Book Recs & Pulitzers

[neverfstop]

IHO of the Pulitzers being announced....share some good books you have ready lately.

Winners -->  www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/92233-demon-copperhead-trust-his-name-is-george-floyd-among-2023-pulitzer-prize-winners.html

I have read Demon Copperhead and thought it was a great fiction, but very tragic & heartbreaking.


Not a winner, but maybe next year...I read Poverty, by America.  (same author as Evicted) It was infuriating, convicting, and depressing about how ALL of us benefit from sustaining poverty and it's basically policy and structural choices Americans have made, mostly in the pursuit of capitalism and consumption, to continually be exploiting a poor class of people.   We could almost end poverty as we know it by simply collecting all the taxes that are owed by the top 1%.  As the richest nation on earth, we could invest in our schools, the arts, housing, and basic standards of living that would bring about a new renaissance of our society if we all worked for what was best for everybody.  Most books on poverty focus on the poor, but this one focused on the rich and society in general.  I highly recommend. www.amazon.com/Poverty-America-Matthew-Desmond/dp/0593239911/ 

[StrawberryBlondie]

I recently read Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin and it was great.

Currently reading Our Missing Hearts.by Celeste Ng and so far it's a like, but not a love.

And because I will never not recommend it when given a chance, The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai is one of the best books I've ever read.

[neverfstop]

May 10, 2023 9:21:33 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

I recently read Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin and it was great.

Currently reading Our Missing Hearts.by Celeste Ng and so far it's a like, but not a love.

And because I will never not recommend it when given a chance, The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai is one of the best books I've ever read.

Loved TTT, added Great Believers to my library hold, and I skipped Missing Hearts.

[StrawberryBlondie]

May 10, 2023 9:33:24 GMT -5 neverfstop said:

May 10, 2023 9:21:33 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

I recently read Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin and it was great.

Currently reading Our Missing Hearts.by Celeste Ng and so far it's a like, but not a love.

And because I will never not recommend it when given a chance, The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai is one of the best books I've ever read.

Loved TTT, added Great Believers to my library hold, and I skipped Missing Hearts.

I've got about 100 pages to go with Our Missing Hearts, but so far, it's one of those books that I really enjoy while I'm reading, but have no trouble putting down and don't feel an intense need to pick back up again when I'm not reading it.

[Vespasia]

The most memorable book I have read recently was The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton. The story wasn't anything particularly special but she did an incredible job describing the decline of Florida as climate change accelerates. It helped that she seemed to be describing the general area where I had previously lived. 

Agreed that Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow was amazing, definitely my favorite from last year. 

[rupertpenny]

I read and loved Demon Copperhead. The Man Who Could Move Clouds, a finalist for memoir, is also excellent.

[msmerymac]

May 10, 2023 9:21:33 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

I recently read Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin and it was great.

Currently reading Our Missing Hearts.by Celeste Ng and so far it's a like, but not a love.

And because I will never not recommend it when given a chance, The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai is one of the best books I've ever read.

I happen to have all 3 of these on my hold list at the library!

[dove]

Most memorable books I’ve read this year are Demon Copperhead and The Measure by Nikki Erlick

[Jalapeñomel]

I tried to read Demon Copperhead, and I had to stop. It was an audiobook, so maybe I need to try it by book.

I liked Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow, but I found the lead woman so unlikeable. It wasn't on my top books from last year. I did love Our Missing Hearts by Ng.

[StrawberryBlondie]

I was the only outlier in my book club on this one but I hated The Measure with the fire of a thousand suns.

[rupertpenny]

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow was very compelling to read, but I didn't like it after I finished. The more I reflect the more annoyed by it I am.

[wawa]

May 10, 2023 11:24:00 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I tried to read Demon Copperhead, and I had to stop. It was an audiobook, so maybe I need to try it by book.

I liked Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow, but I found the lead woman so unlikeable. It wasn't on my top books from last year. I did love Our Missing Hearts by Ng.

