Group Reading Log: August 2011

Last month of winter!

I'm still reading The Tiger's Wife which isn't grabbing me quite as much as I'd hoped, but it's still good. Maybe if I got enough sleep, I'd be able to concentrate more on reading (and hence enjoy the book more).

I am reading an e-version of Act of Mercy by Peter Tremayne but my house is being packed up at the moment ready for THE BIG MOVE and although there is nothing much that I can do I am finding it a bit distracting and can't settle to reading so it may take a while to get through it.

Good luck with The Big Move, Pink!

I'm here... I remembered... And it's only 1st August!! :D

I'm still reading The Tenderness of Wolves. Not that far in yet, but it's a good'un.

Yes, All the Best with THE BIG MOVE, pinkozcat!!

.... I finished The Body ..... will be interesting to discuss at meeting this week. But I needed something lighter after that so am now reading The Sweetness at the bottom of the Pie :)

Ooh, I've got The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie on the shelves somewhere - let us know how you liked it, Carole!

Re. the big move. Thank you all for your good wishes; I am going to need them. We are moving in three months late, settlement was held up for 48 hours because Multiplex hadn't completed its paperwork, and the whole thing has been months of stress.

Never deal with Multiplex if you don't have to; they seem to be somewhat inefficient about some things..

The packing up seems to be going very quickly and efficiently, though. My poor house - I have lived here since 1964 and it is all a bit of a wrench.

Yes, all the best, minnie... :-) Must be a HUGE wrench to leave your lovely house, but hopefully once there you'll settle in well and enloy it.

I've always had a thing against Multiplex. Too big for their own boots. And my attitude was not helped by knowing one of the Robert's sons back in the 90s via the aero club where I used to fly. I did a navigation theory course with him . . . and . . . well, the less said the better!! *They do have big expensive lawyers working for them after all.*

Once again I have been off line and barely reading for quite a while. I have read Generation A by Douglas Coupland and Year Zero by Jeff Long. Both were decent reads, though Generation A was the better of the two in my opinion. I am still reading I, Avatar, Sophie's World and Essential Asatru. I don't have a e-book reader either, but I am reading I, Avatar on Kindle for PC.

I've paused on The Tiger's Wife while I catch up on some sleep so I can concentrate better. Only, I'm now staying up even later every night madly reading the very addictive Tainted Blood (aka Jar City) by Arnaldur Indriðason. Hm. Not the way it was supposed to happen.

Okay, I finished The Tiger's Wife and I was disappointed. I never got into the swing of the story, the narrator didn't ring true (she just came across as one-dimensional), and while I may not always understand what's happening in a magical realism story, I do expect to *believe* what's happening. And, nope, I didn't. Especially towards the end, where characters just seemed to die randomly. And the jumping around in time didn't work for me, I couldn't keep it straight in my head (although that's usually not a problem).

I think maybe with a bit more understanding of Balkan history, it would have made a bit more sense. But I've read other books knowing nothing about the history of the region involved, and gone away knowing more, and enjoying that learning.

Plus, there were some sentences that I re-read and re-read and they never ever made sense. (And "kite" is not a verb. Hate being thrown out of a story so I can translate some wanky writing.)

Other people are raving, I'm not one of them. (Okay, I liked the story of the deathless man, that was pretty cool.)

Overall, just a sense of frustration with it all. First Orange Prize winner that's bombed for me!

While reading The Tiger's Wife, I did also read Jar City and volumes 1 & 2 of Mike Carey's The Unwritten. Never a good sign, picking up other books while reading a book.

Jar City was a great read, I powered through it in two days, could barely keep my nose out of it. The first volume of The Unwritten ("Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity") was good, but it was the second volume that I really loved, ("Inside Man"). Hanging out for volume 3 now...

And then, due to a sick day yesterday (coff snuffle wheeze sneeze whinge), I also read The Jungle Book, because Kipling turns up in The Unwritten and Shere Khan is referred to repeatedly in The Tiger's Wife. (And I think she got it wrong, Shere Khan in The Jungle Book is not the creature of beauty and menace that she wanted him to be.)

