I agree you need to be selective given your time constraints. The Expanse series is not great literature but is entertaining. You may be better off reading more selectively given other demands on your time.
I found during my working years I primarily read non-fiction as I could not find the time to read much good fiction. In retirement, I resolved to make up for those lost reading years. Every Sunday, I try to find one interesting book from the NY Times Book Review to order. Those invariably are worthwhile.
Yes, I re-read Babbitt two weeks ago as it is my favourite Sinclair Lewis novel. Elmer Gantry is also good as it reminds us of how long religious snake oil salesmen have been around.
The most chilling of his novels is It Canāt Happen Here, chronicling the rise of a right wing dictator in the US. Similar to, but better than, Philip Rothās The Plot Against America.
My next podcast is going to be on the deaths of all the named characters in Bleak House.
Itās the dying-est of the named characters of all his novels (if we allowed for deaths of unnamed characters, then Tale of Two Cities would come out on top, of course).
I could do a countdown of my favorite Dickensian deaths, but tops has got to be the spontaneous combustion of Krook in Bleak House. Difficult to top that one.
Aftermath: Life in the Fallout of the Third Reich, 1945-1955 by Harald JƤhner.
I recommend this well-documented account of the rebuilding challenges and the mental state of the German people immediately after WWII.
I was struck that there was so little remorse or guilt shown by the German people during this period: they saw themselves, rather than others, as the primary victims of WWII. Visible remorse for their treatment of others didnāt seem to happen until the 1960ās.
I finished Cold Comfort Farm, another one that is short, light, and humorous. I liked it a lot - better than the movie, which I also liked. The book is close to the movie. Since the POV, while 3rd person, was mostly focused on Flora, it seems to keep the focus more on the fact that Flora, from the start, is trying to change the lives of everyone on the farm and I think that helps move the book along better.
Just finished Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead. Characters and writing style were great, and I really enjoyed reading it even though the story didnāt completely blow me away. Iām planning to check out The Nickel Boys next.
Iāve not read it, but Iāve read the reviews in goodreads and they basically just say either āit is sillyā or āI donāt get it, but itās not aimed at meā. It gets over 4 stars, and I assume most of the goodreads reviews are not second-graders. It says āfartā a lot and includes childrens-book-style illustrations of butts. When my kid was in 2nd grade, she enjoyed butt jokes and references a lot and Iām sure would have enjoyed this a lot. Iām guessing she still would.
Assuming there is nothing truly inappropriate for a young child. Any book that makes children enjoy reading or being read to is a positive. I donāt care if it is educational. Teach children to love books, the education will come
I have to confess to having intentionally used ābottomā rather than ābuttā with my daughter (and still do, now that I think of it, although it doesnāt come up in the conversation as much now), but that was knowing it was inevitable that sheād quickly add butt to her vocabulary anyway and that sheād do a lot of laughing and commenting about butts anyway. Iād have not been bothered by it.
We had a silly rule when our kids were smallāwe didnāt say ābuttā. This extended to we didnāt say ābutā. We were forever trying out various replacements for both.
Ah, the good olā days.
Where was that? Mississippi? And their schools rank how, compared to other states? And this book is what they are concerned about?
Sounds like something that would happen in my state.
