Book Nook Cafe discussion
2024- Book Prompt Challenge
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Michele's 2024 Book Challenge
Michele, glad to see you back for another challenge, and looking forward to seeing what you liked -- and what you didn't!
Yes, it's good to see both sides of our books.
Happy to be here. Its all much easier this time.
I think I will be able to and see every post this time, and keep up with discussions about each book. That will double the fun.
Michele wrote: "I think I will be able to and see every post this time, and keep up with discussions about each book. That will double the fun."That definitely makes it all the more fun :) Excited for this year's challenge and the little group we have returning!
Michele's 2024 Challenge. Book List possibilities 1- Biography, autobiography or memoir
The Best Minds by Jonathan Rosen (Long Island)
Bobby Kennedy by Chris Matthews
Becoming Steve Jobs by Brent Schlender & Rick Tetzel (California)
High Achiever by Tiffany Jenkins (opiod)
Edie: An American Biography by Jean Stein (1960’s) (NYC)
2- Business, economics, finance, business or home F/NF
Antitrust by Amy Klobuchar
The Spider Network by David Enrich
Bad Blood; Secrets & Lies in Silicon Valley Startups by John Carryrou
When Genius Failed: the Rise of Long-Term Capital Management by Roger Lowenstein
Going Infinite by Michael Lewis (rise of new tycoon)
Pegasus: How a Spy in Your Pocket Threatens the End of
Privacy, Dignity and Democracy by
Laurent Richard, et al (Israeli company)
3- Health, fitness or diet
4- History
The Best of Enemies: The Last Great Spy Story of the Cold War by Gus Russo, Eric Dezenhall
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
Hitlerland by Andrew Nagorski
His Final Battle: The Last Months of FDR by Joseph Lelyveld
Inferno at Sea: Stories of Death & Survival Aboard the Morro Castle by Gretchen F Coyle
The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larsen (Lincoln, Civil War 2024 pub)
5- Historical Fiction
The Game of Kings:Book One of the Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett (Scotland)
Khirbet Khizeh by s. Yizhar. (Hebrew language)
The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez, Panama
The Book of Aron by Jim Shepard (child’s view of the Holocaust)
6- Humorous story, author a comedian, or light-hearted fun
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
I’m Just No Good at Rhyming and other nonsense for mishchevous& Immature Grown-Ups Chris Harris
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
A Polaroid Guy in a Snapchat World by David Spade
The Birth of Korean Cool by Euny Hong (Korea)
Same Bed, Different Dream by Ed Park (alternate history of Korea)
7- Character who is a lawyer/ about the legal profession/ practice of law F/NF
The Fraud by Zadie Smith (trial) (England)
Untouchable by Elie Honig (lawyer) how rich people get away untouched
Servants Be Damned by David Enrich (Giant Law Firms, Donald Trump and the Corruption of Justice
8- LGBTQ character F/NF
Confidence by Rafael Frumkin
9- Medical character or story of medicine or practice of medicine
Nights of the Plague by Orhan Parmuk (Turkish) doctors are characters) Turkey
10- Mystery, Thriller or suspense
Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth by Wole Soinks (Nigeria)
The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
The Last Murder at the End of the World Stuart Turton (pub May 2024)
An Event in Autumn by Henning Mankell (Wallender last) Sweden
Nine Days by Minerva Koenig
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride USA
Red Team Blues by Cory Doctorow Martin Hench mystery (forensic accountant)
Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea
11- Political, social science or government F/NF
The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War by Jeff Sharlet
One Nation Under Blackmail Vol.1: The Sordid Union Between Intelligence & Crime that Gave Rise to Jeffrey Epstein by Whitney Webb USA
12- Romance, relationship or love F/NF
13- Science F/NF
In Ascension by Martin MacInness
10:04 by Ben Lerner
We Are Electric by Sally Adee
Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut (debut). Computers taking over the world
Ball Lightening by Cixin Liu (China)
14- Travel F/NF
Travels with DeToqueville Beyond America by Jeremy Jennings
15- Philosophy, ethics, morality
The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell. (2024)
Cultish by Amanda Montell
16- Young adult book
My Father, the Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang (VietNam) Father/daughter, Immigration
17- Spiritual or inspirational F/NF
Signs, the Secret Language of the Universe by Laura Lynne Jackson
18- Book that takes place during a holiday-any holiday
The Brothers: The Road to an American Tragedy by Masha Gessen Central Asian immigrants
19- Book with a relationship in the title
Wifey by Judy Blume (Audible)
The Brothers: The Road to an American Tragedy by Masha Gessen
