Selaws
Well-Known Member
My wife just bought a copy of Gone Girl over the weekend so I will read it once she has finished
2024 Reading Challenge
- Thread starter Selaws
- Start date
Fleetwood-Matt
Well-Known Member
Oh awesome! Have you seen the movie?
Selaws
Well-Known Member
I have and I really liked it, so it’s great to hear the book expands on it a bit.
Selaws
Well-Known Member
Book 8: The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (Penguin Books Ltd, 2000)
This was an interesting read. Really captivating at times and chaotic at others. Im still not sure what I think about it.
This was an interesting read. Really captivating at times and chaotic at others. Im still not sure what I think about it.
Book 7 - Your Song Changed My Life by Bob Boilen
I finished this book this morning. My wife got it for me for Xmas. It was a good, light read, which was good timing since the family room renovation has the house disrupted and has taken up a lot of my time.
Anyway, it wasn't what I thought it was. Boilen interviews musicians and asks them what song blew their mind, opened it, kicked off their passion for music, etc. I assumed it was a book of his favorite songs.
The other interesting thing is that it was written almost a decade ago, so I found his takes on some artists that hadn't quite broken out yet to be really cool. (Like Sturgill Simpson before Sailor's Guide.)
I finished this book this morning. My wife got it for me for Xmas. It was a good, light read, which was good timing since the family room renovation has the house disrupted and has taken up a lot of my time.
Anyway, it wasn't what I thought it was. Boilen interviews musicians and asks them what song blew their mind, opened it, kicked off their passion for music, etc. I assumed it was a book of his favorite songs.
The other interesting thing is that it was written almost a decade ago, so I found his takes on some artists that hadn't quite broken out yet to be really cool. (Like Sturgill Simpson before Sailor's Guide.)
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
One of my favourites!
Mr Moore
Well-Known Member
March 2024
I realised half way through the month that I'd posted February's reads over in the other book thread so here's a link to that for anyone following here but not there.
Book 16: Paul Auster - Moon Palace
Third in my Auster chronological readthrough. Gotta say, I struggled with this one and I'm starting to wonder whether I'm just growing out of Auster's writing or if due to reading more varied stuff, I'm finding voices that I just prefer. The thing is, this is a reread and I'm absolutely certain I loved it 25 years ago, to the point that I know I've recommended it to several other people. It just didn't do much for me this time. I have this thing with coincidences in stories that can sometimes be a little charming and other times downright dumb and almost lazy, and this felt like it's bordering on the latter as person after person and event after event collided to illustrate an incredibly small world. The writing is lovely and there were elements of the great work I remember but, overall I don't think I recommend this at this point in my life.
Book 17: Kathy Acker - Blood and Guts in High School
Meh. Again, I suspect my younger self would have made more of this but right now, it did next to nothing for me. Always transgressive, frequently pornographic, violent and both. This story told through prose, poetry, pictures, Farsi to English language lessons, diagrams, maps, plays (including stage directions), it's a wild collage of storytelling but for me, it was just hard, hard work with very little payoff.
Book 18: F. Scott Fitzgerald - Tender is the Night
Now this was a great book. A fairly simple story of the breakdown in a marriage filled with complex characters living out their life of American wealth between the wars on the European riviera. Fitzgerald's writing is so incredibly rich, often dense to the the point of forcing you to reread any given line or paragraph to squeeze the massive amount of meaning or context he's adding to an event or character. Really, really excellent read.
Book 19: Monica Ali - Brick Lane
Another belter about marital troubles, this time in a contemporary East End of London. Arranged by her father, Nazneen is transported from her home in Bangladesh to a Tower Hamlets housing estate where she struggles to understand her place in the world outside of being a wife. After getting involved with sewing at home to make extra money, (her husband is educated so allows her to work), she becomes embroiled in a relationship with a young man who delivers her garments, initially following his political teachings and eventually in a passionate affair. It's something I'll never be truly able to understand but, the book does an excellent job of showing the differences of East and West cultures and how despite best efforts, the two frequently collide with explosive results.
