read every book I own

When I’m not knitting, I’ve been trying to read more often. It’s been hard, because I get caught up in other things. Or everything all at once. I’m passionate about everything at their own times. Anyway, I’ve finished a few, some mind candy, and a few good ones. Cat’s Cradle: excellent book. There was some trashy romance, the name of which I can’t remember. And I read Twilight. God. Somebody slap me now.

Unfortunately I’ve been on a book-buying binge lately. I’ve bought… many in the past month. MUST STOP!

Invisible Man and A Thousand Splendid Suns. Both of them were wonderful. The Invisible Man was a great look into the heart of not just the black man, but the invisible person inside of all of us. Aren’t we all taught to just do what we’re told? A Thousand Splendid Suns happens to coincide with a class that I’m taking on foreign policy. It was interesting to read the history as I was studying it. A heart-wrenching book, but very, very good.

Gah! My birthday was last month, and in addition to having bought those 10 books a while back, I got about five new books as gifts. The rule I had set for myself to read 3 books for every new one bought is gone into complete chaos! But I must be strong! All (or most) of those new books have been put into their own pile. The easiest way to tackle this, I’ve decided, is to read one new one, then two older ones. That way I can placate my keen desire to read something new and shiny, but still make headway into this goal.

After replacing “Cannery Row” my eyes darted back and forth lovingly over well-worn titles, settling finally on “The Invisible Man.” I’d bought the book for a friend of mind for Christmas, and we had short talk about it last night. Not sure if I’m going to read it again at this time, but I picked it up and read the first page or so, and there’s a part of me that aches to delve back into those pages.

So, let’s see… having read “Snuff” and “Rant” already (which were new) I’m at a four book backlog. Damn! Damn! Damn! Must. Work. Harder!

/rant

Just a few minutes ago I finished reading “Cannery Row” (also new, dammit!). It was quite a thought provoking book. Steinbeck is proving to be one of my all-time favorite authors. Sometimes reading his stuff makes me feel quite stupid, because there are times that I don’t GET it. Like, I know something wonderful and powerful has happened to the protagonist, but what that something is, I don’t know. Perhaps the best indicator of Steinbeck’s talent lies in the fact that even when I don’t completely understand what just happened, his books make me FEEL. And those feelings that his writing provokes are maybe more important than the words themselves.

As one can always tell reading Chuck’s books, this one ended with a real bang. It’s like with each new novel he’s trying to make it end more disgustingly than the last. All in all a good book filled with interesting fun facts to throw around at your next party. I saw the plot twist coming about halfway through, but that didn’t diminish the end for me at all.

The Winter of Our Discontent – probably one of my favorite books of all time. It made my heart ache.

Rant – interesting. Doesn’t end the way you think it will.

Currently I’m reading A Thousand Splendid Suns and Snuff.

A few weeks ago I went to the bookstore and bought, like, 10 new books. facepalm

Finished Illusions. Very good, quick read. Philosophical and deep; fair warning if that’s not what you’re in the mood for. I just started The Winter of Our Discontent. So far so good.

I just discovered a new, really great site to keep track of what one has read, as well as discover books others have read or are currently reading. It’s at www.goodreads.com, and if anybody is interested in joining, my username is quellybelly.

I’ve got a few pages left, but I thought I would write an entry about it anyway.

The story is set in a prison following the sentencing of Leo Feldman, salesman and bad man. The prison is very Kafka-esque, with passages that don’t seem to go anywhere, rules that change at the warden’s whim, and with prisoners scheming against each other.

With only thirty pages or so to go, I’d say it’s a very good book. Of course the ending might ruin that, so who knows. Would read again.

Now that I haven’t been quite so busy with planning the wedding… I’ve reverted back to not really getting anything done at all. During the honeymoon I started reading “Silas Marner” by George Eliot. Her depictions of her characters are very vivid, though the language in places very dry and, well, simple. The story itself is not so simple. It follows Silas as he goes from blind follower of faith, to miser, to proud father; and it follows Godfrey in his wishes to get rid of his brother (who alone stands to expose his sordid past), marry Nancy, and have children after the one he has hidden his parentage from (the child that Silas is seeing after).

The book ends not with a bang, but perhaps with a simple going on of life. In the end, Silas’ daughter gets married and seeks to begin her new life.

After “Silas Marner” I started reading “Jarhead,” which I didn’t know to be a memoir from a marine of his time during Desert Storm. It’s not a battle book, for sure, but instead weaves back and forth in past, present, and future of Anthony’s life, his quest to become a marine, the trials and tribulations therein, paints protraits of the people he meets, accents what the military has done to each of them.

Last night I finished reading “The Devil Wears Prada.” Definitely not a book that I thought I would enjoy, an impulse buy at Half Price Books. While not the stuff of the Great American Novel, it’s enjoyable. It’s the story of Andy, desperate to be a writer at The New Yorker, who takes a job as a fashion assistant to the editor in chief of Vogue magazine, because she’s heard that a year with this woman and she can name her own job anywhere. Month by month Andy deals with this frustrating woman, coming close to losing her own identity.

A quick entry. Been busy lately, getting married and packing for the honeymoon.

In the last two weeks I’ve read the first 4 books. I love them. Children’s books definitely, but arresting. Rowling certainly isn’t going to win any literary awards, but she creates characters that you fall in love with. I’m actually kinda annoyed by the planned honeymoon. Don’t really wanna drag three hardcover books camping for 2 1/2 weeks so that I can finish the series.