flight paths discussion

February did slide by and here we are at last, preparatory to a new cycle. This month we are intending to keep this thread on track of the books we are readig. Please find the thread for What are you doing to keep up with any other concerns.

Already im not sure where to put this comment. i dont think we have a music thread. Maybe i am the last to know, but i just learned Murakami has put out an album of his own piano compositions and from what i heard its lovely.

I finally got in to Divergent. I have not fallen in love by any means but she is givng us some interesting concepts to ponder.

starting to wonder if it was such a good idea to split this thread as i seem to talking to myself here.

But i have to rejoice a bit for finishing Divergent. I am glad i didnt abandon it, but the writing made the reading of it a bit excruciating .
Now Ive started Michel Houllebecq translated from the French. It may also qualify as an uncomfortable read, but at least the writing is adroit.

so where is everyone?

Magdelanye, that comment reminds me of the Twilight series. I listened to the entire series on audio. It was excruciating at times. So much teenage angst. Yet, it was also very entertaining and was a wonderful retelling of Romeo & Juliet. I liked it, but the teenage angst was annoying.
I reminded myself often that the series was written for people going through the teenage angst, so was appropriate to be included. I was an interloper into the series, so to speak.

I'm currently reading Dombey and Son and enjoying it. Reading it at one chapter a day, so it will take awhile.

In audio, I'm listening to SEVEN by Faranza Doctor. I found it in the library's catalogue and was surprised that it only has one review here on GR.......but then saw that it's a new release, so not as surprising but still a low number of reviews.
So far, I'm enjoying it. The story is well paced. It's a good book to be listening to while out for a jog.

I'm going to try to find some of Murakami's piano compositions. I like his writing. He seems to be a very talented man. He's also a long distance runner. Where does he find the time?!

Geniuses seem to have more time. Or maybe they just make better use of it. Murakami s music is on YouTube and i liked what ive heard so far.
looked up Seven and interesting that the review is by a real time friend of mine, Caitlin. I dont know that i could handle the book as she describes it.

Megan I finally started Hench and I will think of you tomorrow at Canada reads.

Perhaps their minds run faster than ours and that gives them what seems like extra time? Geniuses do accomplish a lot.

Canada Reads starts today? I hope everyone enjoys the debates. For those who are following the debates, which is your favourite book that you hope will win?

As it happens i am not too concerned about who wins, just fun to watch the debates. About 1/2 way through Hench and enjoying its sassy POV

I am loving The Orientalist
could use some extra time

Hi everyone! I'll do an life update on the other thread.

I just listened to Day 1 of Canada reads this morning, it was a good discussion. This is the first year that I have read all 5 books before the debate started.
I'll be happy if Jonny Appleseed, Hench or Butter Honey Pig Bread win. :)

I've been very distracted lately, so I haven't been reading anything very hard hitting. I did finish reading How the One-Armed Woman Sweeps her House. It was ok. I feel like it would have packed more punch if it was published 10 years ago, the themes just seem so tired.
I'm about to start Becoming Dangerous: Witchy Femmes, Queer Conjurers and Magical Rebels on Summoning the Power to Resist which I'm excited to read.

It does seem that the discussions are less catty and more substantial this year. I finished Hench around midnight and actually found myself disappointed that it was eliminated from the rounds today. Thanks@Megan for encouraging me to pick it up. I actually went and immediately wrote my review.

Now to get my hands on Becoming Dangerous!

Petra have you bothered with CR at all. The discussions are of some interest. I just love watching people passionate about books.

I'm not sure that Ice nor Ellie can even access it and wonder if there are any similar events for readers in the UK and the USA.

I will miss reading Hench and already want to read it again. I suppose I will have many chances to read Butter/Honey and in fact Im moving uo on the holds list, I think it will win.

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I would have never picked it up if it wasn't for Canada Reads. I'm excited for the sequel!

I started Becoming Dangerous and love it all ready!

Now to get my hands on Return of the Trickster!

I can't believe it! Never thought Jonny Appleseed stood a chance. How wonderful to be proved wrong! I also can't believe I cried at the end there. The nicest thing is that there were no prima donnas and I enjoyed the whole thing.

And the 3rd volume of the trickster trilogy is out! This is the first I've heard and can hardly wait.

Just starting another book I've been waiting eagerly for The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré and the non fiction, perhaps somewhat dated Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now by Douglas Rushkoff published in 2013

Today I have another tech appt at the library and 7 holds to pick up/

Magdelanye, I have not watched any of the CR debates. I meant to find it on a podcast or some airing to listen to while jogging but that didn't happen.

I haven't started the Trickster series yet. Keep hearing how good they are. I should read the first one.

If they are now publishing books again, why, oh why, isn't the next book in The Outlander series being released???!! LOL! It was supposed to be released last October but got delayed because of Covid.
I'm waiting impatiently for it's release.

Petra, are you referring to a series by Rachel Cusk? There seems to be 2 books with the name Outlanders. I read one Cusk and barely remember it.
should have checked before i started this. im on my fone, stuck in traffic on the highway coming back ftom the library. A vehicle hit a power pole and only just now are we starting to move.

And the small miracle of the dayb:
i asked about the Eden Robinson and lo! they had a copy just in, only now i have it for a couple of weeks. Thanks Megan!
Petra definately start with the first book.
You are lucky, you wont have to wait years between books.

Oops, sorry, Magdelanye.
I mean Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. It's a terrific story and the last book stopped at a moment where you just want to continue.

I will start with the first Trickster book. I am going to the library next week. Hope I remember to look for it.

Magedelanye, I really enjoyed Outlander. My son and his girlfriend also liked the tv version which I haven't seen but I can imagine the book/series lent itself to dramatization.

