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What are You Reading in 2021?

Frayed Knot Jan 09 2021 07:02 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 09 2021 07:07 PM

Was finishing up this one as the previous year ended: THE ZEALOT AND THE EMANCIPATOR: John Brown, Abraham Lincoln, and the Struggle for American Freedom -- H. W. Brands (2020) [FIMG=400]https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1582221261i/50486038._UY630_SR1200,630_.jpg[/FIMG] Prolific author of American history writes about two very different paths taken by two very different men hoping for more or less the same ends. Quite good, particularly in detailing Lincoln's transition of mindset from the war being about preserving the union to realizing that such a thing couldn't be accomplished without dealing with slavery first ... essentially Brown's point all along even though he was dead before the war ever began.

Fman99 Jan 09 2021 07:05 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Interesting. I've read a ton of books about each of those two particularly interesting Americans. From the fictional side, I'd highly recommend "Cloudsplitter," by Russell Banks. Told from the perspective of Brown's son Owen, it covers most of his life from the early days up through Harpers Ferry.

cal sharpie Jan 09 2021 07:53 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Strangely enough The Zealot and the Emancipator was the first book I finished this year. I mostly agree except I felt there was a bit of lazy padding in the Lincoln part - big chunks of speeches with little insight from the author. I did learn some things about both men, however. Agree on Cloudsplitter - I highly recommend that. Also The Good Lord Bird - a funny look at a humorless man. For Lincoln fiction go with Lincoln In the Batdo.

ashie62 Jan 11 2021 04:44 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

I read Griel Marcus's book "Love goes to Building on fire." Great account of music, salas, cbgb's Phil Glass and those who "mattered in depth and within the cultural events of the seventies. Five stars.

RealityChuck Jan 13 2021 01:56 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503806495l/3985._SY475_.jpg> Been meaning to read this for years, and my daughter (who didn't know) gave it to me for Christmas. (She picks up free and cheap books and sends them as gifts.) Excellent novel in all respects

batmagadanleadoff Jan 13 2021 02:02 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503806495l/3985._SY475_.jpg> Been meaning to read this for years, and my daughter (who didn't know) gave it to me for Christmas. (She picks up free and cheap books and sends them as gifts.) Excellent novel in all respects I bought this book about four or five years ago in one of those dollar stores for a buck. It was hardcover and in brand new, never read condition. Never read it.

Fman99 Jan 13 2021 08:01 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

I've read it and it's fantastic. Along with The Yiddish Policemen's Union, one of my two favorite books by that author. I'll second also "Lincoln in the Bardo," which I read last year and enjoyed. The author works right here in Syracuse, he teaches creating writing at SU.

Johnny Lunchbucket Jan 14 2021 12:08 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Left this one off my year-end list as it wasn't read for pleasure but for money but all that said was about the best-written thing I read all year, good reporting including Things I Did Not Know, attitude, and some harrowing stories, some more interesting than others. https://cdn.winsightmedia.com/platform/files/public/2020-11/background/800x1000/The-Secret-Life-Groceries-cvr-final_1605908882.jpg>

Edgy MD Jan 14 2021 12:14 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

I've read it and it's fantastic. Along with The Yiddish Policemen's Union, one of my two favorite books by that author. I'll second also "Lincoln in the Bardo," which I read last year and enjoyed. The author works right here in Syracuse, he teaches creating writing at SU. Yeah, I'll go with endorsing just about any Chabon book I've read, even though some took me one or two starts. I think I've read his whole catalog and some even improve upon re-reads, but Cavalier and Clay is considered his masterwork with good reason.

whippoorwill Feb 16 2021 01:56 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Anybody ever read Ed McBain? I'm looking for a long series of cop stories to dig into and his name came up

cal sharpie Feb 17 2021 07:23 AM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

I read one or two Ed McBain novels about 30 years ago. I remember thinking they were pretty good. He's no Elmore Leonard though.

whippoorwill Feb 17 2021 08:47 AM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Elmore Leonard? I'll have to check him out too

TransMonk Mar 29 2021 01:21 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

I just finished this one, which was excellent. https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1597267568l/51152447._SY475_.jpg> On to this one in time for Opening Day. https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585165117l/53066646._SX318_SY475_.jpg>

Johnny Lunchbucket Mar 29 2021 01:30 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

I started the Gordon book last night. Leadoff homer with the Payson insights

Edgy MD Aug 12 2021 07:35 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Anybody crack this one? I'm about 40% in and taken. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41+2DiWeWAS._SX345_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg>

