Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel and The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. Both so good I didn’t want them to end and had to make myself slow down.
I just finished Still Life by Louise Penny last night. It is definitely worth the praise seen from so many people here on Read More Books. While I wouldn't call it a perfect crime procedural (some of the archery explanations/descriptions fell short), the characters are all very believable and well written. And despite not being action packed, it was still a page turner.
Finally finished Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - it’s about the Nigerian-Biafra civil war in the late 1960’s, but really it’s about family, love, betrayal, loss etc. She makes you care so much about the characters in the first third of the book, that you have to find out what happens to them during the four-year war. A masterpiece.
"The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain" - Maria Rosa Menocal
I've also read "Telling Stories Wrong" (by Gianni Rodari) several times to a 5-year old I'm fond of - I grew up with Rodari's delightful stories in Italian and I'm happy they're being translated and illustrated for English-speaking children https://enchantedlion.com/all-books/telling-stories-wrong
I knew some of it from a bit of Spanish history I studied in high school when I took Spanish (and general history as well) but this is another level, and with a big emphasis on culture and close connections that surprised me. Recommended! (and now I want to go back to Andalusia to visit those places again!)
I have read every Anne Tyler and envy you that you have all of them left to read. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, Searching for Caleb or Accidental Tourist would all be good places to start.
You should - very worthy. I only discovered this one due to a radio programme when I was in the UK last year. It was a book club on BBC Radio 4. One of the guests said this book was not only the best thing she ever read, but it changed her life. She waxed lyrical about it for half an hour. And when I hear a recommendation that strong, experience shows there’s usually something to it. Turns out she was right.
Wow, this is a throwback for me... we read that book in high school and I probably haven't thought about it once since then. It's no commentary on the substance of the book, since I obviously don't remember it at all, but amazing to hear that title out of nowhere.
This is a lovely comment; serendipitous even. Amazing what the internet can trigger. We read and seemingly spent forever on John Steinbeck’s ‘the pearl’ at high school which is dreadful - I would have far rather had your experience! At least we did Animal Farm the previous year which was good, along with Romeo and Juliet, although if I were teaching high school I would probably start them off with Hamlet, Macbeth or Lear…
Is that part of the Three Body Problem series? We've just started watching the first season of the series on Netflix, but I don’t know how faithful it is to the books.
I am definitely in a bit of a reading slump, but I started "Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect" a few days ago, and I'm really enjoying it. It's so meta and funny, and I love the way its written.
Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut. It's super short, but I feel like it really captured his black humor and his ability to ask hard questions in creative ways. He's the master of zany descriptions that fit just right...like the sound a cat makes when it meows being, "Ralph?"
I finished Laura Dassow Walls' biography of Henry David Thoreau. I LOVED it. She did a great job of connecting the various things he was thinking about in his life. It completely altered my understanding of Walden - in the best way. I have started to re-read Walden as a result and will be re-visiting some of Thoreau's other works. If you have read Walden and think "what's the big deal?" or you get stuck on the fact that he wasn't really "in the woods" - Walls will help you sort through all of it.
She wrote a follow-up book called Good Husbandry. Both are about their journey starting Essex farm (www.Essexfarmcsa.com) An organic farm that does community supported agriculture. They provide a whole diet year round to their members. I found both books very interesting.
I only started reading Kazuo Ishiguro’s ‘Remains of the Day’ a few days ago in between packing up and moving house, and really enjoying it. It feels almost meditative, being so thoroughly immersed in the mind of the protagonist.
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel and The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. Both so good I didn’t want them to end and had to make myself slow down.
I have Lincoln Highway on my bookshelf.. I've been saving it because I know I'm going to love it.. haha.
I loved Lincoln Highway - I listened to the Audible version read by Eduardo Ballerini (sp?) and it was excellent
We'll be discussing Station Eleven later this year on Close Reads, so come join us if you don't already subscribe.
I just finished Still Life by Louise Penny last night. It is definitely worth the praise seen from so many people here on Read More Books. While I wouldn't call it a perfect crime procedural (some of the archery explanations/descriptions fell short), the characters are all very believable and well written. And despite not being action packed, it was still a page turner.
Woo hoo! The first 3 or 4 are a *touch* weaker, but still really good.
Finally finished Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - it’s about the Nigerian-Biafra civil war in the late 1960’s, but really it’s about family, love, betrayal, loss etc. She makes you care so much about the characters in the first third of the book, that you have to find out what happens to them during the four-year war. A masterpiece.
