It may sound like an unbelievably nerdy thing to do, but I have a notebook where I keep track of everything I read. I’ve been doing it for years. I write down the title, author, approximate date of reading, and a line or two with my initial reaction. The entries have expanded a bit over the summer — much like my waistline — so I though I’d share it around. People often ask “So, what are you reading these days?” That question comes up a lot on the beach, that place of unexpected connection and conversation. So here’s my answer — all that I read, complete with my reactions:
The Woman Upstairs, Claire Messud: the book everyone was talking about at the beginning of the summer. Very good but shy of fabulous, though I don’t know why. Beautiful prose. Brave portrayal of character. Not sentimental. I don’t know why I didn’t love it, though I very much liked and appreciated it.
The Prague Cemetery, Umberto Eco: Weird description of the creation of a text about the history of Jewish”world domination.” I read it because I was asked to read it by someone who loved it and I spent weeks wondering why. The only book I can remember having to google about after reading it and I wish I had done that before I started. Though a novel, it is basically true, which is astonishing — if I had known that earlier, I would have liked it better.
The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho: Folklorish/mystical tale about finding your “personal legend.” A young boy shepherd from Spain travels to the pyramids. Lovely in its simplicity.
On Canaan’s Side, Sebastian Barry: Heartbreakingly sad and heartbreakingly beautiful. An Irish woman’s life set against seventy years of loss in America. Although I know his plays, this is my entree into his fiction and I’m now a crazy, great fan! This book is also helping me think about the structure and format of the third novel in my trilogy.
The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty, Sebastian Barry: After finishing On Canaan’s Side I rushed to read more of his work. Though this was written ten years earlier, it is still accomplished, beautiful and moving. Similar themes and preoccupations as the later book. An Irishman caught on the wrong side of the war for Irish freedom is sent into exile and out into the world to find a life for himself.
So I suppose I’d say my discovery of the summer is Sebastian Barry. Well, I’ve always had a thing for those story-telling Irish.
 |
| thanks to gone reading.com |
Recent Comments