur C Clarke Award : Annie Bot by Sarah Greer, UK Award Owned
56 Robert Holdstock British Fantasy Novel Talonsister Jenn Williams UK SF
57 Hugo Awards : Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh, USA award Owned
58 Nebula Award Someone You Can Build a Nest In John Wiswell USA SF
59 Ned Kelly Best Book : Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth, Australian Award Owned
60 Ned Kelly Best Debut Book Murder in the Pacific: Ifira Point Matt Francis Aust Thriller
61 Ned Kelly International Award : The Only Suspect by Louise Candlish, Australian Award Owned
62 Macavity Best Mystery Novel : All the Sinners Bleed by S.A.Cosby Owned
63 Macavity Best First Mystery Novel : The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S. Berry Owned
64 Ngaio Awards Best Novel Ritual of Fire D.V. Bishop NZ Thriller
65 Ngaio Awards Best Debut Novel Dice Claire Bayliss NZ Thriller
66 CWA Gold Dagger : The Book of Secrets by Anna Mazzola Owned
67 CWA John Creasey First Novel Dagger All Us Sinners Katie Massey UK Thriller
68 CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Dark Ride Lou Berney UK Thriller
69 CWA Historical Dagger The Betrayal of Thomas True AJ West UK Thriller
70 CWA Crime Fiction in Translation : The Night of Baba Yaga by Akira Otani Owned
71 CWA Twisted Dagger : Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra Owned
72 CWA Whodunnit Dagger The Case of the Singer and the Showgirl Lisa Hall UK Thriller
73 Sue Feder Award for Best Historical Mystery The Mistress of Bhatia House Sujata Massey UK Thriller
74 Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Book of the Year : In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan, UK award Owned
75 McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Novel : The Cracked Mirror by Christopher Brookmyre, UK Award Owned
76 Bloody Scotland Debut Book of the Year The Silent House of Sleep Allan Gaw UK Thriller
77 British Book Awards Crime & Thriller Award : Hunted by Abir Mukherjee, UK Award Owned
78 Shirley Jackson Award : The Reformatory by Tananarive Due Owned
79 Edgar Best Novel Award : The In Crowd by Charlotte Vassell, USA Award Owned
80 Edgar Best First Novel by American Author : Holy City by Henry Wise, USA Award Owned
81 Anthony Award for Best Novel : All the Sinners Bleed by S.A.Cosby Owned
82 Anthony Award for Best First Novel : The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S. Berry Owned
83 Carnegie Medal for YA Fiction Glasgow Boys Margaret McDonald UK YA
84 Nero Children's Fiction Award The Twelve Liz Hyder UK YA
85 Newbery Medal Winner : The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly, USA Award Owned
Own or Read 53/85 award winners
17PaulCranswick
Books Added in 2025
January & February Books 1-64 : https://www.librarything.com/topic/368611#8767173
March & April Books 65-124 : https://www.librarything.com/topic/369865#8810025
May & June Books 125-210 : https://www.librarything.com/topic/371621#8881561
July & August Books 211-305 : https://www.librarything.com/topic/373093#8921718
September :
306. Limberlost by Robbie Arnott
307. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
308. Dark Like Under by Alice Chadwick
309. The Gold Bug Variations by Richard Powers
310. Native Nations by Kathleen Duval
311. Unruly by David Mitchell
312. The Blazing World by Jonathan Healey
313. Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden
314. Black Magic by Marjorie Bowen
315. The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
316. Covered With Night by Nicole Eustace
317. The Colonel and the Eunuch by Mai Jia
318. Fall Out by Tim Shipman
319. Highway Cottage by Ralf Webb
320. Aaron's Rod by D.H. Lawrence
321. Adrift on the Pacific by Edward S. Ellis
322. Dracula's Guest by Bram Stoker
323. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
324. Tar by Sherwood Anderson
325. Birds of Prey by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
326. Water at the Roots by Philip Britts
327. The Deerslayer by James Fenimore Cooper
328. Sketches by Boz by Charles Dickens
329. The Titan by Theodore Dreiser
330. Children of the Soil by Henrik Pontoppidan
331. Robinson by Muriel Spark
332. Alice Adams by Booth Tarkington
333. Away by Jane Urquhart
334. Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne
335. William the Silent by CV Wedgwood
336. The Somerset Tsunami by Emma Carroll
337. How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz
338. The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt
339. The Harm Tree by Rose Edwards
340. The Tulip Touch by Anne Fine
341. Transcendent by Patrick Gallagher
342. The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
343. Never Forget You by Jamila Gavin
344. The Rapture by Claire McGlasson
345. The End of Drum-Time by Hanna Pylvainen
346. The Doctor's Wife by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
347. Beside the Ocean of Time by George MacKay Brown
348. Every One Still Here by Liadan Ni Chuinn
349. Julius by Daphne du Maurier
350. Buckeye by Patrick Ryan
January & February Books 1-64 : https://www.librarything.com/topic/368611#8767173
March & April Books 65-124 : https://www.librarything.com/topic/369865#8810025
May & June Books 125-210 : https://www.librarything.com/topic/371621#8881561
July & August Books 211-305 : https://www.librarything.com/topic/373093#8921718
September :
306. Limberlost by Robbie Arnott
307. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
308. Dark Like Under by Alice Chadwick
309. The Gold Bug Variations by Richard Powers
310. Native Nations by Kathleen Duval
311. Unruly by David Mitchell
312. The Blazing World by Jonathan Healey
313. Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden
314. Black Magic by Marjorie Bowen
315. The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
316. Covered With Night by Nicole Eustace
317. The Colonel and the Eunuch by Mai Jia
318. Fall Out by Tim Shipman
319. Highway Cottage by Ralf Webb
320. Aaron's Rod by D.H. Lawrence
321. Adrift on the Pacific by Edward S. Ellis
322. Dracula's Guest by Bram Stoker
323. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
324. Tar by Sherwood Anderson
325. Birds of Prey by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
326. Water at the Roots by Philip Britts
327. The Deerslayer by James Fenimore Cooper
328. Sketches by Boz by Charles Dickens
329. The Titan by Theodore Dreiser
330. Children of the Soil by Henrik Pontoppidan
331. Robinson by Muriel Spark
332. Alice Adams by Booth Tarkington
333. Away by Jane Urquhart
334. Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne
335. William the Silent by CV Wedgwood
336. The Somerset Tsunami by Emma Carroll
337. How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz
338. The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt
339. The Harm Tree by Rose Edwards
340. The Tulip Touch by Anne Fine
341. Transcendent by Patrick Gallagher
342. The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
343. Never Forget You by Jamila Gavin
344. The Rapture by Claire McGlasson
345. The End of Drum-Time by Hanna Pylvainen
346. The Doctor's Wife by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
347. Beside the Ocean of Time by George MacKay Brown
348. Every One Still Here by Liadan Ni Chuinn
349. Julius by Daphne du Maurier
350. Buckeye by Patrick Ryan
18PaulCranswick
2025 Book Stats
Books Read : 97
Pages Read in completed books : 24,870
Longest book : The Museum of Innocence : 728 pp
Shortest book : Dart : 48 pp
Mean book length : 256.39 pp
Pages per day average in completed books : 96.40
Books written by men : 50
Books written by women: 46
Books written by both : 1
Non-Fiction : 15
Fiction : 45
Poetry : 17
Thriller : 11
SF/Fantasy : 3
Drama : 6
1590s : 2 books
1600s : 3 books
1830s : 1 book
1900s : 1 book
1940s : 1 book
1950s : 2 books
1960s : 5 books
1970s : 5 books
1980s : 2 books
1990s : 2 books
2000s : 9 books
2010s : 29 books
2020s : 35 books
UK Authors : 44
US Authors : 18
France Authors : 6
Ireland Authors : 2
Australia Authors : 3
Palestine Authors : 1
Iceland Authors : 1
Denmark Authors : 1
Norway Authors : 1
Japan Authors : 1
Sweden Authors : 1
Finland Authors : 1
Netherlands Authors : 2
Poland Authors : 1
Turkey Authors : 1
Belgium Authors : 1
India Authors : 1
Italy Authors : 2
South Africa : 1
Canada Authors : 1
Jamaica Authors : 1
German Authors : 2
Malaysia Authors : 1
Austria Authors : 1
Albania Authors : 1
Various Authors : 1
Challenges :
European Grand Tour Challenge : 20 books
Non-Fiction Challenge : 6 books
American Author Challenge : 8 books
British Author Challenge : 5 books
Women's Prize Longlist : 5 books
1001 Books : 2 books
50 Modern Classics from the Last 50 Years : 5/50
Booker Prize Longlist : 5/13
Awards :
Pulitzer Poetry Prize
Booker International : 1 book
Nobel Winners : 1 new
Women's Prize : 1
Miles Franklin : 1
Walter Scott Prize : 1
Read : 97 books
Added : 345 books
Change to TBR : +248
January Books : 15
January Pages : 4,146
Pages Average : Per book : 276.40 Per Day : 133.74
February Books : 20
February Pages : 4,709
Pages Average : Per Book 235.45 Per day 168.19
March Books : 6
March Pages : 1,700
Pages Average : Per Book 283.33 Per Day : 54.84
April Books : 6
April Pages : 2,194
Pages Average : Per Book 365.67 Per Day : 109.70
May Books : 8
May Pages : 2,098
Pages Average : Per Book 262.25 Per Day : 67.68
June Books : 9
June Pages : 1,883
Pages Average : Per Book 209.22 Per Day : 62.77
July Books : 12
July Pages : 2,738
Pages Average : Per Book 228.17 Per Day : 88.32
August Books: 14
August Pages : 3,298
Pages Average : Per Book 235.57 Per day 106.39
September Books: 7
September Pages : 2,101
Pages Average : Per Book 300.14 Per Day : 140.07
Books Read : 97
Pages Read in completed books : 24,870
Longest book : The Museum of Innocence : 728 pp
Shortest book : Dart : 48 pp
Mean book length : 256.39 pp
Pages per day average in completed books : 96.40
Books written by men : 50
Books written by women: 46
Books written by both : 1
Non-Fiction : 15
Fiction : 45
Poetry : 17
Thriller : 11
SF/Fantasy : 3
Drama : 6
1590s : 2 books
1600s : 3 books
1830s : 1 book
1900s : 1 book
1940s : 1 book
1950s : 2 books
1960s : 5 books
1970s : 5 books
1980s : 2 books
1990s : 2 books
2000s : 9 books
2010s : 29 books
2020s : 35 books
UK Authors : 44
US Authors : 18
France Authors : 6
Ireland Authors : 2
Australia Authors : 3
Palestine Authors : 1
Iceland Authors : 1
Denmark Authors : 1
Norway Authors : 1
Japan Authors : 1
Sweden Authors : 1
Finland Authors : 1
Netherlands Authors : 2
Poland Authors : 1
Turkey Authors : 1
Belgium Authors : 1
India Authors : 1
Italy Authors : 2
South Africa : 1
Canada Authors : 1
Jamaica Authors : 1
German Authors : 2
Malaysia Authors : 1
Austria Authors : 1
Albania Authors : 1
Various Authors : 1
Challenges :
European Grand Tour Challenge : 20 books
Non-Fiction Challenge : 6 books
American Author Challenge : 8 books
British Author Challenge : 5 books
Women's Prize Longlist : 5 books
1001 Books : 2 books
50 Modern Classics from the Last 50 Years : 5/50
Booker Prize Longlist : 5/13
Awards :
Pulitzer Poetry Prize
Booker International : 1 book
Nobel Winners : 1 new
Women's Prize : 1
Miles Franklin : 1
Walter Scott Prize : 1
Read : 97 books
Added : 345 books
Change to TBR : +248
January Books : 15
January Pages : 4,146
Pages Average : Per book : 276.40 Per Day : 133.74
February Books : 20
February Pages : 4,709
Pages Average : Per Book 235.45 Per day 168.19
March Books : 6
March Pages : 1,700
Pages Average : Per Book 283.33 Per Day : 54.84
April Books : 6
April Pages : 2,194
Pages Average : Per Book 365.67 Per Day : 109.70
May Books : 8
May Pages : 2,098
Pages Average : Per Book 262.25 Per Day : 67.68
June Books : 9
June Pages : 1,883
Pages Average : Per Book 209.22 Per Day : 62.77
July Books : 12
July Pages : 2,738
Pages Average : Per Book 228.17 Per Day : 88.32
August Books: 14
August Pages : 3,298
Pages Average : Per Book 235.57 Per day 106.39
September Books: 7
September Pages : 2,101
Pages Average : Per Book 300.14 Per Day : 140.07
19PaulCranswick
Family Photo
Pip again concentrating intensely:
Pip again concentrating intensely:
20PaulCranswick
Welcome to my 18th thread of 2025
21louisisaloafofbreb
Happy new thread!
22SilverWolf28
Happy New Thread!
23SilverWolf28
Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/373765
25PaulCranswick
>23 SilverWolf28: Thank you Silver I have another long weekend to make an impression on my reading this month.
26amanda4242
Happy new thread!
27PaulCranswick
>26 amanda4242: Thank you dear Amanda
29PaulCranswick
>28 Kristelh: Thank you, Kristel. Lovely to see you here as always.
30PaulCranswick
Paying a visit to Silver's thread earlier I noticed that she has now read an astonishing 2,600 books this decade.
My own number is 818.
My own number is 818.
31atozgrl
Happy new thread, Paul!
>3 PaulCranswick: That poem feels very appropriate at this point in time. Thanks for sharing it!
>3 PaulCranswick: That poem feels very appropriate at this point in time. Thanks for sharing it!
32PaulCranswick
>31 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene.
Britts was a very interesting man, who died tragically young leaving behind young children and a pregnant wife.
