EPBOT Readers discussion

Hello Everyone,

I missed last week because it has been crazy moving my 95 YO mother into an independent living apartment from her all-alone condo. We had to travel back to visit again to help with the move. But she's all in there, and (hurray) decided on her own to give up driving. And even better she agreed to go get her hearing checked. I'm not entirely sure why she put up the level of resistance for that, but that has been a frustrating battle. But things are all headed in the right direction now.

I don't actually have any finishes. I haven't had much walking audiobook time (because my neighbor is away and a good friend is pet sitting next door and is now my walking partner). I'm still listening to We Solve Murders. Still enjoying it. It's definitely in a similar style as The Thursday Murder Club.

I am reading on my kindle Grave Talk. This was a free Amazon prime book last month. It is pretty good. I'm liking it more than I expected. Some parts are a bit silly but I'm overlooking that.

QOTW:
Who are the 3 greatest living authors?

This is a tough one for me. I like so many different types of books. There are probably great authors that I haven't read or even heard of. And intentionally, one's definition of "great" is very subjective. I'll try to go for more than just "I like them". But I'm very biased as I haven't read too many foreign authors or translated works.

One that comes to mind would be Ken Burns. His is prolific in his historical, non-fiction books that dive into very specific topics, primarily in American history. But they are accessible to "normal" people. One doesn't have to be an historian to enjoy or be interested in them. I believe he and his books have had a big impact.

Although I'm not a particular fan, when it comes to fiction, I would put Stephen King out there. His work has been read (or seen) by so many. He is so prolific and has had tremendous staying power for over a half century.

Politics may make this slightly controversial, but JK Rowling hit the world by incredible storm. The HP series is iconic and will last a long time. The person has strayed but the quality and popularity of HP is strong.

An honorable mention should go to Kazuo Ishiguro. For me it is only an honorable mention even though he won the Nobel in Literature. I've only read Klara and the Sun and it was only okay for me. So I wasn't blown away by it, but I cannot argue with a Nobel prize.

I front-loaded all my Native American Heritage Month stuff, most of which was pretty short.

Elapultiek - A short play about a young Mi'kmaq woman meeting a conservation biologist counting chimney swifts. It was fairly obvious in its messaging but surprisingly touching.

Rose Quartz: Poems - Poetry by a Coast Salish woman. Maybe I should have read her memoir first, because there were some things that took me a bit to figure out, like, "Oh, she must have had a miscarriage, and that's what those other ones were about, too."

Berry Song - Picture book in which a young Tlingit girl gathers wild foods with her grandmother. Gorgeous illustrations.

Birding While Indian: A Mixed-Blood Memoir - A part-Lakota man recounts his life via significant bird sightings. The introduction was like, "I hope this isn't too postmodern for you," and he did quote Derrida a couple times, but it's just personal essays about his anger at colonialism and stuff.

QOTW: I dunno, I think JKR has forfeited greatness. I don't really know how to answer this one. The author who has most impressed me recently is probably Anthony Horowitz, but he's got some duds, too.

I've been fighting an infection this week, so sleeping a lot and reading a little.

Finished:
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau - 4 stars - for Robot Librarian's book set in the 1970s.I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. I empathized a lot with Mary Jane's journey of self-discovery and the widening of her world.

Comics/manga:
Cat + Gamer Volume 6
orange -to you, dear one-
Chihayafuru, Vol. 13
Daytime Shooting Star, Vol. 6

Currently reading:
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - for Robot Librarian's book of letters and/or written in epistolary format. It's not entirely letters, since it includes other materials like reports and notes, but it fits the spirit of the prompt, I think.

The Islands of Chaldea by Diana Wynne Jones - for Robot Librarian's book published posthumously. This was finished by the author's sister and published after her death.

Upcoming/Planned:
I Am the Dark That Answers When You Call by Jamison Shea - no prompt.

QOTW:
I don't really have an answer to this, TBH. I guess I can agree on King, just because of the influence he's had on an entire generation of other authors and an entire genre. But aside from that, I can't really think of any names I would include.

@jen I loved Mary Jane. I was not expecting to and really connected with it.

Susan wrote: "@jen I loved Mary Jane. I was not expecting to and really connected with it."

Same. I mean, it took place before I was even born, but I really connected with the title character and her growth.