February Reading

At the beginning of each of these I always seem to say what a great month it has been for reading. Tired, right? All I can figure is I’m manifesting good books, kind of like the same way I said to J yesterday that we hadn’t gotten a Bed Bath & Beyond coupon in the mail yet this year (when they used to arrive several times a week). Today? Boom- a coupon. Kind of cool but if I have the ability to manifest things I want then where the hell is a decent job? I think about that all the time. Feel free to get all psychological on my ass while I tell you about 7 wonderful books you should read.



 This book reminded me very much of The House of Sand and Fog, in that the character truly believed he was doing the right thing but you, as reader, as groaning as he heads further and further down a path with no return. Beautifully written.


 Unless Hoffman or her publisher is going to pay me there is not much more gushing I can do about this book. A must read.


 One of two debut novels I read this month and both were stellar. This one deals with what happens to a foster child when she reaches 18 and is left on her own. Sad because you’re pretty sure this is not unusual but ultimately inspiring.



I haven’t read this since college but remember now why it is a classic. I was so drawn to this paragraph I read it repeatedly and have to share it here.

“Droll thing life is- that mysterious arrangement of merciless logic for a futile purpose. The most you can hope from it is some knowledge of yourself- that comes too late- a crop of unextinguishable regrets. I have wrestled with death. It is the most unexciting contest you can imagine. It takes place in an impalpable grayness, with nothing underfoot, with nothing around, without spectators, without clamour, without glory, without the great desire of victory, without the great fear of defeat, in a sickly atmosphere of tepid skepticism, without much belief in your own right, and still less in that of your adversary.”
Who writes like that?! It is no exaggeration to say I would give up a kidney to be able to write like that (you can get by with just one, right?) Read it.


Reviewed this one as well. I’m not saying it’s a masterpiece or the most finely crafted novel I’ve ever read but it will hold your attention. If you’re a woman you need to read it.
 


Sometimes when I’ve been inundated with words that drill down into my brain, that take me over, I need a little mental sorbet and no one does a better job than Sophie Kinsella. Fluffy and fun.


Another debut and a home run- which is the only baseball metaphor I’ll use because that’s cheap, cheesy, and too easy. The book is wonderful and I’ll be yammering about it some more in the near future.


What did you read this month? I’m always looking for new ideas! And if you’re a book buyer all of these titles are available in my Amazon shop(click on photo on the right)- no extra cost to you (just sticking it to the man by letting me have a teensy slice of the pie).

Comments

  1. Thanks for the reminder that I have to add "The Art of Fielding" to my wish list of books I can't afford yet but need/want to read. On the baseball/memoir note, "Mostly True" by Molly O'Neill (sister of Paul O'Neill, a retired Yankee) was decent. Food, family, baseball. Win! http://www.amazon.com/Mostly-True-Memoir-Family-Baseball/dp/0743232682

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  2. I will definitely add these to my ever-growing list. Right now I'm reading The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson. I'm thoroughly enjoying this series and they are certainly page-turners

    I have still yet to read The Help, which intrigues me as a woman from Texas so that will be coming up after I finish this series. I am also wanting to check out House of Leaves.

    One of the things I have been on a mission to do is read all of the Pulitzer Prize winning novels. I'm taking a bit of a breather from that feat with some mainstream reading.

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  3. Mrs One Day- all I can say is you won't be able to coutn House of Leaves as a 'breather'. It's...intense. It is easily one of the most unusual books I've ever read/viewed because each page has its own visual scheme. Brilliant but frustrating. I wasn't even sure when I finished it if it was over.

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