The only two books that didn’t have a reservation mentioned (ranging from “veto” to “would prefer not”) are:
The Street by Ann Petry
and
Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
@ignatius, I agree that we have not selected a new release in a while. Even pre-pandemic, new releases could be a problem – too expensive to buy, with impossible waiting lists at the library (as you found with Such a Fun Age). Now at the tail end (I hope) of the pandemic, it’s even harder – not a good time to spend money, and even longer wait times for borrowing.
A new book that I almost added to our list for this round, but then didn’t because I figured it would have to be bought, is The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. The owner of our local bookstore said it’s flying off the shelves. I am #491 on our library waiting list. I think it would be a great book for discussion, but we’ll probably have to wait until 2021 to even consider it due to lack of availability.
But I digress. Back to the two choices for October. Here’s a funny thing: Tayari Jones wrote the main blurb for both:
The Street: "Petry is the writer we have been waiting for, hers are the stories we need to fully illuminate the questions of our moment, while also offering a page-turning good time. Ann Petry, the woman, had it all, and so does her insightful, prescient and unputdownable prose.”—Tayari Jones, The Enthusiast, New York Times Book Review
Red at the Bone: “This poignant tale of choices and their aftermath, history and legacy, will resonate with mothers and daughters.” –Tayari Jones, bestselling author of An American Marriage, in O Magazine
^ I intended to write my way into a decision by the end of my last post, but it was too hard. So I went away and dipped into both books, and read some reviews–and it was still hard! But in the end, I was swayed by an article in the New York Times by–again–Tayari Jones, who wrote, “‘The Street’ is my favorite type of novel, literary with an astonishing plot." It is, she added, “book club gold.”
So let’s read The Street by Ann Petry for October. Fair warning: Everything I’ve read indicates that it’s a grim tale. I hope that doesn’t turn too many people away. But I think sometimes we just need to go there, especially these days.
Good choice. I like when one of the readers @VeryHappy endorses the selection, saying it would be good For book club discussion. I didn’t have any front runner. except for Such A Fun Age, but as a new release or wouldn’t have been available.
Uh oh, when I went to request the book at the library, only one is available. I’m #3 on the waiting list but the bigger problem: the book was due back on 6-29. Someone isn’t returning it.
I’m #5 on the waiting list for an eBook which also makes getting the book in time unlikely.
So know that I’ll be lurking in the background as you guys discuss.
Me too. I finished #3Unnatural Death last night and have already requested the next one.
@ignatius
I checked to see if the Open Library has the book. It does. It’s not easy to read it online (my iPad is having browser issues with their site) but is an option.
@HImom, I was thinking of you as I wrote, as I knew the final selection wouldn’t be your cup of tea. I hope you’ll lurk and be back in December. I’m sure that we will be going in a different direction at that point – something lighter for the holidays, and newer too.
Participation is always pretty fluid and that’s natural considering the range of genres that we take on. Some months, a selection can be very appealing; other months, not at all. I just hope that all departures are only temporary!
Even when I didn’t finish reading a selection, I always found the discussions lively and enriching. Hopefully, cc book club beers will pop in and follow along, even if they chose not to read the book,
Thanks for thinking of me. I have to be in the right frame of mind for “grim,” and don’t foresee that happening in the near future. I’m sure it will be a great read & discussion! Will catch up with the following, more cheery holiday book selection.
A thank you to @Mary13 for continuing to lead and a hats off to her for making it work so well.
Anyone want to share what they’re reading now: let’s call it our bedside table books.
I’m continuing the Lord Peter Wimsey series. I just finished #3Unnatural Death and am awaiting #4 at the library. I also plan to finish Connie Willis’ Oxford Time Travel series, so am currently reading #3 in the series, Blackout. And I’m going to start The Satapur Moonstone. It follows The Widows of Malabar Hill, which happens to be quite good. The setting: 1920s India; the main character: Perveen, the only female attorney in Bombay, which hinders ('cuz she’s female) yet allows her access into place that men are forbidden. I recommend it.
I’ve just finished both Widows and Malabar Hill and The Satapur Moonstone and thoroughly enjoyed both. I’m also continuing with Lord Peter and there’s a Connis Willis waiting for me at the library. I’m on a “contact with aliens” kick at the moment and just finished Sparrow, which is a thoughtful story about a Jesuit mission to a planet in the Alpha Centauri system.
I also am just finishing rereading Unnatural Death. I still like Lord Peter, but ugh, a lot of, I think pretty unintentional, classicism and racism. There’s a new Dresden Files book to read, and book by someone I know from the good old days on CC and a million other books waiting.
^^^ The racial slurs stopped the flow of the story. Ugh! As you say, it reflects the times in which the book was written. Still … (And the slurs often came from the mouths of other characters. Maybe not always, I don’t remember, but I checked a time or two to see who said what.)
On the other hand, I like the actual mystery and Lord Peter’s struggles with his role in the whole affair. His investigating caused more loss of life, of which he was well aware. I like his talk with the priest near the end of the book.
Yes, Lord Peter is mostly enjoyable, tho it does have some classism and racism. He also is aware that the people he catches will face consequences that they may have otherwise escaped and seems conflicted by it. Overall, I feel it’s not that tough to glide over the few bumpy bits and still enjoy most of DS’s stories about Lord Peter and talented Bunter.
More of Connie Willis - Crosstalk
Saw this recommended on best book thread Sullivan - Maine
Couple people on best book site raved about this one ( I’m on wait list) - Becoming Duchess Goldblatt
I just finished Little Fires Everywhere – loved it – and Hidden Valley Road, which is nonfiction about a family with 12 children, six of whom had schizophrenia. Interesting. I’ve been reading a ton since our library opened on June 20, to make up for the months I didn’t have anything new to read. (I’m not a fan of Kindle, except when I travel.) Also read The Trespasser by French, Commonwealth by Patchett, and Three Women by Taddeo. Just started Untamed by Doyle and Alex Trebek’s memoir (really light and fluffy).
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