October 2020

 Another exciting (ha) month of quarantine....but some really good reading

Activities:

10/1 Library curbside drop off/pick up; JC farms for produce.

10/3 Furnace guy

10/5 Doctor 

10/6 Furnace guy

10/9 Library curbside drop off/pick up; JC farms for produce; Durham Market for cold cuts; mailed ballot

10/15/ local foliage drive; short walk at Miller's Pond 

10/23 Library curbside drop off/pickup; JC farms

10/27 Drive to Old Saybrook

10/29 JC Farms Closed!; Lyman Orchads

Reading:

Fiction:

 A Million Aunties by McKenzie, Alecia

   A novel told from several points of view making it read like very closely linked short stories

 How to Pronounce Knife by Thammavongsa, Souvankham 

   short stories

 That Time of Year by NDiaye, Marie; translated from the French by Stump, Jordan

 The End of the Day by Clegg, Bill
 Here We Are by Swift, Graham

 Verena in the Midst by Lucas, E.V. (on Project Gutenberg) 

 The Gathering by Enright, Anne

 The Perfect Nine: The Epic of Gĩkũyũ and Mũmbi by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o; translated from the Gĩkũyũ by the author 

 The Silence by DeLillo, Don

Poetry:

 Home: New Arabic Poems by Hawwash, Samer Abu and others; various translators

Nonfiction:
 This Tilting World by Fellous, Colette; translated from the French by Lewis, Sophie
 James Monroe: A Life by McGrath, Tim

 Wandering in Strange Lands: A Daughter of the Great Migration Reclaims Her Roots by Jerkins, Morgan

 Having and Being Had by Biss, Eula

Online:

Marmalade: A Very British Obsession by Olivia Potts

July (first week) Reads

No day trips during the beastly heat wave--just a quick trip to the library.

This week the "Deal Me In" card is the Three of Diamonds; the story is De Amicitia (in Orientations by W Somerset Maugham)

Online... 

The Guardian's Poem of the week: Typewriter by Matthew Francis 
Loved the poem; the commentary (by Carol Rumens) following was OK even if it did remind me of those dreary lit classes where we picked at a writing until it was completely dead. 

'My daring grandfather took a bit of East Berlin for himself' by Elaine Chong
The story of  the Treehouse on the Wall, das Baumhaus an der Mauer.

from Project Gutenberg... 


Cliff Dwellings of the Mesa Verde by Don Watson
Published in 1954 by the Mesa Verde Museum Association, Mesa Verde National Park. Colorado
Many photographs. I think I used this as a source for one of my junior high term papers.




from the library...

Fire and Knowledge: Fiction and Essays by Péter Nádas; translated from the Hungarian by Imre Goldstein

 from my shelves... 

Just Call Me Superhero by Alina Bronsky; translated from the German by Tim Mohr 

Lion Cross Point by Masatsugu Ono; translated from the Japanese by Angus Turvill 

Dreaming in Cuban by Cristina García

August (second half) 2016 Reads

First two for the last half of August were perfect:
 



City of Clowns by Daniel Alarcón, Sheila Alvarado, Illustrator

This caught my eye on the new  graphics book shelf at the library because I really liked Alarcón's  novel At Night We Walk in Circles. What a lucky find.

I loved this beautifully told story with wonderful illustrations. Set in Lima, it tells the story of a young reporter coming to terms with his life and his parents' life choices. After the death of his father, he takes on an assignment to do a feature story on the street clowns of Lima.





101 Detectives by Ivan Vladislavić
Delightful, thought-provoking stories. A fun element was the final section "Deleted Scenes" which are short pieces which may-or may not-have been cut from the preceding stories. Author is South African, but not all the stories are set there. From my personal library via my subscription to & Other Stories
Contents: The fugu-eaters -- Hair shirt -- 101 detectives -- Exit strategy -- Mountain landscape -- Lullaby -- Industrial theatre -- Dead letters -- The reading -- The trunks : a complete history -- Report on a convention.

August 20:
This morning I settled down with my coffee and picked up a book I've been reading off and on since I rec'd it in February from another of my subscriptions Two Lines Press Two Lines 24,  CJ Evans (Editor). I'm skipping around a bit since it's a collection of fiction and poetry (and one essay).
Anyway, the first line I read this morning was "My father used to kidnap people and kill them." Now how could I put this one down? It is the opening line of an excerpt from Rabee Jaber's novel Confessions (translated by Kareem James Abu-Zeid). My TBR list just grew.