The Manicurist’s Daughter: a Memoir by Susan Lieu The Brothers K by David James Duncan
20- The arts, music, theater, acting, dance, poetry etc
Killing Commandatore by Haruki Murakami (Japan)
21- Banned or Challenged book
22- Debut novel
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjel-Brenyah
White Horse: A Novel by Erika T. Worth (Native American)
23- Award winning book or nominated for award
Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth by Wole Soinka (Nigeria)
4321 by Paul Auster (4 boys, Man Booker prize nominee)
24- A play
25- A book published before you were born
26- Published in 2024
The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez (Panama)
Demon of Unrest by Eric Larsen (USA)
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
Wandering Star by Tommy Orange (USA)
27- Nature, environment or animals. F/NF
Northwoods by Daniel Mason (Audible). USA
28- Book that takes place in WWi, WWII or any other war F/NF
Ardennes 1944 by Antony Beevor
The Deserters: A Hidden History of WWII by Charles Glass
KL: A history of Nazi Concentration Camps by Nikolaus Wachsmann
Eighteen Days in October: The Yom Kippur War by Uri Kaufman
The Field of Blood & Violence in Congress & the Road to the Civil War by Joanne B. Freeman
29- Cosmology, space, astronauts, outer space F/NF
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell Arthur C Clarke Award
30- Sports F/NF
The Cloudbuster Nine:The Untold Story of Ted Williams and the Baseball Team that Helped Win World War II
by Anne R Keene
31- Horror or scary F/NF
32- Self help or How to
33- Psychology
Off the Charts: The Hidden Lives and Lessons of American Child Prodigies by Ann Hulbert
The Surprising Truth of How We Learn by Benedict Carey
34- Food mentioned, or recipes or a chef F/NF
35- About a disability or character with a disability
Homer and Langley by E.F. Doctorow (NYC)
36- A Book about one of your five senses-touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing
37- Color in title
38- Weather-related F/NF
39- Myth, sci-fi, magical realism or fantasy
The Immortalists by Chole Benjamin (fortune teller)
In Ascension by Martin MacInnes
The Night of the Plague by Orhan Parmuk (mystery on fantasy island)(Turkey)
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Harsh Future by Christian Krecks (3 novellas)
The Morning Star by Karl Ove Knausgaard (Norway
40- Dystopian
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjel-Brenyah
Biography of X by Catherine Lacey (Artist,,
The End of the World Running Club by Adrian J Walker.
41- Author whose last name begins with B,N or C
42- Audio book
Homer and Langley by E.L. Doctorow
Northwoods by Daniel Mason
Fire Weather: A True Story of Fires from a Hotter World by John Valliant
43- Topic or character with one of 7 deadly sins: pride, greed, envy, gluttony, sloth, wrath and lust F/NF
44- Book with one word title
Ali by Jonathan Eig
45- Book over 500 pages
46- Book with an Index, map, photos or glossary
47- Book translated into English
Khirbet Khizeh by S. Yivdal (Israel)
48- Book that takes place in or about a place you don’t live in
49- Short story or essay collection
50- Book written by or about a person of color F/NF
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjel-Brenyah
Some People Need Killing by Patricia Evangelista Phillipines
Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
The Kneeling Man: My Father’s Life as a Black Spy Who Witnessed the Assassination of MLK jr
by Leta McCullough Seletzky
51- Crime Fiction
All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
The Mayor of Maxwell Street by Avery Cunningham
Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor (India)
The Coroner’s Lunch by Colin Cotterill (Dr Siri Book 1) (Laos)
A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif (India/Pakistan)
52- Book written by or about immigrants or immigration F/NF
Beautiful Country by Qian Julia Wang
The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: My Family’s Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World by Lucette Lagnadoe
53- I’ll be there for you: Stories about or by Friends
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson
Independent People by Halldor Laxness (Nobel 1955)
French Exit by Patrick DeWitt (mother/son)
54- Families
Homer and Langley E.F.Doctorow
Independent People by Halldor Laxness
French Exit by Patrick DeWitt
The Push by Ashley Audrain
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
55- Fiction based on a true story
The Fraud by Zadie Smith (trial)
What Storm, What Thunder. By Myriam J.A. Crancey (Haiti)
This Other Eden by Paul Harding (Pulitzer for Tinker) Malaga Island off ME discrimination
56- True Crime
An Assassin in Utopia: The True Story of a 19th C Sex Cult and a President’s Murder by Susan Weis
The list I compiled. And a few extra prompts for myself. Will prob handle this challenge differently than last year.
