Seven In July
1. Fifth Business - Robertson Davies (I'm going to wait and review all of the books in The Deptford Trilogy when I've finished it.)
2. Tete-A-Tete: The Tumultuous Lives & Loves of Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre - Hazel Rowley. (I reviewed this biography in one of my July posts. I'll post a link soon. Right now, my office's air-conditioning has been turned off and I'm sweating buckets just typing this.)
3. The Tale Of Despereaux - Kate DiCamillo. (Also reviewed, and ditto on the link, the AC and sweating.)
4. Unless - Carol Shields. (I've also reviewed this, but I'll lay off the heatstroke-induced whining to say that I can't praise Shields' writing enough. She made it look so easy, but that just shows how many hours she put into meticulously crafting each phrase.)
5. The Bone People - Keri Hulme. (This novel has a lot of raw power and artistry, but it would have been much better if Hulme had had a Kiwi Maxwell Perkins in her life to help her with shaping, editing and other tasks involving discernment. Although, I found it undisciplined, slightly self-indulgent and often darkly disturbing, I'm glad I read it...kept mixing up Joe from this novel with Jake The Muss from Once Were Warriors, though.)
6. Self-Consciousness - John Updike. (Speaking of self-indulgence, previous reviews, defunct air-conditioning and the rivulets of sweat rolling into my eyes and stinging them...)
7. Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid On Earth - Chris Ware. (My eyes rebelled against the very tiny print in this graphic novel, but I found my 'Nick Hornby' magnifying glass and soldiered on. It was definitely well worth it. I was especially captivated by the 1893 storyline featuring Jimmy's grandfather and the beautiful drawings of the Chicago World's Fair. I also love the way Ware's style has been influenced by Gasoline Alley.)
Yeah, only 7 in that 7th month of the year. I don't know what happened. Ordinarily, my Tough & Cool Inner Bookworm would be sobbing her eyes out, but I told her to can the waterworks so she doesn't/we don't die of dehydration.
.
Fiction was triumphant over nonfiction again, and the humidity and high temperatures have done for me. I'm outta here. First water cooler I stagger onto (into?), I'll probably marry the damn thing.
8 comments:
I agree that The Bone People is "darkly disturbing." Not exactly a pleasant read because of the situations, but a book that I can't forget. Read it at least 10 years ago and have read on average 125 books a year since, but can't quite forget the atmosphere Hulme created.
So, is it hot and humid where you are? (ok, you may slap me.)
YOU YOU! are the first person I've ever met who has read more than one (and it could be even one) of Kidder's books!!! too cool. You.
Awesome! The Deptford Trilogy was my introduction to Robertson Davies. It was a worthwhile experience. Will ask you later if you liked all 3 books in the trilogy.
hi! I just found out they are making a movie of Tale of Devereaux! (I don't have kids - I wouldn't know this... but now I do!) did you?
Desperaux is one of my favorites! I read it to my kids now too! I am glad that you enjoyed it too.
Anxiously waiting the Deptford Trilogy review.
The Deptford trilogy was my intro to Robertson Davies too.
You didn't have heat stroke over the weekend, did you?
1, 5, and 7 were fantastic! Tried to listen to Unless on audio and couldn't get past about 1/3. Something tells me it reads better in print. I'm going to give it another shot.
PS I tagged you!
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