Edgy MD Sep 29 2021 01:01 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

So, that's a no? In The Premonition, Michael Lewis follows a group of rogue operatives, each grossly and painfully aware how ill-equipped the United States government infrastructure is to fight a pandemic. By pluck and luck, this small group of individuals — public health officers, epidemiologists, former government employees, and statisticians — find each other in an e-mail chain, and come to form a shadow CDC, building policies and establishing technology to confront infectious disease pandemics, even before COVID-19 becomes a thing. But a thing it does become, and while they daily advance the art and science of fighting a pandemic they had all predicted, they are overcome with the Cassandra Complex, each in their own sphere frustrated by the nature of pandemic and politics, which encourages little to no action at all by public policymakers. Because no matter what the outcome, some will die — and the worser outcome you perhaps prevented will be unknown — and so you don't want to be the owner of the plan when those funerals come. Everybody is afraid to be left holding the bodybags. So, as the governments become manically obsessed with appearing to care but passing the buck to others, the most remarkable of these Cassandras — she should actually just change her name to Cassandra — emerges. She is Charity Dean, a health officer in Santa Barbara, who eventually joins the California State Health Department, and just refuses to hear people say NO anymore, and so wakes up every morning prepared to be promoted or fired or possibly both, but gives zero shits anyhow. Among the acknowledgements at the end, Lewis thanks various persons for reading different versions of his manuscript. Among the names, as you might expect, is that of his wife, music journalist Tabitha Soren, but after her, surprisingly, comes the name Scott Hatteberg.

Johnny Lunchbucket Sep 29 2021 09:06 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Someone beat me to writing this, so next on the list. https://media2.fdncms.com/hou/imager/u/blog/11814837/hou_mus_mellencampcover.jpg>

Edgy MD Sep 29 2021 09:54 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

You can't fool me, Rees. That's totally a picture of Cougar. Hey didn't you just know these two crazy kids would eventually end up together? [YOUTUBE]hHLGZxlBpLA[/YOUTUBE]

Johnny Lunchbucket Sep 30 2021 07:02 AM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

That was kind of depressing. I dunno, I don't really love JCM's stuff. I kinda think it's competent and means well but it's like he's been writing and rewriting "Human Wheels" for 35 years, and here comes a fiddle solo. Mellancamp by most accounts is a complete asshole, so thins might be an interesting book.

Edgy MD Sep 30 2021 08:11 AM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

That was more than a little depressing, but I consider witnessing such an important coupling to be my musical responsibility. The Klassick Kougar Kajun elements (fiddle and a little bit of accordion) are the best part, and those musicians don't even appear in the Thom Zimny video. Rolling Stone described the track as "rollicking" but that word must've been the product of the Rolling Stone Random Adjective GeneratorTM, because that is something like the last word I'd use to describe it.

Marshmallowmilkshake Sep 30 2021 11:26 AM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

https://img.thriftbooks.com/api/images/i/m/215BC0F67A2185A044795897DDB64498FFDF9D82.jpg> I've been listening to Jay Jay's podcast, and he's really interesting. He calls this a "bizoir," a business book and a memoir in one. A fun read so far. I remember seeing Twisted at Hammerheads in its bar days, and later when they made it big. They were all very nice when I met them a couple times. I used to record the concerts that were live on WBAB and WLIR and played the heck out of those things before they finally got a record deal. I used to really like Mellencamp, and his "Cuttin' Heads" is really underrated. Saw him on the "Words and Music" tour with Donovan, and it was a great show. Rather than have Donovan come out first as an opener and play to a half-empty arena, he brought him on stage in the middle of the set, and Donovan played with Mellencamp's band. Mellencamp then came back up and they did some songs together before Donovan departed. I thought that was a classy thing. He kind of lost me at "Life Death Love and Freedom."

Johnny Lunchbucket Sep 30 2021 01:23 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

I read Dee's book, where he barely even mentions his bandmates. It's really indulgent and only a little interesting. Jay Jay's might well be better. My big takeaway from Dee's book was that for bands like the Good Rats, Zebra, Race Race Choir and others on that Hammerheads circuit, that was a good living in itself, and aspiring to be "bigger" was above all a risky move financially for them.

Edgy MD Sep 30 2021 02:07 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

During a Twisted Sister hiatus, I stumbled across a Village Voice classified ad (I would read these religiously), and found TS guitarist Eddie Ojeda advertising for students. I showed it to my friend Fabio who was a Dee-voted band fanatic even while acknowledging how ridiculous the music from their breakthough success was, as well as a stuck-at-novice-level guitarist not unlike myself. We laughed and speculated on how much his rates might exceed the standard due to the TS brand and how small the overlap of the circle of Sister fans might be with the circle of Voice classified combers. But I saw Fab in September, asked him about his summer, and he owned up to studying guitar under Eddie. I asked how it went and he answered, "I wasted that motherfucker's time as well as my own money, and actually became a worse guitarist, but thank you for asking."

Johnny Lunchbucket Oct 13 2021 05:23 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Someone beat me to writing this, so next on the list. https://media2.fdncms.com/hou/imager/u/blog/11814837/hou_mus_mellencampcover.jpg> Good read. A lot of the same stuff over and over tho.

