Posted April 30, 2013 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in Monthly Reading / 0 Comments
As we draw April to a close I have to admit that while I’ve almost caught up on all my book reviews for this blog, I’m feeling like I’m in a reading slump. It’s a new feeling for me that is causing frustration; I recently started a new job which has been mentally draining me so I hope that is the only reason behind this slump. But rather than focus on my frustration, let’s talk about the positives. You might have noticed I’ve been posting a book review up practically every day, this was because I got so far behind in reviews I would read a book and want to talk about it but waited two months for it to go live. While a book review every second day was a great idea I managed to get too far behind and now that I’m almost fully up to date I can go back to what I wanted to do with this blog. While reviews are important part of this blog and my reading journey I want to leave some room for some bookish related posts that aren’t reviews. Maybe some guest posts, my lovely wife has done some great ones in the past and a huge thanks to Mish and Toby for their posts as well. I want to generate some interesting posts that aren’t just reviews; so with any luck this will happen soon (I have an interesting one about satire planned).
As for this month; the book club focused on Japanese literature and read Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami which I really enjoyed and you can read my review here. I know many people are Murakami fans but to be honest, the only other novel I’ve read of his was 1Q84 and I didn’t enjoy it. I’m looking forward to what the book club does next month when we read The Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde for our supernatural theme. If you haven’t gotten involved with this book club and are interested in exploring literature with us, then you can do so over on Goodreads.
My reading this month was rather unproductive, I did manage to read ten novels but most of them were in the first half of the month and I think many of them were under 200 pages. My highlights included Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, The Son by Philipp Meyer, Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf and of course this month book pick for book club. But the book that stood out the most was The Reader by Bernhard Schlink, which I remember enjoying the movie but only remembered what happened as I read through this novel. I think I got sucked into this world that I didn’t want to leave, sadly that only lasted for a day then the book was over;the ups and downs of reading. What was your month of reading like? What were the highlights?
My Monthly Reading
Posted March 31, 2013 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in Monthly Reading / 2 Comments
Happy Easter everyone, hope you are all enjoying the long weekend. I hope everyone has had a wonderful month of reading and had time to fit Lolita into their busy schedule. I’ve noticed a lot of mixed reactions to this book which would mainly be a result of the controversial nature of this book but it really is one of those books that have helped shape twentieth century literature, so well worth checking out. Still a lot of action happening with the reading challenge as well; looks like two hundred books been added this month. For those who don’t know about the reading challenge, there is still time to join in the fun, so check out my introductory post here.
A reminder that next month’s book will Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami for our Japanese literature theme. I haven’t read much Murakami but expect some great discussion on this book, hopefully with some thoughts to the Magical Realism genre.
Highlights for my month’s reading included Infinite Jest which I’ve finally finished; the beautiful painting of Painter of Silence by Georgina Harding; Lolita; and In a Lonely Place. I would like to mention two other books that really blew me away. First, Pride and Prejudice which I finally got around to reading after putting it off for far too long (also have you seen the Lizzie Bennett Diaries?). Also Tenth of December; while I’m not much of a reader of short stories George Saunders showed me just enough to change my mind. What have you been reading this month and what were the highlights?
My Monthly Reading
Posted February 28, 2013 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in Monthly Reading / 0 Comments
It’s so great to see just how well the reading challenge is going; over 500 books have been read from the group so far. I’m so happy with the response and pleased to see people still had time to read The Fault in our Stars. Plenty of interesting thoughts have come out of this book from the group and while there was some people that didn’t like the book, I’m so glad to see so much great constructive criticism in the threads; this is what we live for. For those who don’t know about the reading challenge, there is still time to join in the fun, so check out my introductory post here.
I’m really impressed with the book club’s efforts this year and as we move into March, I’m looking forward to seeing what people will say about Lolita for our Russian literature theme. In January, I managed to read twenty books but this month I’ve read fifteen, which is not a bad effort and still a number I can be proud of. Five of those books go towards the Literary Exploration Reading Challenge and you can find my own record of the challenge here.
