2023 Reading Challenge
- Thread starter Selaws
- Start date
Hemotep
Well-Known Member
I've only read selections from this book for a class years ago, but it's been on my to read list ever since because I enjoyed those selections. I just have too long of a to read list.
ranbalam
Well-Known Member
Yeah, my 'to-read' list is so lengthy too. I can say that his writing style grabbed my attention right away. That being said, it'll be a book that likely takes some time to get through.
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Ditto
kvetcha
Chet Hanks' Filmography Buff
I regret (?) to inform you that Death's End is equally insane, and maybe my favorite of the three.
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Book 23
Make the World New - The Poetry of Lillian Allen selected with an introduction by Ronald Cummings
Lillian Allen is Canadian spoken word royalty. While it is a bit strange to read her work on the page instead of experiencing it from stage, or old LPs, it is very cool to have an academic collection of her work. I've been very impressed with every collection I've checked out from the Laurier Poetry Series so far, and especially love how the series includes conceptual and now dub poetry as well as more traditional poetics. I don't know that I would necessarily recommend this to anybody who isn't already familiar with Lillian Allen because it definitely benefits from hearing her voice and cadence while reading but passing familiarity with dub poetry and/or reggae would likely be helpful as well. One of my favourite things about the LPS editions is that, wherever possible, they include an Afterword by the featured poet. Lillian's Afterword here is an absolute delight.
Book 24
Duct-Taped Roses by Billeh Nickerson
I adore Billeh Nickerson. The humour and humanity he infuses so deftly into his work have brought a lot of joy and wonderment through the years. And sadness too - this book more than any of his others, but there's a lightness to it without invalidating, cheapening, or lessening the sorrow. He is a master of craft and a truly kind soul.
This book was published at an awkward time in my life so I've just now read it a few years later for the first and definitely not last time. When I used to travel over to Vancouver a lot more, typically for poetry-related gigs and festivals, I would love bumping into Billeh at his local coffee shop, which would typically be where I'd set up with my laptop when I needed to do admin work. An early version of a poem in this collection was actually featured in the debut issue of the (sadly) short-lived literary journal I published with a buddy in 2016 and 2017 - cool to see it mentioned in the acknowledgments!
Make the World New - The Poetry of Lillian Allen selected with an introduction by Ronald Cummings
Lillian Allen is Canadian spoken word royalty. While it is a bit strange to read her work on the page instead of experiencing it from stage, or old LPs, it is very cool to have an academic collection of her work. I've been very impressed with every collection I've checked out from the Laurier Poetry Series so far, and especially love how the series includes conceptual and now dub poetry as well as more traditional poetics. I don't know that I would necessarily recommend this to anybody who isn't already familiar with Lillian Allen because it definitely benefits from hearing her voice and cadence while reading but passing familiarity with dub poetry and/or reggae would likely be helpful as well. One of my favourite things about the LPS editions is that, wherever possible, they include an Afterword by the featured poet. Lillian's Afterword here is an absolute delight.
Book 24
Duct-Taped Roses by Billeh Nickerson
I adore Billeh Nickerson. The humour and humanity he infuses so deftly into his work have brought a lot of joy and wonderment through the years. And sadness too - this book more than any of his others, but there's a lightness to it without invalidating, cheapening, or lessening the sorrow. He is a master of craft and a truly kind soul.
This book was published at an awkward time in my life so I've just now read it a few years later for the first and definitely not last time. When I used to travel over to Vancouver a lot more, typically for poetry-related gigs and festivals, I would love bumping into Billeh at his local coffee shop, which would typically be where I'd set up with my laptop when I needed to do admin work. An early version of a poem in this collection was actually featured in the debut issue of the (sadly) short-lived literary journal I published with a buddy in 2016 and 2017 - cool to see it mentioned in the acknowledgments!
jamieanderson1968
ninniest jackaninny
Just finished #32 Colson Whitehead - Zone One. I have mixed feelings about 'literary' authors who dabble in genre fiction. The writing is fine but feels too much of wink-wink look how I am subverting the genre to give you my take on the cold, isolating modern world.
