Anne Tyler is a great storyteller. Her stories are generally about families. I've just read "A Spool of Blue Thread" and thought some of you might like it because one of its themes is caregiving. The first third of the book focuses on an elderly woman who doesn't accept that she is declining and her adult children who try to take care of her. I think it presents both sides of this conflict very well. It reminded me of many posts on this site! The rest of the book is also about caring about and for family. Tyler is very good at showing an event from several different perspectives.
What are others reading?
Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie books are also good mysteries with dogs. Bernie is a private detective who solves mysteries with the help of his dog Chet, who narrates the books. Chet's take on events can be really funny. The first one is called Dog on It.
Wanted a change of pace with a different historical slant so I'm now reading Steve Barry's The Lost Order, about knights which amassed a fortune. Sounds like it's based on the Templars.
And of course there are the ever present gardening magazines, especially The English Garden, which is like a visual combination of Godiva and Lindt chocolates, and truly inspirational.
It brings back memories of a PBS program on women who worked at Bletchley Park during WWII. Fascinating, and wonderful to see a program of women at such important levels of the war effort.
Anything/everything by Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Anne Tyler--I've read her over and over. I intersperse heavy reading with something more "popcorny".
The more I read the more I realize I know NOTHING!! :)
Glad, which Cussler novel did you check out? I wonder if it's one I've read. He's so prolific but I still wish he'd produce more novels annually!
I'm beginning to segue back to the 1970s when I took some really good lit courses. I think it's time to get some of them out and read them again.
I hope you enjoy it. It's also the kind of novel I would read again, probably during the hot sweltering days of summer.
Spoiler: you might find the survival days are short on detail, i.e., how are the characters really coping with the situation other than being the strong heroes they always are? But, then, that's part of the Cussler mystique.
Post back when you're well into the book or have finished it. I like to hear from others who enjoy his novels.
By the end of Being Mortal, somehow I felt a whole lot better about my MIL, whom died in my house, on hospice. She wanted to come live with us and look out on the wheat field. She was 91. Her own stepmother was on hospice in her home too and MIL was there with her. I realized MIL did this whole ending Her Way. She had a great and fabulous life to the end. The book was really good. Now I get to read some "fluff"!
But Cussler's development of historical backgrounds and his ability to weave credible scenarios, as well as vanquish evil narcissists (somewhat in the style of James Bond) is one of the aspects I enjoy about his works.
And all of his books seem to be well researched, and often focused on cutting edge technology, especially the maritime novels.
It's similar to the action movies in which Sylvester Stallone or some other bare chested well muscled hero accomplishes feats that are basically unrealistic.
I found Robert Parker's novels required a large dose of suspended disbelief, but I read them all and enjoyed them anyway.
If you've never read Trollope and want to try, I recommend starting with the Barsetshire Chronicles. The first book, "The Warden," is the least interesting of the series, but it's obligatory to read it because it introduces several characters who'll come back again and again; and it's short. Things really start moving in "Barchester Towers," the second of the series.
And the classic mystery writers: yes! Dorothy Sayers --- somebody mentioned her --- who herself had an incredible life; Agatha Christie; and Ngaio Marsh (my favorite of the three).
And nowadays, when I need complete escapism, I count the days until John Sandford's next thriller comes out. He has written dozens now and I've read them in the order they were published, so I've been able to watch how his characters have aged, died, got married, got killed, killed villains, had kids --- both the good guys and, occasionally, a encoring bad guy. There's usually at least one main story and a solid subplot; sometimes the subplot is quite funny.
And also for escapism, Michael Connelly's "Lincoln Lawyer" courtroom thrillers.
Miss Marple series are also enjoyable; she has a quieter, softer approach, but I like her style, and I mentally salivate or go into a frenzy when I see all those beautiful British gardens in the productions. Sometimes I can't even remember the plot - I just remember those beautiful country gardens.
RealTime, I've never read Trollope's work. I think I've read an excerpt from Trollope's work, but at this point in my life I've forgotten the names of so many writers whose work I may have read. So many authors, so little time!
Glad, I never thought of the eggs, at this time of the year. Your reading the Romanov Ransom is making me want to reread it. I need something really fast paced now, and when I read Cussler's works I literally forget about everything.