I found most of the people in that book to be really frustrating.  She was the worst of them though.  
it was very well written, but just hard to read because I wanted to throttle people the whole time.


I think that's  the extent of the "literature" I've read recently.  

[mrspez07]

I couldn’t finish Trust. It had a great idea but just didn’t track well to me. DH liked it and finished it.

[1yeartogo]

Hands down the best book I read this year (not newly published) was There There by Tommy Orange. Recommend to everyone.

[Jalapeñomel]

May 11, 2023 5:55:13 GMT -5 1yeartogo said:

Hands down the best book I read this year (not newly published) was There There by Tommy Orange. Recommend to everyone.

I read this a couple of years ago, and it was great. 

[neverfstop]

Reading about the Desantis/Disney debacle & his campaign calling Florida, "the free state of Florida" reminded me of this book.

American War.
www.amazon.com/American-War-Omar-El-Akkad/dp/1101973137/

It's set in the future & depicts the next Civil War (Florida has mostly sunk underwater by then) but talks about how it was finally the shift from fossil fuels that tore the country apart and started the war. It was fascinating and horrifying at once and I'd recommend it.

============
Sarat Chestnut, born in Louisiana, is only six when the Second American Civil War breaks out in 2074. But even she knows that oil is outlawed, that Louisiana is half underwater, and that unmanned drones fill the sky. When her father is killed and her family is forced into Camp Patience for displaced persons, she begins to grow up shaped by her particular time and place. But not everyone at Camp Patience is who they claim to be. Eventually Sarat is befriended by a mysterious functionary, under whose influence she is turned into a deadly instrument of war. The decisions that she makes will have tremendous consequences not just for Sarat but for her family and her country, rippling through generations of strangers and kin alike.

Attachments:

[sugarbear1]

I'm finishing Demon Copperhead. I'm loving it but it is slow for me. I have to read and digest, read and digest.
Next is The Sun Does Shine (by Anthony Ray Hinton, who was exonerated after spending 30 years on death row).
After that, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.


StrawberryBlondie, The Great Believers is on my list too! I just finished listening to I Have Some Questions For You, which was fantastic.

[CrazyLucky]

I just finished Demon Copperhead. I really liked it until he got hurt. I thought the parts about addiction got too repetitive and a little boring. I also thought the ending was pretty predictable.

[StrawberryBlondie]

I'm intrigued by Demon Copperhead but a woman in my book club that generally loves books I absolutely hate and hates books I love, loved it so I'm pretty sure it's not my type of book.

[neverfstop]

May 19, 2023 12:24:07 GMT -5 CrazyLucky said:

I just finished Demon Copperhead. I really liked it until he got hurt. I thought the parts about addiction got too repetitive and a little boring. I also thought the ending was pretty predictable.

I kept feeling like a Greek tragedy or watching somebody's life as a slow-motion train wreck.  It was dark and unfortunate and probably all too common.  I've read a few books lately on opioids and addiction, and they are heartbreaking.

Empire of Pain is about the Sackler family & the insane/awful/horrible things they did to get Oxy out and so many people addicted...it's enraging.

www.amazon.com/Empire-Pain-History-Sackler-Dynasty/dp/1984899015 

[nsl]

David Copperfield is my favorite Dickens novel, so I feel kind of embarrassed that I haven't read Demon Copperhead yet. Kingsolver's last couple haven't been my cup of tea even though I love her older stuff, but I'm going to give DC a try this summer.

If you don't mind YA, Sabaa Tahir's first realistic fiction novel, All My Rage, was my #1 favorite read this school year. She won a ton of awards for it, and if you like stories about complicated people making complicated decisions while also dealing with being teenagers and all that entails I'll recommend it without reservation. I handed it to any kid who came into my library looking for a Kite Runner readalike, and all of them loved it.

