All About Books discussion

What are your reading plans for November?

I think that I am going to try to read books with a color in their title during November. A few titles are:

The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch (library book so I probably won't wait for November) ✖
The Gray and Guilty Sea by Jack Nolte
Crome Yellow by Aldous Huxley
Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein (audiobook) ✖

I have a much longer list of titles I mostly own already :)

(added later)
The Gray Man
Riders of the Purple Sage
The Blue Fairy Book
How Green Was My Valley
One Fearful Yellow Eye

Leslie, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon is a wonderful book, and it fits what you are planning for November. It is long and it is detailed. I read it before I went to Croatia.

Chrissie wrote: "Leslie, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon is a wonderful book, and it fits what you are planning for November. It is long and it is detailed. I read it before I went to Croatia."

I thought it was a fascinating book, Chrissie, but long!

What I have planned so far for November are these:

Despair by Vladimir Nabokov(read 1 star)
Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age (4 stars read)
Orphan Train (read 3 stars)
Stalin's Daughter: The Extraordinary and Tumultuous Life of Svetlana Alliluyeva (5 stars read)
Trustee from the Toolroom by Nevil Shute (3 stars read)
The Determined Heart: The Tale of Mary Shelley and Her Frankenstein (maybe)
The Lost Landscape: A Writer's Coming of Age by Joyce Carol Oates (read 3 stars)
The Brothers Ashkenazi by Israel J. Singer (2 stars read)
(the older brother of the Nobel Prize winner)

I think it is pretty clear I like reading "bio type" books, books about particular individuals.

See message 54 for more books read this month.

Gill, yep, I agree, but I kind of like them that way....at least if the book is good.

To start with:
Il sogno - that is The Dream - by Émile Zola
Effie: Storia di uno scandalo - Effie: The Passionate Lives of Effie Gray, John Ruskin and John Everett Millais by Suzanne Fagence Cooper
Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading by Nina Sankovitch
Il centenario che saltò dalla finestra e scomparve - The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared - by Jonas Jonasson

Chrissie wrote: "Leslie, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon is a wonderful book, and it fits what you are planning for November. It is long and it is detailed. I read it before I went to Croatia."

Chrissie - that is one of the books I got from my parents' clear-out this past summer. Because of the length I don't know if I will get to it but glad to hear your endorsement :)

I know, I know it is VERY long, but really good. You are perhaps more familiar with the author's novels.

I know how it is when you inherit a bunch of books. Books are personal and sometimes you just do not appreciate your parents' books. This taught me to not force my books on my own kids. I always though my kids would inherit a great library from me, but now I am not so sure they are interested. It gives you another perspective on keeping books. Yet, i simply cannot throw away books I love.

Chrissie wrote: "I know, I know it is VERY long, but really good. You are perhaps more familiar with the author's novels.

I know how it is when you inherit a bunch of books. Books are personal and sometimes you ju..."

They may be more interested when they are older -- I discovered several years ago that my parents had owned books I had been getting from the library! Things I hadn't been interested in reading when I was living at home as a teenager and never thought to look for as an adult visitor. Now my attitude is "take them all, I can always get rid of it later"!

Leslie wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I know, I know it is VERY long, but really good. You are perhaps more familiar with the author's novels.

I know how it is when you inherit a bunch of books. Books are personal and..."

Exactly!

November is American Indian Heritage Month and Manatee Awareness Month among so many other holidays…so for those two celebrations I am going to read:
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West
In the Company of Manatees: A Tribute



And some ones I would like to read, some are leftover from October:
Plainsong
XO
I'll Meet You There
Unwind
Fair and Tender Ladies
The Kind Worth Killing
Fourth of July Creek
Doing Harm
Between the World and Me



If you want to see November's Observances:
http://www.brownielocks.com/NOVEMBER-...

Lisa, Bury My Heart is a very difficult read. A very good book, but hard.

Everybody seems to think Coates book is exceptional...except me. Let's see what you think.

A House of My Own: Stories from My Life by Sandra Cisneros
Daphne du Maurier and her Sisters
In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom.
Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster
The Washingtons: George and Martha, "Join'd by Friendship, Crown'd by Love
City on Fire
Man on Fire
Tightrope
The Improbability of Love: A novel

Finishing up The House at Riverton for my bookclub and then on to The Other Typist

Finishing up some leftovers... The Plover and The Land of Dreams, then I think it is time I got to read something JUST FOR FUN. Don't know what that will be yet. Maybe The Tower, The Zoo, and The Tortoise or Once Upon a Crime: A Brothers Grimm Mystery

I'm planning to read:
Crisis on Infinite Earths, and the crossovers which I don't include here because I'm too lazy to write them all down.
Spice & Wolf, Vol. 9: The Town of Strife II
Mansfield Park
El hombre duplicado

Chrissie wrote: "Lisa, Bury My Heart is a very difficult read. A very good book, but hard.


Everybody seems to think Coates book is exceptional...except me. Let's see what you think."

I have heard that but I think it is an important book. I will most likely take it in smaller sections and read other books in between. I think I will need something to lighten it up.

