Speed-dating books is where you read the first 50 pages to decide if you still think you want to read them. Some books might need more patience than that, but most of the time gut reactions hold true.
The books of round four:
Hammered (Jenny Casey #1) by Elizabeth Bear
One of those authors I hear about and haven't read, so I'll give it a try. I'm not sure I'll be able to read it because it's a mass market paperback. My brain hates those.
The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston
I really enjoyed Huston's book "Sleepless" but this book is along a different style, more true to his other series. Not sure it will be my thing!
Absurdistan by Gary Shteyngart
Loved Super Sad True Love Story but this is an earlier book. Will it be as charming?
Wild Thorns by Sahar Khalifeh
One of the books I had collected for my Around the World reading, the only book I have set in Palestine. I felt like reading it might be timely.
Speedboat by Renata Adler
I have no idea what this book is about, but one of the friends whose reading opinions I rely on ordered me to buy it. So I did. This is a reprint through NYRB.
Ghost Train to the Eastern Star by Paul Theroux
This was in my original speed-dating list, but I traded it out for The Great Railway Bazaar. This book is the same trip 30 years later, so it made sense to start with the other. But since this includes Turkey and I'm still reading and studying Turkish, why not!?
The Fish Can Sing by Halldór Laxness
I missed when my World Literature group in GoodReads read this, and want to at least try it. I've already read a few books by Laxness, but he seems to be the Icelandic author of the last fifty years.
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
This book actually is on the first page of my to-read list. It's been a while, so I should try it. I've read Never Let Me Go by the same author.
Light by M. John Harrison
This author is on my 2014 Reading Goals, but so far I've only read a short story by him, "Cave & Julia."
Virtual Light by William Gibson
I own two of the three books in this trilogy, and I need to find out if I want to read them or not. I've read a lot of Gibson, and love the Sprawl trilogy more than almost anything in science fiction, but I haven't loved his newer stuff as much. Where will this fall?
Deception by Philip Roth
Another one from my 2014 Reading Goals. Philip Roth has a large body of work, and I have three of the books at home. I should at least figure out if I want to keep reading him!
Any thoughts on these books to share with me? I'll report back when I've tried them all out!
I speed-dated Absurdistan - and decided not to give it my number! I was less generous than you though - I didn't give it anywhere near 50 pages. The only book I've read from your list is remains of the Day - I read it a long time ago - I went through a big Ishiguro phase - it is very conservative but there are great hidden depths to it.
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