March 29, 2009
11:30 AM
I am getting a late start on my Salon post today – blame it on the puppy and her persistent harassment of the cats. Or sleep deprivation. Or just plain laziness. It is a beautiful, very cold day here in the Northern California mountains – a nice day for a walk in the woods and then some down time with a book (if Raven will nap!).
This past week I finished reading the wonderful family saga Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly (read my review) and gave away a hard cover edition. I really love historical fiction and the chunkier the book, the better.
Next I blew through Penelope Fitzgerald’s Booker Prize winning novel Offshore (read my review). I had some mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, Fitzgerald writes stunning prose and great characters; on the other hand, the story ended abruptly and felt unfinished. Have any of you read this book or others by Fitzgerald? I would like to read another novel by her – any suggestions?
I am currently reading an outstanding collection of short stories by Catherine Brady. The Mechanics of Falling and Other Stories is short story writing at its best. I was thrilled to get a hard cover edition of this book for TLC Book Tours. I’ll be touring the book on April 6th – so come back then to read my review and also a guest post by the author which I promise you will love! To see a full schedule of the tour, visit this post.
Next up in my stacks will be:
- Netherland, by Joseph O’Neill
- Follow Me, by Joanna Scott
- Buffalo Lockjaw, by Greg Ames (watch for a giveaway of the ARC in early April!)
The other day I managed to snag 30 minutes of uninterrupted time and browsed though my TBR mountain – I have so many great books there and every time I go through the stacks I find myself wishing I had an extra 3 days in every week just to read! How about you? What are you looking forward to reading next?
I hope you are all enjoying your Sunday and finding time in your day to relax with a good book. Have a great week!
= Excellent
= Good/Very Good
= Okay read
= Not recommended
= Ugh! Don't waste your time.
I know how you feel – I have about 20 books I’d like to read next. As big as my TBR pile is, my wish list is even bigger.
every time I go through the stacks I find myself wishing I had an extra 3 days in every week just to read
That sounds all too familiar. I’ve got so many, many books that I want to read right now, and I feel like I just don’t have enough hours in the day to get through them all. I do hope to work through a couple more series over the next little bit, though. Tie up a few loose ends on la TBR.
Although I have not read Offshore, I have read most of Fitzgerald’s work and have heard that same disappointment at her endings from others before. It is as if she delivers what she feels life truly deals out without regard for dramatic effect. Maybe because she came to writing later in life, she has a very pragmatic approach to the narrative? Reflects her own life experience? Not sure. Try The Book Shop next. Love that one.
I am finishing The Post Office Girl today and I (unexpectedly) am loving it!
I may have to look into reading Galway Bay. It’s getting good reviews and sounds like an interesting story. I am reading Catherine Brady’s book right now too.
I hope you have a great week, Wendy. I hope Raven lets the cats have some quiet time of their own soon.
Kathy: If they would just stop writing and publishing good books, I MIGHT catch up!
Memory: My TBR stacks are getting scary. They are actually teetering! Yikes!
Frances: Thanks for that recommendation…I’ll add it to my wish list. I know that Fitzgerald actually lived in the Thames barge community in the 60′s so she mined her own experiences there…but the book just felt unfinished to m.
WendyCat: How are you liking Brady’s book? I am really, really enjoying it. Hope you have a great week too! I am trying to give the cats time away from the little pest by using Raven’s puppy play pen and taking her out in the backyard frequently.
I feel the same way…how do we get all the extra reading time we crave? At least you are finishing books, though. I find that I’ve only finished TWO this year!
Ah yes, sometimes I just ignore looking at my books because I get physically stressed out that I can’t read all of them RIGHT NOW!
I haven’t read an Fitzgerald but after reading your review I just might give her a try. Sounds like you had a lovely day outside. It’s cold, wet, and windy here in the thumb of Michigan. I like how much enjoying the short stories…might have to pick these up! I’m reading The Girl She Used to Be right now and loving it…about 1/2 through it.
~Happy Sunday
Staci
I look at my piles and feel the same way. I just can’t read fast enough to get to all of the books that I want to. Enjoy your Sunday!
Hey Wendy. I have Fitzgerald’s Blue Flower near the top of my TBR stack. I almost started it yesterday, but Purple Hibiscus won out. I’ve heard great things about The Blue Flower though, so I shall let you know what I think.
Next up for me will be All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy – for my F to F book group. Unless I can squeeze something else in between my current read and that one. We’ll see….
Lexi: Lately I’ve had to make a conscious effort to get books read!
Amy: I know what you mean – I am sometimes paralyzed as to what to read next…I want to pick them ALL up and read the simultaneously. Neat trick THAT would be!!!
Staci: I really want to read Cristafano’s book soon…glad to hear you are enjoying it.
Samantha: *nods in agreement*
Terri: I will be looking forward to your thoughts on Blue Flower…did you like Purple Hibiscus? I love Adiche’s work! McCarthy’s books are always worth the read.