Constant Reader discussion

I'm starting this new thread in a more timely manner than I did for May/June (although still a day late). I'll be closing the May/June thread soon, so please use this thread to continue your discussions of the things you're reading. I look forward to many more good recommendations for my TBR list!

If you've ever wondered about the difficulties in translating a poem, I highly recommend Nineteen Ways of Looking at Wang Wei: How a Chinese Poem is Translated by Eliot Weinberger. I don't know anything about Chinese poetry, but Weinberger's critiques of different translations of this 1200-year-old, four-line poem were eye-opening about the challenges of translating poetry. And he did it all with a great sense of humor.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

A lovely children's book to share with the "little" readers in our lives ...


:
The Legend of the Bluebonnet – Tomie DePaola – 5*****
This is a lovely children’s story book that relates some of the Native American legends about the wildflower that is the Texas state flower – the Bluebonnet. It’s a wonderful lesson about family, community, sacrifice and selflessness. Beautiful illustrations, too.
LINK to my full review

I read The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason, a World War I novel. The focus is on the casualties of war and those who are tasked with healing them. This is the third novel I've read by Daniel Mason. I've enjoyed them all, but my favorite is still his North Woods.
My review of The Winter Soldier: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I loved The Winter Soldier. Read it some time ago. Maybe it’s time for a reread.

I’m not sure which is my favorite of Mason’s books, North Woods or MA Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth: Stories. I loved them both and want to read both again.

Sue wrote: "I’m not sure which is my favorite of Mason’s books, North Woods or MA Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth: Stories. I loved them both and want to read both again."

I've put A Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth: Stories on my TBR.
Thank you, Sue.

Did CR read The Winter Soldier? I remember really loving it.

Good memory, Mary Ellen. Here's a link to the discussion:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Reading through the discussion brought back many memories from the book. I remember it well even though it was six years ago. Not so many books stay with you that long.

A few books I've read recently might be interesting to this group:

Released in 2025, this is an emotionally moving story about a middle-aged man who is haunted by memories of his father, whom he has not seen or spoken to in forty years. It is not a traditional mystery but the elements of what happened kept my interest. Themes include identity, father-son relationships, mental health, and the impact of abandonment. It is a book that points out what we imagine is rarely what really happened. It is beautifully written in atmospheric prose and contains plenty of cultural references to the 1980s.
The Imagined Life by Andrew Porter - 4* - My Review

Civilizations is a speculative alternative history that asks the question: What if the Inca Empire, rather than being conquered by Spanish conquistadors, launched its own invasion of 16th-century Europe. It creates alternate fates for key historical figures, such as Atahualpa. It is a "role reversal" that forces readers to think about historical notions of cultural “superiority,” the role of religion, and the violence inherent in imperial expansion. It is a most unusual concept.
Civilizations by Laurent Binet - 4* - My Review

Released in 2025, this book is a family drama that shifts perspectives across time and characters, spanning decades, continents, and geopolitics. For me, the main attraction is the exploration of the historical tensions among North and South Korea, Japan, China, and the US. The writing is stellar, and I would not be surprised to see this book nominated for literary prizes:
Flashlight by Susan Choi - 4* - My Review

Non-fiction that takes a look at the role of AI in creative endeavors, written by one of my favorite authors:
Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age by Vauhini Vara - 4* - My Review

Set in contemporary Greece, The Book of Fire is a beautifully written story of a family and a community that experiences a devastating wildfire. It is structured as a “book within a book.” The major themes are guilt, responsibility, and environmental damage. I very much enjoyed the sophisticated narrative structure, and the author’s ability to render characters that feel like real people. The book presents ethical questions without providing easy answers. I love Lefteris’ writing style that blends beauty with devastation. The novel succeeds in making the abstract threat of climate change very real. I became totally absorbed by this novel from beginning to end. It is a powerful and moving story.
The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri - 5* - My Review

This is a book of fiction set in 1905 in Switzerland, when Einstein was working as a clerk before he published his revolutionary theory of relativity. The premise is that each interconnected short story comprises one of Einstein’s dreams during this period. It reads as a series of thought experiments about time. Note that An understanding of the theory of relativity is not required to appreciate this book.
Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman - 4* - My Review

Thank you, Joy. I’ve added Civilizations and Einstein’s Dreams to my TBR.