Good luck for the new year and the new challenge
Michele
Michele wrote: "Michele's 2024 Challenge. Book List possibilities ."Thank you for sharing your list, Michele.
Here is my take on some of the books you are considering. Of course, your millage may vary. :)
1- Biography, autobiography or memoir
Bobby Kennedy by Chris Matthews
I read Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit by Chris Matthews
Know that Matthews is a big Kennedy fan from the jump. Having said that, I read the book and gave it a top rating. 5/5
--------------
2- Business, economics, finance, business or home F/NF
Antitrust by Amy Klobuchar
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
This was really well done. It exceeded my expectations 4/5
Going Infinite by Michael Lewis (rise of new tycoon)
Did not meet my expectations. 2/5
---------------
4- History
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
I loved this book. I read the library copy and decided to actually purchase the hardcover for my library.
I've liked all the books by this author that I've read.
Top rating 5/5
------------------------
6- Humorous story, author a comedian, or light-hearted fun
The Guncle
I listened to the audio. The author narrates and I enjoyed this one a lot. I think the audio is the way to go.
Top rating 5/5
------------------------
35- About a disability or character with a disability
Homer And Langley by E. L. Doctorow
I read this and enjoyed the story and the writing.
Rate 4/5 exceeded my expectations
-------------------
From your list, I've added to my TBR list
Hitlerland: American Eyewitnesses to the Nazi Rise to Power
My library doesn't have it. Today is 2x points for Kindle Rewards program. I may purchase it.
--------------------------------------
Travels with Tocqueville Beyond America
What is up with this book ???
On Amazon
the hardcover is $40 and the eBook is $38
Yikes !
Is it because it was published by Harvard Press ?
Thanks for your ratings on my books you’ve already read. Always love to hear what you think. The book about Tocqueville was my birthday gift to me. It’s much more than I usually spend. The Doctorow book stunned me at the end. Loved it. A crash & you are left alone to ponder Homer’s future holds. Talk about horror!
Michele wrote:"The Doctorow book stunned me at the end. Loved it. A crash & you are left alone to ponder Homer’s future holds. Talk about horror!.."
Yes. It's very sad.
Michele wrote: "Michele's 2024 Challenge. Book List possibilities 1- Biography, autobiography or memoir
The Best Minds by Jonathan Rosen (Long Island)
Bobby Kennedy by Chris Matthews
Becoming Steve Jobs by Br..."
What a great list, Michele. Your list includes few that i've read and many i've not heard of. You listed Player Piano--Kurt Vonnegut Jr., which i read long, long ago. Your comment that it's about computers taking over the world has me thinking i should reread it, since we are living in just such times. Delightful!
And you've certainly added to my TBR. For instance, Pegasus: How a Spy in Your Pocket Threatens the End of Privacy, Dignity, and Democracy--Laurent Richard & Sandrine Rigaud and Off the Charts: The Hidden Lives and Lessons of American Child ProdigiesAnn Hulbert.
I know you put much work in this. Best of Luck!
Happy you found a couple of books you hadn’t read yet! It did take a while to make the list, but I just took them from my backlog mostly. I appreciate that you slogged thru it.
Michele wrote: "Happy you found a couple of books you hadn’t read yet! It did take a while to make the list, but I just took them from my backlog mostly. I appreciate that you slogged thru it."Slogged thru it!? I reveled in it!
Same here. I enjoyed seeing what your TBR list looks like, Michele.
