The Book Thread 2024

[NamelessFaceless]

1. The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things - "J.T. LeRoy"
2. The Pepsi-Cola Addict - June-Allison Gibbons
3. 1776 - David McCullough
4. Amazon Stories (1. Scheme, 2. There's a Bear in the House!, 3. Her Second Death, 4. Same Time Next Year) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
5. Amazon Stories (1. If The Fates Allow, 2. The Marriage Test, 3. Two Women Walk Into a Bar, 4. How to Accidentally Settle Down With Your Highschool Boyfriend) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
6. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
7. The Improbable Meet-Cute Collection (1. Royal Valentine; 2. With Any Luck; 3. Drop, cover, and Hold On; 4. Rosie and the Dreamboat; 5. Worst Wingman Ever; 6. The Exception to the Rule) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
8. Blaze Collection (1. Amelia's Shadow; 2. The June Paintings; 3. The Forgotten Chapter; 4. Fires to Come; 5. Tune in Tomrorow; 6. Fallen Grace; 7. Barriers to Entry) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
9. Never Tell Collection (1. Everywhere You Look; 2. The Ghost Writer; 3. The Other Side of the Road; 4. Scorpions; 5. Jackrabbit Skin; 6. The Bad Friend) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
10. House of Crows - Lisa Unger (Audiobook)
11. The Havana Run - Ace Atkins (Audiobook)
12. Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson (Audiobook) (this is a re-read)
13. Cuba: An American History - Ada Ferer (Audiobook)
14. The Best American Mystery Stories of 2005 - Various Authors
15. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy (I did it! I finally finished War and Peace!)
16. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket - Edgar Allan Poe
17. Blonde - Joyce Carol Oates
18. No One's Home - D.M. Pulley
19. What Maisie Knew - Henry James
20. A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles
21. In Colder Blood: On the Trail of Dick Hickock and Perry Smith
22. The Guest - Emma Cline
23. The Deadly Dozen: America's 12 Worst Serial Killers - Robert Keller
24. The Shunned House & Queen of Spades - H.P. Lovecraft & Alexander Pushkin
25. James - Percival Everett
26. Starr Bright Will Be With You Soon - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
27. Lives of the Twins - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
28. The Witches - Stacy Schiff (I hated her writing style! So disjointed).
29. Soul Mate - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
30. Nemesis - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
31. Rape: A Love Story - Joyce Carol Oates

[NamelessFaceless]

1. The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things - "J.T. LeRoy"
2. The Pepsi-Cola Addict - June-Allison Gibbons
3. 1776 - David McCullough
4. Amazon Stories (1. Scheme, 2. There's a Bear in the House!, 3. Her Second Death, 4. Same Time Next Year) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
5. Amazon Stories (1. If The Fates Allow, 2. The Marriage Test, 3. Two Women Walk Into a Bar, 4. How to Accidentally Settle Down With Your Highschool Boyfriend) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
6. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
7. The Improbable Meet-Cute Collection (1. Royal Valentine; 2. With Any Luck; 3. Drop, cover, and Hold On; 4. Rosie and the Dreamboat; 5. Worst Wingman Ever; 6. The Exception to the Rule) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
8. Blaze Collection (1. Amelia's Shadow; 2. The June Paintings; 3. The Forgotten Chapter; 4. Fires to Come; 5. Tune in Tomrorow; 6. Fallen Grace; 7. Barriers to Entry) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
9. Never Tell Collection (1. Everywhere You Look; 2. The Ghost Writer; 3. The Other Side of the Road; 4. Scorpions; 5. Jackrabbit Skin; 6. The Bad Friend) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
10. House of Crows - Lisa Unger (Audiobook)
11. The Havana Run - Ace Atkins (Audiobook)
12. Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson (Audiobook) (this is a re-read)
13. Cuba: An American History - Ada Ferer (Audiobook)
14. The Best American Mystery Stories of 2005 - Various Authors
15. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy (I did it! I finally finished War and Peace!)
16. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket - Edgar Allan Poe
17. Blonde - Joyce Carol Oates
18. No One's Home - D.M. Pulley
19. What Maisie Knew - Henry James
20. A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles
21. In Colder Blood: On the Trail of Dick Hickock and Perry Smith
22. The Guest - Emma Cline
23. The Deadly Dozen: America's 12 Worst Serial Killers - Robert Keller
24. The Shunned House & Queen of Spades - H.P. Lovecraft & Alexander Pushkin
25. James - Percival Everett
26. Starr Bright Will Be With You Soon - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
27. Lives of the Twins - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
28. The Witches - Stacy Schiff (I hated her writing style! So disjointed).
29. Soul Mate - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
30. Nemesis - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
31. Rape: A Love Story - Joyce Carol Oates
32. Henderson: the Rain King - Saul Bellow

[BWE]

I just finished "revenge of the tipping point" by Malcolm gladwell and it was really good.

