Aaaargh, too many weeks without a blog post. Unexpected life changes. I want to say that it's exhilarating, and it is, but yeah. Gotta admit that there's also that temptation to ask what fresh hell is this.
Today is a snow day, so I want to take advantage of being in and tell you about my reading in January. As usual, I started off the year with grand intentions.
Books I have started, but haven't finished:
A Promised Land - Barack Obama
Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
Testament of Youth - Vera Brittain
These aren't DNFs, not at all. This is rich, rewarding reading, but my brain, this brain I've had since I was a small girl, is skittering like a pat of butter in a hot skillet. I'm dipping into each book and making single-digit progress daily. With any luck, in a few months I'll finish them all around the same time and Goodreads will stop scolding me for being behind. Go suck an egg, Goodreads! Did you ever have life fall on you? Of course not; you're a...what's the word I'm looking for? "Social media cataloging website". Thanks, Google.
Anyway, here's what I *did* complete in January:
1. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck - Mark Manson. Nonfiction. I was annoyed and disappointed by this book. The writing style seemed disjointed and blathery. I was reminded of late evenings/early mornings in bars. Not drunk enough and in complete misery thanks to the blabby (and usually male, but not always) drunk who has pinned me in the corner where I've gone to hide. They tell me in painful detail about how intelligent they are, and how they've got life all figured out. Then they tell me again. And again. And AGAIN. There's not enough alcohol in the world. I can fairly feel the bruises blooming all over my cerebellum from this onslaught. No, just no.
2. News of the World - Paulette Jiles. Novel. I saw the movie and read the book within a week of each other, so it's hard for me to separate the two. I will say that the movie adaptation is wonderful. I am impressed with Jiles' research into the Old West. I like her slightly severe, pared-down style of writing, and am eager to read other novels by her.
3. Who Was Lucille Ball?
4. Who Was Mark Twain?
You know I'm happily addicted to the Who Was...? series, but some of them fall a little flat for me. In the cases of Lucille Ball and Mark Twain, it seems like they are too large and complex to be reduced to the formula of the series.
I have been through that kind of reading time- hard to focus on anything- finally gave up for a while and read just periodicals. . . I read Tess of D'Ubervilles several years ago, one of the few classics I attempted recently and was pleasantly surprised it was a rich reading experience. I often look at reviews on Goodreads but don't actually use the site otherwise- I like LibraryThing- it's got all the cataloging abilities without the social media stuff.
ReplyDeleteThanks,Jeane. I'll take a look at LibraryThing.
DeleteLike Jeane, I use Library Thing more than I use GoodReads even though I log my progress in at both sites always figuring one is a backup to the other. You never know these days. I find the reviews on LibraryThing to be generally better written and more serious than those on GoodReads, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Jiles fan and have enjoyed everything of hers I've read, especially that one. I've heard the movie is a little dull, so I'm happy to see that you seem to have enjoyed the movie even more than the book. I'm planning to rent it for streaming when the price finally falls below the $20 price it's at right now.
Happy reading...
Sam, I hope you're doing all right.
DeleteWell, let me warn you NOT to attempt a dump from goodreads into LibraryThing. It doesn't work, it will make the thugs who sit around babysitting LT to yell at you and scold you mercilessly. I have never exited and deleted myself off a site so fast! UGH. One of my most painful internet experiences, I must say.
ReplyDeleteNot to say it isn't a worthwhile site but it is totally NOT for me, thankyouverymuch. Shudder.
Poor Care! How dare they scold you like that! I'm indignant on your behalf. My ears are even turning red.
ReplyDeleteHey, these suggestions are quite impressive and being an avid reader, I have read most of the books in your suggestions already, with reading the book ‘the subtle art of not giving a f*ck’ twice, it has been my most favorite honestly. And I really like to read books after I get done with giving Essay Help to my students because that just brings me in a delighted mood. Anyways, I am thinking to get my hands on the Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain because I read its review and it is quite inspiring to me. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDelete