The 2016 Annual Reading Challenge Discussion Thread - Page 10

HomeInMyShoes · 01-15-2016, 03:53 PM

I've just been messing around with my reading list for the year about. I swapped literary fiction for non-fiction and changed a couple of potential books around. Gets me a Canadian title instead of a United Kingdom title so that works out well from a country standpoint.

bfisher · 01-15-2016, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sun surfer

Thanks HIMS! It's formidable but I hope I'll enjoy it.

It's a fantastic book (I've read it twice, and am long overdue for a reread), but if you expect a straightforward narrative, it can be maddening. You could write the plot of Moby Dick on a postage stamp.

issybird · 01-15-2016, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bfisher

It's a fantastic book (I've read it twice, and am long overdue for a reread).

Ditto! I've already decided that one of my themes for 2017 will be (Re)Reading the Classics and Moby Dick's on my shortlist.

bfisher · 01-15-2016, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Ditto! I've already decided that one of my themes for 2017 will be (Re)Reading the Classics and Moby Dick's on my shortlist.

You've inspired me to make it one of my summer reads this year. I think it is a perfect beach/cabin book.

sun surfer · 01-16-2016, 08:05 AM

I hope both of you enjoy it as much as your initial reading and I'll be interested to see what each of you think of the re-read.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bfisher

It's a fantastic book (I've read it twice, and am long overdue for a reread), but if you expect a straightforward narrative, it can be maddening. You could write the plot of Moby Dick on a postage stamp.

I've heard of long technical passages about boats and harpooning. If nothing else, the book will prepare me for a possible career as a 19th century whaler.

issybird · 01-16-2016, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sun surfer

I've heard of long technical passages about boats and harpooning. If nothing else, the book will prepare me for a possible career as a 19th century whaler.

Your hands will be super soft!

bfisher · 01-16-2016, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Your hands will be super soft!

How nice. I'd forgotten about that bit. All the more reason to move it up on my list.

sun surfer · 01-16-2016, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Your hands will be super soft!

Heh, I'm sure I'll find out all about that sometime in the next few months.

HomeInMyShoes · 01-19-2016, 09:13 AM

I am going to need something lighter than my current two selections to keep me going. These two books have been taking a while and I've still got a lot of pages to go in them.

Dngrsone · 01-19-2016, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

I am going to need something lighter than my current two selections to keep me going. These two books have been taking a while and I've still got a lot of pages to go in them.

What are you looking for? Genre? Maybe we can help you find something.

HomeInMyShoes · 01-19-2016, 01:18 PM

Thanks Dngrsone. I'm looking for almost anything. I have two challenges this year genre/formats and countries. So anything not in the following genres and countries would work as I've already covered them:

historical fiction; biography/memoir; dystopia; zombies
Ireland, Sweden, Israel, United States, Iran

Otherwise I am open to almost any recommendation. Something covering a non-visited country (author origin) and non-read genre.

Belgian Space Opera?
Gambian Steampunk? (does that even exist?)
Polish Science Fiction? (actually Stanislaw Lem is a potential)
Russian Chick-Lit?
South Korean Non-Fiction?

I know I'm going to read more than one book from United Kingdom and the United States because genre fiction is going to force that and it needs to be in English or translated to because I am not a multi-lingual person.

CRussel · 01-19-2016, 09:24 PM

How about a quick trip to Melbourne, Australia in the late 1920's, with Kerry Greenwood's Cocaine Blues. The first in the Phryne Fisher series (the basis for the "Miss Fisher's Mysteries" series shown on some US and Canadian public broadcasting systems, and now on some streaming services.)

HomeInMyShoes · 01-20-2016, 09:21 AM

It's short and could stand in for mystery and Australia. Not bad for getting my reading back on track. A bit worrisome that some of my friends on GoodReads did not rate it very highly though.

I'm so picky, but I do appreciate the recommendation.

Right now my potential reading list has:
Mystery -> Deadly Appearances by Gail Bowen (Canada)
Humor from United States

I could probably easily move Humor to Canada and get Mystery from Australia. It is even available as an eBook from the library. It could work. Although my humor selections from Canada have been pretty unfunny in the past.

bfisher · 01-20-2016, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

...Although my humor selections from Canada have been pretty unfunny in the past.

issybird · 01-20-2016, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

I could probably easily move Humor to Canada and get Mystery from Australia. It is even available as an eBook from the library. It could work. Although my humor selections from Canada have been pretty unfunny in the past.

I checked Goodreads and you don't have him listed; have you read Donald Jack, my favorite Canadian humorist? I admit I'm a sucker for Great War themes and that might not appeal, but I love his novels about hapless Canadian soldier/aviator Bartholomew Bandy.

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01-15-2016, 03:53 PM	#136
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	I've just been messing around with my reading list for the year about. I swapped literary fiction for non-fiction and changed a couple of potential books around. Gets me a Canadian title instead of a United Kingdom title so that works out well from a country standpoint.

01-19-2016, 09:13 AM	#144
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	I am going to need something lighter than my current two selections to keep me going. These two books have been taking a while and I've still got a lot of pages to go in them.

01-19-2016, 01:18 PM	#146
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	Thanks Dngrsone. I'm looking for almost anything. I have two challenges this year genre/formats and countries. So anything not in the following genres and countries would work as I've already covered them: historical fiction; biography/memoir; dystopia; zombies Ireland, Sweden, Israel, United States, Iran Otherwise I am open to almost any recommendation. Something covering a non-visited country (author origin) and non-read genre. Belgian Space Opera? Gambian Steampunk? (does that even exist?) Polish Science Fiction? (actually Stanislaw Lem is a potential) Russian Chick-Lit? South Korean Non-Fiction? I know I'm going to read more than one book from United Kingdom and the United States because genre fiction is going to force that and it needs to be in English or translated to because I am not a multi-lingual person.

01-19-2016, 09:24 PM	#147
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,296 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), iPad Air M3	How about a quick trip to Melbourne, Australia in the late 1920's, with Kerry Greenwood's Cocaine Blues. The first in the Phryne Fisher series (the basis for the "Miss Fisher's Mysteries" series shown on some US and Canadian public broadcasting systems, and now on some streaming services.)

01-20-2016, 09:21 AM	#148
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	It's short and could stand in for mystery and Australia. Not bad for getting my reading back on track. A bit worrisome that some of my friends on GoodReads did not rate it very highly though. I'm so picky, but I do appreciate the recommendation. Right now my potential reading list has: Mystery -> Deadly Appearances by Gail Bowen (Canada) Humor from United States I could probably easily move Humor to Canada and get Mystery from Australia. It is even available as an eBook from the library. It could work. Although my humor selections from Canada have been pretty unfunny in the past.