CINDY READS WITH NEW EYES 3rd quarter

Welcome to you all! My name is Cindy,(cindydavid4) I joined in 2016. I read just about anything; lately I have enjoyed reading works in translation which really has opened up my world. Over these 8 years Ive discovered books and authors I would never have known about without LT. Ive also taken part in wonderful book discussions with the other readers here and 'met' folks who Ive come to know, and look forward this year of doing more of the same! I welcome you all to this thread and hope we can have some great book discussions

Ive taught children with special needs for 35 years in Phoenix, retired 4 years ago. In my spare time I read, garden, folk dance, and volunteer at a childrens museum, and travel with my husband.

Looking forward to the new quarter,and wishing you all a great reading time!

I am changing the format of my thread to make it easier for me to see what I am reading from month to month. Rather than keeping track of them in challenges, Ill be listing challenges and tags next to each book

RTT reading through time
RG reading globally
MA monthly author themes
NF non fiction challenge
DW discworld
SF short fiction

TAGS
f fiction
nf non fiction
ss short stories
sf science fiction
fan fantasy
sc science
b biography
h history
t travel
hs historic fiction

MONTHLY READING

JANUARY

ancestor stones 4.5 *

east of eden3

equal rites 5

apples are from Khazikstan 4.5

where the wild winds are 3

the gamehouse4.5

in the mountains 4.5

Elizabeths german garden a literary journey 4,5

FEBRUAR

becoming a nun in the age of aquarius 5

vaster wilds2

walking the winds and waters,4

how to build a boat 5

MARCH

wifedom5

wryd sisters5

the 100 years of Linni and Margo 4,5

short stories of edith wharton 4.5

ladies lunch 4.5

olga dreams dying DNF

glimpses of the moon4.5

the great escape of Edith Wharton5

APRIL
to shape a dragons breath4.5

twilight sleep 4.5

the children 4.5

tiffany achings guide to being a witch4

the crooked plow 4.5

james 5

may

the ultimate discworld companion5

witches abroad 4,5

the mammoth book of time travel4

razors edge5

the last list of mabel beaumont 4

The Harvest Gypsies: On the Road to the Grapes of Wrath 4.5

june

the fawn for RG theme landlocked countries 5

the alhambra for RTT June theme "wonders of the world" 5

a court of thorns and roses RLRG 3

lady to fox Anita 5

July

lords and ladies discworld 4.5

the black count July french theme 5

Monsieur Linh and His Child for Anita 5

a man in the zoo for anita 4,5

table for two4.5

the book censors library August theme the joy of reading 5

the journal I didnt write 5

go went gone 5

coming up

the golem of brooklyn4.5

July - September 2020 - Arthurian Britain Pendragon Cycle by Stephen LawheadDNF

august monthy author James Baldwind dnf

august non fiction challenge being jewish
people love dead jews 4.5

september monthly author Jane Gardam

Sept theme royals Four Reigns Kukrit Pramoj 3.5
4,5

Danube 5

madensky square5

October

Nonfiction Music

RTT theme Adultry
hester

Author of the month
IB singerthe family moskat

RTT November theme

REVIEWS MY RATING SYSTEM from Chatterbox

1.5 or less: A tree gave its life so that this book could be printed and distributed?(Usually DNT)

1.5 to 2.7: Are you really prepared to give up hours of your life for this?? I wouldn't recommend doing so...

2.8 to 3.3: Do you need something to fill in some time waiting to see the dentist? Either reasonably good within a ho-hum genre (chick lit or thrillers), something that's OK to read when you've nothing else with you, or that you'll find adequate to pass the time and forget later on.

3.4 to 3.8: Want to know what a thumping good read is like, or a book that has a fascinating premise, but doesn't quite deliver? This is where you'll find 'em.

3.9 to 4.4: So, you want a hearty endorsement? These books have what it takes to make me happy I read them.

4.5 to 5: The books that I wish I hadn't read yet, so I could experience the joy of discovering them again for the first time. Sometimes disquieting, sometimes sentimental faves, sometimes dramatic, sometimes so astonishingly well-written that they make me swoon. Always transformative and memorable

MY REVIEWS

I dont review everything I read, but ill at least give some clue as how i felt about it When I review a book, I follow this template that has served me well

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS BOOK?

SYNOPSIS W/O SPOILERS

WHAT KEPT YOU READING?

WHAT SLOWED YOU DOWN?

WHO WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS TO?

