@ignatius, you’re right – I have taken off This Tender Land since we had a veto re availability.
That leaves us with a short list, with some excellent choices.
I’ve weighed all the opinions above and this is a tough one, but I’m going to call it for Harry’s Trees by Jon Cohen. I hope everybody is okay with that. It’s high on the list for @ignatius, @jerseysouthmomchess, and @AnAsmom – and @VeryHappy and @Singersmom07 said they’d be willing to read it if chosen.
I don’t want to schedule a duet for December because of the possibility (however slim) that I won’t have the mental energy to read anything substantial in the weeks immediately following November 3rd. I think I spent the last two months of 2016 rocking in a dark corner, staring into space.
Considering @ignatius and @VeryHappy’s comments, a Mississippi duet of *This Tender Land/I and Dispatches from Pluto might be a great selection for February. Let’s put the set on the back burner.
I’m good with “Harry’s Trees.” My current read is non-fiction, (Warmth of Other Suns) so fiction is good for variety. (It seems to be harder for me to concentrate on “serious” books these days.)
Gosh, I looked at the list last night and went off on a hike this morning and by the time I got back to this thread you’d already decided! I’m okay with anything, but I really am not up for depressing.
Great!! Just ordered it from e-bay. Our library consortium doesn’t have it, so I bought a used hard copy which I will donate after we are finished. I have to do that a lot here.
Just popped on wondering if the next book was being discussed. I skipped The Street and from the comments, made the right decision.
Harry’s Trees sounds very interesting. I’ve put a hold on the ebook in our library but might also see if I can get a hard copy; there might be one available.
Just downloaded sample of Harry’s Trees …wonderful to see so many enthused about this selection. Thanks, again to @Mary13, and others, you continue to amaze me with your insightful posts, and enriching comments.
Many thanks to @Mary13 for once again leading an excellent discussion and thanks to the many others for their insight. I love this book club.
So what are you reading in the interim? These are my “bedside table” books (though in actuality they’re scattered throughout the house):
Gods of Jade and Shadow - a one book/one city selection though here it’s called Gulf Coast Reads. It incorporates Mayan mythology by way of a 1920’s road trip across Mexico - a young girl bound to help the Mayan god of death. Greek mythology gets taught in school while the mythology of other cultures gets neglected. I’m almost finished with the book and do like it. (I’m also listening to the audio book at the same time as I wanted to hear the spoken language as I read.)
The Night Tiger - I must be having a multicultural reading binge at the moment as I am also reading this one which incorporates Malaysian/Chinese mythology. It too has a young girl as the main character and takes place in 1930s Malay. I’m listening to the audio book also and the reader/author is excellent.
Lord Peter Views the Body - Still hanging with Lord Peter Wimsey. This one contains 12-14 short stories, so it’s easy enough to read one and then put the book down till later. Like many books with short stories, they range from just okay to really good.
Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling). I just picked this one up from the library and am shocked that it’s almost 1000 pages. It better be really good or I’m going to gripe to everyone about Galbraith’s need for an editor.
Your turn, you guys. I want to know what you’re reading (so I can add to my never-ending list of books that sound good.)
Still reading Wimsey too. Just finished Five Red Herrings which was not my favorite. I think the Scots accents might be better in audio format, but at least I could skip over all the tedious rail road schedules stuff. I cheated an already read Have his Carcase so I’ll be reading Murder Must Advertise next. I might pick up the new Ann Tyler - she’s one author I’ve read everything she’s written.
While waiting for waitlists to clear I’m reading The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club. I’m reading the Wimsey books in whimsical? order.
Finished listening to the BBC production of The Hobbit and will start on The Lord of the Rings next.
Finished reading: Still Life and Fatal Grace by Louise Penny. Gentleman in Moscow I really enjoyed this book and the discussion here. A Forest of Eyes by Victor Canning 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand. I didn’t like the book and it was definitely not worth the wait. Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke. Will take a break before I read the next. It was difficult to read right after The Street although I did like her writing and the mystery.
Waiting for my holds to clear for The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny and The Trespassers by Tana French.
I just got the notification that Harry’s Trees is ready to download from the library so I may start on it early.
Thanks to all for the great discussion on The Street. It gave me plenty to think about. I had never heard of the book, and even if I had, I would probably not have put it on my to-read list, so shout out to @VeryHappy for the nudge into new territory.
I’ll start a new thread for Harry’s Trees.
Right now, I’m reading The Ninth Hour by Alice McDermott. Really good so far.
Got more Lord Peter in the queue, reading EF Benson’s Queen Lucia and Miss Mapp, some mindless mysteries, and following up on the Connie Willis books. I thought I’d have more time to read in this period.
Hoping to actually visit a Barnes and Noble later this week and plan to aggressively empty the shelves of books of even the slightest interest. Any physical book beats a kindle version hands down.
Year of Living Danishly … Helen Russell ***** ( second time remains best escape book)
Magical Thinking / True Stories …Augusten Boroughs **** ( funny, May. Not appeal to all can cross the line at times , but funny )
Becoming Duchess Goldblatt …anonymous ***** ( real life story behind the beloved, Twitter account with name Duchess Goldblatt, a fictional 81 year old woman, who lives in Crooked Path, one daughter named Hacienda. It’s all total fun with a lot of heart, charm and witty humor.)
I have belatedly discovered the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. What fun. I haven’t read this much for pleasure in awhile. I discovered the first one which was in a group of books that I bought on e-bay that had another book that I wanted. I was shocked to find that our library has the whole series. I am reading book 12. The new one comes out next month - number 27. I told the librarian that I would pay for the new book if my name stays on the top of the list to rent it. She said great!! I am dropping off 2 today and getting 4 more. Very fun reading!!!
As mentioned up thread, I recommend “Redhead by the Side of the Road” by Anne Tyler. We read this for my RL Book Club and had a respectable discussion.
Also recommend “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett. I read this for my Books on the Beach group. About light skinned black twin sisters, one of whom passes for white. Very well written.
@CBBBlinker I was one who questioned if Red Head By the Side of Road, would lend itself to good discussion. Interesting to read your RL Bookclub found it a good choice.
I propose we include it in
The lists for future selections, and If chosen, I would enjoy that discussion. Like, Mathmom, I’m a big Anne Tyler fan.