Fman99 Oct 14 2021 08:30 AM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Currently enjoying James Herriot's "The Lord God Made Them All." All of his books are great reads.

Johnny Lunchbucket Oct 23 2021 07:30 AM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Someone beat me to writing this, so next on the list. https://media2.fdncms.com/hou/imager/u/blog/11814837/hou_mus_mellencampcover.jpg> Good read. A lot of the same stuff over and over tho. https://desertislandmixtape.blogspot.com/2021/10/hey-hit-highway.html

Edgy MD Oct 23 2021 07:53 AM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Great work, although you've inadvertently put the legendary Doc Pomus' name in the place of infamous child pornographer Doc Rosser. That Christgau quote is classick. Not really fair, but just fair enough to ring true. You know who you never meet? You never meet anybody who says, "I once met Mellancamp and it was an unexpected pleasure." You meet the waiter who got stiffed on a tip, the musician who never got a callback after playing his ass of on that one session, or the roadie who was warned by everybody not to join his crew that summer, but had a kid on the way, and needed the money, and it still wasn't worth it. The tales of his legendary red ass are so consistent that people almost kind of seem to respect him for it.

Johnny Lunchbucket Oct 23 2021 01:32 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Thanks for the read!

Johnny Lunchbucket Nov 12 2021 12:47 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

somebody gimmee a book to read, wouldya

Edgy MD Nov 12 2021 01:13 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

That Grohl book is getting a lot of traction. I'd be interested in that Hillman book, but I'm crazy about Laurel Canyon stories.

cal sharpie Nov 12 2021 01:43 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

If you're looking for music bios, Louden Wainwright's LINER NOTES is pretty good.

Willets Point Nov 13 2021 04:39 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

I just finished the very long but informative Sinatra! The Song Is You: A Singer's Art by Will Friedwald should you be interested in music writing outside of the rock 'n' roll realm. https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51zAGHCXNgL.jpg>

Frayed Knot Dec 26 2021 05:37 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021? Edited 3 time(s), most recently on Dec 27 2021 04:00 PM

