One of the students in my writing class asked what the other students were reading. It's a valid question -- what we read informs what we write. When critiquing someone's work, it's useful to know what they read.
At the moment, I'm reading THE CARTOON HISTORY OF THE MODERN WORLD -- a painless way to brush up on history -- and on my Kindle I've devouring Eula Biss's ON INOCULATION -- which is so good that I'll be doing a blog post on it when I finish.
The books above are on my TBR (to be read) list, I generally love Kingsolver's work and began listening to THE LACUNAE only to lose the thread about half way through. I want to give it another chance. STARMAKER is something I read over forty years ago -- I remember being profoundly affected by it-- I wonder if I'll feel that way again.
So many books -- so little time. I've been purging my shelves -- the pile at the bottom is going to the library book sale. And there are many other shelves to visit . . .
For me, that's a large part of the pleasure of the KIndle -- I can buy a new book without having to worry about shelf space. . . and if the Kindle fails, there are plenty of old favorites right at hand.
12 comments:
I just began the last of Tana French's five books. Oh! She's good with a plot and her descriptions are apt and imaginatively and beautifully written. Every character is . . . accessible.
I expect to start over immediately, once I've finished the fifth of her oeuvre.
No books for a few years, just blogs and research on the computer.
Nothing...unbelievable status of my life. Since I learned to read there's always been a book going. Well, I do have Patricia Monaghans' Red Haired Girl From the Bog which I'm re-reading very slowly, and it's sat for the last week unopened. I've decided it's too hard to try to mentally pronounce the Irish names...which is a big lot of this tour of Ireland book.
What am I reading?
Anything and everything, for hours each day. I simply cannot get enough of the written word now that I mainly use my Kindle and reading is no longer a physical effort with eyes getting blurry and tired......
from the classics to contemporary fiction to thrillers and mysteries, non-fiction, biographies and, most recently, something I thought I’d never pick up, like or bother with: a fantasy novel by Robin Hobb.
The only reason for giving it Kindle room is that it was advertised as a bargain (I like a bargain) and I thought, why not, fantasy, what can be the harm, I can always delete it. I wouldn’t choose to read much of the oeuvre but hey, Amazon know what they’re about with their offers.
Happy reading, Vicki. It’s even better than blogging.
June, yes! tana French -- I just finished her new one. Try Denise Mina. I'm reading This Bright River right now and Tel Aviv Noir, an anthology of Israeli writers. So many on the shelf!
Yes to Tana French and Denise Mina, though Denise is very dark. I just finished Kate Atkinson, "Life after Life" and loved it as did most of the book club.
Am now reading Elizabeth Gilbert's "The Significance of All things." Also just finished Barbara Pym's "Quartet in Autumn, very quiet but good.
Jess Walter's "Citizen Vince" up in the bathroom at the studio---like that one, too!
Deana the Queena
Not much fiction right now -- a Nora Roberts book most recently -- but otherwise it's a variety of non-fiction on the Southwest and deserts from the land to the people to the dogs of the Americas. Yesterday and today reading bits from Desert Notes by Barry Lopez and The Land of Little Rain by Mary Hunter Austin (published 1903). Mostly writing, though, instead of reading. :-) I like the glimpse of what you're reading … I'm always curious what other people are exploring. :-)
Sadly, I'm not reading much. I've started going for a walk in my lunch break, which is when I used to get most of my novel reading done. But the colder weather will probably see me revert to books!
Im Late adding to this post, but thought I would add to the list with diversity. Michael Connelly's 9 Dragons, Love his books for the characters in them, and also about the Los Angeles area which I worked in as a salesman for years. Paul Greenberg's Four Fish. This is a wonderful book on Salmon, Cod, Bass and Tuna. These are the biggest sources of protein in the world and how we mess with extinction of some and try to artificially make others.
Christopher Hitchens' God is Not Great. He is a hell of a writer, but his longer sentences sometimes takes two readings to understand them.
I can imagine "The Lacunae" would be hard to follow on audio. But I loved reading it. Right now I am reading Alan Cumming's new autobiography, "Not my Father's Son." And I'm wading through Peter Matthiessen's tome, "Shadow Country," which is a compilation of three novels into one expanded one. I've also become a little addicted to the new podcast, "Serial." Being 8 episodes behind, I'm enjoying catching up.
Excited about re-reading some Penelope Fitzgerald in preparation for new biography by Hermione Lee! Reading is the greatest joy - thanks for writing about it Vicki!
I just finished The Last Will and Testament if Rosetta Sugars Tramble by Myra McLarey. I highly recommend it to this who enjoy Southern literature. Keep the family tree from the back of the book handy while you are reading it.
Post a Comment