Britts was a very interesting man, who died tragically young leaving behind young children and a pregnant wife.
33PaulCranswick
Something approaching a Cranswickian splurge this lunchtime:
Physical books
314. Black Magic by Marjorie Bowen
315. The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
316. Covered With Night by Nicole Eustace
317. The Colonel and the Eunuch by Mai Jia
318. Fall Out by Tim Shipman
319. Highway Cottage by Ralf Webb
Complimentary E-Books
320. Aaron's Rod by D.H. Lawrence
321. Adrift on the Pacific by Edward S. Ellis
322. Dracula's Guest by Bram Stoker
323. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Added E-Books
324. Tar by Sherwood Anderson
325. Birds of Prey by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
326. Water at the Roots by Philip Britts
327. The Deerslayer by James Fenimore Cooper
328. Sketches by Boz by Charles Dickens
329. The Titan by Theodore Dreiser
330. Children of the Soil by Henrik Pontoppidan
331. Robinson by Muriel Spark
332. Alice Adams by Booth Tarkington
333. Away by Jane Urquhart
334. Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne
335. William the Silent by CV Wedgwood
Physical books
314. Black Magic by Marjorie Bowen
315. The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
316. Covered With Night by Nicole Eustace
317. The Colonel and the Eunuch by Mai Jia
318. Fall Out by Tim Shipman
319. Highway Cottage by Ralf Webb
Complimentary E-Books
320. Aaron's Rod by D.H. Lawrence
321. Adrift on the Pacific by Edward S. Ellis
322. Dracula's Guest by Bram Stoker
323. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Added E-Books
324. Tar by Sherwood Anderson
325. Birds of Prey by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
326. Water at the Roots by Philip Britts
327. The Deerslayer by James Fenimore Cooper
328. Sketches by Boz by Charles Dickens
329. The Titan by Theodore Dreiser
330. Children of the Soil by Henrik Pontoppidan
331. Robinson by Muriel Spark
332. Alice Adams by Booth Tarkington
333. Away by Jane Urquhart
334. Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne
335. William the Silent by CV Wedgwood
34avatiakh
>33 PaulCranswick: Happy New Thread. Lovely to see a book splurge of this size. I've picked up a few books of late for my Thingaversary, mostly digital.
It was weird to have @Lidbud come to my thread and make that comment to you out of the blue. I haven't 'talked' to her since 2010 when she briefly joined the 75ers. Before I joined LT I had been a regular on a local trading site's message board, talking books where I got to know her & other book traders.
It was weird to have @Lidbud come to my thread and make that comment to you out of the blue. I haven't 'talked' to her since 2010 when she briefly joined the 75ers. Before I joined LT I had been a regular on a local trading site's message board, talking books where I got to know her & other book traders.
35figsfromthistle
Happy new thread!
37PaulCranswick
>34 avatiakh: Not to worry, Kerry, I was kind of surprised by the aggressive nature of her reply but I didn't want to antagonize things on your thread. Also with the senseless murder of Charlie Kirk I didn't really feel up to political debate yesterday. As you know I would defend anyone's right to a view especially when it is one I don't agree with. Interesting point of view on the lockdown policy not being draconian as it was described as such by members of Jacinta's own government.
It was nice splurging a bit but I can see the dangers of the cheaper prices of ebooks. I am going to spend more money to increase my saving!
>35 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita x
It was nice splurging a bit but I can see the dangers of the cheaper prices of ebooks. I am going to spend more money to increase my saving!
>35 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita x
38PaulCranswick
>36 flodyjavion: Thank you for stopping by but I am not sure what use I will make of arrest statistics in Indiana. The only group member I know from there has moved to Georgia already!
40booksaplenty1949
Apropos of Killers of the Flower Moon, my understanding is that the author’s primary focus is on the formative years of the FBI, and that it was the movie version that highlighted the issues of injustice to the indigenous nation.
41PaulCranswick
>39 SirThomas: Thank you dear Thomas.
>40 booksaplenty1949: I'm not sure that it is quite right to say that the primary focus was the formative years of the FBI over the injustice to the Osage people. I thought both were covered and the latter more than adequately in the book. I haven't seen the movie.
>40 booksaplenty1949: I'm not sure that it is quite right to say that the primary focus was the formative years of the FBI over the injustice to the Osage people. I thought both were covered and the latter more than adequately in the book. I haven't seen the movie.
42booksaplenty1949
>41 PaulCranswick: The movie is excellent; one of the best I’ve seen in recent years.
43hredwards
>19 PaulCranswick: Happy New Thread!!
Looks like she's getting ready to build a tall, tall building like her Grandfather!!
Looks like she's getting ready to build a tall, tall building like her Grandfather!!
44booksaplenty1949
>33 PaulCranswick: I read my way through all of D. H. Lawrence in my pretentious youth and even then Aaron’s Rod was not high on my list. Was entertained to see the savage reviews featured on its LT page. I imagine that Lawrence’s current reputation has declined along with that of his guru Sigmund Freud.
46PaulCranswick
>42 booksaplenty1949: I will definitely seek it out and watch it as I rather avoided doing so until I had read the book.
>43 hredwards: Thank you Harold. I wonder if she will prove to be a chip off the old block?!
>43 hredwards: Thank you Harold. I wonder if she will prove to be a chip off the old block?!
48PaulCranswick
>44 booksaplenty1949: I loved Sons and Lovers and The Rainbow when I was younger. I'm not sure that I would like them quite so much upon a re-read.
>45 drneutron: Thanks DocRoc
>45 drneutron: Thanks DocRoc
49PaulCranswick
>47 foggidawn: Thanks Foggi. She is able to blank the world out if something captures her attention.
50m.belljackson
Paul = "pretty sure" murderer not a Republican?
Democrats are pretty sure that would be Republicans worst fear.
^^^^^^^
At times, the only information we get here in the O.K. Corral comes
when the media interviews neighbors of the family involved.
Democrats are pretty sure that would be Republicans worst fear.
^^^^^^^
At times, the only information we get here in the O.K. Corral comes
when the media interviews neighbors of the family involved.
51booksaplenty1949
>50 m.belljackson: If the suspect in custody, a 22 year-old man, is in fact the shooter I think we can rule out party membership, or indeed coherent political views of any kind, as a contributing factor to this act of violence.
52m.belljackson
Paul - an off the track guess is that the police are torn between wanting to kill the guy
or to turn him into a Democrat.
or to turn him into a Democrat.
53m.belljackson
>51 booksaplenty1949: Statistics online appear to indicate that nearly ALL Political Assassinations in the past 25 years
have been carried out by right wing conservatives.
have been carried out by right wing conservatives.
54EllaTim
Happy new thread, Paul!
>33 PaulCranswick: Michel Strogoff! My childhood library had a whole shelf of Jules Verne’s books. All in deep blue covers. Here I would certainly prefer a real paper book, just to see one of those covers again. The books were nicely illustrated as well.
>53 m.belljackson: On Paul’s earlier thread someone said the killer might have been a psychotic man.
>33 PaulCranswick: Michel Strogoff! My childhood library had a whole shelf of Jules Verne’s books. All in deep blue covers. Here I would certainly prefer a real paper book, just to see one of those covers again. The books were nicely illustrated as well.
>53 m.belljackson: On Paul’s earlier thread someone said the killer might have been a psychotic man.
55PaulCranswick
>50 m.belljackson: I couldn't care less whether he is Republican or Democrat or Independent. He is a murderer. Murder is not a point of political debate and I am not prepared to descend to that level. Have some thought for the children of the man and his widow. Who the killer voted for has nothing to do with this - you should be able to disagree and even dislike someone profoundly without drawing a weapon.
>51 booksaplenty1949: I said at the beginning that the politics needs to be taken out of this. America is far too polarized and both sides are to blame for that.
>51 booksaplenty1949: I said at the beginning that the politics needs to be taken out of this. America is far too polarized and both sides are to blame for that.
56PaulCranswick
>52 m.belljackson: Marianne why are you slurring the police? It seems that a good job has been done by them here.
>53 m.belljackson: It is not a case of which side is better or worse than the other. Can't we just condemn violence without political point scoring? It isn't the right time for that, Marianne.
>53 m.belljackson: It is not a case of which side is better or worse than the other. Can't we just condemn violence without political point scoring? It isn't the right time for that, Marianne.
57PaulCranswick
>54 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella.
There are a huge array of Verne's books available online. I remember my Uncle having the complete works of Verne in five volumes and I had had my eye on that collection until he split from my Aunt and we lost touch.
There are a huge array of Verne's books available online. I remember my Uncle having the complete works of Verne in five volumes and I had had my eye on that collection until he split from my Aunt and we lost touch.
58m.belljackson
>56 PaulCranswick: There was no "slur."
That was an honest expression of how I believe the police would feel.
That was an honest expression of how I believe the police would feel.
60PaulCranswick
>58 m.belljackson: Not as a verb but certainly as a noun it fits the basic definition:
From Oxford language guide
noun
noun: slur; plural noun: slurs
1.
an insinuation or allegation about someone that is likely to insult them or damage their reputation.
"the comments were a slur on staff at the hospital"
Your comment in >52 m.belljackson: would surely insult the police officers doing their jobs and is geared to damage their reputation. It is also utterly unhelpful to continue to politicize the murder.
From Oxford language guide
noun
noun: slur; plural noun: slurs
1.
an insinuation or allegation about someone that is likely to insult them or damage their reputation.
"the comments were a slur on staff at the hospital"
Your comment in >52 m.belljackson: would surely insult the police officers doing their jobs and is geared to damage their reputation. It is also utterly unhelpful to continue to politicize the murder.
61PaulCranswick
>59 bell7: Thank you dear Mary. I look at that little girl and often wonder what the future has in store for her in this increasingly divided and dangerous world.
62PaulCranswick
MLK was a truly great and wise man:
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
63PaulCranswick
On a happier note and to get back to books;
The National Book Award for fiction longlist was announced yesterday:
These are the ten books
Rabih Alameddine, The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)
Grove Press / Grove Atlantic
Susan Choi, Flashlight
Farrar, Straus and Giroux / Macmillan Publishers
Angela Flournoy, The Wilderness
Mariner Books / HarperCollins Publishers
Jonas Hassen Khemiri, The Sisters
Farrar, Straus and Giroux / Macmillan Publishers
Megha Majumdar, A Guardian and a Thief
Knopf / Penguin Random House
Kevin Moffett, Only Son
McSweeney’s
Karen Russell, The Antidote
Knopf / Penguin Random House
Ethan Rutherford, North Sun: Or, the Voyage of the Whaleship Esther
A Strange Object / Deep Vellum Publishing
Bryan Washington, Palaver
Farrar, Straus and Giroux / Macmillan Publishers
Joy Williams, The Pelican Child
Knopf / Penguin Random House
The National Book Award for fiction longlist was announced yesterday:
These are the ten books
Rabih Alameddine, The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)
Grove Press / Grove Atlantic
Susan Choi, Flashlight
Farrar, Straus and Giroux / Macmillan Publishers
Angela Flournoy, The Wilderness
Mariner Books / HarperCollins Publishers
Jonas Hassen Khemiri, The Sisters
Farrar, Straus and Giroux / Macmillan Publishers
Megha Majumdar, A Guardian and a Thief
Knopf / Penguin Random House
Kevin Moffett, Only Son
McSweeney’s
Karen Russell, The Antidote
Knopf / Penguin Random House
Ethan Rutherford, North Sun: Or, the Voyage of the Whaleship Esther
A Strange Object / Deep Vellum Publishing
Bryan Washington, Palaver
Farrar, Straus and Giroux / Macmillan Publishers
Joy Williams, The Pelican Child
Knopf / Penguin Random House
64avatiakh
>63 PaulCranswick: Not familiar with most of those writers.
Have a happy weekend with lots of reading.
Have a happy weekend with lots of reading.
65PaulCranswick
>64 avatiakh: Thank you, Kerry and you too my friend.
I recognize at least 8 of the authors to be honest but two of them are completely unfamiliar to me too.
Alameddine I have books on the shelves but haven't read them.
I own Flashlight and Choi is a previous winner.
Flournoy wrote The Turner House which was much lauded and which I own.
Khemiri's previous book is on my shelves and this one is in the shops locally and looks a pretty hefty volume.
Majumdar's previous book A Burning was a book I enjoyed.
Karen Russell is probably most famous for Swamplandia!
Bryan Washington's Lot is on my shelves
I recently bought Joy Williams' previous book Harrow
I recognize at least 8 of the authors to be honest but two of them are completely unfamiliar to me too.
Alameddine I have books on the shelves but haven't read them.
I own Flashlight and Choi is a previous winner.
Flournoy wrote The Turner House which was much lauded and which I own.
Khemiri's previous book is on my shelves and this one is in the shops locally and looks a pretty hefty volume.
Majumdar's previous book A Burning was a book I enjoyed.
Karen Russell is probably most famous for Swamplandia!
Bryan Washington's Lot is on my shelves
I recently bought Joy Williams' previous book Harrow
66PaulCranswick
Yikes the double posting continues to be a problem on LT recently so I will fill the space with a poem of mine, which I wrote years ago and have fiddled with on a number of occasions:
Written on Graph Paper
I dreamed a dream of long ago
Ere the barren landscape fell;
I dreamed a world at peace together,
I dreamed a world devoid of hell.
I dreamed of endless golden summers
And of autumnal bounty replete.
I dreamed a time before all was broken
And the world lay shattered at my feet.
I dreamed a dream of yesterday
When sleep took comfort in dreams;
Before my eyes saw clear the future
And tears fell down in acidic streams.
As I recall I had been reading William Blake at the time and it slightly apes his style albeit in an inferior manner.
