#WritersCoffeeClub
Dec 18th: Will you read over the holidays? What book will you choose?
I'll probably read a few more short stories from the Gothic Fantasy collection or from one of my Library of America books. #AmReading@bookstodon#Bookstodon
This book is a beautiful small gem. It's about a swimming pool and its regulars making their daily laps. Central character is Alice, who suffers from dementia.
Otsuka is proof that a good writer can make the ordinary special. No need for spectacular plots.
It has its own, unique style. Using many repeating wordings to describe what people think, feel or say. These are like brushstrokes, painting a touching story.
Missoula: Rape and The Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer had been on my TBR since 2015, a couple years before the Me Too movement kicked off. I'm so glad this book surfaced in my reading rotation. I'm only about a fifth of the way through and am transfixed by so much: the horror and trauma these young women experienced, juxtaposed with such stoic narration and brilliant writing. I hate it and I can't stop listening. #Bookstodon#FridayReads#AmReading#Books@bookstodon
Pointing out that @everylibrary has joined the fedi.
If you care about US public and school libraries -- if you want to see library censorship stop -- give 'em a follow, and some spare bucks if you have 'em.
Inspired by
having the Niven biography "The Other Side of the Moon' for #DeanStreetDecember 2024, I've decided to honour my Dad by adding to my 2024 TBR bios of 3 comics he introduced me to when I was FAR too young to really get them. Recs please for the best bios of
Sellers
Secombe
Milligan #AmReading#ReadersOfMastodon#ebooks@bookstodon#bookstodon
A PhD student at the U of Kansas is doing research on "The Darcy Dilemma" which asks the question: what version of Darcy do you like better: Firth or MacFayden AND why did you choose that particular Darcy. You can find the research survey here: https://forms.gle/JpBDswCqy5EzyeMc7
The main character looks back on his time as a German soldier at the eastern front in World War II. With the wisdom of old age he describes the horror and absurdity of war. And he reflects on the questions of guilt and shame, of being on the wrong side as a German.
This is a less known perspective on WWII, at least to me. Very impressive. Very well written.
Here we are, trying to make do on a rainy Monday morning. I had a pretty good weekend. Nothing super special, but got plenty done, including finally buying a Christmas tree. It's a little short but very well-shaped. We'll decorate tonight. I did not, however, get my big project even started - cleaning out the garage. I really need to do it before the snow flies, but there's no sign of it in the 10 day, so I'm safe.
I also got some #reading in. I finally finished Rise & Fall of the 3rd Reich - only took me 4 years! More than 50 years since it was written and it is still terrifying. And I'm almost done with Silkworm, the 2nd Cormoran Strike novel. It's good but a bit wordy. And I'm listening to Knife Creek, the 8th book in the Mike Bowditch series. He's a Maine game warden and the books are solid, but I think I need something gritty. #AmReading#books@bookstodon
Oh, forgot to mention--my review of 'The Betrayals' by Bridget Collins (which I've RAVED about on here--you may have seen some toots) is up on Nerds of a Feather!
Heroes do The One Right Thing. With rising fascism, sometimes The One Right Thing doesn't exist; and usually heroes don't either. In this book, we see what happens when weak, flawed people do a small, right thing.