pontalba's 2013 reading list

[pontalba]

Thanks, Athena.

 

Last night I finished The Inverted World by Christopher Priest 4/5

 

An entire city moved along on a system of rails that must be taken up in back and re-laid in front, desperately trying to maintain Optimum. Travelling through all sorts of terrain, crossing rivers, obtaining help along the way from "tookers".

Why must they keep going, or die? Why is the percentage of male births so high? What is the place they traverse? How and why are they there? Their city is called "Earth", and they have memories of a planet called Earth. Who are they?

A fascinating study in human nature and survival.
The clue is in the name of the book.

Recommended

[Chrissy]

Great review Pontalba, that immediately went onto my wish list.

[Marie H]

On my wishlist too   , as I am trying a taste of Science/Speculative Fiction at the moment    

[Little Pixie]

 

Charles had a great idea. We're going to keep those books together, on their own shelf as a tribute to the unknown book lover whose estate we purchased them from. I think they'd like that. I know I would, were they mine. I listed them on their own shelf on Library Thing.

 

I agree! As Kidsmum and Athena say, that is a wonderful idea .

 

 

And ditto, what a lovely idea.

[Little Pixie]

Oh, and a belated Happy Thanksgiving.

[poppyshake]

Yes .. are you stuffed to the gills with turkey? Hope you had a lovely day anyway x  

[pontalba]

Great review Pontalba, that immediately went onto my wish list.

 

On my wishlist too   , as I am trying a taste of Science/Speculative Fiction at the moment    

 

Thank you, both!   I really enjoy what I call "realistic" science fiction.  I've never cared much for the more fantastical sort. 

 

 

And ditto, what a lovely idea.

 

'Tis.   My fella has a lot of lovely ideas.

 

 

Oh, and a belated Happy Thanksgiving.

 

Yes .. are you stuffed to the gills with turkey? Hope you had a lovely day anyway x  

 

Thanks, to the both of ya!   We stayed home, and, yes we ate turkey for the first time in a while.  We're not much on holidays, in general though.

 

We did however go across the lake yesterday, Friday, aka "Black Friday" over this side of the Pond.  After going to an Italian themed coffee shop (lovely!) we decided to go to the Mall.  I wanted to buy a pair of brown slacks as the ones, the NEW ones I just bought have shrunk!  (grrrrrrr) Anyhow, we couldn't find a parking place, and MANY cars were circling like vultures searching out prey for parking spaces.  After about 10 minutes of same circling, we left.  Wasn't worth it!!  Insanity!!

 

I looked it up, there are 5,000 parking spaces, open AND 2,000 covered in a two story garage adjacent to the Mall.  That's a total of 7,000 parking spaces!  That's not counting the prowlers searching for spaces.....the drive around area in-between was just as crowded.  GAK

Full, to the gills.  oy.

[pontalba]

I posted this in the Book News thread, but wanted to put it in here as well.  Too good to miss!

 

I received my Powell's Books "review of the day" today in email.  It was for a photography book called Humans of New York.  It's based on a blog of the same name, 400 pictures in it, beautiful, glossy book.

 

So, I had to investigate the blog, of course!   Here is the link.  Ya gotta see it, to believe it.  You'll laugh out loud, cry, smile, and sigh!

 

http://www.humansofnewyork.com/

[Chrissy]

I discovered H.O.N.Y. on Facebook a little while ago after it was referenced in a newspaper article, and you are absolutely right with your assessment! It feels like a microcosm for the rest of the world.

[Athena]

That's very interesting!

[pontalba]

The Penultimate Truth by Philip K. Dick  4/5

 

Wavering between a 4 and 5 star rating on The Penultimate Truth, mostly because the start, for my taste, was off key. For a bit I wasn't sure I wanted to continue, but persevered. I'm very glad I did. Written in 1964, and set "in the future", some years are mentioned as pivotal to the story, 1982, 2002. 2024-5 seems to be the book's "present".

Dick paints a disparate world in which a huge percentage of people are being deluded by the remaining ones, conned, if you will into serving and servicing the smaller portion. There are some fascinating weapons used, and.....lets call them marketing skills presented.

In a way it's an untypical setting for good vs. evil. I believe it was untypical at the time of Dick's writing, at least. An enjoyable read.

Recommended.

Edited December 5, 2013 by pontalba

[pontalba]

I thought I'd post this here, more than one favorite....