I read Nesting by Roisín O’Donnell. A powerful novel about a woman struggling to extricate herself from an abusive relationship.
I used to volunteer at a shelter for battered women and can attest that O'Donnell's portrayal of the abuser and the victim was authentic.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I loved Nesting too. I also volunteered at a shelter, and agree that it is realistic.

Mary wrote: "Thank you, Joy. I’ve added Civilizations and Einstein’s Dreams to my TBR."
Hope you enjoy them!

Joy, I read and loved Lefteri's The Beekeeper of Aleppo but was disappointed with her Songbirds. Have you read either of these? If so, how does The Book of Fire compare?

I have read The Beekeeper of Aleppo, which I loved. The Book of Fire is the same high-quality combination of lovely writing and compelling storytelling. Both were 5 star reads for me. I have not yet read Songbirds, but it's on my list.

Thanks. I've put The Book of Fire on my TBR.

I enjoyed two good reads in the last few weeks. For me, a "good read" is one that not only has engaging characters and plot, but that is also difficult to put down.

I just finished Heartwood by Amity Gaige. The main characters are Valerie, a middle aged woman who is lost on the Appalachian Trail; Beverly, the Game Warden who spearheads the search to find her; and Lena, a handicapped 76 year old in a retirement community who becomes involved in the search from her computer.

The narrative alternates between the perspectives of these three women. They spend a lot of time thinking about their childhoods, especially their relationships with their mothers. They try to understand how these relationships made them the women they became. Some might find that boring - not me.

The book has a lot of suspense centering on why and how Valerie disappeared and how they will be able to track her.

I read almost the entire book while I was traveling from a family reunion at Lake Tahoe back to Nebraska. We spent the day waiting in the airport and flying. It was a great distraction.

A book that I read before my trip is So Far Gone by Jess Walter.
We read Walter's The Cold Millions here on CR in 2021. I liked that one a lot.

So Far Gone revolves around Rhys Kinnick, a curmudgeonly former reporter who has become a recluse in the woods near Spokane. He is brought back into the real world by the need to find his estranged daughter and rescue her children from a cult. It's a wild ride. Walter displays his familiar wit and the story is good.

I've started a few books: The Garden of Evening Mists (had read another by this author and enjoyed), Bear, and Anxious People.

I had read Bachman before and kind of hated it, but so many have recommended that I'm trying him again. But so far, I am finding his folksy/rambling/arrogant style extremely annoying; I am exasperated by his constant delays in telling the story. Does anyone else share this feeling?

Lyn wrote: "I had read Bachman before and kind of hated it, but so many have recommended that I'm trying him again. But so far, I am finding his folksy/rambling/arrogant style extremely annoying; I am exasperated by his constant delays in telling the story. Does anyone else share this feeling..."

Lyn, I've read A Man Called Ove, Anxious People, and My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry. The only one I really liked is A Man Called Ove. I felt the other two tried too hard to be folksy and cute.
I'm on a long waitlist in the library for My Friends. If that turns out to be disappointing, I probably won't be reading any more Backman.

I have to admit, Ove was enough for me. But I enjoyed our discussion!

I gave Ove one star, and that was enough for me. I am not a fan of cute.

Lyn wrote: "I've started a few books: The Garden of Evening Mists (had read another by this author and enjoyed), Bear, and Anxious People.

I had read Bachman b..."

I guess I enjoy his style and trying to figure out where the story is going when it isn't told in a straightforward way. I didn't feel My Friends was as folksy as some, but it still takes a long time for the story to be fully related.

Life would be boring if we all liked the same books, wouldn't it?🙂

Tamara wrote: “Lyn, I’ve read A Man Called Ove, Anxious People, and My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry. The only one I really liked is A Man Called Ove. I felt the other two tried too hard to be folksy and cute.”

I agree with that assessment—he’s certainly a fan of overlapping lives that all circle back to some truly incredible connection. One book that doesn’t really follow that pattern, though, and that I would recommend, is Beartown. He’s never the world’s deepest writer, and I think he could stand to have a bit more faith in his reader, but still it was a pretty good book.

