What Are You Reading? November 2011

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Thu November 24th, 2011, 10:11 am

I'm halfway through Black Swan Rising - generally enjoying it, not quite as OTT as Incubus - and guess who's put in an appearance? Yup an old friend of this forum, none other than Melusine!

sweetpotatoboy · Post by **sweetpotatoboy** » Fri November 25th, 2011, 11:00 am

I've given up on Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar. I started reading it in the original French and found it hard-going. I switched to the English translation and it was no better! So it's the book, not the language. I know it's supposed to be a classic historical novel but it's not that accessible, at least not to me. I vaguely remember trying to read it about 20 years ago.
I was reading it for my book group, but as I can't make the meeting in question, I've allowed myself to give it up - something I rarely do.

I may return to Rage by Wilbur Smith next week - a doorstopper I'd put to one side whilst I focused on some book group commitments.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Fri November 25th, 2011, 3:36 pm

December's book of the month Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Fri November 25th, 2011, 3:41 pm

I tried to read something else by Yourcenear and found it unreadable. Im not surprised that you found the same. It might be a classic, but her writing just does nothing for me.

Now reading Paris Wife, about Hemingway's wife, and Paris in the 20s.

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Fri November 25th, 2011, 4:01 pm

[quote=""sweetpotatoboy""]I've given up on Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar...I know it's supposed to be a classic historical novel but it's not that accessible, at least not to me.[/quote]

I didn't get past the first chapter a couple of years ago and put it back on the shelf to try later. It sits there taunting me!

emr · Post by **emr** » Fri November 25th, 2011, 7:01 pm

[quote=""fljustice""]I didn't get past the first chapter a couple of years ago and put it back on the shelf to try later. It sits there taunting me![/quote]

I read it and loved it some 30 years ago. But the Spanish translation was by Julio Cortázar, quite good as I recall. (Nowadays my patience is shorter. It'd prolly put me to sleep.)

Currently reading contemporary mystery: Looking Good Dead by Peter James.

Telynor · Post by **Telynor** » Sat November 26th, 2011, 4:16 am

Trudging (and it is trudging) my way through Anne Perry's Defend and Betray, one of her William Monk novels. But I am trying to review this particular series, so I am trying to perservere.

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Sun November 27th, 2011, 3:34 pm

I have now finished Black Swan Rising - with Melusine still trapped in a plastic bottle - and am about to start an English countryside murder mystery "Mud, Muck and Dead Things" by Ann Granger.

javagirl · Post by **javagirl** » Mon November 28th, 2011, 4:19 am

Just finished Alan Bradley's The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag, which is an enjoyable, light diversion, the second in a series with an 11 year old girl sleuth in 1950's England.

Have now started A Fine Balance, by Rohinton Mistry.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Mon November 28th, 2011, 10:01 am

I have the first two of Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce mysteries on my TBR pile. They sound like nice, easy reads.

I'm now reading The Silver Linings Play Book by Matthew Quick.