Captain's (Reading) Log: Stardate 2014.01-.365

[Scheherazade]

Here is to wishing a great reading-year!

[mona amon]

So far I've read -

1. Sandman: The Dream Hunters by Neil Gaiman and Yo****aka Amano - 10/10 - Great book to start off the new year. I thought it was a graphic novel but turns out to be a regular tale, beautifully told, and Yo****aka Amano's illustrations are absolutely lovely. A wonderful reading experience.

2. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 3/10 - An insipid 'follow your dreams' self-help sort of book. When I came to the part where the protagonist starts talking to the wind, I knew I was wasting my time but finished it anyway.

Gosh, part of Yo s h i t aka's name got edited out! :confused:

[Scheherazade]

Mona> I cannot agree with you more regarding The Alchemist. It was one of the biggest disappointments of my reading history and now I get very annoyed and frustrated that this kind of sugar-coated, pseudo self-help and empowerment books get to be published even.

Willing to give Atwood's Maddaddam a try soon?

[Paulclem]

Finished the first book of the New Year.

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke Avery good, hard science read chronicling the appearance of a mysterious, gigantic cylinder in the solar system which is explored by a nearby spaceship. A good tale, well told. 8/10

[mona amon]

Mona> I cannot agree with you more regarding The Alchemist. It was one of the biggest disappointments of my reading history and now I get very annoyed and frustrated that this kind of sugar-coated, pseudo self-help and empowerment books get to be published even.

Willing to give Atwood's Maddaddam a try soon?

Scher, I'm ready whenever you are. I'll be buying it for Kindle as I couldn't find it in my library, so that will take only a few seconds. :)

[Scheherazade]

My list so far:

1. The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper (N1/W1) ~ 7/10

2. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (N2/W2/SO1) ~ 8/10

3. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (N3/W3) ~ 8/10

4. The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers (W4) ~ 9/10

5. The Monk and the Hangman's Daughter by Ambrose Bierce (N4) ~ 7/10

6. MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood (W5) ~ 4/10

[prendrelemick]

Reading log. 2014
Following on from last year's...

Road to Nab End by William Woodruff.

A true story of growing up in Blackburn between the Wars, by a man who can write fluently and interestingly. These people had absolutely nothing, unyet managed to get by. I found it facinating - it brought back memories of my Grandma's stories of her childhood. 8/10

Why be Happy When You Can be Normal by Jeanette Winterson.

It goes over the same ground as Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit. This time she is not so concerned with narrative and humour but jumps around from place to place and thought to thought. The story is still the same, an orphan brought up in extraordinary and loveless surroundings by a dominating religious mother, somehow educates herself and breaks free.
Then she jumps 25 years and tries to track, explain and describe the causes of a horrendous breakdown. This is couragous stuff I was genuinely moved. My admiration of this woman has gone up to a whole new level. 9/10

[Helga]

Why be Happy When You Can be Normal by Jeanette Winterson.

It goes over the same ground as Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit. This time she is not so concerned with narrative and humour but jumps around from place to place and thought to thought. The story is still the same, an orphan brought up in extraordinary and loveless surroundings by a dominating religious mother, somehow educates herself and breaks free.
Then she jumps 25 years and tries to track, explain and describe the causes of a horrendous breakdown. This is couragous stuff I was genuinely moved. My admiration of this woman has gone up to a whole new level. 9/10

Winterson has been on my list ever since I read 'Weight', her autobiography has been on the top of that list, just the name makes it worth while I think

I have read 8 books so far (almost finished number 9)

Mánasteinn (Moonstone, it will be translated soon I think) by Sjón, an amazing story about a difficult year in Iceland's history, 1918. He is a brilliant writer 10/10
The Dogs of Babel- my friend told me to read it because it's about a dog. It's not a good book, not very well written, has some interesting ideas and shows grief in a new light but very disappointing. 3/10 (and I'm being nice)
Gangsta Granny- yes this was for my son but I loved it, just one of the best children's book I have read. funny, silly but about subjects that can be hard to discuss. 9/10
Aðgát skal höfð- by a woman from the ice, Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir, about a women on the ice at the beginning of the second world war 8/10
The Good Shepherd- by Gunnar Gunnarsson a very cold and symbolic book about kindness and equality (to me at least, some people say it's about god, maybe it is a bit) it's based on a true story of a man who travelled in the cold and snow every year to find sheep that got lost from the group. 9/10
The Monster and the critics by Tolkien for my BA, a great piece of work.
Íslenskur Aðall- it's hard to translate that title cause it might be misunderstood, I think it has been translated into English a few times but they always make a new title for it. Really it would be The Icelandic Elite, and that gives the wrong impression. Very good book by Þórbergur Þórðarson about young men who want to be poets but only drink and waste time thinking they are great. 8/10 after reading this book 2x2 isn't always 4.
The Spanish Tragedy - Kyd. yes it is a play but with introduction in 25 pages and additions, it's a book! enjoyed it a lot 7/10

My plan is to read at least 52 books this year, I think I'll read a bit more though

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke Avery good, hard science read chronicling the appearance of a mysterious, gigantic cylinder in the solar system which is explored by a nearby spaceship. A good tale, well told. 8/10

2) The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell A pagan Lord's Hall is burned down whilst he is blamed for the kidnapping of a Danish leader's wife and children. His ensuing struggle and travels make for interesting reading as Cornwell expands upon the historical detail in a swords and shields thriller. 6.5/10

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke Avery good, hard science read chronicling the appearance of a mysterious, gigantic cylinder in the solar system which is explored by a nearby spaceship. A good tale, well told. 8/10

2) The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell A pagan Lord's Hall is burned down whilst he is blamed for the kidnapping of a Danish leader's wife and children. His ensuing struggle and travels make for interesting reading as Cornwell expands upon the historical detail in a swords and shields thriller. 6.5/10

3) Cosmopolis by Don Delillo A successful currency dealer's every need is taken care of as he engages with experiences which will provide insight, feeling and meaning. A very interesting novel which asks big questions in an atheistic, corporate world. What do the riches we can acquire really mean for individuals?

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke Avery good, hard science read chronicling the appearance of a mysterious, gigantic cylinder in the solar system which is explored by a nearby spaceship. A good tale, well told. 8/10

2) The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell A pagan Lord's Hall is burned down whilst he is blamed for the kidnapping of a Danish leader's wife and children. His ensuing struggle and travels make for interesting reading as Cornwell expands upon the historical detail in a swords and shields thriller. 6.5/10

3) Cosmopolis by Don Delillo A successful currency dealer's every need is taken care of as he engages with experiences which will provide insight, feeling and meaning. A very interesting novel which asks big questions in an atheistic, corporate world. What do the riches we can acquire really mean for individuals? 8.5/10

4) The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling A suicide is investigated by Private Detective Cormoran Strike in London. The plot twists and turns offering a number of plausible suspects and scenarios to murder before the final denoument. An enjoyable read. 7.5/10

[mona amon]

Paul, I'm glad to see your good rating for The Cuckoo's Calling. I too thought it was a really good detective novel, and a huge improvement on the Casual Vacancy.

3. MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood - 4/10

[Lykren]

This year has been an extremely slow one for reading so far. I usually read my list strictly in order, and next on that list is The Plum in the Golden Vase, but it's taking so long to get my hands on a copy that I've caved in and started reading Palm-of-the-Hand stories by Yasunari Kawabata. His Snow Country is a favorite of mine, so I was really looking forward to this. I'm not enjoying these short, 2-5 page stories as much as Snow Country (so far) but they are still very, very good. They seem slight and unsatisfying initially, but they really hold a wealth of emotion and reflection. I will post a score once I have finished.

[Paulclem]

Paul, I'm glad to see your good rating for The Cuckoo's Calling. I too thought it was a really good detective novel, and a huge improvement on the Casual Vacancy.
[/B]

Yes. I didn't fancy A Casual Vacancy. I bought The Cuckoo's calling for my wife and she recommended it.

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke Avery good, hard science read chronicling the appearance of a mysterious, gigantic cylinder in the solar system which is explored by a nearby spaceship. A good tale, well told. 8/10

2) The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell A pagan Lord's Hall is burned down whilst he is blamed for the kidnapping of a Danish leader's wife and children. His ensuing struggle and travels make for interesting reading as Cornwell expands upon the historical detail in a swords and shields thriller. 6.5/10

3) Cosmopolis by Don Delillo A successful currency dealer's every need is taken care of as he engages with experiences which will provide insight, feeling and meaning. A very interesting novel which asks big questions in an atheistic, corporate world. What do the riches we can acquire really mean for individuals? 8.5/10

4) The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling A suicide is investigated by Private Detective Cormoran Strike in London. The plot twists and turns offering a number of plausible suspects and scenarios to murder before the final denoument. An enjoyable read. 7.5/10

5) The Player of Games by Iain M Banks Jernau Gurgeh is a human game player in the Culture - an advanced, liberal, super-duper computer run civilisation set many years in the future. He is enlsted to play a game by the super computers - minds who reside in advanced spaceships - against players who live in a highly stratified and despotic Empire. An early culture sci-fi, and a rare re-read for me, Banks has written an engrossing book packed with ideas and speculations. Excellent. 9/10

[Lykren]

I just finished Palm-of-the-Hand stories by Kawabata. It was very good, and being a collection of stories from throughout his career, arranged in chronological order, I think it showed his great maturation over the decades. The stories became more exquisite, more fascinating and rich with thoughts and feelings, as I read on.

The last story, Gleanings From Snow Country, is a condensation of his first novel, entitled Snow Country. It was interesting to see what parts he decided to include and which to drop out; I was surprised (though perhaps I shouldn't have been) at the way he left out the more dramatic elements of the storyline, instead choosing to emphasize - what? I'm not sure I can do it justice, but there seemed to be a deep sensual quality to the tale, even more than the original possessed.

I'm not sure what I'll read next. If I can't get my hands on The Plum in the Golden Vase, I might go for Autobiography of Red, a novel in verse by Canadian poet Anne Carson.

[Tallulah]

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. I thought it was an interesting book. Liked how she mixed historical fiction and magic together. Wasn't crazy about the ending though...

American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Absolutely loved this book. I'm going to the library today, as a matter of fact, to see what else they have from him. Really enjoyed his wit and sense of irony. Quite perceptive about American culture, also.

[Lykren]

Palm-of-the-Hand Stories, Yasunari Kawabata: 7/10.

So I read Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson, which was a very, very strange and intriguing book. It recounts a modern day parallel to the ancient Greek myth of Geryon. Carson's strong point is her unique way of delivering fantastically compelling imagery and description in a complete deadpan:

"Enormous pools of a moment kept opening around his hands each time he tried to move them."

