I can't find the past thread, and maybe it's locked at this point.

Let's not spoil novels from the past year that some may not have read.

While my recent read is more than a year old, I won't spoil it just in case other's haven't read it yet.

I just finished The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I found the book an interesting story of Theo Decker. It's linear, which I appreciate, rather than jumping around. I found the ending a bit of a let down with no real resolution for anyone (at least, to me, maybe I'm missing something).

I think it was Empress or someone who said Tartt's writing was quirky. It wasn't so much quirky, for me, as it was just blathering on at times. Long multi-page monologues, unrealistic to how people really talk. And while there is a window of suspended reality for those things, this went well beyond watching late-20s actors playing teenagers in Grease.

In general, I did love the story and Theo's journey. The twist with Boris that set him on a whole new path to another country was unexpected. I've not read Tartt's other books, but this one isn't a bad introduction to her writings.

Up next, for me, is This Much is True by Miriam Margolyes. I need something lighter, reality-based, and polar opposite of the Barbours, the Deckers, or Xandra...with an X.

PS I watched, because apparently I'm a glutton for punishment and disappointment in movies, The Goldfinch movie. What a wasted 2.5 hours of cinema. All the characters were left one-dimensional, the flashing forward and backward never made sense as to what time was real and what was a flashback or flashforward. Even the blood on his shirt cuff was never really explained (although we probably know why), nor was his self-imposed torture in the hotel room. And why lay out all the pills and booze? We never saw him die nor even had an indication that he did die.

The book should've been made into a mini-series. Hulu or Prime could've picked this up and put it out over six or seven episodes, and it would've been spectacular. There's just so much source material and nuances that could've been captured on film. I fear that there's no interest in it at all at this point to make such a big wish.

What are you reading this winter?

TrivialPursuit said:

I can't find the past thread, and maybe it's locked at this point.

Let's not spoil novels from the past year that some may not have read.

While my recent read is more than a year old, I won't spoil it just in case other's haven't read it yet.

I just finished The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I found the book an interesting story of Theo Decker. It's linear, which I appreciate, rather than jumping around. I found the ending a bit of a let down with no real resolution for anyone (at least, to me, maybe I'm missing something).

I think it was Empress or someone who said Tartt's writing was quirky. It wasn't so much quirky, for me, as it was just blathering on at times. Long multi-page monologues, unrealistic to how people really talk. And while there is a window of suspended reality for those things, this went well beyond watching late-20s actors playing teenagers in Grease.

In general, I did love the story and Theo's journey. The twist with Boris that set him on a whole new path to another country was unexpected. I've not read Tartt's other books, but this one isn't a bad introduction to her writings.

Up next, for me, is This Much is True by Miriam Margolyes. I need something lighter, reality-based, and polar opposite of the Barbours, the Deckers, or Xandra...with an X.

PS I watched, because apparently I'm a glutton for punishment and disappointment in movies, The Goldfinch movie. What a wasted 2.5 hours of cinema. All the characters were left one-dimensional, the flashing forward and backward never made sense as to what time was real and what was a flashback or flashforward. Even the blood on his shirt cuff was never really explained (although we probably know why), nor was his self-imposed torture in the hotel room. And why lay out all the pills and booze? We never saw him die nor even had an indication that he did die.

The book should've been made into a mini-series. Hulu or Prime could've picked this up and put it out over six or seven episodes, and it would've been spectacular. There's just so much source material and nuances that could've been captured on film. I fear that there's no interest in it at all at this point to make such a big wish.

What are you reading this winter?

I also found The Goldfinch to be very long and a lot of blathering at times, but I was so drawn in to Theo's story, his relationship with Boris and everything else going on in this story. I particularly enjoyed the relationships Theo had with other characters in the book too. Donna Tartt has written only 3 books and all are very quirky and don't always leave you with a sense of completion or believeability, but she's such a good writer and I can't wait to read her next novel.

I'm about to start Harlem Nights from Colson Whitehead. I've read a few of this books and he never disappoints.

I will also be reading Diana Gabaldon's Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone - the 9th book in the Outlander series. I've been reading this series for over 25 years and have been patiently waiting about 6 years for this next installment to be released. Also, Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I really enjoy her books.

