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hermetic

(8,258 posts)
Sun May 3, 2020, 12:28 PM May 2020

What Fiction are you reading this week, May 3, 2020?

In quarantine, people are inadvertently exposing their reading habits — embarrassing, surprising and impressive. What Do Famous People’s Bookshelves Reveal?

Cate Blanchett
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/30/books/celebrity-bookshelves-tv-coronavirus.html?utm_source=pocket-newtab

I'm not famous but I’m reading Jeeves and the King of Clubs by Ben Schott. “The misadventures of P.G. Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster and his incomparable valet, Jeeves, have delighted audiences for nearly a century. Now, bestselling author Ben Schott brings this odd couple back to life in a madcap new adventure that is full of the hijinks, entanglements, imbroglios, and Wodehousian wordplay that readers love. And, by Jove, there's a hook!” This is a most delightful tale. Pure escapism and so much fun with words.

My library has wisely decided not to follow the rest of the state in opening up right now. So, instead of novels I’m listening to old radio shows of Twilight Zone, found on Youtube. I am on the list to get Barbara Kingsolver’s audiobook Unsheltered, though. Looking forward to it.

What does your bookshelf reveal this week? Inquiring minds want to know.

Stay healthy, friends.

28 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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What Fiction are you reading this week, May 3, 2020? (Original Post) hermetic May 2020 OP
"My Brother's Destroyer" by Clayton Lindemuth. This is the first in a series and also the first dameatball May 2020 #1
Must read! hermetic May 2020 #3
I already ordered the second book in the series. Have a good day. dameatball May 2020 #5
Cool! hermetic May 2020 #6
"Death in a White Tie" by Ngaio Marsh The King of Prussia May 2020 #2
From 1938, that one hermetic May 2020 #4
Ah thanks. Here we are then... The King of Prussia May 2020 #7
Bravo! hermetic May 2020 #8
I am reading Sense and Sensibility, murielm99 May 2020 #9
The classics The King of Prussia May 2020 #11
Nearly finished with "Wizard's First Rule" TexasProgresive May 2020 #10
I like her books. murielm99 May 2020 #12
Barbara Kingsolver is head and shoulders above a whole lot of writers. TexasProgresive May 2020 #14
A plague of fools, indeed hermetic May 2020 #13
I spent yesterday binge watching season 6 "Bosch." TexasProgresive May 2020 #15
I had forgotten hermetic May 2020 #16
It's good I've a few episodes left. TexasProgresive May 2020 #17
Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy OxQQme May 2020 #18
High praise from Mr. Martin hermetic May 2020 #21
Many thanks for the weekly thread, hermetic. There are tons of books downloaded on my two japple May 2020 #19
Can't go wrong hermetic May 2020 #22
I used to have a nap every single Sunday after preparing dinner for the family. Since we aren't japple May 2020 #24
P.G. Wodehouse & John O'Hara bif May 2020 #20
I do that, as well hermetic May 2020 #23
Not familiar with Schott bif May 2020 #25
Good morning hermetic May 2020 #26
Thanks. I'll have to look for it. bif May 2020 #27
A short, but challenging novel. "There,There" by Tommy Orange... SinisterPants May 2020 #28

dameatball

(7,380 posts)
1. "My Brother's Destroyer" by Clayton Lindemuth. This is the first in a series and also the first
Sun May 3, 2020, 12:39 PM
May 2020

I have read by this author. I recommend it.

hermetic

(8,258 posts)
3. Must read!
Sun May 3, 2020, 12:51 PM
May 2020

The reviews are fantastic. "A ᴍᴏᴏɴsʜɪɴᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ sᴜʀʀᴇᴀʟ ɢɪꜰᴛ, ᴀ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀʏ sᴛʀᴏɴɢᴍᴀɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴅᴏɢ.
Yᴏᴜ'ʟʟ ʟᴀᴜɢʜ ᴏᴜᴛ ʟᴏᴜᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴜʀɴ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀɢᴇs."

