It has been a long, long while since I voluntarily undertook and completed a 720 page book, but I did last week! I finished A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. First and foremost, this story is about love. And friendship. Yanagihara (I love saying her name!) follows one character, Jude St. Francis, for decades and the relationships that thread through his life. We know something bad, very bad, happened to Jude in his childhood; that is no secret. You need to pull out your thesaurus for words to describe the horrific things this character faces. Like all of us, his experiences formed who he is, and we see the impact this has on his relationships. I cared about these characters so much that what happens actually hurt. I am still thinking about them two days out and will, most likely, continue to do so. While it was expansive and epic, it was also one of the most difficult books I have ever read due to subject matter. Not for the faint of heart! I highly recommend this book.
After setting down A Little Life, I stood before my book shelves looking for something fun and light. There isn’t much “fluff” there though I wish there was for this very reason, but I did find one to fit the bill, The Financial Lives of the Poets by Jess Walter. Have you read Beautiful Ruins? He wrote that too, but this has a far different feel. It is cheeky and hilarious. The writing is crisp and clever. While I am only 60 pages in, this guy is funny! I am having fun, and it’s exactly what the doctor ordered. (I just now discovered there is a movie based on this book starring Jack Black. Hmmmmm...)
I am also working my way through a second collection of poems by Mary Oliver called Dream Work. I am liking it even better than her Pulitzer Prize winning American Primitive, which I adored. There is a special poem in this one. It is the reason I picked up Oliver to begin with. After I finish, I will tell you the story.
Can’t wait to get my hands on My Name is Lucy Barton. I am a huge Strout fan since Olive Kitteridge.
Tell me about you. Anything. Which book are you holding this week?
Hosted by The Book Date!
Wow, you read some intellectual material huh? I just read Garden Spells by Sara Addison Allen for my crazy book club. It was basically a story about magic apples and my take on it was that all of us women have magic apples hangin' from our chest. Hahaha Now I'm reading In the Unlikely Event by my childhood fave Judy Blume. I don't think she's my fave anymore. Too many characters to keep up with. UGH!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say that! I just read what I like or try to. I'm not scared off by heavy.
DeleteGarden Spells sounds...interesting! I will check it out. I was worried about reading The Unlikely Event for that very same reason! And I haven't read it yet and probably will not.
Wow I am craving a long book but I don’t think I’m in the mood for that one. I’ll keep it in mind though. I just finished The Martian because I want to see the movie. I enjoyed it. I stopped reading The Nightingale and then I forgot I had it, so I’m going to get back to that one. I keep hearing about how good it was. I don’t want to run across a spoiler.
ReplyDeleteThe Martian was fun! I have The Nightingale as well, know it is supposed to be fantastic, but my hands never choose it. Be sure to let me know what you think! Long books...hmmmmm. A Little Life is a tough one to recommend. Check it out on Goodreads to see if it is for you. The Elena Ferrante series beginning with My Brilliant Friend is fantastic (I've read the first two of four).
DeleteI can understand needing a little fluff after that long book! Here's mine: It's Monday
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would be able to read a 720 page book or read it if it is intense and sad.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are enjoying your something light. :)
Happy Reading!!
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My It's Monday, What Are You Reading
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My It's Monday, What Are You Reading