What are you reading the week of Sunday, July 12, 2015?

[scarletwoman]

A bit late in the day (after midnight here), but I ended up being out all day and just got home.

Anyway, yesterday I finished The Skull Mantra by Eliot Pattison. It's the first book of an eight book series featuring an imprisoned former Chinese forensic inspector, set in Tibet.

I thought it was totally awesome. 400+ pages, so it took a while to get through it. However, it's beautifully written, fully engaging, a complex plot, wonderful characters, with a fully accurate portrayal of Tibetan Buddhism, and an unflinching account of the ongoing cultural genocide in Tibet at the hands of the Chinese government.

I went into this book with an already extensive knowledge of the political situation in Tibet, which I have began following in the late 70s/early 80s, and became involved in the Free Tibet movement. I'm also fairly well-versed in the whole history of the Chinese invasion of Tibet, as well as Tibet's pre-invasion history. Additionally, I studied and practiced Tibetan Buddhism for several years, receiving teachings in person from several Tibetan lamas.

So, with all that in my background, this book was obviously a perfect fit for me. I have no idea how someone who's not familiar with any of the above would react - however, it won an Edgar Award for Best First Book in 2000, so it would appear that it has appeal for a wider audience than just students of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism.

I'm now over half way through the 2nd book of the series, Water Touching Stone, and it's been very hard to put down. I am thoroughly in love with what this author is doing.

On Eliot Pattison's website, he has a page explaining why he's writing these books: http://www.eliotpattison.com/why_i_wrote_about_tibet.html - if you think you might be interested in this series, please go read it.

Anyhow, here's your weekly reading thread - have at it!

[shenmue]

1. "Crossbones Yard," Kate Rhodes

[trusty elf]

2. I've been on a Robert Graves binge for a while.

Am rereading his translation of Apuleius's "The Golden Ass" for about the third or fourth time.

I have a nice but pretty beat up 17th century French edition of it too.

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[Enthusiast]

4. Actually that looks good for a book from the 1600s.

[Enthusiast]

3. Hello everyone! Thank you for the thread, scarletwoman.

Last edited Mon Jul 13, 2015, 04:20 AM - Edit history (1)

Scarletwoman, I'm glad you are enjoying Eliot Pattison's books as you are. I'm thinking they would appeal to me too.

I finished River Thieves by Michael Crummy. River Thieves was my kind of book. I have to confess that I had never given Newfoundland much serious consideration. After reading River Thieves I had to know more about Newfoundland. I found out that Newfoundland is an interesting and beautiful place with an incredibly rich history. I am looking forward to Mrs. Enthusiast reading River Thieves.

Now I'm reading Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky. I'm over one third through and it becomes more interesting as I progress.

Mrs Enthusiast loved The Wailing Wind by Tony Hillarman. I'm looking forward to that one. We are soon to be finished with the Tony Hillarman books. We plan to read his daughter Ann's books as she carries on with the same characters and style as her father.

Mrs Enthusiast is now reading Black Widow by Randy Wayne White. She tells me there isn't a dull moment in Black Widow. She is loving it.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. So many books, so little time!

That Eliot Pattison series sounds so interesting, I might have to check it out. I have a rudimentary knowledge of Tibet and it's problems, and probably less knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism, so I would be coming at the book from a different and less learned position. I would hope to learn more from this book.

I am always late to the game on popular books, and have just started The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. I like the way it is written, but I am not sure about the whole plot yet. I find it rather implausible. We'll see as I get into it more.

I just finished Earth Abides by George R. Stewart. Written in 1949, it is supposedly the first post-apocalyptic science fiction novel written. It is said to have influenced Stephen King when writing The Stand. I was really fascinated by the vision that Stewart had of a new future and could see it evolving the way he saw it.

[hermetic]

6. All the Light We Cannot See

Finally, my turn came up at the library. Wow. By about page 40 I could see why Doerr won the Prize for this. His words drip like little diamonds into your mind. (Heh, see what I did there?)

Halfway through, now, it's getting pretty creepy. This was the stuff I didn't want to read. Nazis. I do love, though, how the chapters go back and forth. A swinging, soothing rhythm. But then, all of a sudden, there's 2 chapters that jump to the future. Then it goes back. Not sure, yet, how I feel about that. It is certainly, though, a book that fills my mind.

Speaking of Newfoundland, I went to the thrift store today and found The Shipping News by Annie Proulx. This has been on my list for some time but my library didn't have it. We don't do foreign authors. I also got an audio of Atwood's The Blind Assassin. So I shall soon be immersing myself in Canadia.

I also have strong feelings for Tibet. I hope to find online those scarletwoman mentioned, then I will donate them to my library. Spreading the words, a little bit at a time.

Happy reading!

[Enthusiast]

7. I always look forward to hearing from you, hermetic.

[hermetic]

9. Thanks, my friend

Back at ya.

[Curmudgeoness]

8. I'd be interested to know what you think

of The Shipping News. I was told that it was so good, and I just don't think I understood it or something. Maybe it was just too weird.

[hermetic]

11. I'll be another week

finishing All The Light... Then I shall dive into Shipping News, just for you. I so rarely get asked what I think, I'll jump on this. Hell, I might just start it tonight. No no, gotta finish Doerr.

[Curmudgeoness]

12. I didn't think it was worth dropping a book you love.

But like I said, it was just me. A friend had lent it to me as a "must read"......I don't take her advice anymore since we must have different tastes.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

10. Just finished Girl on the Train. Very entertaining mystery - who done it - on NYT

best seller list at some point. Set in London.

If you liked Gone Girl - same genre. But better part - didn't figure out who did it until about 50 % through. Gone Girl 25%.

I actually liked it so much I didn't want to finish it - my rule of thumb as to whether or not a book is very good !

[pamela]

16. I read that a few months ago.

I really liked it.

Have you read Gillian Flynn's other books, Sharp Objects and Dark Places? Dark Places is my favorite of hers.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

17. Yes - read them all - and Sharp Objects was my fav. You know, we just saw the movie

Gone Girl - and really - the first part of the book glaringly lacks logic. It soon becomes so obvious that she just might be playing him - with the anniversary game - yet not he nor all these supposedly good investigators key in on that

[japple]

13. I, too, finally finshed River Thieves by Michael Crummey and thought it was one of the best books

I've read this year. After finishing that, I felt compelled to read something lighter, so I'm now into Michelle Huneven's book Off Course. All of her other books have been very good, esp. Round Rock and Jamesland.

[Enthusiast]

14. I'm glad to hear you liked River Thieves, japple.

[pamela]

15. Go Set A Watchman

I'm on Chapter 5. It's no "To Kill A Mockingbird" but then I didn't expect it to be.

[womanofthehills]

19. I just finished it today.

Interesting book - Alabama in the 50's - racial relationships. The people of Macomb started freaking out because "the times they were a changin." I liked this book.

[eissa]

18. "The Meursault Investigation" a sort of companion to Camus' "The Stranger"

as told by the brother of the murdered victim. Upset that his brother's murder is reduced to an unnamed Arab on a beach, Harun tells the side of his brother's story, and gives "the Arab" a name -- Musa. Brilliantly written.