Now reading...

[TedR]

In the Garden of Beasts by Eric Larsen

[jlhoots]

Jo Nesbo: The Snowman

[A Lark Ascending]

Still trapped in this with 150 pages to go. Very little forward momentum. I suspect it's art.

[BillF]

Very little forward momentum. I suspect it's art.

Ho, ho!

[Shawn]

[ejp626]

Should wrap up Headhunter this weekend. Am reading a bit of Ishmael Reed's Flight to Canada. It's a lot more polemical and less fun than his earlier works like The Free-lance Pallbearers. I suspect I'll make it through the book but it's feeling like quite a slog.

Also started These Festive Nights (Soifs) by Marie-Claire Blais. Too early to say how I'll like it.

Have a couple shorter books to read after that. I am back to trying to clear out some books from my house, after a year-long diversion to reading primarily Canadian fiction.

[paul secor]

Tana French: The Likeness

Somewhat strange book. Began as a police procedural, seemed as if it was going to take off into another realm, then reverted to police procedural. It's a good read but, perhaps because I sensed that Tana French was such an intelligent and skillful writer, I expected more and was left with some disappointment.

[A Lark Ascending]

Still trapped in this with 150 pages to go. Very little forward momentum. I suspect it's art.

Finished...thank the lord. The last 200 pages were skim read. I'm none the wiser.

Switched to a 100% ripping yarn:

Think I first read this in 1968 or 9.

[BillF]

[Pete C]

Edited July 7, 2012 by Pete C

[B. Goren.]

[Jazzmoose]

Michael Chabon - The Yiddish Policemen's Union

I got about five pages into that and decided maybe I should start with a few of his short stories as an introduction. After reading a few of his short stories, I feel I must apologize to any writers I have previously described as "overrated".

[ejp626]

Michael Chabon - The Yiddish Policemen's Union

I got about five pages into that and decided maybe I should start with a few of his short stories as an introduction. After reading a few of his short stories, I feel I must apologize to any writers I have previously described as "overrated".

I guess he can be a bit hit or miss, but I did enjoy The Yiddish Policemen's Union. Obviously, there are strong hints of PKD's The Man in the High Castle, but also a dash of Stefan Zweig's Chess Story.

Anyway, I was clearing out old newspapers/reviews/etc. when I came across someone who was raving about I Could Ride All Day In My Cool Blue Train by Peter Hobbs. These are short stories by a UK writer. Took some doing, but I got it from the library. Not doing anything for me, though I guess I am only 1/3 in.

[jazzbo]

Second book in a row about Paul.

[paul secor]

Teju Cole: Open City

[jlhoots]

Jo Nesbo: The Redbreast

I guess I'm hooked.

Edited July 22, 2012 by jlhoots

[BillF]

[crisp]

Green for Danger by Christianna Brand (best known today as the originator of Nurse Matilda/Nanny McPhee).

I've seen the excellent Launder and Gilliat film so I know whodunnit and how, but it's still a great read, packed with fascinating little character insights and wartime atmosphere. Plus I'm quite enjoying seeing how she reveals/conceals the killer's identity and scatters red herrings about.

[T.D.]

Just read this:

A real sleeper: I didn't know anything about Van Ronk (except for the bit I read in Lawrence Block's Matt Scudder novel When the Sacred Ginmill Closes), and knew/cared little about the Greenwich Village Folk scene.

But this is a delightful book, very well put together (Van Ronk died before it was completed).

In a weird final touch, I bought an excellent condition hardback for $1 from the local thrift shop, and discovered after finishing that it was a signed edition (by the co-author and Van Ronk's second wife).

[Head Man]

A sequel to her award-winning "Wolf Hall" and just as good.

[ejp626]

A sequel to her award-winning "Wolf Hall" and just as good.

I've heard pretty good things about these books, but I also heard good things about Beyond Black (by the same author), and I didn't like that much at all. Probably going to wait quite a while before tackling Wolf Hall.

Finally wrapped up Reed's Flight to Canada, which I didn't like at all. I liked his earlier work and its chaotic energy, but I think he went off the rails here.

Now reading These Festive Nights by Marie-Claire Blais. Not far enough into it to even have an impression.

[Christiern]

After far too many years, I am revisiting my countryman's wonderful stories, and doing so in Danish as well as English. The translations are decent, but the original is more rewarding.

One is never too old to be enriched by Andersen's work.

[Pete C]

I thought Arnaldur Indradason was your countryman.

Finally wrapped up Reed's Flight to Canada, which I didn't like at all. I liked his earlier work and its chaotic energy, but I think he went off the rails here.

Interesting. For me that one and Mumbo Jumbo are his best novels.

[Christiern]

Indeed, Arnaldur Indriðasonur is also my countryman. I'm a twofer.

[ejp626]

I thought Arnaldur Indradason was your countryman.

Finally wrapped up Reed's Flight to Canada, which I didn't like at all. I liked his earlier work and its chaotic energy, but I think he went off the rails here.

Interesting. For me that one and Mumbo Jumbo are his best novels.

No I didn't like this at all. My favorite is The Free-lance Pallbearers, but I also enjoyed Yellow Back Radio Broke Down, though it has been ages since I read it. Maybe I wouldn't appreciate it as much now.