Now reading...

[Matthew]

Radical Wordsworth: The Poet Who Changed the World by Jonathan Bate.

[GA Russell]

I enjoyed this one.

[jlhoots]

Verghese: The Covenant Of Water

[BillF]

On 6/28/2023 at 7:06 PM, Matthew said:

Radical Wordsworth: The Poet Who Changed the World by Jonathan Bate.

Looks interesting.

Now reading:

 

[mjazzg]

Kyle Gann - No Such Thing As Silence, John Cage's 4'33"

As recommended here ages ago by @JSngry. Early pages but seems very readable, thanks

[BillF]

[ejp626]

On 7/8/2023 at 10:38 AM, BillF said:

Now reading:

 

This is my favorite late Bellow novel by far.  However, I'm a little worried that my tastes have shifted so radically that I won't enjoy it if I reread it (I just did not like The Adventures of Augie March at all this time around), but I suspect it will hold up whenever I get back to it.

I did enjoy Reuss's Henry of Atlantic City more than Horace Afoot.  I'm just now venturing into All About H. Hatterr (NYRB).  Hoping that it lives up to the buzz.

[ghost of miles]

Rereading after many years. I’d forgotten how funny Anne Lamott is in her remembrances and dispensations:

[Rabshakeh]

Currently really enjoying Nathaniel Mackey's Fro a Broken Bottle Traces of Perfume Still Emanate. Not sure whether this is a "jazz book" or not.

[mjazzg]

20 minutes ago, Rabshakeh said:

Currently really enjoying Nathaniel Mackey's Fro a Broken Bottle Traces of Perfume Still Emanate. Not sure whether this is a "jazz book" or not.

Meant nothing to me so just read a little about it, intrigued.

I see Oto sell it and their bookshelves normally intimidate me with their intellectualism...

[Rabshakeh]

10 minutes ago, mjazzg said:

Meant nothing to me so just read a little about it, intrigued.

I see Oto sell it and their bookshelves normally intimidate me with their intellectualism...

I bought it there. It is definitely an OTO book...

Really enjoying it though.

[jlhoots]

Colson Whitehead: Crook Manifesto

[Brad]

[GA Russell]

This is from a psychologist who suspects that many people have mental problems not because of what their parents did, but rather what their parents failed to do.  This may be because the parents are repeating the mistakes of their parents.  

 

[rostasi]

[ghost of miles]

New bio of Connie Converse:

… and the book that was the basis for Christopher Nolan’s brilliant new movie Oppenheimer:

[Gheorghe]

Herunterladen (1).jfif

 

Nora Roberts: "Păcatele Inocenților". The original title I think is "Carnal Innocence" . It´s really a thrilling book. Somewhere I have heard that they even made a film out of it, but probably only in English. 

I will have to read more slowly and only before sleeping since I read to fast and need some unread books for my 14 days vacance in the first two september weeks. 

Edited July 28, 2023 by Gheorghe

[Referentzhunter]

[BillF]

[ejp626]

13 minutes ago, BillF said:

While this is a fairly short novel, I found it got a bit baggy by the end.  It could have made a killer novella or extended short story, however.

I got halfway through Austen's Mansfield Park over the weekend.  I don't think it really stands up as well as P&P or S&S.

I dipped into Maugham's Cakes and Ale as well.  Some very biting commentary on the London literary scene.  I'm definitely looking forward to this after wrapping up Austen.

[BillF]

On 7/31/2023 at 3:33 PM, ejp626 said:

While this is a fairly short novel, I found it got a bit baggy by the end.  It could have made a killer novella or extended short story, however.

 

 

As his final novel, published when he was 85, Ravelstein is certainly not one of Bellow's best, but still worth reading IMHO.

On 7/31/2023 at 3:33 PM, ejp626 said:

 

I got halfway through Austen's Mansfield Park over the weekend.  I don't think it really stands up as well as P&P or S&S.

 

 

I could never read Jane Austen for pleasure, but as a student or teacher have had to read several of her novels.

Perhaps a university tutor of mine got it right when he complained that the biggest event in one of her novels (I've forgotten which one) is where someone falls from a four-foot wall! As for her prissiness, he said that after reading Austen, he felt like "taking a bath in Rabelais".

In roughly the same period as Austen, my man is Fielding. Joseph Andrews is a favourite.

Edited August 2, 2023 by BillF

[Matthew]

On 7/21/2023 at 9:02 PM, Brad said:

I know this isn't his best writing but I really love this novel. 

[medjuck]

On 7/27/2023 at 8:31 AM, ghost of miles said:

New bio of Connie Converse:

… and the book that was the basis for Christopher Nolan’s brilliant new movie Oppenheimer:

Reading the Oppenheimer too. Fascinating and makes me even more impressed with the film.

[GA Russell]

[BillF]