Anyway, now reading The Remains of the Day and having a fabulous time.

I have been busy moving house for the last week but managed to read The Haunted Abbott by Peter Tremayne and have just started on Feet of Clay for the umpteenth time.

#11> I have been corrected elsewhere: "kite" is a verb, meaning "to soar". (But it still threw me out of the reading moment with a "wth?", so it's still annoying.)

Really enjoying The Remains of the Day, an excellent read. And no "wth?" moments with the writing. :)

Finished The Remains of the Day (another very fast read!) and thought it was marvellous. Well worth reading. And now I have to track down the movie!

Moved onto The Sisters Brothers. Would much rather be reading it now, than being at work (slacking off reading LT forums, ahem).

I finally finished The Tenderness of Wolves and loved it. Solid plot, even if it does mostly involve small groups of people following each other about in the wilds of Northern Canada in an 1867 winter! *lol* Also good characterisation and well written. Interesting, compassionate, intelligent; and includes women who aren't doormats or clotheshangers.

Next I'll have a very quick skim/reread of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas for my book group, followed by Green Oranges on Lion Mountain.

And I really must also get to The Remains of the Day soon. I've had it on my shelf for an age and everyone says how good it is. And it's short...

Oh, I hope to find time to read The Tenderness of Wolves soon, but, you know, book greed at the library struck again. (I should stop being surprised.) Apparently I have 9 books due back this weekend, but scanning the list I see that 5 of them are for the kids. Phew.

The Remains of the Day is not long (I wouldn't quite call it short, but obviously it's one of those subjective terms), but I found it surprisingly easy and quick to read. Gobbled it up.

As I am doing with The Brothers Sisters - I took it with me at lunch and made sure I ordered something I could eat with one hand (hurrah for chopsticks!) and got through another 50 pages while scarfing up noodles.

>16 wookiebender:: Yes . . . definitely stop being surprised! *grin*

Okay, I've finished The Sisters Brothers and it was a great read, but just missed out on a full five stars for getting a bit crazy towards the climax. Of course, it's about sociopaths, it should get crazy, but I just didn't quite buy it. Rest of the book was brilliant though, highly recommended for those who are not faint of heart or stomach.

I have now moved on to a completely different tale with Edith Wharton's Summer.

Oh, downloaded and (very!) quickly read A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift. An interesting read when I was feeling rather grumpy with the kids (is it so hard to *listen*???) - I was more supportive of his proposal today than I may have been on any other day. ;)

LOLOL - I love A Modest Proposal.

Someone else wrote a paper on the practicality, during famine, of eating the excess population, thus reducing the need for feeding a large number of people and feeding those who survived. Not babies, though ... that was Swift and the Irish entirely .

I finished The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie back in early August and I enjoyed it .... needed something light, but I loved the setting and the tone ..... Now reading Remarkable Creatures for bookclub.... but reading is slow (so tired) ...
#15 crimson-tide, I downloaded a couple of podcasts to listen to from BBC World Bookclub last week, one of them was an interview with John Boyne about The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

>21 Carole888:: Yes, I think I may have heard that interview. If not that one, then I've definitely heard him being interviewed on a RN Book Show podcast... 'Twas interesting.

#20> Pink, you mean they wrote a *serious* article? Or was it a satire, like Swift's? (Please let it be a satire...)

I'm getting quite addicted to the RN Book Show podcasts. And an American one called "Books on the Nightstand", which is only weekly, sadly, but which is very friendly and chatting. (And, amusingly, the podcasters have that rising inflection that makes everything sound like a question, and which I thought was fairly unique to Australia. Obviously not.)

Finished Summer, which was good, if rather gothic. I think I prefer her upper-class NY stories, which are excellent.

Have moved on to Jamrach's Menagerie which is long listed for the Booker, and was short listed for the Orange Prize. Good so far, if leaning towards the purple in its lush descriptions.

