What are you reading? November edition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I haven’t read any of her other books.

I enjoyed it and also enjoyed going down the rabbit hole afterwards to read others’ interpretations and reviews. Good escapism for me!

This is my favorite book of all time. It has always been a fairly popular book but it’s developed a bit of a cult following recently. It’s really interesting to see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I haven’t read any of her other books.

I enjoyed it and also enjoyed going down the rabbit hole afterwards to read others’ interpretations and reviews. Good escapism for me!

This is my favorite book of all time. It has always been a fairly popular book but it’s developed a bit of a cult following recently. It’s really interesting to see.

Yes I was surprised when I realized it was published in 1992 and there are even now recent posts on Reddit with folks posting pix of who they think the characters look like and who they would cast them as in a movie.

Have you read any other books of hers that you recommend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I haven’t read any of her other books.

I enjoyed it and also enjoyed going down the rabbit hole afterwards to read others’ interpretations and reviews. Good escapism for me!

This is my favorite book of all time. It has always been a fairly popular book but it’s developed a bit of a cult following recently. It’s really interesting to see.

Yes I was surprised when I realized it was published in 1992 and there are even now recent posts on Reddit with folks posting pix of who they think the characters look like and who they would cast them as in a movie.

Have you read any other books of hers that you recommend?

“The Goldfinch” won the Pulitzer ten years ago. I liked it enough to read it twice. But I know others disliked it. It is quite divisive. If you think of it more as an adult fairytale, and accept its 700+ page length, it’s enjoyable. (The movie is an absolute failure, despite the stellar cast. I wouldn’t suggest it.) Her only other novel is “The Little Friend,” which is far less popular. It’s a strange, slow book about a family mystery, and it is not well-loved.

Donna Tartt herself is fascinating. She has written only 3 books, and they were published about ten years apart. I was expecting a new book starting in 2023 but it’s been quiet. She gives few interviews and seemingly has no interest in publicity. The last time she popped up in the press was at Joan Didion’s funeral a few years ago.

If you like “A Secret History,” you may be interested in some recent articles/podcasts about Bennington, where Tartt and other famous writers (like Brett Easton Ellis!) attended college. I believe she wrote part (or all?) of the book while there, and the characters and school in the book are very much based on it.

[Anonymous]

God of the Woods. It was great!

[Anonymous]

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

A novelist writes a hugely successful book based on a plot told to him by a former student. I learned of this book because the sequel titled The Sequel came out in October and I wanted to start with the first one.

This book was a little slow in the beginning when there was a lot of narrative and not much action, but overall this held my interest. I was able to figure out the ending - which I am not always able to do - but partially because I had read the summary of The Sequel before reading The Plot.

The book is third person but for some reason at times it seemed to be first person and then switched to third, although it didn't really do that.

[Anonymous]

I just read American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee. It's about the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone in the 1990s and how they affected everything - the communities, the other wildlife, the terrain. There's a section on the legal fights about hunting them once they were "established". And a good portion of the book describes how wolves live and interact with each other and their surroundings. I absolutely loved it. Very readable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

A novelist writes a hugely successful book based on a plot told to him by a former student. I learned of this book because the sequel titled The Sequel came out in October and I wanted to start with the first one.

This book was a little slow in the beginning when there was a lot of narrative and not much action, but overall this held my interest. I was able to figure out the ending - which I am not always able to do - but partially because I had read the summary of The Sequel before reading The Plot.

The book is third person but for some reason at times it seemed to be first person and then switched to third, although it didn't really do that.

I loved The Plot!

I'm another reading God of the Woods now - enjoying it, about 2/5 of the way through

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

A novelist writes a hugely successful book based on a plot told to him by a former student. I learned of this book because the sequel titled The Sequel came out in October and I wanted to start with the first one.

This book was a little slow in the beginning when there was a lot of narrative and not much action, but overall this held my interest. I was able to figure out the ending - which I am not always able to do - but partially because I had read the summary of The Sequel before reading The Plot.

The book is third person but for some reason at times it seemed to be first person and then switched to third, although it didn't really do that.

I though this book was ok. I had to push myself to finish. I liked her other book, the Latecomer, much better. More complex story with more interesting characters, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Olive Kittreridge. Only a little way in, but very impressed with the tight, precise language, the deftness of metaphor, the restrained, clear character reveals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

A novelist writes a hugely successful book based on a plot told to him by a former student. I learned of this book because the sequel titled The Sequel came out in October and I wanted to start with the first one.

This book was a little slow in the beginning when there was a lot of narrative and not much action, but overall this held my interest. I was able to figure out the ending - which I am not always able to do - but partially because I had read the summary of The Sequel before reading The Plot.

The book is third person but for some reason at times it seemed to be first person and then switched to third, although it didn't really do that.

I though this book was ok. I had to push myself to finish. I liked her other book, the Latecomer, much better. More complex story with more interesting characters, IMO.