After a break to watch Olympic Women's Basketball, I finished Two Lines 24.  I like these anthologies. Among other benefits, they always stimulate me to read more poetry.

August 21:
Instead of poetry I decided to read Abahn Sabana David  by Marguerite Duras, Kazim Ali (Translation) which turned out to be quite poetic, both in the use of language and in comprehension. I'm glad that this my own copy and not something that has to go back to the library. Like poetry, it will take several readings to figure out what it means. This is another of my subscription books--this one from Open Letter.

And then I did read some poetry: Catch Light by Sarah O'Brien. All about light, optics, and photographic imagery, but no actual photographs--she does it with words. Again, glad it's my own copy to read and reread.

August 24:
A bit of bad news this morning. The group I regularly meet with on Wednesday mornings will no longer meet at the college library. Too bad because I've enjoyed browsing the new books shelves before and/or after the meetings. I can still use the library but it will mean an extra trip.

Finished Rio Noir; Tony Bellotto (Editor), Clifford Landers (Translation). I love Akashic Books Noir series. In this one there were a couple I didn't care for but 2 out of 14 isn't bad with an anthology. I waited until after the Olympics to read this and I'm glad I did. In it we see the criminal underbelly of the place and I'm left with the feeling that those USA swimmers could have had a much worse time of it. My copy came from the publisher via a LibraryThing win.
Contents: Part I: Purgatory of beauty and chaos. The hanged man / Adriana Lisboa -- Toned cougars / Tony Bellotto -- The cannibal of Ipanema / Alexandre Fraga Dos Santos -- Part II: Divided city. The booty / Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza -- The return / M.V. Bill -- Weekend in São Conrado / Luiz Eduardo Soares -- RJ-171 / Guilherme Fiuza -- Part III: Murmuring fountains. Argentine taxi / Arthur Dapieve -- Blind spot / Victoria Saramago -- The enigma of the Victrola / Arnaldo Bloch -- Part IV: Rio babylon. Tangerine tango / Marcelo Ferroni -- The wait / Flávio Carneiro -- The story of Georges Fullar / Raphael Montes -- The woodsman / Luis Fernando Verissimo.

August 25: 
Finished Trouble on the Thames by Victor Bridges.
A lively spy thriller written during WW2 but set in England the period just before the war. Lots of action, a romance, nasty blackmailer, traitors, and, of course, a German spy. Free advance copy from the publisher.

I checked Project Gutenberg for something else by Bridges and found A Rogue by Compulsion and read a few pages and ended up downloading it free from Amazon. (It's difficult to transfer files from Gutenberg to a Kindle Fire.) This makes my "currently reading" list rather long as I also started Bernice McFadden's The Book of Harlan which has been sitting on my shelf since I won it at LibraryThing back in May.

August 26:
In The Book of Harlan (page 60) I came across the use of "Ms." by a character addressing the singer Bessie Smith at a party in Harlem in 1922.  I wondered about the historical accuracy of this usage. It bothered me so much that I had to put off reading and go Googling. Hunting the Elusive First "Ms." and some other resources tell me it could have been used then and there.

Oh dear, just added a subscription to The Visual Thesaurus to my wish list.

August 27: 
After I got past that little fact checking glitch, it was clear sailing with The Book of Harlan. What a great story and McFadden tells it well. There is a lot going on since the novel covers a span of years from 1916 through 1973. It starts in Macon, Georgia with the courtship of the title character's parents, moves to Harlem, then Occupied Paris, Buchenwald Concentration Camp, back to Harlem, then New Jersey, and ends in Brooklyn. And that's just the saga of Harlan, a black musician who survives major obstacles. Harlan's not a perfect man. He's not always smart. He uses alcohol, drugs, and women. But he "always believed himself to be good, just a little misguided at times." Harlan is surrounded with strong ties of family and friendship that help him survive the unthinkable. Worth reading.

