My reading has been a bit scattershot. I spent several weeks waiting to see if an ILL request had been approved, but it finally was. So I am in the middle of my best April book, "The Lady From The Black Lagoon," about the designer of Universal Studios' Gill Man, Millicent Patrick. Before that, my main book was a reread of William Gibson's "Neuromancer."
This is on top of several essays I had to evaluate as a church duty & me making a conscious effort to try & read my local newspaper more regularly.
"read my local newspaper more regularly." --> Love it! I've been trying to read more paper periodicals as well, mainly in the form of magazines. It just feels so different from even reading the exact same article online.
I came across the book by pure chance. It's currently available for sale at the online movie store criticschoice.com
It looked interesting enough to look for a low-to-no-cost way to read, but it isn't currently on libby, so interlibrary loan became the way to go, so that's what I did. Came in late last week, so it's been my at home read ever since.
Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan. A remarkably prescient book about how technology will increasingly touch our intellectual and personal lives, and the moral dilemmas that arise in it doing so. All set within a compelling and believable story. McEwan is the master of research and his writing touches the human condition wonderfully. Well worth a read.
Jennette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died. I’ve always thought child actors were treated unethically , and now in the age of “family vloggers” it’s likely an even worse scenario
Andrew McBride's The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store is my pick. i confess I haven't finished it yet--I couldn't renew it at the library (others were lined up to get it). I'll get to my local bookstore and buy it. Another favorite I haven't finished yet (I do read two at a time or more) is now a classic--N. Scott Momaday's House Made of Dawn. Can't believe I haven't read it before now.
I love ‘An American Tragedy’ and wish more people read it (though I know the fact it’s 900 pages is often a turnoff) - it’s the great American novel, in my opinion.
I had a baby three weeks ago so haven’t been reading as much as normal, but I just finished Stephen Diamond’s 1972 memoir of his first year on a commune, ‘What the Trees Said.’ If you are interested in the counterculture and the back-to-the-land movement, it’s a must read.
Three weeks ago! Congrats! My reading was so messed up in the newborn phase. One book I especially loved in that time was When Breath Becomes Air. I read it shortly after each of my three kids were born. Beautiful and poignant and optimistic.
I just finished Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertolino. It's sort of literary sci-fi, I guess (?) — tells the story of a girl (Adina) who's born to human parents in Philadelphia in the 1970s, but is actually an alien sent to Earth to help her people understand humans. She communicates with her home planet via fax. It made me laugh out loud many times, and also sucker-punched me and made me cry. I loved it. It transported me back to my own experiences growing up in PA, and her faxes are a DELIGHT. I think that some of the best travels books are the ones written by people who are not from the place they're describing because they see everything with fresh airs. It was charming, funny, eye-opening, and poignant to read Adina's hot takes on humanity — to see humans through fresh eyes. 5 stars for me.
At the request of my wife, I read the second book in the Empyrean series, Iron Flame, so that we could talk about the story. I really have enjoyed the action in this book, even if it is a little predictable. As I've aged into my mid-30s, I have started to really embrace the fact that I enjoy reading fantasy more than other genres. Something about being taken away from this world and into another just jibes with me.
I think it is comparable to the Eragon series, but told from a female protagonist and with more grown up language and events. So like a PG-13 with moments of R rated Eragon. Overall, it was a fun read and those moments get outshined by the fun and moving plot.
Normal Rules Don’t Apply by Kate Atkinson. Short stories. She is one of my favorites these days. Life After Life (a novel) is an excellent read. She also wrote Case Histories which I think was made into a series in the UK
My reading has been a bit scattershot. I spent several weeks waiting to see if an ILL request had been approved, but it finally was. So I am in the middle of my best April book, "The Lady From The Black Lagoon," about the designer of Universal Studios' Gill Man, Millicent Patrick. Before that, my main book was a reread of William Gibson's "Neuromancer."
This is on top of several essays I had to evaluate as a church duty & me making a conscious effort to try & read my local newspaper more regularly.
"read my local newspaper more regularly." --> Love it! I've been trying to read more paper periodicals as well, mainly in the form of magazines. It just feels so different from even reading the exact same article online.
Ooooh, I've had The Lady from the Black Lagoon on my TBR for ages. It sounds really fun. The author Mallory O'Meara is half of the podcast duo from the Reading Glasses podcast. https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/reading-glasses/ She was also a guest on the What Should I Read Next pod -https://modernmrsdarcy.com/176-episode.
I came across the book by pure chance. It's currently available for sale at the online movie store criticschoice.com
It looked interesting enough to look for a low-to-no-cost way to read, but it isn't currently on libby, so interlibrary loan became the way to go, so that's what I did. Came in late last week, so it's been my at home read ever since.
All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy and The Chrysalids by John Wyndham.
