What to read next?

This is funny. Kavalier and Clay blew me away with the combination of Holocaust stuff and comic book stuff -- Chabon was able to take both topics with the same gravity, without being in the slightest way disrespectful, making you feel like you were a part of the family throughout. It was kind of an urgency and at the same time a nostalgia for a time when you felt that urgency.

And yes, that's not what happened with YPL but that was such a great detective story. At first I had a hard time swallowing the idea of a set of all-spectrum Jewish communities in this crazy outback in Alaska, but once I accepted that, it became a kind of Sopranos and at the same time the whole Nabokov chess-genius thing and a little bit Anne Tyler, and then John leCarre all in one. Crazy. I loved it. I have a feeling he was grinning the whole time he wrote it.

But yes, I've started Telegraph Ave and it's right up there so far. Chabon is like Robertson Davies, every book shows a mastery of some abstruse area of expertise that he's never shown before. Do your remember RD's Rebel Angels, when you suddenly knew everything about monks and about art forgery? Well, this one looks like the first area of expertise is 50s, 60s, 70s jazz. So far so good.

But funny, Eliz, the other book I bought when I bought the Michael Chabon was This is How You Lose Her, Junot Diaz. It'll be my first of his, I'll let you know how that turns out as well.

this thread has inspired me to revive my goodreads account!

This thread inspired ME (thanks Bookgirl!) to start reading creepy/Sci Fi books from now until Hallowe'en.

Started "I am Legend" by Richard Matheson last night. Written in 1954 and takes place in the "future" of 1976, so far it's delivering.

Although the story is over 50 years old it feels fresh and ahead of it's time - had to be the inspiration for vampire/zombie movies of the 50's and 70's that followed it. It's not Bram Stoker's Dracula by a long shot.

leighan said:

this thread has inspired me to revive my goodreads account!

I think I was invited and tried to join,but I dont know if i was successful, so if i was invited, let me know if i joined.

One thing i think about while reading, is tnat sometimes i feel i am reading books that might not be as quick or entertaining a read, but have the type of authorship that is appealing to critics because it is obviously well constructed and literate with much character study, but not the type of book that you are racing to finish because you cant wait to see how it ends.

The last two fiction books i read were "The Starboard Sea" and "The Obriens". Both of which were well reviewed and I thought well done from a writing perspective, but not the most engaging books. Both books I thought were a bit pretentious, as ifthe authors were more interestec in displaying their skill than telling a good story..

On the other hand i could tear through books like "Gone Girl", the Dragon Tattoo girl books, Laurie King mysteries in a couple days.

I would like to find authors who both write really well and can make an excellent story


On a completely non related thought, has anyone read the new Tropper or Follett books?

I enjoyed the new Tropper. Very readable, if also very Nick Hornby-esque.

I actually didn't think that Starboard Sea was particularly well written. Or, the writing was good, but the plot didn't hold together for me.

I finished Dark Places today--I had to finish it during the day because it was giving me nightmares. But I loved it. More than Gone Girl.

What is Dark Places?

Dark places is the second of gillian flynn's three books. I really liked gone girl, but still think her first two were better.

I thoroughly enjoyed Kavalier and Clay, although I usually like memoirs and biographies. In that genre, I thought Maraniss' biography of Obama and his family was superb, and I am currently listening (on Audible) to Isaacson's interesting biography of Steve Jobs (despite being a Droid guy).

@mtierney, Dorothy Sayers is my absolute favorite. Don't worry, Lord Peter gets less foppish as the series goes on. In recent years the series has been extended by several books written by Jill Paton Walsh--they are also excellent, somewhat to my surprise.

Read about the founding of this Great Country. You will not be disappointed.

bookgirl said:

I enjoyed the new Tropper. Very readable, if also very Nick Hornby-esque.

I actually didn't think that Starboard Sea was particularly well written. Or, the writing was good, but the plot didn't hold together for me.

I finished Dark Places today--I had to finish it during the day because it was giving me nightmares. But I loved it. More than Gone Girl.

I'm in the middle of Dark Places and it beyond creepy.