Or,

"The instant of nature forming between them drained every drop from the walls of his life leaving behind just ghosts rustling like an old map."

The most readily apparent feature of the book is its tendency to juxtapose the everyday with the fantastic, the way those quotes above describe commonplace situations (being stoned and being in love, respectively) in startlingly fresh ways. This technique is also apparent in the narrative; Geryon, the main character, happens to be red and have wings, but this is mostly taken for granted by the other characters, none of whom have such abnormalities. A bit like what I hear magical realism is like.

If this books has a weakness, it is probably in the conventionality of a moment in the plot in which a character tells Geryon he is part of an ancient society of chosen people - though I'm hesitant to call it a weakness, since everything else she did was so purpose-filled and graceful. Anyways, it was a very small trip-up (if it was indeed one) and I'll give this book 8/10.

I've now started The Princess de Cleves.

[Lykren]

Palm-of-the-Hand Stories: 7/10
Autobiography of Red: 8/10

I've just finished The Princesse de Cleves. It was a most unusual book. The titular character appeared to be shockingly self-loathing by the end. In addition, the behavior of the main male protagonist, as well as the love between the two, was so chaste and idealized it seemed written by one profoundly ignorant of any human reality.

Bizarrely, at the same time, the narrator occasionally showed deep psychological insight in depicting various levels of social awareness among certain of her characters, all with the lightest of touches. So for that, and for the impressive style it was written with, I will give this book 6/10, despite its flaws.

If anyone else has read this book and would like to share their opinions or contradict me, please do. I'm starting to feel alone on this thread.

[Lykren]

Palm-of-the-Hand Stories: 7/10
Autobiography of Red: 8/10
The Princesse de Cleves: 6/10

The Old Man and The Sea: The significant qualities of Hemingway's writing are his choice of detail and the phrasing with which he states the details he chooses. He also varies his diction in interesting ways. He uses words like 'phosphorescence' alongside the clumsy grammar which characterizes the internal monologue of Santiago. Even though I couldn't relate to the specific ideals Hemingway was communicating, the elemental quality of his style made the emotions of the all-enduring old man themselves highly relatable. 9/10

Today I will finally get to start The Plum in the Golden Vase. Because it is 3,850 pages spread out over five volumes, I will post a review for each volume instead of one for the whole book.

[qimissung]

I guess this is my first one...I thought I'd read another, but I guess that was the one I was finishing from last year. Oh well.

Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman. This is a well-told story (although not great literarily) and I enjoyed it. 7/10

You are not alone, Lykren!

[Lykren]

Palm-of-the-Hand Stories: 7/10
Autobiography of Red: 8/10
The Princesse de Cleves: 6/10
The Old Man and the Sea: 9/10

Just finished the first volume of The Plum in the Golden Vase. It is an account of the going-ons and sexual politics of the household of the wealthy owner of a pharmaceutical shop in 12th-century China. The style of the narrative is ostensibly light-hearted, yet its method of inserting elegant poetry into scenes of sexual excess and vituperative dialogue make for an oddly dramatic effect. The author did well in making the narrative as lively as possible; the novel contains the larger part of life within itself, moving swiftly from scenes of grief to scenes of jubilation, from comedy to philosophical speculation. It's a hodgepodge affair, but one that makes for delightfully rewarding reading. I am very much looking forward to the next volume, which I will hopefully be able to obtain tomorrow. 9/10

[qimissung]

Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman. This is a well-told story (although not great literarily) and I enjoyed it. 7/10

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple. Humorous and charming. 8/10

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke Avery good, hard science read chronicling the appearance of a mysterious, gigantic cylinder in the solar system which is explored by a nearby spaceship. A good tale, well told. 8/10

2) The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell A pagan Lord's Hall is burned down whilst he is blamed for the kidnapping of a Danish leader's wife and children. His ensuing struggle and travels make for interesting reading as Cornwell expands upon the historical detail in a swords and shields thriller. 6.5/10

3) Cosmopolis by Don Delillo A successful currency dealer's every need is taken care of as he engages with experiences which will provide insight, feeling and meaning. A very interesting novel which asks big questions in an atheistic, corporate world. What do the riches we can acquire really mean for individuals? 8.5/10

4) The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling A suicide is investigated by Private Detective Cormoran Strike in London. The plot twists and turns offering a number of plausible suspects and scenarios to murder before the final denoument. An enjoyable read. 7.5/10

5) The Player of Games by Iain M Banks Jernau Gurgeh is a human game player in the Culture - an advanced, liberal, super-duper computer run civilisation set many years in the future. He is enlsted to play a game by the super computers - minds who reside in advanced spaceships - against players who live in a highly stratified and despotic Empire. An early culture sci-fi, and a rare re-read for me, Banks has written an engrossing book packed with ideas and speculations. Excellent. 9/10

6) After Dark by Haruki Murukami The novel is set over one night. Murukami's vision of night is a fertile ground where things can happen - good and bad. I found it oddly bloodless, though this is my first Murukami novel and I intend to read more as he has interesting things to say about media through his use of the narrator. 7/10

7) Greybeard by Brian Aldiss Following nuclear tests and the sterilisation of the adult world community, the novel tracks the attempts by individuals to survive the breakdown of society and then find and protect any children who may have been born since the disaster. The novel flits back and forth to pre and post breakdown, charting Greybeard and the community's progress. 7/10

[prendrelemick]

[QUOTE=prendrelemick;1252265]Reading log. 2014
Following on from last year's...

Road to Nab End by William Woodruff.

A true story of growing up in Blackburn between the Wars, by a man who can write fluently and interestingly. These people had absolutely nothing, unyet managed to get by. I found it facinating - it brought back memories of my Grandma's stories of her childhood. 8/10

Why be Happy When You Can be Normal by Jeanette Winterson.

It goes over the same ground as Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit. This time she is not so concerned with narrative and humour but jumps around from place to place and thought to thought. The story is still the same, an orphan brought up in extraordinary and loveless surroundings by a dominating religious mother, somehow educates herself and breaks free.
Then she jumps 25 years and tries to track, explain and describe the causes of a horrendous breakdown. This is couragous stuff I was genuinely moved. My admiration of this woman has gone up to a whole new level. 9/10

The Dinner by Herman Koch.

(A re-read)Two couples meet to discuss their boys - who have done a very bad thing. It is a fine example of being led along by an unreliable narrator, you never quite know where you are , especially with the characters. The effect is unsettling - which is exactly the author's aim - and so although I didn't exactly enjoy it, it is a well written and clever book. 7/10

The colour purple by Alice Walker
&
The help by Katheryn Stockett

Two similar books about life in the American south. The Colour Purple concerns one black woman's journey from utter powerlesness into position and self worth, and is set completely within the black community. 7.5/10

The Help was the most enjoyable of the two because of its incorrigable humour. It is about the interaction between white society housewives and their black maids - from the maids' point of view. I liked it a lot. 8/10

The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien.

Ok, I've been wallowing in self indulgence revisiting this epic fantasy for the fifth or sixth time. I love it. I love the story, the writing ,the language, the cliff hangers, the emotion etc.. It is also a work that has significance for our family, a bond we have forged on dark winter nights together many years ago when we turned the telly off and read it out loud to the kids (it took two winters to complete). So anyway, it is my all time favorite book and is (apart from one other :wink5:) the work I reserve my 10/10 for.

The Thread by Victoria Hislop.

Complete waste of time and effort.


Anabasis by Xenophon

Written two and a half thousand years ago, a cracking true tale of action and adventure. 10 000 Greek mercenaries are stranded in hostile lands - leaderless and surrounded by enemies. Cometh the hour cometh the man, Xenophon takes charge (democratically of course) and leads them home. 7.5/10.

[Babyguile]

Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte

The Emergence of a Nation State: the Commonwealth of England 1529-1660 by Alan G R Smith

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

[qimissung]

Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman. This is a well-told story (although not great literarily) and I enjoyed it. 7/10

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple. Humorous and charming. 8/10

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott; a book on writing and living. 8/10

[mona amon]

Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey - 6.5/10 - Carey's prose is very beautiful and he has a delicate touch when it comes to describing emotional states. The first half was very good, especially the parts about Oscar's childhood and his interactions with his friend Wardley-Fish. The second half has many wonderful elements - the two compulsive gamblers finally meet (one is supposed to be obsessive and the other compulsive, but I didn't get the difference), and the idea of transporting a glass church across uncharted terrain is a beautiful piece of inspired folly, but it all fails to really take off, probably because Carey bases it on that most annoying and arbitrary of plot devices - the mistaken belief that the beloved person is in love with somebody else.

The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith - 7/10 - a charming, entertaining read from the 18th century. :thumbsup:

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - 9/10 - "One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin." this is how it starts, and the rest of the book was quite unlike anything I expected from such a beginning. Absolutely brilliant. I bet the literary over-interpreters and over-analysers have a field day trying to explain what this is all about. :D

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke Avery good, hard science read chronicling the appearance of a mysterious, gigantic cylinder in the solar system which is explored by a nearby spaceship. A good tale, well told. 8/10

2) The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell A pagan Lord's Hall is burned down whilst he is blamed for the kidnapping of a Danish leader's wife and children. His ensuing struggle and travels make for interesting reading as Cornwell expands upon the historical detail in a swords and shields thriller. 6.5/10

3) Cosmopolis by Don Delillo A successful currency dealer's every need is taken care of as he engages with experiences which will provide insight, feeling and meaning. A very interesting novel which asks big questions in an atheistic, corporate world. What do the riches we can acquire really mean for individuals? 8.5/10

4) The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling A suicide is investigated by Private Detective Cormoran Strike in London. The plot twists and turns offering a number of plausible suspects and scenarios to murder before the final denoument. An enjoyable read. 7.5/10

5) The Player of Games by Iain M Banks Jernau Gurgeh is a human game player in the Culture - an advanced, liberal, super-duper computer run civilisation set many years in the future. He is enlsted to play a game by the super computers - minds who reside in advanced spaceships - against players who live in a highly stratified and despotic Empire. An early culture sci-fi, and a rare re-read for me, Banks has written an engrossing book packed with ideas and speculations. Excellent. 9/10

6) After Dark by Haruki Murukami The novel is set over one night. Murukami's vision of night is a fertile ground where things can happen - good and bad. I found it oddly bloodless, though this is my first Murukami novel and I intend to read more as he has interesting things to say about media through his use of the narrator. 7/10

7) Greybeard by Brian Aldiss Following nuclear tests and the sterilisation of the adult world community, the novel tracks the attempts by individuals to survive the breakdown of society and then find and protect any children who may have been born since the disaster. The novel flits back and forth to pre and post breakdown, charting Greybeard and the community's progress. 7/10

8) Q by Luther Blisset The 16th century Protestant movement in Germany is the setting for a novel which follows the fortunes of a German supporter who has to adopt many names to survive the trials of opposing the Catholic hierarchy in Europe. Different narrative techniques such as Diaries, letters and multiple flashbacks are used to tell the story. The authors refer to historical martyrs and the most read banned book - The Benefits of Christ Crucified - (which is still available to buy and on the web) - to give the story authenticity. I really enjoyed the story and the historical details, and was intrigued to find its authors were four Italians who went on to write as a new group called Wu Ming. Fascinating 9/10

http://www.amazon.co.uk/54-Wu-Ming/dp/0099472333/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y

[qimissung]

You are reading along at a very rapid clip, Paul.

Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman. This is a well-told story (although not great literarily) and I enjoyed it. 7/10

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple. Humorous and charming. 8/10

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott; a book on writing and living. 8/10

Claire Dewitt and the Bohemian Highway by Sara Gran. 9/10 A sort of existential, philosophical, noirish, murder mystery, with a female private detective. Shades of Philip Marlow and his creator.

[Paulclem]

Hi Qimi. I think I've been reading shorter books apart from Q. I've got another two I've nearly finished and they are also quite short. I've got a few tomes to complete this year though as I'm trying to get the "to read" list down.

[Whosis]

All I've finished so far is Too Many Curses by A. Lee Martinez, which amounted to half a year to a year of reading. Not as good as In the Company of Ogres.

[qimissung]

Hi Qimi. I think I've been reading shorter books apart from Q. I've got another two I've nearly finished and they are also quite short. I've got a few tomes to complete this year though as I'm trying to get the "to read" list down.

I love the short books, mainly because I do so enjoy that feeling of checking them off my list! Longer books bring with them their own kind of joy. My "to read" list is so long that I've kind of given up-I do plan on getting to them eventually. I'm just reading books that feel right. It's always been the way I do it, and it still seems to work best for me. Sigh.

[qimissung]

All I've finished so far is Too Many Curses by A. Lee Martinez, which amounted to half a year to a year of reading. Not as good as In the Company of Ogres.

It sounds like a fun read, Whosis.

[Whosis]

I consider In the Company of Ogres one of the best fantasy reads I've come across. It has creativity and humor throughout the book, not to mention a good cast of different fantasy creatures. Too Many Curses is okay, but if I were to invest in one fantasy book by A. Lee Martinez for the first time again, it would have to be In the Company of Ogres!

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke Avery good, hard science read chronicling the appearance of a mysterious, gigantic cylinder in the solar system which is explored by a nearby spaceship. A good tale, well told. 8/10

2) The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell A pagan Lord's Hall is burned down whilst he is blamed for the kidnapping of a Danish leader's wife and children. His ensuing struggle and travels make for interesting reading as Cornwell expands upon the historical detail in a swords and shields thriller. 6.5/10

3) Cosmopolis by Don Delillo A successful currency dealer's every need is taken care of as he engages with experiences which will provide insight, feeling and meaning. A very interesting novel which asks big questions in an atheistic, corporate world. What do the riches we can acquire really mean for individuals? 8.5/10

4) The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling A suicide is investigated by Private Detective Cormoran Strike in London. The plot twists and turns offering a number of plausible suspects and scenarios to murder before the final denoument. An enjoyable read. 7.5/10

5) The Player of Games by Iain M Banks Jernau Gurgeh is a human game player in the Culture - an advanced, liberal, super-duper computer run civilisation set many years in the future. He is enlsted to play a game by the super computers - minds who reside in advanced spaceships - against players who live in a highly stratified and despotic Empire. An early culture sci-fi, and a rare re-read for me, Banks has written an engrossing book packed with ideas and speculations. Excellent. 9/10

6) After Dark by Haruki Murukami The novel is set over one night. Murukami's vision of night is a fertile ground where things can happen - good and bad. I found it oddly bloodless, though this is my first Murukami novel and I intend to read more as he has interesting things to say about media through his use of the narrator. 7/10

7) Greybeard by Brian Aldiss Following nuclear tests and the sterilisation of the adult world community, the novel tracks the attempts by individuals to survive the breakdown of society and then find and protect any children who may have been born since the disaster. The novel flits back and forth to pre and post breakdown, charting Greybeard and the community's progress. 7/10

8) Q by Luther Blisset The 16th century Protestant movement in Germany is the setting for a novel which follows the fortunes of a German supporter who has to adopt many names to survive the trials of opposing the Catholic hierarchy in Europe. Different narrative techniques such as Diaries, letters and multiple flashbacks are used to tell the story. The authors refer to historical martyrs and the most read banned book - The Benefits of Christ Crucified - (which is still available to buy and on the web) - to give the story authenticity. I really enjoyed the story and the historical details, and was intrigued to find its authors were four Italians who went on to write as a new group called Wu Ming. Fascinating 9/10

http://www.amazon.co.uk/54-Wu-Ming/dp/0099472333/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y

9) Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis Clay, a college kid from a rich family, returns home and proceeds through a series of social encounters with his friends and family without making any significant connection to any of them. Ellis has written about estrangement from emotion in his emotionless prose. There is little characterisation - kids are described in terms of tans, hairstyles and t shirts - and the relentless socialising devoid of meaning mimics Clay's feelings and his wish to escape back to school. The only positive is the reflective narration at the end of the novel that indicates that Clay has achieved some insight into his experiences. Ellis has written in a sparse prose style that reflects the inner deadness of Clay at this time. 7/10

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke Avery good, hard science read chronicling the appearance of a mysterious, gigantic cylinder in the solar system which is explored by a nearby spaceship. A good tale, well told. 8/10

2) The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell A pagan Lord's Hall is burned down whilst he is blamed for the kidnapping of a Danish leader's wife and children. His ensuing struggle and travels make for interesting reading as Cornwell expands upon the historical detail in a swords and shields thriller. 6.5/10

3) Cosmopolis by Don Delillo A successful currency dealer's every need is taken care of as he engages with experiences which will provide insight, feeling and meaning. A very interesting novel which asks big questions in an atheistic, corporate world. What do the riches we can acquire really mean for individuals? 8.5/10

4) The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling A suicide is investigated by Private Detective Cormoran Strike in London. The plot twists and turns offering a number of plausible suspects and scenarios to murder before the final denoument. An enjoyable read. 7.5/10

5) The Player of Games by Iain M Banks Jernau Gurgeh is a human game player in the Culture - an advanced, liberal, super-duper computer run civilisation set many years in the future. He is enlsted to play a game by the super computers - minds who reside in advanced spaceships - against players who live in a highly stratified and despotic Empire. An early culture sci-fi, and a rare re-read for me, Banks has written an engrossing book packed with ideas and speculations. Excellent. 9/10

6) After Dark by Haruki Murukami The novel is set over one night. Murukami's vision of night is a fertile ground where things can happen - good and bad. I found it oddly bloodless, though this is my first Murukami novel and I intend to read more as he has interesting things to say about media through his use of the narrator. 7/10

7) Greybeard by Brian Aldiss Following nuclear tests and the sterilisation of the adult world community, the novel tracks the attempts by individuals to survive the breakdown of society and then find and protect any children who may have been born since the disaster. The novel flits back and forth to pre and post breakdown, charting Greybeard and the community's progress. 7/10

8) Q by Luther Blisset The 16th century Protestant movement in Germany is the setting for a novel which follows the fortunes of a German supporter who has to adopt many names to survive the trials of opposing the Catholic hierarchy in Europe. Different narrative techniques such as Diaries, letters and multiple flashbacks are used to tell the story. The authors refer to historical martyrs and the most read banned book - The Benefits of Christ Crucified - (which is still available to buy and on the web) - to give the story authenticity. I really enjoyed the story and the historical details, and was intrigued to find its authors were four Italians who went on to write as a new group called Wu Ming. Fascinating 9/10

http://www.amazon.co.uk/54-Wu-Ming/d...d_bxgy_b_img_y

9) Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis Clay, a college kid from a rich family, returns home and proceeds through a series of social encounters with his friends and family without making any significant connection to any of them. Ellis has written about estrangement from emotion in his emotionless prose. There is little characterisation - kids are described in terms of tans, hairstyles and t shirts - and the relentless socialising devoid of meaning mimics Clay's feelings and his wish to escape back to school. The only positive is the reflective narration at the end of the novel that indicates that Clay has achieved some insight into his experiences. Ellis has written in a sparse prose style that reflects the inner deadness of Clay at this time. 7/10

10) Demian by Herman Hesse I found this much less enjoyable than either Siddartha and Steppenwolf. it concerns the interior development of a child to a young man and his discovery of psychological archetypes triggered by contact with people like himself who have the mark. it has little plot being entirely dictated by a self obsessed narrator. The premise promises much but doesn't deliver a satisfying book. 5/10

[prendrelemick]

Reading log. 2014
Following on from last year's...

Road to Nab End by William Woodruff.

A true story of growing up in Blackburn between the Wars, by a man who can write fluently and interestingly. These people had absolutely nothing, unyet managed to get by. I found it facinating - it brought back memories of my Grandma's stories of her childhood. 8/10

Why be Happy When You Can be Normal by Jeanette Winterson.

It goes over the same ground as Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit. This time she is not so concerned with narrative and humour but jumps around from place to place and thought to thought. The story is still the same, an orphan brought up in extraordinary and loveless surroundings by a dominating religious mother, somehow educates herself and breaks free.
Then she jumps 25 years and tries to track, explain and describe the causes of a horrendous breakdown. This is couragous stuff I was genuinely moved. My admiration of this woman has gone up to a whole new level. 9/10

The Dinner by Herman Koch.

(A re-read)Two couples meet to discuss their boys - who have done a very bad thing. It is a fine example of being led along by an unreliable narrator, you never quite know where you are , especially with the characters. The effect is unsettling - which is exactly the author's aim - and so although I didn't exactly enjoy it, it is a well written and clever book. 7/10

The colour purple by Alice Walker
&
The help by Katheryn Stockett

Two similar books about life in the American south. The Colour Purple concerns one black woman's journey from utter powerlesness into position and self worth, and is set completely within the black community. 7.5/10

The Help was the most enjoyable of the two because of its incorrigable humour. It is about the interaction between white society housewives and their black maids - from the maids' point of view. I liked it a lot. 8/10

The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien.

Ok, I've been wallowing in self indulgence revisiting this epic fantasy for the fifth or sixth time. I love it. I love the story, the writing ,the language, the cliff hangers, the emotion etc.. It is also a work that has significance for our family, a bond we have forged on dark winter nights together many years ago when we turned the telly off and read it out loud to the kids (it took two winters to complete). So anyway, it is my all time favorite book and is (apart from one other :wink5:) the work I reserve my 10/10 for.