Michele wrote: "Main 50 Prompts for 2024 I thought I knew what I was doing, but I really don't. This all looks different from last time, when all my comments were at the bottom and now they're at the top. Maybe this is better, We'll see, I guess.
Throwing everyone a curve, I have finished Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjel-Brenyah. It is a debut novel, nominated for the National Book Award, and dystopian. Set in the near future, about America prison culture and possible next steps. It's an important topic, but I was not impressed by this effort, even though he is apparently mentored by George Saunders, who(m) I adore. It is written I think for a younger audience, but that doesn't make up for the lack of a coherent philosophy or good writing. I forgot, it also has footnotes. I gave it 2/5
Michele wrote:"I thought I knew what I was doing, but I really don't. This all looks different from last time, when all my comments were at the bottom and now they're at the top. Maybe this is better, We'll see, I guess...."
I'm not sure what you mean by this. The posts in this thread are like they are in all other threads. The most current post is at the bottom.
I’m embarrassed about this. On my phone, the comment box is still at the bottom. On my computer it was at the top ABOVE my first post. But please don’t think I think this is YOUR problem! I can handle it
I am not sure if this will help but at the top of the box near your first post, I see the words: Date and Newest. Date has a drop down box. You may have to click that to change the order of the posts. I am not sure and I don't want to click it and change how I view posts. LOL Good luck.
As I've posted elsewhere to Rachel, GoodReads is not very easy to navigate and they don't really provide any How To.
I’m sorry I’m your squeakiest wheel. I don’t know how you manage to keep up with everything and everyone. I vow to keep my GR issues to myself for a while so you can get some rest Thanks for all you do.
Michele wrote: "I have finished Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjel-Brenyah. It is a debut novel, nominated for the National Book Award, and dystopian. Set in the near future, about America prison culture and possible next steps. It's an important topic, but I was not impressed by this effort..."You are right, this is an important topic. It's a pity this book was a letdown. Thanks for the information, Michele.
Chain-Gang All-Stars--Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Michele wrote: "I’m sorry I’m your squeakiest wheel. I don’t know how you manage to keep up with everything and everyone. I vow to keep my GR issues to myself for a while so you can get some rest Thanks for all yo..."Michele, for me, i post about the problems i encounter because i want to know if it is my problem or if everyone else is experiencing the same thing. Please continue to be one of the squeaky wheels here because we all learn that way.
Michele wrote: "I’m sorry I’m your squeakiest wheel. I don’t know how you manage to keep up with everything and everyone. I vow to keep my GR issues to myself for a while so you can get some rest Thanks for all yo..."Michele, it's honestly no problem. If I can't help, often others at BNC have the answer.
Re: Chain-Gang All-Stars-- Nana Kwame Adjei-BrenyahMichele wrote:
, I have finished Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjel-Brenyah. It is a debut novel, nominated for the National Book Award, and dystopian. Set in the near future, about America prison culture and possible next steps. It's an important topic, but I was not impressed by this effort, even though he is apparently mentored by George Saunders, who(m) I adore. It is written I think for a younger audience, but that doesn't make up for the lack of a coherent philosophy or good writing. I forgot, it also has footnotes. I gave it 2/5
"
I see this book on many Best Of lists. Just today it was on the Chicago list the Deb shared. I checked it out on Amazon and decided it would be too violent for my tastes.
I noticed one of the single star Amazon reviews noted:
"This book is an updated spin on The Running Man by Stephen King (written as Richard Bachman) and a movie of the same name. The book and film were released in the 1980s and are based on a dystopian future thriller centered around creating entertainment from the criminal system."
Maybe The Running Man by Richard Bachman AKA Stephen King is the way to go.
I would disagree with the one-star Amazon review of Chain-Gang All-Stars and assertion that it is " . . . an updated spin on The Running Man by Stephen King . . ". It's nothing at all like The Running Man or for that matter Rollerball or even Network. Those works do, however, all have as a part of the different stories that they are telling a common theme; human suffering monetized as entertainment by the state or corporations.
Calling Chain-Gang All-Stars an updated version of The Running Man is analogous to calling The Old Man and the Sea an updated version of Moby-Dick .
