For those who don’t know Lively go read her! I liked The Photograph very much. Other ones I especially liked are Family Album, How it all Began and Heat Wave. Didn’t like Consequences as much, nor According to Mark. I actually got to know her from the children’s fantasies she wrote in the 70s, but I don’t think any of her adult books are fantasies.
I’m not sure what I’m reading next. I’m finishing up the last of the Dresden File short stories and then I’m done with that series until a new book comes out. I’d like to find the Patrick Rothfuss short story/novella that features a character from Name of the Wind -the best fantasy novel I’ve read in a few years. I’ve got The Good Lord Bird on my bedside table and I thought I’d read To Kill a Mockingbird which I haven’t read since high school, but I don’t seem to own a copy.
^^^ I’m listening to To Kill a Mockingbird when I walk. Sissy Spacek reads it and does a great job. I downloaded it from Audible.com but I could have downloaded it from the library also. I don’t know if you ever just listen to a book but if you do this is a good one.
I haven’t tried listening to a book since our boys grew up and decided they’d rather play with their laptops in the car rather than have us all listen to a book. We also don’t have nearly as many long drives, much less with everyone in the car. I should consider listening while I walk. Might be more incentive to get out there, though today it’s freezing!
Uh Oh. My taste in books is on the line. I hope the “written” book comes across as well as the audio version. Sometimes a narrator’s performance really adds to the experience. Looking forward to the discussion.
Well, I’m not overjoyed, but I am okay with the selection. I was out for a few hours today, or I would have bumped Lively to #1 in my top three and dropped The Sleepwalker’s Guide.
I am interested in the subject matter, as i previously mentioned, and I hope I may be able to contribute something to the discussion based on my closeness to several South Asian people.
Thanks, Mary13, for the very enjoyable and interesting discussion of Station Eleven.
Interim reading: I’m still in the process of reading Hermann Hesse’s Narcissus and Goldmund, which I self-selected for my Goodreads group’s reading challenge. (I have a bunch more books to go in the challenge. I’ve crossed off six and still have fourteen to go! I’m committed to finishing all of them before the end of the year.)
A bunch of things got in the way of my finishing the Hesse novel before now, including Station Eleven. I do like the book a lot.
Next up is the book that I will be reading both for my own personal challenge and the Goodreads group read: North and South. (I was trying to kill three birds with one stone by suggesting it here!) I will report on it here, although I don’t know that I will have anything more valuable to offer than what Mary13 has already said.
Sorry for three posts from me in a row – I can’t go back and edit #368. The thread moved so fast for me that, although I did manage to notice what book Mary13 chose, I missed the fact that North and South had been dropped in the process. Well, I’ll be reading the book anyway, so I’ll have plenty of opportunity to spout Victorianisms.
^ North and South has been “shelved” for this process, but we would all value your opinion if it is a food selection after your book discussion.
Mathmom- I’ve already ordered Lively’s books, thanks to you and others, for suggesting.
Tyler’s book is on my list. I live in Baltimore and once lived in her neighborhood. She had great candy at Halloween. I’m reading Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City now because I miss the '70s.
Hello all! Even though we for back from FL a week ago, I’m only now finding time to sit down and read the comments here. (And I have the time because here we sit, waiting for the next big snowstorm to hit …)
I really enjoyed the book – which I didn’t anticipate, mostly because of the subject. I read and intensely disliked “The Road,” and figured “Station Eleven” would be similar. I loved how all the characters’ lives/pasts are interconnected. I also liked how the comic book and paperweight survived and connected various characters.
So, although the discussion here is well past me, here are my comments:
I was disappointed Miranda died; liked her character and how much she “grew” after Arthur ditched her.
I was haunted throughout the book by the image/thought of the quarantined plane at the airport that was just still sitting there all those years later. (Although it was probably unrealistic to believe there wasn’t some sort of revolt to get off the plane.)
I was also haunted/captivated by the scene where Kirsten and ?? separated from the Symphony and found a completely undisturbed house with the residents dead in their beds and cupboards full of things like towels, food, etc.
-Arthur was a “conflicting” character for me. At times he seemed likable, caring, etc. Other times he was way too full of himself and he cast aside wives when he grew tired of them.
Tyler as a child, standing by the quarantined airplane reading the Bible, was chilling. For me, it brought to mind Damien in the movie, “Omen.”
I guess in general I read the book without trying to overanalyze the details – like the sheer number of corpses that must have been around or what someone was smoking in their pipe. I took more of a “looking at the bigger picture” viewpoint with this book.
I wondered what the deal was between Arthur and Clark? Was there a love interest there that Arthur could never really admit, or was it just that the two of them were feeling alone in the city?
Interesting that some characters are referred to by their names while others use their role or the instrument they play.
I’ve never heard of Arthur Clark, so thanks for the enlightenment. (Forget who posted this.)
As for the next book, I’m always open to any suggestion – so I’m fine with the next choice.
Happy Valentines Day to all. Hope all of you who are also in the frozen tundra of New England stay safe and warm. (I’m finding that FL/beaches are now very distant memories …)
Hi CBBBlinker, I’m glad you checked in and I hope you had a great trip!
I was moved by many of the same scenes in Station Eleven that you were—Mandel has a way of creating disquieting images that linger in one’s mind.
It would have been interesting to see how Miranda might have handled living in the post-collapse world, but I expected that she would die. The odds weren’t with her—it was already a surprise that five people with Arthur connections all survived (Jeevan, Kirsten, Clark, Elizabeth, Tyler).
I saw Arthur and Clark simply as good friends when young men, with no “subtext.” Later, they remained friends out of habit, although they had little in common anymore. I thought that was realistic, as that kind of estrangement happens in so many friendships.
One of the reviews I read of Station Eleven criticized the fact that the book was too gentle and didn’t contain enough carnage, but that was one of the things I liked about it. I actually loved The Road, but wasn’t looking for The Road Redux. Station Eleven was more about rebuilding the planet instead of watching it disintegrate.
Really good. I have a hard time putting it down. I should be doing something other than reading “just one more chapter”. Definite “thumbs up” on your recommendation (Best Books thread). Thanks!
I do like the book a lot.