Books you've read in 2019

Leah, Ada, Orleana, Ruth May, Rachel, Nathan... I could talk all day about them! I'm haunted by it
 
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I'm now reading THIS

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It's exactly the sort of thing I REALLY LOVE
 
Inspired by Haunting of Hill House, I decided to continue with haunted houses

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Well I just finished this. I'm not entirely sure what to make of it. It is, of course, beautifully written and the story is masterfully told. And yes, bien sur, the premise of '80s gay life and AIDS juxtaposed against Thatcherite Britain is genius and the graphic depictions of gay sex and drug taking add an extra layer of deliciousness

However, characterisation was an issue for me. I did not care much for any of the main characters, least of all the protagonist himself (Nick Guest).
Maybe some of it was lost on me in the name of subtlety; then again, I think not. Still, very much a worthwhile read and recommended by the Suedette jury.
 
Just finished this ‘If Cats Disappeared From The World.

Just starting the Pat Benatar autobiography.
 
Some of these books have very unpleasant covers and fonts and frankly have a look of being EMBOSSED. Really I couldn’t bring myself to even touch them, much less have them in the penthouse :gross:

Anyway, I’m halfway through Jeanette Winterson’s ‘Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?’ and also Cosey Fanni Tutti’s ‘Art Sex Music’ :disco:
 
Zu-Klara said:
Some of these books have very unpleasant covers and fonts and frankly have a look of being EMBOSSED. Really I couldn’t bring myself to even touch them, much less have them in the penthouse :gross:
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that's my constant thought too :D
 
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which is why I only ever buy second hand books from the 1940s

also Edouard is a slice of pie but I fear he'll do a Moz type u-turn one day :(
 
:D Oh thank God it’s not just ME! Someone recently gave me a book which was apparently hilarious, but one look at it made me feel sick and ultimately caused such a temper that I had to rip it in two

I realise this makes me sound like an ungrateful monster but STANDARDS!
 
You’d never get that with FOLIO. Goodness me the French know how to produce a paperback. Square-ish picture of an ashtray or someone crying, a couple of very pleasant fonts and everything else TOUT BLANC. More than enough to be getting on with :weed:
 
Ok I love The Little Friend but I didn’t write it! :D

If you’re really struggling I would recommend just reading the rest of the plot summary, because you will NOT be happy by the end.
 
Still struggling but once I'm done I'll move on to two short novels/novellas, and then if I can join in on Moopy Book Club then I will but oh dear what can I do.
 
I'm reading the latest ALAN HOLLINGHURST now. Seems like the usual tale of PRIVILEGED QUEENS so far but who would expect anything else?
 
Finished this

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It has some similarities in subject with Little Fires Everywhere but it’s a better book.

Starting this
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Shirley said:
I'm reading the latest ALAN HOLLINGHURST now. Seems like the usual tale of PRIVILEGED QUEENS so far but who would expect anything else?
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With an added touch of the MAUPINS at the end with MEN OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER TITS OUT on DRUGS in LONDON NIGHTSPOTS COPPING OFF with men LESS THAN HALF THEIR AGE

WRITE ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW as the OLD ADAGE goes
 
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I have a bit of penchant for dystopian scifi type stories so loved this. There are a huge number of parallels with the 80s setting in which the book is set and modern Britain, which I'm sure are no accident. The story raises a lot of the obvious tropes in any scenario where AI has prevailed to a level of human sentience, but still the story raises a lot of questions of morality and what exactly consciousness is with some interesting plot woven in.

As far as I can remember this is the first book by Ian McEwan I've read but will check out more.
 
I’ve tried with Ian McEwan on three occasions now and just haven’t been able to make it through more than a couple of chapters. The plot of this one did intrigue me though, so i might try AGAIN.
 
I've read 2.5 books so far this year, all 1Q84 :) I'm really enjoying it but I'm ready for this shit to end. If anything this has made me realise that I don't like reading books in multiple volumes.
 
jivafox said:
I’ve tried with Ian McEwan on three occasions now and just haven’t been able to make it through more than a couple of chapters. The plot of this one did intrigue me though, so i might try AGAIN.
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I found it really easy to read, possibly because of the subject matter, but I read it all over the course of the weekend, probably half yesterday.
 
Just finished Murakami's Killing Commendatore. His first novel in years I could easily put down, beyond the wonderful painting imagery that is.

Before that Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential.

Up next Zafón's The Labyrinth of Spirits... so sad to see this series end.
 
This year I've read:
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagiharfar - I get the where the criticism I read towards this comes from, but I found it good (if you can call it that considering the themes and the author's emotional manipulation). It is what it is, a harrowing read, but way OTT.
Calypso by David Sedaris - I enjoyed this a lot, funnier and a lot more personal than his last two books
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine - Ugh. That's what I get for falling for reviews by. Didn't really like this, chic lit with a slightly different approach.
Boy Erased - found it quite fascinating and relatable
 
I agree with you on Eleanor Oliphant, it is supremely overrated by the ladies that go to bookclub crowd.

I'll update my 2019 books in a minute, and yes A Little Life is on my list.
 
So far in 2019, I have read (my goodreads.com rates in brackets):

Arundhati Roy - The God of Small Things (5/5)
Leila Sleimani - Lullaby (3/5)
Alice Munro - Dear Life (4/5)
Ian McEwan - The Cement Garden (4/5)
Cormac McCarthy - The Road (4/5)
Orhan Pamuk - My Name is Red (5/5)
Barbara Kingsolver - The Poisonwood Bible (4/5)
Alan Hollinghurst - The Line of Beauty (3/5)
Donna Tartt - The Little Friend (2/5)
Taylor Jenkins Reid - Daisy Jones & The Six (2/5)
Edouard Louis - The End of Eddy (4/5)
Banana Yoshimoto - Kitchen (4/5)
Sally Rooney - Conversations with Friends (4/5)
 
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