ayayrawn
Well-Known Member
Solomon is the first and only one I've read by her too. It's weird, but compelling.
2023 Reading Challenge
- Thread starter Selaws
- Start date
Bull Shannon
Well-Known Member
Would you look at that
I started Monday! It’s also my first Morrison, and after hearing Marlon James recommend it on every episode of his podcast, finally picked up a copy.
I gotta post all my other reads up til now first tho.
ranbalam
Well-Known Member
That's a crazy coincidence!Would you look at that
View attachment 180238
I started Monday! It’s also my first Morrison, and after hearing Marlon James recommend it on every episode of his podcast, finally picked up a copy.
I gotta post all my other reads up til now first tho.
Bull Shannon
Well-Known Member
Book 20: Dawn, by Octavia Butler
My first Butler! Concerns a woman woken from suspended animation by aliens who abducted her on the eve of a world-annihilating nuclear war. The aliens wish to repopulate Earth with humans, in exchange for a sort of genetic partnership (which I think pans out more over the next few books). Much of the book consists of conversations and two-person scenes. This was an excellent read, though it petered out a little bit near the end for me as a lot of the other revived human characters felt a bit thinly drawn and reactively cruel.
Book 21: In Green's Jungles, by Gene Wolfe
Gene really starts cooking with this one, and throws a lot at us. Much like Blue's Waters before this, more focus is put on the person writing the story you're reading, and their present circumstances; the journeys through Green's Jungles are obfuscated and barely referenced. In classic Gene style we get a storytelling contest in which each teller is giving away more about themselves than actually telling a story.
Book 22: Drive your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, by Olga Tokarczuk
I liked this okay; this was a book club selection, and while a lot of people in the group found the narrator funny, I thought she was something of an out-there caricature. Funny enough, I spoiled the end of this book via the "themes" section of its wikipedia entry (the "themes" section doesn't typically contain explicit plot elements; I don't think that's my fault) and knowing how things would pan out actually pushed me to go ahead and complete the story.
Book 23: The Priory of the Orange Tree, by Samantha Shannon
This one's a DNF; I kept seeing it on the bookstore shelves and thought "hmm a thick fantasy novel sounds pretty fun," and I don't engage with a lot of contemporary work in the genre. I couldn't hang with it, though; there's just too much telling and not enough showing. With every description of action or piece of dialogue to propel the story forward, the author throws in tons of worldbuilding facts. To use a metaphor, you don't know which facts will be "on the test," so you find yourself getting caught up in "will I need to remember the quantity and names of rulers in this kingdom?" rather than "what will happen next?"
On top of that, the story just. Doesn't. Move. I got about a third of the way through and while I could explain the world to you, I couldn't really tell you what the story was. Lots of goodreads reviews parrot this criticism, but also praise the slow-burn romance. After 1/3 of this book (that's over 200 pages of investment), I can't tell you whom is supposed to fall in love with whom.
Book 24: Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe
And with that I finish The Book of the Short Sun and Gene's twelve-book Solar Cycle. Was it an interesting, rewarding read? Yup! Was it surprisingly emotional for a book by an engineer who seems more focused on fucking with the reader than anything? Damn right! Do I fully understand it? Heck no!
The story finishes the saga of Horn, a man sent back to the Whorl (a generation ship) to retrieve his mentor and the government/religious leader Silk. Through the nature of Horn's journey, as well as the feeling of one going back to a home which has changed immensely, the story has this sadness which runs throughout; Wolfe nails his characters and their inner lives so well. After eleven previous books of Gene giving answers that generate questions and conclusions which imply we've only scratched the surface of the story, I'm happy to say Return to the Whorl has an actual, satisfying ending (while still remaining as elliptical as possible).
I'm very happy and satisfied to have reached the end of this cycle after ~16 months of going through what initially started as a New Sun reread. Now it's just a matter of time before I reread the whole cycle (as they say, one doesn't read Wolfe, they only reread).
Bull Shannon
Well-Known Member
An old college friend just logged Song of Solomon on goodreads I’m not even joking.
jamieanderson1968
ninniest jackaninny
Feels like I have been in the reading doldrums this month but I am about to start my 4th book of the month.
30. Alex Green - The Stone Roses - These 33.3 books are great palette cleansers. This one is middle of the pack, not great but not terrible (and there are a few terrible ones.)
31. Christine Mangan - The Continental Affair. Read a review in the NYTimes or Guardian and it sounded interesting. 60s Spain, France and Istanbul.
30. Alex Green - The Stone Roses - These 33.3 books are great palette cleansers. This one is middle of the pack, not great but not terrible (and there are a few terrible ones.)
31. Christine Mangan - The Continental Affair. Read a review in the NYTimes or Guardian and it sounded interesting. 60s Spain, France and Istanbul.