Finished Two Lines 22 by CJ Evans (Editor) which I've been reading off and on since October of 2014. I'm not sure "finished" is the right word for these periodicals as I do a lot of skipping around and rereading the selections. I often use them as transitional reading when I'm trying to decide what to read next.  This one had an essay "Learning Dutch" by Lydia Davis which discusses translating short stories from Dutch to English.

August 28:
Finished You Won’t Remember This: Stories by Kate Blackwell. A good collection, mostly about marriage and relationships.
Contents: My first wedding -- The secret life of peonies -- What we do for love -- The obi tree -- Pepper hunt -- Duckie's okay -- You won't remember this -- George, Nadia, Blaise -- Heartbeatland -- Queen of the May -- Carpe diem -- The minaret. 

And, speaking of short stories I found a new online source. Underpass which promises: "As an online home for literature in translation, we will publish short fiction and narrative nonfiction that has been translated into English from small or marginalized language groups." So far there are over twenty stories on the site and they are almost all from Croatia (there is one from Moldavia).  So far I've read one: Preserved Strawberries by Sanja Pilic; translated from Croatian by Mirna Cubranic.I liked it and will go back to read more. I look forward to their broadening the scope.

August 31: 
Finished  The Angels' Share by Garfield Ellis.  A father-son story set in Jamaica. Excellent! A great way to end the month.

March (second half) 2016 Reads

Wow, it's April already! (Why did it snow last night?)

What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours ; Oyeyemi, Helen
Locked doors, locked books, strange keys--all presented in nine interlocked stories. The opening story is a real stunner. Library book
Contents; Books and roses -- "Sorry" doesn't sweeten her tea -- Is your blood as red as this? -- Drownings -- Presence -- A brief history of the homely wench society -- Dornicka and the St. Martin's Day goose -- Freddy Barrandov checks...in? -- If a book is locked there is probably a good reason for that don't you think.

Pig's Foot  ; Acosta, Carlos; Frank Wynn (translator)
A Cuban family saga complete with history, myth, and magic. a good story. Library book.

The Last Weynfeldt ; Suter, Martin; Steph Morris (Translation)
What a bunch of rogues! Really there's no one we should like, but, well, we like them. A prig, a forger, a liar, a schemer, a double-crosser, gossipy servants, and a plot that's almost too silly. What fun! My copy.

This Census-Taker ; Miéville, China
I really enjoyed this even though I'm really not sure what was happening. I really like the way the narrator switched voices--sometimes in the middle of a sentence he goes from "me' to "he" when speaking about himself. Unsure of himself, his identity. Library book.

All Things Cease to Appear ; Brundage, Elizabeth
The ratings on Goodreads are all over the place on this psychological drama. It's not exactly a who-done-it, it's more of a how and why and is there any proof. I couldn't put it down for long. Library Book.

Lila (Gilead, #3) ; Robinson, Marilynne
Not anything I thought I would like, but I did. Excellent writing, a tale well told even though it's full of  churchy religious thought. It's labeled #3 but it stands alone. Perhaps I'll take a look at the others. Library book.

Sweetgirl ; by Travis Mulhauser
A promising debut novel. If one wants a "genre" classifications,  I'd call this "grit lit plus chick lit"  but it's so much more. Library book.

After the Fire, a Still Small Voice ; Wyld, Evie
Unsettling, beautifully written multi-generational tale of Australian men dealing with memories of war. Library book.

For the Love of Meat: Nine Illustrated Stories ; Jaeckel, Jenny
A good collection of stories. The settings are diverse in time and place. The characters are also diverse--a nun, a monk, immigrants in Canada, Sixteenth Century Polish nobility, African Americans in 1940s Philadelphia. The stories have gentle twists and are illustrated with whimsical drawings, though at times I wondered what some of the drawings had to do with the accompanying tales.  A fun book to read. Advance review copy through LibraryThing early Reviewers program.

January (first half) 2016 Reads

Some excellent fiction, an interesting memoir, a really fine non-fiction, and a picture book are the highlights this month.



Our Souls at Night; Haruf, Kent

Very low key and very much on the mark about the choices we have to make as we grow old. Library book. 

