Book of the Month: A Salute to Reading
Being a voracious reader,each first of the month, I would like to include a post with your comments please regarding books that you have read, are reading or are about to read in the future. Are they any current recommendations for books that you have to share with others on line? They can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, short-stories, anything that you like and would like to share.
I am currently reading Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. This book is fast reading, with a slow to develop plot about an exclusive school, Hailshram, which holds some type of secret. Words such as donor, carer, guardian and possibles are used. (this is as much as I can say without giving away the plot.) Ishiguro's is known for being a good writer whose prose speak in elegant words. This book departs a bit in style from his last one, The Remains of the Day. Since I am not finished with it yet, I will wait to comment, and let the plot unfold.
Also noteworthy are, The Execution of the Hangman of Riga by Anton Kuenzle and A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz.
I look forward to your recommendations.
Thank you for your minds.
I am currently reading Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. This book is fast reading, with a slow to develop plot about an exclusive school, Hailshram, which holds some type of secret. Words such as donor, carer, guardian and possibles are used. (this is as much as I can say without giving away the plot.) Ishiguro's is known for being a good writer whose prose speak in elegant words. This book departs a bit in style from his last one, The Remains of the Day. Since I am not finished with it yet, I will wait to comment, and let the plot unfold.
Also noteworthy are, The Execution of the Hangman of Riga by Anton Kuenzle and A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz.
I look forward to your recommendations.
Thank you for your minds.
9 Comments:
Ha! Guess what I'm reading now, B? The Trial! Upon your recommendation, no less. I know it's a classic but I'd never gotten around to reading it until now. I must say it frustrates the hell out of me. I realize Josef K. can't get any info about the charge against him, but he stops trying after his first request. I'm also having trouble likening this system of lower and higher courts to our own judicial system. What would this ramshackle lower court be comparable to in American legal society? A small district court? Help me out here, oh legal-minded one.
Hi there k,
I am most flattered and a great book indeed. What if I told you that the type of court system involved in this fascinating book was irrellevant? Being psychologically trained, what if you were to look at Joseph K.'s situation as him being imprisioned by his own mind and his 'hang-ups' so to speak? Or what if what he is experiencing is really all based on a dream, i.e. his subconscious mind is coming into play, taking over and plauging him based upon his own everyday conduct? Think about these causes for a moment.
Since I just finished NEVER LET ME GO last night, you have given me a great idea to start THE CASTLE by Kafka today. Thanks!
I can't believe how much becoming a mother has cut into my personal reading time. As Liz gets older I'm able to find more time to read but it usually amounts to magazine articles or newspapers.
The last book I read? Why I Sneeze, Hiccup, Shiver and Yawn. It was our bedtime story last night....sigh.
One of my favorite works of fiction is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. It is fiction written around Scottish history, it is an easy read with great character development. Basically just brain candy but one of those that is difficult to put down.
As for non-fiction I love A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. It is a very readable and easily understood tour through the history of human discovery. It basically explains how we know what we know and who first firgured it out. Fun stuff.
Ooooh, you would make a fine literature teacher, B. I hadn't even *thought* of those possibilities.
But now that you mention them, it reminds me of the translator's preface. He explains that a previous translation began with "Someone must have been telling lies about Josef K., for without having done anything wrong he was arrested one fine morning." This sentence establishes his innocence beyond question.
But the translator of my edition (Breon Mitchell) claims that the word "Boses" should be translated as "truly wrong," which DOES call into question K's innocence: "Someone must have slandered Josef K., for one morning, without having done anything truly wrong, he was arrested."
In other words, K may have committed some minor crime(s), maybe not enough to warrant genuine arrest and trial, but enough to keep him a prisoner of his own conscience.
Puts a whole new twist on possible interpretations of the book, interpretations that are in accord with your suggestions. Thanks for the feedback!
Love Ishiguro but have not read the new one yet. This week I am re-reading some of my favorite Trollope novels and catching up on New Yorkers. And reading Laura Ingalls Wilder Farmer Boy to my son.
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien blew me away. The writing is so beautiful it almost hurts.
I agree with Godlessmom's recommendation of Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. I read that recently and couldn't put it down.
Oh I loved The Castle and The Trial, but I read them long ago. (I'm an old broad.)
I guess everyone has read Ahab's Wife by now. (It's by Sena Jeter Naslund.)I really enjoy it.
This summer I'm doing the easy-summer-reading thing, and reading all of Robert Crais' mysteries, especially the Elvis Cole series.
2nd The Known World. Though I suggest keeping a pen and paper handy so you can take notes about who is who and who knows who because it can be confusing to read about all these interrelated characters. (Well, it was confusing to ME, which isn't saying much.)
i've tended to like non-fiction and recently read "the children's blizzard" and "isacc's storm" (kind of related, if you are into weather and how it is tracked or into american history). i liked them both (good insight). right now, i'm reading the "left behind" series ... besides the fact that it could be read by middle-school students, it does have some interesting views on events which are possible in the future (makes you wonder about this country and how it deals with others, war and possible future wars). not something i would have normally chosen, but i find it has kept my interest for a while.
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