Book 20: J.M. Coetzee - Waiting For the Barbarians
First Coetzee for me and what an amazing way to start. Such a good tale of a nameless Empire in a nameless land. A magistrate of 20 years leads a peaceful relationship between the residents of the settlement and the indigenous people in the area. This is brought to an abrupt halt when the Empire sends members of their elite Third Bureau to oversee matters following rumours that the 'Barbarians' plan to wage a war against the settlers. Love, passion, politics, colonialism, loyalty and treason all play their part in this astoundingly written story.
I realised half way through the month that I'd posted February's reads over in the other book thread so here's a link to that for anyone following here but not there.
Book 16: Paul Auster - Moon Palace
Third in my Auster chronological readthrough. Gotta say, I struggled with this one and I'm starting to wonder whether I'm just growing out of Auster's writing or if due to reading more varied stuff, I'm finding voices that I just prefer. The thing is, this is a reread and I'm absolutely certain I loved it 25 years ago, to the point that I know I've recommended it to several other people. It just didn't do much for me this time. I have this thing with coincidences in stories that can sometimes be a little charming and other times downright dumb and almost lazy, and this felt like it's bordering on the latter as person after person and event after event collided to illustrate an incredibly small world. The writing is lovely and there were elements of the great work I remember but, overall I don't think I recommend this at this point in my life.
Book 17: Kathy Acker - Blood and Guts in High School
Meh. Again, I suspect my younger self would have made more of this but right now, it did next to nothing for me. Always transgressive, frequently pornographic, violent and both. This story told through prose, poetry, pictures, Farsi to English language lessons, diagrams, maps, plays (including stage directions), it's a wild collage of storytelling but for me, it was just hard, hard work with very little payoff.
Book 18: F. Scott Fitzgerald - Tender is the Night
Now this was a great book. A fairly simple story of the breakdown in a marriage filled with complex characters living out their life of American wealth between the wars on the European riviera. Fitzgerald's writing is so incredibly rich, often dense to the the point of forcing you to reread any given line or paragraph to squeeze the massive amount of meaning or context he's adding to an event or character. Really, really excellent read.
Book 19: Monica Ali - Brick Lane
Another belter about marital troubles, this time in a contemporary East End of London. Arranged by her father, Nazneen is transported from her home in Bangladesh to a Tower Hamlets housing estate where she struggles to understand her place in the world outside of being a wife. After getting involved with sewing at home to make extra money, (her husband is educated so allows her to work), she becomes embroiled in a relationship with a young man who delivers her garments, initially following his political teachings and eventually in a passionate affair. It's something I'll never be truly able to understand but, the book does an excellent job of showing the differences of East and West cultures and how despite best efforts, the two frequently collide with explosive results.
Book 20: J.M. Coetzee - Waiting For the Barbarians
First Coetzee for me and what an amazing way to start. Such a good tale of a nameless Empire in a nameless land. A magistrate of 20 years leads a peaceful relationship between the residents of the settlement and the indigenous people in the area. This is brought to an abrupt halt when the Empire sends members of their elite Third Bureau to oversee matters following rumours that the 'Barbarians' plan to wage a war against the settlers. Love, passion, politics, colonialism, loyalty and treason all play their part in this astoundingly written story.
terrybivins
New Member
just finished reading "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig. It is 10/10
Very excited to start this one tonight. I'm 3 for 3 so far in my one book a month challenge. I'm just a super slow reader but when I find something good, I jump all into it. I've also found I'm more interested in historical non-fiction. What's interesting about this choice is I took something I do with records and applied it to a book. Covers of albums have gotten me to purchase a record with no prior knowledge of the artist or listening to the music. Madvillainy being the best example that comes to mind. This was one I saw on a trip to Barnes and Noble and knew I had to try it out. Found out later it was by the Killers of the Flower Moon author.
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Book 17
Black Ceasars and Foxy Cleopatras: A History of Blaxploitation Cinema by Odie Henderson
A comprehensive overview 70s Black cinema, loaded with historical context, stories from behind the scenes and the author's personal anecdotes. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.
Black Ceasars and Foxy Cleopatras: A History of Blaxploitation Cinema by Odie Henderson
A comprehensive overview 70s Black cinema, loaded with historical context, stories from behind the scenes and the author's personal anecdotes. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.
