Two five star books for me this month. First was the nonfiction book Everything if Tuberculosis by John Green. A fascinating history of the disease and our current efforts (or lack there of) to eradicate the drug resistance types that exist in more impoverished countries. Frustrating read when you consider recent cut to funding for this type of care. I also read The Correspondent and found it to be delightful and explains why I had to wait over four months to get it from my library. The main character starts out rather grumpy, but her true caring self comes through. Lovely book about learning to forgive others and most importantly, yourself.
I feel like I am cheating if I share my true answer: The Great Divorce by CS Lewis. I read it every year during Lent. Taking TGD off the list, Mauve Gloves and Madmen, Clutter & Vine by Tom Wolfe. It is a collection of his essays from the 1970s with a short story thrown in as well. Tom Wolfe has a remarkable ways of capturing the zeitgeist of an era. I wish dearly he was still alive and could shed light on the 2020s. It would undoubtedly be a mixture of acerbaic, humorous and all together perfect.
Truman is a great read, and it also took me about 2-3 months to complete. Speaking of multi month efforts, the best history finished in April was one started in December: Peter Brown’s The Rise of Western Christendom: Triumph and Diversity, AD 200-1000. Not a Pulitzer, but a good friend recommended it to my dad who had been looking for a review of this time period. Best consumed in bite-sized sections of 4-5 pages at a time.
Best nonfiction (both a Pulitzer and National Award recipient) was The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder who recently passed in March, RIP.
Finally, best science fiction was The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera.
The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler. I know someone like Macon Leary and to me those idiosyncrasies (I guess that’s what they are called) are funny yet so sad. Add to that the grief of losing his young son. It took me a while to read and the ending was certainly interesting.
One of the books that stayed with me last month was Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha — quietly devastating in a way I didn’t expect. I actually wrote a deeper reflection on it recently if anyone’s curious:
I read "We All Want Impossible Things” by Catherine Newman. It's about best friends since childhood, 40 years old, and one is dying in hospice care...and you won't believe this, but l haven’t laughed this much in l can’t remember when. Newman points out ironies and absurdities, and makes all manner of astute observations. The book is not for the prudish, so be forewarned!
I finally finished this is your brain on music by Daniel leviton. He is a neuroscientist who examined how the brain functions during various phases of music listening, recall, performance etc.
The Book Thief. Amazing and beautiful.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and Strangers by Belle Burden!
Two five star books for me this month. First was the nonfiction book Everything if Tuberculosis by John Green. A fascinating history of the disease and our current efforts (or lack there of) to eradicate the drug resistance types that exist in more impoverished countries. Frustrating read when you consider recent cut to funding for this type of care. I also read The Correspondent and found it to be delightful and explains why I had to wait over four months to get it from my library. The main character starts out rather grumpy, but her true caring self comes through. Lovely book about learning to forgive others and most importantly, yourself.
I feel like I am cheating if I share my true answer: The Great Divorce by CS Lewis. I read it every year during Lent. Taking TGD off the list, Mauve Gloves and Madmen, Clutter & Vine by Tom Wolfe. It is a collection of his essays from the 1970s with a short story thrown in as well. Tom Wolfe has a remarkable ways of capturing the zeitgeist of an era. I wish dearly he was still alive and could shed light on the 2020s. It would undoubtedly be a mixture of acerbaic, humorous and all together perfect.
Truman is a great read, and it also took me about 2-3 months to complete. Speaking of multi month efforts, the best history finished in April was one started in December: Peter Brown’s The Rise of Western Christendom: Triumph and Diversity, AD 200-1000. Not a Pulitzer, but a good friend recommended it to my dad who had been looking for a review of this time period. Best consumed in bite-sized sections of 4-5 pages at a time.
Best nonfiction (both a Pulitzer and National Award recipient) was The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder who recently passed in March, RIP.
Finally, best science fiction was The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera.
With the Old Breed by Eugene Sledge
Rabbit, Redux by John Updike
Those Rabbit books are on my shelf, but not read yet.
They are prophetic. Raw. But prophetic nonetheless. Very reminiscent of Altman’s cinema
The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler. I know someone like Macon Leary and to me those idiosyncrasies (I guess that’s what they are called) are funny yet so sad. Add to that the grief of losing his young son. It took me a while to read and the ending was certainly interesting.
I've never read Anne Tyler - maybe this is the year!
Her Breathing Lessons is on your list! Only Tyler I’ve read but I liked it.
Happy May 1st! 🐞
One of the books that stayed with me last month was Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha — quietly devastating in a way I didn’t expect. I actually wrote a deeper reflection on it recently if anyone’s curious:
https://freshoffmyshelf.substack.com/p/paddy-clarke-hahaha-is-this-what?r=7t861m&utm_medium=ios
I’ve been sharing more detailed, spoiler-free book reflections there lately, if that kind of analysis interests you
I read "We All Want Impossible Things” by Catherine Newman. It's about best friends since childhood, 40 years old, and one is dying in hospice care...and you won't believe this, but l haven’t laughed this much in l can’t remember when. Newman points out ironies and absurdities, and makes all manner of astute observations. The book is not for the prudish, so be forewarned!
I finally finished this is your brain on music by Daniel leviton. He is a neuroscientist who examined how the brain functions during various phases of music listening, recall, performance etc.
The Antidote by Karen Russell.
Finished “Deep Work” by Cal Newport and “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley! Thoroughly enjoyed both!
Two of my favorites! Nice!
Football by Chuck Klosterman. Very enjoyable.
Yeah that's a fun one, isn't it!
The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami, even though it's not my favorite of his. I also really enjoyed Perspective(s) by Laurent Binet.
I've not read either of those — I'll look 'em up.
The Absolutist by John Boyne. I also enjoyed This Story Might Save Your Life.ye
I've read a couple of Boyne books and really enjoyed them, but not that one!