Wishlisted

     I use my Amazon wishlist as a virtual notebook for jotting down the names of books I want to read. It is currently 318 items long and includes all manner of things which reflect my interests, and I do look at it regularly and sometimes even prune it to keep it relevant and 'manageable'! But as it is added to all the time, I thought I'd pick a few books and canvass your opinion on them: should they stay on the list, or do they not merit a place there?
     To start with, how about Michael Frayn's Headlong: an art historian, a lost Bruegel, iconography and slapstick. Is is "witty and entertaining" or "smug and irritating", as the reviewers contrarily say?
     Next, travel and Patrick Leigh Fermor's A Time of Gifts: On Foot to Constantinople - From the Hook of Holland to the Middle Danube. This one is rated very highly, but someone complained it was too 'literary', and suggested Eric Newby instead. Any views?
     Lastly, Olive Kitteridge: A Novel in Stories by Elizabeth Strout. Depressing, or impressively heart-wrenching?
     If you haven't read any of the above but want to suggest a 'must read' book to add to the list, please do.

Comments

[Peta]

I can't comment on the other two but I rather liked Michael Frayn's Headlong. Reminded me of "What's Bred in the Bone" which is part of The Cornish Trilogy by Robertson Davies - which will only help if you've read it!

[Cornflower]

I've just read my first Robertson Davies, Peta, and that was a great success, so if Headlong is anything like one of his, then it can stay on the list!

[Linda C]

I read Olive Kitteridge some months ago. I liked it so much that I then read a couple of other books by Elizabeth Strout. Olive Kitteridge is a woman I will remember for a long time--older ("mature"), struggling with her past, present and future. Leave it on your list!
Linda C.

[Rhys]

This is going to sound nonsense...Paddy Leigh's is a MUST read but is BORING and TEDIOUS and almost unreadable!!! but to have read it is to know more about the world and how it works..how it used to work probably...but he is such a cultural reference and he is , I think, such a quintissentially English person (with a twist)that you have to read it he's known everyone ,done everything...have I explained myself clearly enough? don't cross it off your list.

[Jennifer Dee]

I love anything by Patrick Leigh Fermour and yes he can be a literary but in a good way. I love the history of Fermour and his exploits during the 2nd World War, a really courageous man. I have also read Eric Newby who writes brilliantly of his time during the war. He met his wife in the Italian Alps whilst escaping his German captives. I think the background to these two men is what interests me the most and they both write beautifully. I cannot choose between them so I suggest read them both

[Ruth]

These aren't new books but still worth reading...
... anything by Chaim Potok.

see http://potok.lasierra.edu/

"I would like to now show how the books that I've written explore [this]confrontation of cores of cultures and how in some instances a resolution is reached, and in other instances point out that the resolution may well be impossible to achieve."

[Dark Puss]

I simultaneously agree and disagree absolutely with Rhys! If you haven't already read Leigh Fermor then you have been missing out on something wonderful. I have found all of his "travel" books very readable indeed. I strongly recommend this book to you. Don't ignore Newby either but I'll bet he doesn't influence you as much as Fermor. If you read the Time of Gifts you surely will need Between the Woods and the Water too. If you want zero risk I'll lend you my copies.

[Fran H-B]

I read the Patrick Leigh Femour book, and the sequel Between Woods and Water when a teenager[ many, many years ago!]. I loved them and I think they started my love of reading travel books. They certainly were not boring, in fact they opened my eyes to the wonders of travel, especially the concept of doing so alone, on foot. Similar books of long walks have always facsinated me, just last year I read Nicholas Cranes Clear Waters Rising. He was influenced by PLF, and often refers to these two books within his own.
On my Amazon wish list are PLF's Greek travel books.

[adele geras]

Grey Souls by Philippe Claudel is my tip. I loved it. Have to admit to getting a bit bored half way through HEADLONG.

[Barbara]

Headlong is as well written as you'd expect but I found it unsatisfactory, not engaging enough. Spies is much better.
A Time of Gifts is rather wonderful, certainly not boring. PLF is too grand for me (all those connections) whereas Eric Newby comes over as a person I'd like to have met. Why not start with Something Wholesale, about his early life in the rag trade? Then, if you like his company, go travelling.

[Lizzie]

Afraid I can't comment on these books, but I too use my Amazon wishlist as reminder of books I'd like to read, cds I'd like to hear.
Unfortunately, I know now that this can backfire on you. I happened to tell a friend in a conversation about Amazon,that I had a wishlist. Next birthday, she very kindly sent me 2 items from the list. Up to that point, I was unaware that ANYONE can access your list. I thought I might have to give permission....
Unknown to her, I had unfortunately already read the book she sent. So now I keep the list a bit better edited, just in case anyone else feels generous!

[serenknitity]

I'm interested in Olive Kitteridge since I heard Melissa Bank highly recommend it as a 'must read' on an NPR Books podcast. It's jumped my exceedingly long mental queue (I no longer use my wish list, as somebody once bought me a few books from it for my birthday, and they were mostly terrible).

[Lindsay]

John le Carre's "Little Drummer Girl", the finest espionage novel ever - full of excitement and action, but also beautifully written, with divided loyalties, acute observation, a clever plot and - yea - even a love story (or two?). The spy novel for those who like novels more than they like spies!

[Rebecca]

I enjoyed Headlong so much I had to search for other books by Frayn as well as a book of Bruegel's paintings. Spies is also good.

[Femke]

I wholeheartedly agree with this recommendation. I especially love 'The book of lights'.