The Thread by Victoria Hislop.

Complete waste of time and effort.


Anabasis by Xenophon

Written two and a half thousand years ago, a cracking true tale of action and adventure. 10 000 Greek mercenaries are stranded in hostile lands - leaderless and surrounded by enemies. Cometh the hour cometh the man, Xenophon takes charge (democratically of course) and leads them home. 7.5/10.


The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles

I do like getting right to the root of things, looking at primary sources and the like, and they don't come more primary than this. It is the Early History of England written by the early English. It was a bit puzzleing and a bit dry here and there - but then there were moments that made it worthwhile, coming across familiar stories un-interpreted by a thousand years of Historians. It was like a revelation. 7/10

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke Avery good, hard science read chronicling the appearance of a mysterious, gigantic cylinder in the solar system which is explored by a nearby spaceship. A good tale, well told. 8/10

2) The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell A pagan Lord's Hall is burned down whilst he is blamed for the kidnapping of a Danish leader's wife and children. His ensuing struggle and travels make for interesting reading as Cornwell expands upon the historical detail in a swords and shields thriller. 6.5/10

3) Cosmopolis by Don Delillo A successful currency dealer's every need is taken care of as he engages with experiences which will provide insight, feeling and meaning. A very interesting novel which asks big questions in an atheistic, corporate world. What do the riches we can acquire really mean for individuals? 8.5/10

4) The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling A suicide is investigated by Private Detective Cormoran Strike in London. The plot twists and turns offering a number of plausible suspects and scenarios to murder before the final denoument. An enjoyable read. 7.5/10

5) The Player of Games by Iain M Banks Jernau Gurgeh is a human game player in the Culture - an advanced, liberal, super-duper computer run civilisation set many years in the future. He is enlsted to play a game by the super computers - minds who reside in advanced spaceships - against players who live in a highly stratified and despotic Empire. An early culture sci-fi, and a rare re-read for me, Banks has written an engrossing book packed with ideas and speculations. Excellent. 9/10

6) After Dark by Haruki Murukami The novel is set over one night. Murukami's vision of night is a fertile ground where things can happen - good and bad. I found it oddly bloodless, though this is my first Murukami novel and I intend to read more as he has interesting things to say about media through his use of the narrator. 7/10

7) Greybeard by Brian Aldiss Following nuclear tests and the sterilisation of the adult world community, the novel tracks the attempts by individuals to survive the breakdown of society and then find and protect any children who may have been born since the disaster. The novel flits back and forth to pre and post breakdown, charting Greybeard and the community's progress. 7/10

8) Q by Luther Blisset The 16th century Protestant movement in Germany is the setting for a novel which follows the fortunes of a German supporter who has to adopt many names to survive the trials of opposing the Catholic hierarchy in Europe. Different narrative techniques such as Diaries, letters and multiple flashbacks are used to tell the story. The authors refer to historical martyrs and the most read banned book - The Benefits of Christ Crucified - (which is still available to buy and on the web) - to give the story authenticity. I really enjoyed the story and the historical details, and was intrigued to find its authors were four Italians who went on to write as a new group called Wu Ming. Fascinating 9/10

http://www.amazon.co.uk/54-Wu-Ming/d...d_bxgy_b_img_y

9) Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis Clay, a college kid from a rich family, returns home and proceeds through a series of social encounters with his friends and family without making any significant connection to any of them. Ellis has written about estrangement from emotion in his emotionless prose. There is little characterisation - kids are described in terms of tans, hairstyles and t shirts - and the relentless socialising devoid of meaning mimics Clay's feelings and his wish to escape back to school. The only positive is the reflective narration at the end of the novel that indicates that Clay has achieved some insight into his experiences. Ellis has written in a sparse prose style that reflects the inner deadness of Clay at this time. 7/10

10) Demian by Herman Hesse I found this much less enjoyable than either Siddartha and Steppenwolf. it concerns the interior development of a child to a young man and his discovery of psychological archetypes triggered by contact with people like himself who have the mark. it has little plot being entirely dictated by a self obsessed narrator. The premise promises much but doesn't deliver a satisfying book. 5/10

11) Zero Point by Neal Asher the second in the Owner Trilogy, Asher pits Alan Saul- leader of a group that has taken over the Argus Space Station and eliminated many of the committee who run earth - against Serene Galahad who has risen to become the established autocrat of earth. These two God like personalities are primed in this novel for a further showdown. Asher uses deity images to describe them, ascribing clumsy psychological experiences and processing to account for their relative mindsets. The overall image is of Saul escaping into the universe like a benevolent god whilst Galahad is the devil stuck on earth. This aspect of the novel is rather obvious, but doesn't distract from what it really is - a good sci fi thriller. Asher rests his story upon hardware analogies for the mind and endlessly creative and intelligent humans who can perform theoretical maths calculations in their heads. If you can suspend disbelief, then it is an enjoyable novel, but not as good or creative as his previous work. He also seems to be injecting a level of political reference into his books with phrases like the derisory "designed by committee" and others reflecting upon the European Union - which may be the model for dysfunctional earth administration he uses. Again, this is obvious and narrow and detracts from a good story. 6.5/10

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke Avery good, hard science read chronicling the appearance of a mysterious, gigantic cylinder in the solar system which is explored by a nearby spaceship. A good tale, well told. 8/10

2) The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell A pagan Lord's Hall is burned down whilst he is blamed for the kidnapping of a Danish leader's wife and children. His ensuing struggle and travels make for interesting reading as Cornwell expands upon the historical detail in a swords and shields thriller. 6.5/10

3) Cosmopolis by Don Delillo A successful currency dealer's every need is taken care of as he engages with experiences which will provide insight, feeling and meaning. A very interesting novel which asks big questions in an atheistic, corporate world. What do the riches we can acquire really mean for individuals? 8.5/10

4) The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling A suicide is investigated by Private Detective Cormoran Strike in London. The plot twists and turns offering a number of plausible suspects and scenarios to murder before the final denoument. An enjoyable read. 7.5/10

5) The Player of Games by Iain M Banks Jernau Gurgeh is a human game player in the Culture - an advanced, liberal, super-duper computer run civilisation set many years in the future. He is enlsted to play a game by the super computers - minds who reside in advanced spaceships - against players who live in a highly stratified and despotic Empire. An early culture sci-fi, and a rare re-read for me, Banks has written an engrossing book packed with ideas and speculations. Excellent. 9/10

6) After Dark by Haruki Murukami The novel is set over one night. Murukami's vision of night is a fertile ground where things can happen - good and bad. I found it oddly bloodless, though this is my first Murukami novel and I intend to read more as he has interesting things to say about media through his use of the narrator. 7/10

7) Greybeard by Brian Aldiss Following nuclear tests and the sterilisation of the adult world community, the novel tracks the attempts by individuals to survive the breakdown of society and then find and protect any children who may have been born since the disaster. The novel flits back and forth to pre and post breakdown, charting Greybeard and the community's progress. 7/10

8) Q by Luther Blisset The 16th century Protestant movement in Germany is the setting for a novel which follows the fortunes of a German supporter who has to adopt many names to survive the trials of opposing the Catholic hierarchy in Europe. Different narrative techniques such as Diaries, letters and multiple flashbacks are used to tell the story. The authors refer to historical martyrs and the most read banned book - The Benefits of Christ Crucified - (which is still available to buy and on the web) - to give the story authenticity. I really enjoyed the story and the historical details, and was intrigued to find its authors were four Italians who went on to write as a new group called Wu Ming. Fascinating 9/10

http://www.amazon.co.uk/54-Wu-Ming/d...d_bxgy_b_img_y

9) Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis Clay, a college kid from a rich family, returns home and proceeds through a series of social encounters with his friends and family without making any significant connection to any of them. Ellis has written about estrangement from emotion in his emotionless prose. There is little characterisation - kids are described in terms of tans, hairstyles and t shirts - and the relentless socialising devoid of meaning mimics Clay's feelings and his wish to escape back to school. The only positive is the reflective narration at the end of the novel that indicates that Clay has achieved some insight into his experiences. Ellis has written in a sparse prose style that reflects the inner deadness of Clay at this time. 7/10

10) Demian by Herman Hesse I found this much less enjoyable than either Siddartha and Steppenwolf. it concerns the interior development of a child to a young man and his discovery of psychological archetypes triggered by contact with people like himself who have the mark. it has little plot being entirely dictated by a self obsessed narrator. The premise promises much but doesn't deliver a satisfying book. 5/10

11) Zero Point by Neal Asher the second in the Owner Trilogy, Asher pits Alan Saul- leader of a group that has taken over the Argus Space Station and eliminated many of the committee who run earth - against Serene Galahad who has risen to become the established autocrat of earth. These two God like personalities are primed in this novel for a further showdown. Asher uses deity images to describe them, ascribing clumsy psychological experiences and processing to account for their relative mindsets. The overall image is of Saul escaping into the universe like a benevolent god whilst Galahad is the devil stuck on earth. This aspect of the novel is rather obvious, but doesn't distract from what it really is - a good sci fi thriller. Asher rests his story upon hardware analogies for the mind and endlessly creative and intelligent humans who can perform theoretical maths calculations in their heads. If you can suspend disbelief, then it is an enjoyable novel, but not as good or creative as his previous work. He also seems to be injecting a level of political reference into his books with phrases like the derisory "designed by committee" and others reflecting upon the European Union - which may be the model for dysfunctional earth administration he uses. Again, this is obvious and narrow and detracts from a good story. 6.5/10

12) How to Read Literature by Terry Eagleton I've previously read "How to Read a Poem" by the same author, and these deceptively simple titles mask an interesting and insightful discussion on both subjects. How to read literature looks at plot, character and interpretation. He gives a great summary of Great expectations and pulls out insightful themes including the family, parents and false parents. He also compares it to Harry Potter with the contention that it is literature and not beneath serious literary criticism. I suspect he included this to provoke literary rivals, but he does a good job. he demonstrates great range and insight. It is also a very funny book. In mentioning evolution he comments "who would have predicted Tom Cruise arising from a slimy mollusc" which had me laughing out loud. 9.5/10

[prendrelemick]

Reading log. 2014
Following on from last year's...

Road to Nab End by William Woodruff.

A true story of growing up in Blackburn between the Wars, by a man who can write fluently and interestingly. These people had absolutely nothing, unyet managed to get by. I found it facinating - it brought back memories of my Grandma's stories of her childhood. 8/10

Why be Happy When You Can be Normal by Jeanette Winterson.