Next up is This is what it Sounds Like
Next up is This is what it Sounds Like
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Book 25
Homey Don't Play That! - The Story of In Living Color and the Black Comedy Revolution by David Peisner
Thanks to last month's TV-themed Vinyl Spin Challenge, In Living Color was on my mind and I discovered this book existed - I've been glued to it whenever I could be over the past 40 hours! I was a bit on the young side of understanding just how revolutionary In Living Color was when it aired - but I loved it. I don't know if there are other books about the show, but this must be the definitive one. Meticulously researched and featuring voices of most of the cast and writers along the way, the book is fantastically paced and does a great job building the story and tracing the lineage of what has come since. Very good read!
Homey Don't Play That! - The Story of In Living Color and the Black Comedy Revolution by David Peisner
Thanks to last month's TV-themed Vinyl Spin Challenge, In Living Color was on my mind and I discovered this book existed - I've been glued to it whenever I could be over the past 40 hours! I was a bit on the young side of understanding just how revolutionary In Living Color was when it aired - but I loved it. I don't know if there are other books about the show, but this must be the definitive one. Meticulously researched and featuring voices of most of the cast and writers along the way, the book is fantastically paced and does a great job building the story and tracing the lineage of what has come since. Very good read!
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Book 26
Body Count by Ben Apatoff
Staying in the early 90s for a bit longer... this was a brisk and enjoyable read. Sadly plagued with lots of careless editing errors (missing particle words, doubled words, and the like) but it's a well-researched and well-told story of the album. Even with the sloppy editing, I'd rank it in the upper tier of 33 1/3 books I've read so far.
Body Count by Ben Apatoff
Staying in the early 90s for a bit longer... this was a brisk and enjoyable read. Sadly plagued with lots of careless editing errors (missing particle words, doubled words, and the like) but it's a well-researched and well-told story of the album. Even with the sloppy editing, I'd rank it in the upper tier of 33 1/3 books I've read so far.
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Book 27
Coming Out, Again: Transition Stories by Sabrina Symington
An enjoyable exploration of trans identities, polyamoury, neurodiversity, race, and sexuality. A bit more entertaining textbook than character-driven story, but it is nice how everything and everyone in the book ties together along the way. I quite enjoyed Symington's previous autobiographical book years back - this is a nice expansion on that and unpacks a LOT within its pages. Homophobes, transphobes and bigots need not apply.
Coming Out, Again: Transition Stories by Sabrina Symington
An enjoyable exploration of trans identities, polyamoury, neurodiversity, race, and sexuality. A bit more entertaining textbook than character-driven story, but it is nice how everything and everyone in the book ties together along the way. I quite enjoyed Symington's previous autobiographical book years back - this is a nice expansion on that and unpacks a LOT within its pages. Homophobes, transphobes and bigots need not apply.
Selaws
Well-Known Member
Book 23: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown (Corgi, 2009)
Book 24: How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie (The Borough Press, 2021)
Book 25: The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway (Vintage Book, 2000)
Been a bit slack in updating my list but here are the last few that I have read. Quite the mix but all great reads.
Book 24: How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie (The Borough Press, 2021)
Book 25: The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway (Vintage Book, 2000)
Been a bit slack in updating my list but here are the last few that I have read. Quite the mix but all great reads.
jamieanderson1968
ninniest jackaninny
#34
John Scalzi - Starter Villian
I always enjoy John Scalzi books. The last few have been very easy reads, often done in a couple of days. I just wish someone would make a tv series out of Old Mans War
Amazon product ASIN 0765389223
John Scalzi - Starter Villian
I always enjoy John Scalzi books. The last few have been very easy reads, often done in a couple of days. I just wish someone would make a tv series out of Old Mans War
Amazon product ASIN 0765389223
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Book 28
The He-Man Effect: How American Toymakers Sold You Your Childhood by Brian "Box" Brown
I LOVE Box Brown. Every book he's put out since his Andre the Giant biography has been incredibly well done - meticulously researched and very enjoyable. Like Brown, I came of age during the era most covered by this book, and the hooks the advertisers planted back then are definitely obvious today -- and television was much more regulated in my home than nearly everybody I knew! Brown once again distills a large topic with many moving parts into a breezy read with a comprehensive bibliography for deeper digging.
