Alison > Recent Status Updates

This is very good, but would be impossible to read without a working knowledge of Arthurian folklore. I did read Steinbeck's half-finished version last year and have watched The Sword in the Stone, haha... still heading to Google quite a few times. But still, like I said, engaging and interesting, this great sense of modernity in an ancient and magical world.

At least part of this book is set in Denmark; we're off to Denmark next week! I'm enjoying the book but not loving it. It's very, very odd.

"I made him out of clay," said Len.

Waleed considered that for a moment, then said, "That's one big fucking dreidel."

I'm dead!

I bought this because I love Victoria's writing on Defector. I still love her writing but it's not really my type of book; still, it's cute and has football and likable characters, and it's going quickly. I just don't get a lot out of high school stories anymore (and stuff like drunken ragers in the last section just makes me anxious, with two teenage boys!)

Next book club book. Here's hoping, it's long!

Read this in high school, but we're going to Denmark in July and I need to brush up in order to quote from it and annoy everyone.

I joined my first book club, and we're discussing this at the end of the month, so I have to be diligent! So far I'm feeling middling because the writing is plain, and I read a book in nearly the same setting earlier this year already. But hoping it picks up.

I think a 3.5 but rounding up because I really liked the characters. It's a neat premise but fussy; never felt very organic, constantly needed explaining that didn't always work. The police procedural part was underwhelming. But Borlú, Dhatt, and Corwi were terrific. An interesting read.

This is such a hard read, but worthwhile. For such a hard book, the writing is gorgeous - don't know if it's the original or the translator, but it's just sensationally good.

Just went to Los Alamos so figured it was time to read this book I bought in 2014. I liked the women's viewpoint approach, the untold story, but my god, first person plural is a hell of a weird way to tell a story, and it got old.

Not reading the Kindle but my paperback isn't listed! It has this gorgeous cover.

I literally just screamed at the revelation thrown in so casually, omg.

I'm still working on this. It's excellent but very technical and so, so, so unbelievably upsetting.

This reveal is…underwhelming…to say the least.

Boy I could do without minor slurs…sissy in the last one and now lame.

It’s entertaining enough, but it’s exactly the same book as The Martian. It’s almost fascinating how Weir can tell a good story so badly. Still going to finish, but, wow.

I took a break to read a different book for a bit, but even with that, this is quite a slow read.

Never actually read this, and my eldest is reading it in school so thought I’d give it a go. Reading some library binding school edition though.

I’m still slogging through this, but what a slog. Losing faith it can redeem itself. Treatment of the (very few) female characters, racism for the Chinese character, big bad guy is fat and gay, so rigidly hierarchical, and to top it off, the names! Duncan Idaho? I think of Johnny Utah from Point Break every time.

This is not an easy book, being very African, but I am continually blown away by Head’s depth of insight, perception, and understanding of the human condition.

We’re doing a dinnertime project of country facts - continent, capital, pop, TLD, interesting fact. (Did it for the 50 states first!) Going to take a bit, but I got all 193 written out in advance. While looking up an interesting fact to have someone look up for Botswana (yes, it’s not very surprising each night for me), I read about Bessie Head and decided to get her book. Books can come to us in the oddest ways!

Ok, finished the introduction, ha. On to the text.

I heard about Wilson’s new translation of the Iliad, which sounded great, but thought I’d start with this one since it was half the length 😅 and I’m even intimidated by this one!

Jesus, this set up is ridiculous and the second story was so unbelievably improbable, but I’m still broken by it. Damn.

How can Nyx be naked given what we learned some pages back? I can’t wait to be done this book.

I’ve read this before, but was reminded of it and felt like a reread. It’s been a long time so feels fresh. And still terrifying.

I’m going to push on because I’m interested in Joan’s story, but so far am super unimpressed with the set up. Leave aside the “geocatastrophe” - the devolution of the remaining humans is impossibly silly.

Finally something has happened in this book other than the idiot captain taking two pages to have each overwrought and over described thought, or calling women harbours and repositories, so gross. It’s so, so sexist and badly written, but the nuclear launch was tense and fascinating.

I accidentally bought the large print version, which is hilariously awkward, and I can’t find it on Goodreads 🤦‍♀️

Finished the first story; did not expect a long diversion into Mormon blood feuds. Still, the American section was uncommonly well written, and once adjusted to, somewhat better than the London conclusion (which was very far-fetched).