@VaBluebird, the first couple of times I tried to read Wolf Hall I could not get into it. The third time, something clicked–the style, in fact–and I not only finished it but loved it. The next one is on my TBR list. (Literally. For Christmas, a friend gave me a little spiral bound journal called Books to Check Out, and I adore it.)
I had the same problem with Wally Lamb’s I Know This Much is True, which went on to be one of my favorite novels.
I read one of the Gamache series and was mightily annoyed by it, although everyone else I know adores them. I think I may have to have another go, this time starting with the first in the series.
I thought Bel Canto was good, not great. Interestingly, Patchett is a good friend of Renee Fleming, and the soprano was modeled on her to some degree. Alex Ross of The New Yorker just reviewed the opera, and made a number of slighting remarks about the book, so those who didn’t find it impressive are not alone. (It has been years since I read it, but I recall being unconvinced and displeased by the couple who emerged at the end, too.)
I think it would help to start at the beginning of the Gamache series. There is backstory that weaves throughout the later books. Although I admit to having started with The Beautiful Mystery (I am a sucker for monastery mysteries… that is why it caught my eye to start with). Then went back and started at the beginning.
I’ve read seven of the books (including the one I just didn’t “get”). I see a couple more that I’ve been eyeing.
Books I’ve read:
The Buried Giant~Ishiguro, Kazuo
The Girl on the Train~Hawkins, Paula
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry~Backman, Fredrik
The Nightingale~Hannah, Kristin
Seveneves~Stephenson, Neal
Uprooted~Novik, Naomi
The Water Knife~Bacigalupi, Paolo
*My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry is by the author of A Man Called Ove.
**The Truth According to Us is by one of the authors of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
@consolation actually I originally felt the same way as you did about the Gamache series. I think I started at book 7(?) …somewhere in the middle… because that is where my library started with the books on cds. It felt a bit too contemplative and not as much action adventure as I like, but as I got to know the characters and many of their back stories, I started to fall in love. Now I am completely immersed. Their is usually three plots going on at once. Awesome!!
@Ignatius - I just added A Man Called Ove and My Grandmother… To my next books to read, thanks!!
@intparent I did the same thing! I strongly recommend that people begin with the first book and read them in order. There are several story arcs that flow through each book, and although the main storyline in each book can be read and understood, the backstories will be lost. Louise Penny recommends that they be read in order.
Ditto ^^^^ A Man Called Ove was a surprisingly wonderful read–interesting characters, wry sense of humor, and simple but engaging prose style. I don’t know if I would have ever read it if it wasn’t on my Book Club’s list. I’ll definitely look for more by this author.
After hearing an interview with Hilary Mantel on NPR, I put her books on my list but I’m wondering when I will ever get to them. With regard to the Gamache books, I am in love with Inspector Gamache, Reine Marie and most of the inhabitants of Three Pines. The Gamache relationship is so lovely it makes me a little sad.
@ignatius - Thanks for the link to the 2016 Lariat list! I was wondering what you thought of Seveneves and Uprooted. Both looked interesting, but I don’t read a lot of science fiction or fantasy (although I do love end-of-the-world books).
I started Seveneves. Didn’t get very far – it was so misogynist even for sci-fi. In the first 15 pages the woman in the story was taught math by her dad and napkin folding by her mom (in our house I am the mom and the far better math tutor). Could have gotten past that, but then the woman got hired for a robotics job because she had a boyfriend who worked in robotics. I love Sci fi, but just couldn’t take this.
Hmmm. It definitely sounds like a borrow-from-the-library book and not a buy-from-the-bookstore book. Too bad, because I do love those apocalyptic novels.
Hmm, I liked Seveneves more than either mathmom or intparent. I ended up buying a copy for my bookshelves and one for my son-in-law and now need to get a copy for my son. I disagree with intparent about misogyny playing a factor in the book. Strong women populate the book - the Seven Eves - “The survivors—seven fertile women—are destined to repopulate the human race” (Publishers Weekly). I think perhaps intparent gave it up too soon in this case.
I had more trouble with Uprooted. Gorgeous writing and strong characters but I just never could get into “The Wood” as villain. I like the book - just sorry I didn’t like it more. (Think mathmom would though. :-h)
My librarian strongly recommended The Water Knife to me. I really liked it - though the violence got a bit much on occasion. Let’s just say that none of the main characters make it out unscarred (literally).
Library Journal - Pay attention to the word brutal:
I don’t read much sci-fi, but I thought the entire long first section of *Seveneves/i was both fascinating and deliciously suspenseful.
A lot of books start slow and then pick up steam. Not Seveneves! It begins with this amazing first paragraph:
Station Eleven had a strong beginning too. I thought the first section of the book was very moving and well written. The rest of it I didn’t care for as much.