November Reading

Had a surprisingly great month reading....so far!

As I mentioned before I went to his talk and it prompted me to get the book. I really loved his dad and a few comments in the talk made me sad. However, the timeline was a bit messed up so it didn't end as terribly as I thought it did for him, and that made me happy. It is a lot of stories about famous people but there's more to it than that. There's insight and really touching moments, and arrestingly upsetting ones. Griffin Dunne is very open and there's a real connection in the lack of judgement in his family recollections. I recommend this one. 

As you know, I am on a Ryu Murakami roll. I have read three others so far.   I'm about to order another....he's so clever and writes a different book each time. This one is much softer than the others, and while still terrible people. But suddenly at page 110, there's one single line and I thought "Oh, there it is." Ha! It was like he lulled you into thinking it was a different kind of book. I enjoyed it but it's not as mind blowing as In the Miso Soup or Piercing, not playing with the reader as much, except for that one line. It is, however, much less horrific than the others as well. 

I got this from the street library. I didn't know her or her artist father (though when I googled, I did recognise some of the works). It's very sad and at times difficult. Trigger warning on child abuse and sexual assault. It clearly shows the problems that caused for her, not in a sensational way. Very matter of fact. It is her normal. The book is working through that, while also catching Sydney in the 80s. I thought it was a good book, though I wouldn't describe it as "enjoyable", very interesting and engaging, yes. And I read it in a weekend.

This was also in the street library. I'll admit I didn't know of 8 Passengers though I do vaguely recall the story on the news. It's really interesting to see the slippery slope both SM can have, and also cult style influence. Also how hard getting away from that is for a young person and getting help for children left in it.

I really didn't understand the Dad. I found that bizarre but I guess that's how that all works, The mind gets distorted. I found it really interesting and very engaging.

This was picked at random while I was looking for a Shakespeare. It was on Borrowbox (I think) from the library. I loved this. It's junk crime reminiscent of Horowitz and Hawthorne vibe. Funny, bumbling(ish) and lessons in Mindfulness. New Age Murder, so to speak. Delightful. I was showing a friend and noticed the Netflix N. Yes, there is a German series of it. Can not wait to watch it. Thoroughly recommend!

This is really just a short story (a long one, maybe a novella, I guess). I loved it. I loved the series but I think I would have loved it even if I hadn't watched it. I will definitely track down more of her works. It's delightfully fun. I have noticed while grabbing the pic there is also a full cast audio version. I might even get that to listen to. 

What a fitting memoir for Stan Lee! A comic about comics (and his life). It's written in his voice, with many asides to the reader - I could hear him talking. I'm a long time fan so it was really charming - even writing this I'm smiling. He was extraordinarily talented and generous to fans and readers. I didn't know he had a gay soldier character (hero) way back in the early 70s. It was interesting to learn how the 'propaganda' aspect started. I didn't know he worked along side Charles Addams and Dr Seuss (in his Theodor Geisel days) or that his wife wrote a best selling book. They were married for 69 years. It covers the origins of many of the characters we love.

He does touch on the rift with Kirby and Ditko but overall it's a charming celebration of an incredible talent and drive to create a Marvel(lous) universe. Excelsior!

I do read plays, but for Shakespeare I tend to only go and see the tragedies. I will occasionally see the comedies (like at the Pop Up Globe) or Sport By Jove's brilliant Taming of the Shrew but I feel the tragedies just have better stories, better characters and the comedies are a bit stupid (aged badly). I chose to listen to it, and went with Sir Rex Harrison's lovely voice. I have seen it (and I often mix it up with All's well that ends well) so I know the plot. I did laugh a few times but give me Richard III or Macbeth any day. I am waiting on a modern reading to come into the library and will give it a second go.

As for reading plays, I love to read plays and always have. As a kid, I read the complete works of J. M Barrie and read The Will and Dear Brutus over and over - making me cry every single time. I've reviewed Grace Petrie's  and Samuel Brewer's scripts recently in my monthly reviews. I used to love reading the plays of Tennessee Williams as you felt the heat off the page - the humidity, I guess. Interestingly when I saw Sweet Bird of Youth for the first time (with Lauren Bacall no less!) my first thought when the curtain opened was 'that wall paper is wrong' - I was genuinely surprised at how much I'd visualised when I read it. I love reading plays (and comics) because they cut to the chase. They furnish a whole world in an hour or two without filler. No ambling, because they can't. So if this Shakespeare isn't to your fancy, don't let it put you off reading plays. You just haven't found the one that speaks to you. 
  

I saw this in the street library and I was so excited, as I love this couple and follow them on Instagram. But it was just a series of interviews with older couples so I put it back once I realised. The cover does make me smile.

Linking with #WOYBS #IMWAYR #SundayPost #TalkaboutitTuesday #SundaySalon

#StackingtheShelves #MonthlyBookworms 

#SundayBookends #Bookdate  

#SundayBookends  #TforTuesday (Just for the first pic)

August Reading

 I find grief really fascinating because it's so weird and so individual. So I read about it, listen about it, write about it - and almost all my published stories are on it.

This book is not the best on it, but I found it really interesting, especially my reaction to the story about the dog. I found that shocking and my emotional reaction was unexpectedly severe (compared to the loss of her husband). Some good practical things to consider in the fall out of loss too.

Worth reading if you are far enough into your grief, or if you are interested in that literary circle.

As an aside, this is one of my favourite songs of loss.

I came across this when trying to remember what the fairy story comic books were called (review here for Far Out Fairy Tales). It intrigued me after I got over my initial recoil at what I thought was an offensive slur. Anyway, it's a very interesting book of a family whose father came out in the 1980s. I learnt a bit about Canadian history (and that Margaret Atwood has been fighting the good fight since forever). She divides it into how it was for her as a kid, how it was for him, how it was for her mother and then how it is for them all now. It's an interesting insight into a complex life in a conservative society,

My bookclub is reading Goodbye to Berlin which is in part what the musical Cabaret is based on. The chapter on Sally Bowles is very familiar, including much talk of Prairie Oysters. The characters are strange and quirky and overall oblivious to the rising menace that the reader sees, beyond the talk of inflation and growing poverty. I really enjoyed it and it's worth a read. My favourite of this month, and I'll read the other book in the collection, Mr Norris Changes Train when I get the chance.

I read this so I could listen to the Stunners Bookclub podcast on it. I'd not read any Chopin and it's quite short. As a novel, it wasn't really for me, but I can see it was a very important book, and the fact that it's still relevant today means it must have been incredibly scandalous at the time - having  a wife and mother have her own desires and *gasp* being a sexual being. It raises a lot of interesting ideas, especially as it is almost all the women in the story encouraging her to stick in the role and duties of wife and mother that are drowning her. So while I wouldn't say it was a book I loved, I do think it's a book you should read, in that classic sense. (Even writing this, I think I like it more than when I was reading it).

This is a little book of poetry that plays with the themes and poetry of Shelley, Coleridge and other Romantic poets. It's a sci-fi influenced look at poetry, and thus makes it great for teachers wanting to make fun comparisons with the classic works. Ozymandias is one of my favourite poems (obviously appealing to the existentialist in me) and I couldn't help smiling when I read Forbidden City in this book. It's funny how some images or words are burnt into our memories, instantly recognisable even when the words and context are different.

I get a smile every time I walk past these little books lying all over the house at the moment. The fav booking part begins (as the money comes in).


Linking with #BookReviewLinky #MonthlyWrapUp #WWWhimsy  #AgoodBook #IMWAYR (the poetry book is suitable for YA)  #Bookdate #SundayPost #SundaySalon #StackingtheShelves #MonthlyBookworms