next genre, historical fiction - Legacy - Michener
Just finished The Honorary Consul by Graham Greene.
next genre - Literary Fiction - a tough definition, but i see it as a story more about the characters, than the plot.
Their Eyes Were Watching God - Hurston
âHow Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinkingâ
Currently listening to Conclave. Actuaries were mentioned.
just finished Don Quixote
yes, felt very modern in terms of meta-fictional, commenting not only on tales of knights-errant and other romances (and I learned this is where the idea for Shakespeareâs(/Fletcherâs) lost play Cardenio came from) â the ending is a downer, alas.
But I kind of put Quixote with Tom Jones & Tristram Shandy in terms of some of what itâs doing with fiction, in commenting on fiction
I did like the bits where heâs complaining about the fraudulent versions of Quixote & also how the translators were messing up his text
I started My Friends by Fredrik Backman today. I can tell itâs going to be an emotional wringer. The author understands grief, thatâs for sure.
Re-read Richard Rohmerâs Ultimatum and Exxoneration in the past few days.
These books were Canadian bestsellers in 1973/74 and are enjoying a renaissance because of the Trump presidency. The books deal with a perenniel Canadian concern: US annexation.
In Ultimatum, the US President threatens Canada with devastating economic measures if we do not surrender our vast Arctic energy resources to the US. Canada responds with a generous counter proposal to ensure the US has sufficient access to energy but it falls short of the US sovereignty demand.
The US President then unilaterally declares Canada to be part of the US.
Exxoneration deals with the US military operation to enforce its annexation of Canada. Spoiler: Canada exploits the US military superiority and its overconfidence to thwart the invasion, along with some help from Russia. The rest of the book deals with Petro-Canadaâs attempted takeover of Exxon.
Richard Rohmer is now 101 and gave a recent interesting interview on the current environment. The Canadian PM in his books is reminiscent of Mark Carney so I found the books to be prescient. The American President is a chest-pounding RepublicanâŠ
I would be interested in seeing this interview.
Louise Penny fans may want to try to visit her in Knowlton, Quebec this summer. Knowlton is the inspiration for Three Pines.
LOUISE PENNY, INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE CHIEF INSPECTOR GAMACHE SERIES, BASED IN QUEBECâS EASTERN TOWNSHIPS
âHow I plan to unwind this summer:
This summer, Iâm staying home. Itâs been a while since Iâve seen my peonies bloom and I donât want to miss it this year. I like nothing better than to sit in a lounge chair in my garden with a coffee, read and toss the ball to my two Labrador retrievers. I also recently bought a building in Knowlton, Que., where I live. A bookstore called Brome Lake Books (the inspiration for Myrnaâs bookshop in the Inspector Gamache novels) is on the first floor. This summer, weâre opening a cozy cafĂ© underneath the store called La Joie de Lire, based on the fictional Olivierâs Bistro. It has two big fireplaces, easy chairs and all the pastries I talk about in my books. I plan to spend lots of time there, too, with a cafĂ© au lait or cappuccino, talking to friends and customers and eating the profits.â
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ok, Womenâs Fiction, Certain Girls, Jennifer Weiner
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
Is this book good? Did you like it? We have it at home. Our daughter read it in her high school English literature class, but she said she canât remember it anymore. Thinking of reading it if good.
I got about halfway through the audiobook. I still have it on my Libby shelf but Iâm not sure Iâll finish it.
i did like it. Rather simplistic story telling. Took a while to get used to reading the dialect. I also wish some things were expanded upon, a rather short book. More slice of life things than a true plot, but interesting perspective of a rather strong minded black woman in 1930s FL
Thanks. Iâll add it to my reading list.
Just finished âWings On My Sleeveâ, Eric âWinkleâ Brownâs autobiography which focuses very much on flying. Itâs well worth reading if you are interested in aviation, especially during WWII and the development of the jet age. As a naval aviator he holds the record for the most aircraft carrier landings (over 2000) and as a test pilot, the record for flying the most different types of aircraft (just short of 500 - and the 12 different marks of Spitfire he flew only count as one!)
Itâs all related in a terse, understated style with a touch of dry humour.
James by Percival Everett.
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My wife has this. Will read when she is finished
on my list