The Reading Room

Was reading this at the library, but it closes at 5 and I get out of work at 5 so it was rare that I had time out to kill that I could spend there. Ended up just finishing on my phone! Incredible, emotional read. Triggered my paranoia like a good memoir should. Don't have much intelligent to add ATM but good book.

Wikipedia describes this as "the first of a four-novel series featuring the title character Duffy, a bisexual private detective and ex-policeman with a 'phobia of ticking watches and a penchant for Tupperware'". I really enjoyed this book, though I found it a bit of a tough read due to not being familiar with the British (80's? it's been a bit but I think that was when this was set) slang. Duffy was a character I found myself caring about a lot. His history, personality, and sexuality interested me. The book was brutal at times, I found it very impactful and enjoyed it for that. I picked this up along with a few other books looking specifically for detective stories, wanting to find some thing with a noir-feel to inspire my own character. While that wasn't really what I found here (noir novels arent really as much of a thing as films, but I like reading books more than I do watching movies so I was basically floundering around the mystery section of a used book store looking for anything that seemed interesting), I'm very glad to have found it.

I enjoyed this entry in the Duffy series less than the previous two, very much in part because this one's focus was football. When compounded with the language I already found difficult, I could not for the life of me keep up with entire scenes. I'm working a bit on reading without understanding every little thing I'm presented with, but not being able to figure out broad plot points because they're sports-talk I never learned doesn't super endear me to a story. To be quiet honest, what got me all the way through this was really that I have a soft spot for Duffy as a character. He's like a wet dog to me. And here he is, doing some activity to improve the physical wellbeing he's insecure about, actually getting it up for the woman he shares his space with. Good for you, man!

Finished this a good while ago, so now I can only refelect on the series. This last entry felt self-referential in places, in a very confusing and unearned way. I won't say this setting and mystery weren't interesting, in fact I think there are actually good supporting characters that one can almost keep track of here. The sad thing for me is the complete lack of Duffy's significance as a character. This novel could've starred an ancovy for all his characterization mattered. The same way people come to serial mysteries for Sherlock, or Poirot, or Columbo, it was Duffy's gruff but neurotic nature and unique vulnerability in his sexuality that made me want to see more, and those just aren't present here. The only thing hinting to a complex personality that pops up is the yawning "romance" subplot he has with a woman whose name I won't bother trying to find agian. The only thing I really appreciated about the occasional noncomittal reminder that they were supposed to have something going on was that, in theory, it was a sort of nice to show him interested in a woman for bisexual balancing purposes. As for the whole series, I'd say that Duffy made me love the character, Fiddle City made me love the world and style, and then Putting the Boot In and Going to the Dogs dropped the ball and didn't bother even chasing it down the stairs.

Finished a bit ago! Once again, same case as the last check-in - I feel about the same, wouldn't read again but there were parts bad enough to laugh at so it's at least not the most forgettable. Worst part of the mystery is that it just couldn't stop introducing more people instead of, like, elaborating on the suspects we had, to the point I couldn't keep up at all with who we were talking about.

I started this years ago, reading it at the creek in the park by my father's home. As the weather changed, I'd be outside less, and so was reading less. I recall sitting on the rocks in my secluded spot and crying from how this one affected me. I left myself with only a few chapters left, which I completed at the pool this summer in an effort to close out my branching reading list. It felt quite unsatisfying, finishing so disconnected from the rest of the story. Regardless, a beautiful, impactful read.

Included for completion's sake. May reread.

I'd been read dracula at some point way back in middle school. I think it was for entertainment in indoor recesses? Like a lotta novels I read/were read to me in school (barring The Outsiders, The Graveyard Book, Brave New World, and The Things They Carried - all things I would love to reread and add here, I already own copies of The Graveyard Book and Brave New World), I retained next to nothing. I do recall picking up a biography on Bram Stoker once while idle in the school library that I'd love to find again; I recall reading about his theater schooling. But enough about other books! I loved reading this, and in such a unique form. The book-club aspect of being able to check the Tumblr tag after finishing an entry was so entertaining. It also helped me with the denser language in this one. Can you believe I used to be grades and grades above my reading level? Okay, one last tangent: I remember reading a Shakespeare play in high school, either Romeo and Juliet or Hamlet I think, and that was like the exact moment I gave up. I went "Nope. No matter how many times I read these words, I cant string them together to form an idea that means anything." I had to retake an English class after failing, not because of not understanding shit, but because of failing to do the work and getting 0%s on assignments that I couldn't quite finish and turn in. I was diagnosed with two developmental disorders a year after graduating! Anyway, it was nice to see people talk about bits that I hadn't quite comprehended on my own.

Columbo VS. a Charles Manson copycat crime. Picked this up because I noticed it at work while I was in the middle of watching the series and had been enjoying some mysteries recently. Sorta fun, but I'd already found the show to drag a little at times - in those cases, the slower pace let me appreciate the scenery, acting, fashion, filming techniques, all the sort of structural things I'm not a well-enough versed reader to easily find in text. Not a bad read, but the structure of showing the crime before anything else and building up to Columbo's big reveal didn't work for me as well in long-form writing.

Included for completion's sake. I feel like this story is strong for its famous concept but weak in its actual story compared to similiar classics. Maybe I need to give it another chance?

Finished this a bit ago, a bit after my friends stopped caring about the game and connecting to them through this project became less emotionally profitable. so I probably won't finish it, but it provided me an interesting way to read. I doubt I'll forget the characters names as soon as I would have otherwise.

Finished this a bit ago! Overall, I'd say I like this book. Not what I expected, and I have mixed thoughts on the writer's style. I certainly don't agree with everything he says, but I did find it very interesting. I mostly felt sympathetic. The way he speaks on feminitiy really catches me - especially trouble with presenting onesself as female when you fundamentally disagree with the expectations of feminity. The physical reality of ethereal expectations, as well.

Finished as part of my summer effort to clean up my mid-reading list. Such a unique story, but I get the feeling it deserves to be watched in full, not just read. The idea won't leave me.

My reading of this one ended up rather complicated - starting with that audiobook, then being gifted a paperback to highlight by my boyfriend for a Valentine's book exchange and restarting. I read it in bursts here and there, on Flordia beaches and back to home before finishing at our new apartment pool. Now that it's finished, the hardest thing to say is that I disagree with him. I understand his attachment to the characters, and I love this novel, but the whole thing is sad to me. It ends appropriately.

Finished a bit ago! I LOVE this one, such a fascinating introduction to the topic. Covers some technique, history, principles - a little bit of everthing. I believe the goal was to spark interest and introduce, and I feel that was done magnificently. I'd love to read more of this authors work, his voice was intelligent and joyful, with a real appreciation and enthusiam for the topic.

I just adore this author, I'm really looking forwatd to reading more from him. This whole account is heartfelt, with beautiful minute cultural and personal details. There's a wonderful sense of closeness and love, so much so that it feels like an honor to be allowed in to the daily activities of his family. There's something so touching about reading about a boy, 100 years ago, getting teased by his siblings and cousins saying something romantic, this context so far removed from my life and yet the feeling so familiar. While I have a particular interest in Chinese culture and art, I'd happily follow the silent traveller to wherever he chose to write about.