RATING

quarter summaries

BOOKS 1ST QUARTER

I read 22 books this quarter, four of them non fiction

TOP FICTION

LESSONS IN CHEMISTRy

HOW TO MAKE A BOAT

WYRD SISTERS

GLIMPSES OF THE MOON

SPECTATOR BIRD

TWILIGHT SLEEPING

NON FICTION

WIFEDOM

ELIZABETH AND HER GERMAN GARDEN

THE BRAVE ESCAPE OF EDITH WHARTON

A STROKE OF THE PEN

This quarter ive enjoyed reading Edith Wharton. Id read house of mirth and age of innocence in HS but never was interested in the rest of her work. But I started with old new york and was hooked!

BOOKS 2ND QUARTER I read 18 books

top fiction

james

to shape a dragons breath

spectator bird

north woods

witches abroad

the children

crooked plow

Monsieur Linh and his child

razors edge

a lady into a fox

wryd sisters

a guide to being a witch

lords and ladies

top non fiction

tales of the alhambra

gypsy harvest

the well lived life

This quarter I discovered some amazing reads, by new to me authors

percival everette

Philippe Claudel

david garnett

daniel mason

only two read in translation; the Claudel and the Itamar Vieira Junior. will need to do more this next quarter

I think my biggest surprise was irving washington
in jr hi I read his rip van winkle and the headless horseman but had no idea about his travel narratives, esp tales of alhambra, so well done I felt I was right by his side, experiencing everything he saw. Ill be reading more of his soon

Not sure why I had so few non fiction, seems the quarter was awash in fiction!

3rd quarter Id like to read more non fiction as well as more books in translation

If you are interested I have a list of fav reads from 2016 to present in my profile.

Now reading go, went, gone a book Ive been meaning to read and since Im in between books right now, thought Id give it a go. also coming up tree by percival everett (touchstone is wrong)

Happy New Thread, Cindy!

I think your review for Lady Into Fox is fascinating. I've added it to my wishlist.

Thanks! He has other book I want to try a man in the zoo that also looks interesting.

read about a chance meeting: american encounters in the nyer, and it sounded fascinating. Just received it this morning so will add to the balls i mean books im juggling It was first published in 2004 and the NY Review of Books has rerelased it.

go went gone is a brilliant and scathing look at the refugee situation, and a man wanting to help, focusing on the insane kafta like laws that are designed to not allow any refugee assylum. This was written in 2017, dont think things have changed much since then. Not quite finished; Ill post a review soon

btw I couldnt help but compare Richard in this book with Martin in the children both men see an injustice and want to help. good people do indeed exist; something I need to remember on this day

>11 cindydavid4: good people do indeed exist; something I need to remember

That's why The Day the World Came to Town was a good read for me in an election year. Even if the good people were Canadians (known to be nice, unlike Americans). It's nice to know they exist.

Now reading Reading The Danube: a cultural history for the Reading Globally 3rd Quarter Theme, "the Danube'' (natch)

AlsoTable for Two Didn't realize this was a short story collection and am enjoying them' And realized I bough the book censors library a while back, need to start it sometime

I loved The Book Censor's Library, Cindy. I hope you do too!

Review of the journal I did not keep

why did you choose this book?

I had read her ladies lunch which I just adored. Looked for her other work and was interested in the title

synopsis w/o spoiler

The author has frequently written about the Holocaust through works of fiction, non-fiction, and previously published columns talks about its effect on her family her friends and her life. At age ten she was sent on the Kindertransport from Vienna to England to escape the Nazi invasion of Austria; grew up among English foster families; and eventually made her way to the United States and these stories cover these events

What kept you reading?

like in ladies lunch, she has an informal easy touch on her subjects and story. It was quite easy to read this over a weekend, but not so easy to read about what she and her family endured. I realized that Id really like to read more and was pleased to find shakespears kitchen and tell me a mitziI suspect I will read these for the non fiction challenge on being Jewish next month

recommended to anyone interested in clear, personal writing of this topic

rating 5*

review of go went gone

Why did you choose this book?

I found her Kairos very interesting and it was suggested by some here to read this one

synopsis w/o spoilers

'The novel tells the tale of Richard, a retired classics professor who lives in Berlin. His wife has died, and he lives a routine existence until one day he spies some African refugees staging a hunger strike in Alexanderplatz. Curiosity turns to compassion and an inner transformation, as he visits their shelter, interviews them, and becomes embroiled in their harrowing fates.