When reading Michele's review i was reminded of an old (earlier this century or late 20th) martial arts film, which title escapes me. It was along the same lines but it was more about TV (streaming?) ratings, not necessarily the corporation look this book seems to explore.I appreciate your comments, James. They offer another side to this prize-nominated novel.
Thanks for the thoughtful responses from Alias and James. This was a violent story and i was uncomfortable with that st times. I enjoyed the mention of other books that could compare in some ways to Chain-Gang All-Stars, and also the disagreement regarding Running Man, which I have not read. I wish I had so I could give an opinion, too
James wrote: alling Chain-Gang All-Stars an updated version of The Running Man is analogous to calling The Old Man and the Sea an updated version of Moby-Dick ..."LOL.
I finished The Cloudbuster Nine: The Untold Story of Ted Williams and the Baseball Team that Helped Win WWII by Anne R. KeaneThis was a combination of two stories. The first involved the V-5 pilot training program, a revolutionary approach to preparing men for war and flight. Ted Williams was a graduate of this program, which was more like Seal Team Six-style academic and physical classes, survival training, including swimming lessons. Great emphasis was put on sports, and the five training centers (Cloudbusters were in Chapel Hill at UNC) competed to draft the best players in five or six sports, which they then played locally and in the case of the Cloudbusters, at Yankee Stadium in 1943. The program was innovative and designed to be difficult, requiring persistence, determination and endurance.
The second story was more personal, describing the relationship the author had with her father, who had been the bat boy during the Ted Williams season. That was as interesting to me as the Cloudbusters.
The author is not a historian, a writer or a lifelong baseball fan, and it can seem a bit self-published, but I gave it a 4/5. It was a brave effort and she did a really nice job with the description of the V-5 training program.
Michele wrote: "I finished The Cloudbuster Nine: The Untold Story of Ted Williams and the Baseball Team that Helped Win WWII by Anne R. KeaneThis was a combination of two stories. The first involved the V-5 pilo..."
The Cloudbuster Nine: The Untold Story of Ted Williams and the Baseball Team That Helped Win World War II by Anne R. Keene
That sounds like an interesting take on Williams. I think this would make a nice gift for a baseball fan.
It's difficult to compare players of a different era. Still, his record of being the last player to hit over . 400 in a season is amazing.
Thanks for your comments on the book, Michele. I've not heard of this story but i am sure my husband will like reading it, given his interest in both baseball and lesser known history.
North Woods by Daniel MasonThis book is definitely historical fiction, but could also fit into other categories. It describes the history of a piece of land in the mountains of western Massachusetts that is inhabited by sequentially by Puritans, soldiers, farmers, families, apple trees and beetles almost continuously from the mid1600's to the near present. Each new resident had an impact on the land and on the inhabitants that come after. It was well-written to suit each era, and contained some surprises. I rated it 4.5/5. I listened to it, but if I had a copy, I'd start from the beginning and pay more attention!
Michele, congratulations on the prompt, and with a book that I so enjoyed reading as well.
Nicely done on the prompt, Michele. And more importantly, I am glad it was a winner for you.
Michele, your description of North Woods--Daniel Mason reminds me of a book i read in the early 80s, The Living American House: The 350 Year Story of a Home, an Ecological History, 1st Edition--George Ordish. The thing i most recall about the Ordish book was that he had access to a hand-written diary, of sorts, from a man who lived there for awhile. I've read the review of it but do not see this mentioned, so hope i'm not off-base. ANYway, as he was an entomologist, critters were featured but this included humans. Indeed, as the years pass (it covers 350 years), we learn about people who lived there & what was going on historically.
It's fascinating to follow one piece of land/property over such a long period of time. I think Ordish's book ended with the old home becoming a restaurant. Fun. I almost want to reread it.
That sounds like a great book. And that’s the book I thought I was going to read. But this one was more imaginative than that, and the writing is superb. I once read a book about the recent sociology of a building in NYC called 740 Park. Lots of wealthy people. It was also quite interesting. I wonder if you could even find it today.
Michele wrote: "That sounds like a great book. And that’s the book I thought I was going to read. But this one was more imaginative than that, and the writing is superb. I once read a book about the recent sociolo..."
740 Park: The Story of the World's Richest Apartment Building by Michael GrossAmazon has it in Kindle, Paperback and Hardback.
