I really learned A LOT from Wild Swans. Enjoyed it. It had been on my shelf for a long time too!
1 Like
LOVED Risk Pool—one of my favorite books and my favorite Russo
1 Like
Finished the True True Story of Raja the Gullible and his Mother—I wouldn’t have selected it without wanting to find a book set in the Middle East for the challenge but I’m glad I read it. It’s a very discursive story told in out of sequence parts by a truly entertaining character—a gay Lebanese philosophy teacher in Beruit—that takes you through major points of history. It’s by turns hilarious and sad—I particularly loved Raja’s mother and their relationship. The out of synch structure really fits the story. Just started Taiwan Travelogue, my pick for the translated book. Again—another gem I wouldn’t have read without the inspiration of the challenge. I think I’ll pick up Land next—I know so many people who want to read it and only buy books that I can/want to lend
2 Likes
I guess this is my nudge to pick it up and finish it! I was enjoying it but it is long & I got pulled in to another book (of course!)
“Weird and kinda experimental.” Oh, dear : /
Those usually signal easy opt outs for me when it comes to books and stage productions. But not always. Seems one reviewer’s “weird” can be another’s “delightfully quirky.”
So true @Laurie_S1. I’m just registering my reaction not making predictions or recommendations. Several of the readers I follow on social media have been enjoying most of them. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you give them a try.
‘True, True…’ sounds interesting, April. Thanks for the rec!
I’m reading The Story of Birds by Steven Brussate. It’s their history from dinosaurs onward. Fascinating. Did you know that birds were the only dinosaurs to survive the cataclysmic asteroid impact 66 million years ago? It won’t be a fast read but I love birds and everything about them so for me it will be a fun and educational read.
1 Like
Catching up a bit after being out of town . . .
I finished The Art Spy by Michelle Young - wonderful to have even more background on the daring French citizens (in this case, Rose Valland) who did whatever they could to save the invaluable art looted by the Nazis.
I paused to read The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith for my local library book discussion. I bought one of the other books in the series (The Full Cupboard of Life) decades ago so I might get that off the bookshelf soon.
I listened to the audio of Kelly Rimmer’s newest book, published in the US as The Story Keeper, which was a sweet diversion from the heavy non fiction selections I was reading. Wonderful narrator, and perfect for the New South Wales/Australia setting.
On my trip, I read Patrick Radden Keefe’s London Falling (back to non fiction!) and to mix it up a bit, I am reading (nearly finished) Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido because authors Meg Mason recommended it on one of Ann Patchett’s “New to You” book backlist series.
Lastly, I am now ready for Elizabeth Berg’s Life it became available at my library!
Happy reading, all!
2 Likes
Finished Taiwan Travelogue while traveling. It’s an English translation of a novel by a Taiwanese author purported to be a translation of a story by a Japanese author visiting Taiwan in the 1930s. It primarily focuses on the relationship between the Japanese writer and her Taiwanese translator, which surfaces the challenges of equal relationships between people in unequal positions. It also focuses a great deal on food—a really fascinating book! I knew very little about the history of Taiwan and am eager to read more
3 Likes