If you're looking for heartwarming romance, Emma Barry's contemporary Chick Magnet (which sounds so cheesy--a vet + an Instagram chicken influencer) and Erin Langston's historical Forever Your Rogue (widow + fake fiance in order to ward off hostile in-law attempts to take her kids) were both far, far better than their plot summaries make them out to be. Both kept me up way too late because I couldn't stop reading.

For Derry Girls fans, I'm currently listening to (and really enjoying) Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth. Similar energy, very different characters/problems, and genuinely funny and touching at the same time.

[ellipses84]

I’ve read (or listened to) so many great books lately! Between my city and county libraries I have access to just about any ebook or audiobook, so check out your options if you aren’t using them.

Most recently I read The Nine, a biographical account of 9 women who were in the French Resistance in WWII and escaped from a political prisoner camp together. All the Light We Cannot See was one of my favorite fictional books of the past couple years.

I finally read The Many Daughters of Afong Moy and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Both had tons of rave reviews and they didn’t disappoint (unlike some other well reviewed books I’ve read).

For auto biographies, I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy was good and Mean Baby by Selma Blair was beautifully written. Drinking Games by Sarah Levy was so relatable as a Millennial (even if you haven’t struggled with addiction).

For something a little more lighthearted and sweet to break Ruth Hogan has some good books.

For suspense, Rachel Hawkins books are good.

I listened to the audiobook of Spare and although there were some parts I side eyed, it was interesting to hear Harry’s full story, not just sound bytes takes out of context.

Side note: I’m annoyed they changed the name of A Man Named Ove to A Man Called Otto in the movie.

[ellipses84]

May 19, 2023 9:09:51 GMT -5 neverfstop said:

Reading about the Desantis/Disney debacle & his campaign calling Florida, "the free state of Florida" reminded me of this book.

American War.
www.amazon.com/American-War-Omar-El-Akkad/dp/1101973137/

It's set in the future & depicts the next Civil War (Florida has mostly sunk underwater by then) but talks about how it was finally the shift from fossil fuels that tore the country apart and started the war. It was fascinating and horrifying at once and I'd recommend it.

============
Sarat Chestnut, born in Louisiana, is only six when the Second American Civil War breaks out in 2074. But even she knows that oil is outlawed, that Louisiana is half underwater, and that unmanned drones fill the sky. When her father is killed and her family is forced into Camp Patience for displaced persons, she begins to grow up shaped by her particular time and place. But not everyone at Camp Patience is who they claim to be. Eventually Sarat is befriended by a mysterious functionary, under whose influence she is turned into a deadly instrument of war. The decisions that she makes will have tremendous consequences not just for Sarat but for her family and her country, rippling through generations of strangers and kin alike.

I keep telling people to read (or re-read) The Jungle because I find it so relevant to the current state of the US with the rich holding the majority of wealth and exploiting workers and the “American Dream” being unrealistic. We are going backwards with all of the progress made for workers rights since then.

[starlily]

I just finished Our Missing Hearts list night, and while the story kept me engaged, the ending seemed incomplete to me.

I really enjoyed Taylor Jenkins Reid's latest, Carrie Soto is Back. It's my 2nd favorite of hers, after Daisy Jones and the Six.

[Jalapeñomel]

May 21, 2023 10:30:09 GMT -5 ellipses84 said:

May 19, 2023 9:09:51 GMT -5 neverfstop said:

Reading about the Desantis/Disney debacle & his campaign calling Florida, "the free state of Florida" reminded me of this book.

American War.
www.amazon.com/American-War-Omar-El-Akkad/dp/1101973137/

It's set in the future & depicts the next Civil War (Florida has mostly sunk underwater by then) but talks about how it was finally the shift from fossil fuels that tore the country apart and started the war. It was fascinating and horrifying at once and I'd recommend it.