Highlights this month include the epic cyber punk noir novel Altered Carbon and the recently translated German crime blockbuster Snow White Must Die. Also I got to read a modern masterpiece by an author that is quickly become a favourite of mine; Jeffery Eugenides. The Virgin Suicides was his debut novel and it was wonderfully bleak; I can’t recommend it enough. How was February for you and your reading life? Let me know in the comments below.
Monthly Reading
- Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
- Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
- Dirt by David Vann
- Fool Moon by Jim Butcher
- Gun Machine by Warren Ellis
- Heart-Shaped Bruise by Tanya Byrne
- March Violets by Philip Kerr
- Occupation Diaries by Raja Shehadeh
- One for the Books by Joe Queenan
- Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead
- Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus
- The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
- The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
- Young Philby by Robert Littell
- Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
Posted January 31, 2013 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in Monthly Reading / 0 Comments
As the first month of 2013 comes to a close, it has been amazing to see how much excitement people are having towards both The Shadow of the Wind and the Literary Exploration Reading Challenge. For those who don’t know about the reading challenge, there is still time to join in the fun, so check out my introductory post here.
I’ve been off to a flying start this year, I’ve read twenty books, a feat I’m not sure how I managed, but I’ve had so much fun doing so. Nine of those books go towards the Literary Exploration Reading Challenge and you can find my own record of the challenge here. I’m thinking about trying to read two books for each genre this year and I’m keeping a record of every book and which genre it best fits into on that page as well, just to see which genres need more attention in my exploring.
Highlights of the month for me include; the highly talked about Wool by Hugh Howey, the bittersweet Big Ray by Michael Kimball and the existential The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera. But the one I really thought deserves high praise is Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day, a novel of great beauty, decorum and love lost. I haven’t reviewed these books yet but keep an eye out, they will come. So what have you been reading this month?
Monthly Reading
- Big Ray by Michael Kimball
- Black Vodka: Ten Stories by Deborah Levy
- Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis
- Gangster Squad: Covert Cops, the Mob, and the Battle for Los Angeles by Paul Lieberman
- In the Midst of Death by Lawrence Block
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
- Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
- Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding
- Revenge: Stories by Yoko Ogawa
- The Big Nowhere by James Ellroy
- The Dark Winter by David Mark
- The Mad Scientist’s Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke
- The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists by Gideon Defoe
- The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
- The Silver Linings Play Book by Matthew Quick
- The Sins of the Fathers by Lawrence Block
- The Toe Tag Quintet by Matthew Condon
- The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
- Wool by Hugh Howey
Posted December 31, 2012 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in Monthly Reading / 0 Comments
Now that 2012 has come to close, I find myself not reflecting on my year of reading but eagerly anticipating the books I get to read next year. All my reflections of 2012 seemed to have taken place in November. So now I want the Literary Exploration reading challenge to begin.
But as this is the end of December, let me quickly cover the important events of this month. Literary Exploration decided to read a travel/road trip book for the month; the book picked was the beat novel On the Road. This book had a lot of mixed reactions; even people thinking their own travel diaries would be more interesting. I’m now very concerned about what has happened when my wife goes travelling For me I thought it was an enjoyable look at the beat generation and their ideals. Check out the conversations on Goodreads to find out what people said about this book.
A reminder that in January we will be reading Shadow of the Wind; I love this book and I’m really looking forward to seeing what the discussions will be like. I still haven’t decided if I want to reread it yet or wait till the series has finished before rereading it in its entirety. Either way, I look forward to hearing people’s thoughts.
As for my personal reading, I focused on reading non-fiction this month; well I started off that way but I got distracted. I’ve read some great books this month including; By the Book, a Readers Guide to Life which was a fascinating look at the author’s reading journey. Also I tried some dirty realism with Factotum by Charles Bukowski, a raw and gritty semi autobiographical novel which I highly recommend. What were your highlights of this month? Did you read anything great?