Written on Graph Paper
I dreamed a dream of long ago
Ere the barren landscape fell;
I dreamed a world at peace together,
I dreamed a world devoid of hell.
I dreamed of endless golden summers
And of autumnal bounty replete.
I dreamed a time before all was broken
And the world lay shattered at my feet.
I dreamed a dream of yesterday
When sleep took comfort in dreams;
Before my eyes saw clear the future
And tears fell down in acidic streams.
As I recall I had been reading William Blake at the time and it slightly apes his style albeit in an inferior manner.
67Familyhistorian
Happy new thread, Paul. Adding e-books to your acquisitions looks like it could become overwhelming in short order!
68PaulCranswick
>67 Familyhistorian: An obvious danger, I fear, Meg xx
69Familyhistorian
>68 PaulCranswick: Oh yeah, I'm glad I never took to e-books because I know that would be a problem. As it is the physical books are threatening to take over.
70PaulCranswick
>69 Familyhistorian: I can hide them better, Meg, but the number could be frighteningly large if I am not careful.
72PaulCranswick
>71 humouress: I hadn't noticed that until now but, Oliver less, yes it is very red!
73vancouverdeb
Happy New Thread 🧵, Paul .
75PaulCranswick
I am trying to read more Non-Fiction this year and the National Book Awards Non-Fiction Longlist is out. Here are the selected books:
Omar El Akkad, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
Knopf / Penguin Random House
Caleb Gayle, Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State
Riverhead Books / Penguin Random House
Julia Ioffe, Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy
Ecco / HarperCollins Publishers
Fatemeh Jamalpour and Nilo Tabrizy, For the Sun After Long Nights: The Story of Iran’s Women-Led Uprising
Pantheon Books / Penguin Random House
Yiyun Li, Things in Nature Merely Grow
Farrar, Straus and Giroux / Macmillan Publishers
Lana Lin, The Autobiography of H. Lan Thao Lam
Dorothy, a publishing project
Ben Ratliff, Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening
Graywolf Press
Claudia Rowe, Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care
Abrams Press / Abrams
Jordan Thomas, When It All Burns: Fighting Fire in a Transformed World
Riverhead Books / Penguin Random House
Helen Whybrow, The Salt Stones: Seasons of a Shepherd’s Life
Milkweed Editions
I have come to appreciate books on nature, the natural world and ecology and a few there appeal to me. Yiyun Li's book is also up for the Baillie Gifford prize.
Omar El Akkad, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
Knopf / Penguin Random House
Caleb Gayle, Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State
Riverhead Books / Penguin Random House
Julia Ioffe, Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy
Ecco / HarperCollins Publishers
Fatemeh Jamalpour and Nilo Tabrizy, For the Sun After Long Nights: The Story of Iran’s Women-Led Uprising
Pantheon Books / Penguin Random House
Yiyun Li, Things in Nature Merely Grow
Farrar, Straus and Giroux / Macmillan Publishers
Lana Lin, The Autobiography of H. Lan Thao Lam
Dorothy, a publishing project
Ben Ratliff, Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening
Graywolf Press
Claudia Rowe, Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care
Abrams Press / Abrams
Jordan Thomas, When It All Burns: Fighting Fire in a Transformed World
Riverhead Books / Penguin Random House
Helen Whybrow, The Salt Stones: Seasons of a Shepherd’s Life
Milkweed Editions
I have come to appreciate books on nature, the natural world and ecology and a few there appeal to me. Yiyun Li's book is also up for the Baillie Gifford prize.
76Deern
Happy newish thread and newish weekend, Paul! For once I am here on a Saturday, but again a new thread is up already! Love the Pip + big Lego pic!
Some great books on the old thread. I don't have Netflix, I'm paying enough for Sky Italy, but that Thursday Murder Club thing sounds tempting, will keep it on my WL for the year-end mystery period. I wish I could get my head back to reading as it was 10 years ago.
Some great books on the old thread. I don't have Netflix, I'm paying enough for Sky Italy, but that Thursday Murder Club thing sounds tempting, will keep it on my WL for the year-end mystery period. I wish I could get my head back to reading as it was 10 years ago.
77PaulCranswick
>76 Deern: I am fairly underwhelmed by my own reading too, Nathalie. I have had more time recently but haven't filled it very well.
Always a pleasure to see you here my friend.
Always a pleasure to see you here my friend.
78booksaplenty1949
>60 PaulCranswick: So true. I think that the expressed urge to take personal vengeance on perpetrators of crimes would be a disqualifier in any selection process for a police force.
79richardderus
>20 PaulCranswick: New-thread orisons.
I don't know if you recall @mckait /Kath from the old days around here...her younger sister just died very unexpectedly. A kind word would not go amiss on her profile or her Bsky feed.
https://bsky.app/profile/mckait.bsky.social
I don't know if you recall @mckait /Kath from the old days around here...her younger sister just died very unexpectedly. A kind word would not go amiss on her profile or her Bsky feed.
https://bsky.app/profile/mckait.bsky.social
80PaulCranswick
>78 booksaplenty1949: There was also no evidence that I am aware of that the police involved in the case behaved anything other than impeccably.
>79 richardderus: Thank you, RD.
Of course I remember Kath, one of the warmest and lovingest people I have ever come across. I actually spoke to her on the telephone when we were trying to do something to help you, dear fellow during a health crisis. I will put something on her profile here and on FB and bsky
>79 richardderus: Thank you, RD.
Of course I remember Kath, one of the warmest and lovingest people I have ever come across. I actually spoke to her on the telephone when we were trying to do something to help you, dear fellow during a health crisis. I will put something on her profile here and on FB and bsky
81witchyrichy
Happy newish thread.
>19 PaulCranswick: More pictures of this adorable child, please. She is definitely thinking hard.
>66 PaulCranswick: Thanks for sharing the poem. It definitely has a Blakian quality.
>19 PaulCranswick: More pictures of this adorable child, please. She is definitely thinking hard.
>66 PaulCranswick: Thanks for sharing the poem. It definitely has a Blakian quality.
82Whisper1
>19 PaulCranswick: What a beautiful, sweet little girl!!!!
83PaulCranswick
>81 witchyrichy: Thank you Karen. I had to fill up space due to double posting so the poem was a filler but probably appropriate given the times.
I'll see what I can do with Pip spotting!
>82 Whisper1: Thank you dear Linda. xx
I'll see what I can do with Pip spotting!
>82 Whisper1: Thank you dear Linda. xx
84PaulCranswick
More additions from the discount book store
336. The Somerset Tsunami by Emma Carroll
337. How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz
338. The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt
339. The Harm Tree by Rose Edwards
340. The Tulip Touch by Anne Fine
341. Transcendent by Patrick Gallagher
342. The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
343. Never Forget You by Jamila Gavin
344. The Rapture by Claire McGlasson
345. The End of Drum-Time by Hanna Pylvainen
336. The Somerset Tsunami by Emma Carroll
337. How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz
338. The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt
339. The Harm Tree by Rose Edwards
340. The Tulip Touch by Anne Fine
341. Transcendent by Patrick Gallagher
342. The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
343. Never Forget You by Jamila Gavin
344. The Rapture by Claire McGlasson
345. The End of Drum-Time by Hanna Pylvainen
85PaulCranswick
Here is a new one:
Contradictions in Nature
There would be no wolves in the forest
If there were no trees –
Sycamore, beech, larch, elm, oak, silver birch;
Deciduous not evergreen,
Not always but still eternal.
The wolves under leafen cover
Pack together and in concert
Show teeth and snarl and bite.
We must isolate the wolves
Pull those teeth
And teach them peace, not violence.
Then wolves can be as the leaves
Sleeping In the shady forest breeze.
PC 15/9/25
Contradictions in Nature
There would be no wolves in the forest
If there were no trees –
Sycamore, beech, larch, elm, oak, silver birch;
Deciduous not evergreen,
Not always but still eternal.
The wolves under leafen cover
Pack together and in concert
Show teeth and snarl and bite.
We must isolate the wolves
Pull those teeth
And teach them peace, not violence.
Then wolves can be as the leaves
Sleeping In the shady forest breeze.
PC 15/9/25
86vancouverdeb
I'm not sure what Booker Longlist book I will get to next either, Paul. I have started a couple and DNF'd them. I did order Seascraper from Blackwell Books in the UK as it is not yet available in Canada, and seems to be well liked by BookTubers. I hope I will enjoy it too.
87PaulCranswick
>86 vancouverdeb: Great minds and all that, Deb. I was posting at your place as you were here at mine. xx
I want to read Seascraper too but it isn't available here yet either.
I want to read Seascraper too but it isn't available here yet either.
88PaulCranswick
Another new one
Contradictions in Faith
You are a man of faith
But your faith is not my faith
And your God is not my God,
Though it is God nonetheless.
Your hopes and dreams,
Your aims and your aspirations –
They are not as one with mine.
They are painted in hues of different colours,
But the brush has the same texture
And the colours are beautiful just the same.
Why should we think that your beliefs
Make you so very different
When there is more in them
To embrace and agree upon
Than to take up arms against?
PC 15/9/25
Contradictions in Faith
You are a man of faith
But your faith is not my faith
And your God is not my God,
Though it is God nonetheless.
Your hopes and dreams,
Your aims and your aspirations –
They are not as one with mine.
They are painted in hues of different colours,
But the brush has the same texture
And the colours are beautiful just the same.
Why should we think that your beliefs
Make you so very different
When there is more in them
To embrace and agree upon
Than to take up arms against?
PC 15/9/25
89PaulCranswick
Isn't that sad.
90richardderus
>89 PaulCranswick: Appalling and revolting. And sad.
91PaulCranswick
>90 richardderus: RD, it is sad that the country is in such a mess that a visit from him seems to be something to look forward to. It will give Starmer some relief from constant criticism anyhow.
92richardderus
>91 PaulCranswick: Only briefly...he's got a habit of making own goals.
93PaulCranswick
>92 richardderus: They are well suited. Starmer is meant to be a socialist to the extent that the socialists are leaving to form their own party.
94Kristelh
Greeting's Paul. I posted a list of my top books for the 21st century if you'd be interested in checking it out. I think I will work on my favorite non-fiction either later or tomorrow. Hope your able to read with all the stress of work.
96PaulCranswick
>94 Kristelh: I will certainly go and have a look, Kristel. My non-fiction needs a coat of thinking on too.
>95 banjo123: You are welcome, Rhonda. The threads are amazingly quiet at the moment so I thought the scribblings had fallen through the cracks.
>95 banjo123: You are welcome, Rhonda. The threads are amazingly quiet at the moment so I thought the scribblings had fallen through the cracks.
98mdoris
>94 Kristelh: Thanks Kristel I have added your lists to my favorites and there are gems there I must get to soon!
99PaulCranswick
BOOK #96
When We Flew Away by Alice Hoffman
Date of Publication : 2024
Origin of Author : USA
Gender of Author : Female
Pages : 282 pp
This is a recreation of the last months of liberty of Anne Frank and her family in war torn Amsterdam and how the walls eventually literally closed in upon them.
Very touching and even more heartbreaking because, of course, we know what will eventually happen.
I am not sure whether the book was intended to be YA or not but it doesn't much matter because I am sure that it will appeal to people of all ages. We really should not forget what happened to the German people in the 1930s and 1940s to the extent that they will systematically and cruelly put an entire race of people to humiliation and then death.
When We Flew Away by Alice Hoffman
Date of Publication : 2024
Origin of Author : USA
Gender of Author : Female
Pages : 282 pp
This is a recreation of the last months of liberty of Anne Frank and her family in war torn Amsterdam and how the walls eventually literally closed in upon them.
Very touching and even more heartbreaking because, of course, we know what will eventually happen.
I am not sure whether the book was intended to be YA or not but it doesn't much matter because I am sure that it will appeal to people of all ages. We really should not forget what happened to the German people in the 1930s and 1940s to the extent that they will systematically and cruelly put an entire race of people to humiliation and then death.
101PaulCranswick
BOOK #97
Devotions by Mary Oliver
Date of Publication : 2017
Origin of Author : USA
Gender of Author : Female
Pages : 442 pp
Very comprehensive career retrospective of the understated Ohio born poet, Mary Oliver.
In truth this is a book that lends itself better to dipping in and out of (as I often have) rather than a cover to cover read. There is plenty to enjoy and admire here though as her gentle reflections on nature, love and spirituality rarely fail to touch in some way or another.
This is from her 2008 collection Red Bird
Of The Empire
We will be known as a culture that feared death
and adored power, that tried to vanquish insecurity
for the few and cared little for the penury of the
many. We will be known as a culture that taught
and rewarded the amassing of things, that spoke
little if at all about the quality of life for
people (other people), for dogs, for rivers. All
the world, in our eyes, they will say, was a
commodity. And they will say that this structure
was held together politically, which it was, and
they will say also that our politics was no more
than an apparatus to accommodate the feelings of
the heart, and that the heart, in those days,
was small, and hard, and full of meanness.
Devotions by Mary Oliver
Date of Publication : 2017
Origin of Author : USA
Gender of Author : Female
Pages : 442 pp
Very comprehensive career retrospective of the understated Ohio born poet, Mary Oliver.
In truth this is a book that lends itself better to dipping in and out of (as I often have) rather than a cover to cover read. There is plenty to enjoy and admire here though as her gentle reflections on nature, love and spirituality rarely fail to touch in some way or another.
This is from her 2008 collection Red Bird
Of The Empire
We will be known as a culture that feared death
and adored power, that tried to vanquish insecurity
for the few and cared little for the penury of the
many. We will be known as a culture that taught
and rewarded the amassing of things, that spoke
little if at all about the quality of life for
people (other people), for dogs, for rivers. All
the world, in our eyes, they will say, was a
commodity. And they will say that this structure
was held together politically, which it was, and
they will say also that our politics was no more
than an apparatus to accommodate the feelings of
the heart, and that the heart, in those days,
was small, and hard, and full of meanness.