I also thought it was just ok. I almost DNF’ed it, it was a bit too slow in the beginning.

[Anonymous]

What You Are Looking For Is In The Library by Michiko Aoyama

It's a delightful, wholesome read, and I have recommended it to everyone I know.

[Anonymous]

I am reading Karla's Choice by Nick Harkaway. He is John Le Carre's son and this book fills holes in the George Smiley universe. It is incredibly good.

I just finished The Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville. Also very good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I haven’t read any of her other books.

I enjoyed it and also enjoyed going down the rabbit hole afterwards to read others’ interpretations and reviews. Good escapism for me!

This is my favorite book of all time. It has always been a fairly popular book but it’s developed a bit of a cult following recently. It’s really interesting to see.

Yes I was surprised when I realized it was published in 1992 and there are even now recent posts on Reddit with folks posting pix of who they think the characters look like and who they would cast them as in a movie.

Have you read any other books of hers that you recommend?

“The Goldfinch” won the Pulitzer ten years ago. I liked it enough to read it twice. But I know others disliked it. It is quite divisive. If you think of it more as an adult fairytale, and accept its 700+ page length, it’s enjoyable. (The movie is an absolute failure, despite the stellar cast. I wouldn’t suggest it.) Her only other novel is “The Little Friend,” which is far less popular. It’s a strange, slow book about a family mystery, and it is not well-loved.

Donna Tartt herself is fascinating. She has written only 3 books, and they were published about ten years apart. I was expecting a new book starting in 2023 but it’s been quiet. She gives few interviews and seemingly has no interest in publicity. The last time she popped up in the press was at Joan Didion’s funeral a few years ago.

If you like “A Secret History,” you may be interested in some recent articles/podcasts about Bennington, where Tartt and other famous writers (like Brett Easton Ellis!) attended college. I believe she wrote part (or all?) of the book while there, and the characters and school in the book are very much based on it.

Thank you very much for the recommendations!

[Anonymous]

I just finished listening to "The Lincoln Highway" by Amor Towles.

It is a road trip book and a coming of age book.
The book starts in rural Nebraska in 1954. An 18 year old young man named Emmett has been released from prison a few months early because his father died and someone needs to raise Emmett's little brother. Their mom ran off years ago and the farm has been repossessed by the bank. The only thing that didn't get repossessed was Emmett's car, which he bought with his own money after doing construction work for another man in town. The brothers had planned to take the Lincoln Highway to California and start a new life. However, two other young men stowed away in the prison warden's car and escaped from the prison. They steal Emmett's car and drive it to New York. Emmett and his brother hop a freight train to New York to get the car back.

I thought the book was fantastic. It is almost 600 pages long if you read it with your eyes. 16 hours long as an audiobook. Now that I am finally done, I am hoping there will be a sequel.

I downloaded the book via Libby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Summer Fridays by Suzanne Rindell
- especially great if you happen to live in NY in the late 90s/early 2000s

You've Got Mail for a new generation, set in the days of AOL and instant messenger banter, about a freshly engaged editorial assistant who winds up spending her "summer Fridays" with the person she least expects

Summer 1999: Twentysomething Sawyer is striving to make it in New York. Between her assistant job in publishing, her secret dreams of becoming a writer, and her upcoming wedding to her college boyfriend, her is plate full. Only one problem: She is facing an incredibly lonely summer as her fiancé has been spending longer and longer hours at work . . . with an all-too-close female colleague, Kendra.

When Kendra's boyfriend, Nick, invites Sawyer to meet up and compare notes about their suspicions, the meeting goes awry. She finds Nick cocky and cynical, and he finds her stuck in her own head. But then Nick seeks out Sawyer online to apologize, and a friendship develops.

Soon, Sawyer's lonely summer takes an unexpected turn. She and Nick begin an unofficial ritual—exploring New York City together every summer Friday. From hot dogs on the Staten Island Ferry and Sea Breezes in a muggy East Village bar to swimming at Coney Island, Sawyer feels seen by Nick in a way that surprises her. He pushes her to be braver. To ask for what she wants. Meanwhile, Sawyer draws Nick out of his hard shell, revealing a surprisingly vulnerable side. They both begin living for their Friday afternoons together.

But what happens when the summer is over?

Summer Fridays is a witty and emotional love letter to New York City that also captures the feeling of being young and starting out, uncertain what to do on your summer Friday. It’s also perfect for readers who remember when “going online” meant tying up the phone line, and the timeless thrill of seeing a certain someone’s name in your inbox.

That sounds incredibly fun. I did live in NYC in the lat 90s/early 2000s and will download this one immediately.

I'm reading God of the Woods now. Just a little into it - enjoying it so far.

Does that PP work for the publisher? I refuse to quote her post. She just
cut and pasted the publisher’s summary I saw on Libby.

I don't see anything wrong with the PP just doing a cut and paste of the book summary from Libby. It is a quick and easy way to post on here what the book is about.