What kept you reading?

not only did I keep reading but could not put it down. "Go, Went, Gone is a scathing indictment of Western policy toward the European refugee crisis, but also a touching portrait of a man who finds he has more in common with the Africans than he realizes." I absolutly loved Richard. He sees how these refugees are being treated and has the heart to want to help, Theres plenty of humor here, in their intereactions, misunderstandings, in his flirting with a Dutch English teacher, in his dealings with the 'law' that only knows rules and no mercy. The system used to give asylum can only be called Kafkain (sp) I was so angry at the end of this, but at the same time touched by Richards efforts and once again saw goodness in humanity

I did see a review that spoke of the white savior syndrome I understand what they are saying, but dont think this is whats happening here. but its a debate for others than me

recommende to anyone interested in immigration

rating 5*

>16 cindydavid4: I think it might have been me who recommended this book. In any case it is one of my favorite Erpenbeck and I thought it much better in substance than Kairos

oh no question! I was bothered by the december may relationship, but I found the history of east germany interesting as I knew little about it Thanks for the rec!

>18 cindydavid4: Yes , the December-May thing was annoying. You’ll probably enjoy Visitation .

>16 cindydavid4: Oh, another really interesting review and a five star recommendation. It's one my local library has, so I've requested it.

BTW sometimes I use parts of other reviews if they express what Im thinking much better I usuallly will credit the review and put the selection in quotes.

>15 cindydavid4: Sounds like another great Segal read.

thanks; she has so many others I should read! still writing and still kicking at 96!

still on black count, getting a bit hung up on all the battles but am enjoying it. did not realize France helped Italy become independent

Finished table for two I really enjoyed the short stories,not so much the novella

still reading book censors library almost finished but keep getting distracted by othr books!

For Anita, reading a man in the zoo by the same author of lady in to fox which I liked.

and just received visitation and the end of dayswhich might have to wait until next month....

How are you liking Book Censor's Library? I loved it.

Im liking a lot. just about finished (Black Count has me stuck there for a time)

Hi Cindy - The Book Censor's Library sounds really intriguing. It's not available in my library system but I'll keep an eye open for it.

just finished the book censors libraryGiven whats happening these days, its a sirens warning, but no ones listenng. review later, but highly recommended

just finished the black count and omg I was crying at the end of this non fiction biography of Dumas and his son. Napoleon was a monster, he totally erased everything the constituion did. He killed thousands of Black citizens and officers and sent more to slavery. I think I need to reread count of monte cristo Glad I read this for the French theme; my head is filled with so much I didnt know.

review of the black count

Why did you choose this book?

for the July RTT theme of the month: France

synopsis w/o spoilers

Biography of Thomas-Alexandre Dumas (called Alex Dumas), father of the famous author Alexandre Dumas, and the inspiration for the protagonist of The Count of Monte Cristo. Alex Dumas was born in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (today’s Haiti) to a French father and black enslaved mother. He joined the French Army as a soldier and rose rapidly through the ranks, eventually attaining the rank of General. He was a natural leader, a man of integrity who knew how to win the hearts and minds of his troops. This book also relates the advancements in civil rights under the new French government, which unfortunately did not last but was ahead of its time. The narrative non-fiction covers Alex Dumas’s personal story against the backdrop of the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars.won the pulitzer prize in 2013, well earned

What kept you reading?

starts out with the discovery of a vault which the author had been trying to get to for years, finally he was able to beat back the paper work and rules, and was able to open it; filled with so many letters and such, He uses that as a base for his bio, but its not a data dump at all; he writes like writing a novel. I thought I knew about the revolution,but there was much I didnt; about the equality of people of color, of Dumas and his sucesses of the battle of the Nile under Napolian who is an utter monster, and of the son, writer of Count of Monte Cristo in honor of his father. I soaked it all in

issues

needed a readable map, ended up skimming some of the endless battles, think he might be wrong about France being the first country to free the slaves; know the author is wrong about France being the first Christian county ; he skipped over a lot of the Terror, but I think because it was focused on Dumas this might not be a problem, Otherwise its a book I could not put down

recommended to anyone who wants to know more about people of color in the French colonies and their treatment before and after Napolian, want to read the the background of the count of monte cristo anyone who wants better understand race relations as they developed to where they are today

rating 5

>30 cindydavid4: Great review, and this is definitely going on my list.

review of the book censor's library

why did you choose this book?

lots of readers who are reading pals read it and keep asking me if I read it. Ok ok I did