102Kristelh
>98 mdoris: Thank you Mary, I hope that you'll find some that resonate for you.
103PaulCranswick
>102 Kristelh: I plan on reading at least one from your lists in each of the coming months, Kristel. Probably The Good Lord Bird and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat thereafter.
104Familyhistorian
>96 PaulCranswick: It does seem very quiet on the threads. I was wondering if that was just me because I've been so busy with hospital visits lately but perhaps it is just that start of the year thing that kicks off with the new school year in the North of the globe.
105PaulCranswick
>104 Familyhistorian: Today is a bit better, Meg, but yesterday was the smallest number of posts by the top 140 threads all year - less than 100.
106PaulCranswick
More additions
346. The Doctor's Wife by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
347. Beside the Ocean of Time by George MacKay Brown
348. Every One Still Here by Liadan Ni Chuinn
349. Julius by Daphne du Maurier
350. Buckeye by Patrick Ryan
346. The Doctor's Wife by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
347. Beside the Ocean of Time by George MacKay Brown
348. Every One Still Here by Liadan Ni Chuinn
349. Julius by Daphne du Maurier
350. Buckeye by Patrick Ryan
107Caroline_McElwee
>85 PaulCranswick: >88 PaulCranswick: Good to see some new poems Paul. I especially like
Then wolves can be as the leaves
Sleeping In the shady forest breeze.
And 'Contradictions in Faith' whispers quietly to all, those of faith and not.
Then wolves can be as the leaves
Sleeping In the shady forest breeze.
And 'Contradictions in Faith' whispers quietly to all, those of faith and not.
108Kristelh
It seems very quiet here at the 75ers. Mark and Stasia are traveling. I am always lurking about but often have nothing to say. I see Buckeye mentioned a lot.
109PaulCranswick
>107 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline. Your appreciation means a lot to me.
>108 Kristelh: I have seen it mentioned a lot too, Kristel, which is why I added it!
We have only failed to break 100 posts in a day twice this year and we have only done it once in the last couple of years before that.
>108 Kristelh: I have seen it mentioned a lot too, Kristel, which is why I added it!
We have only failed to break 100 posts in a day twice this year and we have only done it once in the last couple of years before that.
110PaulCranswick
This morning I am back at work after a couple of days celebrating Malaysia Day which for some reason we got an extra day's Public Holiday.
Started Lonesome Dove this morning and I am chugging away with my e-read of The Blazing World. I have realized that the tablet is perfect for reading in bed and settles all my issues caused by the light in the bedroom and astigmatism.
I am making slow progress with The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois and I think that the main issue is just how heavy the book is. Incredibly unwieldy to the extent that I am tempted to buy it in ebook format.
Started Lonesome Dove this morning and I am chugging away with my e-read of The Blazing World. I have realized that the tablet is perfect for reading in bed and settles all my issues caused by the light in the bedroom and astigmatism.
I am making slow progress with The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois and I think that the main issue is just how heavy the book is. Incredibly unwieldy to the extent that I am tempted to buy it in ebook format.
111amanda4242
>110 PaulCranswick: I'll finish one of the books I have going either tonight or tomorrow morning and start on Lonesome Dove.
112PaulCranswick
>111 amanda4242: You will overtake me pretty quickly, I'll wager, although something I know will be plot driven will get read speedily by my own more pedestrian standards.
113vancouverdeb
Paul, as though you have pedestrian standards! I think not. I'm glad the tablet reading is going well. I haven't been able to read in bed since Dave is very light sensitive. Maybe if I went to bed before him, which is unlikely. 42 years of no reading in bed! Argh!
114PaulCranswick
>113 vancouverdeb: I have nobody presently disturbing my reading and - to be honest - when Hani is here nothing in the world is going to keep her from her sleep!
115figsfromthistle
I tried reading on my ipad while travelling but it just does not seem the same. It is better than I thought it would be but somehow I can focus better with the actual book in my hands. Funny though, when I am reading academic articles, I have no issue reading it on a screen.
Happy rest of the week.
Happy rest of the week.
116PaulCranswick
>115 figsfromthistle: I am fine somehow reading in bed with the tablet but when I am sitting up I prefer a real book too, Anita
117booksaplenty1949
The second half of The Thursday Murder Club movie was even more lame than the first. Do not waste your time on it.
118klobrien2
>117 booksaplenty1949: Don't listen to them, Paul! It's not "fine art" but the movie is fun. And what a cast!
Karen O
Karen O
119PaulCranswick
>117 booksaplenty1949: Sometimes lame can be fun though, no?
>118 klobrien2: Hahaha Karen, I will make up my own mind of course and read the book intentionally to watch it. I have some issues with my Netflix account just now because I created a family account that all six of us can use (I include Erni in the six) but because the four most vocal players are all in the UK the family account is now registered under Yasmyne (paid by her father of course) and intermittently I get locked out of my own account.
>118 klobrien2: Hahaha Karen, I will make up my own mind of course and read the book intentionally to watch it. I have some issues with my Netflix account just now because I created a family account that all six of us can use (I include Erni in the six) but because the four most vocal players are all in the UK the family account is now registered under Yasmyne (paid by her father of course) and intermittently I get locked out of my own account.
120avatiakh
>119 PaulCranswick: I watch a lot of lame tv shows & films on stream. I generally have a book out and read alongside watching. Tubi is a good free app for older stuff.
121PaulCranswick
>120 avatiakh: I have been watching the World Athletics Championships and my football club's stuttering attempts at reestablishing themselves in the English Premier League but, other than that, I haven't really watched any television or movies for months, Kerry.
122booksaplenty1949
>119 PaulCranswick: No, at least in my lexicon “lame” means slow-moving and unengaging. Characters entirely one-dimensional. Solutions to the crimes came out of nowhere. Inferior to pretty much any episode of the better-known British detective series.
PS IMDB featured reviews mirror my sentiments. Reviewers who have read the book note that large parts of it are left out of the movie, characters are undeveloped, and the ending seems rushed.
PS IMDB featured reviews mirror my sentiments. Reviewers who have read the book note that large parts of it are left out of the movie, characters are undeveloped, and the ending seems rushed.
123PaulCranswick
>122 booksaplenty1949: I don't think that the plotting of Osman's book was fantastic either but it was a pretty fun read; I hope that the fun is not taken out of the piece in the movie.
124booksaplenty1949
>122 booksaplenty1949: See my PS regarding relationship of movie to the book. Laughs definitely in short supply.
125PaulCranswick
>124 booksaplenty1949: Then I will be certainly disappointed.
126atozgrl
>109 PaulCranswick: Maybe people over here are so upset at what is happening in our country at the moment that they don't feel like saying much. That's the way I feel right now.
127PaulCranswick
>126 atozgrl: That is quite possibly true, Irene. I am of course in a state of elation that our government here in Malaysia keeps giving us extra public holidays.
128amanda4242
I've just pulled Lonesome Dove off the shelf.
129PaulCranswick
>128 amanda4242: I am part way through already and I know that I am going to enjoy it, Amanda.
130amanda4242
>129 PaulCranswick: It's nice to find a book we can agree on!
132Familyhistorian
I loved the cast in the Thursday Murder Club books and, with all the talk about the movie, I know I'll have to give it a look soon.
133amanda4242
>131 PaulCranswick: Maybe not a lot, but there are several books you like that made me want to chuck them with great force at their authors. ;)
134PaulCranswick
>132 Familyhistorian: Indeed Meg. Harmless pleasures like watching aged sleuths in a retirement village tracking down the doers of foul deeds is great distraction for these simply horrid times.
>133 amanda4242: For sure, Amanda, if we agreed about everything it would be a pretty boring world wouldn't it?! I have had peaceful days with Hani where we have looked across at each other in the late evenings and I have said contentedly that "Hey, we didn't fight today!". "Don't worry" she would reply "We have plenty of time yet!"
>133 amanda4242: For sure, Amanda, if we agreed about everything it would be a pretty boring world wouldn't it?! I have had peaceful days with Hani where we have looked across at each other in the late evenings and I have said contentedly that "Hey, we didn't fight today!". "Don't worry" she would reply "We have plenty of time yet!"
135booksaplenty1949
>132 Familyhistorian: A waste of first-rate actors, IMHO. Much on-line discussion of Pierce Brosnan’s attempts at cockney accent—“all over the place.” Biggest complaint, however, is that it is a grave injustice to the book.
136humouress
>135 booksaplenty1949: I thought it was a lot of fun. It's been a while since I read the book though.
137booksaplenty1949
>136 humouress: I see we share 6 books. I haven’t surveyed the entire group but that’s probably the fewest I share here. Not a judgement, just an indication that our taste probably differs. If we all thought the same there wouldn’t be much point in having discussions. A pretty boring world.
138PaulCranswick
>135 booksaplenty1949: A few people have said they enjoyed it but there is a majority holding your view of it. I asked Yasmyne to link me back into my own Netflix account so that I can make up my own mind!
139PaulCranswick
>136 humouress: I'm not sure whether I will enjoy it or not but I will watch it this weekend.
>137 booksaplenty1949: I have found that the similarities in our reading likes is only one indicator of how much we will get along in the group is. It is very surprising how far ranging our likes (collectively in the group, I mean are). Out of interest I looked at the last 12 of my friends who visited this thread. I can say without any fear of contradiction that I consider all 12 to be good friends in the group but there is little similarity in our various reading tastes judging by shared books.
Of the 12 I share the most books with Caroline which is 2,694 books (from her catalogued collection of 10,917)
But in terms of % of books shared which is probably a better guide to a shared reading taste I have 52.72% of Kristel's collection of 2,555 books.
Out of interest the 12 are as follows:
booksaplenty 1,106 books out of 4,905 = 22.55%
Nina 91 books out of 1,197 = 7.6%
Amanda 1,605 books out of 15,761 = 10.18%
Meg 556 books out of 4,864 = 11.43%
Irene 136 books out of 761 = 17.87%
Kerry 350 books out of 8,533 = 4.10%
Karen 906 books out of 4,828 = 18.77%
Kristel 1,347 books out of 2,555 = 52.72%
Caroline 2,694 books out of 10,917 = 24.68%
Deb 645 books out of 1,771 = 36.42%
Anita 430 books out of 1,854 = 23.19%
Mary 349 books out of 1,402 = 24.89%
Some didn't surprise me too much - Nina likes Sci-Fi much more than I do and Amanda has got all sorts of things in her library. Kristel didn't shock me but the extent of closeness in libraries did. I thought Deb and Caroline would be high too because of a like of award reads shared with Deb and a shared love of British poetry with Caroline.
What shocked me were the stats with Kerry whose library and reading I admire so much so I was simply astonished that I only share on in every 25 of her books.
>137 booksaplenty1949: I have found that the similarities in our reading likes is only one indicator of how much we will get along in the group is. It is very surprising how far ranging our likes (collectively in the group, I mean are). Out of interest I looked at the last 12 of my friends who visited this thread. I can say without any fear of contradiction that I consider all 12 to be good friends in the group but there is little similarity in our various reading tastes judging by shared books.
Of the 12 I share the most books with Caroline which is 2,694 books (from her catalogued collection of 10,917)
But in terms of % of books shared which is probably a better guide to a shared reading taste I have 52.72% of Kristel's collection of 2,555 books.
Out of interest the 12 are as follows:
booksaplenty 1,106 books out of 4,905 = 22.55%
Nina 91 books out of 1,197 = 7.6%
Amanda 1,605 books out of 15,761 = 10.18%
Meg 556 books out of 4,864 = 11.43%
Irene 136 books out of 761 = 17.87%
Kerry 350 books out of 8,533 = 4.10%
Karen 906 books out of 4,828 = 18.77%
Kristel 1,347 books out of 2,555 = 52.72%
Caroline 2,694 books out of 10,917 = 24.68%
Deb 645 books out of 1,771 = 36.42%
Anita 430 books out of 1,854 = 23.19%
Mary 349 books out of 1,402 = 24.89%
Some didn't surprise me too much - Nina likes Sci-Fi much more than I do and Amanda has got all sorts of things in her library. Kristel didn't shock me but the extent of closeness in libraries did. I thought Deb and Caroline would be high too because of a like of award reads shared with Deb and a shared love of British poetry with Caroline.
What shocked me were the stats with Kerry whose library and reading I admire so much so I was simply astonished that I only share on in every 25 of her books.
140foggidawn
>139 PaulCranswick: This sparked my curiosity, so I did mine: 364 books out of 4,145 = 8.78 percent. This doesn't surprise me, because I know I have many more children's books in my collection than you have, and you have a much wider collection of literary fiction, whereas I read mostly in genre fiction.
141avatiakh
>139 PaulCranswick: Paul, I catalogued my library when I first joined LT but have hardly added anything since. I got out of the habit as I read too many library books which I only add on here if I'm the first reader or I wanted to edit some book data. So my LT library doesn't really reflect my RL one anymore.
eta: Lidbud was back with an apology to you.
eta: Lidbud was back with an apology to you.
142PaulCranswick
>140 foggidawn: Thanks for doing that, Foggi, because I will probably go and do the exercise on all the group members.
>141 avatiakh: Ah that might explain things a little bit then, Kerry, especially as one of my go to places to get ideas on books is your thread.
I will pop by your thread shortly.
>141 avatiakh: Ah that might explain things a little bit then, Kerry, especially as one of my go to places to get ideas on books is your thread.
I will pop by your thread shortly.
143bell7
>139 PaulCranswick: So of course I had to do it too. We share 594 out of 3,188 for 18.63% of my library. I was actually surprised it was that high!