The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett is a re-read for me. Dunnett wrote 2 complete series of historical fiction: The Lymond Chronicles (6 books) and the House of Niccolo (8 books). All are top notch: this is the first one she ever wrote. I just wanted to see if it held up, and it does.Quickly, it's about Scotland, England and Europe just after Henry VIII of England died. His small son, King Edward acceded to the throne with a Protector ruling for him. Toddler Mary, Queen of Scots reigned in Scotland with the help of her mother, Marie de Guise of France. England wanted to annex Scotland via a marriage between the children, Scotland wanted to remain a client of France and marry the baby Queen to the dauphin of France. The Game of Kings chronicles the fighting back and forth until the Scots sent Mary secretly to be raised in the French court, removing the immediate kidnapping threat from England, but creating other threats on the continent.
The title character is Frances Crawford, who is also known by his family title, Master of Culter and by the name of the lands he holds in his own name, Lymond. And it get more confusing with battles, betrayals, and betrothals enough for everyone, ending with a game of chance and a trial.
It holds up for me. It is both historical fiction and more than 500 pp. I read it quickly because it is hella cold out there, and I knew to skip all the flowery speeches designed to demonstrate Lymond's unique abilities. Those speeches pretty much disappear by the end of the book. 4.5/5. Still loved it like it's 1999.
Michele wrote: "The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett is a re-read for me. Dunnett wrote 2 complete series of historical fiction: The Lymond Chronicles (6 books) and the House of Niccolo (8 books). All are top notc..."I seldom reread a fiction book. I'm glad the book still pleased you the second go around.
Michele wrote: "I once read a book about the recent sociology of a building in NYC called 740 Park. Lots of wealthy people. It was also quite interesting. I wonder if you could even find it today..."Thanks for this title, and thank you, Alias, for looking it up. From that i found that my library has it. And it has a waiting list! I'm going to dip my toes into it, as it sounds somewhat up my alley, albeit without the wild critters of the other two. The GoodReads reviews are not positive, overall, i see. Personally, i recognized few of the names of wealthy owners, so it may give me a thud, too.
Michele wrote: "The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett is a re-read for me. Dunnett wrote 2 complete series of historical fiction: The Lymond Chronicles (6 books) and the House of Niccolo (8 books). All are top notc..."I appreciate your comments about Dunnett's historical fiction starts, Michele. I've only read one book by her & it was a mystery, Tropical Issue, part of her Johnson & Johnson series (/series/5185...#.) It was different but i didn't care to read any more in the series. (This book is also sold as Dolly and the Bird of Paradise, btw.)
After completing it, i was surprised to see that Dunnett is really best known for the historical fiction series' you mentioned, Michele. If the mystery is any indication, i'll bet they are good. Still, the topic didn't call to me.
That written, i must say that i felt the mystery held up well, having been published in '83. I only read it last year and found it so different, that i didn't miss cell phones and such. :-)
I've also read just one of Dorothy Dunnett's mysteries, and I wasn't that fond of it. As an aficionado of gentle detective mysteries, I thought it read much more like the 1930's than the 1980's, like she was perhaps imitating a formula involving arcane British social habits and odd cars. I will get around to the others someday. I did like her book about Macbeth, The King Hereafter. I would call it an alternate history because it reimagines the story of the real human king. It made me think very differently about my Scots and Viking ancestors and how they interacted together. It has a bit of supernatural stuff, but how can you write about Macbeth without the witches? Enjoying this whole discussion very much. Thx
From Amazon on King Hereafter:Back in print by popular demand--"A stunning revelation of the historical Macbeth, harsh and brutal and eloquent." --Washington Post Book World.
With the same meticulous scholarship and narrative legerdemain she brought to her hugely popular Lymond Chronicles, our foremost historical novelist travels further into the past. In King Hereafter, Dorothy Dunnett's stage is the wild, half-pagan country of eleventh-century Scotland. Her hero is an ungainly young earl with a lowering brow and a taste for intrigue. He calls himself Thorfinn but his Christian name is Macbeth.
