October 2023

A (reading) Tip Jar

One goal this month was to finish two ARCs that I recently won. Fortunately there was a lull in all those library holds requests and I actually had an entire week with NO checked out library books!

AND - wonder of wonders - both ARCs were great reads.

I also took advantage of the lull in library books to read some things that have been on my shelves for ages. 

AND there was an interesting birthday present from my daughters. See photo at the top of page. (The top book in the stack was also a b'day gift.)  Picasso's War was not a TBR. It was a reading in progress when I rec'd the jar. As soon as I finished it I pulled my first prompt. An easy one: "Read a book that has a one word title." So I read and enjoyed Zorrie.

I pulled another prompt: "Read a book set in a place you've been to but don't want to go back to." I pondered this a bit and then the mail came and it was an ARC the fit the prompt perfectly! But that's for next month...

Fiction:

The two review copies:

My Friends by Matat, Hisham

Excellent! A Lybian exile in London recalls the circumstances of his exile and his friendships with two other exiles. 

Advance Review Edition via GoodReads giveaway

Vulgarian Rhapsody by Orloff, Alvin

Aging,down-on-their-luck gays struggling to survive in 1990s San Francisco. A nice mix of fun and despair.

Advance Review Edition via LibraryThing giveaway

The library books:

Last House Before the Mountain by Helfer, Monika; ttranslated from the German by Davidson, Gillian

Maybe this simple faily story set in a small village near Bregenz lost something in the translation?

The Pole by Coetzee, J.M. 

Just ok. At least it was short.

The Second Chance Hotel by Godfrey, Sierra 

Light and fun. Author says she created the fictional Greek island from memories of Santorini in the 80s. As I read, I pictured Sifnos in the 90s. 

A Council of Dolls by Power, Mona Susan

Stories of three generations of Dakota women (and their dolls). First three sections are well told; the final section tries to tie it all together by assembling the dolls in one place. The introduction of  Prince, a pet cockatoo, spoils the mood of the narrative.

The Last Devil to Die (Thursday Murder Club, #4) Osman, Richard

After a couple of chapters I thought maybe the series was getting to me and I would be bored and ready to move on from these characters. Then I figured I would finish this one but skip the next (if there is a next). By the end I was really enjoying it so maybe I will read another if there is one. 

The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng

I really liked this. A colonial couple in Malasia host Somerset Maughm (and his male "secretary"). But it's not just about Maughm. Sun Yat Sen makes and an appearance and there is also a famous murder trial.

Night Watch by Phillips, Jayne Anne

Post US Civil War, with wartime flashbacks. Set in West Virginia .

Zorrie by Hunt, Laird

An enjoyanle read about the country life of a "Radium Girl."

North Woods by Mason,Daniel

Loved the multi-era story and the varied format. Set in Massachusetts.

From my shelves:

xo Orpheus: Fifty New Myths by Bernheimer, Kate (editor)

I've been reading this for ages (since 2014). These retellings are best spread out in small doses. Then when you finish it, you can start all over  'cause you've forgotten what you read nine years ago. Magic.

The Transmigration of Bodies by Herrera, Yuri; translated from the Spanish by Dillman, Lisa

Feuding families seek revenge during an epidemic. (Not that epidemic, this was written in 2013, the translation published in 2016.) It's not a very good book. 

A Thousand Peaceful Cities by Pilch, Jerzy; translated from the Polish by Frick, David

Meh.

The Flying Creatures of Fra Angelico by Tabucchi, Antonio; translated from the Italian by Parks, Tim.

Always enjoy Tabucchi but I forgot I had this one. (It was on my computer as a pdf. I have enough problems remembering to look at my Kindle now an then, but EPUBS and pdfs? Forgettaboutit!) At any rate, it didn't disappoint. 

Contents: The flying creatures of Fra Angelico -- Past composed: three letters. I. Letter from Dom Sebastiøo de Avis, King of Portugal, to Francisco Goya, painter; II. Letter from Mademoiselle Lenormand, fortune-teller, to Dolores Ibarruri, revolutionary; III. Letter from Calypso, a nymph, to Odysseus, King of Ithaca -- The passion of Dom Pedro -- Message from the shadows -- 'The phrase that follows this is false: the phrase that precedes this is true' -- The battle of San Romano -- Story of a non-existent history -- The translation -- Happy people -- The archives of Macao -- Last invitation.

Black Forest by Mréjen, Valérie; translated from the French by Shireen Assef, Katie Shireen

A (mostly) gentle meditation on death. An oddly satisfying read.

This is the Garden by Mozzi, Giulio: translated from the Italian by Harris, Elizabeth

A collection of eight short stories. I liked most of them.

Contents: Cover letter -- The apprentice -- On the publication of my first book -- Claw -- Trains -- Glass -- Tana -- F.

Red Ants by José, Pergentino; translated from the Spanish by Bunstead, Thomas

Poetic, moving, and grim short stories. Stories are mostly very short. As good as it was it was too much of the same thing.

Contents: Red ants -- Threads of steam -- Room of worms -- Not to you -- Departure -- Heart of birds -- Prayers -- Témpano -- Dry branch -- Bamboo  races -- The priestess on the mountain -- The window -- Flower María -- Fingers moving -- Voice of the firefly .

Nonfiction:

From the library:

The Hare With Amber Eyes: A Family's Century of Art and Loss by de Waal, Edmund 

Super!

Picasso's War: How Modern Art Came to America by Eakin, Hugh

Another good art history. book. 

From Project Gutenberg:

The retreat of the ten thousand  by Witt, Carl; translated by Younghusband, Frances from Witt's German version of the original Greek narative, Anabasis by Xenophon.  

Online:

Who’s Afraid of a Spatchcocked Chicken?  by C Pam Zhang

The 19 Most Funnest, Most Wildest, Most Unbelievably Extra Restaurants in America: The most over-the-top, maximally good time you’ll have while eating by Eater Staff 

"OK", I thought, "here are 19 places I'm not likely to visit." Fooled you! I've actually eaten at one of them.  Way back in 1964. Glad to see the Madonna Inn Restaurant in San Luis Obispo CA is still going and still 'in the pink.'

Shabby Victorian Metropolis: Fifty Years of Photographing San Francisco Photographs by Dave Glass, Dave; Text by Richard, Frances