Not currently having a book on tap right now, my list for 2021 is complete. THE ZEALOT AND THE EMANCIPATOR: John Brown, Abraham Lincoln, and the Struggle for American Freedom — H. W. Brands (2020) ***-1/2 Contemporary Americans who took two very different paths towards the same goal. (Fiction) ANXIOUS PEOPLE — Fredrik Backman (2020) *** A group of people dealing with a crime caper that was essentially still-born as soon as it began. Not as good as several of the others I've read from this author, but still a decent story told with a unique writing style. (F) TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY — John Le Carre (1974) ** My first international spy stuff novel in eons and my first Le Carre ever, and I have to say I just didn't get it. I found it long and slow, had a tough time keeping track of the characters and even more trouble caring about them. It's probably me but, in short, it just never grabbed me. THE END OF EVERYTHING (ASTROPHYSICALLY SPEAKING) — Katie Mack (2020) **-1/2 A geeky physicist gushes about all the ways the universe might end. Reasonably well-written but, in the end, more than a bit too dense and theoretical for me. SEVEN DAYS IN AUGUSTA: Behind the Scenes at the Masters — Mark Cannizzaro (2020) ** Longtime NYPost golf writer pens a gushing tribute to the storied tournament which, when you consider that you'll find football writers critical of the NFL before you'll find a golf writer willing to say anything even remotely controversial about Augusta National or their prized event, is about what you'd expect. SPYING ON WHALES: The Past, Present and Future of Earth's Most Awesome Creatures — Nick Pyenson (2018) *** The curator of Fossil Marine Mammals at the Smithsonian examines the past, present, and future of earth's largest creatures. LET THE LORD SORT THEM: The Rise and Fall of the Death Penalty — Maurice Chammah (2021) *** Focusing largely on Texas, a look into how the death penalty in this country initially gained popularity following the Supreme Court's 1972 decision to curb it before starting to wane as time went on. BLOOD, POWDER, AND RESIDUE: How Crime Labs Translate Evidence into Proof — Beth A. Bechky (2021) *-1/2 Academic explores the world of crime lab work and somehow manages to turn what should be an interesting topic into a repetitive and extremely boring book. THE SECRET LIFE OF GROCERIES: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket — Benjamin Lorr (2020) ***-1/2 The good, the bad, and the ugly of this country's food delivery system. A CRY FROM THE FAR MIDDLE — P. J. O'Rourke (2020) *** PJO'R's usual assortment of curmudgeonly humor, mostly about politics but also straying to other topics. THE CODE BREAKER: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race — Walter Isaacson (2021) **** From the discovery of DNA through fighting Covid and (maybe) to designer babies, bio-tech is the new software revolution. But where will it lead next and who decides? Although it led to the swiftness of Covid vaccines, so there's that. BEARTOWN & US AGAINST YOU — Fredrik Backman (2017 & 2018) **** A pair of re-reads spurred by recently seeing the Five-Part Swedish language adaptation of BEARTOWN serialized on HBO. That's some good writin'! LAND: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World — Simon Winchester (2021) *** Control of it, ownership of it, enhancement (or not) of it, and the future of it. FACING THE MOUNTAIN: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II — Daniel James Brown (2021) **** Following the Japanese American experience both in the incarceration camps and those who served in the war itself, often while their parents were being deprived of their freedom. NIGHTMARE SCENARIO: Inside the Trump Administration's Response to the Pandemic that Changed History — Yasmeen Abutaleb & Damian Paletta (2021) ***-1/2 Two Washington Post reporters dissect the Trump administration's response to the Covid crisis. LANDSLIDE: The Final Days of the Trump White House — Michael Wolff (2021) ***-1/2 The third book from the author on the Trump administration covers his desperate attempt to hold onto the office. Spoiler Alert: it's not a complementary tale. I ALONE CAN FIX IT: Donald J. Trump's Catastrophic Final Year — Carol Leonnig (2021) **** I didn't actually read these last three in succession, but I was trying to take in the first draft(s) of history focusing mostly on Trump's final year in office. A second go-around for these authors (A Very Stable Genius) on Trump and my third concentrating almost entirely on his final year. The degree of childishness in his post-election loss behavior is just stunning to take in. (F) PROJECT HAIL MARY: A Novel — Andy Weir (2021) ***-1/2 The author of THE MARTIAN returns to his formula of putting an isolated smart guy into various crises and having him “science the shit” out of problems that arise. A much more far-fetched plot than his debut but still kind of geeky fun in spots. THE QUIET ZONE: Unraveling the Mystery of a Town Suspended in Silence — Stephen Kurczy (2021) **-1/2 A radio telescope in rural West Virginia requires a perimeter without (at least in theory) modern gadget interference. The author examines that area's (and his own) ability to cope in an increasingly connected world and how the odd requirements of the area makes it a beacon to various groups including not just technophobes, but back-to-land hippies, various other societal drop-outs, and its share of neo-Nazis. FUZZ: When Nature Breaks the Law — Mary Roach (2021) *** Roach applies her usual ‘fun science' approach to examining various circumstances where humans and nature collide. SO MANY WAYS TO LOSE: The Amazin' True Story of the New York Mets, the Best Worst Team in Sports — Gordon Devin (2020) **** Well written history of the Mets by a lifelong fan who gets the whole conflict between the hopeful & cynical sides of NYM fans. And even learned a few things as well. THE CAUSE: The American Revolution and its Discontents, 1773-1783 — Joseph J. Ellis (2021) ***-1/2 A quite good look at the causes of the war and at the idea that the creation of a new nation was neither an inevitability nor even the goal for most as the war began. (F) THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY — Amor Towles (2021) **-1/2 Second go-around for me with this author (Gentleman in Moscow). Good set-up and interesting characters but I'm not sure the eventual payoff was up to par. A (very) SHORT HISTORY OF LIFE ON EARTH: 4.6 Billion Years in 12 Pithy Chapters — Henry Gee (2021) **-1/2 Pretty much what the title suggests, a quickie history of how life on earth progressed from nothing to present, and thoughts as to its inevitable extinction. LEAVE THE GUN, TAKE THE CANNOLI: The Epic Story of the Making of The Godfather — Mark Seal (2020) **** How a broke studio, a failed author, a washed-up star, and an untested director combined to make one of the gems of 20th century cinema.

TransMonk Dec 27 2021 10:18 AM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

I got through 60 books this year. I have a few of the same as FK above. https://i.imgur.com/UsQ6WCM.jpg> The ones I thought were the best in 2021 were: Four Hundred Souls - Various Authors, edited by Ibram X Kendi Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents - by Isabel Wilkerson The Sum of Us - by Heather McGee Battle For The Soul: Inside The Democrats' Campaigns to Defeat Trump - by Edward-Isaac Dovere I Alone Can Fix It - by Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker True Story: A Novel - by Kate Reed Petty Drug Use For Grown-Ups - by Dr. Carl L. Hart

Marshmallowmilkshake Dec 27 2021 11:10 AM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

https://www.bookreporter.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/book_main/covers/Seaver%20PB.jpg> I just got around to finishing this while on a plane this month. I was a little disappointed. Madden supposedly had a close relationship with Seaver but I don't see a ton of that here. I was hoping for a definitive book about Seaver, and this comes off more as an overview for a casual baseball fan. I don't know if he was rushed or something. What did you guys think about it?

