All About Books discussion

Here's where I'll keep track of the books I read in 2016. Can't wait!

1 - Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Owned (paperback)

Author's country of origin: UK

Setting: UK

Finished: 3 January

Rating: 4/5

This book is irritating, it certainly is. The double standards of the time are what make the novel irritating, and I couldn't help but feel strongly for Tess, while at the same time be extremely irritated with her. She is so passive! But I guess that was natural at the time, in the 19th century.

So yes, I did like the novel, and that precisely because it is so infuriating. Hardy is a real master in depicting rural life, characters, the morality of the time. He does indeed love Tess, and the whole book wouldn't have been so infuriating if it weren't so. Its purpose was probably that of irritating the readers and make them see that double standards were not as good as they appeared to be at the time. And Hardy does this perfectly. So yes, a very good book indeed.

2 - Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore

Owned (paperback)

Author's country of origin: USA

Setting: USA

Finished: 4 January

Rating: 2/5

By Christopher Moore I read Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, which was OK, and A Dirty Job, which was hilarious. So I decided to try and read something else by the same author.
Well, you can feel that this was his debut novel. It's not bad, the idea behind it is nice indeed, but I didn't find it fun at all, except maybe for some points - not enough to make it a witty and fun book, I'm afraid.
However, I will continue my exploration of the books written by this author.

3 - Stazione undici by Emily St. John Mandel (English: Station Eleven)

Owned (paperback)

Author's country of origin: Canada

Setting: Canada + USA

Finished: 6 January

Rating: 3/5

A nice book, although no masterpiece. The idea draws heavily from The Stand, although in this case the virus was not man-made but a lethal mutation of the flu. However, in this case the post-apocalyptic setting is not so important, what is important is the stress on love, life in general, friendship, art, etc. So this was supposed to be very interesting, and it is in a way. Unfortunately this is not original at all and I didn't like the writing, either, although I believe this is a problem with the Italian translation. I would still recommend it in case you have some time to spare, though.

4 - La festa del ritorno by Carmine Abate (English: The Homecoming Party)

Bookcrossing

Author's country of origin: Italy

Setting: Italy

Finished: 7 January

Rating: 3/5

A good book about emigration and the bonds within a family in an arbëresh small town in Southern Italy. Not a masterpiece, but good nonetheless. It made me want to read more by this author.

5 - Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Owned (Kindle)

Author's country of origin: UK

Setting: UK

Finished: 9 January

Rating: 3/5

After reading and thoroughly disliking Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park, I thought I would never read another book by Jane Austen. But some time ago I found myself downloading the free Kindle version of this novel, since it was supposed to be so different from her other books, more ironic and fun. And it certainly is, although I have to say, Jane Austen is not and will never be one of my favorite authors. And I won't read her other books.

The heroine, Catherine Morland, is pretty unpleasant, especially while she is looking for gothic, horrid romance at Northanger Abbey. But I guess this was Austen's intention, to let the reader see how foolish too deep an interest in gothic romance might be. So the author succeeds really well in her intention.

I wouldn't say the novel is particularly fun, but it is ironic and that's enough to make me like it. It would have been even better, I guess, if I had read Ann Radcliffe's novels before getting to this one, but I did read some gothic novels, though not (yet) any by Radcliffe, and I can see the humor in this book.

6 - Il deserto dei Tartari by Dino Buzzati (English: The Tartar Steppe)

Owned (paperback)

Author's country of origin: Italy

Setting: undefined

Finished: 10 January

Rating: 4/5

This is more like 4.5 stars, really. I'm wondering why I haven't read it earlier, since I had it at home and I love Buzzati as an author. I think I would have appreciated much more, some years ago. However, it is a really beautiful book - on desperation, on habit, on surviving instead of living. I hear echoes of Beckett and Kafka. It should be a must-read book at school, in my opinion.

7 - Stoner by John Williams

Owned (hardcover)

Author's country of origin: USA

Setting: USA

Finished. 13 January

Rating: 2/5

The writing was very good, but I found the story as flat as its main character. I don't mind novels without a main story, but in this case I just couldn't care less for Stoner and the people around him. Not for me, definitely.

