The Mark and the Void: A Novel | 
pickThis was great; deeper than I was expecting, getting into existential questions about reality, fiction, capitalism, and human relationships. Like “An Evening of Long Goodbyes” it‘s a book that succeeds in drawing you into dark, thoughtful places while still being very funny and full of entertaining characters.
“He sighs. ‘Okay. Well, you‘re right, once a woman starts calling you a Nazi, it‘s time to bow out. Frankly, from what you‘ve told me, you may have dodged a bullet. The paintings and the organic food should have been a clear enough warning. Better to get out now, before she starts making you wear vegetarian shoes and call history ‘herstory‘.”
so-soI think it might be a metaphor that the book fell apart before I finished reading it.
It was pretty much all plot (read "banking"), and no real character change or growth or depth. Even Claude, the French hero in Ireland, just sort of acts all Claude-y throughout, and some stuff happens.
But I finished before Book Club tomorrow, so that's a win.
I wish I had started tracking the bizarre similes from the start!
"This is like hearing that Hitler had deployed the Waffen-SS to build an owl sanctuary."
Oh, the similes!
"It is like watching a runaway train, a runaway train that is pretending to be gay."
As someone with no ancestors from within 1,000 miles of Ireland, I have been celebrating St. Patrick's Day by reading a novel set in Dublin in which literally none of the main characters are Irish.
Also, inexplicably, my Starbucks cup isn't green. If I were a War-Against-Christmas kind of guy, I'd be asking questions.
The Russian guy makes a Russian Reversal/ Yakov Smirnoff joke!
???Unfortunate Simile Alert!???
"The traders bounced off, their conversation a blizzard of acronyms and stomach-turning sexual references, like a Scrabble game at a gang bang."
I feel as though I recently read something unusual modified by "melancholy," but I didn't know it would be the beginning of a trend so I didn't file it away well enough in my memory.
New book club book. I haven't loved the last few, and this one is on the longer side (450 pages). Anyone who has read it and can give me hope?
Preparing for a journey home. Will 2 books be enough for a 13 hr flight, followed by a 14 hr stop-over and then another 7 hr flight? ( considering I am traveling with 2 kids)😬😬
After building my book pyramid I was physically and emotionally spent (I now have insight into what the ancient Egyptians went through). I'll be honest, when I checked todays challenge I was hoping for something less taxing. #headlesscovers ? Nooo! I threw myself dramatically on my bed and cried a bit. Then a miracle occurred..I looked over to my #tbr pile and found a #headlesscover. Some jumping on the bed may have occurred. #photoadaynov16
pickWorking through a backlog of birthday book reviews from September...I loved this one. Alternately a hysterically funny takedown of modern investment banking and a dark meditation on modern life. Not sure it hits the stated goal of being a "modern day Ulysses" but I applaud the ambition.
I never use #bookmarks but I do love them as souvenirs. This selection come from bookshops in Paris, California and my home town of Brisbane, Australia.
The closeup pic, which is the reverse of the pink Shakespeare & Co bookmark, is their impressive upcoming author events list (they were 'upcoming' in 2015).
Oh, and I have no idea where the ladybird one came from. 🐞😅
#booktober
pickAmazing book that shows a human side to the moneymakers...
'But we get on like a house on fire, don't we Claude?' 'I picture the flames, the screaming. 'Yes', I say.'
