I skipped Monday Malarkey because we were in the midst of a plumbing disaster that flooded our kitchen and warped part of the living room flooring, last week, but there wasn't much to say, anyway. The last couple of weeks have gone from deliberately slow reading to genuine reading slump as I read 50 pages of this, 65 pages of that and nothing clicked.
Recent arrivals:
- The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry - via Paperback Swap
- Married to Sin by D. Collier and M. McGee - Given to me by author
- The Third Twin by C. J. Omololu - Sent by friend
- The Revisionists by Thomas Mullen - via Paperback Swap
Library check-outs:
- Brutal Youth by Anthony Breznican - My first hold from the new library!!
Posts since last Malarkey (quite a few, this time, since I had a burst of writing energy this week):
- A Good Start - January 2015 Reads and Adventures (a month in review)
- How to make your book buddies feel a little bit crazy (photo)
- Two memoirs of the Great Depression: Anneville by Thomas G. Robinson and Little Heathens by Mildred Armstrong Kalish (mini book reviews)
- Two thrillers: North of Boston by Elisabeth Elo and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (mini book reviews)
- HitRECord TV, Season 1 and a Friday Cat (boxed set review and cat photo)
- A Dozen Cousins by Lori Haskins Houran, illustrated by Sam Usher (children's book review)
- 2 by Native Americans: The Lakota Way by Joseph M. Marshall III and Indian Boyhood by Charles Eastman (mini book reviews)
Books I've finished in the past two weeks (this part's depressing):
- The Trip to Echo Spring by Olivia Laing (for F2F discussion)
- The Lakota Way by Joseph M. Marshall III
Currently reading:
- The Waste Land and Other Poems by T. S. Eliot - Some of which fries my brain
- Quiet by Susan Cain (after 2 weeks of not turning a single page of this title)
- Married to Sin by D. Collier and M. McGee
Books abandoned:
- Just One Day by Gayle Forman - I loved If I Stay and Where She Went but by 20 pages I was thinking, "This is currently a 2-star read" and by 65 pages I was done.
- The Wind is Not a River by Brian Payton - I can't say I either loved or hated this book but so little had happened by the time I got to page 54 that when I set it aside to sleep I knew I was likely not going to pick it up, again. Sure enough, the next day I had no desire to continue. I do think it's nicely written, though.
Both of the DNFs were library check-outs so while I'm disappointed that I spent time on books without finishing them, it's easier to give them up than it would be to give up purchased books. I'm glad I gave them a go. Libraries are the bomb.
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The Waste Land is definitely a brain fry'er but it's one of my favorites. I had a great professor who made it come to life.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to have to look up some notes, online. Occasionally, there will be some wonderful line that resonates but the rest of the time I have question marks over my head, in spite of the fact that my copy is old and someone has heavily marked the book to explain various bits of imagery.
DeleteBTW, here's the bit I love best (which I read after finding out about the plagiarism thing, Saturday):
"Virtues are forced upon us by our impudent crimes. Those tears are shaken from the wrath-bearing tree."
Seems pretty relevant, eh?
I'm really curious about the Native American books. And Quiet is on our book club possibilities list... so maybe I'll be reading it someday!
ReplyDeleteIf you do e-books, you can get Indian Boyhood free. I thought it was fascinating. The Lakota Way is an interesting combination of what I would refer to as legend (but may be considered religious beliefs, instead -- much like some people think of the Bible entirely as legend, although much of it is history), history and lessons in morality. I absolutely loved it.
DeleteQuiet is very affirming. We have one extreme extrovert, one extreme introvert and two ambiverts (middle ground, with needs for plenty of social interaction but may need to recharge by being alone) in this family. The extreme extrovert tends to imply that there's something wrong with the rest of us and I confess that has really bugged me. Quiet is helping me to feel comfortable about how perfectly fine it is for each of us to have differing needs for social time. I'm loving it.
Thanks for the pictures and I love the color idea of shelving.
ReplyDeleteI'm forgiven for last week, right? ;)
DeleteI got the idea of shelving by color from my eldest son, who has done that in his living room. He says he got the idea from someone else. And, my best friend says, "That's a designer trick." It's pretty cool. I would never have thought to do that. I've always been kind of weird about shelving by subject and height, but I like it. It looks cool and I always remember the color of a book so it won't be harder to find one - might even be easier.
Eliot often fries my brain as well. But I kind of like the brain-frying from time to time.
ReplyDeleteYep, I like a challenge. Keeps the brain supple.
DeleteSorry to hear about your flood! I hope your reading slump passes quickly!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kelly. It could have been a lot worse. I can't say I love how hard and cold the brick flooring in the kitchen is but it's great for water disasters!
DeleteI think the slump has ended (fingers crossed). I read a YA that was fast-paced and just picked up Christopher Gortner's latest. So far, so good!
What a lovely rainbow of books! I've contemplated doing something similar but just not sure I have the patience. And good for you for abandoning those books! Though I do hope to read If I Stay one of these days...
ReplyDeleteThanks! I had to get those books off the floor. You can dig up patience if you're tired of tripping, I promise. ;)
DeleteIf I Stay and Where She Went are excellent. Or, did you mean the book I just abandoned, Just One Day? I think the difference between the two series is that the characters are not as interesting and the storyline not as compelling in the newer duology. Those who enjoy the new book (and there are plenty) tend to like the romantic aspect -- running away to Paris with a handsome guy.
Yikes! Bummer about the flood. I hate water issues in a house. Have had far too many of my share, thankyouverymuch.
ReplyDeleteI keep meaning to read If I Stay. And some more of John Green. And Divergent. Lots of teen books keep calling to me, but then so do a lot of other books. ;)
Yeah, we've been flooded so many times it's ridiculous -- first time in the new house. So appreciating the brick kitchen flooring, but the living room will need some boards replaced.
DeleteAll good stuff on your list. If I Stay and Where She Went are great. I don't love *all* John Green and wouldn't touch the last one because of the cancer but I especially appreciate the way he treats teens with such respect. Divergent is awesome. I never read the other two books, though.
I hope you enjoy Brutal Youth :D I thought it was an eye-opener for sure!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Intruiging comment about Brutal Youth. I hope to read it this week. Now you've got me even more excited than I was!
Delete