144PaulCranswick
>143 bell7: Surprised really? It is about where I thought it would be, Mary!
145bell7
>144 PaulCranswick: To be honest, I'm not sure exactly what I *was* expecting. But I read a lot more fantasy and you a lot more poetry, so maybe I was thinking a little lower in the 12-15% range. Looking over what we overlap on, though, a lot of the titles are classics and that does make sense to me. Some of them are books I read a long time ago or specifically for college, so perhaps not first in my mind as ones we would've overlapped on.
If you do break it down for other members, I'll be curious to see what the range is like.
If you do break it down for other members, I'll be curious to see what the range is like.
146PaulCranswick
>145 bell7: I will be surprised if there are many that get to over 50% like I did with Kristel. So so far on a sample size less than 10% of the active members of the group the range is from 52.72-4.10%
147booksaplenty1949
>139 PaulCranswick: Speaking of similar libraries I see that you own Spies of the Balkans which I started recently and am greatly enjoying.
148SilverWolf28
Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/373973
149atozgrl
>139 PaulCranswick: I have to apologize because I have many more books than I have managed to get cataloged. So my catalog on LT is incomplete. I am adding all my new books as they come in, and I'm also now including books I read from the library (since 2023), but I don't have the library books from earlier, so there are many things I've read that aren't in my catalog. Since a lot of those are classics, I'm sure there's more overlap that isn't currently showing up. The library I have in the house must be at least 3 times what I have cataloged, maybe quite a bit more. I really need to get on the cataloging, which I enjoy, but I'm trying to keep up with my reading. I can't do both at the same time.
150PaulCranswick
>147 booksaplenty1949: I have read a couple of Alan Furst books and thoroughly enjoyed them. I like the settings and the scenarios he details.
>148 SilverWolf28: Thank you Silver. As usual I am playing catch up and have far too many books ongoing at the same time.
>148 SilverWolf28: Thank you Silver. As usual I am playing catch up and have far too many books ongoing at the same time.
151PaulCranswick
>149 atozgrl: I find that really interesting, Irene, because I have slightly less books in actuality than I have catalogued because I do have (a relatively small wishlist of books too). I do have some books that I find are not catalogued which is usually only when I come to read them. Since my house is overrun with books and my apartment in Sheffield also has a goodly number I would be hard pressed to say definitively how many books I currently own. I have given plenty away over the years, Yasmyne gave some of my books to her school library that was given in error and there are plenty of books that I read at a younger age that I no longer own.
152vancouverdeb
I am not surprised that we share quite a few books, Paul, as you have so many books in your library on LT. I agree, what we read doesn't have is not a big indicator of who we are friendly with on LT.
153humouress
>139 PaulCranswick: I'm surprised we have that many in common especially as, apart from a few classics and so on, the 91 (mine says 89) they're mainly fantasy.
154PaulCranswick
>152 vancouverdeb: But it doesn't hurt either, Deb, does it?!
I do know that I am not everybody's cup of tea and some of our number avoid my threads either because they move too quickly or they don't like my views or my content. That is life and I am fine with it.
I can honestly say that I sincerely like everyone in this group and there isn't a single thread/member that I would not visit or whose visit here I would not be happy to see.
I remember one of our friends expressing the view that I was too needy and that my wanting everyone to like me was unattractive. I think that he/she had a valid point and I have tried very hard to be a bit more chilled about stuff like responding to posts and reciprocating visits and so on. I always try to be polite to everyone who visits (I think I mostly succeed but possibly not always) and to respond to everyone who takes the time to post here.
I am very comfortable that I usually have 40 to 50 friends visiting each of my threads and I am so grateful for my many friends in this group (you very much included, Deb). xx
I do know that I am not everybody's cup of tea and some of our number avoid my threads either because they move too quickly or they don't like my views or my content. That is life and I am fine with it.
I can honestly say that I sincerely like everyone in this group and there isn't a single thread/member that I would not visit or whose visit here I would not be happy to see.
I remember one of our friends expressing the view that I was too needy and that my wanting everyone to like me was unattractive. I think that he/she had a valid point and I have tried very hard to be a bit more chilled about stuff like responding to posts and reciprocating visits and so on. I always try to be polite to everyone who visits (I think I mostly succeed but possibly not always) and to respond to everyone who takes the time to post here.
I am very comfortable that I usually have 40 to 50 friends visiting each of my threads and I am so grateful for my many friends in this group (you very much included, Deb). xx
155PaulCranswick
>153 humouress: Isn't it funny that our respective pages should have a different number of shared books. I would guess that your numbers would be far higher in terms of shared books with Lucy, Susan (quondame) and Roni.
156SirThomas
Addendum to your last thread, Paul—I thought of another advantage of the eBook reader. It has a built-in translator, which is very helpful when I read books in their original language.
And we share 5.27% of your books, or 15.27% of my books...
Have a wonderful weekend.
And we share 5.27% of your books, or 15.27% of my books...
Have a wonderful weekend.
157CDVicarage
>139 PaulCranswick: I had to look at my figures, too! We share 7.39% of your books and 13.78% of mine. You have roughly twice as many books in your catalogue than I have in mine. Although I'm a bit surprised that the overlap is so low I have noticed in the past that the touchstones you use (on the right hand side) never have many books in may catalogue.
158richardderus
>154 PaulCranswick: Someone's armchair psychology degree got them ahead of their sensitivities. Still, you've taken it in good part, a more gracious response than I could've mustered so kudos to you.
Your threadsmanship is clearly the best in the group, a broad cross-section of the folk find reasons to visit. More would do well to emulate not critique success....
Your threadsmanship is clearly the best in the group, a broad cross-section of the folk find reasons to visit. More would do well to emulate not critique success....
159booksaplenty1949
>152 vancouverdeb: I would nuance this observation. Many here keep up with current fiction, especially prize winners, while I prefer to leave a bit of time for the cream to rise to the top. So I rarely own anything newly-published. But that’s a different situation from someone whose library is largely fantasy or romance novels—-genres which hold no appeal for me, regardless of date.
I do acquire some books solely for the cover art. Not sure I’ve actually read anything by Somerset Maugham, but determined to get all his novels published by Penguin in 1971 because when all 19 books are properly assembled the covers, designed by Derek Birdsall and photographed by Harri Peccinotti form a composite picture of great interest. https://mikedempsey.typepad.com/graphic_journey_blog/2009/06/between-the-covers....
Also want to get all of HP’s Penguin covers for the novels of Iris Murdoch, a writer I can’t stand. Book hoarding, I mean collecting, is a complicated business.
I do acquire some books solely for the cover art. Not sure I’ve actually read anything by Somerset Maugham, but determined to get all his novels published by Penguin in 1971 because when all 19 books are properly assembled the covers, designed by Derek Birdsall and photographed by Harri Peccinotti form a composite picture of great interest. https://mikedempsey.typepad.com/graphic_journey_blog/2009/06/between-the-covers....
Also want to get all of HP’s Penguin covers for the novels of Iris Murdoch, a writer I can’t stand. Book hoarding, I mean collecting, is a complicated business.
160PaulCranswick
>156 SirThomas: Yes, I hadn't thought of that and real time translation must be really helpful. I will try it with either French or Malay and see if I can appreciate the reading experience.
I would have thought that around 15% of my friends' books would be close to my average.
>157 CDVicarage: I must admit Kerry that I always like the diverse books that you manage to get through each year but a lot of the books you read are not as easily available to me over here.
I would have thought that around 15% of my friends' books would be close to my average.
>157 CDVicarage: I must admit Kerry that I always like the diverse books that you manage to get through each year but a lot of the books you read are not as easily available to me over here.
161PaulCranswick
>158 richardderus: That is such a wonderful post for me to receive as I have always held you and your posting and reading exploits in such esteem.
>159 booksaplenty1949: There is someone after my own heart as I love collecting books by an author issued in a single publishing stint. I remember buying most of Muriel Spark's novels in such a way. I think that I have actually read all of Maugham's major fiction and he used to be, with Graham Greene, my absolute favourite author.
>159 booksaplenty1949: There is someone after my own heart as I love collecting books by an author issued in a single publishing stint. I remember buying most of Muriel Spark's novels in such a way. I think that I have actually read all of Maugham's major fiction and he used to be, with Graham Greene, my absolute favourite author.
162booksaplenty1949
>161 PaulCranswick: I am also trying to collect all of HP’s Penguin covers for Muriel Spark, although I actually also enjoy reading her novels. Must at least give Somerset Maugham a try. I’ve enjoyed several movies made from his works.
163PaulCranswick
>162 booksaplenty1949: I think that Spark's books are a bit hit and miss for me. There are probably four or five which I really liked and a similar number I think are ok and the rest leave me a bit cold.
Maugham can read a bit dated these days but that is no bad thing in my own book! If you like short stories his four volume collected stories are well worth a try.
Maugham can read a bit dated these days but that is no bad thing in my own book! If you like short stories his four volume collected stories are well worth a try.
164PaulCranswick
Friday lunchtime additions:
351. The Feeling of Iron by Giaime Alonge
352. Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth
353. Herscht 07769 by Laszlo Krasznahorkai
354. Cold Victory by Karl Marlantes
355. The White Bear by Henrik Pontoppidan
Alonge's book looks good - a sort of Holocaust thriller (see Odessa File and Boys from Brazil both of which I liked). Howarth's debut novel was an award winner. Krasznahorkai is one of the most challenging authors alive. His novel is apparently written in one long extended sentence. Marlantes is an interesting chap and there are a few lovely new translations of Pontoppidan's work so I had to add one of them.
351. The Feeling of Iron by Giaime Alonge
352. Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth
353. Herscht 07769 by Laszlo Krasznahorkai
354. Cold Victory by Karl Marlantes
355. The White Bear by Henrik Pontoppidan
Alonge's book looks good - a sort of Holocaust thriller (see Odessa File and Boys from Brazil both of which I liked). Howarth's debut novel was an award winner. Krasznahorkai is one of the most challenging authors alive. His novel is apparently written in one long extended sentence. Marlantes is an interesting chap and there are a few lovely new translations of Pontoppidan's work so I had to add one of them.
165Kristelh
A more gracious person, I do not know, Paul. Glad to visit your thread and you're always welcome to visit me. And glad to share so many books which is what its all about! Happy start of the weekend.
166figsfromthistle
Apparently we share 428 books
167PaulCranswick
>165 Kristelh: Awww, thanks for saying that, Kristel.
You have a wonderful weekend too.
>166 figsfromthistle: I am a bit perplexed why the numbers differ slightly because mine says we share 430 books. Strange.
You have a wonderful weekend too.
>166 figsfromthistle: I am a bit perplexed why the numbers differ slightly because mine says we share 430 books. Strange.
168PaulCranswick
When I do finally resettle in the UK I am becoming increasingly worried about the ever increasing cost of living and the expanding tax burden on properties via stamp duty which is amongst the highest in the world.
169atozgrl
>158 richardderus: I agree completely with what Richard said here.
170PaulCranswick
>169 atozgrl: Aw, Irene, you will have me a-blushing. xx
171booksaplenty1949
>163 PaulCranswick: “Dated” is not necessarily a deal-breaker for me. I greatly enjoyed Fame is the Spur at your recommendation, having previously ignored Howard Spring as a writer appealing to my parents’ generation.
172PaulCranswick
>171 booksaplenty1949: I am a real sucker for that era of writing as you know. How Green is My Valley is another one that I like for similar reasons. More recent but in the same vein would be:
To Serve Them All My Days by R.F. Delderfield
Docherty by William McIlvanney
and
Saville by David Storey
To Serve Them All My Days by R.F. Delderfield
Docherty by William McIlvanney
and
Saville by David Storey
173CDVicarage
>172 PaulCranswick: 'Dated' can be lovely for me but it can also be horrible - too much sexism, imperialism, classism etc. For many books there is a period when they are dated but then after a while they become historical, when these aspects become, not acceptable, but 'of their time' and can be allowed for, I find.
174booksaplenty1949
>172 PaulCranswick: Quite the range of reviews for Saville!
175booksaplenty1949
>173 CDVicarage: I appreciate the fact that you recognise that the crucial phrase is “for me.”
176PaulCranswick
>173 CDVicarage: There isn't any colonialism or sexism as far as I recall in those I have mentioned, Kerry, but a lot of working class struggles.
>174 booksaplenty1949: It did win the Booker Prize but that doesn't mean too much I suppose as the quality and range of those winners is so varied. Storey is from the same town as John Simpson and myself and also wrote the excellent This Sporting Life about the tough Northern sport, Rugby League.
>174 booksaplenty1949: It did win the Booker Prize but that doesn't mean too much I suppose as the quality and range of those winners is so varied. Storey is from the same town as John Simpson and myself and also wrote the excellent This Sporting Life about the tough Northern sport, Rugby League.
178EllaTim
Hi Paul! This was fun to look up: we share 89 books, not a whole lot, but all good ones. And there are 599 recommendations for books I could borrow from you. Unfortunately not so easy in real life.
Your threads are always interesting, and informative. And you are a very good host!
Your threads are always interesting, and informative. And you are a very good host!
179amanda4242
Hi! There's a new group I thought might interest you, my poetry loving friend.
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24862/The-Poetry-Collective
Hope your weekend is going well.
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24862/The-Poetry-Collective
Hope your weekend is going well.
180mdoris
>139 PaulCranswick: Is that "Mary" me? I think it might be as I think we share 353 books. That is pretty amazing! Hope you are having a great weekend! xx
181PaulCranswick
>178 EllaTim: Well if you were a bit closer geographically, Ella, I would lend you whatever you wanted to read!
>179 amanda4242: Thanks for that Amanda, I will go and have a gander at the group.