Edgy MD Dec 27 2021 12:09 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Frayed Knot wrote: TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY — John Le Carre (1974) ** My first international spy stuff novel in eons and my first Le Carre ever, and I have to say I just didn't get it. I found it long and slow, had a tough time keeping track of the characters and even more trouble caring about them. It's probably me but, in short, it just never grabbed me. Sort of my exact response when first diving into LeCarre a few years back. I think he sort of meant to position himself as an alternative to Ian Fleming, in that he presented international espionage to be dull and full of depressing moral ambiguities and hard-to-justify compromises. I'm sure espionage largely is that, but that theme took me out any attachment to the plot pretty early.

Willets Point Dec 27 2021 01:27 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

My list, with links to reviews. I haven't completed the last two books but hope to do so by Dec. 31! January [list] [*]Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz (A) - ***** [*]Thrawn by Timothy Zahn (A) - **** [*]Entrepreneurs: The Boston Business Community, 1700-1850 ed. Conrad Edick Wright and Katheryn P. Viens - *** [*]Black Radical: The Life and Times of William Monroe Trotter by Kerri Greenidge - **** [*]Thrawn: Alliances by Timothy Zahn (A) - ***1/2 [*]Flights by Olga Tokarczuk (A) - *** [/list] February [list] [*]The Golden Child by Claire Adam (A) - ***1/2 [*]Thrawn: Treason by Timothy Zahn (A) - **** [*]The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R Tolkien - ***** [*]Jazz by Toni Morrison - ***** [*]Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler (A) - **** [/list] March [list] [*]The Boston Massacre: A Family History by Serena Zabin (A) - **** [*]Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (A) - ***** [/list] April [list] [*]The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell (A) - ***1/2 [*]The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead - ***1/2 [*]Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (A) -  *** [*]Paradise by Toni Morrison (A) - *** [/list] May [list] [*]The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (A) - ***1/2 [*]Dark Force Rising by Timothy Zahn (A) - ***1/2 [*]The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (A) - ***1/2 [/list] June [list] [*]The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan (A) - *** [*]The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan (A) - ***1/2 [*]The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan - ***1/2 [*]Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid - *** [*]The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando 2021 by Seth Kubersky - *** [*]The Last Command by Timothy Zahn (A) - *** [*]1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric H. Cline - *** [*]Chaos Rising by Timothy Zahn (A) - ***1/2 [*]Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt by Marc DeMatteis, illustrated by Mike Zeck - ***1/2 [/list] July [list] [*]The Piano Teacher by Elfriede Jelinek - ** [*]Love by Toni Morrison (A) -**** [*]Marvel Select - The Life Of Captain Marvel by Margaret Stohl, Carlos Pacheco - *** [*]Greater Good by Timothy Zahn (A) - ***1/2 [/list] August [list] [*]Stranger Things Happen by Kelly Link - **1/2 [*]The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht (A) -  ***1/2 [*]Women and the City by Sarah Deustch - *** [*]Humankind by Rutger Bregman (A) - **** [*]The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan (A) - **** [*]The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan - **** [*]The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan - **** [*]The Golden Age of Pictorial Maps by Stephen J. Hornsby - ***1/2 [*]Eager by Ben Goldfarb (A) - **** [/list] September [list] [*]One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (A) - **** [*]The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson (A) - ** [*]From a Certain Point of View : Star Wars (A) - ***1/2 [/list] October [list] [*]The Carpet People by Terry Pratchett (A) - *** [*]Revolution Song by Russell Short (A) - ***1/2 [*]Cobalt Squadron by Elizabeth Wein (A) -  ***1/2 [*]Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich (A) - ****1/2 [/list] November [list] [*]Sinatra! The Song is You by Will Friedwald -  **** [*]Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper (A) - ***1/2 [*]Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres by Kelefa Sanneh (A) - **** [*]Prisnms by Gart St. Omer - ** [/list] December [list] [*]Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson (A) - ***1/2 [*]This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel - ***1/2 [*]The China Mirage by James Bradley - *** [*]A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (A) -  **** [*]City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert - [*]The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (A) - [/list]

Benjamin Grimm Dec 27 2021 01:36 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

This is my worst book-reading year in decades. I still haven't finished the book I started in June or July. Most of my reading time has been spent trying to diminish my pile of backed up issues of The New Yorker.

