By Jennie
I’ve read several good books lately: I recently finished Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger (who wrote The Time-Traveler’s Wife), a sort of modern-day ghost story set in London, featuring two sets of twins, long-buried family secrets, and a sprawling Victorian cemetery famous as the final resting place of Karl Marx. I also read Cranford, by Elizabeth Gaskell, a Victorian-era writer who is vaguely reminiscent of Jane Austen. Cranford is a slight, gentle tale of the goings on a small English town that is chiefly ruled by a group of middle-aged women. It was the basis for two miniseries that aired on PBS, Cranford and Return to Cranford. I highly recommend it. Finally, I discovered the Stanza app for my iPhone, and have been downloading free public-domain books. I read The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, which I’d never read as a child (though I was a big fan of the 1996 live action movie featuring several Monty Python veterans). I just love Mr. Toad (I even love the ride at Disneyland!).
Next up on the iPhone is something a bit more intimidating – George Eliot’s Middlemarch. From what I’ve heard, this is one of those books you either love or hate. I remember not being a big fan of the author’s Silas Marner , which I read in high school.
I was actually inspired to read Middlemarch by an essay in another book I’m reading, Zadie Smith’s Changing My Mind, a series of essays she’s written on books and writing. Smith wrote one of my favorite fiction books of the last few years (well, I read it in the last few years; it was published in 2000), White Teeth. I liked it so much I can almost forgive Smith for publishing her first novel to acclaim at age 25 and being gorgeous to boot. Changing My Mind is a bit of a mixed bag, so far, as essay (or short story) collections tend to be, but it’s making me think, which isn’t a bad thing. It’s occasionally over my head, mostly in that literary criticism way where I have to remind myself that the point eludes me not because I’m dumb but because lit crit is a whole ‘nother language and I shouldn’t feel any more stupid for not understanding it than I do for not understanding Swahili.
I also just started The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2007. I haven’t gotten more than five pages in, so I can’t say much about how I like it, but I’ve heard lots of good things about it, so I’m hopeful.
What is everyone else reading?
Interesting list of books. I’ve read a few of them from you list. I was just at the bookstore and came across a great coffee table book. It’s called “PersonaliTrees” and is photographed trees depicting human emotions with perfectly matched sayings. I’ve been enjoying just looking a the pictures and contemplating the quotations.
http://www.personalitreesbook.com“>trees
Wow, Jennie. I am impressed. In a million years I wouldn’t bother with essays about writing, but Cranford sounds wonderful. I love British period novels. I haven’t read Cranford but I have seen the Masterpiece Theater series of both Cranfords and Middlemarch (quite a few years old.) I actually didn’t love Middlemarch as much as I had hoped, but I would recommend Eliot’s The Mill on the Floss (“In their death they were not parted.”) It’s a great tragedy.
Have you ever read Frankenstein?
I read Frankenstein a few years ago (for a class I was taking, actually), and really liked it. The writing could be a little overwrought (not a criticism; I think it was just the style at the time), but the themes and issues the story raises are so interesting.
I am currently reading three books:
The Politician by Andrew Young ( The story of the failed run by John Edwards)
(The first 90 pages are all about the author (boring) but the next 90 has been good)
Game Change (Another book about the 2008 campaign. Much better than the first.)
The Last Detective by Robert Crais Detective novel based in Los Angeles. I finished all of the Michael Connelly books (same genre but better author).
I try to have one fiction with one non-fiction going at all times. Having the Kindle allows me to go back and forth without lugging books.
As you can tell, Jeff does all of the reading for the both of us. 🙂 I for the life of me can not see how anyone can read more than one book at a time and keep things straight.
Right now I am sorry to say I am not reading one book. I do plan on changing that however in the very near future when I will have more time on my hands.
Betty, thanks for the recommendation on PersonaliTrees – I just checked out the website and it’s pretty neat. I’ll have to delve more into this.
Jeff, love to hear more about the Andrew Young book. I am interested, but I really have no respect for him. I am not defending Edwards in the slightest – he deserves what’s coming to him – but Young leaves a bad taste in my mouth and I am not sure I fully trust his account of events.
Game Change – my aunt is supposed to loan this to me. Ugh. Mixed feelings here. I was a great admirer of Elizabeth Edwards, but I have heard so she doesn’t come off very well here.
I just finished A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick. It is a thrilling gothic tale. I enjoyed it.
I also got around to reading The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo. I had mixed feeling about reading this book , not because of the content, but because it was a translation. I should have looked more into the content. It should have been called Men Who Hate Women, it was a little too graphic for me. I read Olive Kitteridge, the pulitzer prize winner. I really enjoyed this tale about a retired school teacher and her family.
I’m always reading more than one book at a time too. I’m reading a book written by a friend called ‘I know you by heart,” and “The New Community Rules” (non-fiction), and a hilarious work of fiction, called “Sleeping with Ward Cleaver”
I just finished A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick. It is a thrilling gothic tale. I enjoyed it.
I also got around to reading The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo. I had mixed feeling about reading this book , not because of the content, but because it was a translation. I should have looked more into the content. It should have been called Men Who Hate Women, it was a little too graphic for me.
I’ve see A Reliable Wife in Borders – it looks interesting. I’ve gone back and forth on buying The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo; I’ve heard good things and not-so-good things.
In a million years I wouldn’t bother with essays about writing
Ann, having read further in Changing My Mind, I should clarify that not all the essays are about writing. The last several I’ve read were: a collection of short movie reviews she did (I think for the Daily Telegraph) in 2006, a piece on being in LA for Oscar week (I think in 2007) and a short piece on her family at Christmas (which was kind of bittersweet). Zadie Smith is really a brilliant writer.
“Sleeping with Ward Cleaver” — Gwen, I MUST Google that!!!
My first post on this site. I am an avid an prolific reader of every type of book. I have just fininshed reading all of the Winton Graham series of books about “Poldark”, which was a wonderful mini series several yrs ago on Masterpiece Theatre. Enjoyed each book immensly.
Now for a change of pace I have started reading the Ann B. Ross “Miss Julia” books. The first book, Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind, has to be one of the funniest books I have ever read. I actually laughed so hard many times I had to make a mad dash to the necessary room. After fininshing the 1st book I rushed to BooksAMillion to purchase more. Miss Julia has to rank at the top of the most unforgettable characters ever written about. Each subsquent book has been both comical and endearing.
Anne B. Ross – Miss Julia Read them, I promise you they will not disappoint.
Lindsey-
Welcome! You have piqued my curiosity about Miss Julia- I may look into the series. We hope you stick around!
I’m currently reading “The Shack” – has anyone else read this? I’m having mixed emotions as I venture through this relatively short read.
One of my all time favorites is “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls.
Poke-
Haven’t read it yet but I hear you either love it or hate it. Lots find it deeply spiritual- lots seem to find it sacrilegious. Let us know!
I just read Amish Grace: How Forgivenesss Transcended Tragedy and all I can say is what a wonderful way to live. The Amish have always fascinated me and this book gave a good description of their life and their religion. They are so intertwined. Forgiveness is a wonderful thing to be able to do. I am trying to incorporate this into my life.