The wind is howling and there's a blizzard on Cape Cod--I kind of wish I was in Provincetown in heavy snow and winds, the wild ocean surrounding that little spit of land, windblown tales of shipwrecks and endurance...
Speaking of endurance, I recently read two powerful works of non-fiction: Wave, by Sonali Deraniyagala, who lost her entire family (husband, children, parents) in the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, is harrowing and beautifully written. Unbroken, A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, by Laura Hillenbrand is also harrowing, suspenseful, and a real page-turner.
When I was sick I mentioned that I was reading the Bruno, Chief of Police detective series. I also read The Martian, by Andy Weir and thoroughly enjoyed it. Simply written, oddly compelling. Some brilliant short stories from Archangel, (natural science and history) by Andrea Barrett and The Things They Carried (Vietnam War) by Tim O'Brien balanced things out a bit.
I've discovered something about short stories--it's good to mix them up. They can be intense, and sometimes stories by one author can have a similarity of tone. Following the voice of one author with a different one keeps it fresh. I know a lot of people don't think they like short stories (we discussed that here) but they can fill a niche of time or mood.
When I felt better I had a craving for a big India book. I have a lot of novels that take place in India and I feel compelled to keep them together. You can see many of them in the picture above (and a glimpse of the foot of my bed--always have book choices handy). I remembered that I'd only read the first book in Paul Scott's Raj Quartet, and had mixed feelings about it, but I read the second book and loved it, so now I'm reading the third.
In the last month my reading has taken me to Sri Lanka, Japan, France, Mars, Vietnam, and India. Is there a book you love that has a strong sense of place?
'I Dreamed of Africa' by Kuki Gallmann ... when I first read her book, her beautifully descriptive writing took me there.
ReplyDeleteI just looked it up--sound great. Thank you!
Delete"The Sheltering Sky" At times it seemed the book was more about the desert than the people.
ReplyDeleteI read that a very long time ago, and will check it out again. I've been thinking about the desert because of Petra's pictures.
Delete"The Historian", lots of train travel through Eastern Europe. I think that's what interested us to visit Budapest. "A House In Provence" also pops into my head as well as anything by the Spanish writer Carlos Ruiz Zafon, you are transported to Barcelona.
ReplyDeleteI read three Zafron's based on your recommendation--so glad I did. Will look for the others. Thank you!
DeleteI love Tan Twan Eng's "The Gift of Rain' which took place in Penang, Malaysia in the years leading up to and including WWII. A very beautifully written book with the most poetic sense of place.
ReplyDeleteOther favorites "Out of Africa" by Isak Dinesen - those first lines of the book take you right there. And "Snow Country" by Yasunari Kawabata, as beautiful as a haiku.
Thank you for the books suggested - they'll go on my list, that long, long list!
Mary
Out of Africa is a favorite of mine, and the other two sound wonderful--thank you!
DeleteI read Our Southern Highlanders (1912) about the Scots-Irish in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina last months, which inspired me to finally read Cold Mountain. I find it beautifully written and understand why the author used language as he did. Those people, being isolated, had retained so much English usage from 17th and 18th century Britain.
ReplyDeleteI read that ages ago, and enjoyed it, though I remember it being controversial for some reason. Maybe it was that use of language. What you bring up is really interesting--I guess it's like the trickiness of using dialect. You want it to sound authentic, but not alienate the reader. Now I want to read it again. When are you gong to Scotland?
DeleteGoing to Scotland May 21 by way of a couple of days on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with some friends. Coming back June 10.
Deleteinteresting collection of books (and of course I added half of them to my ever-growing reading list) - I watched 'the reluctant fundamentalist' yesterday and am now tempted to read more of Mohsin Hamid. have you read any of his books?
ReplyDeleteI recently read The Reluctant Fundamentalist--it's very good. Haven't read anything else by him.
DeleteHi, Jen! You seem to be absorbing by flowers and books as usual.:)
ReplyDeleteNow I'm reading "Affinity" by Sarah Waters, " Reading Lolita in Tehran" and " Narrow road to Oku" by Basho who is Haiku poet, simultaneously as you do.
I really enjoyed Reading Lolita in Tehran. Haven't heard of Affinity--will look into it. I love Basho! You're like me--reading three genres at once.
DeleteHallo Jen!
ReplyDeleteI am actually a fun of short stories books. Zyrana Zateli my favorite modern greek writer har written some very good ones (me thinks) . Her writing is so surreal that, although yes the atmosphare is similar in her stories one cannot stop reading anyway. I remember my love for short stories starting with Hermann Hesse and Poe and then here in norway with L.S. Christensen.
Have you read The God of Small Things? it's probably the only book, with a story located in India, I have ever read. It was heartbreaking and I have read it both in greek and later in english. oh! I loved that book
Enjoy your readings :)
love from norway
Demie, I will check if her stories have been translated--I'd love to read them. I did read God of...So cool that you read it in two languages!
DeleteHope spring has come to Norway. xo
Hallo Jen!
ReplyDeleteI am actually a fun of short stories books. Zyrana Zateli my favorite modern greek writer har written some very good ones (me thinks) . Her writing is so surreal that, although yes the atmosphare is similar in her stories one cannot stop reading anyway. I remember my love for short stories starting with Hermann Hesse and Poe and then here in norway with L.S. Christensen.
Have you read The God of Small Things? it's probably the only book, with a story located in India, I have ever read. It was heartbreaking and I have read it both in greek and later in english. oh! I loved that book
Enjoy your readings :)
love from norway
*I meant a fan of course
ReplyDeleteHello Jen,
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing better than travelling the world in the comfort of one's own bed!
We do so hope that you are feeling better now and that the warmer Spring weather may have finally arrived. Whatever, your eclectic reading must have comforted and cheered you through the dark days. Although we have never been to India, in our imaginations its colours are vibrant and its atmosphere particularly magical. We should love to see it for ourselves one day.
Short stories are, we believe, one of the most difficult of literary forms to write. We love their pithiness, rather like poetry. So condensed and rich.
Thanks, I am feeling much better! I enjoyed the stories of Arpad Goncz, which you recommended. Stories seem a good way to dip into the literature of another country.
Delete