New Leaf Nominations for April 2019 • The Way I Heard It: Retellings

[issybird]

I must admit I'm hoping for House of Names to make the slate. I've already read most of the other nominations, full and not, this month, and not only is House of Names new to me, it fits in with an Ancient History theme I'm pursuing this year.

I'm also interested in another unread which needs one more support, Compulsion. I plan to read both books in any case. But that's me, of course, and that's what makes a horse race.

[Bookworm_Girl]

I will second The Wild Girl.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by issybird

I'm also interested in another unread which needs one more support, Compulsion. I plan to read both books in any case. But that's me, of course, and that's what makes a horse race.

I first read Compulsion around the same time as I read In Cold Blood, when I was exploring books about murder and the death penalty and figuring out my beliefs. I've been intending a reread ever since the e-book release a few years back.

I plan to reread Compulsion (well, listen, actually) in conjunction with a nonfiction account of the Leopold-Loeb case, For the Thrill of It, by Simon Baatz.

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

I'll be back...

Well, that didn't work out like I thought. My entire family got sick just in time for the weekend. Today is the first day someone hasn't had to stay home. Ugh.

I was trying to find a good book based on African, Asian, or South American legends/mythology to recommend but I was never able to get through the lists. I considred Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman but wanted something not written by a US or UK author.

Hopefully next month goes smoother.

At this point I am going to second The Beekeeper's Apprentice since I have wanted to try it and will check availability on the other nominations to see which other one I can bump to the vote. I should have time for that later today. (Crosses fingers.)

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I plan to reread Compulsion (well, listen, actually) in conjunction with a nonfiction account of the Leopold-Loeb case, For the Thrill of It, by Simon Baatz.

The price on For the Thrill of It is steep; fortunately one of my OD libraries has it. On my list! I see Baatz also wrote a book about the Nesbit murder; have you read that one?

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by issybird

The price on For the Thrill of It is steep; fortunately one of my OD libraries has it. On my list! I see Baatz also wrote a book about the Nesbit murder; have you read that one?

I did read the Nesbit one, but found it disappointing. I don't remember exactly what bothered me--I think Baatz went overboard on some details and skimped in other areas I wanted to know more about.

[bfisher]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

I was the one who nominated H is For Hawk when we read it in the Lit Club. I was inspired at the time to nominate it because I had recently re-read The Once and Future King. I have The Goshawk on my TBR.

Thanks so much for nominating H Is For Hawk. It inspired a whole train of reading for me; I thought it was one of the best books I read that year.

[bfisher]

I third House of Names.

[Bookpossum]

I have now managed to source a copy of All the President's Men, so I third it.

[bfisher]

I third The Wild Girl.

[Dazrin]

I will third The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

[issybird]

The poll's up.

Just a reminder: we've switched to a three-day poll.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I plan to reread Compulsion (well, listen, actually)

I decided to blow an Audible credit on this and it's most enjoyable; just what I wanted for the gym.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by issybird

I decided to blow an Audible credit on this and it's most enjoyable; just what I wanted for the gym.

Speaking of Audible, a couple of books mentioned in this thread are in the new two-for-one-credit sale: I Was Anastasia and Lamb.

I finished Anastasia. It has an interesting structure, alternating the story of Anna Anderson going backward in time from her old age, with the story of Anastasia and her family's imprisonment going forward till the shootings. I found a lot of the early Anna parts (meaning the story of her later life trying to prove her claim) a bit uninteresting, but the suspense builds as the two timelines begin to converge.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I finished Anastasia. It has an interesting structure, alternating the story of Anna Anderson going backward in time from her old age, with the story of Anastasia and her family's imprisonment going forward till the shootings. I found a lot of the early Anna parts (meaning the story of her later life trying to prove her claim) a bit uninteresting, but the suspense builds as the two timelines begin to converge.

I can't imagine anyone doesn't know, but just in case I've added spoiler tags since I'm commenting on the real Anna Anderson.

Spoiler:

I think my issue with Anna Anderson is that it was more fun when it was just possible that she was Anastasia, however unlikely. But now that DNA evidence has scotched her claim forever I don't see the point. However, I imagine the book has to take that into account - not just the DNA evidence, but that you start the book knowing she's fraudulent. A story you'd love to be true, though.