May 24, 2009
I have missed the last two Sunday Salons as I have been out of town visiting friends and family on the east coast. My travels took me to The Berkshires where I was thrilled to spend time with my bookish friends from Library Thing (including well-known bloggers Laura and Terri) and some of their significant others. Our time together included a tour of Edith Wharton’s home The Mount. Please check out my post about this amazing place.
Since my last Sunday Salon post, I’ve read and reviewed the following books:
Follow Me, by Joanna Scott (read my review)
The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire, by C.M. Mayo (read my review)
Christine Falls, by Benjamin Black (read my review)
The Silver Swan, by Benjamin Black (read my review)
In The Woods, by Tana French (read my review)
I really loved the Benjamin Black novels (Benjamin Black is actually John Banville, the award winning literary novelist). They are moody and very well written mysteries set in Dublin. I also liked In the Woods, but I wasn’t thrilled with the ending. Apparently I am not alone – many readers have gushed over this book, but many more have also voiced their displeasure with a mystery that leaves the truth unrevealed. Have you read the book? What did you think?
I started reading Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie while on vacation and read through 150 pages before setting it aside. I keep going back to it and reading it in bits and pieces. This is my first Rushdie novel and I cannot say I am enjoying it. Rushdie tends to be anything but linear in his writing, and he uses a fair amount of magical realism…both attributes I don’t typically like. Even still, the writing is quite brilliant on many levels. I will not pretend that I am understanding all the connections to Indian history or the analogies and references to historical figures. Luckily, this book is being discussed in one of my Yahoo book groups, so I hope to finish it with a greater understanding by the end of the month.
In between my struggles with Rushdie, I am reading The Laws of Harmony by Judith Ryan Hendricks which I will be touring for TLC Book Tours on May 29th. So far I am finding it an easy and enjoyable read. The main character is a strong, likable woman who finds herself on Miguel Island after a personal tragedy upends her life. Because I am invested in the character, this book is practically reading itself.
I have a book giveaway going right now. Michelle Richmond is generously offering a signed edition of her latest novel No One You Know. The giveaway runs through May 26th, so there is still time to enter. Go to THIS POST to leave me a comment.
In non-bookish news, I have posted a recent update (with photos) on little Raven and her first encounter with swimming. She is now 30 pounds of silly, confident, highly active dog. She sleeps through the night now, and has (for the most part) stopped jumping on the cats…so things are going well!
What are you doing over this beautiful holiday weekend? Whatever it is, I hope you find some time to spend with a good book.
= Excellent
= Good/Very Good
= Okay read
= Not recommended
= Ugh! Don't waste your time.
Your trip sounds wonderful. It’s so much fun to talk to other bloggers!
I love The Berkshires, especially in Fall. Glad you got to meet up with book friends.
The only Rushdie book I’ve read is “Fury.” As a story it was ho-hum, but I liked the ideas he presented and it had some great passages. I also enjoyed “In the Woods,” but like you said, the ending is very disappointing. I wonder if that was just because the author couldn’t think of a resolution to the mystery!
I bought “Follow Me” last week when I returned to my alma mater, where Joanna Scott teaches, for graduation. I intended to have her autograph it at the English reception but she wasn’t there. Oh well, maybe I can catch her next time I’m in town. I’m not very far into “Follow Me,” but I actually have mixed feelings about it so far. Hopefully it’ll get better.
Yeah, if you don’t like magical realism, you’re probably not going to enjoy Rushdie at all. :/ I loved Midnight’s Children, but he’s one of my favourite authors and I could read magical realism all of the time.
Loved the swimming pictures!
It is good to have you back, Wendy! I loved the photos from your visit to The Mount. Imagine living there! I am glad you enjoyed Benjamin Black’s books. Both are books I am anxious to read, although with Tana French’s. I had heard the ending was a bit of a cliffhanger. Raven is growing so fast! My Anya is now bigger than my older cat, Parker. She’s not quite as agile as he is. I’m not sure if that’s experience or weight. Haha. Anya loves it when Riley, my dog, plays with her. He’s less afraid of her small size now and so is more apt to wrestle with her. She often is the instigator.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend and have a great week.
Kathy: I agree – some of my best women friends are those I have met “on line”
Diane: Even though I grew up in New Hampshire, I had never visited the Berkshires until now…I don’t know how I missed it!
El Fay: I could have thought of several cool endings for that unresolved mystery…maybe French should have consulted the book bloggers *laughs* I know what you mean about Follow Me – it was not my favorite book of the year, but I appreciated the gorgeous writing.
Eva: I don’t know why I keep trying magical realism when it is so obviously not my favorite genre *sighs*
WendyCat: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the photos. Yah, In the Woods does not wrap things up neatly…but it is still worth the read, in my opinion. That is so funny about Anya and Riley – I love watching animals play. Hope your weekend and week are also terrific!
Meeting up with LibraryThing friends sounds like great fun. Glad you had a great trip.
I was lucky enough to have an entirely free Sunday, and spent it sitting outside in the lovely spring breeze, reading Beth Kephart’s book A Slant of Sun.
Your blogging buddy trip sounds marvelous!
Sounds like you’ve had a great trip! I’m glad to see you back. I loved your post on Raven’s first swim. She’s too cute!
I struggled a lot with Midnight’s Children. I’m not sure I’d say whether it was worth it or not. Rushdie’s writing is dense and slow. I’ve avoided purchasing anything else by him; I have plenty of books to read and I’m not sure I want to slog through another of his books.
Gavin: It is so much fun to actually put faces with names to those I’ve met on line.
RR: How wonderful your Sunday sounded!
Meghan: Glad you liked the new Raven post
I agree about Rushdie’s writing – I do not think I will read another of his books.
Ah, Wendy, before you give up on Rushdie (and I have to admit that I did like Midnight’s children) try his Haroun and the sea of stories. It’s technically a children’s book but is wonderfully enjoyable for adults too. It’s one of those books that can be read on different levels…do try it.
whisperinggums: Thanks for the recommendation – I’ll check it out, although I must admit I am not eager to pick up another Rushdie book right now!