Monthly Reading
- By the Book, A Reader’s Guide to Life by Ramona Koval
- Day of the Oprichnik by Vladimir Sorokin
- Factotum by Charles Bukowski
- Joseph Anton by Salman Rushdie
- Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
- Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
- On the Road by Jack Kerouac
- The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz
- The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
- Through the Window by Julian Barnes
- What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
Posted November 30, 2012 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in Monthly Reading / 0 Comments
November has ended and the holiday season is well on its way. For the people who read House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, I hope you enjoyed it. Yes. it was a really weird look into post modernism and I know there were a lot of ‘WTF’ moments within this book. But I do hope everyone got something out of it, even if it is just the ability to say, “Yes, I’ve read it”. For me the book was far too pretentious, even if that is normally my thing. I’m glad to have read it, but I don’t think it is something I would read again. There were some interesting discussions about the book, including if the book is a novel or a piece of art.
In December we will be reading the Beat classic; On the Road by Jack Kerouac as part of our Travel theme. This is a relatively short book so I’m sure people will be able to fit it in around all the festivities.
My monthly reading this month might have leaned heavily toward genre fiction but I felt like it was an enjoyable and relaxing month of reading for me, apart from House of Leaves. Highlights for me include Metroland by Julian Barnes, a look into the life of Christopher as he looks over his past and tries to work out if he is happy with his life. I’ve been looking to read another Barnes book for a while and this was well worth it. Then there was The Marriage Plot by Jeffery Eugendies; finally a book where a love triangle is done properly. This was a book of discovery as we watch three interconnected young adults grow into adults.
What have you been reading this month? What are the highlights?
- Perchance to Dream by Robert B. Parker
- House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
- Without Warning by John Birmingham
- San Miguel by T.C. Boyle
- Truth by Peter Temple
- Shadow of the Rock by Thomas Mogford
- Books: A Memoir by Larry McMurtry
- Mr Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
- No Orchids For Miss Blandish by James Hadley Chase
- The Dirty Streets of Heaven by Tad Williams
- The Artist as Mystic by Yahia Lababidi
- Metroland by Julian Barnes
- The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
Posted October 31, 2012 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in Monthly Reading / 0 Comments
As October comes to a close, we have a quick look back at the month of the book club on Goodreads and our book of the month, The Satanic Verses. This book got some mixed reviews from the group, there are some unique aspects to the book but it was a very difficult book to read. I’m sure most people are glad that they have now read the book and it does offer some interesting discussion points. I know some people weren’t able to read the book because of the controversy that has kept this book banned in some countries. But that was the risk we took when we decided to support banned book week.
Next month we will celebrate Halloween by reading the creepy and unique book House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. This is part of the Horror theme and while I’ve read some horror novels I don’t think I’ve read a book that would be considered purely horror. So it’s going to be good to read a literary horror book (when it gets here).
For my reading this month I’ve had so much fun reading some great novels and talking books with everyone that listens. Highlights include The Cocktail Waitress; finally James M. Cain’s last novel has been released. Everything you love from the Noir master you will find in the amazing story of the young widow Joan Medford. Also the book that I wanted to win the Man Booker, Swimming Home by Deborah Levy; the Daily Telegraph called this book ‘stealthily devastating’ which pretty much sums up this beautiful book, perfectly. What have you read this month?
Posted September 30, 2012 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in Monthly Reading / 0 Comments
Now that September comes to a close, I would like to hear what people thought of As I Lay Dying. Did you read it? Did you find it difficult? Or any other comments you want to make of this book. Personally I found it difficult to read, and while I wouldn’t say I really enjoyed this book, I did find the writing style very interesting.
Next month’s book is to help celebrate banned booked week (which is currently on now) and we will be reading Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses which has been often described as one of the most controversial and acclaimed novels ever written. I’m sure this book will spark some interesting conversations but I do worry that it may cause fights. I hope everyone reading and discussing the book, does so in a respectful manner. Also as a reminder that next month we will be reading House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski as part of the Horror theme and we will be looking for a book to fit the Road Trip/Travel theme. If you’re not aware, the book discussion and everything else will be happening over on the Goodreads forums, so feel free to join in there.
