It's Labor Day, so it's the last day of my Summer Reading List. You can review the titles here: http://booklikes.com/apps/reading-lists/643/summer-reading-list-2016. 

It's always nine books, filling specific slots. Somehow, I generally manage to complete only eight of them. This year, the one that dropped out and will be carried over to 2017 was "Dr. Strange and Mr. Norrell." I had been saving it for Labor Day weekend but instead picked up M.L. Stedman's "The Light Between Oceans," because of the Alicia Vikander movie released last Friday. I do not regret that choice. 

The standout book in the group for me was "The Sense of an Ending" by Julian Barnes. It was a little jewel - just a few hours' reading time but into a perfectly crafted little human drama. I can't wait to read more from Barnes. Thanks to S. for suggesting it.

Of course, I spread "War and Peace" over the whole summer, but now I have the humble-brag rights of completion, which I claimed here: http://carissagreen50.booklikes.com/post/1462207/finished-war-and-peace.

Thanks to B. for the loan of her personal copy of "Ready Player One." So much fun. Definitely written as a series of "set pieces" that border on pop culture cliche, but it works in that format. 

Not much else to say right now. What did you read this summer that you'll remember through the years?

-cg

Round about 150 years after its initial publication, it's become cliche to say you're reading/have read/plan to read "War and Peace." At about 1,100 pages (depending on the edition) it's a huge doorstop of a book. 

Well, I did it. I started a few days before Memorial Day weekend, and, at pace of 10-12 pages per day, I've finished now, on Labor Day morning. It's a do-able schedule, if you'd ever like to add this to your reading brag list. As I'm doing right now. Brag, Brag, Brag: I've read "War and Peace." 

Did I like it? Yes. Did I love it? I don't know yet. Is it a masterpiece, as so many have said over the years? Yes, I suppose. I actually preferred "Anna Karenina." The human stories in that novel had more pathos for me. Also, there was far less of Tolstoy's philosophical musing in that book. 

Speaking of Tolstoy's philosophical musings, the last 35 pages or so were quite the slog, because that's all they were - Tolstoy on history, human nature, and all that lot. The first 100 pages were also a challenge, as keeping the characters straight was tough. But eventually one catches on and develops a reading rhythm. 

Did I get every nuance, every reference? Certainly not. That's likely a lifetime project, in which I don't care to invest at this time. But I've read it. And no one can take that away from me. (Brag, brag, brag. I've read "War and Peace.")

-cg

I have made it past the 1,000 page mark. Only about 100 pages to go.

The French are trudging out of Russia, so there has been war, and I guess, now it's peace. Gotta love a book that lives up to its title. ;)

On the home-stretch now.

-cg

I wish I had a child so that I could read this book aloud to her. Or I wish I could go back in time and have my Dad read this book to me. 

The BFG's delightful portmanteaux and creative diction are musical, magical, and delighted me. What a whoppsy book.

-cg

I read Julian Barnes' "The Sense of an Ending" today, library copy. Tucked in the pages was a check-out receipt from November, 2013. The previous patron chose three titles:

1. This Barnes book

2. "Naked Lunch" and

3. "Paris was the Place"

-cg