>179 amanda4242: Thanks for that Amanda, I will go and have a gander at the group.
182PaulCranswick
>180 mdoris: It is indeed you my dear lady. Similarly, best regards for the weekend from Malaysia to Canada! xx
184PaulCranswick
>183 avatiakh: It is about time I started to, Kerry, isn't it? It will be my 60th year and I have toyed already with a few ideas, like debut novels, for example.
I am open to suggestions for sure!?
I am open to suggestions for sure!?
185Familyhistorian
>139 PaulCranswick: You don't even show up under my shared books, Paul, so I can't compare your figures and mine. Interesting stats though.
186avatiakh
>184 PaulCranswick: I'm working my way through my collection and culling books. Finding many attractive reads so that got me wondering.
Maybe short stories, novellas, anthologies, collections, essays, poetry, diaries, epistolary. Not sure if I could come up with a whole year of these types of reads.
My own focus will be on New Zealand & Australia books, having just gone through a cupboard of my NZ collection.
Maybe short stories, novellas, anthologies, collections, essays, poetry, diaries, epistolary. Not sure if I could come up with a whole year of these types of reads.
My own focus will be on New Zealand & Australia books, having just gone through a cupboard of my NZ collection.
187Deern
>154 PaulCranswick: As we can‘t „like“ posts (that’s the first time ever I missed that feature here on LT, no need to add it!), just sending a (((hug))) for this one
188PaulCranswick
>185 Familyhistorian: That does surprise me Meg. How I did it was to look at your profile books and scroll until I see Books You Share.
>186 avatiakh: As you know, Kerry, I do like ANZAC fiction but I recall that you did a good job of the same challenge previously. I have done Asia, Africa and now a tour of Europe. I started the British challenge which Amanda now does so much better. I suppose the American continent awaits South and Central America and the Caribbean have not been featured really yet.
>186 avatiakh: As you know, Kerry, I do like ANZAC fiction but I recall that you did a good job of the same challenge previously. I have done Asia, Africa and now a tour of Europe. I started the British challenge which Amanda now does so much better. I suppose the American continent awaits South and Central America and the Caribbean have not been featured really yet.
189PaulCranswick
>187 Deern: The hug is gratefully accepted, Nathalie. I was not whingeing about it honestly, but at the time I was a little upset because the person that seemed to have had more than enough of me in the group is someone I like and respect a lot.
190PaulCranswick
Yesterday was officially the slowest day on record in the group with only 76 posts by the top 140 posts. Five hours to go today and we have already passed that low.
I didn't post much myself either.
I didn't post much myself either.
191PaulCranswick
Well I did finally get the NETFLIX account sorted out and watched The Thursday Murder Club.
I can certainly see some of the criticisms that have been made of it - it was painfully slow at times and, despite the stellar cast, I thought only Celia Imrie and Jonathan Pryce looked really engaged with it. Pierce Brosnan did not look and certainly didn't sound like an ex-Union kingpin and his accent was terrible.
That said I did actually like some of the plot switches from the book but overall I think as a piece it only partially succeeded.
Hani tells me I should watch Back Rabbit.
I can certainly see some of the criticisms that have been made of it - it was painfully slow at times and, despite the stellar cast, I thought only Celia Imrie and Jonathan Pryce looked really engaged with it. Pierce Brosnan did not look and certainly didn't sound like an ex-Union kingpin and his accent was terrible.
That said I did actually like some of the plot switches from the book but overall I think as a piece it only partially succeeded.
Hani tells me I should watch Back Rabbit.
192PaulCranswick
I realize that my reading this month has been far too ambitious and has not legislated for my excessive tiredness and work commitments.
I have four chunksters of more than 500 pages long which I am making my way through slowly and although enjoying them I seem to have stressed myself unduly by wanting to finish all of them this month. Around these I keep starting other books to speed up my reading getting a little way in and moving onto another one.
I really need to concentrate myself more properly as I am floundering right now.
I have four chunksters of more than 500 pages long which I am making my way through slowly and although enjoying them I seem to have stressed myself unduly by wanting to finish all of them this month. Around these I keep starting other books to speed up my reading getting a little way in and moving onto another one.
I really need to concentrate myself more properly as I am floundering right now.
194booksaplenty1949
>192 PaulCranswick: Work is one thing. Reading is about pleasure and self-renewal. A schedule which defeats this purpose is clearly a mistake. We will love you the same whether you get through The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire this week or call it a day with Peter Rabbit.
195PaulCranswick
>193 mdoris: Thank you dear Mary.
>194 booksaplenty1949: Well that made me smile. xx
You are right if it becomes too much of a race or a deadline the fun goes right out of it.
>194 booksaplenty1949: Well that made me smile. xx
You are right if it becomes too much of a race or a deadline the fun goes right out of it.
196PaulCranswick
>183 avatiakh:
I will put it out there........
The only continent of the main populated ones that I haven't yet done a challenge on is the greater American continent (North, Central, South and Caribbean).
Would there be any interest in having a challenge that tours some of the lesser trodden paths of that literature?
I wouldn't want to tread on the toes of the American Author Challenge which already covers the USA so magnificently and we have previously had a Canadian Author Challenge.
I was thinking :
First Nation/Native Americans
Hispanic Americans
Mexican Authors
West Indies Authors (as per my Cricketing background)
Cuban Authors
Franco-Caribbean Authors
Anglo-Caribbean Authors
Brazilian Authors
Argentinian Authors
Chilean Authors
Colombian Authors
The Rest of the Continent / Wildcard
It will be completely a voyage of discovery for me too as I am least familiar with the wider continent's literature than any other but I am certainly willing to explore it with all of you.
I will put it out there........
The only continent of the main populated ones that I haven't yet done a challenge on is the greater American continent (North, Central, South and Caribbean).
Would there be any interest in having a challenge that tours some of the lesser trodden paths of that literature?
I wouldn't want to tread on the toes of the American Author Challenge which already covers the USA so magnificently and we have previously had a Canadian Author Challenge.
I was thinking :
First Nation/Native Americans
Hispanic Americans
Mexican Authors
West Indies Authors (as per my Cricketing background)
Cuban Authors
Franco-Caribbean Authors
Anglo-Caribbean Authors
Brazilian Authors
Argentinian Authors
Chilean Authors
Colombian Authors
The Rest of the Continent / Wildcard
It will be completely a voyage of discovery for me too as I am least familiar with the wider continent's literature than any other but I am certainly willing to explore it with all of you.
197booksaplenty1949
>195 PaulCranswick: Not just the fun, but the whole purpose. It’s like trying to sprint through an art gallery.
198PaulCranswick
>197 booksaplenty1949: Yes, I realize that you are right. I'm going to try and go back to just enjoying my reading and not get too focused on some of the challenges that require me to read faster than my own pace.
199booksaplenty1949
>198 PaulCranswick: The challenges are great in that they broaden my horizons and also encourage me to finally read books I’ve had on my shelf for years. If the challenge turns into a homework task I’ve missed the point.
200PaulCranswick
>199 booksaplenty1949: 100%. It is when you over burden yourself to speed read on pre-set target for numbers of books etc that I will eventually fall to pieces.
201vancouverdeb
I picked up a chunkster from the library today, ,Paul.The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai. I might read it next,more likely if it makes the Booker Short list on Tuesday.
202PaulCranswick
THE LESSER TRODDEN PATHS OF PAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE
Native and First-Nation American
Bad Cree by Jessica Johns
House Made of Dawn by N. Scott Momaday
The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich
There There by Tommy Orange
Fools Crow by James Welch
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
Big Chief by Jon Hickey
The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Fortune Smiles by Adam Johnson
Native and First-Nation American
Bad Cree by Jessica Johns
House Made of Dawn by N. Scott Momaday
The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich
There There by Tommy Orange
Fools Crow by James Welch
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
Big Chief by Jon Hickey
The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Fortune Smiles by Adam Johnson
203louisisaloafofbreb
:o my English teacher was talking about Tommy orange! That exact book too!
204PaulCranswick
>201 vancouverdeb: The few people that I have seen that have reviewed the book so far are quite positive about it, Deb. Long though! Not available here at all just yet.
>203 louisisaloafofbreb: I have read that one, Lily, but not yet his follow up book which was also well received.
>203 louisisaloafofbreb: I have read that one, Lily, but not yet his follow up book which was also well received.
205louisisaloafofbreb
>204 PaulCranswick: Oooo I havnt read any of his books yet, but from what my English teacher said i'll have to check him out.
206avatiakh
>196 PaulCranswick: That sounds good. I've got a number of Latin American books on my shelves.
207PaulCranswick
>205 louisisaloafofbreb: I liked his debut novel, Lily, and his follow up is said to be as good if not better than the debut.
208PaulCranswick
>206 avatiakh: I will start planning then Kerry. It will be interesting for me because my knowledge of the subject matter is a little on the weaker side compared to other possible destination.
210booksaplenty1949
>200 PaulCranswick: My favourite line on this is from a Woody Allen movie, where he mentions that he recently took a speed-reading course. “For the final exam we read War and Peace. (pause) It concerns Russia.”
212PaulCranswick
>210 booksaplenty1949: It is a shame that Woody Allen is persona non grata these days because some of his early movies were genuinely funny.
>211 Kristelh: Thank you, Kristel.
>211 Kristelh: Thank you, Kristel.
213EllaTim
>208 PaulCranswick: I’m certain it will be an interesting challenge Paul.
>202 PaulCranswick: I liked the books you showed here!
>202 PaulCranswick: I liked the books you showed here!
214PaulCranswick
>213 EllaTim: 2026 may be my swansong for hosting challenges so I will put as much effort as I can into it, Ella. I do like those covers too!
215DebiCates
A little birdie told me that you like poetry. A lot. (amanda4242)
She also said you were a person who responds to everyone. I admire that. What a feat. I just started LT a month ago (still also on GR) and slowly am building up my social skills here. I'm already a tad overwhelmed. Who says LT isn't social enough?!
But, I just had to say hello to you and let you know, if you are interested, in a little group called The Poetry Collective I started. Each Saturday we look at one poem, posted by a member as per a roster I'm trying to keep up to date. You'd be more than welcome and would be a lovely contributor, I'm sure. In the meantime, I hope I can keep up and follow your thread. I've seen a lot of things you do here that intrigue me, most recently the message about books on Native and First-Nation American. I'm a sucker for including book covers.
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24862/The-Poetry-Collective
She also said you were a person who responds to everyone. I admire that. What a feat. I just started LT a month ago (still also on GR) and slowly am building up my social skills here. I'm already a tad overwhelmed. Who says LT isn't social enough?!
But, I just had to say hello to you and let you know, if you are interested, in a little group called The Poetry Collective I started. Each Saturday we look at one poem, posted by a member as per a roster I'm trying to keep up to date. You'd be more than welcome and would be a lovely contributor, I'm sure. In the meantime, I hope I can keep up and follow your thread. I've seen a lot of things you do here that intrigue me, most recently the message about books on Native and First-Nation American. I'm a sucker for including book covers.
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24862/The-Poetry-Collective
216PaulCranswick
>215 DebiCates: Thank you so much for getting in touch, Debi. I would be honoured to try to join in with The Poetry Collective and it sounds like a fascinating idea. People who appreciate or even like poetry are becoming an endangered species so we should definitely stick together!
Amanda is definitely one of my firmest friends in the group and you will always be made welcome here.
Amanda is definitely one of my firmest friends in the group and you will always be made welcome here.
217amanda4242
>216 PaulCranswick: You will no doubt be shocked by The Poetry Collective's membership list. *cough*Richard*cough*
218richardderus
>216 PaulCranswick: Don't get too impressed, PC, as Debi is my friend on GR as well I was required by politesse to join the group, so the enemy is also within the gates.
ETA I see >217 amanda4242: beat me to it!
ETA I see >217 amanda4242: beat me to it!
219PaulCranswick
>217 amanda4242: I did notice and comment upon that rather surprising inclusion, Amanda.
>218 richardderus: And the phrase "poultry" did not appear in your musings there yet dear fellow! Any friend of yours will be a friend of mine and I have to say the group looks fascinating - for the agnostic as well as the already converted!
>218 richardderus: And the phrase "poultry" did not appear in your musings there yet dear fellow! Any friend of yours will be a friend of mine and I have to say the group looks fascinating - for the agnostic as well as the already converted!
220amanda4242
>219 PaulCranswick: I was certainly shocked! I thought his account might have been hacked!
221PaulCranswick
>220 amanda4242: Hahaha. One thing I must say about Richard whilst he isn't looking is that I know of few people who supports their friends as consistently as he does, although you would run him mightily close!
222amanda4242
>221 PaulCranswick: Although I am a curmudgeon*, I find it easy to be kind to people like you: people who are so very kind themselves.
*Is there a minimum age requirement for curmudgeons? I may be a bit young for the appellation. Maybe "junior curmudgeon" or "curmudgeon in training"?
*Is there a minimum age requirement for curmudgeons? I may be a bit young for the appellation. Maybe "junior curmudgeon" or "curmudgeon in training"?
223richardderus
>222 amanda4242: I'm often referred to as "Mudge" because someone 30+ years ago elided "curmudgeon" into that; it fits so I've always worn it with pride. Maybe you could elide some syllables too?
224amanda4242
>223 richardderus: Alas, if I used the term in RL I fear I'd spend much of my time having to explain what a curmudgeon is and why I would be happy to be called one even in a shortened form.
225PaulCranswick
>222 amanda4242: I seem to gravitate towards the grumpy, Amanda!
>223 richardderus: As much as you know I like you, RD, the epithet does rather suit you, dear fellow!
>223 richardderus: As much as you know I like you, RD, the epithet does rather suit you, dear fellow!
