Recent reading
Mar. 24th, 2024 09:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
luzulaNo, in fact I cannot read the book Couching at the Door online, only the short story the collection is named for. Arrgh. The book I lost has not turned up, so perhaps there is no way for me to finish the book without buying the ebook (or buying another physical book, but I think I won't). I am curious about Broster’s take on the Persephone story...
My Friend Muriel by Jane Duncan (1959)
This series continues excellently good! The beginning is rather meandering, it's true, and she can digress with the best 18th century authors. But the character voice is so engaging that this doesn't matter--you pick it up and read a page, and then you're stuck. I loved the second half of the book where she meets her husband (called 'Twice' because his name is Alexander Alexander), and stayed up late to finish it. They are co-workers, and their dynamic is pretty much 'we will keep bickering to disguise the fact that really we are just gone over each other'.
The Singer Not the Song by Audrey Erskine Lindop (1953)
I am not going to write a synopsis of this when such an excellent one already exists--skygiants knows how to sell a book! And indeed the relationship between Malo and Father Keogh was everything that was advertised, but I could not quite get past Locha, who starts as an eleven-year-old and grows into a young woman during the course of the book, and whose feelings I felt were uncomfortably narratively manipulated in the service of the plot. (Also, am I stupid for not understanding how she was first fixated on Malo, and then it was suddenly switched to Father Keogh? I mean, yes, there's the bit in the beginning where she switches between calling her tortoise Malo and Micky, but it just felt weird to me.) Could not Malo and Father Keogh’s foe-yay have been worked out without involving this adolescent girl? However, it was a wild ride and I'm not sorry I read it. (However, I don't feel the need to own this book, so if anyone wants it I can send it along for the cost of postage. It's a nicely bound hardcover.)
Right now my reading is focused on physical books that I own, since I will be packing up my books at the end of May and putting them in storage over the summer. I guess it's ebook time in the summer, when I will be doing some traveling.
My Friend Muriel by Jane Duncan (1959)
This series continues excellently good! The beginning is rather meandering, it's true, and she can digress with the best 18th century authors. But the character voice is so engaging that this doesn't matter--you pick it up and read a page, and then you're stuck. I loved the second half of the book where she meets her husband (called 'Twice' because his name is Alexander Alexander), and stayed up late to finish it. They are co-workers, and their dynamic is pretty much 'we will keep bickering to disguise the fact that really we are just gone over each other'.
The Singer Not the Song by Audrey Erskine Lindop (1953)
I am not going to write a synopsis of this when such an excellent one already exists--
skygiants knows how to sell a book! And indeed the relationship between Malo and Father Keogh was everything that was advertised, but I could not quite get past Locha, who starts as an eleven-year-old and grows into a young woman during the course of the book, and whose feelings I felt were uncomfortably narratively manipulated in the service of the plot. (Also, am I stupid for not understanding how she was first fixated on Malo, and then it was suddenly switched to Father Keogh? I mean, yes, there's the bit in the beginning where she switches between calling her tortoise Malo and Micky, but it just felt weird to me.) Could not Malo and Father Keogh’s foe-yay have been worked out without involving this adolescent girl? However, it was a wild ride and I'm not sorry I read it. (However, I don't feel the need to own this book, so if anyone wants it I can send it along for the cost of postage. It's a nicely bound hardcover.)Right now my reading is focused on physical books that I own, since I will be packing up my books at the end of May and putting them in storage over the summer. I guess it's ebook time in the summer, when I will be doing some traveling.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-03-24 10:04 am (UTC)On amazon.fr The Singer and the Song by Audrey Erskine Lindop has the following description:
The book is set in the 1950s and revolves around a young and ambitious woman named Caroline, who is determined to make a name for herself as a singer. Caroline is passionate about music and has a beautiful voice, but she faces numerous obstacles in her quest for success.The novel explores Caroline's journey as she navigates the music industry, facing challenges such as sexism, prejudice, and the pressure to conform to societal norms. Along the way, Caroline meets several interesting characters, including a wealthy businessman who becomes her patron and a talented composer who helps her develop her skills.As Caroline's career begins to take off, she finds herself torn between her love for music and her desire for a fulfilling personal life. She struggles to balance her career with her relationships, ultimately realizing that true happiness lies not in fame and fortune, but in the people she loves.The Singer Not The Song is a beautifully written and engaging novel that explores themes of ambition, love, and the pursuit of happiness. It is a must-read for anyone who loves music, romance, and stories of personal growth and self-discovery.
I'm guessing that's not the book you read?! In fact, I'm pretty sure someone just gave the title and the publication date to ChatGPT and asked for a summary. It has all the hallmarks of AI-generated text. Yuck!
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Date: 2024-03-24 01:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2024-03-24 08:46 pm (UTC)Although at the moment I have no need to cut down on American books, heh. Currently out of 29 books for 2024, 20 are British.
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Date: 2024-03-25 02:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2024-03-26 02:48 pm (UTC)