Anyone object to a shift in protocol? I'd like to make of this an annual thread in which we (okay, me) can keep track of reading in a given year. Here's my first of 2012: Elaine Pagels' The Gnostic Gospels,obviously begun in 2011 but to be finished in 2012. Somethingamazing for an academic study: even the introduction is interesting and informative, when most academic authors tend towards the stultifying in their intros. Indeed, the whole book is a case study in how to write thoroughly and succinctly at the same time. Good stuff!
I personally think it would be more interesting as "what I just read" + review/discussion but maybe it's just me. I'm currently reading book 3 of the song of fire and ice series which is entertaining. Not sure I love it but a lot of interesting twists and turns.
Been a long time since I've read that. I've read her more recent books, which are also quite good. Another good follow up to that book would be The Bible: A Biography by Karen Armstrong: In addition to Dostoevsky's The Idiot, which I'm about one third the way through, I just started Rowan Williams Dostoevsky: Language, Faith, and Fiction: It's a pretty good interpretation of Dostoevsky's work written by the Archbishop of Canturbury, who seems to be able to read Russian as well as several other languages in which books about FD have been written. Like Pagel's work, I think a scholar as well as an interested lay reader would be able to get something out of it.
I'm trying to make it easier on myself to review when Doc W posts his annual "Best Reads in 201x" thread. I use these threads as a way to keep track.
Picked up The Marne, 1914 in a someone random fashion so I'd have something to read when I took myself out for lunch. Quite enjoyable so far.
Starting in on this: Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff. It's a terrific read, and an interesting story about survivors of a US plane crash in a remote, uncharted valley on Papua New Guinea in May 1945. I recommend it.
I like this idea, the last thread was just a bunch of people posting book covers without any comment at all. I'd like to hear what people thought about it or even the type of genre would be, well something.
First in a series about what they refer to in the reviews as an "anti-hero", a Brit cleric in the early 600's A.D. Took a bit to get into the story but a decent read overall. Once I had the free time to get to it, it moved just fine.
Murder mystery set in early 13th Century, about a bailiff's son who is given the task to solve the murder of a visiting earl, but must do it in 48 hours before the manor lord rides off to join the muster summoned by William Marshal. The story took a few turns I didn't expect, both good and bad, but a quick read at 192 pages. Mysteries set in Medieval times or before are a lot of what I read. Sometimes comes under the broad heading of historical fiction.
The Stand Stephen King So big, over 1000 pages, I bought it instead of renewing it past the library limit. End of the world story. Some of the remaining characters are very interesting, interesting enough to carry a book of this size.
Sounds interesting, I'll look out for it. If you like that genre then you've probably read the Cadfael Stories. Brother Cadfael, the Welsh monk who likes forensic detective work. If not then... [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Cadfael-in-Order/lm/R1NQX9SS3DEUHR"]Amazon.com: Brother Cadfael in Order[/ame]
I enjoyed that and the few other books by her that I've read. I saw her give the Ware Lecture at the UUA General Assembly in 2005.
Written as a novel in the first person. Got to get used to thinking as a woman. "One of today's premier historical novelists, Margaret George dazzles here as she tackles her most difficult subject yet: the legendary Elizabeth Tudor, queen of enigma-the Virgin Queen who had many suitors, the victor of the Armada who hated war; the gorgeously attired, jewel- bedecked woman who pinched pennies. England's greatest monarch has baffled and intrigued the world for centuries. But what was she really like?"
Continuing my "using my son as an excuse to revisit books I should have read long ago" theme: Kind of surprised it's taken this long to get a real movie out of it, since it's very fast-paced and rather shallow (i.e. good for translation to a film). I don't know that it will make lasting impression on me (unless I read the sequels), but it wasn't as stilted as I expected. Definitely dated, but still enjoyable. Knew I was going to be very busy and only have short spurts to read for a while, so halfway through this short story collection. I'd say it's hit or miss so far. Not sure I'm all that fond the stories. Some may be thought-provoking as to the underlying idea, but not necessarily impressive as to the writing itself.
Kate Buford's biography of Jim Thorpe, Native American Son. I picked it up at the library just to read the section on the 1912 Olympics, and found myself engrossed in lots of the rest of the story as well. Buford has done a nice job with this one, and of course it is hard not to root for Jim Thorpe, even 100 years later.
I saw this movie, first run! In Engerland back when I was a lad. It was entitled "The Iron Man" there. And I loved it. Read as much as I could about him with a real sense of injustice. Guess I'll have to order this one from the library.
Only a couple chapters in, and already appreciate the writing much more than the Bradbury mentioned above. Looking forwarding to reading more of this.
Just finished: Philip Roth -- The Humbling Only my second Roth (Everyman is the other). I thought more of it than many reviewers and enjoyed it. Just started: Bruce Machart -- The Wake of Forgiveness Heard some good things about this one last year. When I saw the hardcover drop to $2 and the Kindle edition drop to $1.35 on Amazon, I decided to take the plunge (and bought both).