============
Sarat Chestnut, born in Louisiana, is only six when the Second American Civil War breaks out in 2074. But even she knows that oil is outlawed, that Louisiana is half underwater, and that unmanned drones fill the sky. When her father is killed and her family is forced into Camp Patience for displaced persons, she begins to grow up shaped by her particular time and place. But not everyone at Camp Patience is who they claim to be. Eventually Sarat is befriended by a mysterious functionary, under whose influence she is turned into a deadly instrument of war. The decisions that she makes will have tremendous consequences not just for Sarat but for her family and her country, rippling through generations of strangers and kin alike.

I keep telling people to read (or re-read) The Jungle because I find it so relevant to the current state of the US with the rich holding the majority of wealth and exploiting workers and the “American Dream” being unrealistic. We are going backwards with all of the progress made for workers rights since then.

@@@ slightly

I show my class the story of the FDA, The Poison Squad on PBS, and afterward, several of them will read the Jungle!

[StrawberryBlondie]

May 21, 2023 11:09:59 GMT -5 starlily said:

I just finished Our Missing Hearts list night, and while the story kept me engaged, the ending seemed incomplete to me.

I really enjoyed Taylor Jenkins Reid's latest, Carrie Soto is Back. It's my 2nd favorite of hers, after Daisy Jones and the Six.

In Our Missing Hearts, I wish the first part had been from the friend's perspective instead of Bird's.

I couldn't put Carrie Soto is Back down.

[Jalapeñomel]

May 21, 2023 11:16:23 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

May 21, 2023 11:09:59 GMT -5 starlily said:

I just finished Our Missing Hearts list night, and while the story kept me engaged, the ending seemed incomplete to me.

I really enjoyed Taylor Jenkins Reid's latest, Carrie Soto is Back. It's my 2nd favorite of hers, after Daisy Jones and the Six.

In Our Missing Hearts, I wish the first part had been from the friend's perspective instead of Bird's.

I couldn't put Carrie Soto is Back down.

I really didn’t like Malibu Rising, and Carrie Soto is a character in that book (minor character though), so I’ve been putting off reading it. If you’ve read them both, did you like them both?

[StrawberryBlondie]

May 21, 2023 12:09:00 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

May 21, 2023 11:16:23 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

In Our Missing Hearts, I wish the first part had been from the friend's perspective instead of Bird's.

I couldn't put Carrie Soto is Back down.

I really didn’t like Malibu Rising, and Carrie Soto is a character in that book (minor character though), so I’ve been putting off reading it. If you’ve read them both, did you like them both?

Carrie Soto is back is WAY better than Malibu Rising. I didn't hate Malibu Rising but it's my least favorite of the author's books.

I liked Carrie Soto is Back almost as much as I liked The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

[starlily]

May 21, 2023 12:09:00 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

May 21, 2023 11:16:23 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

In Our Missing Hearts, I wish the first part had been from the friend's perspective instead of Bird's.

I couldn't put Carrie Soto is Back down.

I really didn’t like Malibu Rising, and Carrie Soto is a character in that book (minor character though), so I’ve been putting off reading it. If you’ve read them both, did you like them both?

I thought Malibu Rising was alright, but Carrie Soto is definitely way better of the two.

[Jalapeñomel]

May 21, 2023 12:14:28 GMT -5 starlily said:

May 21, 2023 12:09:00 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I really didn’t like Malibu Rising, and Carrie Soto is a character in that book (minor character though), so I’ve been putting off reading it. If you’ve read them both, did you like them both?

I thought Malibu Rising was alright, but Carrie Soto is definitely way better of the two.

May 21, 2023 12:14:05 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

May 21, 2023 12:09:00 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I really didn’t like Malibu Rising, and Carrie Soto is a character in that book (minor character though), so I’ve been putting off reading it. If you’ve read them both, did you like them both?

Carrie Soto is back is WAY better than Malibu Rising. I didn't hate Malibu Rising but it's my least favorite of the author's books.

I liked Carrie Soto is Back almost as much as I liked The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Thanks! I’ll read it next.