Anonymous
Post 04/30/2026 16:57     Subject: Re:April 2026 -- What are you reading?
I just finished "Beautiful Ugly" by Alice Feeney.
It is about a man whose life unravels after his wife disappears. It is set in England and Scotland.
I would not recommend it.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 17:55     Subject: April 2026 -- What are you reading?
Anonymous wrote:I finished Less and enjoyed it; we’ll be discussing at bookclub tomorrow, which should be interesting. I’m still hopping across my other books (Marriage Portrait and the Scottish Prisoner primarily), but also picked up Vigil (George Saunders); it’s short and highly readable, but at halfway through, finding it a bit transparent/heavy-handed. Curious to see where it lands. I also have the new Yann Martel on my shelf from the library, so may prioritize that.


I think “heavy handed” is a good way to put it. I’m a big George Saunders fan, but I didn’t like Vigil.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 17:51     Subject: April 2026 -- What are you reading?
I finished Less and enjoyed it; we’ll be discussing at bookclub tomorrow, which should be interesting. I’m still hopping across my other books (Marriage Portrait and the Scottish Prisoner primarily), but also picked up Vigil (George Saunders); it’s short and highly readable, but at halfway through, finding it a bit transparent/heavy-handed. Curious to see where it lands. I also have the new Yann Martel on my shelf from the library, so may prioritize that.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 16:01     Subject: April 2026 -- What are you reading?
I read a lot this month, my favorite was "Good People" by Patmeena Sabit.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 16:01     Subject: April 2026 -- What are you reading?
Anonymous wrote:I’m trying Babel again for the 3rd time. It’s GOT to pick up at some point right.


I absolutely hated it and I think my book club broke up over it. It wasn't immediately after but the people who loved it seemed to take offense at my thinking it was trite and very clearly written by a judgmental 20 something who is way to sure of things, given her age. I'd say do yourself a favor and don't try to finish it, it's not the worst book in the world but it does not get better.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 11:55     Subject: April 2026 -- What are you reading?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:On my beach vacation I read Ordinary People and When Women were Dragons.
They were both okay, didn’t love either.
Ordinary People was well written but my patience for 20-somethings who make dumb life choices and can’t communicate effectively is limited. Same reason I can’t watch shows like Girls.
When Women Were Dragons also well written and an interesting concept (sort of an allegory or magical realism type thing), but I found it a little simplistic. It oversold the sexism in the 1950s and 1960: — I mean, there was definitely a lot of sexism but this was almost a cartoonish level of sexism. I get that it isn’t meant to be a realistic book (hence dragons) but it irked me a little.


The Judith Guest "Ordinary People?" That's not 20-somethings making dumb choices. Is there another "Ordinary People?"


The consensus earlier in this thread is that the poster meant to say the book about the 20-somethings was actually called Normal People.