[Blip]

First 60 here.

61. Concerning the Future of Souls by Joy Williams
62. The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck, translated by Susan Bernofsky
63. Playground by Richard Powers
64. There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
65. The Voyage Home by Pat Barker
66. The Glass Maker by Tracy Chevalier
67. The Fertile Earth by Ruthvika Rao
68. The Women Behind the Door by Roddy Doyle
69. The Echo Maker by Richard Powers
70. History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund
71. 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster

The road not taken set in mid 20th century USA. Fair review here if this idea appeals to you.

[NamelessFaceless]

1. The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things - "J.T. LeRoy"
2. The Pepsi-Cola Addict - June-Allison Gibbons
3. 1776 - David McCullough
4. Amazon Stories (1. Scheme, 2. There's a Bear in the House!, 3. Her Second Death, 4. Same Time Next Year) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
5. Amazon Stories (1. If The Fates Allow, 2. The Marriage Test, 3. Two Women Walk Into a Bar, 4. How to Accidentally Settle Down With Your Highschool Boyfriend) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
6. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
7. The Improbable Meet-Cute Collection (1. Royal Valentine; 2. With Any Luck; 3. Drop, cover, and Hold On; 4. Rosie and the Dreamboat; 5. Worst Wingman Ever; 6. The Exception to the Rule) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
8. Blaze Collection (1. Amelia's Shadow; 2. The June Paintings; 3. The Forgotten Chapter; 4. Fires to Come; 5. Tune in Tomrorow; 6. Fallen Grace; 7. Barriers to Entry) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
9. Never Tell Collection (1. Everywhere You Look; 2. The Ghost Writer; 3. The Other Side of the Road; 4. Scorpions; 5. Jackrabbit Skin; 6. The Bad Friend) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
10. House of Crows - Lisa Unger (Audiobook)
11. The Havana Run - Ace Atkins (Audiobook)
12. Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson (Audiobook) (this is a re-read)
13. Cuba: An American History - Ada Ferer (Audiobook)
14. The Best American Mystery Stories of 2005 - Various Authors
15. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy (I did it! I finally finished War and Peace!)
16. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket - Edgar Allan Poe
17. Blonde - Joyce Carol Oates
18. No One's Home - D.M. Pulley
19. What Maisie Knew - Henry James
20. A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles
21. In Colder Blood: On the Trail of Dick Hickock and Perry Smith
22. The Guest - Emma Cline
23. The Deadly Dozen: America's 12 Worst Serial Killers - Robert Keller
24. The Shunned House & Queen of Spades - H.P. Lovecraft & Alexander Pushkin
25. James - Percival Everett
26. Starr Bright Will Be With You Soon - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
27. Lives of the Twins - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
28. The Witches - Stacy Schiff (I hated her writing style! So disjointed).
29. Soul Mate - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
30. Nemesis - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
31. Rape: A Love Story - Joyce Carol Oates
32. Henderson: the Rain King - Saul Bellow
33. Snake Eyes - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)

[Blip]

First 60 here.

61. Concerning the Future of Souls by Joy Williams
62. The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck, translated by Susan Bernofsky
63. Playground by Richard Powers
64. There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
65. The Voyage Home by Pat Barker
66. The Glass Maker by Tracy Chevalier
67. The Fertile Earth by Ruthvika Rao
68. The Women Behind the Door by Roddy Doyle
69. The Echo Maker by Richard Powers
70. History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund
71. 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster
72. Knife by Salman Rushdie

The author's cathartic reflections on the attempt to murder him, his treatment and recovery.

[Blip]

First 60 here.

61. Concerning the Future of Souls by Joy Williams
62. The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck, translated by Susan Bernofsky
63. Playground by Richard Powers
64. There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
65. The Voyage Home by Pat Barker
66. The Glass Maker by Tracy Chevalier
67. The Fertile Earth by Ruthvika Rao
68. The Women Behind the Door by Roddy Doyle
69. The Echo Maker by Richard Powers
70. History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund
71. 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster
72. Knife by Salman Rushdie
73. Scattered All Over the Earth by Yoko Tawada translated by Margaret Mitsutani

Japan has sunk into the sea and is remembered as 'The Land of Sushi' in this strange, compelling novel about language, exile, and belonging. One critic described it as sui generis and that's about right. I'm reading the sequel next.