Phaneronic
Well-Known Member
- Found the first volume of Akira knocking around my brother's room and chewed through it in a couple of days. Nearly having a "didn't know graphic novels could do that" moment. Unfortunately they keep not having Vol 2 when I go to the book store.
- Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami - Went to the bookstore and asked for something "slice of life-y" for whatever reason. Felt like I recognized the name, only realized later people had been talking about The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles in this very thread. Really liked it, the characters were just fun to read. It was more sombre than maybe I was looking for but it wasn't too much. Also, wasn't expecting it to be the smuttiest book I've read, not that the narrator takes great pleasure in describing the sex scenes, which is a point in it's favor. The book probably wouldn't work without them but also just kinda had to accept that they were there. Not that I mind sex scenes that much, they just seemed angular in context.
- Currently reading Driven to Distraction by Edward Hallowell and John Ratey on @avecigrec's recommendation and it's difficult for me to believe that the descriptions given near the start of the book are not just... How people are, a bit blown up, but I'm starting to get the sneaking suspicion that if this lines up with my experience of being a human, then I maybe I'm the black sheep...
- Also reading Le Petit Prince by Antoine Saint-Exupery as a French test for myself. I'm having to claw myself through a couple pages at a time, I'm realizing Duolingo ain't great for making sure you know grammar, but I still think I'm managing to understand the tone and humor. And yeah I see why it's so well loved. BEHOLD! My first and second masterpieces.
- AaAnNnDdD while I was in London I visited a {well-structured} exhibit on af Klint and Mondrian's parallel development of abstract styles of painting at the Tate Museum, and was so enamored that I bought the exhibition... Book. Catalogue + Essay collection. I'm tempted to take a billion photos and post them all here but that'd take a while.
Hemotep
Well-Known Member
This series blew my mind in the best way. Loved it and can't wait to watch the show. I think I'd rather see the Chinese version first, but haven't streamed it yet.
Hemotep
Well-Known Member
Would you look at that
View attachment 180238
I started Monday! It’s also my first Morrison, and after hearing Marlon James recommend it on every episode of his podcast, finally picked up a copy.
I gotta post all my other reads up til now first tho.
If you enjoyed this one, I loved Sula as well!
jamieanderson1968
ninniest jackaninny
That looks interesting. Added it to my hold list
Hemotep
Well-Known Member
That's why I want to watch the Chinese version. I enjoy the bleakness of it, but I think that's something Hollywood has a hard time with in American releases and tends to change them. That's not the case in a lot of the Chinese stuff I've watched so far, so I think that one will be closer to the books. But if they can pull it off then I'd like to see how it's adapted to an American audience as well. I know the first season is incredible long in the Chinese version. I'm not sure if they've started filming the American one yet or if the strikes interrupted it, but I think I read it's a Netflix thing.
Hemotep
Well-Known Member
Oh wow, I'd only come across the 30 episode show. Didn't know about the other ones. I'll watch em all!
Mr Moore
Well-Known Member
August 2023
Book 33: The Penitent - Isaac Bashevis Singer
An interesting short read to start the month. An American Jew decides to atone for his past sins by moving to Israel and becoming a good, penitent Jew whilst nearly joining the mile-high club on his plane over and later, trying to force himself on a former Israeli soldier who declines his advances in no uncertain terms. Recounted over a couple of sessions to the writer whom he meets while visiting the Wailing Wall, the narrator explains his past and how he came to the conclusion that the western Jew is simply a wrong 'un.
Book 34: The Mirror and the Light - Hilary Mantel
Glorious concluding instalment to this trilogy. Cromwell continues to defy all his detractors' expectations as he rises even further from his dog-rough upbringing and the King continues to ply him with titles. His enemies though, aren't content to let him go unchecked and the conclusion starts to look inevitable from early on. The fall of surely one of literature's greatest anti-heroes was amazingly emotional, as the groundwork is laid and the backstabbing starts to take place. This series of books have completely altered my feelings towards historical fiction, I cannot praise them highly enough.
Book 35: Portnoy's Complaint - Philip Roth
This was alright. I can see why it would have been such a controversial success at the time of release with it's graphic description of Portnoy's sexual life from young boy to the narrative now. But, for me at any rate, much like drugs, sex is best experienced for oneself rather than reading about somebody else's experiences! I did really like the style though of spilling one's guts to their therapist and the writing is unquestionably excellent. Very funny at times, feeling like the best bits of Woody Allen's films in its (fairly stereotypical) depiction of the American Jewish family unit.
