As a fellow Person in His Forties Who Loved Nabokov in His Twenties, might I suggest giving 'Pale Fire' a shot? Holds up completely for me, and in fact I connect with it even more now.
I recently finished Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke and it automatically became one of my top 5 favorite books. It’s a stunning debut novel. Original world-building that’s still really grounded in fae mythology, but with the English politics of Dickens and Austen. It was dense, but so fun and rich - worth it for sure and so I had to read the rest to Clarke’s books and they were also incredible. Piranesi was a quicker read, but maybe stuck in my head longer. Apparently she’s had health issues that have slowed her writing over the years, which is such a shame because she’s so talented. Since finishing those I’ve jumped to the Mistborn series, which isn’t holding my affection (or attention) as well, but still enjoying it.
Currently reading "Exhalation," a collection of short stories by Ted Chiang. It's incredibly good. Completely engaging, gorgeously writen stories about the personal and societal implications of technolgy. Exploring questions of free will and determinism, humanity's place in the universe, science and religion. And it's quite a quick read as well!
I finished Jeff Sharlet’s The Undertow a few weeks ago. Quite the journey, and did nothing to quell my fear of a “slow civil war” happening in, oh, the next year or so. But it was a brisk read and covered a lot of ground. To calm my nerves (/s), I’ve started reading Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates. It is far from an easy read itself, though anyone who has had the misfortune of reading online misogyny forums will recognize the rhetoric Bates covers, and she is a phenomenal writer.
Both books feature the sort of ur-online misogynist Paul Elam, who can be described entirely on what he loves (Trump) and hates (women). So I am knee deep in reading about absolute bastards, and soon I will need a palette cleansing with a trashy paperback where bad guys get punished.
I briefly whittled myself down to one (or two) books only for a time: a roving Robert Bly–James Hillman–Michael Mead produced poetry anthology, The Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart; and Tim Robinson’s Connemara love letter (with maps!), Listening to the Wind. They both feel like feeling at home while being lost in the Sierra Nevada. I am thoroughly enjoying them though I wish I had more time and focused attention to give them (our two little ones demand and deserve that attention most days of the week!).
So I was set up with my manageable prose and poetry, but then my gluttony and bibliographic promiscuity got the best of me again. I’ve taken wholehearted dives into Verlyn Flieger’s book on Tolkien’s work, Splintered Light: Logos and Language in Tolkien’s World; into Tommy Orange’s superb second novel, Wandering Stars (I tend towards too much non-fiction and this came just in time); and I keep ducking in and out of prayer and poetry collections by Pádraig Ó Tuama. And soon I will return to Ben Lerner’a slim essay of a book with a lovely title: The Hatred of Poetry to do battle again with his words on words.
There’s never enough time. And I think it will always be that way.
I’d like to put forward Matrix, by Lauren Groff, as a contender for strong female character, medieval. Avoid if you’re not interested in learning about some of the many, many invariably disgusting ways to die as a medieval nun. Or read immediately if you, like me, ARE interested in learning about some of the many, many invariably disgusting ways to die as a medieval nun.
I’m currently toting around “You Never Forget Your First” by Alexis Coe. It’s a biography about George Washington that humorously picks apart the “male perspective” of George that is often portrayed in most other biographies, along with general knowledge and lore of the First President. It’s genuinely a fun read and I definitely recommend it!
Lately I tend to go through reading slumps for a few weeks at a time and then binge a couple books in row when they really capture my interest; I recently finished two very different titles in a couple days: Poor Deer by Claire Oshetsky, which was a really intriguing and sad tale of childhood grief and guilt with some magical realism-tinged unreliable narration thrown in; and #2 was The First Cat In Space Ate Pizza! Which was of course was an absolute delight :)
I just finished Rachel Day's "The Escape of Lady Aigle" a few days ago. It was full of interesting things and twists and turns in the story, but really I preferred her previous novel ("The Price and Prey of Magic") more.
Your mention of Patrick O’Brian hit me with that now over 6 years familiar momentary pang of sadness because I can’t think of him without thinking of my Dad who adored the Aubrey-Maturin novels (also wasn’t a banker).
For my bookclub I’m currently reading Remarkably Bright Creatures which is a current mainstream/celebrity bookclub hit. I was intrigued when I first heard about it due to it being set in and around a Pacific Northwest aquarium, but not very well written and the Bright Creature, a Pacific Giant Octopus, is personified: Every other chapter is narrated by the octopus. Eh.
It’s just not my thing.
Beyond that I’ve recently stumbled into The Atlantic’s Great American Novel list and trying to decide which ones to pick up first. I’ve read about 30% of them - not bad but a ways to go. https://archive.is/GeWvK
I recently finished Viet Thanh Nguyen's "The Sympathizer." It's told from the perspective of a North Vietnamese patriot who goes undercover in South Vietnam at the end of the war. It was a little tense for me, but well worth the read. I also just finished Nathan Hill's second novel of fiction, "Wellness." I was a big fan of "The Nix," and I wasn't disappointed. He did a huge amount of research on the various trends we follow (parenting, health fads, social media) and wove them beautifully into the story. There's a section of the book called "The Needy Users: A Drama in Seven Algorithms" that explains how those Facebook algorithms work. He uses it to explain how a character's father starts using FB and ends up reposting all sorts of conspiracy nonsense. It's brilliant.
You remembered wrong - I actually love Pnin. But it didn’t seem very Nabokovian. I don’t think I can deal with the others. They are too much for me.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers moved me to exquisite tears….. haven’t had a book do that to me in some time.
