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[jlhoots]

Thomas Mullen: Midnight Atlanta

[BillF]

[ejp626]

On 11/15/2022 at 9:56 PM, ejp626 said:

Currently, about one-quarter of the way through The Milkman in the Night by Andrey Kurkov. 

I suppose I was simply feeling that I should read some Ukrainian literature.  Kurkov is best known for Death and the Penguin and the sequel Penguin Lost, which I read a while back.  I'm finding The Milkman in the Night quite interesting.  One of the better novels I've read in 2022, at least so far.

 

Enjoyed this, even if the ratio of happy to unhappy endings (for the 10 or so main characters) was suspiciously high.  One might almost say Kurkov had mellowed out...

Am just starting The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy.

[Brad]

By coincidence I just finished Kurkov’s Grey Bees.

Edited November 21, 2022 by Brad

[Brad]

This is based on interviews from the podcast One True Sentence where Hemingway experts and writers discuss Hemingway, his work, the man and the world he lived in.

The term “one true sentence” comes from his posthumous memoir A Moveable Feast where Hemingway wrote “All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.' So finally I would write one true sentence, and then go on from there.”

[Matthew]

Collected Plays of Tennessee Williams. Reading "Spring Storm", which wasn't produced until the 1980's. A very interesting failure, but you can see Williams starting to put his writing together.

[HutchFan]

Just finished:

[ejp626]

On 11/21/2022 at 9:17 AM, Brad said:

By coincidence I just finished Kurkov’s Grey Bees.

What did you think of this?  It looks like something I might try to get to next year.

After Ministry, I might read Cosmopolis by DeLillo and then probably Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald.

[medjuck]

I believe that the New Waterford Jewish grocery store owner in Fall on Your Knees is based on my grandfather (though the chronology isn't entirely correct). 

[Brad]

20 hours ago, ejp626 said:

What did you think of this?  It looks like something I might try to get to next year.

After Ministry, I might read Cosmopolis by DeLillo and then probably Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald.

I liked it. It’s almost picaresque as he tries to navigate the grey zone he lives in, then Ukraine and finally Russian Crimea. 

[Bluesnik]

On 10/24/2022 at 10:32 PM, Bluesnik said:

Today I finished Ask the dust, in my opinion the standout novel from the quartet. And I still have the last to read. But I dug a bit deeper and researched and found it's considered his finest work. And Bandini, his alter ego, something you notice just by reading (there's one novel, Wait until spring, Bandini, where the main characters are his father and his mother and he is just a small kid), but when you read secondary literature it all falls into place. It's just as he describes it. I don´t like to read anything about what I am going to read beforehand. Not even prefaces or texts on the back. I like to enjoy the work of the author as it was conceived to be enjoyed, without knowing anything about it. There's always time afterward. And I also didn't know he was an inspiration to Bukowski or Kerouac.

[jlhoots]

Ramona Emerson: Shutter

[BillF]

[ejp626]

In the end, I felt The Ministry of Utmost Happiness veered dangerously close to the category of torture porn.  The first third was the most successful for me, probably not coincidentally that was the section that had almost nothing to do with Kashmir.  It's also a bit interesting that 9/11 is almost a blip to these characters.  The aftermath of the train burning (and riot) in Gujarat impacts several characters more, though it still is treated mostly off-screen, as it were.  I gather A Burning by Megha Majumdar is not based on this tragedy (as I had assumed) but is more of a fictional composite.  I've been thinking of reading A Burning and will move it up a bit on my list.

I'm not really enjoying Cosmopolis either, but at least it's short.  I've never been that interested in reading about people who think they are "masters of the Universe," even if their feet of clay are on display.  I am a bit curious if the character, Eric, is just as insufferable in the movie (likely so) but I'm not sure I am curious enough to find out.  However, I am curious if the movie of White Noise (a much, much better novel) is well-done, and I'll have a chance to watch it on Sunday.

[Bluesnik]

1 hour ago, ejp626 said:

The first third was the most successful for me

That is also always the case with me. All works of art follow one simple structure: presentation, conflict, resolution. And I always like the first best. The first part of a novel, film or anything is always the best.

[HutchFan]

My wife & I are planning to go to Madrid next summer, so:

[Bluesnik]

On 12/2/2022 at 7:58 PM, Bluesnik said:

Today I finished Ask the dust, in my opinion the standout novel from the quartet. And I still have the last to read.