8 - The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

Owned (Kindle)

Author's country of origin: UK

Setting: UK

Finished: 18 January

Rating: 4/5

I didn't expect much of this book, as I only decided to read it because it was on the 1001 list and I've often been disappointed by that list. But instead I ended up loving it! I love the writing style and I love the story, I love the characterization of the characters made through their different narratives of the story. In short, I love everything of this book. Collins doesn't write like a 19th century author at all, the feel of the book is very modern. I certainly want to read something else by him.

9 - Povera gente by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (English: Poor Folk)

Owned (paperback)

Author's country of origin: Russia

Setting: Russia

Finished: 20 January

Rating: 3/5

Not as refined as other works by Dostoyevsky, this novella is however interesting enough if you want to read the debut of the great author, and discover some of his favorite themes in the process. The descriptions of poverty are really great and made me feel all the suffering and the hardships of the people in the novella (not just the two main characters, also minor characters).

10 - Villette by Charlotte Brontë

Owned (Kindle)

Author's country of origin: UK

Setting: fictional

Finished: 1 February

Rating: 3/5

Perfectly charming at the beginning (I especially liked the character of little Polly), quite boring for the rest, but I cannot deny it was a nice book. I still prefer Emily Brontë, though.

Have you read any Anne Bronte? I haven't yet & my preference is also for Emily so far... but people say I would like The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

No, I haven't, Leslie, but I guess I should, one day.

Marina wrote: "7 - Stoner by John Williams

Rating: 2/5

The writing was very good, but I fou..."

I was thinking of adding to my list of reads this year...I may just wait...thanks for sharing.

No problem, Cathie, though you might want not to be too influenced by my thoughts, since everyone else seems to love this book.

11 - Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton

Owned (physical)

Author's country of origin: UK

Setting: UK

Finished: 2 February

Rating. 3/5

A bit slow at the beginning, I found it perfectly charming at the end. There are certainly better books than this one, but it was a very nice read anyway. I might want to continue with the series, in time.

I understand..appreciate it just the same!

Marina wrote: "11 - Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton

Owned (physical)

Author's country of origin: UK

Setting: UK

Finished: 2 February

Rating. 3/5

A bit slo..."

Agatha Raisin is a companion for rainy days!

How true, Laura!

12 - Contes du jour et de la nuit by Guy de Maupassant

Owned (Kindle)

Author's country of origin: France

Setting: France

Finished: 12 February

Rating: 3/5

These short stories were more night than day, actually, as there was a core of fright in all of them, although they were not really frightening at all. Some of them were quite gory, usually in the end, so this was not so bad. But most of them were disturbing. A good book, although not exceptional, I would say.

Marina wrote: "2 - Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore

Owned (paperback)

Author's country of origin: USA

Setting: USA

Finished: 4 January

Rating: 2/5

By Christopher Moore..."

I didn't read that book, but I've read his vampire books. The first was the best, the other two still fun, just not quite as good.

That is interesting, Myst, I'll have to find those stories.

13 - A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Owned (Kindle)

Author's country of origin: USA

Setting: fictional

Finished: 12 February

Rating: 4/5

I never thought I would read this book, but in the end I decided to listen to my friends' recommendations, and it's good that I did. I loved this book, even though it is so truculent, much more so than I usually like. Martin is a great writer, the characters seem to come to life. Many of them are absolutely detestable, but that's what makes them so good to read: they're dreadful in a real way, and you come to love or hate them, depending, just as you would a real person. I will certainly continue with the series.

14 - Franny e Zooey by J.D. Salinger (English: Franny and Zooey)

Bookcrossing

Author's country of origin: USA

Setting: USA

Finished: 13 February

Rating: 2/5

Salinger was definitely a good writer, exceptionally good when writing dialogs, but this book is simply not for me. I didn't like all those oral expressions (italics to underline what the characters underline in speech, slang, etc.) and I didn't understand the meaning of the story. Definitely not my thing.

15 - Messenger by Lois Lowry

Owned (Kindle)

Author's country of origin: USA

Setting: fictional

Finished: 14 February

Rating: 4/5

I don't care if this is a book for children or teens, I really liked it. In this book we come to understand how the previous two in The Giver Quartet link to one another, which was not at all clear in the second book of the series. I think it has also very powerful messages, above all I liked the one about closing the borders of Village to the external world and people, it's so much like what politicians and ignorant people alike would like to make happen here in Europe. I also liked to think that every person is special in their own way, whether they have gifts or they are particularly drawn to a certain job. I'm looking forward to reading the last book in the series.