Jacket photo: Gareth Munden  / Glasshouse

Jacket design: Carol Devine Carson

 

The Door; Szabó, Magda; Len Rix (Translator)
Loved this book! Emerence has become one of my favorite literary characters.
My personal copy. (actually I started to read a library not realizing I owned a copy. Found it when I started organizing after the cart arrived)

Cover: Eva Hess, Accession, 1968 (I've been Googling Hess and I'm fascinated)
Cover design: Katy Homans

 

The Occupation Trilogy: La Place de l'Étoile – The Night Watch – Ring Road; Modiano, Patrick; translated from the French by Caroline Hillier, Patricia Wolf, and Frank Wynne. 
Early Modiano works from the late 1960s. Library book.

Pedigree: A Memoir; Modiano, Patrick
Wish I'd read this before I read the The Occupation Trilogy, it explains so much. Library book.




 

God Loves Haiti: A Novel; Leger, Dimitry Elias

A love triangle is interrupted by the massive earthquake of January, 2010. This excellent novel follows the actions and thoughts of the three involved.

Library book.



 

The Story of Lucy Gault; Trevor, William

Finally! An Irish story that I really like! Must read more William Trevor.

My copy.

What the Eye Hears: A History of Tap Dancing; Seibert, Brian
I really enjoyed this book that covers not just the history of tap, but also discusses the future of the art. Excellent!  Library book.
Jacket photo: Zigy Kaluzny / Getty Images
Jacket design: Jennifer Carrow

Belzhar, Wolitzer, Meg

One of the best YA novel's I've read. 

Advance review copy

Dueling covers:
The US cover (left) is perfect. Not crazy about UK one.
US Cover photo: Michael Miranda
US Cover design: Kristin Smith

Plotted: A Literary Atlas; DeGraff, Andrew

This was a lot of fun. The maps are clever, but at times a little hard to "read."  I wish the format were slightly larger (it is about 10 x 8 inches). For a little more about this book see my Bout of Books post of Jan 10. Library book.

Good, but not as good as those above

Queen Victoria's Mysterious Daughter: A Biography of Princess Louise; Hawksley, Lucinda
I slogged through this, but it was really more than I wanted  to know...
Library book.

All the Light There Was; Kricorian, Nancy
This suffers because of its similarity in title and subject with Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See. This is also set in Paris during the Nazi Occupation and it also is about a  young girl. End of similarities. This story is about an Armenian family, the parents are refugees from the Armenian Genocide. The book is much less complicated than the Doerr book. Its straightforward telling is like a grandparent might talk to young family members. "How I met your grandfather during the war." Its really a YA novel and as such it is a good introduction to how life goes on in difficult times.  I received a finished copy from author through a Goodreads giveaway.

Letters from Skye; Brockmole, Jessica
A pleasant romantic epistolary story that starts with a fan letter from an American student to a poetess on the Isle of Skye.  Set during WW1. Later, in 1940, the poetess' daughter tries to find out what happened all those years ago and the story continues with her correspondence. A fast read, ok for a diversion but sort of Enoch Ardenish but with a different ending. A bit more about this book on my Bout of Books post of Jan 10.  Library book.

Beatrice and Benedick; Fiorato, Marina
This backstory of the couple from Much Ado About Nothing was a good idea but lacks something in its execution. The witty dialogue between the pair is too forced, the villainy not forceful enough. I was put off by the introduction of a character named Michelangelo Crollalanza, supposedly a poet/playwright Sicilian born.  Hint: he writes sonnets. Really! I struggled to finish this and admit to a lot of skimming. Library book.

 Did not Finish

The Guest Room; Bohjalian, Chris
For some reason I found this thriller about sex trafficking boring. I read 25 0/0 but I just couldn't hang around to see what happened. It was like a not very good episode of CSI. I changed the channel and did not finish. Library book.

December (first half) 2015 Reading

Variety is the theme for my early December reading:

 


Tram 83; Mujila, Fiston Mwanza; Roland Glasser (Translation)
Set in a made-up African city-state somewhere in the Congo region. Gritty tale of a mix of locals, ex-pats, and wanderers: the exploiters and the exploited. A great read. Personal copy.





 
Providential; Channer, Colin
This book of poetry is difficult for me. I've read several books set in the Caribbean area, but none that contain so much in the Jamaican vernacular. Because it is poetry, it is a little harder to pick up meanings from context than it is with a prose narrative. But the writing has a definite rhythm and several of the poems read almost like short stories. I keep returning to it and enjoy it more with each visit. Free advance review copy of this book from the publisher through the LibraryThing early Reviewers program.



