What Are You Reading? May 2013

annis · Post by **annis** » Sat May 25th, 2013, 10:16 pm

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler - zzzzz. Once again I look at the 5 star ratings for a novel and wonder if I'm reading the same book! The author has obviously read heaps about the Fitzgeralds and their circle - and makes sure the reader knows it. Name-dropping and info-dumping abound ad tedious, clunky nauseam. A lost opportunity - Fowler's clearly pre-set agenda - Zelda saint/Scott villain- has prevented her from presenting the relationship between the two with any genuine complexity.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Sun May 26th, 2013, 1:35 pm

Sticking with Dame Frevisse...The Outlaw's Tale by Margaret Frazer

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Sun May 26th, 2013, 11:17 pm

I just finished The Devil in Crystal by Erica Lindley. Absolutely awesome Victorian era gothic suspense with plenty of twists and turns and surprises around every corner.

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Mon May 27th, 2013, 11:23 am

Will be starting Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier tonight. I'm going to Amsterdam next week so I thought a novel set in The Netherlands would help get me in the mood

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Mon May 27th, 2013, 2:39 pm

Just finished The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. This is going straight to the top of my best of the year so far. I loved it!
I was rather amused by the back blurb though which said that if you'd read and loved A Discovery of Witches and Jonathan Strange and Mister Norell, this book would hit the spot.
I DNF both of those. The one because it ended up being a middle-class woman's lifestyle wish-list - Yoga and weekend away hotels in idyllic locations with champagne and crisp linen sheets. It was almost like non sexual porn for the well-heeled woman!
Jonathan Strange just glazed my eyes.

Happily The Golem and Jinni did not do any of these. Even though it's a fantasy, it has realism, integrity and soul - plus it's darned good story telling. I suppose the publishers should have put on the back (for me anyway) 'If you loved The Snow Child' by Eowyn Ivy, you will love this.'

DianeL · Post by **DianeL** » Mon May 27th, 2013, 5:07 pm

Vanessa, I read "Stepsister" this year. It was enjoyable, but I didn't sink all the way in I don't think; the ending didn't bother me, but it didn't do a great deal either honestly.

I had the very great privilege of meeting William Golding in person my senior year in high school; he came to our school and gave a talk. He was remarkable, for a young writer - but I can't say I've ever been in love with LOTF either, E.

After all these years, I finally picked up a copy of "The Red Tent" at a thrift shop and have begun reading it. It hasn't completely convinced me either. (I seem to be running a negative theme here - but for a highly positive reaction to a book comparable to Tent, take a peek here for some thoughts on Ursula LeGuin's "Lavinia".) Tent is replacing the lunchtime book I've been trying to force myself back through for months, "Caesar's Woman" - McCullough was completely insufferable by this novel; it's an incredibly frustrating read.

Recently finished my very first e-book(s) ever; appropriately, I purchased "The Ultimate Hithhiker's Guide" as my inaugural Kindle tome. Adams will always have a place in my heart, but it's hard not to read a little more critically with age.

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Tue May 28th, 2013, 8:41 am

I've just started Hasty Death by M C Beaton - the second book in her Edwardian crime series.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Tue May 28th, 2013, 10:57 am

[quote=""EC2""]Just finished The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. This is going straight to the top of my best of the year so far. I loved it!
I was rather amused by the back blurb though which said that if you'd read and loved A Discovery of Witches and Jonathan Strange and Mister Norell, this book would hit the spot.
I DNF both of those. The one because it ended up being a middle-class woman's lifestyle wish-list - Yoga and weekend away hotels in idyllic locations with champagne and crisp linen sheets. It was almost like non sexual porn for the well-heeled woman!
Jonathan Strange just glazed my eyes.

Happily The Golem and Jinni did not do any of these. Even though it's a fantasy, it has realism, integrity and soul - plus it's darned good story telling. I suppose the publishers should have put on the back (for me anyway) 'If you loved The Snow Child' by Eowyn Ivy, you will love this.'[/quote]

I really fancy this one! I loved A Discovery of Witches, Jonathan Strange and The Snow Child. Jonathan Strange took me a couple of attempts.

[quote=""DianeL""]Vanessa, I read "Stepsister" this year. It was enjoyable, but I didn't sink all the way in I don't think; the ending didn't bother me, but it didn't do a great deal either honestly.

I had the very great privilege of meeting William Golding in person my senior year in high school; he came to our school and gave a talk. He was remarkable, for a young writer - but I can't say I've ever been in love with LOTF either, E.

After all these years, I finally picked up a copy of "The Red Tent" at a thrift shop and have begun reading it. It hasn't completely convinced me either. (I seem to be running a negative theme here - but for a highly positive reaction to a book comparable to Tent, take a peek here for some thoughts on Ursula LeGuin's "Lavinia".) Tent is replacing the lunchtime book I've been trying to force myself back through for months, "Caesar's Woman" - McCullough was completely insufferable by this novel; it's an incredibly frustrating read.

[/quote]

I'm not enjoying Stepsister as much as Wicked but it's OK, quite enjoying it.

The Red Tent didn't grab me that much either.

MLE (Emily Cotton) · Post by **MLE (Emily Cotton)** » Tue May 28th, 2013, 3:10 pm

Haven't posted much on what I am reading lately because I downloaded a pile of free classics to my kindle, and I'm flipping through them.
I just finished 'Tales of the Alhambra' by Washington Irving. I know I have read this before; there's a paperback on my shelf I bought AT the Alhambra itself -- but about half of it seems completely new. Maybe my mind is disintegrating?

I ripped through Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi. Twain is engaging and fun always, a good example of a timeless writing style.

I have not been able to gag down more than half of Gaskell's North and South. High-flown verbiage aside, the writer's sympathy for lazy-ass whimpering upper-class women is driving me nuts. My daughter owns the series with Richard Armitage --I think I'll have to take this one in movie format.

I keep looking at Pat Bracewell's Shadow on the Crown on my nightstand. I heard portions of it in beta, so I'm sure it will be good. But the darn thing is hardcover and weighs a ton, and the 6-ounce Kindle has spoiled me in that direction.

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Tue May 28th, 2013, 4:25 pm

[quote=""MLE""]I keep looking at Pat Bracewell's Shadow on the Crown on my nightstand. I heard portions of it in beta, so I'm sure it will be good. But the darn thing is hardcover and weighs a ton, and the 6-ounce Kindle has spoiled me in that direction.[/quote]

I've had the same problem! I don't normally buy hardbacks except at charity events, used bookstores or for research. I'm currently reading Colonel Roosevelt in massive hardback and miss my Nook.