The He-Man Effect: How American Toymakers Sold You Your Childhood by Brian "Box" Brown
I LOVE Box Brown. Every book he's put out since his Andre the Giant biography has been incredibly well done - meticulously researched and very enjoyable. Like Brown, I came of age during the era most covered by this book, and the hooks the advertisers planted back then are definitely obvious today -- and television was much more regulated in my home than nearly everybody I knew! Brown once again distills a large topic with many moving parts into a breezy read with a comprehensive bibliography for deeper digging.
ayayrawn
Well-Known Member
18. The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Connor. Fascinating to see her develop as a writer and a person through these. Totally see why she's so revered these days. Mostly pretty great, but the last 7-8 stories when she becomes really self-reflective and dark are incredible.
19. Persepolis Rising (Expanse #7) by James SA Corey. Sucked me back into the series are book 6 left me pretty cold and disinterested. This one was lots of fun and I'll probably zoom through the last two soon.
20. Gardens of the Moon (Malazan Book of the Fallen #1) by Steven Erikson. Been looking for ages on a fantasy series to fill the Song of Ice and Fire shaped niche in me. TBD if this is it, but I liked it, for all it's weirdness, and often dense and even impenetrable world and lore. I'll probably read at least the next few. Not sure if I'll make all ten yet.
21. The Ballad of the Sad Cafe and Other Stories by Carson McCullers. Was feeling more southern gothic and McCullers has been a blind spot for me. These were lovely and effective, if maybe not life-changing. Want to check out her novels.
22. Suttree by Cormac McCarthy. Read almost all of his works back in college, but not this one. Forgot how evocative and amazing his prose is. The immesity of this one really got to me. It's tragic, hilarious, alternately gross and horrific and profoundly hopeful. Maybe his best? One of my favorites I've read so far this year.
Have some scary stuff lined up for October, including my yearly Stephen King. looking forward to those vibes.
Mr Moore
Well-Known Member
September 2023
Book 38: The Blind Assassin - Margaret Atwood
Very enjoyable tale of a lady in her twilight years telling her life story and that of her sister, the author of a novel called The Blind Assassin. With this we also get to read the novel that tells the story of clandestine meetings between a couple who seemingly meet to have sex and have a schlocky sci-fi story told to her. The interweaving of the two narratives is smart and despite being fairly lengthy, I thought it was worth it for the pay-off.
Book 39: Under the Volcano - Malcolm Lowry
I struggled with this one a bit. It's a complex, dense, rambling stream of consciousness at times told over only 12 hours or so. Each chapter from one of four characters' viewpoints, the main one being an alcoholic who frequently lacks cohesion and digresses at right angles with no warning at all. I'm glad I persevered because the writing is superb and the finale is worth the struggle. I read the introduction at the end (Penguin intros frequently feature spoilers so I always wait until afterwards) and even this suggests the full depth is only truly uncovered after a third or fourth reading. I'm not sure I'd ever do that at this stage in my life but, as a study piece I can imagine this being a remarkable book.
Book 40: The Accidental Tourist - Anne Tyler
This was just the antidote to the heavy text of the last book and such an uplifting story of hope and possibility in life and relationships. Despite being a story based on the breakup of a 20 year marriage one year after the violent and tragic loss of their child, the rebuilding of the life of a quirky, socially difficult man in his forties with the help of an altogether different woman to what he is familiar with, I found to be heart-warming and just plain lovely.