I just happened to be in my local independent bookstore to discover there was a promo from the Bill Gates' foundation that bought his 5 recommendations, sent them to a bunch of independent book stores, to give away for free! I was the 100th person out of 100 free book stacks. So these are on my Winter Reading List: http://gatesnotes.com/Abo...Books-2021

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So far I've read Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell, and would recommend it.

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I've also been reading Alan Davis' Jerusalem. I'm 200 pages into this monster, and so far it is so, so dry. Would not recommend.

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I just finished Ijeoma Olou's Mediocre, non-fiction - I would definitely recommend. I usually have 3 books in progress, so my current non-fiction book is Thomas Sowell's A Conflict of Visions. A nice conservative balance to my usual reading.

Not really reading but working through, but it is not Winter in Australia anyway:

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Burmese: A Cultural Approach. This is co written by a friend of mine in Mandalay, Myanmar, Allen Lynn and Ward Keeler, and

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Burmese: A Comprehensive Grammar by San San Hnin Tun and Mathias Jenny

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Bot because I am working on basic grammar tools for learning Burmese.

MarkThrust said:

Vanishing New York by Jeremiah Moss - decent critique of hyper-gentrification, but tends to repeat the same points over and over, so I'm struggling to get through all 400+ pages.

Duck Soup by J Hoberman. Again, quite decent. A slim volume, somewhat academic in nature. Doesn't really add anything new to what is already known about the film, but at least it doesn't do it fairly quickly.

IanRG said:

SantanaMaitreya said:

IanRG said:

Not really reading but working through, but it is not Winter in Australia anyway:

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Burmese: A Cultural Approach. This is co written by a friend of mine in Mandalay, Myanmar, Allen Lynn and Ward Keeler, and

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Burmese: A Comprehensive Grammar by San San Hnin Tun and Mathias Jenny

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Bot because I am working on basic grammar tools for learning Burmese.

Are you planning to go there?

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Not currently with Covid and the Coup.

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I have been there a number of times, most recently January/February 2020 - For the flight and layover on Bangkok, we were masked up, temperature checked and fortunately got back to Australia before the 2 week quarantines. When we were at Manadalay University, two busloads of Chinese tourists arrived at our hotel and it was only then that masks were worn within Myanmar. I am in constant contact with family and friends there.

Only non fiction babee.

2freaky4church1 said:

Only non fiction babee.

Now how hard is it to list what you're reading?

2freaky4church1 said:

Only non fiction babee.

It's all books, bruh.

EmmaMcG said:

Serious question, do visual novels count? 99% of them are pervy nonsense but sometimes you come across one that is better written than most books that are considered to be classics.

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With classics like "Watchmen", "The Sandman" series, "Maus" and "Persepolis", I don't see why not.

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There are others like "They called us enemy", the "Fullmetal Alchemist" series and the "Death Note" series. The last one was much better than the TV series "Dexter".

IanRG said:

EmmaMcG said:

IanRG said:

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With classics like "Watchmen", "The Sandman" series, "Maus" and "Persepolis", I don't see why not.

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There are others like "They called us enemy", the "Fullmetal Alchemist" series and the "Death Note" series. The last one was much better than the TV series "Dexter".

Just to be clear, when I say visual novel, I'm not talking about graphic novels or comic books. I'm referring to actual visual novels like The House In Fata Morgana or the Zero Escape series.

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That clarifies the comment about visual novels tending to be "pervy nonsense", but I don't see why either could not be considered winter reading books.

IanRG said:

EmmaMcG said:

IanRG said:

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That clarifies the comment about visual novels tending to be "pervy nonsense", but I don't see why either could not be considered winter reading books.

Because you can read them... in winter? Like any other book.

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Exactly

onlyforaminute said:

onlyforaminute said:

onlyforaminute said:

Will The Bomber Mafia The Body Keeps The Score Midnight In Washington Prince Lestat Finding Soul on the Psth of Orisa

I wish Anne were still alive so I could tweet her and ask why she was creating a long list of ancient vampires. Good lawd, this is like a frikkin roll call.

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If ever there was a person who could answer after their death Anne would be one.

IanRG said:

EmmaMcG said:

Serious question, do visual novels count? 99% of them are pervy nonsense but sometimes you come across one that is better written than most books that are considered to be classics.

No hard & fast rules on that, babes. If you're reading, you're reading.