What Are You Reading Now?

[SteelBlue]

The National Book Award long lists are out. These tend to most consistently point me to my favorites in any given year. I've only read one on the Fiction list, Brad Watson's "Miss Jane" and it was among the best I've read this year. Of course, Whitehead's "The Underground Railroad" is getting the lion's share of the press having been given Oprah's seal of approval.

National Book Award Long Lists

Fiction

Chris Bachelder, The Throwback Special
Garth Greenwell, What Belongs to You
Adam Haslett, Imagine Me Gone
Paulette Jiles, News of the World
Karan Mahajan, The Association of Small Bombs
Elizabeth McKenzie, The Portable Veblen
Lydia Millet, Sweet Lamb of Heaven
Brad Watson, Miss Jane
Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad
Jacqueline Woodson, Another Brooklyn

Nonfiction

Andrew J. Bacevich, America's War for the Greater Middle East: A Military History
Patricia Bell-Scott, The Firebrand and the First Lady: Portrait of a Friendship: Pauli Murray, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the Struggle for Social Justice
Adam Cohen, Imbeciles: The Supreme Court, American Eugenics, and the Sterilization of Carrie Buck
Arlie Russell Hochschild, Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right
Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America
Viet Thanh Nguyen, Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and the Memory of War
Cathy O'Neil, Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy
Andrés Reséndez, The Other Slavery: The Uncovered Story of Indian Enslavement in America
Manisha Sinha, The Slave's Cause: A History of Abolition
Heather Ann Thompson, Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy

[SeattleUte]

The National Book Award long lists are out. These tend to most consistently point me to my favorites in any given year. I've only read one on the Fiction list, Brad Watson's "Miss Jane" and it was among the best I've read this year. Of course, Whitehead's "The Underground Railroad" is getting the lion's share of the press having been given Oprah's seal of approval.

Foer didn't make it. He must be sick.

[creekster]

Royal Commentaries of the Inca by Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. He was the son of a conquistador, in the early days of the conquest of the Incas, and an Incan noblewoman. The book was written after Garcilaso had immigrated to Spain seeking legitimacy (and money) through acknowledgement of his paternal line. His voice is surprisingly modern and he is at once critical and defensive of the Incas and their culture, although on balance he seems to thinks highly of the Incan way of life. A fascinating read.

[Donuthole]

"We Are Not Ourselves" by Matthew Thomas. I'm about 2/3 through this one and am somewhat amazed that it hasn't been on any prize lists that I've seen. This is a very powerful book, and unless it somehow falls apart suddenly, I will count it among the best I've read in the past year.

I'm about 2/3 through this one right now. Powerful is a good description. Visceral. I'm stoked to see how it wraps up.

[LiveCoug]

Hmm.. not the best reader reviews for that book. Wonder why.

[Donuthole]

Hmm.. not the best reader reviews for that book. Wonder why.

It's definitely not a feel-good book. Many people expect that from movies, TV, books, etc. Mrs. D, for example, would hate this book.

[LiveCoug]

It's definitely not a feel-good book. Many people expect that from movies, TV, books, etc. Mrs. D, for example, would hate this book.

Gotcha... Looks interesting. I'll add it to my list.

[comprar]

I just finished Broken Jewel by David L. Robbins. It is a fictional look at the events at and rescue of the internees at the Los Banos Internment camp near Manila during WW II.

It is extemely well researched and follows the actual events very well. The author includes 15 page appendix that recounts the actual people and events that he used in the novel. I feel that is well written and a pretty good read.

[happyone]

I just finished Broken Jewel by David L. Robbins. It is a fictional look at the events at and rescue of the internees at the Los Banos Internment camp near Manila during WW II.

It is extemely well researched and follows the actual events very well. The author includes 15 page appendix that recounts the actual people and events that he used in the novel. I feel that is well written and a pretty good read.

good book!

have you read any of his other stuff? I really liked his World War II in the east trilogy

War of the Rats - about Stalingrad: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...ar_of_the_Rats

Last Citadel - about the Battle of Kursk: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/533239.Last_Citadel

The End of the War: the race for Berlin: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...The_End_of_War

[Jeff Lebowski]

The Anatomy of Peace - The Arbinger Institute

Meh. It was OK.


The Last Stand - Nathaniel Philbrick

Philbrick is one of my favorite authors. I have read several of his other books (Mayflower, Heart of the Sea, Bunker Hill, Sea of Glory) and they have all been outstanding. This one was no exception. Highly recommended.

Custer was one crazy cat. I wonder what his life trajectory would have been had he survived the battle. He was planning to run for president at some point.

Oh, and the US government was basically conducting genocide on a massive scale at the time.

[happyone]

The Anatomy of Peace - The Arbinger Institute

Meh. It was OK.