 

Best of Historical Fiction would be the wildly popular (for once with much reason).

Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel Oliver Cromwell, humanized beautifully.

The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory Story of Anne Neville, daughter of Richard Neville. She was married to King Richard III. Part of Gregory's series on the War of the Roses, and as far as I am concerned, the best.

 

Best of Non-Fiction

Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard. The story of the assassination of President James Garfield.

Blood Will Tell (A Medical Explanation of the Tyranny of Henry VIII) by Kyra Cornelius Kramer.

Her Majesty's Spymaster by Stephen Budiansky Story of Sir Francis Walsingham, you could call him the Father of Modern Spycraft.

 

Best of Literary Fiction

Dangerous Liaisions by Choderlos De Laclos.

The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin.....yes, that Justin Cronin of the vampire (going to be) trilogy. This guy can write a wonderfully moving tale of love, sacrifice and redemption. Just lovely.

Invisible by Paul Auster

Travels in the Scriptorium by Paul Auster. Twisted.

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. I know, it's a play but fits the genre, IMO. Starkly intense, fantastic.

House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III. Realistic, and so artfully and intensely accomplished...heartbreaking.

 

Best Science Fiction/Fantasy

 

Replay by Ken Grimwood.  How many lives does it take, with a twist.

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley. Innovative.

The Inverted World by Christopher Priest  It's all perspective.

World War Z by Max Brooks  I've not been a fan of zombie books, but this, told in newspaper reporting style was terrific!

 

Best Spy/Espionage

 

Death Will Have Your Eyes by James Sallis.  Very different.

Asset by Jonathan Orvin.  A journey.

 

Best New (for me) Author

Ellen Ullman,

I've read two of her books, so far.

By Blood

Close to the Machine: Technopilia and it's Discontents

She is a computer geek's, Geek, and can tell a wonderful story beautifully.

 

Edited December 9, 2013 by pontalba

[pontalba]

Oh, forgot to post the books we've received in the last few days.

 

The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson

Past to Present, A Reporter's Story of War, Spies, People, and Politics by William Stevenson (author of A Man Called Intrepid, one of the most fascinating, true spy stories ever written)

90 Minutes at Entebbe by William Stevenson (true account of the Israeli strike against terrorism)

Red Fortress History and Illusion in the Kremlin by Catherine Merridale

The Black House by Peter May

[Athena]

Congrats on the new books! I hope you enjoy them .

 

Nice list of favourites ! I think I might have to do something like that too closer to the end of the year (if you don't mind..).

[julie]

Sounds like you have hit the book jackpot the past few reads and gotten ahold of some really good ones !

Several sound good . I ordered the book you mentioned awhile back : S . ---Very cool book ! Saving it for a special occasion when the right mood hits .

 

A couple others sound definitely worth looking up so will also search for them .

 

I have the one about Garfield, but have yet to read it ( like a truckload of others.. )

 

Thanks for the Best Of List -- you really read a lot of books, and so many sound good, so you're a good one to trust for recommendations .

[pontalba]

Congrats on the new books! I hope you enjoy them .

 

Nice list of favourites ! I think I might have to do something like that too closer to the end of the year (if you don't mind..).

 

Thank you!  Oh, I hope you do make a list of this sort, I'd love to see it.  

 

 

Sounds like you have hit the book jackpot the past few reads and gotten ahold of some really good ones !

Several sound good . I ordered the book you mentioned awhile back : S . ---Very cool book ! Saving it for a special occasion when the right mood hits .

 

A couple others sound definitely worth looking up so will also search for them .

 

I have the one about Garfield, but have yet to read it ( like a truckload of others.. )

 

Thanks for the Best Of List -- you really read a lot of books, and so many sound good, so you're a good one to trust for recommendations .

 

Oh, goody!  Glad you've added some to the never ending TBR pile!

 

And thank you, Julie.

 

But I know I'll be adding at least one more to the list, later.  I'm reading Purge right now, and it'll go on the list, for sure.

[Athena]

Thank you!  Oh, I hope you do make a list of this sort, I'd love to see it.

x

Thanks ! I think I will.

[Little Pixie]

Ooh, a ` best of `.

 

I usually just go for favourite reads, so splitting books into genres is a really good idea.