 
 
Thirteen Ways of Looking; McCann, Colum
Short fiction. The title story is a novella (158 pages) set in New York City. Then there are three short stories, one set in Ireland, one in New York/London, and one in an author's head as he attempts to write a short story. All four have Irish roots and all were fine reading. Library book.


 



Snow in Amman: An Anthology of Short Stories from Jordan; translated and edited by Ibtihal Mahmood and Alexander Haddad
I like this selection of eleven stories. Some are very dark and violent. Not a lot of humor (but some irony) here. There is an interesting introductory essay, but I wish there was more information about the authors of the stories. Personal copy








Where You Once Belonged; Haruf, Kent
I don't know why I've never read any Haruf, but I really liked this. I'll try some more.
Love this cover! It really fits the story, which is set in a small town in Colorado.
Library book.

 

Charlie Martz and Other Stories: The Unpublished Stories; Leonard, Elmore
Some reviewers are suggesting that this is for hardcore Elmore Leonard fans, an interesting read for seeing his development as an author, blah, blah, blah. Of course it is all that but it can still stand alone as a collection of good stories, especially for those who like their westerns and crime fiction in small doses. Library book.






Days of Awe; Fox, Lauren
This book deals with serious matters: friendship, death, marriage, mother/daughter relationships. At times it's funny because the protagonist often covers up her emotions with sarcastic (sometimes witty) observations, often voicing aloud remarks that she should keep to herself. Chick Lit? Women's Fiction? I'm not sure what the distinction is. Is one more serious than the other? Is Chick Lit more frivolous? Are these categories made up by men?  Library book.



                                                      
 

Basilica: The Splendor and the Scandal: Building St. Peter's; Scotti, R.A. 
A really great story. But it's not fiction. It's full of intrigue, scandal, quarrels (both large and petty), financial irregularities, power struggles, and amazing achievements. You can't make this stuff up. Library book.


 
 
 


Writing the Garden: A Literary Conversation across Two Centuries; Rogers, Elizabeth Barlow
This is a discussion of several notable books on gardens and gardening. It gives background information on the authors and an overview of the writings, with many excerpts and some illustrations. It is highly readable (more readable, I suspect, than some of the books covered). One doesn't have to be a gardener to appreciate this gem. Library book.





Christmas in Connecticut; Smith, Diane
Lots of pretty pictures and Connecticut lore from a local writer who has done a series and some specials for Connecticut Public TV. Book was published in 2001, but here in the Land of Steady Habits most of the annual displays and events are still observed. Since I'm a newcomer (only been here for fourteen years) I'm still learning the local customs. Library book.

Online Reading

My last read of the year and my first read of the new year may both be by Patrick Modiano.  I put in library requests for three of his titles. Meanwhile here is a special treat  from the Yale University Press blog: Patrick Modiano on Childhood  an excerpt from Pedigree: A Memoir by Patrick Modiano, translated from the French by Mark Polizzotti.

The website Arabic Literature (in English) has: 5 By and About Edwar El Kharrat, 1929-2015 

And here is a new online lit magazine: Litbreak "an online literary journal that publishes fiction, book reviews and essays of five hundred to five thousand words and poetry. We may also include thousand word excerpts from new novels or other material."

Two Stories by Lauren Becker from WhiskeyPaper are paired with links to related songs. The link for Exactly is Nina Simone's rendition "Exactly Like You" (Jimmy McHugh-Dorothy Fields). Victoria Williams singing "Crazy Mary" is the choice for Collecting. This is a new-to-me online magazine, one I will follow.

A short story from Tor.com The Log Goblin, by Brian Staveley. With a wonderful illustration by John Jude Palencar. 

February 2015 Reads (week 1)

Bed Rest. Four days bed rest. I hate to admit it but I seem to be getting too old to shovel snow. So, gee, what do you do if you have to spend four days in bed, resting and getting waited on?

Reading, you say, Reading! you shout.