It goes over the same ground as Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit. This time she is not so concerned with narrative and humour but jumps around from place to place and thought to thought. The story is still the same, an orphan brought up in extraordinary and loveless surroundings by a dominating religious mother, somehow educates herself and breaks free.
Then she jumps 25 years and tries to track, explain and describe the causes of a horrendous breakdown. This is couragous stuff I was genuinely moved. My admiration of this woman has gone up to a whole new level. 9/10

The Dinner by Herman Koch.

(A re-read)Two couples meet to discuss their boys - who have done a very bad thing. It is a fine example of being led along by an unreliable narrator, you never quite know where you are , especially with the characters. The effect is unsettling - which is exactly the author's aim - and so although I didn't exactly enjoy it, it is a well written and clever book. 7/10

The colour purple by Alice Walker
&
The help by Katheryn Stockett

Two similar books about life in the American south. The Colour Purple concerns one black woman's journey from utter powerlesness into position and self worth, and is set completely within the black community. 7.5/10

The Help was the most enjoyable of the two because of its incorrigable humour. It is about the interaction between white society housewives and their black maids - from the maids' point of view. I liked it a lot. 8/10

The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien.

Ok, I've been wallowing in self indulgence revisiting this epic fantasy for the fifth or sixth time. I love it. I love the story, the writing ,the language, the cliff hangers, the emotion etc.. It is also a work that has significance for our family, a bond we have forged on dark winter nights together many years ago when we turned the telly off and read it out loud to the kids (it took two winters to complete). So anyway, it is my all time favorite book and is (apart from one other :wink5:) the work I reserve my 10/10 for.

The Thread by Victoria Hislop.

Complete waste of time and effort. If anyone wants to explore the difference between literature and crap this is a good place to start.


Anabasis by Xenophon

Written two and a half thousand years ago, a cracking true tale of action and adventure. 10 000 Greek mercenaries are stranded in hostile lands - leaderless and surrounded by enemies. Cometh the hour cometh the man, Xenophon takes charge (democratically of course) and leads them home. 7.5/10.


The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles

I do like getting right to the root of things, looking at primary sources and the like, and they don't come more primary than this. It is the Early History of England written by the early English. It was a bit puzzleing and a bit dry here and there - but then there were moments that made it worthwhile, coming across familiar stories un-interpreted by a thousand years of Historians. It was like a revelation. 7/10

The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

Psychic shinanagans and adventures at the bottom of a well. Another re-read, I enjoyed it much more this time, I knew the general shape of it so I wasn't as confused. He is an excellent writer of words and ideas. It was a book club choice, it will be interesting to see what the rest of the group made of it. I really must read another of his books. 7.5/10

[mona amon]

Loved The Wind Up Bird Chronicle!

7. Death Comes to Pemberley - P D James 2/10 - Major disappointment. I'm not a fan of fanfic but I thought in this case the combination of good crime writer and beloved classic was bound to work, but it failed at almost every level. The fanfic part was static and stultified and the murder mystery was not very compelling and was solved by a Deus ex Machina rather than good deduction (or any deduction). Add to that yawn inducing summaries of parts of Pride and Prejudice ... need I say more? And then I find out she was 91 when she wrote it, which totally conforms to my ageist conviction that nonagenarians should stop writing books. :D

[qimissung]

And also that fanfic is generally not worth the effort, I would presume. :D

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke Avery good, hard science read chronicling the appearance of a mysterious, gigantic cylinder in the solar system which is explored by a nearby spaceship. A good tale, well told. 8/10

2) The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell A pagan Lord's Hall is burned down whilst he is blamed for the kidnapping of a Danish leader's wife and children. His ensuing struggle and travels make for interesting reading as Cornwell expands upon the historical detail in a swords and shields thriller. 6.5/10

3) Cosmopolis by Don Delillo A successful currency dealer's every need is taken care of as he engages with experiences which will provide insight, feeling and meaning. A very interesting novel which asks big questions in an atheistic, corporate world. What do the riches we can acquire really mean for individuals? 8.5/10

4) The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling A suicide is investigated by Private Detective Cormoran Strike in London. The plot twists and turns offering a number of plausible suspects and scenarios to murder before the final denoument. An enjoyable read. 7.5/10

5) The Player of Games by Iain M Banks Jernau Gurgeh is a human game player in the Culture - an advanced, liberal, super-duper computer run civilisation set many years in the future. He is enlsted to play a game by the super computers - minds who reside in advanced spaceships - against players who live in a highly stratified and despotic Empire. An early culture sci-fi, and a rare re-read for me, Banks has written an engrossing book packed with ideas and speculations. Excellent. 9/10

6) After Dark by Haruki Murukami The novel is set over one night. Murukami's vision of night is a fertile ground where things can happen - good and bad. I found it oddly bloodless, though this is my first Murukami novel and I intend to read more as he has interesting things to say about media through his use of the narrator. 7/10

7) Greybeard by Brian Aldiss Following nuclear tests and the sterilisation of the adult world community, the novel tracks the attempts by individuals to survive the breakdown of society and then find and protect any children who may have been born since the disaster. The novel flits back and forth to pre and post breakdown, charting Greybeard and the community's progress. 7/10

8) Q by Luther Blisset The 16th century Protestant movement in Germany is the setting for a novel which follows the fortunes of a German supporter who has to adopt many names to survive the trials of opposing the Catholic hierarchy in Europe. Different narrative techniques such as Diaries, letters and multiple flashbacks are used to tell the story. The authors refer to historical martyrs and the most read banned book - The Benefits of Christ Crucified - (which is still available to buy and on the web) - to give the story authenticity. I really enjoyed the story and the historical details, and was intrigued to find its authors were four Italians who went on to write as a new group called Wu Ming. Fascinating 9/10

http://www.amazon.co.uk/54-Wu-Ming/d...d_bxgy_b_img_y

9) Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis Clay, a college kid from a rich family, returns home and proceeds through a series of social encounters with his friends and family without making any significant connection to any of them. Ellis has written about estrangement from emotion in his emotionless prose. There is little characterisation - kids are described in terms of tans, hairstyles and t shirts - and the relentless socialising devoid of meaning mimics Clay's feelings and his wish to escape back to school. The only positive is the reflective narration at the end of the novel that indicates that Clay has achieved some insight into his experiences. Ellis has written in a sparse prose style that reflects the inner deadness of Clay at this time. 7/10

10) Demian by Herman Hesse I found this much less enjoyable than either Siddartha and Steppenwolf. it concerns the interior development of a child to a young man and his discovery of psychological archetypes triggered by contact with people like himself who have the mark. it has little plot being entirely dictated by a self obsessed narrator. The premise promises much but doesn't deliver a satisfying book. 5/10

11) Zero Point by Neal Asher the second in the Owner Trilogy, Asher pits Alan Saul- leader of a group that has taken over the Argus Space Station and eliminated many of the committee who run earth - against Serene Galahad who has risen to become the established autocrat of earth. These two God like personalities are primed in this novel for a further showdown. Asher uses deity images to describe them, ascribing clumsy psychological experiences and processing to account for their relative mindsets. The overall image is of Saul escaping into the universe like a benevolent god whilst Galahad is the devil stuck on earth. This aspect of the novel is rather obvious, but doesn't distract from what it really is - a good sci fi thriller. Asher rests his story upon hardware analogies for the mind and endlessly creative and intelligent humans who can perform theoretical maths calculations in their heads. If you can suspend disbelief, then it is an enjoyable novel, but not as good or creative as his previous work. He also seems to be injecting a level of political reference into his books with phrases like the derisory "designed by committee" and others reflecting upon the European Union - which may be the model for dysfunctional earth administration he uses. Again, this is obvious and narrow and detracts from a good story. 6.5/10

12) How to Read Literature by Terry Eagleton I've previously read "How to Read a Poem" by the same author, and these deceptively simple titles mask an interesting and insightful discussion on both subjects. How to read literature looks at plot, character and interpretation. He gives a great summary of Great expectations and pulls out insightful themes including the family, parents and false parents. He also compares it to Harry Potter with the contention that it is literature and not beneath serious literary criticism. I suspect he included this to provoke literary rivals, but he does a good job. he demonstrates great range and insight. It is also a very funny book. In mentioning evolution he comments "who would have predicted Tom Cruise arising from a slimy mollusc" which had me laughing out loud. 9.5/10

13) In the Miso Soup by Ryu Murukami the story is narrated by Kendji, whose job is to guide western tourists around Tokyo's red light district. Kendji meets a client - Frank - who it turns out is a psychopathic killer. I found the story rather simplistic in that Frank's problems are attributed to a literal bloodthirstyness and Kendji himself makes odd declarations such as you need to be able to picture an action before you can perform it which is clearly nonsense. Although I undoubtedly missed cultural references within the story, it still felt simplistic, poorly thought out and pulpy. 5.5/10

[prendrelemick]

Reading log. 2014
Following on from last year's...

Road to Nab End by William Woodruff.

A true story of growing up in Blackburn between the Wars, by a man who can write fluently and interestingly. These people had absolutely nothing, unyet managed to get by. I found it facinating - it brought back memories of my Grandma's stories of her childhood. 8/10

Why be Happy When You Can be Normal by Jeanette Winterson.

It goes over the same ground as Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit. This time she is not so concerned with narrative and humour but jumps around from place to place and thought to thought. The story is still the same, an orphan brought up in extraordinary and loveless surroundings by a dominating religious mother, somehow educates herself and breaks free.
Then she jumps 25 years and tries to track, explain and describe the causes of a horrendous breakdown. This is couragous stuff I was genuinely moved. My admiration of this woman has gone up to a whole new level. 9/10

The Dinner by Herman Koch.

(A re-read)Two couples meet to discuss their boys - who have done a very bad thing. It is a fine example of being led along by an unreliable narrator, you never quite know where you are , especially with the characters. The effect is unsettling - which is exactly the author's aim - and so although I didn't exactly enjoy it, it is a well written and clever book. 7/10

The colour purple by Alice Walker
&
The help by Katheryn Stockett

Two similar books about life in the American south. The Colour Purple concerns one black woman's journey from utter powerlesness into position and self worth, and is set completely within the black community. 7.5/10

The Help was the most enjoyable of the two because of its incorrigable humour. It is about the interaction between white society housewives and their black maids - from the maids' point of view. I liked it a lot. 8/10

The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien.

Ok, I've been wallowing in self indulgence revisiting this epic fantasy for the fifth or sixth time. I love it. I love the story, the writing ,the language, the cliff hangers, the emotion etc.. It is also a work that has significance for our family, a bond we have forged on dark winter nights together many years ago when we turned the telly off and read it out loud to the kids (it took two winters to complete). So anyway, it is my all time favorite book and is (apart from one other :wink5:) the work I reserve my 10/10 for.

The Thread by Victoria Hislop.

Complete waste of time and effort. If anyone wants to explore the difference between literature and crap this is a good place to start.