Dunnett depicts Macbeth's transformation from an angry boy who refuses to accept his meager share of the Orkney Islands to a suavely accomplished warrior who seizes an empire with the help of a wife as shrewd and valiant as himself. She creates characters who are at once wholly creatures of another time yet always recognizable--and she does so with such realism and immediacy that she once more elevates historical fiction into high art.
madrano wrote: "post 40 Thanks for this title, and thank you, Alias, for looking it up. From that i found that my library has it. And it has a waiting list! I'm going to dip my toes into it, as it sounds somewhat up my alley, albeit without the wild critters of the other two. The GoodReads reviews are not positive, overall, i see. Personally, i recognized few of the names of wealthy owners, so it may give me a thud, too.
.."
You're welcome ! It's extra nice that your library has it too.
I think i lucked upon a good Dunnett mystery in mine, as the eponimus Johnson of the series title is barely in it, while the Main Character was fascinating, a well-regarded make-up artist.Michele wrote: "I did like her book about Macbeth, The King Hereafter. I would call it an alternate history because it reimagines the story of the real human king. It made me think very differently about my Scots and Viking ancestors and how they interacted together. It has a bit of supernatural stuff, but how can you write about Macbeth without the witches?..."
Wow, you really hooked me with this one, Michele. Long as it is, i am going to pencil it in for fulfilling Prompt #45- A book over 500 pages. This just sounds too good. Thank you for filling us in on it. The GoodReads reviews are not only mostly raves but also primarily 5 stars (at least the first list, where i stopped).
King Hereafter--Dorothy Dunnett
I finished All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby yesterday. I gave it a 3/5 and filed it under Crime, F or NF. It was fiction. Gruesome crimes, good old boys, black sheriff, racism, pornography, pedophilia, corrupt cops, etc etc etc. Not my type of book at all, but if your into it, it's a standard crime thriller.
Michele wrote: "I finished All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby yesterday. I gave it a 3/5 and filed it under Crime, F or NF. It was fiction. Gruesome crimes, good old boys, black sheriff, racism, pornography, pedo..."Congratulations on that prompt, Michele. I've liked what I've read by Cosby and this one is on my to-read list.
And I freely admit that I am a bit of a sucker for hardboiled/noir/crime thrillers.
Michele wrote: "I finished All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby yesterday. I gave it a 3/5 and filed it under Crime, F or NF. It was fiction. Gruesome crimes, good old boys, black sheriff, racism, pornography, pedo..."Good job on the prompt, Michele. From your description, that wouldn't be a book for me either.
Thanks for the comments on this book, Michele. And well done on your prompt.
Book Nook Cafe
Books mentioned in this topic
Remarkably Bright Creatures (other topics)Remarkably Bright Creatures (other topics)
The Twyford Code (other topics)
The Twyford Code (other topics)
Creation Lake (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Olga Tokarczuk (other topics)Chris Whitaker (other topics)
Mark T. Sullivan (other topics)
Anne Morrow Lindbergh (other topics)
Charles Augustus Lindbergh (other topics)
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1- Biography, autobiography or memoir
Going Infinity by Michael Lewis
Burn Book: A Tech Love Story by Kara Swisher
Diana, William and Harry by James Patterson
Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into
a Visionary Leader by Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzell
All in the Family by Frederick Trump III
At War With Ourselves by H.R. McMaster
George VI and Elizabeth: The Marriage that Saved the Monarchy
by Sally Bedell Smith
Who Could Ever Love you: A Family Memoir by Mary Trump
Q: A Voyage Around the Queen by Craig Brown
George V: Never a Dull Moment by Jane Ridley
Sociopath: a Memoir by Patric Gagne
2- Business, economics, finance (personal, business or home) F or NF
Going Infinity by Michael Lewis
Burn Book: A Tech Love Story by Kara Swisher
Bad Blood: Secrets & Lies in a Silicon Valley Start Up by
John Carryrou
3- Health, fitness or diet
4- History
His Final Battle: The Last Months of Franklin Roosevelt by J. Lelyveld
Khirbet Khinh by S. Yizhar
The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson
Hitlerland by Andrew Nagorski
5- Historical fiction
North Woods by Daniel Mason
The Game of Kings: Book One of the Lymond Chronicles
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
The Fraud by Zadie Smith
The Book of Aron a Novel by Jim Shepard
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
6- Humorous story, or comedian wrote it, or light hearted fun read