Other wonderful reads as of late:
Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
As a fellow Person in His Forties Who Loved Nabokov in His Twenties, might I suggest giving 'Pale Fire' a shot? Holds up completely for me, and in fact I connect with it even more now.
I recently finished Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke and it automatically became one of my top 5 favorite books. It’s a stunning debut novel. Original world-building that’s still really grounded in fae mythology, but with the English politics of Dickens and Austen. It was dense, but so fun and rich - worth it for sure and so I had to read the rest to Clarke’s books and they were also incredible. Piranesi was a quicker read, but maybe stuck in my head longer. Apparently she’s had health issues that have slowed her writing over the years, which is such a shame because she’s so talented. Since finishing those I’ve jumped to the Mistborn series, which isn’t holding my affection (or attention) as well, but still enjoying it.
Currently reading "Exhalation," a collection of short stories by Ted Chiang. It's incredibly good. Completely engaging, gorgeously writen stories about the personal and societal implications of technolgy. Exploring questions of free will and determinism, humanity's place in the universe, science and religion. And it's quite a quick read as well!
I finished Jeff Sharlet’s The Undertow a few weeks ago. Quite the journey, and did nothing to quell my fear of a “slow civil war” happening in, oh, the next year or so. But it was a brisk read and covered a lot of ground. To calm my nerves (/s), I’ve started reading Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates. It is far from an easy read itself, though anyone who has had the misfortune of reading online misogyny forums will recognize the rhetoric Bates covers, and she is a phenomenal writer.
Both books feature the sort of ur-online misogynist Paul Elam, who can be described entirely on what he loves (Trump) and hates (women). So I am knee deep in reading about absolute bastards, and soon I will need a palette cleansing with a trashy paperback where bad guys get punished.
Gosh, there are too many things to read. I haven’t even recognized, let alone read, any of the books in these comments!
I briefly whittled myself down to one (or two) books only for a time: a roving Robert Bly–James Hillman–Michael Mead produced poetry anthology, The Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart; and Tim Robinson’s Connemara love letter (with maps!), Listening to the Wind. They both feel like feeling at home while being lost in the Sierra Nevada. I am thoroughly enjoying them though I wish I had more time and focused attention to give them (our two little ones demand and deserve that attention most days of the week!).
So I was set up with my manageable prose and poetry, but then my gluttony and bibliographic promiscuity got the best of me again. I’ve taken wholehearted dives into Verlyn Flieger’s book on Tolkien’s work, Splintered Light: Logos and Language in Tolkien’s World; into Tommy Orange’s superb second novel, Wandering Stars (I tend towards too much non-fiction and this came just in time); and I keep ducking in and out of prayer and poetry collections by Pádraig Ó Tuama. And soon I will return to Ben Lerner’a slim essay of a book with a lovely title: The Hatred of Poetry to do battle again with his words on words.
There’s never enough time. And I think it will always be that way.
I read The Wager last year. Now I am reading Infinite Jest!
I’d like to put forward Matrix, by Lauren Groff, as a contender for strong female character, medieval. Avoid if you’re not interested in learning about some of the many, many invariably disgusting ways to die as a medieval nun. Or read immediately if you, like me, ARE interested in learning about some of the many, many invariably disgusting ways to die as a medieval nun.
I’m currently toting around “You Never Forget Your First” by Alexis Coe. It’s a biography about George Washington that humorously picks apart the “male perspective” of George that is often portrayed in most other biographies, along with general knowledge and lore of the First President. It’s genuinely a fun read and I definitely recommend it!
Lately I tend to go through reading slumps for a few weeks at a time and then binge a couple books in row when they really capture my interest; I recently finished two very different titles in a couple days: Poor Deer by Claire Oshetsky, which was a really intriguing and sad tale of childhood grief and guilt with some magical realism-tinged unreliable narration thrown in; and #2 was The First Cat In Space Ate Pizza! Which was of course was an absolute delight :)
Yippie!! I love these!!
I just finished Rachel Day's "The Escape of Lady Aigle" a few days ago. It was full of interesting things and twists and turns in the story, but really I preferred her previous novel ("The Price and Prey of Magic") more.
Your mention of Patrick O’Brian hit me with that now over 6 years familiar momentary pang of sadness because I can’t think of him without thinking of my Dad who adored the Aubrey-Maturin novels (also wasn’t a banker).
For my bookclub I’m currently reading Remarkably Bright Creatures which is a current mainstream/celebrity bookclub hit. I was intrigued when I first heard about it due to it being set in and around a Pacific Northwest aquarium, but not very well written and the Bright Creature, a Pacific Giant Octopus, is personified: Every other chapter is narrated by the octopus. Eh.
It’s just not my thing.
Beyond that I’ve recently stumbled into The Atlantic’s Great American Novel list and trying to decide which ones to pick up first. I’ve read about 30% of them - not bad but a ways to go. https://archive.is/GeWvK
I recently finished Viet Thanh Nguyen's "The Sympathizer." It's told from the perspective of a North Vietnamese patriot who goes undercover in South Vietnam at the end of the war. It was a little tense for me, but well worth the read. I also just finished Nathan Hill's second novel of fiction, "Wellness." I was a big fan of "The Nix," and I wasn't disappointed. He did a huge amount of research on the various trends we follow (parenting, health fads, social media) and wove them beautifully into the story. There's a section of the book called "The Needy Users: A Drama in Seven Algorithms" that explains how those Facebook algorithms work. He uses it to explain how a character's father starts using FB and ends up reposting all sorts of conspiracy nonsense. It's brilliant.