Petra, I loved the Rachel Cusk which I read--Transit especially but also Outline. My least favorite of the trilogy was Kudos but I still enjoyed it. Her style fits my taste apparently.

I'm now reading Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America which is interesting. Our library is open and I finally went there. But it was very strange and made me sad: everything blocked off but the hold shelf, and a self-check out so no nice conversations with familiar librarians whom I've known for years and were no longer there. But it does mean I can read more books without buying them.

For pure, guilty fun I've been reading the novelizations of my old most favorite British tv series, Upstairs, Downstairs. They take no brain power whatsoever but--and I apologize if I've already written about this--I have a vague memory of doing so but I'm spending a lot of time re-watching the series. I do like to watch tv at night--usually a little of Upstairs but also the David Suchet Hercules Poirot or I join my daughter and her friends for an episode of Grey's Anatomy. The show is not much but it's fun to watch it with them. So I confess to wasting time (but having fun). Not so productive as my Haiku workshop or my prayer and meditation time or Satsang with Tara, but there you go!

I didn't know where to put the above--it's about reading but also about how I spend my time so I'm sorry if it belongs in the other thread.

We are not THAT picky and if its a hassle or people dont like it we can revert. If we read a lot, its what we're doing anyways.

One day I would like to get to Outlander but I am overwhelmed with marvellous books from the library as well as my own marvellous collection.

I enjoyed Canada Reads this year but between that and my marathon watching The Way Forward Summit I have read very little this week so am behind schedule with 3 books interlibrary loans that must be returned on the 17 and that doesnt include The Girl with the Louding Voice which is so rich and wonderful and from my local library so its sort of okay that it was due last week. I should really put it aside to focus on the other 3 but I am too engaged.
A book nerds dilemma :-)

I have been reading with my grand-daughter: Holes, and Bud, Not Buddy - both are part of her online 'reading club' that is part of her school work.
I have reading series to make me feel connected to others, even though they are fictional characters: Heresy with Giordano Bruno as detective; The Pot Thief Who Studied Pythagoras, a fun series. I have also read more philosophy this year: Galileo's Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness; Why Materialism Is Baloney: How True Skeptics Know There Is No Death and Fathom Answers to Life, the Universe and Everything; and Anti-Oedipus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia. Other books I enjoyed: The Witch's Heart; Night Train to Lisbon;

Coming to the end of Transcription , ok so Kate Atkinson is not my type of author but the books are well written. Strangely enough I am sort of enjoying 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith, perhaps it's the familiarity with Auld Reekie (look it up if you don't know what I am on about ! Every day's a school day]

Ice wrote: "Coming to the end of Transcription , ok so Kate Atkinson is not my type of author but the books are well written. Strangely enough I am sort of enjoying 44 Scot..."</i>

I quite liked [book:Transcription as well as her mystery books - Case Histories.

A quick update:

I'm still reading Dombey and Son. At a chapter a day, it's a good background read. The story itself keeps getting better, too. I'm about half way through.

I finished SEVEN by Faranza Doctor. I will read more books by this author. I think she's got "good bones". This story was well paced and brought out some interesting cultural issues. But it wasn't a strong ending, I thought. But it was a pretty good ending; just not as believable as the rest of the book was, if that makes sense.

I'm now listening to Black Hole Survival Guide, which is really wonderful. It brings up so many images of Space and the concepts the author is talking about. I often have to rewind because my thoughts took me elsewhere and I blocked out the narration.
Physics is my Achilles Heel of all the sciences. It makes my head hurt. This book lays the Physics concepts out well, in layman's terms. Even I can follow along (not that I can explain the ideas, so I don't really "get" them, but they make sense when I listen).

Re Kate Atkinson I havent read her yet but over the years have been preparing. i have about half a dozen of her earliest books and plan to have a KA binge asic. The thing is, due to space considerations and the alphabet, they are on the top A shelf, face out. Almost a perfect fit. But in the middle of the night last week, as i was reading in bed, across the room, for no particular reason, two of the books jumped off the shelf. With the comments here I am taking this as a nudge to get to it! And Im wondering what Ice considers the deal breaker?

i have heard good things about Faranza Doctor and gosh, I just finished Qualityland where children are given the last name of their fathers proffession, or in single mother families, the mom. Too
bad if that meant you grew up as Someone Jobless. FD would have a head start in that world.

MaryAnne I also feel quite connected to the fictional characters in the books that i love. Theres some really intriguing titles in your list. Love that title why materialism is baloney and i especially loved Night Train to Lisbon.
Ellie Im glad you are having some pure guilty fun! And no side effects im hoping.

So many good books being read!

I like Atkinson lot. I like the Jackson detective novels as well as her others, especially Life After Life and A God in Ruins.

Mgdelanye: no side effects so far, lol! It makes a nice change from my other reads (The Antiracist: How to Start the Conversation about Race and Take Action, Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America, Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments: Intimate Histories of Riotous Black Girls, Troublesome Women, and Queer Radicals--which is actually quite poetic and moving--as well as my seemingly endless read of The Mirror & the Light). I miss the days when I could lose myself in a mystery novel & hope I will someday get back to that.

Has anyone here read Hamnet? I'm on the hold list for it at the library. I've never read O'Farrell but what I read is she's generally an excellent writer and this book of course just won the National Book Critics prize. The premise, Shakespeare's wife and son, sounds promising. I'm just hesitant to take on yet another book. I'm going to be disciplined and finish the 8,000 I'm currently reading!

Maggie O'Farrell is one of favourite authors (I have loads of favourites) and have read most of her books. I am saving Hamnet for a space and time when I be able to simply enjoy it.