226PaulCranswick
>224 amanda4242: I think only one Mudge perhaps, Amanda. Ms. Mudge maybe?!
227DebiCates
>224 amanda4242: LOL! Sad, but I relate. My daughter often smiles a certain smile at me when I use words that are not common in the West Texas vernacular. She is never stumped by it though, my very well read grown child/now mother who also would have to explain "curmudgeon."
I depend on her to explain things like incel and intersectionality and various new concepts very interesting to me.
ETA: I should probably have said "new-ISH" concepts. I'm perpetually catching up with the times. Happily so.
I depend on her to explain things like incel and intersectionality and various new concepts very interesting to me.
ETA: I should probably have said "new-ISH" concepts. I'm perpetually catching up with the times. Happily so.
228DebiCates
>222 amanda4242: I predict a new word being formulated as we speak, on its way coming into vogue! I'll be asking my daughter what it means soon.
229DebiCates
>218 richardderus: ...so the enemy is also within the gates.
“He drew a circle that shut me out-
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle and took him In!”
― Edwin Markham
BWAHAHAHA. Bad, sappy poetry will be the special demerits for you, Richard.
“He drew a circle that shut me out-
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle and took him In!”
― Edwin Markham
BWAHAHAHA. Bad, sappy poetry will be the special demerits for you, Richard.
230PaulCranswick
>227 DebiCates: Indeed, Debi. I do worry about the reduced vocabulary of the younger generation but I also acknowledge that they are 'sort of' introducing new words at a reasonable rate too.
>228 DebiCates: Hahaha
>228 DebiCates: Hahaha
231PaulCranswick
>229 DebiCates:
An Imperfect Markham in Reverse
She sketched a square that drew me in
Believer, conformist eager to begin.
Now despising hatred that will always lose
By sketching a square that she could chose.
An Imperfect Markham in Reverse
She sketched a square that drew me in
Believer, conformist eager to begin.
Now despising hatred that will always lose
By sketching a square that she could chose.
232DebiCates
>231 PaulCranswick: What? LOL! That could be a thing, you know. Maybe it already is. Taking well known poems and turning them inside out. Love it, Paul. Could even be a contest for the truest blue poetry geeks..."what poem is this a reverse of?"
ETA if it's not already a thing...we could dub them Cranswicks.
ETA if it's not already a thing...we could dub them Cranswicks.
233PaulCranswick
>232 DebiCates: It is a reverse of yours posted in >229 DebiCates:, Debi. I think it is generally referred to as "Outwitted".
Why it is an imperfect reverse is for two reasons.
Firstly I have taken many of the words and used their antonyms but rather clumsily. Secondly the imperfection is that I have done so without changing the basic import of the epigram.
Why it is an imperfect reverse is for two reasons.
Firstly I have taken many of the words and used their antonyms but rather clumsily. Secondly the imperfection is that I have done so without changing the basic import of the epigram.
234DebiCates
>233 PaulCranswick: I stand by my suggestion. An imperfect reverse that keeps the basic import then should be called a Cranswick. :) It will become quite a beautiful form of its own, I think.
235PaulCranswick
>234 DebiCates: I won't be able to repeat the feat so often, I'm sure.
In the group doing a "Cranswick" normally refers to a wantonly excessive splurge of book buying as I have been known to acquire the odd book or twenty.
In the group doing a "Cranswick" normally refers to a wantonly excessive splurge of book buying as I have been known to acquire the odd book or twenty.
236DebiCates
>235 PaulCranswick: LOL! That's also a "Cates" in this here part of Texas.
Seriously, I have so little self-discipline. Just opened up some mail, 3 books I ordered, while I'm still in my 2025 Read What You Own/No Buy Year. Argh.
Seriously, I have so little self-discipline. Just opened up some mail, 3 books I ordered, while I'm still in my 2025 Read What You Own/No Buy Year. Argh.
237PaulCranswick
>236 DebiCates: I have started each year with the resolution of reading more than I add - I now have 14 years of abject failure to look back on. I have added more than a thousand book in 3 of those 14 years.
238DebiCates
>237 PaulCranswick: Oh my!!!!! THAT's a Cranswick. I do at least have very limited space that forces a modicum of self-control. I try, and mostly succeed in "no books stacked on the floor." It does, however, mean culling regularly.
239PaulCranswick
>238 DebiCates: I know and often, when Hani my long suffering wife, is in Malaysia (she is currently in Sheffield in the UK enjoying her granddaughter) I have to resort to smuggling books into the family home.
240DebiCates
>239 PaulCranswick: Oh yeah, I recognize that behavior. Back when I was married, I would enjoy taking a few hours early off from work on Fridays. My glass of red wine you might say. I'd come in the house sans books. I'd sneak them in from my car when he was off on a weekend errand. Not sure that was a good partner thing to do. Now I do as I please and still feel kind of secretive about it. Snort!
241atozgrl
>215 DebiCates: Welcome, Debi! Based on this exchange, I'd say you are going to fit in very well here on LT, and with the 75ers.
242PaulCranswick
>240 DebiCates: I smiled at the picture created of leaving the books in the car until an opportune moment presented itself! Back in the days when my business was quite successful and I had my driver the wonderfully dutiful Azim. I would go in through the main door to greet my beloved whilst Azim would sneak my books in through the side door into the waiting and pliable arms of my maid, the world's best coffee maker, Erni.
>241 atozgrl: Lovely to see you Irene and - you are right - my thoughts entirely on the likelihood of fitting in.
>241 atozgrl: Lovely to see you Irene and - you are right - my thoughts entirely on the likelihood of fitting in.
243richardderus
>229 DebiCates: I shall Loftily Ignore your raillery and japes at my expense.
*hmmf*
>241 atozgrl: speaketh sooth.
*hmmf*
>241 atozgrl: speaketh sooth.
244booksaplenty1949
Some people apparently have the opposite problem: they don’t read books much and have consequently little interest in patronising bookstores, but they want to LOOK like well-read sophisticates. This is where a service like this comes in https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/12/26/books-by-the-foot-washington-d... . COVID and the rise of Zoom was of course a major boost for business. There is an LT group specifically dedicated to bookshelves—-I think the name is “If You Build Them, They Will Fill.” So true.
245PaulCranswick
>243 richardderus: Raillery and japes have their place, RD.
>244 booksaplenty1949: Where is the fun in buying books by the foot unless of course you have read the burb on all of em and have hatched a plan as to how you are going to live until 120 just to read them all?
>244 booksaplenty1949: Where is the fun in buying books by the foot unless of course you have read the burb on all of em and have hatched a plan as to how you are going to live until 120 just to read them all?
246booksaplenty1949
>245 PaulCranswick: I think the books in question are otherwise on death row—slated to be pulped because they are individually unsaleable—so chances of finding items of actual interest are slim. I did visit a bookseller who had recently acquired several hundred Everyman volumes in quarter-leather binding that had been on display at someone’s mansion. Apparently never opened by previous owner, but one would find enough there to keep you going for several decades, I imagine.
247DebiCates
>241 atozgrl: Thank you Irene. I'm getting the hang of LT slowly. But making friends quickly. Happy days.
248DebiCates
>242 PaulCranswick: Blow me down. I see all I needed was a driver and a maid! I think, though, I misbudgeted. Spent too much on books.
ETA: It's always been a conundrum. Books or bills. Books or bills.
ETA: It's always been a conundrum. Books or bills. Books or bills.
249DebiCates
>243 richardderus: See, Richard? Poetry can be FUN!
250DebiCates
>246 booksaplenty1949: Me, salivating over those Everymans. In pristine condition.
They would not be in that condition if I had them. My books are all bound in "read." So, I don't know why I salivate.
They would not be in that condition if I had them. My books are all bound in "read." So, I don't know why I salivate.
252DebiCates
I remember seeing ads back in the day for books by the foot. They all were Reader's Digest Condensed volumes, remember those? If the goal was to appear well-read, um, that would be a wump, wump, FAIL.
253DebiCates
>251 richardderus: After a year with The Poetry Collective, let's see, shall we? And yes, that is a gauntlet thrown, Sir.
254richardderus
>253 DebiCates: In eleven years, PC (our host) and Joe Welch (grandson of THE Joseph Welch who destroyed McCarthy for us, and @jnwelch here) have convinced me to like ONE (1) poet's single work of poetic translation.
I'd wish you luck but it's fruitless. *smug smile*
I'd wish you luck but it's fruitless. *smug smile*
255PaulCranswick
>246 booksaplenty1949: Sometimes we can be surprised looking through piles of seemingly unwanted books and come across a gem or two.
I would have loved to have found the Everyman volumes.
>247 DebiCates: I remember joining the group in 2011 and being a little bit overawed at first but I was made so welcome by some of the lovely people here, one or two of whom are no longer with us. I am sure that everyone here will be warm and welcoming Debi.
I would have loved to have found the Everyman volumes.
>247 DebiCates: I remember joining the group in 2011 and being a little bit overawed at first but I was made so welcome by some of the lovely people here, one or two of whom are no longer with us. I am sure that everyone here will be warm and welcoming Debi.
256PaulCranswick
>248 DebiCates: Not quite as grand as it sounds (now I don't have my driver anymore especially with the kids all grown and flown and me chained to my desk at Merdeka 118). I'll never be rich spending so much of my income on reading matter!
>249 DebiCates: I'm sure that this will elicit a response!
>249 DebiCates: I'm sure that this will elicit a response!
257PaulCranswick
>250 DebiCates: I understand the salivation, Debi, since I am doing the self same thing.
>251 richardderus: Mmm does not even the beautifully lyrical language of Dylan Thomas cast its spell on you a little, RD? For me the finest weaver of words ever:
And death shall have no dominion.
Dead men naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.
from "And Death Shall Have No Dominion"
>251 richardderus: Mmm does not even the beautifully lyrical language of Dylan Thomas cast its spell on you a little, RD? For me the finest weaver of words ever:
And death shall have no dominion.
Dead men naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.
from "And Death Shall Have No Dominion"
258booksaplenty1949
>255 PaulCranswick: Seller did allow me to stroke the spines wistfully.
On the other hand, a leather-bound Everyman copy of Speke’s Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile purchased solely because it had clearly never been opened (those full leather Everyman bindings are quite fragile, alas) was the gateway drug to about 40 more books on the subject of Nile exploration. Where are the warning labels?
On the other hand, a leather-bound Everyman copy of Speke’s Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile purchased solely because it had clearly never been opened (those full leather Everyman bindings are quite fragile, alas) was the gateway drug to about 40 more books on the subject of Nile exploration. Where are the warning labels?
259PaulCranswick
>252 DebiCates: Oh yeah I wouldn't have picked those up. One of my uncles had a huge collection of those things.
>253 DebiCates: Quick I better clear a space and move the tables and chairs aside since gauntlet are being thrown down. I wonder if RD with his dodgy back will be able to pick it up?!
>253 DebiCates: Quick I better clear a space and move the tables and chairs aside since gauntlet are being thrown down. I wonder if RD with his dodgy back will be able to pick it up?!
260DebiCates
>254 richardderus: Eleven years is a quite long time. In all seriousness, how many poems do you figure you have read now? It's a puzzling phenomenon for a voracious reader such as yourself. Do you dislike fiction that is, as they say, "lyrical"?
Of course, I'm curious about that ONE poet's SINGLE work of poetic translation. It must be a doozy.
P.S. Yay for the Welch family! Any chance they are up for more destroying of those who are taking away personal freedoms? I'm so ready for the spectacular fiery end of this repugnant era.
Of course, I'm curious about that ONE poet's SINGLE work of poetic translation. It must be a doozy.
P.S. Yay for the Welch family! Any chance they are up for more destroying of those who are taking away personal freedoms? I'm so ready for the spectacular fiery end of this repugnant era.
261PaulCranswick
>254 richardderus: Simon Armitage is one of the good guys for sure, RD.
Joe is also as I stated to you elsewhere, Debi, one of the most knowledgeable chaps I know about poetry - especially American poetry. And he dabbles in scribbling the stuff with more effect than I do myself.
A real top man but don't tell him I told you so!
>255 PaulCranswick: That made me smile. I should probably have a bodyguard every time I go to the bookstore each Friday expressly to limit my acquisitional excesses!
Joe is also as I stated to you elsewhere, Debi, one of the most knowledgeable chaps I know about poetry - especially American poetry. And he dabbles in scribbling the stuff with more effect than I do myself.
A real top man but don't tell him I told you so!
>255 PaulCranswick: That made me smile. I should probably have a bodyguard every time I go to the bookstore each Friday expressly to limit my acquisitional excesses!
262booksaplenty1949
I think that many teachers, perhaps not sure themselves what a poem is about, encourage the idea that “the poem is within you” and it can mean anything you want it to mean. Predictable response is often “So why bother reading it in the first place?” When readers are encouraged to look for things like subjects and verbs they often find ideas and emotions to relate to.
264richardderus
>257 PaulCranswick: *yawn*
Self-indulgently plangent heartstring-tugging by a serially womanizing alcoholic? Not interested, thanks.
Self-indulgently plangent heartstring-tugging by a serially womanizing alcoholic? Not interested, thanks.
265richardderus
>260 DebiCates: As PC says in >261 PaulCranswick: the Welch family tree produced most estimable fruit of the poetaster varietal in our Joe. Visiting his thread will feel like a homecoming, I predict.
I'm not ever going to assume lyricism is evidence of good writing because I've been doing the dirty deed since 1974. The more lyrical something is the more carefully I look at what it's saying. If that holds up (far more rarely than I'd like) lyrical, pretty sentences can give the most delightful, memorable decorations for the braincase. (I keep my commonplace book on Goodreads, which come to think on it would be a great feature to add here that I didn't think to suggest silly ol' bugger that I am.)