I am overdue for a good talking dog story.

2. "Death in a White Tie" by Ngaio Marsh
Sun May 3, 2020, 12:44 PM
May 2020

A whodunnit from the golden age. Pretty good. Earlier in the week I finished "Place of Execution" by Val McDermid. I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads, so recommended.

Otherwise I am STILL cataloguing our book collection on Librarything - I'll finish this week. Haven't left the village for 8 weeks, getting unfit & putting on weight.

And for those enquiring minds - I tried to insert a snapshot of part of our bookshelves, but can't work out how to do it

Take care of yourselves everyone.

hermetic

(8,258 posts)
4. From 1938, that one
Sun May 3, 2020, 01:06 PM
May 2020

Posting photos: First, the photo needs to be on another website. I use https://postimages.org/ but there are others. https://imgur.com/ for example. If you put photos on your blog, you can probably use that. Click on save photo link then post that in your message.

Here is a more in-depth instruction. https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1036

murielm99

(30,655 posts)
9. I am reading Sense and Sensibility,
Sun May 3, 2020, 01:24 PM
May 2020

by Jane Austen. Somehow, in all my years of voracious reading, I missed that one. I did watch the movie with my girls, when we were still allowed to travel. One of them brought it home and we enjoyed it together. Normally, I hate it when someone says they have not read the book, but they saw the movie.

I miss seeing my children.

Actually, I have not gotten beyond the scholarly introduction. There is an interesting quote from Mary Wollstonecraft in the intro, from A Vindication of the Rights of Women:

if fear in girls, instead of being cherished, perhaps created, were treated in the same manner as cowardice in boys, we should quickly see women with more dignified aspects ... 'Educate women like men' says Rousseau, 'and the more they resemble our sex, the less power they will have over us.' This is the very point I am at. I do not wish them to have power over men, but over themselves.


I have this Austen book in one of my must-read piles because people give me gift certificates to our local independent bookstore. I still have one gift card. If things ever open up again, I will look to this group for ideas.

Happy reading, everyone.
11. The classics
Sun May 3, 2020, 01:44 PM
May 2020

"Sense & Sensibility" is in my TBR pile too. The classic that I really mean to read is "Wuthering Heights" (because it's actually walking distance from here), but I have never got round to it. I blame the likes of Ed McBaim and Val McDermid who keep distracting me.

TexasProgresive

(12,148 posts)
10. Nearly finished with "Wizard's First Rule"
Sun May 3, 2020, 01:42 PM
May 2020

A phrase in it that seems to fit our current White House is “A plague of fools.”
Ms Kingsolver is the narrator of her book and is exceptional.

hermetic

(8,258 posts)
13. A plague of fools, indeed
Sun May 3, 2020, 01:50 PM
May 2020

And where are the wizards when you really need them? We seem to have an extreme shortage of zapping, in my opinion. Someone should do something about that.

hermetic

(8,258 posts)
16. I had forgotten
Sun May 3, 2020, 02:03 PM
May 2020

about good old Bosch. I see Season 7 has started. That's so cool. I'm going to start looking for Seasons 5 and 6 to purchase. Thanks!

OxQQme

(2,550 posts)
18. Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy
Sun May 3, 2020, 03:26 PM
May 2020

Halfway through the second in the trilogy, Royal Assassin.

I've read many hundreds of fantasy tales in my 79 years. She's gotta be ranked up with the best, imo.

>“Fantasy as it ought to be written . . . Robin Hobb’s books are diamonds in a sea of zircons.”—George R. R. Martin

Fitz has survived his first hazardous mission as king’s assassin, but is left little more than a cripple. Battered and bitter, he vows to abandon his oath to King Shrewd, remaining in the distant mountains. But love and events of terrible urgency draw him back to the court at Buckkeep, and into the deadly intrigues of the royal family.