I did read, but it was sort of restless reading. I made some progress with The Museum of Abandoned Secrets by Oksana Zabuzhko--I'm now at 89 percent and, according to Kindle I have about an hour left. I also read a few more stories in Years of Red Dust, and a couple more in Pepperpot: Best New Stories from the Caribbean (a Christmas gift from my housemate/daughter).

Speaking of housemate/daughter, she did a library run between snowstorms. She was returning books for us both and getting books for herself. I didn't have any requests but, as frequently happens when she is browsing, something caught her eye that she thought I would like: Skylight by Saramago. It will have to go to the top of the pile because it's a 7-day, no renewal loan.

She also made several trips to the mailbox but that's another whole stack of books. In one of my sprier moments I went to the back door and there was a UPS package leaning against the stoop. "Stoop" was not in my orthopedic abilities, so I had to call for assistance. She rescued the package (an ARC) and sent me back to bed. So much for spry.
Light this week on the web surfing, it's a bit difficult with the sore back.


Finished this week:

A Paris Apartment by Michelle Gable
Read for French Bingo My Review

Vanessa and Her Sister by Priya Parmar
ARC from publisher via Goodreads First Reads program.
Where to begin? I loved this book, but why? 

 
The Love Book by Nina Solomon, Kaylie Jones (Editor)
ARC from publisher via LibraryThing Early Reviewers program
Just what I needed for this week of restless reading: High quality chick women's lit.
 
Bed rest is working. I can now stand from a seated position without the aid of a cane, I can stoop an pick up a book that has fallen to the floor,  and I can make my own lunch. I am in bed but because I want to be, not because I have to be.

Reading Saramago. Putting off reviews for another day or so because it's still uncomfortable to spend a lot of time with laptop.

September 2014 Reads

Almost everything I read this month was in the four or five star ratings.  I'll get the bummer out of the way first: 

The Bone Clock by David Mitchell
 Library book. This was a huge disappointment. It just didn't work. The old "willing suspension of disbelief" never kicked in. I liked Cloud Atlas and The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet so much but this one was a real let-down. I gave it two stars on Goodreads which is harsh but...

From the worst so the best. Five stars to three superior reads:  

The Polish Boxer by Eduardo Halfon, Thomas Bunstead (Translator), Lisa Dillman (Translator), Daniel Hahn (Translator), Anne McLean (Translator)
 Finished free copy from the publisher as an extra with LibraryThing givaway win of Monastery by the same author. Review posted on Goodreads and LibraryThing. 

Traveler of the Century by Andrés Neuman, Nick Caistor (Translator), Lorenza García (Translator)
 Library Book. See my post Reading Backwards, Sort Of 

Land of Love and Drowning; Yanique, Tiphanie
 Library book. Set in US Virgin Islands. Family saga from about 1916 through approximately the 1970s. I was totally charmed by this.

And four stars to five very good reads: 

F: A Novel by Daniel Kehlmann, Carol Janeway (Translator)
 Library book. Three brothers--Martin, a priest who is a non-believer; Ivan, a painter who can't paint; Eric, a businessman who is over-extended--and their emotionally distant father. Most of the action takes place on 8/8/2008. 

The Hidden Child (Fjällbacka #5); Läckberg, Camilla; Marlaine Delargy (Translator)
 Library book.  This is the first book I've read by this author. I liked it, but not sure I want to read more in the series. Still, it's a good mystery. 

Evergreen; Rasmussen, Rebecca
 Library book. Set in Minnesota wilderness. Story of half siblings separated when one is left on orphanage steps. Told in four sections: 1938, 1952, 1961, 1972. 

Hart's Grove; McFadden, Dennis
 Finished copy from author from Goodreads First Reads program. Excellent interlinked short stories set in a small Pennsylvania town. Covers several decades beginning in 1950s. Review posted on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

Battle Royale; by Koushun Takami, Yuji Oniki (Translator)
 Library book. What can I say?  A survival game involving 42 fifteen-year olds. Not my usual taste but it drew me in and I liked it. First published back in 1999.

Mid-August Comments

So far in August I've followed my usual trend to wander over the map: Vietnam, Korea, Haiti, Japan, and the USA.

I have read something for Women in Translation Month - The Stars, The Earth, The River: Short Stories by Le Minh Khue (translated by Bac Hoai Tran and Dana Sach). These stories, set mostly in the north of Vietnam during and just after the war, give an interesting look at the conflict and its aftermath from an author who participated for the North.