Book 41: Atonement - Ian McEwan
This one felt incredibly slow to get going as it introduced a select group of family members who lay out their rather benign viewpoints of a gathering at their stately residence. Almost a quarter of the way through, the novel takes a shockingly dark turn and from there it’s a masterpiece of storytelling. My instincts in relation to the crime were revealed to be correct in the closing section of the book but it’s the early view of one of the young girls that sends so many lives off in their often tragic trajectories. This retelling and settling of fact over fiction by the now near octogenarian is her atonement for her youthful error. Blinding writing, worth your time.
Book 42: The Young Man - Annie Ernaux
Beautifully written if very fleeting memoir about an older divorced woman and her relationship with a younger university student. Incredibly brief but really insightful (for this man) on how this woman in her fifties viewed youth and how she felt youth viewed her. I'd had this on pre-order since shortly after Ernaux was awarded the Nobel but I didn't realise it was only a half-hour short story. I'll try something longer in the future.
Book 38: The Blind Assassin - Margaret Atwood
Very enjoyable tale of a lady in her twilight years telling her life story and that of her sister, the author of a novel called The Blind Assassin. With this we also get to read the novel that tells the story of clandestine meetings between a couple who seemingly meet to have sex and have a schlocky sci-fi story told to her. The interweaving of the two narratives is smart and despite being fairly lengthy, I thought it was worth it for the pay-off.
Book 39: Under the Volcano - Malcolm Lowry
I struggled with this one a bit. It's a complex, dense, rambling stream of consciousness at times told over only 12 hours or so. Each chapter from one of four characters' viewpoints, the main one being an alcoholic who frequently lacks cohesion and digresses at right angles with no warning at all. I'm glad I persevered because the writing is superb and the finale is worth the struggle. I read the introduction at the end (Penguin intros frequently feature spoilers so I always wait until afterwards) and even this suggests the full depth is only truly uncovered after a third or fourth reading. I'm not sure I'd ever do that at this stage in my life but, as a study piece I can imagine this being a remarkable book.
Book 40: The Accidental Tourist - Anne Tyler
This was just the antidote to the heavy text of the last book and such an uplifting story of hope and possibility in life and relationships. Despite being a story based on the breakup of a 20 year marriage one year after the violent and tragic loss of their child, the rebuilding of the life of a quirky, socially difficult man in his forties with the help of an altogether different woman to what he is familiar with, I found to be heart-warming and just plain lovely.
Book 41: Atonement - Ian McEwan
This one felt incredibly slow to get going as it introduced a select group of family members who lay out their rather benign viewpoints of a gathering at their stately residence. Almost a quarter of the way through, the novel takes a shockingly dark turn and from there it’s a masterpiece of storytelling. My instincts in relation to the crime were revealed to be correct in the closing section of the book but it’s the early view of one of the young girls that sends so many lives off in their often tragic trajectories. This retelling and settling of fact over fiction by the now near octogenarian is her atonement for her youthful error. Blinding writing, worth your time.
Book 42: The Young Man - Annie Ernaux
Beautifully written if very fleeting memoir about an older divorced woman and her relationship with a younger university student. Incredibly brief but really insightful (for this man) on how this woman in her fifties viewed youth and how she felt youth viewed her. I'd had this on pre-order since shortly after Ernaux was awarded the Nobel but I didn't realise it was only a half-hour short story. I'll try something longer in the future.
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Book 29
Soft Shelters by Marie Metaphor Specht
I discovered this book's existence a couple of weeks ago by spotting it on the 'Recently Ordered' list at my library and instantly reached out to Marie with congratulations and curiosities. I first encountered her poetry just shy of 20 years ago when she came to the open mic I was co-hosting with a musician friend at a little bistro in a Rocky Mountain town. Now we live nearly as close to one another as we did then, but with our families in a city on Vancouver Island! Her book launch was this past Wednesday and it was an absolute warm embrace of an evening. I've always loved Marie's poetry, and this book is a brilliant distillation of all the time in between, motherhood, a dismal future, hope, love, caregiving, and caretaking. This book is full of big feelings but put together with such care as to never leave one not feeling held along the way. I am very sure I would love this book without such a personal connection to it, but that personal connection brings extra glee to the whole thing for sure. Because I've been off social media and generally out of touch I didn't know until she was introduced at the launch that Marie was named Poet Laureate of Victoria this past April - which speaks volumes about the quality of her work. Very cool!