Anabasis by Xenophon

Written two and a half thousand years ago, a cracking true tale of action and adventure. 10 000 Greek mercenaries are stranded in hostile lands - leaderless and surrounded by enemies. Cometh the hour cometh the man, Xenophon takes charge (democratically of course) and leads them home. 7.5/10.


The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles

I do like getting right to the root of things, looking at primary sources and the like, and they don't come more primary than this. It is the Early History of England written by the early English. It was a bit puzzleing and a bit dry here and there - but then there were moments that made it worthwhile, coming across familiar stories un-interpreted by a thousand years of Historians. It was like a revelation. 7/10

The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

Psychic shinanagans and adventures at the bottom of a well. Another re-read, I enjoyed it much more this time, I knew the general shape of it so I wasn't as confused. He is an excellent writer of words and ideas. It was a book club choice, it will be interesting to see what the rest of the group made of it. I really must read another of his books. 7.5/10

The Railway Navvies by Terry Coleman

I saw this described as a seminal work (whatever that is), it is definitely a good read. Coleman uses a wide range of contemporary resources to tell the story of the workforce that, through muscle and sweat, built railways all over the world. And it is the actual navvies themselves who are his subject, as a group, and as individuals who have somehow managed to leave a mark on posterity. I would recommend this book to anyone - if you are not interested in the wider history, the stories and anecdotes are entertaining enough to make it an enjoyable read. 8/10.

[Babyguile]

Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte

The Emergence of a Nation State: the Commonwealth of England 1529-1660 by Alan G R Smith

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Blow Your House Down by Pat Barker

[mona amon]

8. The Secret Agent - Joseph Conrad 9/10 - Took me a while to understand what was going on. I had no idea London at the beginning of the 20th century had all these dark commie terrorists and suicide bombers and nebulous anarchists! Moreover I was reading sporadically, and stopped halfway to read Sir Gawain which was a page turner and absolute delight. When I got back to it I found it much improved, and finished in one go. Almost as dark as Heart of Darkness, it ends on a note of 'madness and despair'. I thought Heart of Darkness was the superior work, both in its magnificent evocation of darkness and its magnificently florid prose, but both are deeply stirring works.

9. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - Anonymous 10/10 - A quote from this poem posted in one of the recent threads inspired me to read the whole poem. I listened to this audio translation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz_nEW6TgY0 while following this version http://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/cme/Gawain?rgn=main;view=fulltext to get a feel of the original. This is the first time I've read a book in this way, but it worked really well. The Middle English of this poem is waaaaaay more difficult to read than that of Chaucer and I had to look up Þ and ȝ, but it gets slightly easier as you keep going. I'm now reading again with a line by line translation, and also listening to any audio clips of Middle English readings of the poem I can find. Anyway, is this the best ever poem in English, or if not, what is? I am in love! :hurray:

[prendrelemick]

Reading log. 2014
Following on from last year's...

Road to Nab End by William Woodruff.

A true story of growing up in Blackburn between the Wars, by a man who can write fluently and interestingly. These people had absolutely nothing, unyet managed to get by. I found it facinating - it brought back memories of my Grandma's stories of her childhood. 8/10

Why be Happy When You Can be Normal by Jeanette Winterson.

It goes over the same ground as Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit. This time she is not so concerned with narrative and humour but jumps around from place to place and thought to thought. The story is still the same, an orphan brought up in extraordinary and loveless surroundings by a dominating religious mother, somehow educates herself and breaks free.
Then she jumps 25 years and tries to track, explain and describe the causes of a horrendous breakdown. This is couragous stuff I was genuinely moved. My admiration of this woman has gone up to a whole new level. 9/10

The Dinner by Herman Koch.

(A re-read)Two couples meet to discuss their boys - who have done a very bad thing. It is a fine example of being led along by an unreliable narrator, you never quite know where you are , especially with the characters. The effect is unsettling - which is exactly the author's aim - and so although I didn't exactly enjoy it, it is a well written and clever book. 7/10

The colour purple by Alice Walker
&
The help by Katheryn Stockett

Two similar books about life in the American south. The Colour Purple concerns one black woman's journey from utter powerlesness into position and self worth, and is set completely within the black community. 7.5/10

The Help was the most enjoyable of the two because of its incorrigable humour. It is about the interaction between white society housewives and their black maids - from the maids' point of view. I liked it a lot. 8/10

The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien.

Ok, I've been wallowing in self indulgence revisiting this epic fantasy for the fifth or sixth time. I love it. I love the story, the writing ,the language, the cliff hangers, the emotion etc.. It is also a work that has significance for our family, a bond we have forged on dark winter nights together many years ago when we turned the telly off and read it out loud to the kids (it took two winters to complete). So anyway, it is my all time favorite book and is (apart from one other :wink5:) the work I reserve my 10/10 for.

The Thread by Victoria Hislop.

Complete waste of time and effort. If anyone wants to explore the difference between literature and crap this is a good place to start.


Anabasis by Xenophon

Written two and a half thousand years ago, a cracking true tale of action and adventure. 10 000 Greek mercenaries are stranded in hostile lands - leaderless and surrounded by enemies. Cometh the hour cometh the man, Xenophon takes charge (democratically of course) and leads them home. 7.5/10.


The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles

I do like getting right to the root of things, looking at primary sources and the like, and they don't come more primary than this. It is the Early History of England written by the early English. It was a bit puzzleing and a bit dry here and there - but then there were moments that made it worthwhile, coming across familiar stories un-interpreted by a thousand years of Historians. It was like a revelation. 7/10

The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

Psychic shinanagans and adventures at the bottom of a well. Another re-read, I enjoyed it much more this time, I knew the general shape of it so I wasn't as confused. He is an excellent writer of words and ideas. It was a book club choice, it will be interesting to see what the rest of the group made of it. I really must read another of his books. 7.5/10

The Railway Navvies by Terry Coleman

I saw this described as a seminal work (whatever that is), it is definitely a good read. Coleman uses a wide range of contemporary resources to tell the story of the workforce that, through muscle and sweat, built railways all over the world. And it is the actual navvies themselves who are his subject, as a group, and as individuals who have somehow managed to leave a mark on posterity. I would recommend this book to anyone - if you are not interested in the wider history, the stories and anecdotes are entertaining enough to make it an enjoyable read. 8/10.

Twelve Caesars by Suetonius.

A bit of a disappointment this. It is an account of the first twelve rulers of Rome after the fall of the Republic, ie from Julius Caesar to Domitian. Was there ever a period in Western history more steeped in blood and debauchery? Unyet somehow I found it boring. The stories are told without the panache of Heredotus or Plutarch, but that could be the fault of the translator as even his notes are stiff and boring. For instance, we learn that the two Julias were banished for unseemly behavior, but when we turn to the notes for details all we learn is that their crime was such that it debased the good name of all women!! So as a piece of literature it failed for me, and as a history it is too narrow. 5/10

[Scheherazade]

An update:


24. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (S3/W14/P) ~ 9/10

23. Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis (S2) ~ 7/10

22. Billy Liar by Keith Waterhouse (N15) ~ 7/10

21. The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende (W13/N14) ~ 7/10

20. After Leaving Mr Mackenzie by Jean Rhys (W12/S1) ~ 7/10

19. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (W11/R1) ~ 7/10

18. Little Vampire Women by Lynn Messina ~ (W10/SO4) ~ 6/10

17. Penelopiad by Atwood ~ (W9/SO3) ~ 7/10

16. The Litigators by John Grisham ~ 5/10

15. Anthem by Ayn Rand (N13/W8) ~ 6/10

14. Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin (N12) ~ 8/10

13. Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis (N11) ~ 9/10

12. An Accidental Man by Iris Murdoch (N10/W7) ~ 5/10

11. Master and Commander by Patrick O'brian (N9) ~ 8/10

10. I am Legend by Richard Matheson (N8) ~ 6/10

9. Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James (W6/N7/SO2) ~ 4/10

8. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver (N6) ~ 10/10

7. Pavane by Keith Roberts (N5) ~ 5/10

6. MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood (W5) ~ 4/10

5. The Monk and the Hangman's Daughter by Ambrose Bierce (N4) ~ 7/10

4. The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers (W4) ~ 9/10

3. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (N3/W3) ~ 8/10

2. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (N2/W2/SO1) ~ 8/10

1. The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper (N1/W1) ~ 7/10

It hasn't been a very good reading year so far... Not many books that I have truly enjoyed.

[mona amon]

10. The Gospel According to St. Matthew (Tamil translation) - I've decided to read the Bible in Tamil to improve my vocabulary, and I feel it sounds very good. I especially enjoyed the Tamil version of Jesus's magnificent rant against the Scribes and the Pharisees in Matthew 23. Good stuff!

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke Avery good, hard science read chronicling the appearance of a mysterious, gigantic cylinder in the solar system which is explored by a nearby spaceship. A good tale, well told. 8/10

2) The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell A pagan Lord's Hall is burned down whilst he is blamed for the kidnapping of a Danish leader's wife and children. His ensuing struggle and travels make for interesting reading as Cornwell expands upon the historical detail in a swords and shields thriller. 6.5/10

3) Cosmopolis by Don Delillo A successful currency dealer's every need is taken care of as he engages with experiences which will provide insight, feeling and meaning. A very interesting novel which asks big questions in an atheistic, corporate world. What do the riches we can acquire really mean for individuals? 8.5/10

4) The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling A suicide is investigated by Private Detective Cormoran Strike in London. The plot twists and turns offering a number of plausible suspects and scenarios to murder before the final denoument. An enjoyable read. 7.5/10

5) The Player of Games by Iain M Banks Jernau Gurgeh is a human game player in the Culture - an advanced, liberal, super-duper computer run civilisation set many years in the future. He is enlsted to play a game by the super computers - minds who reside in advanced spaceships - against players who live in a highly stratified and despotic Empire. An early culture sci-fi, and a rare re-read for me, Banks has written an engrossing book packed with ideas and speculations. Excellent. 9/10

6) After Dark by Haruki Murukami The novel is set over one night. Murukami's vision of night is a fertile ground where things can happen - good and bad. I found it oddly bloodless, though this is my first Murukami novel and I intend to read more as he has interesting things to say about media through his use of the narrator. 7/10

7) Greybeard by Brian Aldiss Following nuclear tests and the sterilisation of the adult world community, the novel tracks the attempts by individuals to survive the breakdown of society and then find and protect any children who may have been born since the disaster. The novel flits back and forth to pre and post breakdown, charting Greybeard and the community's progress. 7/10

