My first fiction book in a long time, and it’s slow going. I’m 25% through it, and I think something is about to happen soon.
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Good news to those of ya’ll staring at that thick-assed copy of Matterhorn you picked up for book club - - - it is pretty absorbing. I don’t generally read war novels, but I put it another room so I could get work done.
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Matterhorn just showed up today for me, gonna get into it this weekend.
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Tore through Matterhorn over the break. It was an excellent read and, while it was “long”, it was a pretty quick read I think.
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Almost halfway through and it is moving much faster than the beginning. For once I might have some breathing room between finishing the book and the book club.
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I didn’t realize Matterhorn was part of the book club, but just finished this before the holidays. Definitely a slow burner at the start, but the character development and pacing is excellent. Not a typical read for me, but I really enjoyed it
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My copy has been sitting in the same place since I opened the Amazon package. Starting it tonight. I’m embarrassed to tell you the last time I read a book cover to cover so there has been A LOT of intimidation. I think I can finish in time for 2/10.
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You can do it, Luke!
I know this Monday evening is wide open for you. 
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At first I honestly thought you were talking about no Trivia 
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We’re on to basketball season (sweet 16 team I think). Which now has been riddled with Covid.
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Maybe you’re not watching Bachelor this season
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Right with you @LukeBoatright , book has been sitting there since it arrived. We’ve got time.
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I think I’m up to nominate what we read after Matterhorn and it sounds like people are up for something shorter and a little quicker read. My thought was something satirical. I’ve got two possibilities in mind, one I’ve already read a few years ago (and found myself wanting to discuss) and one I haven’t.
The Sellout by Paul Beatty. 2015. Won the Booker Prize. Satire about a Black man in a fictional LA-area municipality who decides to resegregate the town. I read this several years ago and it left a huge impression on me. 300 pages and it reads fast.
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. 2020. Won the National Book Award for fiction. Satire with an unusual screenplay narrative structure about an Asian-American character actor and his family and ambitions within the film industry (I think). 288 pages.
The books have not surprisingly gotten some comparisons in mostly glowing reviews. I think there are a ton of different angles of discussion for either book, both as to the books and their characters and more broadly about other works of art and how we (especially white people) create, react, adopt, or consume it.
Take a look at these and let me know what y’all think.
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Finally cracked open Matterhorn tonight. I don’t know that I’m capable of a “quick read” but it’s very enjoyable so far.
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I read The Sellout and liked it but didn’t love it. Speaking selfishly, if we choose that it will be the third straight book I’ve previously read, but that’s not the problem of the Book Club, that’s on me. I haven’t read Charles Yu, but I have had “How To Live Safely in a Science Fiction Universe” by him on my “To Read” list for some time. So INTERIOR CHINATOWN would be my vote.
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Good enough for me, since it’s relatively new, I’m guessing few have read it. Unless there are other objections, let’s do Interior Chinatown
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Looking forward to adding both of these to my list for 2021!
Almost done with “Andersonville” — Goodreads was helpful in pointing out “Kavalier” was my longest 2020 read. “Andersonville” much longer and should top 2021–and onto “Matterhorn” next week. Getting those logged reading hours in out of pure necessity (but enjoying the challenge).
Does anyone remember the name of the book @Randy recommended about the troubles in N. Ireland?
Has anyone ever discussed a book exchange between refugees? With Covid my library and local store visits have decreased and my Amazon purchases are up mainly due to convenience. With many fokes reading the same books due to recommendations on here I was thinking it would be a very economic and fun idea. Mailing is relatively inexpensive, especially with the book rates here in the US. I personally wouldn’t mind exchanging for free or if someone would like a book I have finished I wouldn’t mind sending for just shipping or something like that. Just a thought, if others may be interested!
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Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
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I read a majority of my books on Kindle, so I wouldn’t be able to participate as much but I am a subscriber to Book of the Month and have a decent amount of books I don’t want/need to keep, so I’d be up for something like this (though, I should admit freely and quickly, not up for any of the administration of such an exchange).