[Blip]

First 60 here.

61. Concerning the Future of Souls by Joy Williams
62. The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck, translated by Susan Bernofsky
63. Playground by Richard Powers
64. There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
65. The Voyage Home by Pat Barker
66. The Glass Maker by Tracy Chevalier
67. The Fertile Earth by Ruthvika Rao
68. The Women Behind the Door by Roddy Doyle
69. The Echo Maker by Richard Powers
70. History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund
71. 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster
72. Knife by Salman Rushdie
73. Scattered All Over the Earth by Yoko Tawada, translated by Margaret Mitsutani
74. Suggested in the Stars by Yoko Tawada, translated by Margaret Mitsutani

Language, identity and the significance of shared cultural references in the foreground, this is weird, stimulating and entertaining.

[Blip]

First 60 here.

61. Concerning the Future of Souls by Joy Williams
62. The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck, translated by Susan Bernofsky
63. Playground by Richard Powers
64. There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
65. The Voyage Home by Pat Barker
66. The Glass Maker by Tracy Chevalier
67. The Fertile Earth by Ruthvika Rao
68. The Women Behind the Door by Roddy Doyle
69. The Echo Maker by Richard Powers
70. History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund
71. 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster
72. Knife by Salman Rushdie
73. Scattered All Over the Earth by Yoko Tawada, translated by Margaret Mitsutani
74. Suggested in the Stars by Yoko Tawada, translated by Margaret Mitsutani
75. Satin Island by Tom McCarthy

I saw the author described as a Kafka for the digital age, or words to that effect. I wouldn't go that far, but this tale of an anthropologist, employed by a large corporation on a mysterious project, who doesn't achieve anything at all is quite diverting. One could call it a novel about writer's block, maybe.

[NamelessFaceless]

1. The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things - "J.T. LeRoy"
2. The Pepsi-Cola Addict - June-Allison Gibbons
3. 1776 - David McCullough
4. Amazon Stories (1. Scheme, 2. There's a Bear in the House!, 3. Her Second Death, 4. Same Time Next Year) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
5. Amazon Stories (1. If The Fates Allow, 2. The Marriage Test, 3. Two Women Walk Into a Bar, 4. How to Accidentally Settle Down With Your Highschool Boyfriend) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
6. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
7. The Improbable Meet-Cute Collection (1. Royal Valentine; 2. With Any Luck; 3. Drop, cover, and Hold On; 4. Rosie and the Dreamboat; 5. Worst Wingman Ever; 6. The Exception to the Rule) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
8. Blaze Collection (1. Amelia's Shadow; 2. The June Paintings; 3. The Forgotten Chapter; 4. Fires to Come; 5. Tune in Tomrorow; 6. Fallen Grace; 7. Barriers to Entry) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
9. Never Tell Collection (1. Everywhere You Look; 2. The Ghost Writer; 3. The Other Side of the Road; 4. Scorpions; 5. Jackrabbit Skin; 6. The Bad Friend) - Various Authors (Audiobook)
10. House of Crows - Lisa Unger (Audiobook)
11. The Havana Run - Ace Atkins (Audiobook)
12. Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson (Audiobook) (this is a re-read)
13. Cuba: An American History - Ada Ferer (Audiobook)
14. The Best American Mystery Stories of 2005 - Various Authors
15. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy (I did it! I finally finished War and Peace!)
16. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket - Edgar Allan Poe
17. Blonde - Joyce Carol Oates
18. No One's Home - D.M. Pulley
19. What Maisie Knew - Henry James
20. A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles
21. In Colder Blood: On the Trail of Dick Hickock and Perry Smith
22. The Guest - Emma Cline
23. The Deadly Dozen: America's 12 Worst Serial Killers - Robert Keller
24. The Shunned House & Queen of Spades - H.P. Lovecraft & Alexander Pushkin
25. James - Percival Everett
26. Starr Bright Will Be With You Soon - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
27. Lives of the Twins - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
28. The Witches - Stacy Schiff (I hated her writing style! So disjointed).
29. Soul Mate - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
30. Nemesis - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
31. Rape: A Love Story - Joyce Carol Oates
32. Henderson: the Rain King - Saul Bellow
33. Snake Eyes - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
34.War and Peace (Audiobook) - Leo Tolstoy (I'm including this book twice because I both read and listened to it separately)
35. You Can't Catch Me - Rosamond Smith (pseudonym of Joyce Carol Oates)
36. A High Wind in Jamaica - Richard Hughes (wow, great book!)