But
weird line-breaks and
no punctuation do
not by them-
selves make vapid maunderings worth
reading.
I'm not ever going to assume lyricism is evidence of good writing because I've been doing the dirty deed since 1974. The more lyrical something is the more carefully I look at what it's saying. If that holds up (far more rarely than I'd like) lyrical, pretty sentences can give the most delightful, memorable decorations for the braincase. (I keep my commonplace book on Goodreads, which come to think on it would be a great feature to add here that I didn't think to suggest silly ol' bugger that I am.)
But
weird line-breaks and
no punctuation do
not by them-
selves make vapid maunderings worth
reading.
266DebiCates
>262 booksaplenty1949: I am trying to think of when I was "taught" poetry. I don't recall that I ever was; we did move around a lot when I was a kid. Maybe that was figuratively dodging a bullet?
Oh. One work I had to study. Paradise Lost by Milton, for an O level. That could have been the murder of poetry. Luckily, by then I already knew I liked poetry, just not that kind.
My granddaughter had an assignment to use poetry in a personal memoir assignment in high school. She blew me away with her choices; they were so good. They were lyrics from songs she loved. She said she didn't think she liked poetry. I assured her she already did.
Oh. One work I had to study. Paradise Lost by Milton, for an O level. That could have been the murder of poetry. Luckily, by then I already knew I liked poetry, just not that kind.
My granddaughter had an assignment to use poetry in a personal memoir assignment in high school. She blew me away with her choices; they were so good. They were lyrics from songs she loved. She said she didn't think she liked poetry. I assured her she already did.
267PaulCranswick
>260 DebiCates: Never mind RD, Debi, I couldn't answer that question myself either. I'm guessing over 50,000.
268PaulCranswick
>262 booksaplenty1949: I'm not sure that you can teach poetry above a few general pointers. I often find myself unable to get in tune with what a poet might try to be saying and often I find much of the modern stuff decidedly unpoetic.
>263 DebiCates: My good friend's posts often have that impact on me too!
>263 DebiCates: My good friend's posts often have that impact on me too!
269booksaplenty1949
>264 richardderus: First part of your sentence is a review, which I can respect if not agree with. But second part is argumentum ad hominem. Bad people can write very good books, and vice versa.
270PaulCranswick
>264 richardderus: That is why I like you so much RD - when you aren't sure about something you are not shy of admitting it!
>265 richardderus: I will always join you in fandom of the Joe!
I do
Get
Why you don't
Care for some
Of the pretension
In both old
& new
Poultry.
>265 richardderus: I will always join you in fandom of the Joe!
I do
Get
Why you don't
Care for some
Of the pretension
In both old
& new
Poultry.
271booksaplenty1949
>268 PaulCranswick: Well, I did it for many years. No doubt many students signed up because course description pointed out that poems were comparatively short, but I think most of them left with the sense that this was an emotional economy that could pack a punch.
272PaulCranswick
>266 DebiCates: Milton for O'Level is almost cruel!
There is some great poetry in song lyrics IMHO.
>269 booksaplenty1949: Well indeed. I can actually enjoy some of Ezra Pound's poetry and he was a confirmed fascist and all round dreadful chap.
One thing the giants of American literature in the early and middle 20th C shared was a love of the bottle: London, Lewis, O'Neill, Steinbeck, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Faulkner Williams and Kerouac were more often than not, sozzled.
There is some great poetry in song lyrics IMHO.
>269 booksaplenty1949: Well indeed. I can actually enjoy some of Ezra Pound's poetry and he was a confirmed fascist and all round dreadful chap.
One thing the giants of American literature in the early and middle 20th C shared was a love of the bottle: London, Lewis, O'Neill, Steinbeck, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Faulkner Williams and Kerouac were more often than not, sozzled.
274richardderus
>269 booksaplenty1949: As someone who likes several of Cèline's novels, your point is granted. I heap contumely on someone whose work AND life I strongly dislike without apology.
275richardderus
>270 PaulCranswick: Pretension is inherent in the act of writing, seems to me...it's the preening insistence that Poetry Is Art that prose writers should seek to emulate that repels me forcefully.
276PaulCranswick
>274 richardderus: I think we are free to like or dislike; praise or criticize whoever and whatever we like so long as we are able to articulate cogently those opinions and you do that at least as well as anyone I know. I don't agree with you on much of "poultry" and on Chuckles but I always admire the manner of your expressed distaste.
277PaulCranswick
>275 richardderus: And it is certainly true that a lot of "poets" have failed miserably when it comes to the more mundane tasks of writing novels or stories. Usually because they get lost in the words and forget to tell or have no story to tell.
278richardderus
>277 PaulCranswick: ...and there it is...the implicitly assumption that writing a novel, or essay, or any form of prose is mundane. We even use the word "prosaic" to mean quotidian, humdrum...it's baked in linguistically and culturally.
And it's wrong.
And it's wrong.
279PaulCranswick
>278 richardderus: There we are in agreement RD, I was trying to be ironic with my reference to mundane.
280amanda4242
>254 richardderus: You may also like Simon Armitage's translation of The Owl and the Nightingale. It's a Middle English poem about trash talking birds.
281richardderus
>279 PaulCranswick: I was clear about your intent, knowing you this long, but it's worth pointing out the cultural assumptions behind everyday language. Old queer men tend to notice these things in a way y'all don't and can't (thank goodness). "Prosaic" didn't really strike that note with me until I typed it in an excoriation of *poetry lovers avert your eyes* a poem by Philip Larkin. Don't even remember which one now...but suddenly the fundamental assumption that Poetry=Art slapped me hard.
Why? I wondered...I still wonder. I completely agree with you, BTW, that some of the best poetry is actually in song lyrics.
Why? I wondered...I still wonder. I completely agree with you, BTW, that some of the best poetry is actually in song lyrics.
282richardderus
>280 amanda4242: Given my above tirades, it might genuinely shock you that I have, and that it was really enjoyable.
*this post will self-destruct in 60 seconds*
*this post will self-destruct in 60 seconds*
283amanda4242
>282 richardderus: HAH! I knew you had to like more than one poem!
284richardderus
>283 amanda4242: You have no evide...
...
...
...damn self destruct sequence! what a time to quit on me!
...
...
...damn self destruct sequence! what a time to quit on me!
285amanda4242
>284 richardderus: No evidence? What about https://www.librarything.com/work/25918/reviews/110544661
286PaulCranswick
>280 amanda4242: Simon Armitage has also been in a rock band called the Scaremongers, by the way, and one of his books is a collection of his song lyrics.
This is one of their songs "Less is More". SA is the "singer". Like myownself he has retained his West Yorkshire accent even when singing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FmO7sszvLQ&list=RD2FmO7sszvLQ&start_rad...
>281 richardderus: The world weary musings of Larkin are not for everyone, RD, I will grant although I do appreciate his attempt to take the pretentiousness out of verse.
Elvis Costello would be a favourite lyricist.
This is one of their songs "Less is More". SA is the "singer". Like myownself he has retained his West Yorkshire accent even when singing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FmO7sszvLQ&list=RD2FmO7sszvLQ&start_rad...
>281 richardderus: The world weary musings of Larkin are not for everyone, RD, I will grant although I do appreciate his attempt to take the pretentiousness out of verse.
Elvis Costello would be a favourite lyricist.
288PaulCranswick
>282 richardderus: It is a beautifully illustrated book too.
>283 amanda4242: Armitage is from Marsden, near Huddersfield, teaches in Leeds and used to be a Probation Officer in Manchester.
I am from Wakefield which is in between Huddersfield and Leeds and started work in the UK working for a company in Ashton Under Lyne, Manchester.
>283 amanda4242: Armitage is from Marsden, near Huddersfield, teaches in Leeds and used to be a Probation Officer in Manchester.
I am from Wakefield which is in between Huddersfield and Leeds and started work in the UK working for a company in Ashton Under Lyne, Manchester.
290amanda4242
>289 PaulCranswick: You'd probably like La Vita Nuova.
291PaulCranswick
>287 humouress: If Richard's lines had been written by Terrance Hayes then we would have some dummy telling us that the genius has struck again.......rather RD's point, I think, Nina.
292PaulCranswick
>290 amanda4242: I probably would get something from it, Amanda, but I have always had issues with poetry in translation as it often doesn't work for me.
293amanda4242
>287 humouress: If he'd mentioned cats, I would have KNOWN he'd been hacked!
294amanda4242
>292 PaulCranswick: I know what you mean, but I've had good experiences with Dante.
295PaulCranswick
>293 amanda4242: Indeed!
>294 amanda4242: Yeah, I think we are really at the mercy of there being a skillful translator.
>294 amanda4242: Yeah, I think we are really at the mercy of there being a skillful translator.
296PaulCranswick
Double posted. I think that something is telling me it is time for sleep.
297amanda4242
>295 PaulCranswick: Dante seems to attract quality translators—probably because no one without the skills would dare to try!
298amanda4242
>296 PaulCranswick: I think there's a bug that's causing duplicate posts and threads, but sleep would no doubt do you good!
299PaulCranswick
>297 amanda4242: Let me see who translated the copy I currently own.
>298 amanda4242: Yes and Yes. XX
>298 amanda4242: Yes and Yes. XX
300richardderus
>285 amanda4242: I point out the date of that review is before one of the greatest mental-health crises of my entire life, and leave it at that.
...although I still like that Dante/rap thing I dreamed up....
...although I still like that Dante/rap thing I dreamed up....
301amanda4242
>300 richardderus: I'll be nice and not go hunting for more recent reviews. ;)
302richardderus
>287 humouress: C-a-ts were ne'er mooted blessèly.
And it looks like a poem because The Diabolical Pavlov in the system has perverted your senses to perceive its ugliness as such.
And it looks like a poem because The Diabolical Pavlov in the system has perverted your senses to perceive its ugliness as such.
303richardderus
>297 amanda4242: More like would know how to begin to try...he was not writing for a mass audience and assumed the reader would understand his references, which even educated Italians of 2025 would not reliably do.
Howinahell does anyone set about explaining Guelph-v-Ghibelline to people who don't already know a lot about history?
Howinahell does anyone set about explaining Guelph-v-Ghibelline to people who don't already know a lot about history?
304amanda4242
>303 richardderus: I first heard about Guelph v. Ghibelline in a general history class, but I know I'm atypical because I was actually paying attention to the lesson.
305richardderus
>304 amanda4242: So you were already better informed than the immense bulk of people are, or even aspire to be. It's not obviously useful to learn about History when you're not also taught that politics is what becomes History in every age.
306PaulCranswick
>300 richardderus: I would have thought that Dante's themes were not designed to put you in the best frame of mind.
>301 amanda4242: Not sure that you were very convincing there, Amanda.
>301 amanda4242: Not sure that you were very convincing there, Amanda.
307PaulCranswick
>302 richardderus: I will admit that I look at quite a proportion of modern 'poetry', RD, and think "that is NOT poetry".
>303 richardderus: History is my thing too, RD, but depends on the era and the area, I suppose. I'm not like the parent who went to school to complain that the teaching of history is simply not fair because his kid was being asked about things that happened before he was even born.
>303 richardderus: History is my thing too, RD, but depends on the era and the area, I suppose. I'm not like the parent who went to school to complain that the teaching of history is simply not fair because his kid was being asked about things that happened before he was even born.
309PaulCranswick
>304 amanda4242: I went to a half-decent state school in Northern England, Amanda, and our history lessons were simply a joy. My favourite teacher taught both English and History and she made both so compelling that I have been hooked ever since.
>305 richardderus: Or that it is invariably only the winners that dictate historical record.
>305 richardderus: Or that it is invariably only the winners that dictate historical record.
310PaulCranswick
>308 richardderus: I know. You are sometimes a bad influence on me. I am definitely more critical than I used to be.
311PaulCranswick
THE BOOKER PRIZE shortlist has been announced and despite most reviews that I have seen making Seascraper and Endling the best two books, both have not made the shortlist.
Kiran Desai
Ben Markovits
Katie Kitamura
Susan Choi
Andrew Miller
and David Szalay make up the shortlist
Kiran Desai
Ben Markovits
Katie Kitamura
Susan Choi
Andrew Miller
and David Szalay make up the shortlist
312amanda4242
>311 PaulCranswick: I snagged a copy of The Land in Winter from NetGalley; I really need to get to it soon.
313Kristelh
>311 PaulCranswick:. I was surprised that Markovits book beat out Seascraper and Endling. I hadn’t read them but the reviews were always high for those two and not so much for The Rest of Our Lives. I’ve read two from the short list.
314PaulCranswick
>312 amanda4242: I thought it was pretty good, Amanda. A bit slow moving but good. I didn't like it quite as much as Deb did but I think it deserved its spot.
>313 Kristelh: I did see one or two much more positive responses to Markovitz's book recently Kristel so I am not entirely surprised but I did think that Wood and Reva would make the cut.
>313 Kristelh: I did see one or two much more positive responses to Markovitz's book recently Kristel so I am not entirely surprised but I did think that Wood and Reva would make the cut.
315PaulCranswick
By the way I am starting this morning :
316booksaplenty1949
>172 PaulCranswick: Your mention of Llewelyn’s HGWMV led me to its page where there were a number of “thumbed” reviews which waxed very lyrical about this book. I mean, these were people who reread it regularly. A copy of it turned up today when I was packing books for the annual book sale I volunteer with so I felt compelled to liberate it and have dipped in. Full report to follow.
317PaulCranswick
>316 booksaplenty1949: I am currently one for one with Fame is the Spur so I do hope to maintain my consistency in advocating British books from this era.
This topic was continued by Paul's Grand European Tour 19 .