I agree about his earlier work. They tend to be a little too cutesy for me. But, on Lynn’s recommendation, I recently read My Friends and I absolutely loved it.

I'm so glad I was right in thinking you would like that one, Ruth!

Lynn wrote: "I'm so glad I was right in thinking you would like that one, Ruth!"

I’ve been meaning to drop you a note about that Lynn, but didn’t get around to it.

Appreciate the comments, thank you. I had previously felt alone in my dislike of Bachman's cutesy style, so nice to have a little company. I'm also on a library hold list for My Friends.

I read Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout, a book in the Lucy Barton series. It is a character-driven novel in which little happens. I enjoyed it mainly because I loved Lucy Barton's narrative voice.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Several more of my recent reads that I think this group might enjoy:

This book opens with the birth of its central character, Serge Carrefax, in 1898. Through the course of Serge's life, it portrays the ways technological improvements can serve as both enablers and impediments. It is historical fiction that covers early innovations in communications and modern warfare while also exploring how technology shapes human experience.
C by Tom McCarthy - 4* - My Review

Set mostly in Taiwan, this book begins in 1947 during the violent repression of Taiwanese civilians by the Chinese Nationalist government, the Kuomintang, which had come over from mainland China after losing the Chinese Civil War. The storyline spans decades, chronicling the narrator's eventual immigration to the United States, where her professor-husband is taking part remotely in the Taiwanese independence movement. It explores themes of political oppression, betrayal, and how individuals respond to threats to the security of their families. It portrays how fear and silence become survival mechanisms.
Green Island by Shawna Yang Ryan - 4* - My Review

Jane O. is a thirty-eight-year-old single mother experiencing gaps in her memory. She seeks help from a therapist she visited twenty years ago after a traumatic episode. It is an unusual mystery involving mental health that takes an unexpected turn toward the end. It is based on the writings of Oliver Saks, particularly focusing on the mysteries of consciousness and memory, and includes speculative elements.
The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker - 4* - My Review

The Mars Room is contemporary literary fiction set largely within the US prison system that follows a former stripper who is serving two consecutive life sentences in a women’s correctional facility in California. While the prison sentence dominates, the novel is as much about class, survival, and the machinery of the American justice system as it is about individual guilt or innocence. Her fate is shaped by both choice and circumstances. The novel challenges the reader to consider the human stories behind mass incarceration.
The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner - 4* - My Review

The Sympathizer is an outstanding novel about the Vietnam/American War and its aftermath, starting with an exceptionally vivid scene of the evacuation of Saigon in 1975. It works on multiple levels by providing both a compelling storyline and social commentary on war, identity, and cultural representation. The protagonist's voice is truly distinctive. The book contains a lot of difficult content, but this is one of the few books I would call a "modern classic."
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen - 5* - My Review

John Green became interested in tuberculosis in 2019 when he met Henry Reider, a young TB patient, at Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone. He decided to investigate its history and current state of the illness. The emotional heart of this memoir is Henry’s story, which Green compassionately tells to initiate a call to action. It is a preventable disease that continues to kill over a million people worldwide each year, mostly due to systemic inequities. This memoir packs a significant emotional punch, and I hope it encourages action.
Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green - 4* - My Review

This book is based on the Rebellion of 1857 in India, in which the local Indian troops (employed by the British East India Company) revolted against colonial rule. It follows a group of British officials, soldiers, and their families as they endure the siege in a (fictional) colonial outpost. The novel critiques racial and class hierarchies while portraying the physical and psychological toll of the siege with brutal realism. It starts slowly and builds to a dramatic climax.
The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell - 4* - My Review

I agree about The Sympathizer. Disturbing, difficult, and yet an excellent read.

I put the tuberculosis book on my to-read list.

Just read Carys Davies 2018 debut novel West. Love her writing and storytelling. Excellent debut. Can't seem to link my review on the phone app :( Ive now read all her novels. Hope she publishes another very soon.

Joy D wrote: "Several more of my recent reads that I think this group might enjoy:"

You might be interested in checking out our discussion of The Sympathizer from 2021:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thanks, Lynn! Interesting discussion.

