More non-fiction than usual for me this month.
Constance Fenimore Woolson: Portrait of a Lady Novelist ; Rioux, Anne Boyd
Fine biography of someone I never heard of. (Maybe I would have known who she was if I knew more about the biography of Henry James). Library book.
A Kim Jong-Il Production: The Extraordinary True Story of a Kidnapped Filmmaker, His Star Actress, and a Young Dictator's Rise to Power ; Fischer, Paul
One of those "The truth is stranger than fiction" tales. If it weren't true, someone would have to make it up. Library book.
Animal Internet: Nature and the Digital Revolution ; Pschera, Alexander; Elisabeth Lauffer (Translator)
Interesting look at the separation of man and nature, and the role Internet and smart phones in bringing us closer. My copy.
Children of Paradise: The Struggle for the Soul of Iran ; Secor, Laura
A look at the political strugles in Iran since the 1979 Revolution. Library book.
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales ; Cunningham, Michael; Yuko Shimizu (Illustrator)
Not exactly retellings of fairy tales but, rather, expansions of the stories. Nicely illustrated. An enjoyable read. Library book.
About Grace ; Doerr, Anthony
Love his writing but parts of this were a bit over the top. Library book.
The Blue Guitar ; Banville, John
Maybe not Banville's best, but what gorgeous sentences. Library book.
The Summer Before the War ; Simonson, Helen
OK, nothing special. Library book.
The Story of My Teeth ; Luiselli, Valeria; Christina MacSweeney (Translation)
This didn't impress me at all. Didn't like the title, the cover, the format, the writing--
Library book.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Sunday, April 03, 2016
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.
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.
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