Synopsis w/o spoilers

An unnamed man has been hired as a book censor for the Government. Since the Revolution, many things have been banned: the internet, poetry, cars, art, and any books that make mention of forbidden things. In the Book Censor's Manual for Correct Reading, he is instructed to look for three words in particular: God, Government, and Sex. At first, he is tested with drivel that bores him to tears, but is permissible. His first test with a book that should be banned is Zorba the Greek. But the problem is that he loves this book. Is there a way to allow it to be circulated? If not, is there a way to save it from the Purification Day pyres?

what kept you reading?

the writing, the story, the characters; even tho I sorta knew what was going to happen, the ending still surprised me. Liked how she used literature to build the story of the 'revolution'

a few quotes

"the events in this story happen sometime in the future, in a place that would be pointless to name, since it resembles every other place"

"human existence is suffering, the root of suffering is desire, the root of disire is imagination"

'his job was to fill the world with drivel. He had to make sure that no one craved books.He come to understand that they werent waging a war against books as much as a war against reading"

"by then he would have wrapped himself into a hard shell. he would be immune to meaning, His life wouols be normal and hed be a normal person never wondering for a single second who he was"

recommended to anyone concerned about what is happening and who can pass it on to ones who dont know

rating 5

>32 cindydavid4: I'm glad you enjoyed The Book Censor's Library, Cindy. One thing that surprised me is that the book is written in Arabic by a Kuwaiti author. It feels so pertinent to the US situation, but I guess wars against books are universal, unfortunately.

So Im startingthe golem of Brooklyn because im in between july and august books and this has been on my shelves for a while. Didnt realize the author was the same who wrote go the fuck to sleep one of my fav books for giving new parents. should be fun

Just finished the golem of brooklynand loved it. The author also wrote 'go the fuck to sleepan hilarious take on parent nightly battle,written in fairy tale style So of course there are some pretty funny scenes in the book, but he also knows Jewish history well, and keeps the story focused on how Jews defend them selves without becoming the haters. well worth reading. rating 4.5

just received the three arched bridge looking forward to it

reading Taliesin by Stephen R. Lawhead for the king arthur RG quarter theme I have time so I think Ill start this on the drive to the beach. Very happy with the copy great cover good shape and text that is actually large enough to read!

Finished the library book for the July RTT theme the joy of reading. this book is a collection of essays by brit writers telling about what the libraries have done for them as a reader, writer and person.I enjoyed reading them, and hope the same hope they do:that libraries will continue to be part of our world

Ive read 10 books this month! considering Im not able to do a lot of running around, Im using my time wisely I think.

>39 cindydavid4: That's fantastic, Cindy! I had a good reading month too, especially compared to last year. Summer is usually my slow time for reading.

Good for you with ten books in July! I read slightly fewer than I usually do - the heat is not encouraging me to read. Even though I run a cold air humidifier, my eyes are burning by the evenings.

I have a couple of your recent recs on my stacks now : Go Went Gone from the library and The Book Censor's Library which I plopped down actual coin to order. And more than coin, it's always a commitment for space when I buy one.

Excellent always willing to enable um I mean advise :)

I read the three arched bridge over 24 hours and I am so sorry I havent heard of him before. Can anyone tell me where I should go next with him? sadly he has passed so whats here is it.

Interesting subject about albania in between the fight of the byzantium and ottaman empires. The balkans have been an interest of mine since I started learning international folk dancing and along the way learning the history of its conflicts. This book covers the very beginning f those conflicts in a very interesting way

I am just loving the heck out of west with the giraffesreading it for a RL book groul. Have never heard about this event, and love how the author develops the character as well how she draws the giraffes. this looks like her debut; if so I hope she has another book soon

Oh I am so disapponted in west with giraffes up till the last quarter, it was riviting, exciting and couldnt put it down. But this debut author does not know how to end a book, the last part was overrought and really unnecessary, too bad it was ready to be a 5, but instead its a very low 3.

that being said, she gave us a story of a true event that most of us dont know about and brought it to life, so ok, a 4, in the hope that she will get a good editor for her next ont

Four Reigns

Kukrit Pramoj
,

Hi Cindy! That's too bad about the last quarter of West With Giraffes. Your first post made it sound wonderful and I wondered if it might work for my book club. Oh well. What did the rest of your book group feel about it?

they were less bothered by the ending than I was and really liked it. Id try it with your book group; it is an interesting read and an unusual history that few know about.

double post

Sept reads

september monthly author the stories of Jane Gardam

sept RTT theme royals Four Reigns Kukrit Pramoj

sept Maskerade disc world witches

RG theme June-SeptDanube

october countryRay Bradbury reading group

>30 cindydavid4: Thanks for this review, Cindy! My interest is definitely piqued. I've thought of reading The Count of Monte Cristo from time to time, but have never gotten to it, so maybe this will get me there. Do you have any thoughts on whether I would do better to read The Black Count first, or The Count of Monte Cristo?

reading the count of monte cristo would give you a good background but really all you need to know is that alexandre dumas bases his book on his fathers (alex dumas) experiences. The kindle version gives you a good introduction and has notes throughout the story so you might not need to have read the prior book. However it is really wonderful and if you have not read the book first, be sure to do so afterward Either way, enjoy!