Renewing their vicious attacks on the coast, the Red-Ship Raiders leave burned-out villages and demented victims in their wake. The kingdom is also under assault from within, as treachery threatens the throne of the ailing king. In this time of great danger, the fate of the kingdom may rest in Fitz’s hands—and his role in its salvation may require the ultimate sacrifice.<

hermetic

(8,258 posts)
21. High praise from Mr. Martin
Sun May 3, 2020, 04:55 PM
May 2020

I never heard of her but I enjoy good fantasy so I will have to find some her books, which are evidently quite numerous.

japple

(9,772 posts)
19. Many thanks for the weekly thread, hermetic. There are tons of books downloaded on my two
Sun May 3, 2020, 03:54 PM
May 2020

e-readers, but I couldn't get Louise Erdrich's new book off my mind, so I sprung for it and am now reading The Night Watchman which is just what one would expect from Louise Erdrich. Beautiful writing.

hermetic

(8,258 posts)
22. Can't go wrong
Sun May 3, 2020, 04:59 PM
May 2020

with Louise, in my opinion anyway. I just love her so much.

Sorry I didn't answer right away. My cats were in a real party mood last night and kept interrupting my sleep til I finally decided to just get up. At 5:30. So I've just had myself a little nap.

japple

(9,772 posts)
24. I used to have a nap every single Sunday after preparing dinner for the family. Since we aren't
Sun May 3, 2020, 05:33 PM
May 2020

getting together these days, sometimes nap time comes and goes without me. I have found, though, that after I retired, a good nap could salvage an otherwise shitty day!!! As a member of a champion napping family, I salute you! Hope yours was not interrupted by those night owl felines.

bif

(22,558 posts)
20. P.G. Wodehouse & John O'Hara
Sun May 3, 2020, 04:36 PM
May 2020

Plus a history book. I like having several books going at the same time.

hermetic

(8,258 posts)
23. I do that, as well
Sun May 3, 2020, 05:11 PM
May 2020

I'm actually also currently reading Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen, which I keep by the couch to read for a few minutes whenever I want to have a wee nap, like I've just done.

Also reading How To Talk About Books You Haven't Read by Pierre Bayard. This is a short nonfiction, 180 page essay that is quite amusing and really unlike anything else I've ever read. I like to just read a few pages now and then.

Have you read Schott's book? If you like Wodehouse then you should really get this. Perhaps you are the person who originally recommended this one and if so, I thank you.

hermetic

(8,258 posts)
26. Good morning
Mon May 4, 2020, 10:42 AM
May 2020

Schott is a British writer and photographer. In November 2018 his novel, Jeeves and the King of Clubs, was published. It was written as an homage to P. G. Wodehouse, with the blessing of the Wodehouse Estate. This page has all sorts of nice things to say about the book: https://www.benschott.com/jeeves---the-king-of-clubs.html

I think he totally captures the tone and rhythm of the Jeeves and Wooster stories, with the added attraction of governmental intrigue.

bif

(22,558 posts)
27. Thanks. I'll have to look for it.
Mon May 4, 2020, 02:12 PM
May 2020

Although, Wodehouse wrote so many short stories, I don't know why there would be a need to write more. When I was in London a few years ago, I went into a bookstore looking for some Wodehouse. There were at least two shelves devoted to the master! It was overwhelming!

 

SinisterPants

(89 posts)
28. A short, but challenging novel. "There,There" by Tommy Orange...
Sat May 9, 2020, 02:13 AM
May 2020

It was my local library "Everybody Reads" book this year. (which obviously was cancelled).

It's a vignette novel about 12 Indians either planning to attend, or rob, an Indian Pow-Wow in Oakland, CA. It is comic, and challenging, and horrifying.

It's one of those novels that I can't even say I liked it, but I AM the better for having read it.

The title is a direct ref. to Gertrude Stein's quote; "In Oakland there is no there, there".

(ps, the author, not me, insists on Indian instead of native american)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36692478-there-there

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