I loved that book, and read it way quicker than most other books I've read recently. So gripping. I've been recommending it to anyone who will listenVery excited to start this one tonight. I'm 3 for 3 so far in my one book a month challenge. I'm just a super slow reader but when I find something good, I jump all into it. I've also found I'm more interested in historical non-fiction. What's interesting about this choice is I took something I do with records and applied it to a book. Covers of albums have gotten me to purchase a record with no prior knowledge of the artist or listening to the music. Madvillainy being the best example that comes to mind. This was one I saw on a trip to Barnes and Noble and knew I had to try it out. Found out later it was by the Killers of the Flower Moon author.
I've never read any Coetzee, maybe this one will be my first too.
This sounds pretty interesting, I think I'll add it to my list.
Hemotep
Well-Known Member
Coetzee is great. My favorites are Elizabeth Costello, Foe, and Life & Times of Michael K. But Elizabeth Costello is number one by far. She's kind of his literary alter ego.
Hemotep
Well-Known Member
Btw, same reaction to reading Auster now. I don't find his work as compelling as I did when I was younger, but there is something in his prose that I do still enjoy.
I love Acker, but it's an aesthetic experience more than anything else. With my love of postmodern pastiche she's near the top of that form.
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Book 18
WWE 50 by Kevin Sullivan
Seems fitting, though it was pure happenstance, to be finishing this up in the middle of Wrestlemania weekend. I'm not watching, nor do I know who is competing, but I've been feeling some strong nostalgia recently for the eras of wrestling I did follow. This is a nice breezy read — a coffee table style book that does a great job of covering the basics of 50 years. It doesn't delve into any controversal behind the scenes stuff and definitely toes the company line, but it's well put together and enjoyable enough.
WWE 50 by Kevin Sullivan
Seems fitting, though it was pure happenstance, to be finishing this up in the middle of Wrestlemania weekend. I'm not watching, nor do I know who is competing, but I've been feeling some strong nostalgia recently for the eras of wrestling I did follow. This is a nice breezy read — a coffee table style book that does a great job of covering the basics of 50 years. It doesn't delve into any controversal behind the scenes stuff and definitely toes the company line, but it's well put together and enjoyable enough.
jamieanderson1968
Well-Known Member
Books #10-12
Stephen Ambrose - Wild Blue. Not his best.
T.R. Napper - Bishop. Better than 36 Streets which I read earlier this year. I don't tend to read books from specific movie universes (Alien/Aliens) but this was quite enjoyable. Great to read on the flight to Copenhagen.
Warren Ellis - Nina Simone's Gum. Loved this book. Devoured it on the plane flying home yesterday.
Stephen Ambrose - Wild Blue. Not his best.
T.R. Napper - Bishop. Better than 36 Streets which I read earlier this year. I don't tend to read books from specific movie universes (Alien/Aliens) but this was quite enjoyable. Great to read on the flight to Copenhagen.
Warren Ellis - Nina Simone's Gum. Loved this book. Devoured it on the plane flying home yesterday.
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Book 19
Murder Ballads by Santi Elijah Holley
This one has been in and out of my "next to read" slot for a few months now, but yesterday played host to a Nick Cave streaming marathon around here so it seemed like a good time to finally bust this one out. 33 1/3 books can be pretty unpredictable, but this one came through. There is very little in terms of biography included, something addressed by author off the top — instead it is a deep reading of each of the songs and the histories of the murder ballads that inspired them. Bad Seeds Mick Harvey and Jim Sclavunos did have conversations with the auther to help contextualize the creative and recording process for the album. A facinating, thoroughly researched, incredibly readable exploration and analysis.
Murder Ballads by Santi Elijah Holley
This one has been in and out of my "next to read" slot for a few months now, but yesterday played host to a Nick Cave streaming marathon around here so it seemed like a good time to finally bust this one out. 33 1/3 books can be pretty unpredictable, but this one came through. There is very little in terms of biography included, something addressed by author off the top — instead it is a deep reading of each of the songs and the histories of the murder ballads that inspired them. Bad Seeds Mick Harvey and Jim Sclavunos did have conversations with the auther to help contextualize the creative and recording process for the album. A facinating, thoroughly researched, incredibly readable exploration and analysis.
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Picked up what may well be my most anxiety-inducing read of the year today...
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
May be an unpopular opinion but I can't stand Hemmingway.