I
am a night owl, and lately I’ve been getting up early too. This means I am
tired all the time. Sometimes being tired all the time also means I may be
crabby. But here, I’m meant to be talking about books.
Waking
up this morning, early, I planned to get further in the packing process of our
house. [We accepted a nice offer last week and the family requested a quick
close so their children can be somewhat settle before school starts. We have
exactly two weeks from today to get the heck out of dodge. We’re fine with
this, with the small exception that we have yet to find somewhere to go (with
all of our stuff). Hopefully, this will be remedied today when we go apartment
hunting in the city.] However, what I really felt like doing was heading to
yoga. I vowed that after yoga I would begin packing.
On
the way home from yoga, I ran into a neighbor who was sweeping her driveway. I
like this neighbor, and I may never see her again after the move, or not for a long time
because you never know what will happen over the course of time. I stopped to
chat. It felt so nice to take the time to just talk and catch up. I told her
about the move, and that I should be packing instead of chatting. “It’ll get
done,” she said.
When
I got home, I hung up my yoga mat to air out and planned to get further in the
packing process. However, what I really felt like doing was writing and talking
about books, both of which I haven’t done in a very long time because I’ve been
busy selling this house and contemplating packing. After I finish writing and talking about books, I plan to get further in the packing process.
What have I recently finished?
The Vacationers by Emma Straub. I expected
more from Straub, and I’m not entirely sure why, but I just did! Here is my
short review on Goodreads:
[I just changed this review to
3-stars. It was okay, and I liked it more than I didn't. I think it was me;
I've been crabby lately.]
It has been a while since I've been
annoyed, dulled, and disappointed by a book. It took an un-Godly amount of time
to finish. I felt the writing trite. The storyline never really went anywhere,
and then tried desperately, it seemed, to tie up too many loose ends too
tightly. It didn't work for me. So disappointed this book didn't live up to my
expectations, or the hype. I suppose I'm not an Emma Straub fan after all.
What am I currently reading?
I
am listening to Americanah by
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. At this point, about three quarters of the way
through, I am anticipating that I’ll give this book 5-stars. It may be that the
narrator is fantastic. She is Nigerian so she gives this book all the nuances
only someone who is narrating a book about Nigerian people can do. Plus, she
nails the British inflections as well (and, boy, do I love me some British
accents!). This story is about race, and about romance, and about struggling. I
am loving it and will be recommending the heck out of it as well.
I
am reading a short story collection called Can’t
and Won’t: Stories by Lydia Davis. Short story collections are always
difficult to describe. This is one has some of the most unusual writing I have
ever read. I am not entirely sure how I feel about it at this point. Some
stories, I like very much. Others are confusing.
Lastly,
I am reading To Rise Again at a Decent
Hour by Joshua Ferris. I won this in February as a “first read” from
Goodreads. Just now getting to it. This writing is very, very good, and clever,
and funny. The perspective of the protagonist is unlike any I have ever read
(or can remember reading). More to come on this one!
What will I read next?
I
will let you know after I vacate these premises!!!
What
are you reading? I am always interested in suggestions and perspectives!
Thanks
to Should Be Reading for letting us drop off our book lists at her premises.
