<p>Oh, oh, oh … the Sherlock Holmes duet! :-bd </p>
<p>My interim - also known as bedside table - books:</p>
<p>Remember Ben Clayton - I need to finish by next Monday for my IRL book clubs - actually both book clubs. Remember Ben Clayton is the Gulf Coast Reads 2014 book choice - known elsewhere as One Book One City, only here multiple cities participate. Anyway, I like the book.</p>
<p>The King of Attolia - third in the Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. I’m revisiting the books and thoroughly enjoying every minute. One of these days I need to stick this series on the Best Books Thread because it belongs there.</p>
<p>I’ve also got *Shadow Puppets<a href=“working%20my%20way%20through%20Orson%20Scott%20Card’s%20Enderverse”>/i</a> and *Dead Man’s Walk<a href=“working%20my%20way%20through%20the%20Lonesome%20Dove%20series”>/i</a> waiting for me. See the influence of the CC Book Club on my reading material.</p>
<p>And I’m coveting - but don’t yet have - The Goblin Emperor. Someone mentioned it on the Best Books thread and I looked it up (reviews). I do so want to read it. </p>
<p>Of course! I have *The Hound of the Baskervilles * pulled off the home shelf and our local library branch has The House of Silk available now. My DH will be so surprised to see me reading Sherlock Holmes since he’s been a fan forever and has read both of the above at least once I will be bogged down with books for the next few months (add Meg Wolitzer’s most recent to what I had before) but I have long since gotten over the guilt of returning titles unread…Too many books, too little time.</p>
<p>Currently I’m listening to the second of the Stieg Larsson Girl trilogy. I like them, although find the dark factor too much at times. I just finished Painted Horses by Malcolm Brooks–a western set in the 50’s that left me with the “meh” response. I started Lisa See’s China Dolls last night, and I’m sure that’ll be an easy but pleasurable read. Also finished recently are Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead; California by Eden Lepucki; Mrs. Hemmingway by Naomi Wood; and Life Drawing by Robin Wood. </p>
<p>I like that this group picks books that are much different than I would chose on my own. For example, I almost never read science fiction–have no clue where to start. So–maybe we can choose something from that genre next time.</p>
<p>A friend of mine who teaches English at a local private school brought me a present for helping her proof read a manuscript. It’s David Foster Wallace Infinite Jest. I’m definitely intimidated by it, but I’m willing to try it. This is a pretty well-read group and I’m thinking some of you have read this book. Interested in your opinions.</p>
<p>^ infintie Jest was the book mentioned in the Storied Life of AJ Fikry- it’s the book the high schooler snuck off to read, David Foster Wallace led a sad life. I didn’t read that book, and, like you, Bromfield, interested to hear from CCers who have. Interesing selection your friend gave you- curious why that book ? </p>
<p>I haven’t picked up Infinite Jest … yet. I have thought about it though. But 1000+ pages - and I finish what I start - makes me cautious. The CC Book Club always picks a long book for the winter read. Maybe someone should suggest that one.</p>
<p>Anyway, here’s the Infinite Atlas to go with Infinite Jest. I like visuals </p>
<p>We actually did a sci fi duet not too long ago. I think it’s time to force you guys to read some fantasy! but I’m fine with the mystery duet. I don’t read many mysteries as I am more drawn to characters than plot. (I read all the Dorothy Sayers, eons ago, and still reread favorites, but I don’t think there are any other mystery authors for which I am a completest.) </p>
<p>Thanks—you guys are great! I’ll start a new thread.</p>
<p>Bromfield2, our sci-fi duet last year was The War of the Worlds and Ender’s Game. I believe mathmom is our resident expert in that genre. Maybe she can nominate a book or two for our February selection, or just provide us with some of her favorite titles to read in our off months. </p>
<p>Right now, I am reading *Code Talker<a href=“a%20novel%20about%20the%20Navajo%20Marines%20of%20World%20War%20Two”>/i</a> by Joseph Bruchac. I noticed it on our bookshelves at home and it seemed like a good way to round out my reading on the American Indian experience.</p>
<p>After that, I have Jack Finney’s Time and Again waiting for me. </p>
<p>Yes, thanks everyone for your thoughts and comments. The Round House was a great book for this forum. I’ve taken away so many more ideas from this go-round with it. I also just passed my copy to my college sophomore since he raised an issue about contemporary Native American life at lunch today. See you all for Sherlock Holmes in December!</p>
<p>I bought Infinite Jest ages ago and somehow persuade dh to read it, even though he rarely reads anything but sci-fi, fantasy and thrillers. He liked it pretty well, but not enough to get me to read it. I’d like to eventually, but I read much more slowly than he does.</p>
<p>I’m a lurker on this thread but I just had to pop in to defend Sarah Waters and her superb new novel, The Paying Guests. It’s a very well-written, highly entertaining British melodrama that explores issues of class in post-WWI London. Highly recommended. </p>
<p>There are a few graphic sex scenes but they are totally appropriate to the story. They add depth by contributing to our understanding of the main character’s motivations. </p>
<p>Waters is a highly respected British literary novelist. Three of her novels have been shortlisted for the Booker, including her Victorian pastiche novel called “Fingersmith.” The sex in that novel was much more graphic (and, if i recall correctly, more shocking) than in “The Paying Guests” but it did not deter the highly respected Booker committee from recognizing it on the shortlist.</p>
<p>Anyway, I’m not intending to change anyone’s mind about the book, but just wanted to chime in case anyone was deterred by the Kirkus review.</p>
<p>If I had to identify an author whom the Paying Guests most closely reminds me of, I’d say Elizabeth Bowen, the well-respected mid-20th century British literary novelist. So don’t let the sex scenes deter you! </p>
<p>For anybody in this group who is curious about Haruki Murakami but hasn’t tried him yet, there’s a good short story by him in the current issue of the New Yorker.</p>
<p>It’s the 10/13/14 issue of the New Yorker and the story is “Scheherazade.” It’s typical Murakami…quirky, mysterious and sensual.</p>
I will be bogged down with books for the next few months (add Meg Wolitzer’s most recent to what I had before) but I have long since gotten over the guilt of returning titles unread…Too many books, too little time.</p>
</p>
but I’m fine with the mystery duet. I don’t read many mysteries as I am more drawn to characters than plot. (I read all the Dorothy Sayers, eons ago, and still reread favorites, but I don’t think there are any other mystery authors for which I am a completest.) </p>