Frayed Knot Dec 27 2021 02:02 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Madden supposedly had a close relationship with Seaver but I don't see a ton of that here. I was hoping for a definitive book about Seaver, and this comes off more as an overview for a casual baseball fan. I don't know if he was rushed or something. Madden, IMO, has been mailing it in for years. Edgy MD wrote: Sort of my exact response when first diving into LeCarre a few years back. I think he sort of meant to position himself as an alternative to Ian Fleming, in that he presented international espionage to be dull and full of depressing moral ambiguities and hard-to-justify compromises. I'm sure espionage largely is that, but that theme took me out any attachment to the plot pretty early. The thing is I have no problem with a slow and methodical type plot. I was neither looking for nor expecting rock'em, sock'em action and gadgetry in T, T, S, S. Not that I'm well-steeped in the genre, but my favorite was Frederick Forsythe* whose hunt for the 'Jackal' before the Jackal got De Gaulle was as cold and bureaucratic as it gets. But I enjoyed seeing things as they slowly unfolded and, more importantly, knew and cared about WTF was going on. Look, it's probably me, but there's nothing worse than a Who-dunnit where you lose interest in finding out who actually dun it and why. * Still alive (and 'only' 83) a full 50 years after the release of 'Day of the Jackal' which he quickly followed up with 'The Odessa File' and 'Dogs of War'

Edgy MD Dec 27 2021 02:46 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Yes, I agree about not caring. It looks like a terrific reading list for you this year.

TransMonk Dec 28 2021 07:20 AM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Look like I'm going to finish Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman today as my last 2021 book. I'll start Tinderbox: HBO's Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers by James Andrew Miller, but at over 1000 pages, this will be on the 2022 list once finished.

Edgy MD Dec 28 2021 09:05 AM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Benjamin Grimm wrote: This is my worst book-reading year in decades. I still haven't finished the book I started in June or July. Most of my reading time has been spent trying to diminish my pile of backed up issues of The New Yorker. Nothing to be ashamed of there.

cal sharpie Dec 28 2021 10:26 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Here's mine. The last one isn't quite finished but I should be done with it tomorrow. I'm not a fan of writing book reports -- never have been. I've been keeping track of the books I've read since the mid-80's which represents over 2,000 books. One project has been to read all of the Nobel Literature winners (excluding poets) or see their plays if they are playwrights. Pretty much done with 21st century winners (though not this year's winner whose works at present aren't available in the US. I've added an (N) after those guys, although I have read pretty much all of Ishiguro so he isn't new to my list (although the others are). I've added an (A) for audio although I think adding them at all maybe cheating or at least padding. I've never allowed audio before but that was because in the deep past they were abridged or because I listened to them in the car with kids and I don't count things I've read (or listened to) for the sake of my children who are now grown so that is no longer an issue. I've been part of a book club reading exclusively long books - hence WAR AND PEACE; BUDDENBROOKS and A SUITABLE BOY all great works which everyone should read right away but give yourself time. Three others I will recommend for fiction: HAMNET (about the namesake for Shakespeare's Hamlet, the son who died young); SHUGGIE BAIN (grim but wonderful Scottish novel); A SWIM IN THE POND IN THE RAIN (great Russian short stories with commentary by George Saunders - delightful). Three non-fictions: EMPIRE OF PAIN and SAY NOTHING (both by Patrick Radden Keefe about the opiod crisis and the Irish troubles, respectively) and THE HARE WITH AMBER EYES (fascinating story of the Nazi destruction of an important family and what happened to their art collection). THE ZEALOT AND THE EMANCIPATOR - H.W. Brands THE BODY – Bill Bryson WINTER JOURNAL – Paul Auster A PERSONAL MATTER – Kenzaburo Oe (N) BERTA ISLA – Javier Marias HAMNET – Maggie O'Farrell SHUGGIE BAIN – Douglas Stuart ANOTHER COUNTRY – James Baldwin THE BEST AMERICAN NON-REQUIRED READING, 2016 – Rachel Kushner (ed) A PROMISED LAND – Barack Obama HOW TO WRITE ONE SONG – Jeff Tweedy STRAIGHT MAN – Richard Russo A HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN SIX GLASSES – Tom Standage VERNON GOD LITTLE – DBC Pierre WAR AND PEACE – Leo Tolstoy AN ICE CREAM WAR – William Boyd KLARA AND THE SUN – Kazuo Ishiguro (N) THE KING AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD – Arthur Phillips FIRST PERSON SINGULAR – Haruki Murakami TO THE LIGHTHOUSE – Virginia Woolf SHAKESPEARE IN A DIVIDED AMERICA – James Shapiro CHILDHOOD – Tove Ditlevsen CASTE – Isabel Wilkerson BELIEVING THE LIE – Elizabeth George BUDDENBROOKS -- Thomas Mann (N) THE LAST TRAIN TO ZONA VERDE -- Paul Theroux EMPIRE OF PAIN -- Patrick Radden Keefe A SWIM IN A POND IN THE RAIN -- George Saunders (A) THE GREAT FIRE -- Shirley Hazzard NIGHT BOAT TO TANGIER -- Kevin Barry (A) ASYMMETRY -- Lisa Halliday SAY NOTHING -- Patrick Radden Keefe THE DEATH OF VIVEK OJI -- Akwaeke Emezi (A) THE IMMORTALISTS -- Chloe Benjamin SONG OF SOLOMON -- Toni Morrison THE SONGLINES -- Bruce Chatwin BROKEN HORSES – Brandi Carlile (A) RESERVOIR THIRTEEN – Jon McGregor NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS – Patricia Lockwood (A) THE PARCEL – Anosh Irani SECONDHAND TIME – Svetlana Alexievich (N) HARLEM SHUFFLE – Colson Whitehead THE WHITE BOOK – Han Kang AUTUMN – Ali Smith BRIEFING FOR A DESCENT INTO HELL – Doris Lessing (N) YOUR FATHERS , WHERE ARE THEY? AND THE PROPHETS, DO THEY LIVE FOREVER? – Dave Eggers THE IMPOSTOR – Javier Cercas THE HARE WITH AMBER EYES – Edmund de Waal THE PORPOISE – Mark Haddon TEN WHITE GEESE – Gerbrand Bakker A SUITABLE BOY – Vikram Seth BAG MAN – Rachel Maddow & Michael Yarvitz OUR COUNTRY FRIENDS – Gary Shteyngart INHERITORS – Asako Serizawa THE GUTS – Roddy Doyle STATION ELEVEN – Emily St. John Mandel THE DYLANOLOGISTS – David Kinney