8) Q by Luther Blisset The 16th century Protestant movement in Germany is the setting for a novel which follows the fortunes of a German supporter who has to adopt many names to survive the trials of opposing the Catholic hierarchy in Europe. Different narrative techniques such as Diaries, letters and multiple flashbacks are used to tell the story. The authors refer to historical martyrs and the most read banned book - The Benefits of Christ Crucified - (which is still available to buy and on the web) - to give the story authenticity. I really enjoyed the story and the historical details, and was intrigued to find its authors were four Italians who went on to write as a new group called Wu Ming. Fascinating 9/10

http://www.amazon.co.uk/54-Wu-Ming/d...d_bxgy_b_img_y

9) Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis Clay, a college kid from a rich family, returns home and proceeds through a series of social encounters with his friends and family without making any significant connection to any of them. Ellis has written about estrangement from emotion in his emotionless prose. There is little characterisation - kids are described in terms of tans, hairstyles and t shirts - and the relentless socialising devoid of meaning mimics Clay's feelings and his wish to escape back to school. The only positive is the reflective narration at the end of the novel that indicates that Clay has achieved some insight into his experiences. Ellis has written in a sparse prose style that reflects the inner deadness of Clay at this time. 7/10

10) Demian by Herman Hesse I found this much less enjoyable than either Siddartha and Steppenwolf. it concerns the interior development of a child to a young man and his discovery of psychological archetypes triggered by contact with people like himself who have the mark. it has little plot being entirely dictated by a self obsessed narrator. The premise promises much but doesn't deliver a satisfying book. 5/10

11) Zero Point by Neal Asher the second in the Owner Trilogy, Asher pits Alan Saul- leader of a group that has taken over the Argus Space Station and eliminated many of the committee who run earth - against Serene Galahad who has risen to become the established autocrat of earth. These two God like personalities are primed in this novel for a further showdown. Asher uses deity images to describe them, ascribing clumsy psychological experiences and processing to account for their relative mindsets. The overall image is of Saul escaping into the universe like a benevolent god whilst Galahad is the devil stuck on earth. This aspect of the novel is rather obvious, but doesn't distract from what it really is - a good sci fi thriller. Asher rests his story upon hardware analogies for the mind and endlessly creative and intelligent humans who can perform theoretical maths calculations in their heads. If you can suspend disbelief, then it is an enjoyable novel, but not as good or creative as his previous work. He also seems to be injecting a level of political reference into his books with phrases like the derisory "designed by committee" and others reflecting upon the European Union - which may be the model for dysfunctional earth administration he uses. Again, this is obvious and narrow and detracts from a good story. 6.5/10

12) How to Read Literature by Terry Eagleton I've previously read "How to Read a Poem" by the same author, and these deceptively simple titles mask an interesting and insightful discussion on both subjects. How to read literature looks at plot, character and interpretation. He gives a great summary of Great expectations and pulls out insightful themes including the family, parents and false parents. He also compares it to Harry Potter with the contention that it is literature and not beneath serious literary criticism. I suspect he included this to provoke literary rivals, but he does a good job. he demonstrates great range and insight. It is also a very funny book. In mentioning evolution he comments "who would have predicted Tom Cruise arising from a slimy mollusc" which had me laughing out loud. 9.5/10

13) In the Miso Soup by Ryu Murukami the story is narrated by Kendji, whose job is to guide western tourists around Tokyo's red light district. Kendji meets a client - Frank - who it turns out is a psychopathic killer. I found the story rather simplistic in that Frank's problems are attributed to a literal bloodthirstyness and Kendji himself makes odd declarations such as you need to be able to picture an action before you can perform it which is clearly nonsense. Although I undoubtedly missed cultural references within the story, it still felt simplistic, poorly thought out and pulpy. 5.5/10

14) Prayer by Philip Kerr A CIA operative working on counter terrorism investigates a series of murders which leads him to conclude that God's Avenging Angel is gunning for him. This isn't Kerr's best book, though it is an enjoyable read. Kerr has to transport our hero to post flood catastrophe Galveston in order to play out the rather gothic theme of the avenging angel effectively. As such it is hard to equate the biblical retribution to a modern US. 6/10

15) Helliconia Spring by Brian Aldiss A great Sci Fi novel which sets up the Helliconia trilogy. Aldiss charts the emergence from a millennial old winter of humans, and the subsequent development of society, trade, farming and politics all set within a well realised planetary system that profoundly affects the ecology and biology of its inhabitants and their competing alien species. 8/10

[qimissung]

Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman. This is a well-told story (although not great literarily) and I enjoyed it. 7/10

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple. Humorous and charming. 8/10

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott; a book on writing and living. 8/10

Claire Dewitt and the Bohemian Highway by Sara Gran. 9/10 A sort of existential, philosophical, noirish, murder mystery, with a female private detective. Shades of Philip Marlow and his creator.

The Adventurist by Robert Pelton 7/10 A good read, but it doesn't stick with you very long.

Eleanor and Park This is YA literature and a truly excellent book. 9/10

The Grey King by Susan Cooper. Part of her The Dark is Rising series. Children saving the world, a premise I can never resist. 9/10

In Zanesville by Jo Ann Beard. A coming of age story. Very enjoyable. 8/10

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. This seems to be my year of reading young, but this is an lovely book. Spinelli said that Ondine by Giraudoux and his own wife, Eileen were inspirations for Stargirl. 10/10

Charlotte's Web Amazingly, I have never read this, but it is among the most charming books I have ever read. Of course I know the story of Charlotte, and E. B. White, btw, is a co-author of The Elements of Style, one of the most revered style books of the English language in America. He's written several other notable children's books. Two of his essays are among my favorites, Once More to the Lake and Death of a Pig. (which you can read here:

http://www.theatlantic.com/ideastour/animals/white-full.html).

As an English teacher, one of the things I love about "Charlotte" was watching the farm animals scramble around trying to find words to describe Wilbur. My favorite was her initial description of Wilbur as "Some Pig." And I cried when I read "No one was with her when she died." The little gray spider in the corner of the shed.

Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman. This is a Newberry Honor book, and very funny. The main character is always getting into some kind of trouble as she tries to find a way around her father's decision that it's time for her to marry. The author does a very good job of exploring the theme of empowerment for young women in an age where there wasn't much of it for them. 8/10

Hombre by Elmore Leonard A classic western by the late, great. 9/10

A Girl Called Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel. A memoir written in the voice of the child Kimmel once was. One of the most charming, amusing, touching books I've ever read. A re-read for me. I read this book almost every summer.

The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca by Tahir shah. Nor the greatest writer, but his book was absorbing. I really want to go live in Morrocco. If you have a couple of hundred thousand dollars you could buy a riad there. 7/10

Hideous Kinky by Esther Freud 8/10 As good as the movie, which I saw several years ago. I don't know why, but I just found both the book and the movie totally absorbing.

Shadow Tag by Louise Erdrich 10/10 The woman can write. This story of a married couple who essentially annihilate each other is completely gripping.

[free]

I've read many books this summer. Some good, some not so good, some I couldn't finish reading because they were not interesting enough. But, the one that has been a pleasant surprise is the Vikas Swarup's novel 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

[qimissung]

Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman. This is a well-told story (although not great literarily) and I enjoyed it. 7/10

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple. Humorous and charming. 8/10

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott; a book on writing and living. 8/10

Claire Dewitt and the Bohemian Highway by Sara Gran. 9/10 A sort of existential, philosophical, noirish, murder mystery, with a female private detective. Shades of Philip Marlow and his creator.

The Adventurist by Robert Pelton 7/10 A good read, but it doesn't stick with you very long.

Eleanor and Park This is YA literature and a truly excellent book. 9/10

The Grey King by Susan Cooper. Part of her The Dark is Rising series. Children saving the world, a premise I can never resist. 9/10

In Zanesville by Jo Ann Beard. A coming of age story. Very enjoyable. 8/10

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. This seems to be my year of reading young, but this is an lovely book. Spinelli said that Ondine by Giraudoux and his own wife, Eileen were inspirations for Stargirl. 10/10

Charlotte's Web Amazingly, I have never read this, but it is among the most charming books I have ever read. Of course I know the story of Charlotte, and E. B. White, btw, is a co-author of The Elements of Style, one of the most revered style books of the English language in America. He's written several other notable children's books. Two of his essays are among my favorites, Once More to the Lake and Death of a Pig. (which you can read here:

http://www.theatlantic.com/ideastour/animals/white-full.html).

As an English teacher, one of the things I love about "Charlotte" was watching the farm animals scramble around trying to find words to describe Wilbur. My favorite was her initial description of Wilbur as "Some Pig." And I cried when I read "No one was with her when she died." The little gray spider in the corner of the shed.

Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman. This is a Newberry Honor book, and very funny. The main character is always getting into some kind of trouble as she tries to find a way around her father's decision that it's time for her to marry. The author does a very good job of exploring the theme of empowerment for young women in an age where there wasn't much of it for them. 8/10

Hombre by Elmore Leonard A classic western by the late, great. 9/10

A Girl Called Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel. A memoir written in the voice of the child Kimmel once was. One of the most charming, amusing, touching books I've ever read. A re-read for me. I read this book almost every summer.

The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca by Tahir shah. Nor the greatest writer, but his book was absorbing. I really want to go live in Morrocco. If you have a couple of hundred thousand dollars you could buy a riad there. 7/10

Hideous Kinky by Esther Freud 8/10 As good as the movie, which I saw several years ago. I don't know why, but I just found both the book and the movie totally absorbing.

Shadow Tag by Louise Erdrich 10/10 The woman can write. This story of a married couple who essentially annihilate each other is completely gripping.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman 8/10 This is well-written and I like how he plays with mythology and darker forces, somewhat like Lev Grossman below. I found it a rather depressing read, although I'm not sure why.

The Magicians by Lev Grossman 9/10 It reminded me of Donna Tartt's "The Secret History" for some reason. Very readable, but initially a bit of a downer as the people are all so jaded, which is somewhat difficult to reconcile with a school for magic, not that I expected another Harry Potter as it is a book for adults. The book got better as it went along, and I enjoyed the way he played with the conventions and the underlying themes that the characters are grappling with.

She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana 10/10 Zippy grows up a little bit. It's a little sad, but mostly enthralling.

Fever by Lauren DeStefano. It's the second installment of the The Chemical Garden Trilogy. It's another YA dystopian novel. I read the first one a few years ago. They're fairly good, although I find her style a trifle annoying. 7/10

The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie 8/10 She wrote this around the time of the breakup of her marriage and her ten-day disappearance, and apparently to the end of her days the book always reminded her of that painful time. I thought it was a well-constructed mystery, however. (Thank you, B)

[mona amon]

11. The Gospel according to St. Mark (Tamil translation) - Continuing my plan to read the whole Bible in Tamil, to improve my vocabulary. At the rate at which I'm reading it will take me only a few more years. :rolleyes:

12. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding 6.5/10 - The third Bridget Jones book, and I enjoyed it as much as the other two. Bridget is now 51 (exactly my age) with 2 kids and I'll stop here so as not to give away a major spoiler. She's still the same scatterbrained, disorganized character who gets her philosophy of life from an endless stream of self-help books, and recently from @DalaiLama. Clichéd predictable romantic storyline, especially the second half, but who cares - it was bloody hilarious!