As for Coates…I will see. I have to read that next as it is on hold for someone else at my library.

I wanted to read both too, Lisa.

Leftover from Oct:
Dragonheart
Dragongirl

Current plan:
Dragon's Time
The Darkest Passion
In Death 13, 14, 15 - my ebook loan ends in 5 days, may not finish in time.
About a Vampire (new release from sept that is taking it's sweet time getting to my hold)

New releases:
Depraved Heart
Born of Betrayal
Warheart

Group Reads:
Horns
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Matilda
The Canterville Ghost

Lisa wrote: "November is American Indian Heritage Month and Manatee Awareness Month among so many other holidays…so for those two celebrations I am going to read:
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian ..."</i>

Have you read [book:Encounters at the Heart of the World: A History of the Mandan People by Elizabeth A. Fenn? It won the 2015 Pulitzer for History. Also, for Native American history, I've heard this book is supposed to be excellent- People of the Deer by Farley Mowat.

As usual I don't make plans of what I will read because the books I read change following my mood. Lets say that for the end of the year I would like to read:
The Sayings of Muhammad (obliged by my son)
Pelle di leopardo (no English edition)
Marian (no English edition)
Un'idea di destino (no English edition)
and, if I will find it at the secondhand book store, Fantasmi: Dispacci dalla Cambogia (no English edition).

A lot of non-fiction!

Chrissie wrote: "What I have planned so far for November are these:

Despair by Vladimir Nabokov
Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age (c..."

I have The Brothers Ashkenazi in my to-read list but I don't know if I will have time to read it now in November. Have you already read other books by the same author? I've really liked The Family Carnovsky and have to read also Yoshe Kalb.

Diane S.✨ wrote:"
book:Voices from Chernobyl: The..."

I'm reading a book by Svetlana Alexievich right now and I'm loving it. The beginning was a bit hard because there were only "voices" of people; single sentences the author had heard during meetings or on the road during events. But there are also longer interviews. What I'm liking now is exactly this: the author is on the background and the reader reads only the stories and opinions of the many characters. I can really say it's a book with "voices" of common people.

dely, I didn't realize that Isaac Bashevis Singer, the Nobel prize winner, had an older brother, Israel J. Singer. who was also an author. He died in his fifties; his books were popular but he never got as famous. I have not read anything by the older one. I have read that his themes are more of the political and social focus than religious.

I would like to read what you are reading, dely.

Chrissie wrote: "dely, I didn't realize that Isaac Bashevis Singer, the Nobel prize winner, had an older brother, Israel J. Singer. who was also an author. He died in his fifties; hi..."

I have never read anything by his more famous brother but The Family Carnovsky is really good. He makes a good insight in people's feelings, behaviours and inner life; also the relationships are well described and are one of the main themes of this book. Well, most of his characters are jews so there is also religion but not in an annoying way. The Family Carnovsky, for example, talks about three generations of a jewish family. But religion isn't the main theme; the focus is on the human side of the characters and their lives.

Chrissie wrote: "I would like to read what you are reading, dely. "

You mean the book by Svetlana Alexievich? I'm pretty sure that now that she won the Nobel price also this book will be translated into English. I think you would like it: it talks about Russia after the fall of the Soviet Empire but there are also the interviews to people who have lived during Stalin; they make comparisons during life under communism and life after the fall of communism. Very interesting and it arrives till 2012 (or more, I must still finish it) so there are also the wars in Afghanistan, Chechnya and the other problems that arose in the other countries like Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan...but only through the stories of these common people.

dely wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I would like to read what you are reading, dely. "

You mean the book by Svetlana Alexievich? I'm pretty sure that now that she won the Nobel price also this book will be translate..."

Yes, I meant that book. Thanks for the thumbs up.

dely wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "dely, I didn't realize that Isaac Bashevis Singer, the Nobel prize winner, had an older brother, Israel J. Singer. who was also an author. He died i..."

AnyHow the older writes seems better fit to what I am looking for.

I find his famous brother's books a little hard to take sometimes, even if the writing itself is good.

I only have three books I would like to read this month:

The Night Circus 4*
The Shadow of the Wind 5*
Cutting for Stone 5*

November plans, far too big a list as usual...

To continue -
The Fishermen 3 stars
George Orwell: A Life in Letters
Crow: From the Life and Songs of the Crow

Group reads -
Around the World in Eighty Days (AAB) 2 stars
Twilight (AAB seasonal author) Returned to library without reading
And the Mountains Echoed (The Book Vipers)

Library books -
Interview with the Vampire Returned to library without reading
The Secret History Returned to library without reading
Did You Ever Have a Family 2-3 stars
A Little Life Returned to the library without reading
The Orphan Master's Son
Let's Get It On: The Politics of Black Performance

Lots of personal challenges to finish, but I'll pick and choose these as I go.

Pink wrote: "November plans, far too big a list as usual..."

:D

I realized that I got the audiobook of Around the World in Eighty Days over the summer so even though it doesn't have a color in the title, I will probably listen to that (after all it is a group read here!).