Now I'm with the last novel, Dreams from Bunker Hill, which while not as good, is also interesting because it portrays the Hollywood studio world the writers live in. Amongst sycophants who pretend to be friends with all the stars, and a real crazy day to day live. It's really hilarious. Though admittedly it's not the best.

[Bluesnik]

On 8/13/2022 at 12:58 AM, Rabshakeh said:

I have it on my shelf waiting a reading. Looking forwards to it.

Exactly the same.

[Brad]

11 hours ago, HutchFan said:

My wife & I are planning to go to Madrid next summer, so:

It’s not bad. Perfect for what it is. All his other books on Spain are very good. 

[HutchFan]

13 hours ago, Brad said:

It’s not bad. Perfect for what it is. All his other books on Spain are very good. 

Brad,

If Spain is an area of expertise, are there any other books that you'd particularly recommend?

 

[Brad]

22 hours ago, HutchFan said:

Brad,

If Spain is an area of expertise, are there any other books that you'd particularly recommend?

 

I’d say it’s more an area of interest as I lived there when I was a teenager. It depends on what you’re looking for and where you’re going to be.  Historically, Tremlett’s book should do it for you. If you want to go more in depth about the Spanish Civil War, for example, I can make some recommendations.  A book I have always liked because it gives you a flavor of Spain is The Sun Also Rises, although it’s not just about Spain. 

[HutchFan]

25 minutes ago, Brad said:

If you want to go more in depth about the Spanish Civil War, for example, I can make some recommendations.

Yes, please.  I'd appreciate your recommendations on the Spanish Civil War very much. ... Another period that I'd like to dig more deeply into: The Islamic al-Andalus and the Christian Reconquest (8th–15th centuries).

 

25 minutes ago, Brad said:

A book I have always liked because it gives you a flavor of Spain is The Sun Also Rises, although it’s not just about Spain.

I'm a Hemingway fan, so I've read that one a few times.    For Whom the Bell Tolls as well. 

[Brad]

40 minutes ago, HutchFan said:

Yes, please.  I'd appreciate your recommendations on the Spanish Civil War very much. ... Another period that I'd like to dig more deeply into: The Islamic al-Andalus and the Christian Reconquest (8th–15th centuries).

 

I'm a Hemingway fan, so I've read that one a few times.    For Whom the Bell Tolls as well. 

SCW recommendations. A good one is Hugh Thomas’ book but it’s long  Written a long time ago but still holds up well. Ronald Fraser’s Oral History of the Spanish Civil War is incredible but, again, long  Adam Hochschild’s Spain in our Hearts is good but more focused on the International Brigades.  Hotel Florida by Amanda Vaill isn’t bad.  Lastly, Giles Tremlett’s Ghosts of Spain gives you a good look at the country and how it deals with the SCW.  Coming to grips with it more than 80 years after it ended is still contentious.  

Since you are going to be in Madrid, if you have access to a car, I’d recommend going to Sepúlveda for the roast lamb. It literally falls off the bone. It’s north of Madrid, an hour’s drive I think.  Also go to Segovia.  The Roman aqueduct still works. Meson de Cándido is a good restaurant. A little touristy but the food is good.  Avila is a walled city south of Madrid. Worth a visit.  Madrid has tons of restaurants.  A touristy spot but a very good restaurant is Casa Botín off the Plaza Mayor.  I love the place.

[Brad]

4 hours ago, HutchFan said:

Yes, please.  I'd appreciate your recommendations on the Spanish Civil War very much. ... Another period that I'd like to dig more deeply into: The Islamic al-Andalus and the Christian Reconquest (8th–15th centuries).

 

I'm a Hemingway fan, so I've read that one a few times.    For Whom the Bell Tolls as well. 

There’s a book on Islamic Spain that was well received when it came out called Kingdoms of Faith: A New History of Islamic Spain by Brian Catlos.

If you like Hemingway you might enjoy the podcast One True Pod. I find it invaluable. 

[Bluesnik]

On 11/16/2022 at 3:56 AM, ejp626 said:

I have this same edition.  Been meaning to get to it forever...

I also had it since 2004, and only gave it a read now. But it's really good.

 

On 12/5/2022 at 7:53 PM, Bluesnik said:

Now I'm with the last novel, Dreams from Bunker Hill

Still with that one. And today I read a very hilarious account of a wrestling match between the Duke of Sardinia and something Lionheart. I dropped tears from laughing!