16 - The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith

Owned (paperback)

Author's country of origin: Zimbabwe

Setting: UK

Finished: 16 February

Rating: 2/5

I thought I would find the usual McCall Smith humor in here, but there's none of it, or at least I didn't spot it. It's a mystery (sort of), but there's no real plot in my opinion, just the musings of Isabel Dalhousie, a philosopher. So that's a lot of philosophical musings on almost everything. Which might be interesting, but unfortunately is not, in this case. I don't think I'll continue reading the rest of this series.

17 - Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore

Owned (paperback)

Author's country of origin: USA

Setting: USA

Finished: 18 February

Rating: 2/5

This is the fourth book by Christopher Moore I read, and by now I should have realized that I find his novels only mildly amusing (except for A Dirty Job, which was hilarious).
I don't like vampire stories except for Dracula and the like, but I thought this one would be fun. Well, as I said, it is only slightly so. I really didn't enjoy reading this book, and I won't certainly continue with the series.

18 - The Experiment by Myrto Azina Chronides

Owned (Kindle)

Author's country of origin: Cyprus

Setting: mostly Germany

Finished: 19 February

Rating: 2/5

Despite this book being very peculiar, I didn't like it. I can't stand originality for originality's sake. It needs to be something more than that.

19 - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

Owned (paperback)

Author's country of origin: UK

Setting: UK

Finished: 21 February

Rating: 3/5

There is everything in this book: mystery, sci-fi, humor, time travel, quantum mechanics, ghost story, poetry - and yet it isn't a pot-pourri of randomly assorted things and genres, but something quite beautiful and unique instead. It is not comparable to The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which is absolute genius, but it is nonetheless a very good and entertaining book. I only gave it 3 stars because I wouldn't say I loved it, but I liked it a lot, that I can assure you.

20 - Il paradiso brucia e altre poesie by Anise Koltz

Owned (paperback)

Author's country of origin: Luxembourg

Setting: N/A

Finished: 21 February

Rating: 4/5

A very good collection of short poems, both in French and in Italian translation, written in the 90s by the most famous Luxemburgish poet. I loved all of them.

21 - Phèdre by Jean Racine

Owned (paperback)

Author's country of origin: France

Setting: Greece

Finished: 21 February

Rating: 4/5

This is a very beautiful play after the original by Euripides. I would like to read the original, by the way. Sometimes retellings of ancient Greek plays are even better than the originals, in my opinion, maybe because they speak more closely to us - or at least to me. This one is really, really good, and I'd love to see it on stage.

22 - La rigenerazione by Italo Svevo

Owned (paperback)

Author's country of origin: Italy

Setting: Italy

Finished: 22 February

Rating: 4/5

A great play for those who loved Zeno's Conscience. Unfortunately it seems not to be available in English. It's a play about being old and wanting to be young again, and the problems resulting from this wish (careful what you wish for, one might say...). Svevo at his best.

23 - A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

Owned (Kindle)

Author's country of origin: USA

Setting: fictional

Finished: 2 March

Rating: 3/5

This book was as gory and cruel as the first one, but I liked it all the same, even if not as the first one. Compared to it it seemes to drag on and on a bit too much, and it was just plain boring in parts. Also, I have to admit I don't really care for all the carnage in this series, although let's face it, it's a good series.

24 - Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes by Tony Kushner

Owned (paperback)

Author's country of origin: USA

Setting: USA

Finished: 4 March

Rating: 3/5

The first part was much better than the second. It's a heartwrenching play, for sure, but I couldn't stand all that mysticism, what with the angel and the Yiddish traditions (but especially the angel). I know it's all centered on that, that's why I only gave it 3 stars, which is a good rating anyway.

25 - The Harmony Silk Factory by Tash Aw

Owned (paperback)

Author's country of origin: Malaysia

Setting: Malaysia

Finsihed: 7 March

Rating: 4/5

I'm not giving this 5 stars only because the first part bored me a little. But this book is wonderful, awesome, you must read it if you like authors playing with literature and bending it to their purposes (but don't read it if you like simple, uncomplicated stories).

