What are you reading now?

[smittims]

I was interested in Ian's remark about books by female writers. Naturally these vary enormously from author to author, and I wouldn't want to draw a generalisation any more than with male authors. However ,there has been in recent years a development which I dislike.

Many new novels are written by women specifically for women to read, on the sound commercial basis that women buy a lot of new novels to read by themselves. While it's natural to make these books appealing to women, the 'new feminism' has led in some cases to what strikes me as very anti-male sexism: books which give a very false view of the world and the relationships between men and women. Typically, all the strong enduring characters are women, all the men are ineffective, whinging wimps or selfish deceivers. While this may be put forward as encouraging or 'empowering' female readers , I think it actually exploits them by feeding them a lie they will swallow eagerly.

The finest female novelists have always written well for both male and female readers: George Sand, Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf , and I would add a personal favourite, Pamela Hansford Johnson. .

[LMcD]

I have read quite a few American writers but The Great Circle was too pleased with itself. I quite enjoyed the recent Underground Railroad even if the first quarter of the book was a struggle. The last 75 per cent was pretty good.

Like Petrushka, I have made a conscious effort to avoid American books. Gatsby struck me as over rated but it is writers trying to be too hip that frustrate me. Trashy stuff like Tom Clancy is another style I avoid. If I am.reading English books, I feel author's from UK are more nuanced and the writing is wittier. Some writers are irritating such ax Rose Tremaine but I would say that Anerican novelists are likely to be the ones I fund the most annoying.

I would add that I do like non English writers and have recently really enjoyed the Argentine writer Claudia Pineiro. The writer Jose Rizal also made an impression on me as have a host of French writers in the past.

I do wonder what American readers would make of some British authors. I think a writer like James Herriot would be a challenge because of the writing in dialect. It would be perplexing if you did not appreciate the world he described. Can't see Kate Atkinson appealing over the pond either as her use of dialogue is infused with a very British sense of humour and is often quite cynical. I think British writers like to allude to things whereas American writers are less subtle.

I would also say I have no issue with reading books by female authors whatsoever. I like a female perspective

My favourite authors include the following North Americans:
Margaret Atwood
Fannie Flagg
Barbara Kingsolver
Alison Lurie
Alison Munro
Ann Pratchett
Carol Shields
Anne Tyler

At the moment, I'm reading Graham Norton's 'Home Stretch'.

[Ian Thumwood]

I have read quite a few American writers but The Great Circle was too pleased with itself. I quite enjoyed the recent Underground Railroad even if the first quarter of the book was a struggle. The last 75 per cent was pretty good.

Like Petrushka, I have made a conscious effort to avoid American books. Gatsby struck me as over rated but it is writers trying to be too hip that frustrate me. Trashy stuff like Tom Clancy is another style I avoid. If I am.reading English books, I feel author's from UK are more nuanced and the writing is wittier. Some writers are irritating such ax Rose Tremaine but I would say that Anerican novelists are likely to be the ones I fund the most annoying.

I would add that I do like non English writers and have recently really enjoyed the Argentine writer Claudia Pineiro. The writer Jose Rizal also made an impression on me as have a host of French writers in the past.

I do wonder what American readers would make of some British authors. I think a writer like James Herriot would be a challenge because of the writing in dialect. It would be perplexing if you did not appreciate the world he described. Can't see Kate Atkinson appealing over the pond either as her use of dialogue is infused with a very British sense of humour and is often quite cynical. I think British writers like to allude to things whereas American writers are less subtle.

I would also say I have no issue with reading books by female authors whatsoever. I like a female perspective

[LMcD]

Susan Hill - novel starring her central detective character Simon Serrailler

I'm currently working my way through the excellent Simon Serraiiler books - next up is 'Hero'

[smittims]

Come now, Petrushka! Hawthorne and Wharton (do you count James as American? ) are noticeably more concise than Dickens and Thackeray (fine though they are ).

[Petrushka]

If you think American writers are too wordy you might try William Carlos Williams

I mostly avoid American writers, though F. Scott Fitzgerald and some Hemingway are exceptions. There's just too much to read and lines have to be drawn somewhere.

[DracoM]

Susan Hill - novel starring her central detective character Simon Serrailler

[smittims]

If you think American writers are too wordy you might try William Carlos Williams

[Ian Thumwood]

Has anyone else struggled with Maggie Shipstead's Grand Circle?

I love books about aviation but this one was on my shelf for a year before I picked it up this month. It was nominated for the Booker yet I found it extremely annoying with the story about the aviatrix being drawn out and the alternate chapters about the actress portraying her in a film being bogged down I hipster speak. The story was not gripping at all and it became quite depressing. However the language was the most problematic issue for me.

I quite like foreign writer yet have often found American writers too wordy or alternatively writing trash like Tom Clancy. This effort was far too pretentious and was extremely tedious in comparison with other authors writing about aviation. Not a patch on St. Exupery and I had to concede defeat after about 150 pages. Picked up another Ian Rankin instead ...

[gurnemanz]

I saw Leonard Rossiter twice on stage: the famous Artur UI and Feydeau farce at the Ashcroft Theatre in Croydon. Both were vivid and memorable theatrical experiences.

[Petrushka]

There were three Guardian articles at that time. Michael BIllington:

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/oct/07/leonard-rossiter-physicality-british-theatre

Interview from 1969 with Terry Coleman:

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/oct/06/leonard-rossiters-rise-interview-1969

Remembered by various colleagues:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/oct/04/leonard-rossiter-rising-damp-fall-and-rise-of-reginald-perrin

The last one of those was the one I had in mind. Thanks for the other two which I hadn't seen.

[french frank]

There was a wonderful extended article in the Guardian about three weeks ago about Rossiter. I haven't yet worked out how to do a link on my phone but a Google search should find it easily enough.

There were three Guardian articles at that time. Michael BIllington:

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/oct/07/leonard-rossiter-physicality-british-theatre

Interview from 1969 with Terry Coleman:

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/oct/06/leonard-rossiters-rise-interview-1969

Remembered by various colleagues:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/oct/04/leonard-rossiter-rising-damp-fall-and-rise-of-reginald-perrin

[french frank]

Now reading “Me and Mr Jones: My Life with David Bowie” an intriguingly candid memoir by the hairdresser who created his Ziggy Stardust look. She went on to marry another pop idol Mick Ronson. Bowie’s music featured in a BBC Prom in 2016.

I didn't know he was David Jones. Bryn Terfel was also a Mr Jones. Tom Jones was a Mr Woodward.

[Petrushka]

He reappeared in 'Steptoe and Son' in 'The Desperate Hours, in 1972, He passed away on the 5th of October 1984, aged just 57.

There was a wonderful extended article in the Guardian about three weeks ago about Rossiter. I haven't yet worked out how to do a link on my phone but a Google search should find it easily enough.

Well worth reading.

[LMcD]

How sad to hear. A man of many parts. Who could forget his 'The Lead Man cometh' in Steptoe and Son.

He reappeared in 'Steptoe and Son' in 'The Desperate Hours, in 1972, He passed away on the 5th of October 1984, aged just 57.