During the month I’ve read some great books, but I wasn’t as productive as last month. Some of the highlights from the months reading include, Justin Cronin’s The Twelve which I was lucky enough to get an advanced review copy of, Dare Me by Megan Abbott and He Died with his Eyes Open by Derek Raymond. But my favourite of the month was The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers; which is a heartbreaking work of beauty. A book of friendship and loss, The Yellow Birds follows the story of Private Bartle and his time served in Al Tafar, Iraq and the aftermath. What have you been reading this month and what did you enjoy? I would love to hear about your reading life in the comments below.
- Soulless by Gail Carriger
- The Geneva Trap by Stella Rimington
- Live by Night by Dennis Lehane
- 11.22.63 by Stephen King
- As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
- The Transport Accident by Ned Beauman
- One Night Stands and Lost Weekends by Lawrence Block
- Tigers in Red Weather by Liza Klaussmann
- The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco
- The Twelve by Justin Cronin
- He Died with His Eyes Open by Derek Raymond
- Dare Me by Megan Abbott
- The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers
Posted August 31, 2012 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in Monthly Reading / 0 Comments
As August comes to a close I would love to hear what people’s thoughts were of the monthly book; The Master and Margarita. It’s a classic novel but it was a really bizarre book to read, that stayed with me for a very long time before I could finally write my thoughts on the book. But I tend to enjoy books that stay with me like that; I like books that are thought provoking. Reminder that next month we well be reading another classic for our Southern Gothic theme. While some people argue this book isn’t technically Southern Gothic, I’m sure we will have some interesting discussions on William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying. If you’re not aware, this book will be discussed over on the Goodreads forums, so feel free to join in there.
My monthly reading for August has been really great, I went into the month thinking I’ll be busy trying to read all the books I wanted to read, but while I read most of them, I surprised myself by managing seventeen books this months. I’ve read some amazing books including The Dinner, The Angel’s Game and The Age of Miracles. But the highlights for me were Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, a satirical look at the war of terror and how we support the troops and The Colour of Milk, an adorable little book about a strong minded girl in 1831 trying to learn to read and write.
August’s Books
- Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
- Redshirts by John Scalzi
- This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel
- Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
- Thirst by L.A. Larkin
- Mercy by Jussi Adler-Olsen
- True Grit by Charles Portis
- Geekomancy by Michael R. Underwood
- The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
- Fifty Shames of Earl Grey by Fanny Merkin
- A Life with Books by Julian Barnes
- The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
- The Dinner by Herman Koch
- The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
- The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker
- Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain
- The Colour of Milk by Nell Leyshon
Posted July 31, 2012 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in Monthly Reading / 0 Comments
How did everyone enjoy Life of Pi? What were your final thoughts? As you can see by my review, I didn’t think much of this book but I was pleased to see so many others enjoying the book. If you go the Goodreads forum you can see some interesting discussions about the book, zoology, religion, philosophy. This book was a great pick for a group read because of all the elements in the book worth discussing. Next month we are reading a book I’m really excited about; have you got your copy of The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov yet?
July has been a great month for me, mainly because I was on vacation for most of it. Luckily I had plenty of scheduled posts to keep people entertained and I hope there were some enjoyable posts for you. Because of the vacation I feel like my reading dropped off a little, but realistically it does seem to be about the same. Highlights for me this month include The Passage; a book I’ve been putting off but a wonderful and refreshing look at a post-apocalyptic world and the people struggling for survival. My local book club were reading Gold by Chris Cleave and what a wonderful novel this one is; the book follows three Olympic racers through their life leading up to London 2012, the characters really made this book. Lastly, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a YA novel that reminds me a lot of Looking for Alaska by John Green, it’s a brilliant and addictive read into the life of a high school wallflower.
- Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
- The Informers by Bret Easton Ellis
- The Forrests by Emily Perkins
- Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
- Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
- The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
- Now You See Me by S.J. Bolton
- The Passage by Justin Cronin
- The Trial by Franz Kafka
- Gold by Chris Cleave
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