13. Cyrano De Bergerac by Edmond Rostand - 9/10 - Loved it. Must try to read the original sometime, as I'm sure a lot was lost in translation. Cyrano is now one of my all time favourite characters with his wit, his eloquence, his courage, and of course, PANACHE!

14. The Small Bachelor by P G Wodehouse - 7/10 - Set in America during the time of prohibition, with a cop who wants to be a poet as one of the characters, this book has many classic Wodehouse funny moments, even if it isn't in the same league as the Blandings and Jeeves novels.

15. Le Morte D'Arthur by Thomas Mallory - 7/10 - This was one looooong never ending book, and the duelling parts of which it is mostly composed were a total yawn-fest. Mallory just adores the fights and the jousts, but I'm like that girl in the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Commando - "I can't believe this macho bullcrap!" I was also ticked off that my beloved Sir Gawain comes off as rather mean-spirited in this book.

[Marbles]

Mona> I cannot agree with you more regarding The Alchemist. It was one of the biggest disappointments of my reading history and now I get very annoyed and frustrated that this kind of sugar-coated, pseudo self-help and empowerment books get to be published even.

Not only these books get published, they are translated into several languages, become bestsellers, praised and recommended all over the place. It makes me wonder how does that happen. I read Alchemist about half a decade ago on recommendation from a group of friends who had read and liked it. I was so disappointed that I stopped reading just before a few pages before the end, as I could take it no more. When I sounded a dissenting note to the reading group who had recommended it, they all thought I was being too 'judgmental' and 'picking on the novel unfairly', whatever they might have meant by that.

I think Coelho is an expert at masking portentous writing as serious literature, at least in the Alchemist, which is enough to trick a lot of readers.

Anyway it's a good thread, very helpful summaries of the books members have read, and as the year ends, I will revisit the list of books I have read this year and may post it here. I have been keeping a list of everything I read for the last three years.

[Scheherazade]

My final list for 2014:

36. The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson (N23)

35. The Crucible by Miller (R3) ~ 10/10

Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins (N22) ~ 710

Mrs de Winter by Susan Hill (N21/W17) ~ 4/10

32. The Quiet American by Graham Greene ~ 10/10

31. Summertime by J.M. Coetzee (N20) ~ 8/10

30. A Fine Balance by R. Mistry (N19) ~ 8/10

29. We The Living by Ayn Rand (S4/W16) ~ 6/10

28. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (N18/W15) ~ 9/10

27. The Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith (R2) ~ 6/10

26. Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron (N17/P) ~ 7/10

25. Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev (N16) ~ 7/10

24. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (S3/W14/P) ~ 9/10

23. Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis (S2) ~ 7/10

22. Billy Liar by Keith Waterhouse (N15) ~ 7/10

21. The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende (W13/N14) ~ 7/10

20. After Leaving Mr Mackenzie by Jean Rhys (W12/S1) ~ 7/10

19. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (W11/R1) ~ 7/10

18. Little Vampire Women by Lynn Messina ~ (W10/SO4) ~ 6/10

17. Penelopiad by Atwood ~ (W9/SO3) ~ 7/10

16. The Litigators by John Grisham ~ 5/10

15. Anthem by Ayn Rand (N13/W8) ~ 6/10

14. Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin (N12) ~ 8/10

13. Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis (N11) ~ 9/10

12. An Accidental Man by Iris Murdoch (N10/W7) ~ 5/10

11. Master and Commander by Patrick O’brian (N9) ~ 8/10

10. I am Legend by Richard Matheson (N8) ~ 6/10

9. Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James (W6/N7/SO2) ~ 4/10

8. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver (N6) ~ 10/10

7. Pavane by Keith Roberts (N5) ~ 5/10

6. MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood (W5) ~ 4/10

5. The Monk and the Hangman's Daughter by Ambrose Bierce (N4) ~ 7/10

4. The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers (W4) ~ 9/10

3. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (N3/W3) ~ 8/10

2. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (N2/W2/SO1) ~ 8/10

1. The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper (N1/W1) ~ 7/10


Did not reach all my targets and read considerably fewer books than my usual average but I am looking forward to the new year.

[mona amon]

Only one more to add, a Bernard Shaw play. I made a good start, but it petered out by the end, especially after starting Morte D'Arthur which went on for some three months. Here is my list -

So far I've read -

1. Sandman: The Dream Hunters by Neil Gaiman and Yo****aka Amano - 10/10 - Great book to start off the new year. I thought it was a graphic novel but turns out to be a regular tale, beautifully told, and Yo****aka Amano's illustrations are absolutely lovely. A wonderful reading experience.

2. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 3/10 - An insipid 'follow your dreams' self-help sort of book. When I came to the part where the protagonist starts talking to the wind, I knew I was wasting my time but finished it anyway.

Gosh, part of Yo s h i t aka's name got edited out! :confused:

3. MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood - 4/10 Tired, cliché ridden and uninspiring.

Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey - 6.5/10 - Carey's prose is very beautiful and he has a delicate touch when it comes to describing emotional states. The first half was very good, especially the parts about Oscar's childhood and his interactions with his friend Wardley-Fish. The second half has many wonderful elements - the two compulsive gamblers finally meet (one is supposed to be obsessive and the other compulsive, but I didn't get the difference), and the idea of transporting a glass church across uncharted terrain is a beautiful piece of inspired folly, but it all fails to really take off, probably because Carey bases it on that most annoying and arbitrary of plot devices - the mistaken belief that the beloved person is in love with somebody else.

The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith - 7/10 - a charming, entertaining read from the 18th century. :thumbsup:

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - 9/10 - "One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin." this is how it starts, and the rest of the book was quite unlike anything I expected from such a beginning. Absolutely brilliant. I bet the literary over-interpreters and over-analysers have a field day trying to explain what this is all about. :D

7. Death Comes to Pemberley - P D James 2/10 - Major disappointment. I'm not a fan of fanfic but I thought in this case the combination of good crime writer and beloved classic was bound to work, but it failed at almost every level. The fanfic part was static and stultified and the murder mystery was not very compelling and was solved by a Deus ex Machina rather than good deduction (or any deduction). Add to that yawn inducing summaries of parts of Pride and Prejudice ... need I say more? And then I find out she was 91 when she wrote it, which totally conforms to my ageist conviction that nonagenarians should stop writing books. :D

8. The Secret Agent - Joseph Conrad 9/10 - Took me a while to understand what was going on. I had no idea London at the beginning of the 20th century had all these dark commie terrorists and suicide bombers and nebulous anarchists! Moreover I was reading sporadically, and stopped halfway to read Sir Gawain which was a page turner and absolute delight. When I got back to it I found it much improved, and finished in one go. Almost as dark as Heart of Darkness, it ends on a note of 'madness and despair'. I thought Heart of Darkness was the superior work, both in its magnificent evocation of darkness and its magnificently florid prose, but both are deeply stirring works.

9. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - Anonymous 10/10 - A quote from this poem posted in one of the recent threads inspired me to read the whole poem. I listened to this audio translation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz_nEW6TgY0 while following this version http://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/cme/Gawain?rgn=main;view=fulltext to get a feel of the original. This is the first time I've read a book in this way, but it worked really well. The Middle English of this poem is waaaaaay more difficult to read than that of Chaucer and I had to look up Þ and ȝ, but it gets slightly easier as you keep going. I'm now reading this glossed version http://www.maldura.unipd.it/dllags/brunetti/ME/TESTI/G_tolkien.html, and also listening to any audio clips of Middle English readings of the poem I can find. Anyway, is this the best ever poem in English, or if not, what is? I am in love! :hurray:

10. The Gospel According to St. Matthew (Tamil translation) - I've decided to read the Bible in Tamil to improve my vocabulary, and I feel it sounds very good. I especially enjoyed the Tamil version of Jesus's magnificent rant against the Scribes and the Pharisees in Matthew 23. Good stuff!

11. The Gospel according to St. Mark (Tamil translation) - Continuing my plan to read the whole Bible in Tamil, to improve my vocabulary. At the rate at which I'm reading it will take me only a few more years. :rolleyes:

12. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding 6.5/10 - The third Bridget Jones book, and I enjoyed it as much as the other two. Bridget is now 51 (exactly my age) with 2 kids and I'll stop here so as not to give away a major spoiler. She's still the same scatterbrained, disorganized character who gets her philosophy of life from an endless stream of self-help books, and recently from @DalaiLama. Clichéd predictable romantic storyline, especially the second half, but who cares - it was bloody hilarious!

13. Cyrano De Bergerac by Edmond Rostand - 9/10 - Loved it. Must try to read the original sometime, as I'm sure a lot was lost in translation. Cyrano is now one of my all time favourite characters with his wit, his eloquence, his courage, and of course, PANACHE!

14. The Small Bachelor by P G Wodehouse - 7/10 - Set in America during the time of prohibition, with a cop who wants to be a poet as one of the characters, this book has many classic Wodehouse funny moments, even if it isn't in the same league as the Blandings and Jeeves novels.

15. Le Morte D'Arthur by Thomas Mallory - 7/10 - This was one looooong never ending book, and the duelling parts of which it is mostly composed were a total yawn-fest. Mallory just adores the fights and the jousts, but I'm like that girl in the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Commando - "I can't believe this macho bullcrap!" I was also ticked off that my beloved Sir Gawain comes off as rather mean-spirited in this book.
16. Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw - 9/10 (re-read) - Shaw is always a delight.

My favourites of 2014 are Cyrano De Bergerac and The Metamorphosis, and most favourite of all - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight!

[Scheherazade]

Even though I did not read as much as I would have liked last year and read couple of less than average books, there were some good ones as well.

My favourites:

36. The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson (N23) 8/10

35. The Crucible by Miller (R3) ~ 10/10

32. The Quiet American by Graham Greene ~ 10/10

31. Summertime by J.M. Coetzee (N20) ~ 8/10

30. A Fine Balance by R. Mistry (N19) ~ 8/10

28. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (N18/W15) ~ 9/10

24. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (S3/W14/P) ~ 9/10

8. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver (N6) ~ 10/10

4. The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers (W4) ~ 9/10

3. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (N3/W3) ~ 8/10


While I struggle to pick a single favourite, probably The Goldfinch is the overall winner as it was both a page turner and well-told story for me.