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Stardust Mirror

(611 posts)
12. Reading several at once
Sun Jun 2, 2024, 11:54 AM
Jun 2024

"The Occasionally Disgusting Adventures of Brian and Sprig" by Myriad Sprite
Loving this book. I would describe the humor as exuberant and surprising. I am hoping this author has other books. I would rush thru this book (45% done) but I don't want it to be over.

"Burr: A Novel" by Gore Vidal. Finding this much easier to get into then the later books in his series, which I plan to revisit after finishing this one.

"Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy. People keep putting this in their lists of the greatest American novels. The violence and bloodshed is not so shocking as I expected it to be, probably because I've read so much history of what Europeans did in North, Central and South America since their invasions. Some of the prose seems hallucinogenic to me and he definitely makes up words (on my Kindle I can underline the word but dictionary.com and wikipedia return no results). This book offers nothing to me, except perhaps a lesson that writers need not be limited to real words or coherent descriptions, ie., that impressions are enough. To someone unfamiliar with American history it might have an impact. I'm halfway thru it and don't plan to finish any time soon.

"Moby Dick" by Herman Melville. My third attempt to read what is often hailed as one of the greatest pieces of American literature, I am not finding it hard going at all, like in my previous attempts. Having fun discovering his sly humor. 14% of the way in so far.

"Ask The Dust" by John Frante. Writers, and Amazon, hold this novel in high regard ("is a virtuoso performance by an influential master of the twentieth-century American novel&quot . I can see why writers like it, he has an interesting, direct, plain-spoken writing style. We'll see if the subject matter ends up engaging my interest. So far (8% in ), no.

"American Psycho" by Bret Easton Ellis. Another novel claimed to be among the greatest. I'm gonna have to give it more time, only %5 in so far, but at this point all it is is a constant stream of designer name brand name dropping. I'm hoping there is more to this novel so I'll persist.

"You Dreamed Of Empires" by Alvaro Enrique. I am enjoying this book so far, although the prevalence of Aztec (?) names has made it a little hard to keep track. Reviewers have much praise for this book, most of which I join.

"The Judge Hunter" by Christopher Buckley. I absolutely love all his books. How such a politically insightful author could be the offspring of the thoroughly repulsive William F. Buckley, Jr. is beyond me. This book takes place in colonial America. If you haven't read any of his books, "Thank You For Smoking" is even better that the movie is was made into, and "Florence Of Arabia" is great fun, but you can't go wrong with any of his books.

I've just been reading some British police things. Waiting for the next Jodi Taylor Time Police book on the 6th. Srkdqltr Jun 2024 #1
I read that, too hermetic Jun 2024 #2
The Gentleman in Moscow series NanaCat Jun 2024 #35
A Gentleman in Moscow is a good book. murielm99 Jun 2024 #3
Story this week was more lightning, rain, power blips and 6-hr power outage due to wind damage. txwhitedove Jun 2024 #4
Elliot's book sounds really good hermetic Jun 2024 #5
Our library is a ransomeware attack victim. Libraries cbabe Jun 2024 #6
OMG! How awful hermetic Jun 2024 #9
Sorry to tell you but cbabe Jun 2024 #11
Toronto's library site got attacked last fall NanaCat Jun 2024 #41
Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley again NanaCat Jun 2024 #7
Glad you survived hermetic Jun 2024 #16
Books of 883 pages NanaCat Jun 2024 #27
Jonathan Kellerman "Killer" an Alex Delaware novel. brer cat Jun 2024 #8
a great series, with wonderful characters.... bahboo Jun 2024 #10
Yeah, hermetic Jun 2024 #17
Reading several at once Stardust Mirror Jun 2024 #12
Wow hermetic Jun 2024 #15
if you don't know them you need to check out: Stardust Mirror Jun 2024 #18
I've read all hermetic Jun 2024 #19
Westlake is cataloged as Mystery but Stardust Mirror Jun 2024 #20
One of my favourite book titles is by Westlake NanaCat Jun 2024 #42
Love Pratchett and Hiaasen. I just picked up "Wrecker" one of his YA but not really novels yellowdogintexas Jun 2024 #21
Good Omens was my gateway to Pratchett Stardust Mirror Jun 2024 #23
I think there is supposed to be a 3rd season of Good Omens. I hope so yellowdogintexas Jun 2024 #37
I may be in the minority of people who NanaCat Jun 2024 #29
thanks for the heads up Stardust Mirror Jun 2024 #31
I may be the only English major in the US who managed to avoid reading Moby DIck yellowdogintexas Jun 2024 #38
Bartleby is one of his best works NanaCat Jun 2024 #40
Just started a series by a fellow DUer. Birth of the Black Orchids by M. R. Dimond EverHopeful Jun 2024 #13
Oh Fun! hermetic Jun 2024 #14
I'm about 1/3 of the way into Lief Enger's latest (which you recently read) japple Jun 2024 #22
You are most welcome. hermetic Jun 2024 #24
Thanks for the spoiler hint. I will approach the book tonight with new awareness. It explains japple Jun 2024 #25
I didn't want to spoil that detail for you NanaCat Jun 2024 #30
"Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang" by Kate Wilhelm Jeebo Jun 2024 #26
Nice find hermetic Jun 2024 #28
Looks like I need to put this one on my TBR list, which I need to re-name "bucket list." japple Jun 2024 #39
In the middle of a weird one Jilly_in_VA Jun 2024 #32
The Lincoln Highway wendyb-NC Jun 2024 #33
Seems like everything by Towles is exceptional NanaCat Jun 2024 #34
Gentleman In Moscow is a wonderful, I'll even say epic read wendyb-NC Jun 2024 #36
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