That one has long been on my list. I'll have to prioritize it this year.
The Giver! My first time reading it.
One of my all-time faves! The whole Giver quartet is great.
The Giver Tetralogy, you might say??!
I had a feeling you'd come in and say that. :)
"The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain" - Maria Rosa Menocal
I've also read "Telling Stories Wrong" (by Gianni Rodari) several times to a 5-year old I'm fond of - I grew up with Rodari's delightful stories in Italian and I'm happy they're being translated and illustrated for English-speaking children https://enchantedlion.com/all-books/telling-stories-wrong
‘The Ornament of the World’ sounds interesting!
I knew some of it from a bit of Spanish history I studied in high school when I took Spanish (and general history as well) but this is another level, and with a big emphasis on culture and close connections that surprised me. Recommended! (and now I want to go back to Andalusia to visit those places again!)
Looks interesting!
Probably Dinner at the Homesick restaurant by Anne Tyler - https://latentbookclub.substack.com/p/dinner-at-the-homesick-restaurant
I’ve never read any Anne Tyler - thx!
I have read every Anne Tyler and envy you that you have all of them left to read. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, Searching for Caleb or Accidental Tourist would all be good places to start.
Which one to pick up next? I have read that Tyler echoes similar themes across all her work. Is this true?
You should - very worthy. I only discovered this one due to a radio programme when I was in the UK last year. It was a book club on BBC Radio 4. One of the guests said this book was not only the best thing she ever read, but it changed her life. She waxed lyrical about it for half an hour. And when I hear a recommendation that strong, experience shows there’s usually something to it. Turns out she was right.
Wow, this is a throwback for me... we read that book in high school and I probably haven't thought about it once since then. It's no commentary on the substance of the book, since I obviously don't remember it at all, but amazing to hear that title out of nowhere.
This is a lovely comment; serendipitous even. Amazing what the internet can trigger. We read and seemingly spent forever on John Steinbeck’s ‘the pearl’ at high school which is dreadful - I would have far rather had your experience! At least we did Animal Farm the previous year which was good, along with Romeo and Juliet, although if I were teaching high school I would probably start them off with Hamlet, Macbeth or Lear…
How lovely! The author of the Aru Shah series (Roshani Chokshi) is a dear friend of mine. I’ll have to let her know
I have been seeing James EVERYWHERE! Must check out soon!
It's so good!
Death's End by Cixin Liu. This third book in the trilogy makes you wonder if you understand any science at all! But it is a great read.
Is that part of the Three Body Problem series? We've just started watching the first season of the series on Netflix, but I don’t know how faithful it is to the books.
Indeed it is.
Oh nice! I've heard such mixed reviews of that trilogy.. Can't decide if I want to dive in or not. :)
It is a commitment!!!
I re-read Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search For Meaning." I should read it every year.
Worthy of annual re-reading for sure!
I am definitely in a bit of a reading slump, but I started "Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect" a few days ago, and I'm really enjoying it. It's so meta and funny, and I love the way its written.
Just got it from the library. Stevenson’s first book Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone was a fun read.
I've heard some good things!
Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut. It's super short, but I feel like it really captured his black humor and his ability to ask hard questions in creative ways. He's the master of zany descriptions that fit just right...like the sound a cat makes when it meows being, "Ralph?"
I've not read much Vonnegut.. I'll have to change that at some point. :)
I finished Laura Dassow Walls' biography of Henry David Thoreau. I LOVED it. She did a great job of connecting the various things he was thinking about in his life. It completely altered my understanding of Walden - in the best way. I have started to re-read Walden as a result and will be re-visiting some of Thoreau's other works. If you have read Walden and think "what's the big deal?" or you get stuck on the fact that he wasn't really "in the woods" - Walls will help you sort through all of it.
It's waiting for me on my kindle! I loooooved Walden earlier this year.
The dirty life (on farming, food, and love) by Kristin Kimball
Haven't heard of it — thx!
She wrote a follow-up book called Good Husbandry. Both are about their journey starting Essex farm (www.Essexfarmcsa.com) An organic farm that does community supported agriculture. They provide a whole diet year round to their members. I found both books very interesting.
I only started reading Kazuo Ishiguro’s ‘Remains of the Day’ a few days ago in between packing up and moving house, and really enjoying it. It feels almost meditative, being so thoroughly immersed in the mind of the protagonist.
Nice, I’ve not read any of his work.
You absolutely should!
Aurora by David Koepp and Misery by Stephen King. Both very different but both so good.
I agree that both are great! Great picks.