Back in February I purchased ten volumes in  The Library of Korean Literature from The Dalkey Archive. I finally started reading them with My Son's Girlfriend, a book of short stories by Jung Mi Kyung, (Yu Young-Nan,Translator) which is also for WIT month. I've read the first two stories and I'm liking it so far.

Not in translation, but from a woman, is Drifting by Katia D. Ulysse. This concerns Haitians both in Haiti and as immigrants in the USA. I received this from the publisher, Akashic Books, via a LibraryThing giveaway.  I'm starting to be very impressed with Akashic. They published two of my favorite recent reads: Mr. Loverman (also won through LibraryThing) and Bedrock Faith (from my local library). I want to try some from their Noir Series.

As I predicted in my last post, I did get the new Murakami from the library. I hesitate to say it meets the Japanese Lit Challenge because I read it in less than five hours and it was not particularly challenging. I kinda shrugged my shoulders when I was done. Ah well...

For something completely different, how about  After I'm Gone by Laura Lippman, a cold case mystery set in Baltimore. A good read set in a place I've actually been. (I don't count changing planes in Narita Airport as having been to Japan.)

Now...back to reading

May 2014 Reads

Some really good books in May. As usual I'm all over the map, both geographically and figuratively. A dozen plus countries and a variety of subject matter.  Fifteen books didn't make a dent in my TBR pile since most of these were library books.  AND, I purchased 19 books,  rec'd 15 ARC's and other freebies, and have a stack of 8 library books.

All books on my May list are from libraries unless otherwise noted.

Fiction
The best of the bunch, all amazing, each in its own way:
A Curse on Dostoevsky; Rahimi, Atiq; Polly McLean (Translator)
  The story is harsh, but there is an almost mystical, dream-like quality to the narration.
The Blazing World; Hustvedt, Siri
  Art as a gender statement. Amazing tour de force.
All the Birds, Singing; Wyld, Evie
  It's Australian Lit month. This was on the Bailey's Women's Prize longlist, it didn't make the  shortlist. I'd put it there in place of either of the two shortlisted ones that I tried to read and rejected (The Goldfinch and The Lowland).
Talking to Ourselves; Neuman, Andrés; Nick Caistor (Translator), Lorenza García (Translator)
  A family story told  in three voices: father, mother, ten-year old son. 
Shotgun Lovesongs; Butler, Nickolas
  Seems like an updated The Big Chill stretched out over a longer time period. But better.
Mr. Loverman;  Evaristo,  Bernardine (advance review copy)
  There is empathy and humor in this delightful tale. You like this guy in spite of yourself.
Casebook; Simpson, Mona
  A boy, with help from his best friend, spies on his mother and her boy friend and finds out more than he wants to. He has to decide how to deal with what he knows.
All the Light We Cannot See; Doerr, Anthony
  The stories of a young radioman in the German army and a blind French girl are told in parallel until their paths cross in German occupied St. Malo on the French coast in the summer of 1944.

A little less than the best:
The Painter; Heller, Peter
  Good but I liked The Dog Stars better. Personal taste, just wasn't as interested in this subject.
The Steady Running of the Hour; Go, Justin 
  Fine until the less than satisfactory ending. In fact, he didn't end it, he just quit.

Disappointing:

The Paris Architect; Belfoure, Charles
  Should have exciting and interesting, but it fell flat on both counts.

Short Stories
The Cost of Lunch, Etc.: Short Stories; Piercy, Marge
  A good collection of stories written over several decades. Nice to look back on the 1960s and 70's

Nonfiction
One excellent biography; one excellent memoir, both dealing with exile.  And a bio of a building.
The Impossible Exile: Stefan Zweig at the End of the World; Prochnik, George (advance review copy)
  A fantastic read!
The Complete Persepolis (Persepolis, #1-4); Satrapi, Marjane; translation of first part of Persepolis
Mattias Ripa (2003), translation of second part Persepolis 2 Blake Ferris (2004)
 A good use of the graphic format. 
House of Outrageous Fortune: Fifteen Central Park West, the World’s Most Powerful Address; Gross, Michael
  Not too bad, just a little more than I wanted to know about real estate development in New York City.