Edgy MD Dec 28 2021 10:39 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

I've had a ridiculous problem with Richard Russo. I always end up not reading him because I remember trying one of his novels decades ago, reading it, hating it, but thinking I must be wrong because of all the fuss others are making, and then reading another, hating it, and being done with him. And then a day or two later, I remember that, no, that was Richard Ford. And so I say, OK, I guess I can take a shot at Richard Russo sometime. And by the time sometime comes around, I start all over again.

Fman99 Dec 30 2021 04:19 AM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

I used Goodreads to keep track of my reading. It seems like a lot now that I look at the entire list! The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin Brands, H.W. American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race Brinkley, Douglas 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created Mann, Charles C. The Lord God Made Them All (All Creatures #7) Herriot, James Ike's Mystery Man: The Secret Lives of Robert Cutler Shinkle, Peter Reveille in Washington, 1860-65 Leech, Margaret The Apparitionists: A Tale of Phantoms, Fraud, Photography, and the Man Who Captured Lincoln's Ghost Manseau, Peter * The Reckoning Halberstam, David Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu Bergreen, Laurence The Good Lord Bird McBride, James * The Man with the Sawed-Off Leg and Other Tales of a New York City Block Wakin, Daniel * A Short History of Reconstruction Foner, Eric The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn Philbrick, Nathaniel * Anything Goes: A Biography of the Roaring Twenties Moore, Lucy First Family: Abigail and John Adams Ellis, Joseph J. The Forgotten Founding Father: Noah Webster's Obsession and the Creation of an American Culture Kendall, Joshua * 97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement Ziegelman, Jane Henry Clay: The Essential American Heidler, David Stephen A Surgeon in the Village: An American Doctor Teaches Brain Surgery in Africa Bartelme, Tony * War's End: An Eyewitness Account of America's Last Atomic Mission Sweeney, Charles W. Lincoln's Last Trial: The Murder Case That Propelled Him to the Presidency Abrams, Dan Brothers and Keepers: A Memoir Wideman, John Edgar * A History of the World in 100 Objects MacGregor, Neil The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics Brown, Daniel James * Bury the Chains Hochschild, Adam After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split in Islam Hazleton, Lesley * When the Astors Owned New York: Blue Bloods & Grand Hotels in a Gilded Age Kaplan, Justin Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America Whitaker, Robert Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America King, Gilbert A Secret Gift: How One Man's Kindness & a Trove of Letters Revealed the Hidden History of the Great Depression Gup, Ted The Yiddish Policemen's Union Chabon, Michael Rabbits for Food Kirshenbaum, Binnie The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Chabon, Michael The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer Mukherjee, Siddhartha A Commonwealth of Thieves: The Improbable Birth of Australia Keneally, Thomas American Emperor: Aaron Burr's Challenge to Jefferson's America Stewart, David O. *

Johnny Lunchbucket Dec 30 2021 07:06 AM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