 

I`m intrigued by Replay, but I think I may order Kate Atkinson`s Life after Life instead, which has a similar premise, I believe. Sorry, can`t post a link, some browsery problem.

[pontalba]

Ooh, a ` best of `.

 

I usually just go for favourite reads, so splitting books into genres is a really good idea.

 

I`m intrigued by Replay, but I think I may order Kate Atkinson`s Life after Life instead, which has a similar premise, I believe. Sorry, can`t post a link, some browsery problem.

 

I've heard a lot about the Atkinson.  Good things.  I'll look forward to your review.

[Little Pixie]

I've heard a lot about the Atkinson.  Good things.  I'll look forward to your review.

Well, if you say I have to order it...

 

Just looked and it`s still pretty pricey; I shall look into getting it next year once the paperback is out. 

[pontalba]

Well, if you say I have to order it...

 

Just looked and it`s still pretty pricey; I shall look into getting it next year once the paperback is out. 

 

Yeah, just checked Amazon over here, and even the second hand ones are expensive.  The kindle one is 7.99 USD even.

[Little Pixie]

Yeah, just checked Amazon over here, and even the second hand ones are expensive.  The kindle one is 7.99 USD even.

 

For a book which got a lot of big reviews in the newspapers I read, I`m surprised that it`s so expensive. I assumed that plenty of copies would`ve been printed.

 

 The UK kindle price is even £6.99  - just looked, and your USD price works out at £4.88.

 

I shall do what I usually do ; unless I`m desperate for a book, I`ll wait for a cheapie used hardback.

Edited December 9, 2013 by Little Pixie

[pontalba]

For a book which got a lot of big reviews in the newspapers I read, I`m surprised that it`s so expensive. I assumed that plenty of copies would`ve been printed.

 

 The UK kindle price is even £6.99  - just looked, and your USD price works out at £4.88.

 

I shall do what I usually do ; unless I`m desperate for a book, I`ll wait for a cheapie used hardback.

 

That is quite a difference!  I don't know what publishers are thinking.  The differences in price is just wrong.

 

Something else they do that totally annoys me is when they publish a book over there, and then it comes out weeks later over here.  It may happen the other way around, and I haven't noticed.  Why can't they simultaneously publish??  grrrrr!

[Athena]

That is quite a difference!  I don't know what publishers are thinking.  The differences in price is just wrong.

 

Something else they do that totally annoys me is when they publish a book over there, and then it comes out weeks later over here.  It may happen the other way around, and I haven't noticed.  Why can't they simultaneously publish??  grrrrr!

x

I agree, both those things are really annoying !

[Ruth]

House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III truly deserves a higher rating than 5 stars. I felt as though I was watching a slow motion train wreck with the inevitable, but oh, so preventable, fatal casualties. Dubus is a master of the human condition, he inhabits such a variety of opposite characters so completely, one wonders if the man is a magician. He is. No doubt about it.

 

The basic story is simple. A woman is evicted from her home by the County, ostensibly, for non-payment of certain taxes. A man, a former Colonel in the Iranian Army, purchases the home at auction. Their individual back-stories are told in the course of the tale. She cannot accept the fact her home is lost, and he will not entertain any thoughts of compensation to her.

 

The collision of personalities and cultures explodes off of the page engulfing the reader in their lives.

 

It took me a bit longer to read this novel, as the intensity level was so high, I could only stand so much at the time. But I read the last 100 pages or so in one fell swoop, until 2 in the morning, unable to put it down. Sleeping afterward was difficult.

 

Tragic. Ironic. Heartbreaking. Frightening.

 

 

The Penultimate Truth by Philip K. Dick  4/5

 

Wavering between a 4 and 5 star rating on The Penultimate Truth, mostly because the start, for my taste, was off key. For a bit I wasn't sure I wanted to continue, but persevered. I'm very glad I did. Written in 1964, and set "in the future", some years are mentioned as pivotal to the story, 1982, 2002. 2024-5 seems to be the book's "present".

 

Dick paints a disparate world in which a huge percentage of people are being deluded by the remaining ones, conned, if you will into serving and servicing the smaller portion. There are some fascinating weapons used, and.....lets call them marketing skills presented.

 

In a way it's an untypical setting for good vs. evil. I believe it was untypical at the time of Dick's writing, at least. An enjoyable read.

 

Recommended.

 

Great reviews  I'm adding these two to my wish list.