#23 I assumed that the article was satirical and was just carrying Swift's idea a bit further. But looking at those poor Somali people I don't think that there would be much for anyone - and that was simply following the idea to its logical conclusion.

I am re-reading Jingo for a bit of light relief after a couple of Sister Fidelma books, by Peter Tremayne, which I enjoy but all those Irish names .......

He kindly provides a guide to pronunciation which simply makes me wonder why they don't write phonetically; although I will always defend the right of the Irish to spell their own language however they want to.

I agree wookie, the book podcasts are pretty addictive. I try to listen whenever I'm out on working around the property. My regulars are the RN Book Show, the Guardian Books podcast, and the BBC World Book Club. There are also good ones that come out after the various Writers' Festivals. My mates all wonder at how come I seem to know so much about books I haven't read! *lol*

Pink, they can spell however they want, so long as they don't mind us non-Irish unintentionally mangling their names. :)

Crimson-tide, I also just can't believe that RN can put out 40 min a day just on books! Although it's good to know that we're not the only book obsessives.

Jamrach's Menagerie was a pretty good read, but I did have quibbles with all the over the top descriptive passages and it never really felt like an authentic voice. And there was a very, very long bit that reminded me of Frodo and Sam crossing Mordor: bleak, bleak, bleak, hungry, bleak. Not a resounding success, but the plot was good enough that I never really wanted to put it down.

Have since moved on to a Georgette Heyer, because I can't think too clearly this weekend. Stupid cold. I'm finding Charity Girl a delightful romp. Love all the Regency slang and fashions (Petersham trousers!) she puts in everywhere. Why doesn't the BBC do some Heyer adaptations?

Wookie, it would certainly save them from having to keep making newer and newer versions of Pride and Prejudice and would make a nice change; they are very amusing.

They might also think about dramatising her murder books to save us from endless Miss Marbles and Hercule Poirots.

I am still re-reading some of my Pratchett books as an antidote to Sister Fidelma; she was getting to annoy me a bit.

I know, the world doesn't really need *another* Pride and Prejudice or Jane Eyre! Not for at least another decade, I reckon.

They could reuse the sets, costumes, props etc from all the Jane Austen adaptations, too. :)

Charity Girl was good fun, I do like how it always takes me a while to work out where the plot is going in a Heyer novel (they're never completely predictable), and I'm glad I've still got a few of her books on the shelves because this head cold does not seem to want to go away.

But have moved on to Kim by Kipling for the time being. Rather good read, so far.

I am back with Sister Fidelma - reading The Council of the Cursed.

And I have downloaded three more books by Donna Leon which I am looking forward to reading. I would recommend her books to anyone who likes their cozy mysteries with Venetian flavour.

Hey pinkozcat, how's the new abode? Did the big move go OK and have you settled in?

Hi crimson-tide - the move was unbelievable stressful but I am settling in. I had people in to unpack for me and I'm still finding things in unexpected places or not being able to find things which I need. However I have got to the stage where I am starting to organise things into more logical places and eventually I will have things more to my liking.

The place was very badly designed and except for the view and the gym, which I use every day, it is certainly not worth the money I paid for it. But it is very central and convenient.

Well, I'm glad you're settling in. I've got the first Donna Leon book (Death at La Fenice), I must bounce it up Mt TBR a bit.

I have not read Death at La Fenice. I am not reading them in order but rather as Kobo lists them. I don't think that one is published as an e-book but I haven't looked for a while. I'll be interested to know what you think of her books.

I have a stack of Donna Leon's Brunetti books on my shelf. I've read a couple and enjoyed them and will eventually get to the others... ;-)

I wouldn't really call them 'cosy mysteries' though, as he is a policeman. But they are definitely more gentle and considered than your usual police procedurals.

Chief Inspector Appleby; Roderick Alleyne?

My definition of cozy is to have a total lack of psychopathic killers. I like my murders gentle.

My definition of "cozy" is an amateur sleuth - Miss Marple, Amelia Peabody are my favourites - Precious Ramotswe is probably the least amateur of the lot, but her mysteries are definitely still cozy. But one can be a police procedural and still be on the warmer, fuzzier, cozier side of crime novels.

