07-03-2019, 12:43 AM | #16 | |
cacoethes scribendi
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I was flicking through my list of "authors of interest" (generally come from reading short fiction collections and discovering authors whose work I find interesting), and came across: Benjanun Sriduangkaew, and found that her first novel Scale-Bright seemed like a good match (an award winning debut novel) and the tide this month of looking outside Anglophone works.
But a couple of odd things I found out (while waiting to see if a client is going to spoil my unusually quiet day). First, Wikipedia says ... well, I'll let you read it for yourself, see here under the "Online Activity" heading. This controversy is also mentioned in various Goodreads reviews. Had anyone here heard of this before? I also noted that Wikipedia said: Quote:
I must say that my enthusiasm for trying this author has waned considerably. |
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07-03-2019, 03:29 AM | #17 |
Snoozing in the sun
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I must say none of this does anything for me! That said, just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's true of course.
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07-03-2019, 07:00 AM | #18 | |
o saeclum infacetum
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Quote:
The allegations seem to be proved and that would be it for me, also. I think it's one of the issues of our times: is a work good enough to justify supporting a person of reprehensible character, ideas or actions? Certainly not in this case! |
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07-03-2019, 07:34 AM | #19 | |
o saeclum infacetum
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As indicated above, I'm nominating The Winter Queen by Boris Akunin, the first in the Erast Fandorin chronology. I've been reading this series over time with enjoyment. There's much of interest in terms of Russian political and social history and part of the fun is that each novel is written in a different crime novel style. The translation is highly regarded and I personally enjoy the narration of the books, also.
From Amazon: Quote:
290 pp. |
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07-03-2019, 08:28 AM | #20 |
Snoozing in the sun
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Sounds great! I second The Winter Queen.
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07-03-2019, 10:11 AM | #21 | ||
Grand Sorcerer
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I find this a frustrating category; it's been difficult to find first books without having a specific author in mind, and often the first book turns out to be one that isn't anything special.
Going against the trend, I'm nominating a thoroughly American book by an American author: The Road Through the Wall (1948) by Shirley Jackson. Quote:
Quote:
Kobo US, $11.99 Kobo Canada, CDN $13.99 Kobo Australia, AU $14.99 Kobo New Zealand, NZ $20.34 Kobo UK, £2.99 Can be borrowed through Overdrive. No audiobook. Last edited by Catlady; 07-03-2019 at 10:14 AM. |
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07-03-2019, 03:10 PM | #22 |
o saeclum infacetum
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I'll second The Road Through the Wall.
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07-03-2019, 07:10 PM | #23 | ||
Grand Sorcerer
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My idea of diversity is nominating a British author's first book: Barbara Pym's Some Tame Gazelle (1950).
Quote:
Quote:
Kobo US, $14.39 Kobo Australia, AU $12.99 Kobo New Zealand, NZ $16.99 Kobo UK, £3.99 Only the audiobook is available in Canada. No audiobook in U.S. Can be borrowed through Overdrive, Freading, and Scribd. Last edited by Catlady; 07-03-2019 at 09:52 PM. Reason: fixed link |
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07-03-2019, 09:13 PM | #24 | |
Wizard
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Quote:
I agree. |
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07-04-2019, 12:52 AM | #25 |
(he/him/his)
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Yeah, I'll pass. I'm reasonably willing to make consideration for the time and context, but not for reprehensible authors.
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07-04-2019, 07:14 AM | #26 |
o saeclum infacetum
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I'd happily read a Barbara Pym, but I'm on the sidelines for the duration.
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07-04-2019, 09:19 AM | #27 |
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I shall second Some Tame Gazelle, Barbara Pym is someone I haven't read and would like to do so.
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07-04-2019, 10:40 AM | #28 |
cacoethes scribendi
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I second A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.
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07-04-2019, 10:41 AM | #29 |
cacoethes scribendi
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I will third The Winter Queen by Boris Akunin
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07-04-2019, 10:57 AM | #30 | |
cacoethes scribendi
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In my current mood nothing else nominated so far really does it for me, so I'm going to nominate a recent read that I thought was both different (for me) and very good for a debut novel. And while it is written by a US author, she appears to be well qualified to have written this book set in medieval Russia using Russian mythology:
I nominate The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. Quote:
Ostensibly the first of a trilogy, this first book finishes well enough to be read on its own. Goodreads Kobo AU $12.99, Kobo US $11.99, Kobo CA $13.99, Kobo UK must be on special at the moment I think at only £1.99 |
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