The Last Stand - Nathaniel Philbrick

Philbrick is one of my favorite authors. I have read several of his other books (Mayflower, Heart of the Sea, Bunker Hill, Sea of Glory) and they have all been outstanding. This one was no exception. Highly recommended.

Custer was one crazy cat. I wonder what his life trajectory would have been had he survived the battle. He was planning to run for president at some point.

Oh, and the US government was basically conducting genocide on a massive scale at the time.

Have you read T.J. Stiles bio of Custer yet? It one the Pulitzer of History last year

His Custer is a man of contradictions!

My thoughts: https://www.goodreads.com/review/sho..._review_page=1

[SteelBlue]

I'm about 2/3 through this one right now. Powerful is a good description. Visceral. I'm stoked to see how it wraps up.

So, what was your final verdict, Donut? I thought it was among the very best I read that year (2015?).

[SteelBlue]

Man, I hate double posting, but here I go anyway.

Some advanced review copies I've finished in the past couple months with brief recommendations:

Lincoln in the Bardo, George Saunders. Saunders' much anticipated first novel didn't disappoint. Those who "get" Saunders will be thrilled, those who never have aren't likely to be convinced here, but I do anticipate a much wider reach for the man who has become a favorite of mine over the past few years. Strongly recommend. Release date is Feb. 2017.

The Terranauts, T.C. Boyle. A fictional take on the Biosphere 2 experiment of the early 90s. Well written but ultimately fairly boring for me. Set in the 90s, Boyle imagines a popularity for the program that might rival the space program of the 60s. We were all there for the Biosphere thing, we all know it didn't inspire much more than a Pauly Shore Movie. Throw in the fact that it goes on forever, as in it's a bit of a doorstop, and this one gets a meh, from me. Release date was a few days ago.

Moonglow, Michael Chabon. This one is excellent and seems more likely to draw the kind of critical acclaim he drew with "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay" than his last novel. I'm not saying he wins the Pulitzer, but I'm guessing it may be in the discussion. Utterly readable with some fresh takes on WWII. This is written somewhat in the style recently popularized by Karl Ove Knausgaard, a philosophical but fictional memoir. Even if it's only 25% true, it's pretty fascinating and since he's already labeling it fiction, it really doesn't matter how much is true. Strongly recommended. Release date is Nov. 22.

The Gustav Sonata, Rose Tremain. Another WWII offering. Interesting but ultimately fell flat in some significant ways for me. It's ok. The book has been released.

Carousel Court, Joe McGinniss Jr. A look at the 2008 crash of the housing market. A no holds barred look at the failing marriage of a couple who bought too much house with plans to flip it. Refreshingly, it factors in their greed as much as that of the evil bankers. Rated a hard R, not for those trying to avoid language and sex. Recommended. The book has been released.

Dear Mr. M., Herman Koch. If you liked The Dinner, you're most likely going to enjoy Dear Mr. M. Reading Koch is a bit like watching M. Knight Shamalamalama movies, you know there's a devious twist coming and you're looking for it the entire time. Does it ruin the experience? I thought it might, but it didn't. Recommended. Released in September.

[Paperback Writer]

Moonglow, Michael Chabon. This one is excellent and seems more likely to draw the kind of critical acclaim he drew with "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay" than his last novel. I'm not saying he wins the Pulitzer, but I'm guessing it may be in the discussion. Utterly readable with some fresh takes on WWII. This is written somewhat in the style recently popularized by Karl Ove Knausgaard, a philosophical but fictional memoir. Even if it's only 25% true, it's pretty fascinating and since he's already labeling it fiction, it really doesn't matter how much is true. Strongly recommended. Release date is Nov. 22.

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll be reading this one. Watched the film Wonder Boys again last night -enjoyed reading the book and love the movie. Are you predicting a second Pulitzer for Chabon?

Carousel Court, Joe McGinniss Jr. A look at the 2008 crash of the housing market. A no holds barred look at the failing marriage of a couple who bought too much house with plans to flip it. Refreshingly, it factors in their greed as much as that of the evil bankers. Rated a hard R, not for those trying to avoid language and sex. Recommended. The book has been released.

I might read this one as well. I've always thought too much blame of the housing crash was placed on Wall St. and the evil bankers. There was a lot of Main St. greed taking place and fueling the housing demand. Thanks again.

[SteelBlue]

I might read this one as well. I've always thought too much blame of the housing crash was placed on Wall St. and the evil bankers. There was a lot of Main St. greed taking place and fueling the housing demand. Thanks again.

No problem. I just re-read my synopsis and it sounds like non-fiction. This is indeed fiction, and the housing crash is simply the setting. Just FYI.