My list this year was heavy on 70s baseball, bios and crime. Not a great year reading BLOOD GUN MONEY Joan Grillo -- depressing examiniation of US gun culture SO MANY WAYS TO LOSE Devin Gordon -- not as impressed with this as everyone else was VALENTINE'S WAY Bobby Vee and Peter Golenbock -- disappointing & goof-filled THE WESTIES, TJ English -- NYC's Irish mob in the 60s & 70s, not bad THE BRONX ZOO, Sparky Lyle & Peter Golenbock -- pretty good MELLANCAMP, Paul Rees -- pretty good SEASONS IN HELL, Mike Shropshire -- the 1970s Texas Rangers through the eyes of a hard-drinking beat reporter. Funny COBRA Dave Parker & Dave Jordan -- terrific bio of Dave Parker FROM HEAD SHOPS TO WHOLE FOODS, Joshua Clark David -- the natural foods movement LAST CALL, Daniel Okrent -- prohibition, on your recos AND NOW A WORD FROM ME, Bob Garfield -- TV commercial critic tells all CHEATED, Andy "Tracksuit" Martino -- I liked this examination of the Astros scandal AMERICAN KINGPIN, Nick Bilton -- rise of the online drug trade SWAG, Elmore Leonord THE COMEDIANS, Ralph Nestoroph THE GREATEST GAMBLING STORY EVER TOLD, Mark Paul -- piece of shit pushed on me by Kindle THE COLD VANISH, Jon Billman -- missing hikers in the wild, unfocused UNCOMMON PEOPLE: THE RISE OF ROCK STARS, David Hepworth MIDNIGHT IN CHERNOBYL, Liam Higginbotham -- another CPF reco THE BLACK PRINCE OF BASEBALL, Donald Deway & Nicholas Acocella -- Hal Prince, it was ok ANXIOUS PEOPLE, Frederik Backman THE EIGHTH WODER OF THE WORLD, Bretand Hebert & Pat Laprade -- Andre the Giant, but bullshit NINE INNINGS, Daniel Okrent -- best book I read all year was a re-read; June 10, 1982 Brewers-Orioles game. GREAT

Frayed Knot Dec 30 2021 10:39 AM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

=Fman99 post_id=83822 time=1640863148 user_id=86] The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics Brown, Daniel James *

FACING THE MOUNTAIN from my list is a newer one by the same author.

The Hot Corner Dec 30 2021 08:49 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Frayed Knot wrote: =Fman99 post_id=83822 time=1640863148 user_id=86] The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics Brown, Daniel James * FACING THE MOUNTAIN from my list is a newer one by the same author.

Boys in the Boat and Facing the Mountain were very good reads. Brown is a very gifted writer.

The Hot Corner Jan 04 2022 08:11 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

Currently enjoying James Herriot's "The Lord God Made Them All." All of his books are great reads. I read 3 or 4 of his books last year and they are all easy reads. Very enjoyable and always left me wanting more.

The Hot Corner Jan 04 2022 08:28 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

1. World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, & Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil 2. An Ordinary Man by Paul Rusesabagina 3. Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holiday & the Vendetta Ride by Tom Clavin 4. The Moth and The Mountain: A True Story of Love, War, and Everest by Ed Caesar 5. When Harry Met Minnie by Martha Teichner 6. Three Wise Men by Beau Wise 7. Lincoln on the Verge by Ted Widmer 8. The York Patrol by James Carl Nelson 9. Gil Hodges by Tom Clavin 10. The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin 11. Fall and Rise: The Story of 9/11 by Mitchell Zuckoff 12. I'll Be Gone in the Darkness by Michelle McNamara 13. Harmon Killebrew: Ultimate Slugger by Steve Aschburner 14. Apollo 13 by James lovell and Jeffrey Kluger 15. Countdown 1945 by Chris Wallace 16. The DiMaggios by Tom Clavin 17. The Confidence Men by Margalit Fox 18. Walt Disney by Neal Gabler 19. Ball Four by Jim Bouton 20. The Ice Pick Surgeon by Sam Kean 21. War on the Border by Jeff Guinn 22. Fuzz by Mary Roach 23. Fox & I by Catherine Raven 24. The Greatest Beer Run Ever by John “Chick”Donohue & J. T. Molloy 25. They Said It Couldn't Be Done by Wayne Coffey 26. Facing The Mountain by Daniel James Brown I'm not really sure why, but I definitely had a big drop off in the number of books I read this year. My favorites of the year are in bold.

Fman99 Jan 05 2022 05:11 AM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

The Hot Corner wrote: Currently enjoying James Herriot's "The Lord God Made Them All." All of his books are great reads. I read 3 or 4 of his books last year and they are all easy reads. Very enjoyable and always left me wanting more. Couldn't agree more. I think I read at least one or two in the years prior to last year by him as well.

Lefty Specialist Jan 05 2022 12:17 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

This is my Reading for 2022. Finished it rather quickly, so I may have to go back and peruse it again. https://draughtlinesmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/reading-premium-16-oz-can-114x300.png>

Frayed Knot Jan 05 2022 12:40 PM Re: What are You Reading in 2021?

The Hot Corner wrote: Currently enjoying James Herriot's "The Lord God Made Them All." All of his books are great reads. I read 3 or 4 of his books last year and they are all easy reads. Very enjoyable and always left me wanting more. Couldn't agree more. I think I read at least one or two in the years prior to last year by him as well. I remember my mother reading all his books. Never dipped a toe in myself ... maybe I should.