I have both the Tropper and Dard Places on my queu. Currently I am enmeshed in Shadow of the Storm which is not grabbing me so much. I am just started and looking forward to the rise of Islam which I think I will enjoy more. One of my own rules of reading, is that if I commit myself to a very educational book, I allow myself to alternate it with a Porn for Girls selection. So, aim reading 2 books.... The very scholarly "shadow of the sword". And the light and sexy "simply carnal" by Kate pierce.

I find I usually read two books at one time, one fiction and one non fiction.the more serious the one is tends to get me bogged down. If I can take a chapter or so fluff break every know and then I find I get much more out of those heavy serious books.

As much as I was familiar with a Tale of Two Cites, once again Dickens knocks me out! So much relates to the social and political unrest today. When I reread Bleak House after the 2008 meltdown, I had the same sense that nothing much changes!

I LOVE Dickins. I keep meaning to read The Old Curiosity Shop. I think it's one of the few I missed.

Anyone finished Dark Places or Tropper or the new Alison weir or Kate Morton? I am bogged down in history, so once I finish I will need something a bit less meaty to chew on. Also, saw several had started with Telegraph by Chabon, but had not seen any feedback to let us know if its a read or a pass.

I read Dark Places before I read Gone Girl. Personally, I preferred Gone Girl, but I think a lot of people liked Dark Places more. I didn't find it that scary either, but I've seen a lot of people say that it freaked them out.

I'm reading Swamplandia! now. It's good but I only have it on my Kindle for a couple more days, and I don't know if I'll get it finished.

I am reading When a Crocodile Eats the Sun by Peter Godwin. Eye opening and painful memoir of Zimbabwe. There's also a chapter about his family and the holocaust. Very moving.

Ok I finished Dark Places and I definitely liked Gone Girl better. Dark Places started out really strong but about 2/3 of the way through the author completely lost her way. She threw everything into the storyline until nothing worked. At the end I was almost laughing it was so cuckoo. Sorry but I say give it a pass.

I just finished "Mr. Churchill's Secretary" and really enjoyed it. Ordered the next one in the series...

I am in a chic lit funk. Does nobody write mind numbing girl books anymore?

@algebra2 - Try Jennifer Weiner. Sort of elevated, clever chick-lit. I also eat up anything by Elizabeth Berg.

After reading this thread, my book list has grown exponentially. A relief after reading a couple of Barbara Delinsky novels (good beach/plane reading) that are total fluff. Currently, I'm reading a lot of non-fiction (in particular, a bio of Elvis Costello that's captivating) as I prepare to write my own.

Check out Persepolis 2. Amazing Iranian chick-lit. Actually it's serious lit even if it's a graphic novel.

Susan Isaacs (sp?) has a new book - forgot the title - she is usually very funny, but the review I read was not enticing.

Alexis deTocqueville's Letters from America, written in 1830s, is a good classic to clear the mind of murder and mayhem - my favorite genre!

....
Alexis deTocqueville's Letters from America, written in 1830s, is a good classic to clear the mind of murder and mayhem - my favorite genre!

@dave - )

Persepolis is amazing, agreed.

I just finished Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. It is a great book, and perfect for commuters because of the super short chapters. Of course, you may tear up and arrive at work with mascara streaks on your cheeks, but still...

Every now and again I read Holocaust literature and then I usually find it so disturbing that I swear off it again for at least a year. Sarah's Key was the last Holocaust book I read, so I am still scarred from that one for another 6 months or so.

Did anyone read "The Invisible Bridge" by Julie Orringer? It was about Hungarian Jews and how the war was for them under Nazi occupation.

So, as we all prep for being inside for a few days without power, what are we going to be reading? Maybe a long book that we meant to read for while, but didn't have time for. I'm going to be reading the second of the ken Follett trilogy.

Also, what are some good scary/spooky books for Halloween.

Tom wolfe's Back to Blood is just one click away :-D

currently enjoying Amagansett by Mark Mills.

Rollings Casual Vacancy is reviewed in the Book Review and seems daunting. Anyone read it?

I saw the Tom Wolfe book, but I didn't like the last one about the girl in college. Maybe I will give the new one a try.