Bookworms 2020

elsien

Just dowon loaded The Long Call by Ann Cleeves. I've not read anything else by her as yet. 

annieb64

I really enjoyed The Long Call. We've  had a few holiday holidays in that part of the country. 

LuckyLondonLucy

Hello all - have been away at my mum’s for a while and did plenty of reading. I finished Magpie Murders which I really enjoyed (4*) and then was introduced to Peter May and read 2/3 trilogy - The Black House and The Lewis Man - which I thought we’re pretty good (both 3*). I really loved the setting in Lewis - it makes me want to visit.  Will read the third one - The Chessman (maybe?) this week. Just finished today Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe which I really enjoyed (4*). I really want to see the film now!

On Audible I’m struggling with The God of Small Things. I can see that it’s obviously written really well and is very descriptive... but something is just a bit off for me. I have 6 hours left to listen to so I may have to speed it up to get through it.

Ruby  - I really want to read Becoming, so many people seem to enjoy it!  I actually might get it as my next Audible book as Michelle Obama narrates it as well and is meant to be amazing!

ruby_eskimo

@Charly27 I also have Outer Order Inner Calm on my kindle list to read.  I also listen to her podcast with her sister from time to time which I have found helpful in the past.

@LuckyLondonLucy I really recommend it.  I've started listening to her podcast as well so can imagine that her narrating her own life story would be great.

Still persevering with The New Jim Crow - it's a lot of facts to take in and I want to process them properly rather than rush through the thing.  Started A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens over the weekend.  It's on the list of 1001 books to read before you die and supposedly his favourite book that he wrote.  Enjoying the story so far even if the language is taking some getting used to (haven't read a proper classic in a while).

So far I've read 77 of the books on the 1001 list, which is actually more like 1300 as they add new ones every few years, so have a long way to go but determined to get there eventually!

Skibunny40

Charly27 said:

I’ve now finished ‘Like a Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun by Sarah Ladipo Manyika. I read this novella (I learnt it was called) as one of two fiction books in my library pick and mix. I’m so pleased I read it. I loved this and gave it five stars. Morayo, the main character, is a Nigerian born 75 year old lady living in an apartment in San Francisco. She is a retired professor of English Literature who has a zest for life that comes through all of her senses. Deals with ageing, sexism, racism, illness and homelessness through her life and the lives of her neighbours.
Would never have read this if someone hadn’t have chosen it for me and so glad I did. 

Just bought this for my Kindle for the bargain price of £1.66! Started it last night and am really enjoying it - thanks for the recommendation.

elsien

Still getting through the audible version of "My name is Lucy Barton."
Has anyone else listened to or read this? I'm not engrossed but am still unsure whether it's the book or whether audible just doesn't do it for me. 

Wednesday2000

Together: Why Social Connection Holds the Key to Better Health, Higher Performance, and Greater Happiness - Vivek H Murthy.

In this groundbreaking book, Former Surgeon General of the United States, Vivek Murthy argues that loneliness is the underpinning to the current crisis in mental wellness and is responsible for the upsurge in suicide, the opioid epidemic, the overuse of psych meds, the over-diagnosing and pathologizing of emotional and psychological struggle. The good news is that social connection is innate and a cure for loneliness. In Together, the former Surgeon General will address the importance of community and connection and offer viable and actionable solutions to this overlooked epidemic.

I started this yesterday. I listened to him talk on a podcast a while back and thought I would read the book. Very interesting so far.

hanert

elsien said:

Still getting through the audible version of "My name is Lucy Barton."
Has anyone else listened to or read this? I'm not engrossed but am still unsure whether it's the book or whether audible just doesn't do it for me. 

It could just be the narrator @elsien

ruby_eskimo

Definitely sounds like an interesting read @Wednesday2000
Agree with @hanert that it could be the narrator, they can make or break an audiobook for me.

Finished both A Tale of Two Cities and The New Jim Crow this week.  TNJC was very eye opening as to how laws in the US perpetuate the cycle of mass incarceration and appear to target ethnic minorities particularly.  Could have ended after 180 pages though as the last 80 or so just went over the same ground again that had been covered elsewhere in the book.  ATOTC was very enjoyable and definitely made me want to read more classics when I get a chance.

On to The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan - it's the book choice for my book club.  Not my usual type of books but seems like quite an easy read so far.

Wednesday2000

ruby_eskimo said:

Definitely sounds like an interesting read @Wednesday2000

It is so far. The introduction is dated March 2020 as we went into lockdown so it is very timely to be discussing social isolation and loneliness. There is a podcast with him talking to the author on Dr Rangan Chatterjee's channel if you wanted to listen to/watch that for free.