I read Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner. A quiet, meditative novel about a woman author shipped off to Switzerland by her friends with strict instructions to come to her senses. Very little happens in the novel. I absolutely loved it!
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Joy, I thought The Strange Case of Jane O was fascinating. Sadly, I didn’t get a review written at the time I finished reading it. I may well read it again someday.

Tamara wrote: "I read Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner. A quiet, meditative novel about a woman author shipped off to Switzerland by her friends with strict instructions to come to her ..."
I enjoyed that one too!

Sue wrote: "Joy, I thought The Strange Case of Jane O was fascinating. Sadly, I didn’t get a review written at the time I finished reading it. I may well read it again someday."
I thought it was a very cool concept, based on the work of Oliver Saks.

Yesterday I finished How High We Go in the Dark and I loved, loved, loved it. What an imagination! I think I was hooked by something that said "for fans of Cloud Atlas and Station Eleven" which happen to be a couple of my favorite books.

It almost reads like a collection of short stories, but everything links up. Like Cloud Atlas generations go by; like Station Eleven, something cataclysmic has killed most of humanity and changed everything.

(I am having trouble with what's next. I tried by starting 3 books yesterday, but none of them worked. This morning I grabbed Moon Tiger off the shelf and it looks like a winner. We will see...)

A while back I read Lampedusa by Steven Price about Tomasi di Lampedusa, a Sicilian aristocrat who witnessed the demise of an era.

I finally got around to reading Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's classic novel, The Leopard. It is translated from the Italian by Archibald Colquhoun.
It is an elegant novel about a bygone era. I thought the writing was beautiful and the sentiments expressed very moving.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I’ve got that one on my TBR list. I loved The Leopard
Also I have a special interest in it because the imaginary town where
The Leopard takes place is based on the town where my father was born.

Ruth wrote: "The Leopard takes place is based on the town where my father was born.."

What a wonderful connection, Ruth.

I just got caught up on this thread and I’ve jotted down a few titles that I’m hoping will nudge me out of the reading slump I’ve been in.
Thanks everyone for all of the great recommendations!

A Year In the World – Frances Mayes – 3.5*** (rounded up)
Subtitle: Journeys of a Passionate Traveler. Mayes recounts her many adventures traveling from her home base in Tuscany as she and her husband roam through the British Isles, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Greece, Morocco, France and other areas of Italy. Her passion for travel certainly comes through loud and clear! I particularly enjoyed the way she wrote about food. I could practically smell and taste the dishes, and I was constant hungry for “more.”
LINK to my full review

I’ve read several of her books and loved them. Think I’ll add this one to the TBR.

I have been traveling for two months and unable to participate in group discussions, but I have been reading and loving the Matthew Shardlake series by CJ Sansom. I’m a little astonished that I missed these previously, but the first one jumped off a shelf at me in a bookshop in Cape Town, and my husband and I have been devouring the series ever since.

These are historical fiction (mystery) set in the time of Henry VIII. The author, Sansom, had a PhD in history, and had practiced as a solicitor in England for many years, before switching to fiction writing. To say that he is meticulous about his historical details would be an understatement. Obsessively careful, I think, would be a better description. And as a law professor with extra history training, I deeply appreciate this obsession.

The plotting is excellent, and the characters are really well drawn. All are memorable and complicated. Sansom must have been a careful student of human nature as well. I also appreciate the fact that his take on the time and the characters is nuanced. So many who write of the time (e.g., Mantel) have one axe, or the other, to grind. Cromwell is an icon or a devil, for instance. Sansom is more thoughtful about him and others.

Strongly recommend these.

Erika, I don't usually read mystery, but you've convinced me to give these a try. Do they have to be read in sequence?

I will jump in and say that I have enjoyed the Shardlake series immensely. I have one more to read and will get to it soon. Sansom passed away recently so, sadly there will be no more.

Tamara, the series is chronological through Henry VIII ‘s reign and some of the characters reappear. I think reading in sequence is the best bet but not essential. They’re very long books.

I would read them in order. They are long, but they go quickly. Deeply engrossing. And it broke my heart when I learned he had died — while he was working on the eighth book. He’d had multiple myeloma, I think, for more than a decade.