Hello and welcome again to Book Pub!
What are you all reading? I’ve read/am reading:
The Nile: A Journey Downriver Through Egypt’s Past and Present by Toby Wilkinson
(Goodreads Avg. Rating 3.72 | Amazon
Recommended if you want to learn more about the history of Egypt and/or the Nile.
Thoughts: Although the author says that it’s a travel narrative, the book is more about the history of the area and less about the author’s personal experiences. It’s engaging, well-researched and well-written. I should note that the author does not cover Egypt’s recent political upheaval much.
The Victorian City: Everyday Life in Dickens’ London by Judith Flanders
(Goodreads Avg. Rating 4.03 | Amazon
Recommended if you’re interested in learning about either ordinary people’s day-to-day life in historical times or the history of London, specifically for poor people during Charles Dickens’ lifetime.
Thoughts: Hayzeus, London was filthy. The book covers a wide range of issues related to everyday life in London then (e.g. travel, food, violence). Extremely detailed, well-researched and well-written.
Dirty Old London: The Victorian Fight Against Filth by Lee Jackson
(Goodreads Avg. Rating 4.00 | Amazon
Recommended if you’re interested in the Victorian era, especially Victorian London living conditions and politics.
Thoughts: The book is well-researched, but a bit dry and just a bit too long. It appears that efforts to clean London up involve rich people who think that measures to prevent filth should be done, but do not want to personally pay for efforts to do so.
The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
(Goodreads Avg. Rating 4.09 | Amazon
Recommended if you like short stories, if you want to read about immigrant experiences (particularly those of middle-class Nigerian descent).
Thoughts: The book consists of short stories that give snapshots into the middle-class experience in both Nigeria and the US as experienced by those of Nigerian descent. Absorbing read, though sometimes the stories end abruptly.
The Story of the Stone (Vol. 5: The Dreamer Wakes) by Cao Xueqin with Gao E, John Minford translation
(Goodreads Avg. Rating 4.32 | Amazon
Recommended if you, as mentioned in the last two Book Pubs, want to really invest in a literary work or want to have a starting point to understand Chinese psychology, culture and society.
Thoughts: I AM FINALLY DONE WITH THIS BOOK. Not a big fan of the ending, though it may have been done for political purposes.
The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyong (Hanjungnok) by Lady Hyegyong, JaHyun Kim Haboush editor and translation
(Goodreads Avg. Rating 3.85 | Amazon
Recommended if you’re interested in 18th century Korean history and politics, if you’re interested in drama and pathos but are tired of people recommending Shakespeare, if you’re interested in Korean literature.
Thoughts: I stumbled on this book by accident after reading a post on mentally ill monarchs. Lady Hyegyong was the wife of Crown Prince Sado (the Coffin Prince), the mentally ill, violent prince who died in 1762 after being ordered by his father the king to step into a rice chest. I highly recommend reading the introduction to the book first, as it provides historical background information as well as the structure of the book (18th century Korean autobiographies aren’t written in the way autobiographies are today). Given the structure of the book, it may be difficult to slog through in parts.
So tell me what you’re reading, your favorite books of 2014, which books you’re looking forward to reading in 2015, etc. I sense that Amy Poehler’s recent book is on some of your lists?
Image via Wikimedia Commons.