Oh, yes, I liked All the Pretty Horses, too. Haven't read Chrysalids.
That trilogy is just fantastic (loved your piece about it). I've not read any Wyndham, but I want to this year.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Nice, I haven't read any of her.
The Ferryman by Justin Cronin for me. An epic, emotional science fiction tale with a compelling central mystery filled with twists and turns.
Love Cronin but haven't read that one!
It's really good!
Loved this one - Cronin is an auto buy author for me
Likewise! Never finished The Passage trilogy though so i think a revisit is in order.
Ditto — I only read the first two. No idea why, because I loved 'em!
I need to revisit for sure!
Really enjoyed The Ferryman and the unraveling mystery.
Same here. Justin Cronin really knows how to write a beautifully epic tale with a lot of heart.
Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan. A remarkably prescient book about how technology will increasingly touch our intellectual and personal lives, and the moral dilemmas that arise in it doing so. All set within a compelling and believable story. McEwan is the master of research and his writing touches the human condition wonderfully. Well worth a read.
Ah interesting, I've never read McEwan but that one definitely sounds up my alley.
James by Percival Everett. Was visiting family and it was sitting in a “to-be-read” pile. I couldn’t put it down. Want to read his other books!
Reading "James" also pushed Everett's other books much higher on my list. Great stuff.
Came to say James! It was remarkably good
Demon Copperhead!
Jennette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died. I’ve always thought child actors were treated unethically , and now in the age of “family vloggers” it’s likely an even worse scenario
Nice, I've seen it mentioned enough that I should probably give it a shot.
Andrew McBride's The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store is my pick. i confess I haven't finished it yet--I couldn't renew it at the library (others were lined up to get it). I'll get to my local bookstore and buy it. Another favorite I haven't finished yet (I do read two at a time or more) is now a classic--N. Scott Momaday's House Made of Dawn. Can't believe I haven't read it before now.
Heaven and Earth Grocery Store was marvelous! Loved it.
Just started this one it pulls you in right away!!
Sorry, that was James McBride, not andrew. Set in a Black and Jewish neighborhood some decades ago
Definitely James by Percival Everett. A retelling of Huck Finn from Jim's (James's) point of view. A runner up is Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson.
So glad you enjoyed James! Great great book.
I love ‘An American Tragedy’ and wish more people read it (though I know the fact it’s 900 pages is often a turnoff) - it’s the great American novel, in my opinion.
I had a baby three weeks ago so haven’t been reading as much as normal, but I just finished Stephen Diamond’s 1972 memoir of his first year on a commune, ‘What the Trees Said.’ If you are interested in the counterculture and the back-to-the-land movement, it’s a must read.
Three weeks ago! Congrats! My reading was so messed up in the newborn phase. One book I especially loved in that time was When Breath Becomes Air. I read it shortly after each of my three kids were born. Beautiful and poignant and optimistic.
I just finished Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertolino. It's sort of literary sci-fi, I guess (?) — tells the story of a girl (Adina) who's born to human parents in Philadelphia in the 1970s, but is actually an alien sent to Earth to help her people understand humans. She communicates with her home planet via fax. It made me laugh out loud many times, and also sucker-punched me and made me cry. I loved it. It transported me back to my own experiences growing up in PA, and her faxes are a DELIGHT. I think that some of the best travels books are the ones written by people who are not from the place they're describing because they see everything with fresh airs. It was charming, funny, eye-opening, and poignant to read Adina's hot takes on humanity — to see humans through fresh eyes. 5 stars for me.
Oh fun! I've heard a few good things about it. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
At the request of my wife, I read the second book in the Empyrean series, Iron Flame, so that we could talk about the story. I really have enjoyed the action in this book, even if it is a little predictable. As I've aged into my mid-30s, I have started to really embrace the fact that I enjoy reading fantasy more than other genres. Something about being taken away from this world and into another just jibes with me.
Oh nice! I don't know any other dudes who read it. Glad you enjoyed it! Maybe I'll read 'em when the third comes out.
I think it is comparable to the Eragon series, but told from a female protagonist and with more grown up language and events. So like a PG-13 with moments of R rated Eragon. Overall, it was a fun read and those moments get outshined by the fun and moving plot.
Just finished Abby Jimenez's newest Just for the Summer and definitely my best book of April!
Normal Rules Don’t Apply by Kate Atkinson. Short stories. She is one of my favorites these days. Life After Life (a novel) is an excellent read. She also wrote Case Histories which I think was made into a series in the UK
For all her accolades, I've not read any Atkinson!
My favorite read in April was Demon Copperhead. I read David Copperfield in February followed by this one. It was great reading them back to back.
Nice, I'd love to read them both in succession like that. Seems really powerful.
I read David first also, but think Demon paled in comparison.