For some unfathomable reason, given that I have not read it (yet), Rum Doodle brought to mind the splendid John Kennedy Toole's 'A Confederacy of Dunces'. And while we are at it 'The Neon Bible' is well worth a read too.
Hello hello! Glad to see this thread back after so many years away. I never did find a useful way to connect with the Goodreads group so maybe this will work better. Talking of Goodreads... I see so many articles like the one you posted, and so many descriptions of it as a cesspit. But I'm fairly active on there and I've almost always found it a fairly constructive place to share things. I guess it just depends what you want to get out of it. That said, authors should never go on there - it's probably bad enough reading one review of your books, let alone hundreds of them.
In terms of current reads... I just finished Fall, Bomb, Fall by Gerrit Kouwenaar, an excellent little Dutch classic that will be published in English for the first time in September. It's like a mix of Catcher in the Rye and Catch-22. Charming, funny and tragic. If only it were a bit longer.
I have recently read “The Eights” (2025) by Joanna Miller. In 1920 women were first allowed to study for a degree at Oxford University. This novel follows the lives and experiences of four (fictional) young women from different backgrounds studying there in their first year. Flashbacks are included to provide the background for each of these characters and show how they came to study in Oxford and how World War I had affected their lives. The author combines her fictional story with historical details such as the lists of rules for female students and real persons, Winifred Holtby and Vera Brittain. As far as I can tell, it is a worthy description of this time.
I have also listened to Colm Tóibin’s “Long Island” (2025), having first reread “Brooklyn” (2009). In the recent sequel we meet up again with Eilis, who had left Enniscorthy in Ireland twenty years previously to improve her prospects and had married into an Italian-American family in Long Island. The past catches up with her when she returns for a visit and her mother’s 80th birthday. I can’t attempt to describe the author’s skill in presenting the ensuing story from three perspectives so delicately and the issues and themes that pervade this novel.
I am currently listening to “The Days of Light” (2025) by Megan Hunter, which I was introduced to in Sam’s podcast with Lori Feathers “Across the Pond”. I haven’t finished either as I stopped listening to the latter, as warned, before finding out too much in advance. I am particularly impressed by the beautiful descriptions of sights, sounds and touch and am appreciating the themes of art versus or in life, family and other relationships and the inclusion of mystery/the unknown, the down-to-earth beside a more spiritual aspect.
For some unfathomable reason, given that I have not read it (yet), Rum Doodle brought to mind the splendid John Kennedy Toole's 'A Confederacy of Dunces'. And while we are at it 'The Neon Bible' is well worth a read too.
Yes! Splendid novels. Thank you.
Hello hello! Glad to see this thread back after so many years away. I never did find a useful way to connect with the Goodreads group so maybe this will work better. Talking of Goodreads... I see so many articles like the one you posted, and so many descriptions of it as a cesspit. But I'm fairly active on there and I've almost always found it a fairly constructive place to share things. I guess it just depends what you want to get out of it. That said, authors should never go on there - it's probably bad enough reading one review of your books, let alone hundreds of them.
In terms of current reads... I just finished Fall, Bomb, Fall by Gerrit Kouwenaar, an excellent little Dutch classic that will be published in English for the first time in September. It's like a mix of Catcher in the Rye and Catch-22. Charming, funny and tragic. If only it were a bit longer.
Hope everyone is well!
Good to see you! And thank you for the excellent recommendation. (And the good word for Goodreads)
I have recently read “The Eights” (2025) by Joanna Miller. In 1920 women were first allowed to study for a degree at Oxford University. This novel follows the lives and experiences of four (fictional) young women from different backgrounds studying there in their first year. Flashbacks are included to provide the background for each of these characters and show how they came to study in Oxford and how World War I had affected their lives. The author combines her fictional story with historical details such as the lists of rules for female students and real persons, Winifred Holtby and Vera Brittain. As far as I can tell, it is a worthy description of this time.
I have also listened to Colm Tóibin’s “Long Island” (2025), having first reread “Brooklyn” (2009). In the recent sequel we meet up again with Eilis, who had left Enniscorthy in Ireland twenty years previously to improve her prospects and had married into an Italian-American family in Long Island. The past catches up with her when she returns for a visit and her mother’s 80th birthday. I can’t attempt to describe the author’s skill in presenting the ensuing story from three perspectives so delicately and the issues and themes that pervade this novel.
I am currently listening to “The Days of Light” (2025) by Megan Hunter, which I was introduced to in Sam’s podcast with Lori Feathers “Across the Pond”. I haven’t finished either as I stopped listening to the latter, as warned, before finding out too much in advance. I am particularly impressed by the beautiful descriptions of sights, sounds and touch and am appreciating the themes of art versus or in life, family and other relationships and the inclusion of mystery/the unknown, the down-to-earth beside a more spiritual aspect.
Lovely! Thank you so much. (And thank you for listening to the podcast too… Glad you’re enjoying the book.)
Thanks Sam for including me. Made my day! Drew
Here’s one to consider - Every sci-fi conspiracy theory we exist with today started here !! 😂😍
I have fallen in love all over again with this incredible ride!
H.G. Wells- The Time Machine.
genius.
Great one! Thank you