Anonymous wrote:The Unwinding by George Packer. Such a melancholy, sophisticated, sprawling yet succinct perspective on how and why American society has ended up where it is today. It was published over ten years ago but it still feels fresh/timely. Recommend it to anyone who’ll listen.

Nah, since Packer is clearly passing judgment on elements of American culture that have evolved since the late 1970s. When he tells us how gangster rap is eroding America's principles, his tone becomes slightly elitist. Some parts are good; however, his take on Theil is not the best. Theil is a monster who has always had a horrifying agenda.

MAGA idiots banned it in parts of Kentucky so worth a read for sure.

Before I start Atmosphere, pls tell me if there is a minority character who is never impacted by being a minority?

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Anonymous wrote:North Woods by Daniel Mason

Ditto. Just fantastic.

I posted above about reading it twice. My bookclub hated it. one of the reasons why was that they none of the characters were likeable. I cannot imagine judging a book based on this.

I haven’t read this book but I absolutely hate fiction without a single likable character. Why would I want to read about people I don’t care about? Why would I care what happens to them?

Anonymous wrote:Why because they are horribly cliched predictable books; Tragedy porn by an author unworthy of her popularity.

I don't appreciate judgement of the reader that is implicit in your statement but I do agree with your description of Kristin Hannah books. I absolutely abhor them.

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Anonymous wrote:Probably The Matrix by Lauren Groff.

I love that book.

Also love this book. Lauren Groff is amazing.

Anonymous wrote:I Who Have Never Known Man by Jacqueline Harpman - this isn't a long book, and will be unsatisfying for those who need answers to every question, and a resolution to a story, but for me it opened up so many thought exercises. I think about it often, and dreamt about it for weeks.

+1 This book hit me like a train wreck. I am struggling to think of another book that affected me so deeply and at the same time I can't recommend it without a lot of warnings about my emotional state after I finished it.

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Anonymous wrote:Why because they are horribly cliched predictable books; Tragedy porn by an author unworthy of her popularity.

99% of the books on this list are not deep literature. PP’s picks are fine! At least she reads. I’ve read plenty of these as well. I enjoyed The Women, especially the first half. The post-war part was a little overdone.

I think the only book I recall on this list I would put in a higher category is the Graham Greene novel.

Oh, and I have read and enjoyed lots of them!

Anonymous wrote:Why because they are horribly cliched predictable books; Tragedy porn by an author unworthy of her popularity.

99% of the books on this list are not deep literature. PP’s picks are fine! At least she reads. I’ve read plenty of these as well. I enjoyed The Women, especially the first half. The post-war part was a little overdone.

I think the only book I recall on this list I would put in a higher category is the Graham Greene novel.

Anonymous wrote:Why because they are horribly cliched predictable books; Tragedy porn by an author unworthy of her popularity.

Piss off

- not PP

Why because they are horribly cliched predictable books; Tragedy porn by an author unworthy of her popularity.

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Anonymous wrote:The Women and The Great Alone. both by Kristen Hannah

Why?

What do you mean by why? Why did I like them? or was this a snarky why like you thought they were terrible?

If you want to know why I liked them or why they were worth reading then here goes...
The Women tells the stories of Army nurses in Viet Nam. I've had women who were actually there tell me that it's the most realistic account they've read. This book captures the sights, sounds and even smells of war. It held my attention.
The Great Alone is about Alaska in the 1970s and the people who tried to escape there and be homesteaders. It also very accurately depicts the life of a woman and child caught in an abusive relationship. Again, it held my attention.

I Who Have Never Known Man by Jacqueline Harpman - this isn't a long book, and will be unsatisfying for those who need answers to every question, and a resolution to a story, but for me it opened up so many thought exercises. I think about it often, and dreamt about it for weeks.

Anonymous wrote:I mostly read older books, so my answer is probably The End of the Affair.

Graham Greene is so under-appreciated!

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Anonymous wrote:An oldie - My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. Also God on the Rocks by Jane Gardam.

The durrell book has recently been debunked on the basis that there was massive abuse within that family

I haven’t heard anything about the “book” being “debunked.” I know there have been assertions—probably true, who knows—of violence in the family (including by Gerry) and sexual abuse of Sappho Durrell by her father Larry. It’s not that I don’t think these are abhorrent things, I’m just not into canceling valuable literature because of mistakes made by authors, particularly when they’re dead (although I also still read Alice Munro).

Yeah, can you “debunk” a book like that? It isn’t claiming to be a scientific article. I love those books but the family is obviously messed up, that is part of why the book is good.

Anonymous wrote:The Women and The Great Alone. both by Kristen Hannah

Why?