Soft Shelters by Marie Metaphor Specht
I discovered this book's existence a couple of weeks ago by spotting it on the 'Recently Ordered' list at my library and instantly reached out to Marie with congratulations and curiosities. I first encountered her poetry just shy of 20 years ago when she came to the open mic I was co-hosting with a musician friend at a little bistro in a Rocky Mountain town. Now we live nearly as close to one another as we did then, but with our families in a city on Vancouver Island! Her book launch was this past Wednesday and it was an absolute warm embrace of an evening. I've always loved Marie's poetry, and this book is a brilliant distillation of all the time in between, motherhood, a dismal future, hope, love, caregiving, and caretaking. This book is full of big feelings but put together with such care as to never leave one not feeling held along the way. I am very sure I would love this book without such a personal connection to it, but that personal connection brings extra glee to the whole thing for sure. Because I've been off social media and generally out of touch I didn't know until she was introduced at the launch that Marie was named Poet Laureate of Victoria this past April - which speaks volumes about the quality of her work. Very cool!
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Book 30
Stamped From The Beginning: A Graphic History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi, Adapted and Illustrated by Joel Christian Gill
Been plugging away at this one over the past week and a bit and it's every bit as brilliant an adaptation as I'd hoped it would be. Even in graphic format, it's still incredibly dense, but very well presented and easily digestible with a wry dose of added humour that really suits the format and lightens the mood without taking away from the heaviness of it all. The most accessible version yet of this very important text.
Stamped From The Beginning: A Graphic History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi, Adapted and Illustrated by Joel Christian Gill
Been plugging away at this one over the past week and a bit and it's every bit as brilliant an adaptation as I'd hoped it would be. Even in graphic format, it's still incredibly dense, but very well presented and easily digestible with a wry dose of added humour that really suits the format and lightens the mood without taking away from the heaviness of it all. The most accessible version yet of this very important text.
Nee Lewman
बैस्टर्ड
Well, I haven't been in here in a minute...
Book 8:
The Little Guide to Dolly Parton. It was basically just a bunch of her quotes built into categories. I've been a little obsessed with the limited track this year.
Book 9:
The Secret Life of D.B. Cooper by Brian Churilla. Was a fun read. Premise was that Cooper was a Government Agent who did battle in a weird monster world in his mind.
Book 10:
The Essential Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury
11.
Mooncakes
Mooncakes by Wendy Xu/Suzanne Walker/Joamette Gil LBTGQ+ witches.
12.
Batman: Last Knight on Earth by Scott Snyder/Greg Capullo Good stuff.... kind of like Batman meets Mad Max
13:
100 Poems that Matter - a collection put together by The American Academy of Poets. Ran the gamut of poetry. Some stuff I may look into at some point.
14.
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
Did not like this book. Basically the premise is all fairy tales are real which is found out by the main character when he accesses the upside down from a neighbor's garage. Not his best written book or idea.
Book 8:
The Little Guide to Dolly Parton. It was basically just a bunch of her quotes built into categories. I've been a little obsessed with the limited track this year.
Book 9:
The Secret Life of D.B. Cooper by Brian Churilla. Was a fun read. Premise was that Cooper was a Government Agent who did battle in a weird monster world in his mind.
Book 10:
The Essential Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury
11.
Mooncakes
Mooncakes by Wendy Xu/Suzanne Walker/Joamette Gil LBTGQ+ witches.
12.
Batman: Last Knight on Earth by Scott Snyder/Greg Capullo Good stuff.... kind of like Batman meets Mad Max
13:
100 Poems that Matter - a collection put together by The American Academy of Poets. Ran the gamut of poetry. Some stuff I may look into at some point.
14.
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
Did not like this book. Basically the premise is all fairy tales are real which is found out by the main character when he accesses the upside down from a neighbor's garage. Not his best written book or idea.