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
French Exit by Patrick DeWitt
7- Legal or lawyer character F / NF
Servants of the Damned: Giant Law Firms, Donald Trump and the Corruption of Justice by David Enrich
Interference: The Inside Story of Trump, Russia and the Mueller
Investigation by Aaron Zebley
8- LGBTQ+ character F/NF
Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin
9- Medical or character related to topic F/NF
10- Mystery, Thriller, or suspense
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Central Park West by James Coney
Slow Horses by Mick Herron
Long Time Gone by Charlie Donlea
The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspeak
The Dead Shall Be Raised/ The Murder of a Quack by George Bellairs
The Twyford Code: A Novel by Janice Hallett
11- Political, social science or governments F/NF
The Wizard of the Kremlin by Giuliani da Empoli
War by Bob Woodward
12- romance, relationships or love. F/NF
James by Percival Everett
13- science F/NF
Fire Weather A True Story of Fires from a Hotter World by
John Valliiant
14--travel F/NF
Travels of Tocqueville Beyond America by Jeremy Jennings
Wide, Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Voyage of Captain James Cook by Hampton Sides
15- philosophy, ethics, morality
16- Young adult book F/NF
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
17- Spiritual or inspirational F/NF
Signs, the Secret Language of the Universe by Laura L Jackson
18- book that takes place during a holiday. Any holiday.
The Brothers: The Road to an American Tragedy by Masha
Gessen
18 Days in October: The Yom Kippur War and How It Created
the Modern Middle East by Uri Kaufman (also Ramadan)
19- book with a relationship in the title (father, mother, daughter, son, sister or brother)
The Brothers K by David James Duncan
Wifey by Judy Blume
20- The Arts: Music, art, theater, acting, dance or poetry.
Killing Commandatore by Haruki Murakami
21- Banned book or Challenged book
Warrior Girl Unearthed
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
22- Debut novel
23- Award winning book or nominated for award
24- A play
25- A book published before you were born
27- Nature, environment or animals. F/NF
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
28- book that takes place in WWI, WWII, or other war F/NF
His Final Battle: The Last Months of Franklin Roosevelt by J. Lelyveld
November 1942; An Intimate History of the Turning Point of WWII by Peter Englund, transl from Swedish
Five Days that Shocked the World by Nicholas Best
29- cosmology, space, astronauts, outer space- F/NF
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge
of Space by Adam Higginbotham
30- Sports F/NF
The Brothers K by David James Duncan
Cloudbusters Nine: etc by Anne R Keene
31- Horror or scary
The Empusium: a Health Resort Horror Story by Olga Tokarczuk
32- Self help or creative or How to
33- psychology
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
Sociopath: a Memoir by Patric Gagne
34- food mentioned in book, recipes or chef mentioned in book F/NF
35- about a disability or character has a disability F/NF
Homer and Langley by E.L. Doctorow
36- a book about one of your 5 senses ( touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste) F/NF
Homer and Langley by E.L. Doctorow
37- color in title
38- Weather related F/NF
Fire Weather A True Story of Fires from a Hotter World by
John Valliant
39- Myth, sci fi, magical realism, or fantasy
North Woods by Daniel Mason
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.
James by Percival Everett
40- Dystopian
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
43 - Topic or a character has one of the 7 deadly sins or more! (pride, greed, envy, gluttony, sloth, wrath and lust) F/NF
Ali. A Life by Jonathan Eig (and several other categories)
44- Book with one word title
45- A book over 500 pages
Night of the Plagues by Orhan Pamuk
and more
47- Translated into English
The Wizard of the Kremlin by Giuliani da Empoli
48- Book that takes place in or is about a country you don't live in.
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
50- book written by a BIPOC author or character is BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color )) F/NF
White Horse by Erika T. Wurth
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
Some People Need Killing by Patricia Evangelista
51. Crime, true or fictions
All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
Starkweather by Harry N Maclean
Lucky Loser: by Ross Beuttner and Susanne Craig
The Dead Shall Be Raised/ The Murder of a Quack by
George Bellars
52. Immigrants/ Immigration
The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit by Lucette L.
53. I'll be there for you. Friends F/NF
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
54. Families
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (also crime fiction)