Some other non-color titles I will be reading:
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen (BoTM for another group)
The Long Home by William Gay (AAB seasonal author)

My goal is 5 books -

Summer Secrets (unseasonal, but a lucky book giveaway winner) finished 11/7/15
The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes (this looks good, again a free book winner!) finished 11/12/15
The Dovekeepers (challenge list)
Little Women (f2f book club & I've never read past the first 5 chapters)
The Poisonwood Bible (challenge list) or We Need to Talk About Kevin (group read which I am already late to) possibly if I can get to this many books in one month *sigh*

Edited! I also received free copies of Perfect Days finished 11/14/15 & 'Til the Well Runs Dry: A Novel - good problem to have but definitely changing the game plan.

Pink, so you are still reading The Fishermen. Hmmm......

Thank God you have A Little Life b/c you are going to need something to balance against The Orphan Master's Son.

I liked The Secret History....but read it when it first came out. I think I would still like it now.

Colleen, I keep toying with the idea of reading two you have listed: there The Poisonwood Bible and The Dovekeepers. Every time they get mentioned I think all over again whether to read them. Good luck with all.

Patricia wrote: "I only have three books I would like to read this month:

The Night Circus
The Shadow of the Wind
Cutting for Stone"

The Shadow of the Wind is one of my favorite books of all time. I re-read it every couple of years just to savor it all over again. Enjoy!!!

Chrissie, yep still reading The Fishermen, partly because I've been finding it a slow read, but mainly just because I've been super hectic with home life and so I've done very little reading lately. At least little for me, so don't completely blame the book! If it helps, I'm expecting it to be 3 stars. Sometimes it seems worth more, sometimes less.

As for A little life, The orphan Master's son and The Secret history, I think I'll have my work cut out. All big books and not exactly happy stories! I expect to take longer than one month over them, if I get to them all before returning. I really want to read The Secret History before A Little Life as I've connected the two in my mind, so I'll be interested to see how they compare or not!

Thanks for explaining about The Fishermen, Pink.

Chrissie wrote: "Lisa, Bury My Heart is a very difficult read. A very good book, but hard.

Everybody seems to think Coates book is exceptional...except me. Let's see what you think."

I just finished Between the World and Me. I did think it was good but maybe because it is relevant in America. It is sad how many racists we still have in this country…and not just against black people. There were a lot of unknown names to me in the book and I imagine it was worse for you. The people mentioned were either recent victims of "unnecessary police killings" or black heroes from the past.

dely wrote: "Diane S.✨ wrote:"
book:Voices from Chernobyl: The..."

I'm reading a book by Svetlana Alexievich right now and I'm loving it. The beginning was a bit hard because there were only "..."

Which book are you reading, Dely?

Diane S.✨ wrote: "Which book are you reading, Dely? "

The title is Second-Hand Time. In the meanwhile I've finished it and it was really good.

dely wrote: "Diane S.✨ wrote: "Which book are you reading, Dely? "

The title is Second-Hand Time. In the meanwhile I've finished it and it was really good."

Just checked and this isn't available in English until Spring 2016.

Gill wrote: "dely wrote: "Diane S.✨ wrote: "Which book are you reading, Dely? "

The title is Second-Hand Time. In the meanwhile I've finished it and it was really good."

Just checked and this ..."

Yes, I've read it too on the bookpage. I'm pretty sure they translate it only because she won the Nobel price. It's a pity because the books is really worth to be read, with or without Nobel price.

Chrissie wrote: "Colleen, I keep toying with the idea of reading two you have listed: there The Poisonwood Bible and The Dovekeepers. Every time they get mentioned I think all over again..."

Thanks Chrissie! They've been on my TBR forever! Hopefully I'll get to them by the end of the year if not this month. I'm on to book #2 now on my list.

Colleen wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Colleen, I keep toying with the idea of reading two you have listed: there The Poisonwood Bible and The Dovekeepers. Every time they get mentioned I thi..."

Good.

Colleen wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Colleen, I keep toying with the idea of reading two you have listed: there The Poisonwood Bible and The Dovekeepers. Every time they get mentioned I thi..."

Colleen, I haven't read The Dovekeepers, but I loved The Poisonwood Bible! I especially liked the way the story was told by the daughters in alternating chapters. (Remember Mudbound?) It was easy to follow, not a lot of hop skipping and jumping around.

I should really start reviewing books.....lol!

Patricia - thanks for the input! You really should be a book reviewer! ;)

Too many books going on, but that's my life. :)
My true goal is to read these 2 books by the end of the year so I can feel somewhat successful in my challenge lists and getting through old TBR list books. I can't believe it's the end of the year already, which will fly by. Could use an extra month or two...

Colleen , the Poisonwood Bible is an intense read but very worth it and I loved the Dovekeepers . Hope you do too !

Lol Angela, I'm sure I will! Those intense reads usually wind up being favorites, & although hard, are so very worth it. Those are my favorite books & the ones I give 5 stars to.

P.s. I have The Goldfinch on my 2016 list! Looks like A Little Life is to go on 2017!

Colleen , I agree . Those are usually five star books for me too . You've got two other intense books lined up but they are so worth it !

Hope to read A little life in 2016 as well!