i did it. finally. i read the glass castle. and i really liked it. sure, it was good writing. compelling story. bizarre. horrific. but mainly, it made me feel like i am not such a very big failure at parenting. heck, i feed my kids every single day whether they want it or not.
i picked little dorrit back up off the pile on my nightstand. i love you, dickens. but your books are so long. so far i’m in about 300 pages, taking bets on how long it will take me to finish off the sucker.
i tried, heroically, to read the eye of the world but i just couldn’t do it. seriously, you’re going to start your epic fantasy novel with the anticipation of a peddler bringing fireworks to a village celebration. seriously? and then you’re going to whisk three unlikable teenagers off on a quest without even giving me an inkling of why they’re going or where? and then you’re going to tell me that there are nine more books? sorry, jordan. i’m out.
currently listening to peace like a river. if you haven’t met this book yet, don’t wait. go get it. read it. love it. it is so beautiful in so many ways. everything i want in a novel. a well-paced plot. fabulous writing. fascinating ideas. intriguing characters. and if you’re into the audio thing, the reader for the audible edition is quite pleasant. two thumbs up.
anybody else have some good suggestions? i need to stock up my queue or i might end up with a bag full of harlequin romance after my next stop at the library.
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. All the same attributes you just mentioned about Peace Like a River (which I plan to read). Really, I think one of the best books I’ve read.
Love your quilting comments, and your newest work in progress. Knitting does some of that for me, quliting a bit also.
Hugs,
Polly
I love The Glass Castle. I love Peace Like a River. I slogged through the first Eye of the World (for my 251 class–weird, right?), and the length of Dickens novels generally make me want to poke my eyes out.
Have I read anything lately worth passing along? Hmmm. Oh, I did like Joanna Brooks e-book Book of Mormon Girl. Have you seen that around? I wanted to edit it, but it was a good read. I tried to read Geraldine Brooks’ Caleb Crossing, but was immediately and deeply bored. I liked Jo Ann Beard’s Inzanesville more than I expected to. Most importantly, I am wholeheartedly and woefully obsessed with a 1940s memoir by an Austrian woman named Christiane Ritter called A Woman in the Polar Night. I think everyone on the planet should be required to read that book. You, I think, would like it a lot.
@ polly scoville:it’s always so cheery to see your name pop up, auntie polly. and thank you for the suggestion. since it’s one my dad also passed on, it’s time i checked it out.
@ Deja:
can you tell i’m trying to figure out a way to comment on specific comments and that it isn’t working? in any case, i will read that book. and thanks for reading me. and talking back. it’s almost like the old days.
I loved yesterday’s post* and I love this post. I love The Glass Castle and I love Peace Like a River. I buy it for people. I can also second Cutting for Stone. Wow.
*(Yesterday I went online to the DSM-IV and made sure I wasn’t bipolar because so much of what you said resonated with me. Turns out I’m not bipolar, just normal unstable. But YOU are amazing. Thanks for sharing, keep it coming.)
I thought the Glass Castle was an excellent read. There are certain images stuck permanently in my mind from that book, even though I read it a few years ago. Happy Reading!
@ Kristy: i like that. “normal unstable.” maybe it’s something i can work towards.
@ Kathleen: good to see you around the blog, kathleen.
I am so glad you like Peace Like a River. I’ve recommended to some people with mixed results. But it really is one of my favorites. I’m afraid to read Glass Castle. (insert grimacy/sheepish face here). I feel like my brain is fragile lately, you know? I did really like Room. I needed an escape. And it was one. And I liked her style.
I know. How about you just write installments of some story you have floating around in there. That would make me very happy.