>51 Jim53: Don't delay - just jump right in to The Count of Monte Cristo!

Id be interested by your thoughts of either book

been a while...made some detours and read some unexpected books

madensky square which I loved about a small village near the Danube between the war, the different characters of the people, centering around a dressmaker of great talent 5*

parable which I absolutely hated interesting that she wrote in in 1993, and so is quite a book close to our present. I read till I couldnt any more

still reading

siteseeing an interesting collection of short stories with the narrator telling of his life in Thailand

october country liking it thus far, finding it to be a darker side of Bradbury, but still intereting stories

>55 cindydavid4: I quite liked Parable of the Sower. What did you hate? It is very dark, for sure, but quite prescient, I thought.

the non stop onslaught of pain. precient yes, realistic sure, but it was too much agony for ne

>57 cindydavid4: Gotcha.

I liked Parable of the Sower and its sequel Parable of the Talents. I enjoy dystopian fiction - but you are definitely right; they almost all paint pretty bleak pictures.

Eager for my copy of Roths right and left and Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted and now reading the trees which Im loving. Not what I was planning to read the end of Sept but there we are ; the mind works in unusual ways Also readingoctober country for a group read and the family moskatfor another group read.

.

>60 cindydavid4: I think you will enjoy The Trees. It’s my favorite Everett book.

Im over the half way point and its not letting me go A sign of my kinda bookd

>60 cindydavid4: OMG this book was amazing! Interesting that I am also reading Bradbury's october county so Im getting well into the Halloween mood. But this is not trick or treat. I love how the authors breaks tension with humor,I love the the boy sitting with the list, erasing the names so they can be set free. I really feel the urge to reread it

Ok 2/3 so far.Which of his books should I read next?

reads from sept,and upcoming for oct

september monthly author Jane Gardam

Sept theme royals Four Reigns Kukrit Pramoj 3.5
4,5

Danube 5

madensky square5

October

Nonfiction Music

RTT theme Adultry
hester

Author of the month
IB singerthe family moskat

the best of the third quarter

the alhambra

lady to fox

a man in the zoo

the black count

Monsieur Lind and his child

the book censors library

go, went, gone

the trees

These books all have something in common: the story telling the talent each of these authors had them kept me me in their world and wouldnt let go. When they came to the end my first thought was to reread them. If I dont, all of these stories and these characters will stay with me a very long time

Hi Cindy! I just finished James and will definitely put more Percival Everett on the tbr list. Trees sounds like a good one - as do some of his others. I'll be interested to see which you choose.

I read Go Went Gone at the beginning of August, even though I'm just writing my review for it. She's definitely another author I want to read more.

Trees was amazing; hard to review it because I just cant find the words to use to express how I felt when I read it. It is certainly one of the best books Ive ever read highly recommended

Im readingvisitation now and liking it; It reminds me of North Woods which I loved; obvious differences but a good read

>67 cindydavid4: I had a similar reaction to Trees, it just sort of blew me away by the time of the end. I’m thinking I’ll hold off from The Family Moskat for awhile; hoping we’ll hear from Kate. As I recall you weren’t planning to start it just now anyway, and it’s not even October yet. (I did read first chapter and it’s very promising!) I checked out Satan in Goray for a short Singer read.

>68 dianelouise100: Oh Ill be ready to read FM when it shows up, probably in a week or so so count me in. Kate I think mignt be ill; Im hoping to hear from her soon to see how shes doing.

I also discovered that his speech he gave upon receiving the Nobel was publised. I found a decent copy, which I should be getting soon (I dearly wanted the 1st edition copy with his signature, printed in English and Yiddish for $349 It was hard but I held my self back. for now.)

now reading hester ,between two kingdomswhich I am loving, and continuing with october country a great bunch of short stories just right for Halloween!

guess I should follow the crowd and start my new thread. been putting it off because I refuse to believe we only have three months till the end of the year But Ill get over it

my 4th quarter thrad is here https://www.librarything.com/topic/364712#