Still reading Kim. :) It's a good read, I've just not been making enough time to read this week.

.... I love cozy mysteries ..... Have recently discovered Marjory Mcclellend but have read the second book before the first. Has anyone read the first book Million Dollar Baby? I also like the Miss Silver mysteries though have only read a few.

I finished Remarkable Creatures Have mixed feelings about Chevalier as her writing varies. I was really interested in the story, though and wanted to see the fossils (wish I could hold them) so have been madly googling to find out more .... I seem to have seen some of them without realising a few years ago at the Natural History Museum in UK for I took pictures. Was like a child in a playground unable to focus on one thing ... for we only had a few hours there ... and I also went looking for the Bookcrossing Shelf ... among other things that were on my mind ... including the painting of The Conjurer's Bird .... (laugh everyone, laugh!!)

Have just got to Thirty-Three Teeth which I'm enjoying ... and have to finish for it is due back at the Library soon.

#32> Good to hear that you are settling in pinkozcat :)

Oh sadness .... had to give up Thirty-Three Teeth as it was actually overdue ..... and wanted by someone else. Have to wait for it to come back again .... (sigh!) .... couldn't bear to part with it. Now reading Strange Objects

I've just started reading The Coffee Story by Peter Salmon. I discovered it yesterday at the Melbourne Writers' Festival. He gave a reading from it, and was later involved in a panel discussion about Satire in Australian fiction. Good so far- about 20 pages in. (Got him to sign it too- so yay me!)

I've almost finished Friends in High Places by Donna Leon. Then I'll probably be back to Sister Fidelma.

#40> Oh, yay! for the Melbourne Writers' Festival! I just bought Machine Man - I assume Max Barry was mentioned in the discussion of Australian satire? Looking forward to this one, he's usually very entertaining.

I finished Kim and thought it was an excellent book. Like The Jungle Book, I wish I'd read it as a kid. And it went places I wasn't expecting. Not a very plot-driven book (there was no exciting climax or anything), but a great romp. This is probably one of his more "colonial" books (the English are definitely the good guys, although the characters are all native), and there's a great sense of the love he had for India.

I've since moved on to Cargo by Jessica Au, which got a great review on RN's The Book Show. It's a good story, a coming-of-age tale set on the Victorian coast one summer in the early 1990s. Nicely written, and definitely not overstaying its welcome (I'm a fan of the short book at the moment ;).

Forgot to say that I finished Green Oranges on Lion Mountain a while back. It's an entertaining and very interesting true tale of a young woman doctor's two year voluntary stint in Sierra Leone in the early nineties. She arrived about six months prior to the start of the civil war, and despite the war she did stay the two years. Fascinating story.

And NOW *drum roll* I have actually begun reading the elusive Shantaram! Not far into it yet though. Despite it's doorstop size and smallish print it does seem a relatively easy read. Good line spacing, thank goodness...

And also reading The Holmes Affair by Graham Moore. This was pushed onto me by a friend at my last book group who asked for my opinion. Apparently her daughter told her she 'must read it' as it was one of the best books she'd read, and my friend really couldn't get into it. Must have wanted some backup before telling her daughter it wasn't all that great I guess. *lol* And it's not all that great either, although I guess if you were a Sherlock Holmes / Arthur Conan Doyle fan it may resonate better? It's a fictional story based on elements of fact, alternating between the late nineteenth century and early twenty-first century. OK but not that great. I did start Shantaram after I started reading this one, so that must say something... ?

Cargo was a good read, worth checking out.

I've now started Bossypants by Tina Fey, which is making me chuckle out loud. I'm not sure which bits are true, or if any of it is true, but it's a great read.

ETA: crimson-tide, I don't mind a bit of Holmesian pastiche (or the original stories), but hadn't heard of that one.

And (running the risk of repetition), Bossypants was a good read, worth checking out.

Especially if you're a Liz Lemon fan, like me.

Moving on to Sadie Jones' Small Wars.