Sunday Salon

Jul 6th, 2008

July 6, 2008

The last time I posted for the Sunday Salon on June 22nd, I wrote:

This morning the lingering smell of smoke from lightening strikes drifts on the morning breeze. There is probably nothing that evokes fear more to a Northern Californian (living in the mountains) than the smell of smoke. The news is reporting that no fewer than 75 fires were sparked by lightening in the forests of Northern California yesterday – So we are wary and alert today…but, still I will find some time to relax with a book.

My words proved to be eerily prophetic. Later that afternoon two wildfires took off very close to our home, putting us on evacuation alert for a week. You can read my posts on that here and here and here. That and participation in the 24 Hour Read-A-Thon kept me from posting last week. But, my life is back on track now…so with no further ado, let’s settle down and talk books.

Since my last Salon post, I finished Life of Pi (read my review). Thank you to everyone who left comments about their impressions of this book. I found it slow to get into, but it grew on me as I continued to read. It is a deep, thoughtful book – and one I felt I couldn’t completely appreciate being under the stress I was under last week. It is a novel I will probably re-read at some point.

Thanks to the Read-A-Thon, last week I also finished Comfort Food (read my review), The House at Midnight (read my review), Springtime on Mars (read my review), and Down River (read my review). Of those, I can highly recommend Springtime on Mars (a wonderful short story collection by Susan Woodring and published by a small, independent press) and Down River (this years Edgar Award winner and a great suspense-thriller with some edge of your seat psychological tension). John Hart’s first novel was published to high praise and I haven’t yet read it…but I will now. Did any of you read it?

This week I slipped between the pages of People of the Book by the Pulitzer Prize winning author Geraldine Brooks. I bought this book when it first appeared in bookstores and it has lingered on my TBR mountain for several months. But the Bookies Too Yahoo Group chose to discuss Brooks’ novel this month, so I finally picked it up. And I’m happy I did. The amount of research which went into the writing of this novel is evident – and the story was one I immediately latched onto. My review is now posted. If you haven’t read this one yet, I’d encourage you to do so.

My current read is The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver – a book I’ve heard about over and over again. Believe it or not I have never read a Kingsolver novel before. I’m 100 pages into this chunky book and growing attached to the narrators: a mother and four daughters who arrive in the Congo in 1959 as missionaries. I am quite enjoying the voice of Adah who was born hemiplegic and mute, but who sees the world in her own unique way. Here is a passage I’ve already marked which not only highlights Adah’s individuality and the scenery of the Congo, but also demonstrates Kingsolver’s gift of language:

Sunrise tantalize, evil eyes hypnotize: that is the morning, Congo pink. Any morning, every morning. Blossomy rose-color birdsong air streaked sour with breakfast cookfires. A wide red plank of dirt – the so-called road – flat-out in front of us, continuous in theory from here to somewhere distant. But the way I see it through my Adah eyes it is a flat plank clipped into pieces, rectangles and trapezoids, by the skinny black-line shadows of tall palm trunks. -From The Poisonwood Bible, page 30-

Isn’t that gorgeous writing? I’m looking forward to hunkering down with this book today. Despite its size (more than 500 pages), I don’t think it will take me long to finish it.

Have a wonderful day of reading, fellow Sunday Saloners. See you next week!

Jill says:

July 6, 2008 at 10:07

Happy Sunday, Wendy! I have not read any of Kingsolver’s fiction books either (I read two collections of essays though, which were marvelous). I will be curious to read your review once you’re done with the chunkster. =)

Though you are not officially participating in Orange July, this book could count if you change your mind. =)

All the best,
Jill

Ann (Table Talk) says:

July 6, 2008 at 10:20

I’m glad things have settled down. And here’s me been complaining about all the rain we’ve had today. I shall be more careful in my complaints in future. I’m glad you enjoyed the Brooks. I think she is a quite splendid writer. ‘The Poisonwood Bible’ is also a remarkable read, although my favourite of Kingsolver’s work is ‘Prodigal Summer’. I do wish she would write another novel.

unfinishedperson says:

July 6, 2008 at 10:26

I’m so out of it and haven’t been keeping up with the news at all. I’m sorry to hear about all the problems you were having with the fires out there, but glad to hear you all are all right.

Re: The Poisonwood Bible. I am going to be reading it within the next month or two for one of the challenges in which I’m participating. This just increases my anticipation. Thanks for sharing.

Literary Feline says:

July 6, 2008 at 13:16

I attempted to read The Poisonwood Bible years ago but do not think it was the right time. It wasn’t one of those books you begin and know you will hate, but rather one of those that I knew I would like–just not right then.

I have been listening and reading the news about the fires with great interest. It is going to be a very long fire season here in California.

Karen H. says:

July 6, 2008 at 13:19

Gorgeous writing, indeed. Thanks for sharing that passage. Makes me want to go read it, too.

Caribousmom says:

July 6, 2008 at 15:16

Jill: So far I’m really like the book Glad to know her essays are also worth reading.

Ann: You are one of many readers who love Kingsolver. Perhaps I will pick up Prodigal Summer after I’ve read this one.

Unfinished: I’ll look forward to your thoughts on The Poisonwood Bible…

WendyCat: I almost didn’t think it was time for me to read it either…the first 10 pages I almost put it down thinking it was not what I was in the mood for…but now I’m getting into it I know what you mean about the fires. FEMA arrived here on Friday and will be staying until November now that we are officially considered a Federal disaster. My anxiety about the summer has been pretty high these days!

Karen: You’re welcome

Alisia says:

July 6, 2008 at 15:58

I’m glad you are enjoying Kingsolver so much, I love almost everything she writes!

I really want to read People of the Book, but it keeps slipping my mind when I am at the library. It sounds so good. Happy Sunday!

July 7, 2008 at 09:15

Alisia: You are in the majority on Kingsolver (I can’t believe I’ve never read anything by her until now!). Don’t wait on People of the Book – it is so wonderful! Hope you have a great week

Les in NE says:

July 8, 2008 at 04:06

I’ve read all of Kingsolver’s books and this is one of her best. She does a remarkable job with all voices/POVs. It’s been a while, but isn’t Rachel one of the sisters? Seems to me she made me laugh with some of her reactions to living in the Congo. I didn’t care for the last chapter or two and think Kingsolver should’ve stopped a bit earlier. I’ll be interested to hear what you think. I found the concluding chapters a bit preachy.

Hope the fires get contained soon!! What a summer (again) for California wildfires!

July 8, 2008 at 06:23

Les: Yes, Rachel is one of the daughters…and your memory is correct – she is quite flippant and does make me laugh at times! Thanks for the good wishes with the fires – it is VERY hot and windy today (already 85 degrees at 3500 feet elevation at 6:00AM!!) which makes us all suck in our breath and feel nervous around here.