NOTE: I recently signed up on www.goodreads.com to keep track of all that I’m reading, have read, want to read, etc. Instead of updating this page, I’m just going to keep track there. So, if you’re interested, go to my homepage and scroll down to the “good reads” icon on the right-hand side. Thanks!
I’m a huge fan of the public library because I can’t afford to buy all the books I want and don’t have room for any more in my apartment even if I could. However, using the library means I often lose track of the books I’ve read because they aren’t sitting on my shelves. So, I thought this would be a good way to keep track of what I’ve read and encourage discussion of books, too. If you scroll down, you’ll see archived pages of what I’ve read in previous months.
August ‘08
These are the books I got out of the library to take to the beach next week (yay!):
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Talk, Talk – T.C. Boyle. Boyle is one of my absolute favorite writers. He’s funny, smart, an excellent storyteller, a master at creating flawed characters who always manage to be sympathetic even if they’re completely cracked, and he’s never, ever boring. He’s a master of black humor, but I think his most recent stuff has gotten more serious. If you’re looking for a great short story collection, he’s your man, too. I’ve read most of his short stories released through the late 90s, probably and can recommend them all. Recommend: Stories, Drop City, East is East, Budding Prospects
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Maps and Legends — Michael Chabon. Chabon is another of my all-time favorites. His work manages to be very accessible and completely brilliant at the same time. He’s got a great gift for language, can be wistful without being corny, can be smart without being pretentious, and always makes you feel like more people in the world probably understand you and your life and your issues than you would ever think. Recommend: The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Klay, Wonder Boys
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Murder on the Orient Express — Agatha Christie. I’ve never read Agatha Christie and I don’t read a lot of mysteries, but enjoy them when I do. I just thought it might be a good beach read. Edited to Add: I enjoyed this and will probably read a little more Agatha Christie, but I don’t know if I envision myself becoming a huge fan.
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Roommates Wanted — Lisa Jewell. One of my favorite chick-lit writers. (I also like Emily Giffin, Jennifer Weiner, and Jane Green.) I love a good chick-lit book! Some are guilty pleasures, some are legitimately good, and some are awesomely bad. I’m equally happy with a good or an awesomely bad one. Recommended: Thirtynothing (good), One-Hit Wonder (good), Ralph’s Party (awesomely bad). Edited to Add: I really loved this book. Lisa Jewell manages to write books that are heartfelt, but light at the same time. Although they’re absorbing and can be sad, they aren’t depressing. I really like her characters; they never feel like caricatures to me.
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The Meaning of Night — Michael Cox. My sister got me The Glass of Time which is the second book in a series of related books. The Meaning of Night is the first. It’s a mystery set in the Victorian era, but it was written a couple of years ago. So far, I like it. It’s got a great atmosphere and an intriguing set of characters. It can be a little dry sometimes, however. Edited to Add: Just finished this at the beach. Once I got into it, it wasn’t dry at all. I definitely recommend it if you’re a fan of this kind of fiction. Great read! Now, I’m off to read some slutty chick lit! : )
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Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim — David Sedaris. Love, love, love David Sedaris! I got this one on CD for the drive to Florida. The only thing funnier than reading a Sedaris book, is listening to him read it to you. Can’t wait! Recommended: Me Talk Pretty One Day
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My Old Man — Amy Sohn. I actually brought this book as a joke, because my friends and I spent a beach vacation 7 or 8 years ago reading “Run, Catch, Kiss” by Sohn and were appalled by how slutty and ready-to-be-degraded the main character was. It was once of those, “You have to read this! You won’t believe how utterly ridiculous it is!” recommendations. So, when I saw that Sohn had a similar book, I decided to take it to the beach. What I forgot was how unlikeable her characters are and how you find yourself groaning in agony as you read because you don’t think it will ever end, yet you can’t stop reading because you have to see what other insane things the characters are going to do to each other next. So, no, I really wouldn’t recommend it. (And, in case you think you might read it for the slutty parts, the sex scenes aren’t even hot because she always insists on adding in details about how someone’s feet smell or someone just ate a burrito and has gas or something totally unappetizing like that. I’m not even kidding.)
I know, that’s a lot of books for one week. What can I say? I love to read and never know what I’ll be in the mood for when I’m on vacation.
Back from the Beach
The Little Book — Selden Edwards. I started this on the last day of my trip. I’m totally captivated by it. Some of the subject matter kind of reminds me of John Irving (New England boys’ school, main character’s mother wrote a famous feminist work), and a little of Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides in how it takes you back and forth between different eras and speaks with simple authority about so many different kinds of people and places. However, by the end I have a feeling I will view it as totally unique. I’ll write more when I’m finished…
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