Wow, this blog has really fallen by the wayside. In recent posts I've complained (ad nauseum, I'm sure) about a dreaded reading rut that was plaguing my literary pursuits. I'm pleased as punch to report that I am back to my usual reading habits. I'm devouring fiction and non-fiction, classics and contemporary texts alike.
Reading fever is in full swing, to the point that any distraction from my books -- blogging included -- is not particularly welcome. Meanwhile, a stack of finished titles about which I'd like to share some thoughts and insights is quickly growing like Jack's fabled beanstalk.
This summer's resolution: keep up with my blog! Right, moving on...
On Saturday I meandered over to my tiny local library in search of the selection for next month's book club meeting. The library doesn't carry what I went looking for, but that didn't stop me from coming away with a few new titles tucked under my arm.
As my mother is settling into middle age, she
I've never read Sarah Waters before; in fact, it's only relatively recently that she's been brought to my attention. Hearing some fellow students discuss their research on her work piqued my interest, and The Little Stranger promises to be both literary and terrifyingly Gothic.
Any Sarah Waters fans out there? Is this a good place to start, or should I begin with Fingersmith or Tipping the Velvet?
This novel is the first in the Flavia de Luce mystery series, which centers on an eleven-year-old detective with a proclivity for the sciences. I've read some great reviews by fellow bloggers, and the publisher's description reminds me greatly of a young, female Sherlock Holmes (can I call her Sherlockina?). My hopes are high that this is as entertaining as I think it will be.
Hopefully, I'll find the time for these texts as I continue to consume nineteenth-century literature for the Victorian Celebration. What have you picked up from your local library? Anything you'd recommend?
12 comments:
Congrats on breaking through your reading rut! Looks like you've picked up some fun books. I've had The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie on my To-Read list ever since it came out and still haven't read it. Definitely need to get on that soon, especially as the rest of the books in the series continue to pile up. Enjoy your loot!
Reading fever is great isn't it?! I love Sarah Waters' books and The Little Stranger is probably my favourite. It is different style to her other novels though, I'd also recommend The Night Watch. :) Happy reading!
I loved the audio version of Nora Ephron's I Feel Bad About My Neck (read by the author), so am quite sure I would enjoy this one, too.
I'm happy to hear you're out of your reading rut! Alas, I seem to be stuck, thanks to a recent spectacular lack of time. I haven't read any of the authors you've listed here, so I'm of absolutely no help, although I've heard good things about Sarah Waters. Enjoy the reading fever!
I listened to the audio version of The Little Stranger and it was quite a good experience. This is the only book of hers which is written in a male protagonist's voice. Tipping the Velvet was my introduction to Sarah Waters and I loved it! And just when I thought there couldn't be a better one from her, I read Fingersmith and was completely blown away by that! It might be good to start with TTV since it's also her first book, and you can see how she progresses from there in the other books.
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie sounds really interesting! I've seen the title mentioned before, but hadn't bothered Googling it for some reason, and didn't realize it was about such an intriguing-sounding heroine. (I'm not sure why, but the title gave me a different impression. All the more reason not to judge a book by its cover, literally, I suppose.)
Claire: Thank you! My dad listened to Sweetness and the Bottom of the Pie while driving on business, and he said he enjoyed it. That's a good sign
Charlotte: Yes, a reading fever is the best sort of fever there is.
I just finished The Little Stranger tonight, and I'm already eager to read more Sarah Waters. I want to know how her Neo-Victorian novels compare to this.
JoAnn: I've now put I Feel Bad About My Neck on my TBR list. I Remember Nothing was both hilarious and bittersweet. Reading it, I think she knew she would be going soon. She's a great talent and will be missed.
Amanda: Oh, no! I hope you emerge from it soon, or just find more time to sit with a book. Reading ruts are intensely frustrating.
On the bright side, does this mean you'll be posting more movie reviews on your blog? I really enjoy what you have to say about film. :)
Michelle: I am now dying to get hold of Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith. As a true Victorian fanatic, I have a feeling I will enjoy these even more than The Little Stranger.
Unfortunately my library carries no other titles by Sarah Waters. Grrr!
Jordan: I thought the same thing when I saw it at the bookstore I where I used to work. I completely dismissed it until I kept hearing rave reviews from other discerning readers. Lesson learned!
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