26 - The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba

Owned (Kindle)

Author's country of origin: Malawi

Setting: Malawi

Finished: 10 March

Rating: 5/5

This is the most beautiful book I've read this year, so far.
It's the story of how a poor boy in a poor country came to be famous all over the world creating a windmill to bring electricity to his village in Malawi. Kamkwamba writes the story of his entire life, he doesn't limit himself with telling the story of his windmill. So we follow him through his childhood, through the famine of 2001-2002, through his encounter with books and consequently the construction of his windmill and his worldwide fame.

27 - Zanzare by William Faulkner (English: Mosquitoes)

Owned (paperback)

Author's country of origin: USA

Setting: USA

Finished: 17 March

Rating: 1/5

This was my first book by William Faulkner, and it will most definitely be the last. Incredibly boring and confusing. I couldn't care less about the "adventures" of these artists and rich people on a cruise. I gave Faulkner a chance, but that's it.

May I ask why you chose that book of Faulkner's? It is not a very well known book in the U.S. and looking at the blurb, it sounds like it was a very early one. Just curious as it makes me a bit sad to see someone hating one of my favorite American authors...

Leslie wrote: "May I ask why you chose that book of Faulkner's? It is not a very well known book in the U.S. and looking at the blurb, it sounds like it was a very early one. Just curious as it makes me a bit sad..."

Leslie, I have to admit I can't remember... I bought the book many years ago and finally decided to give it a try. I think I found it in a second-hand bookshop or something like that, and I probably bought it because I wanted to read something by Faulkner (I used to have this idea of reading at least a book by each Nobel prize winner, but then I abandoned it). I know it is a very early work, though, so I should probably read something more famous and well-known, but I really can't bring myself to give this author a second chance, at least not for the moment...

Read his short story A Rose for Emily. Minimal time investment and true, vintage Faulkner. If you don't like it, you don't like Faulkner...if you do, there is a whole world of wonderful out there waiting for you. I am a Faulkner lover and I never even heard of this book you chose to begin with.

Sara wrote: "Read his short story A Rose for Emily. Minimal time investment and true, vintage Faulkner. If you don't like it, you don't like Faulkner...if you do, there is a whole world of wonderf..."

Thanks for the recommendation, Sara, it looks interesting. I don't think I will be trying again with this author any time soon, but I'll remember to try with this book next time I decide to approach him.

28 - Brain over Binge by Kathryn Hansen

Owned (Kindle)

Author's country of origin: USA

Setting: USA

Finished: 20 March

Rating: 3/5

A very controversial book. My very long review, in the form of notes, is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

29 - Son by Lois Lowry

Owned (Kindle)

Author's country of origin: USA

Setting: fictional

Finished: 21 March

Rating: 3/5

This is not the best book in the series, on the contrary I found it the less convincing, but it is anyway a good way to end the quartet. I loved the quartet as a whole.

30 - Piccolo mondo antico by Antonio Fogazzaro (English: The Little World of the Past)

Owned (paperback)

Author's country of origin: Italy

Setting: Italy

Finished: 27 March

Rating: 3/5

A good book but not memorable. Incredibly boring, very ancient in language and storyline, but good nonetheless.

Exactly what I feared!

LauraT wrote: "Exactly what I feared!"

Yes, but it actually IS a good book, you know. Just very very boring. However, from what I remember The Woman: Malombra is much better, even though The Little World of the Past is his most famous one.

Yes it is his most famous novel. But to start a book I know beforehand it's boring, no, not for me thanks!

LauraT wrote: "Yes it is his most famous novel. But to start a book I know beforehand it's boring, no, not for me thanks!"

I can certainly understand that :-D

Thumb up!

31 - The Call of the Wild by Jack London

Owned (Kindle)

Author's country of origin: USA

Setting: USA

Finished: 29 March

Rating: 3/5

I had high expectations for this book, which is always bad, because it's hard for a book to live up to them. However, it is a nice book, but nothing really wonderful. Perhaps I would have appreciate it more had I read it as a kid.