Book 36: Blue in Green - Ram V, Anand RK, John Pearson, Aditya Bidikar & Tom Muller
I feel like I saw this somewhere on N&G at some point but a search for the title brings up way too many results. When it came up cheap on Amazon, I bought it but, shortly after read a fairly scathing review of it (NPR) and put it on the back-burner. Finding myself between books at the weekend while visiting Oxford and wanting something that I could read in the very short amount of time I'd have to spare, I went for this and thought it was excellent. I'd fully agree with the bad review that the artwork is the real winner but I thought the story was pretty damned good too: a fresh take on the struggling artist fighting their demons and reaching creative peak after striking a deal with the devil. Good backstory and likeable, believable characters gave it plenty to work with and yes, the artwork is spectacular, each panel worthy of study.
Book 37: Purple Hibiscus - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
What a debut this is. I'm late to the game with Adichie's work, this being my first and it is so, so good. Told by the shy daughter of a wealthy Nigerian businessman, media owner and devout Catholic. Kambili lives a reserved life, studying hard to live up to her father's high expectations, but it becomes apparent, to also avoid his grossly abusive violence that none of the family are safe from. There's very little joy in her life until she and her brother spend some time away with their aunt and cousins where she sees how poorer people live and meets a charming young priest who she forms a crush on. The book reaches a tense and emotional climax as family members are displaced and killed but Adichie leaves us with a glimmer of light in her poetic closing lines. Beautifully written, capturing the political turmoil and corruption in post-colonial Nigeria, I’ll absolutely be reading her work further.
Book 33: The Penitent - Isaac Bashevis Singer
An interesting short read to start the month. An American Jew decides to atone for his past sins by moving to Israel and becoming a good, penitent Jew whilst nearly joining the mile-high club on his plane over and later, trying to force himself on a former Israeli soldier who declines his advances in no uncertain terms. Recounted over a couple of sessions to the writer whom he meets while visiting the Wailing Wall, the narrator explains his past and how he came to the conclusion that the western Jew is simply a wrong 'un.
Book 34: The Mirror and the Light - Hilary Mantel
Glorious concluding instalment to this trilogy. Cromwell continues to defy all his detractors' expectations as he rises even further from his dog-rough upbringing and the King continues to ply him with titles. His enemies though, aren't content to let him go unchecked and the conclusion starts to look inevitable from early on. The fall of surely one of literature's greatest anti-heroes was amazingly emotional, as the groundwork is laid and the backstabbing starts to take place. This series of books have completely altered my feelings towards historical fiction, I cannot praise them highly enough.
Book 35: Portnoy's Complaint - Philip Roth
This was alright. I can see why it would have been such a controversial success at the time of release with it's graphic description of Portnoy's sexual life from young boy to the narrative now. But, for me at any rate, much like drugs, sex is best experienced for oneself rather than reading about somebody else's experiences! I did really like the style though of spilling one's guts to their therapist and the writing is unquestionably excellent. Very funny at times, feeling like the best bits of Woody Allen's films in its (fairly stereotypical) depiction of the American Jewish family unit.
Book 36: Blue in Green - Ram V, Anand RK, John Pearson, Aditya Bidikar & Tom Muller
I feel like I saw this somewhere on N&G at some point but a search for the title brings up way too many results. When it came up cheap on Amazon, I bought it but, shortly after read a fairly scathing review of it (NPR) and put it on the back-burner. Finding myself between books at the weekend while visiting Oxford and wanting something that I could read in the very short amount of time I'd have to spare, I went for this and thought it was excellent. I'd fully agree with the bad review that the artwork is the real winner but I thought the story was pretty damned good too: a fresh take on the struggling artist fighting their demons and reaching creative peak after striking a deal with the devil. Good backstory and likeable, believable characters gave it plenty to work with and yes, the artwork is spectacular, each panel worthy of study.
Book 37: Purple Hibiscus - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
What a debut this is. I'm late to the game with Adichie's work, this being my first and it is so, so good. Told by the shy daughter of a wealthy Nigerian businessman, media owner and devout Catholic. Kambili lives a reserved life, studying hard to live up to her father's high expectations, but it becomes apparent, to also avoid his grossly abusive violence that none of the family are safe from. There's very little joy in her life until she and her brother spend some time away with their aunt and cousins where she sees how poorer people live and meets a charming young priest who she forms a crush on. The book reaches a tense and emotional climax as family members are displaced and killed but Adichie leaves us with a glimmer of light in her poetic closing lines. Beautifully written, capturing the political turmoil and corruption in post-colonial Nigeria, I’ll absolutely be reading her work further.
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Oh, this looks awesome!
Bull Shannon
Well-Known Member
very curious to hear the This is What it Sounds like takes; I got pretty frustrated with it and would love to hear what other music obsessives think.
jamieanderson1968
ninniest jackaninny
Just started last night and hope to dig in a bit more soon.
ranbalam
Well-Known Member
I'm two chapters in and it seems a bit uneven. Like, she goes back and forth from 'music for dummies' to more advanced concepts. Not sure what I think yet, but I have enjoyed parts of it so far.