May 9, 2010
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers…but also to those women who are NOT mothers, but who have spent their lives mothering other people’s children! And also to those of you with fur babies (like myself) who experience mothering in an altogether different way!
I have been enjoying my reading of late. Since my last Sunday Salon post I’ve finished reading The Singer’s Gun by Emily St. John Mandel (read my review) which I would classify as a literary mystery. I’m giving away my ARC of this book and you can enter the giveaway by visiting this post by May 14th at 5:00 pm PST. Have you read Last Night in Montreal by this author? I really loved that book (read my review) and was very excited to read The Singer’s Gun which I also enjoyed. Once again, Mandel ventures into the theme of identity and her writing is understated and engrossing.
Yesterday I had a great deal of reading time as I am nursing a sore back (I have no idea HOW I hurt my back, but it has had me laid up now for two days). I finished reading the slim Brooklyn by Colm Toibin which was long listed for the Booker Prize in 2009. I had great expectations for this book as I had previously enjoyed The Blackwater Lightship by the same author. But, alas, Brooklyn did not blow me away. This is such a slow novel…and at times a little boring. The book had moments of beauty, but the characters did not draw me in. You can read more of my thoughts on my review of the book.
My current read should prove a bit more stimulating. The Lizard Cage by Karen Connelly won the 2007 Orange Prize for New Writers and I don’t believe I have seen even one negative review of the book. Set in Burma, the novel explores ‘the importance of hope and human connection int he midst of injustice.‘ Have you read this book? I wish I could talk more about it, but I am really in the just the opening pages. Stay tuned next week for more of my thoughts (and I hope to have a review up this week sometime).
I have a lot of wonderful looking books on my nightstand for May. And there are more potential books stacked up in my TBR piles. It is always a bit of a dilemma what to read next. Some of my reads are driven by book club obligations, others because of review commitments, and some derive from reading challenges. Occasionally I throw all of that to the wind, and just read what I feel like reading at that moment. How do you pick your next book to read?
Today I am planning to continue reading The Lizard Cage and, if my back cooperates, do a bit of quilting which I have been neglecting of late. Kip is ripping out our temporary back deck in preparation for some backhoe work (including putting in a series of drains to divert the rainwater)…and by June we hope to be in full swing with installing a new back deck and some landscaping – I am a bit tired of the mud in winter and the dust in the summer.
What are YOU doing today? Whatever it is, I hope it involves a great book!
= Excellent
= Good/Very Good
= Okay read
= Not recommended
= Ugh! Don't waste your time.
Happy Fur Baby Mother’s Day! Speaking of which, I saw a very cute bumper sticker yesterday with a picture of a cat on it that said “My Child Eats Bugs.”
At the moment I have so many TBR books that I’m going to read the books with 500+ pages for the next couple of months. I think these ones get me down more and if I read them I’ll create alot more space for new books.
Jill: LOL – I love that bumper sticker!!! Happy Fur Baby Mother’s Day right back atcha!
Jessica: Good luck with your TBR stack – I have the same problem – huge chunksters (which I love to read), but it is hard to make that dent in the stack with so many of them in there!
I keep hearing great things about Emily St. John Mandel, must add The Singer’s Gun to my list. Hope your back feels better!
It does sound like you’ve been reading some good books. I’ve been wanting to read Mandel since last year when everyone was blogging about her previous book. The Lizard Cage sounds like a great read and I love the title!
Hope in the midst of injustice? Yes, that sounds like a book I’d like. Adding to my wishlist!
I predict you’ll like The Lizard Cage. How did you miss the RR group read of that one? Anyway, it’s not a happy book but it’s VERY good.
Hope your back heals quickly!
First off, I hope your back is feeling better…back pain is horrible!! Happy Fur Mother’s Day to you!!! How do I pick my books??? Pretty much the same way you do and then of course there are days when I feel overwhelmed by too many choices!!!
I hope your back is better! Happy Mother’s Day to Raven’s mom!
All the books that you have read in the last little bit are ones that I really, really want to read! I am also really curious about The Lizard Cage and will be so excited to see your full review! I hope you have a great week!
Gavin: Oh, I think you would love Mandel’s writing!
Samantha: I’m almost finished with The Lizard Cage – it is an AMAZING, albeit disturbing novel.
Deb: I think you should definitely add The Lizard Cage to your wish list…quite a book.
Laura: I remember the RR reading The Lizard Cage…I think I didn’t participate at the time because I was back logged with other books at the time…although now I wish I’d read it with all of you!
Staci: Thank you! My back is SLOWLY getting better…I hate having back pain! Sounds like you and I are exactly alike when it comes to picking our next book
Kathy: Thank you, friend!
Zibilee: Thanks! I should have a review up on The Lizard Cage by Friday.