Unfortunately, I think my monkey mind of late has been interfering a lot with my reading. I’ve had to give up on two books that I think I would have normally enjoyed but I couldn’t get into. So I’ll save The Wrong Kind of Blood and The Cruelest Month for another time.
I was going to get very concerned about my state of mind but I picked up Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn and have been thoroughly enjoying it. In between running errands, cleaning and sorting stuff for the move I keep thinking about the book and want to go back to it. Perhaps I just needed to spend some time with one of my favorite eras.
And, I shouldn’t complain too much because on the weekend I did escape to the bookstore for a couple of hours. I miss seeing my books out on the shelves so I pretended that the B&N bookshelves were all mine and petted the books. Anyway, I came away with lots of titles to add to my wish list. Here’s what I added:
- Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
- The Outcast by Sadie Jones
- Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
- Shakespeare’s Kitchen by Lore Segal
- A Carrion Death by Michael Stanley
- La Perdida by Jessica Abel
- Remembering the Bones by Frances Itani
- Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
- Blood Kin by Ceridwen Dovey
- Diary of a Bad Year by J.M. Coetzee
Let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you though or if some of these are also on your wish list.
And, this is totally crazy but tomorrow I have to take my car in for a routine maintenance check and can you believe I’m actually looking forward to that? I can’t wait to have a couple of free hours to just read – whee! I’m taking a couple of books and a mug of yummy coffee. I think I’ll be set.
I read Unaccustomed Earth. Of the three Lahiri books, this one is my least favorite. The writing was good, but the story lines and themes were a lot like her other stuff. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood…
I think it’s good to save up the books for a later time… unless they are really not that good and not worth reading. I do that sometimes too, whenever the mood isn’t there.
I haven’t got around to reading Silent in the Grave yet, although I heard raves about it. I’ve the sequel to my pile as well. I don’t know why I didn’t read it earlier… all I can say is the reading mood strikes again, LOL.
I’ve recently read The Outcast (my review is here) and Olive Kitteridge (my review is here). I enjoyed both – the Strout book I thought was the better of the two.
I haven’t read a one of them but I have Remembering the Bones and Unaccustomed Earth and on my list for when they come out in paperback. I thought Deafening by Itani was really good and I really liked the other books of Lahiri’s that I’ve read.
I don’t usually get much reading done whenever we’ve moved so you’re doing ok. Enjoy your reading time while you’re waiting for your car.
I loved Silent in the Grave when I read it a while ago!
I tried Diary of a Good Year. I wanted to like it. It is a very cool book with three stories going on at once (on the same page! Each page is split into thirds).
I just couldn’t get into it. I gave it 100 pages and then stopped. I may reconsider, though, if you have a positive experience.
I’ve been flirting with Shakespeare’s Kitchen as well. It keeps popping up!
AND! I added The Outcast as well! I’ve added so many books to my GoodReads list lately that I had forgotten!
Tricia – Oh that’s too bad but that has happened to me as well with some authors. Sometimes their first book is the one I feel strongest about. I’ll keep you posted!
Melody – Exactly! I could tell there was good writing and all but I really blame those on my mood. Whereas with Silent in the Grave I just dove right in. I need to get that sequel! Hope you enjoy it 🙂
Wendy – Yay, thank you for sharing your reviews. I’ll check those out. Both books sounded good to me so I’ll have to get to them one of these days!
tanabata – I have Deafening in my stacks (or should I say boxes!) but haven’t read it yet. I remember hearing a lot of good things about it. I’ve got my books ready and am about to head out 🙂
Marg – I remember your review! I think it was one of the latest ones I had read about Silent in the Grave. Have you read the sequel yet?
Kristen – oh that sounds like it has the potential to fail! I have liked the few Coetzee books I’ve read but this sounds kind of weird. I’ll keep you posted. How do you like GoodReads by the way? I’ve thought about either that or LibraryThing.
I love that you petted the books! I do the same thing and mine are still on the shelves! Have fun at the car place. Sometimes I look forward to waiting for the same reason.
I’m still waiting for ‘Unaccustomed Earth’ to make its way into our library system. If it doesn’t make it there soon, I may have to go out and buy it!
I’ve been seeing a lot of good things about Mudbound. It’s quickly moving up my MUST READ NOW list.
Oh, I saw Mudbound at the bookstore the other day and it looks really good. Oh, and I gently pet the books that I’ve read and loved each time I see them displayed at the bookstore. I know, I’m a strange one!
I loved Olive Kitteridge when I read it as an arc from LibraryThing. I also just ordered Mudbound. I’ve seen so many great things about it. I can’t wait to get it.
I’ve done that lately, too. I’ve picked up a few books I’ve been looking forward to reading and then couldn’t do it. Weird?! Put them back in the TBR pile and moved onto something else.
I loved Silent in the Grave; that first sentence just tickled my fancy!
I’ve got Shakespeare’s Kitchen on my radar as well, and so are a bunch of other books like The Commoner, which are not yet available in trade paperback.
Is Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri a novel or a collection of stories? If it’s the latter, then it won’t be my top priority…
That’s a great list! Unfortunately, I haven’t read any of them.
I loved Unaccustomed Earth – thought it was amazing writing.
I’m reading Olive Kitteridge right now, and find it fascinating. We come to know Olive through her interactions with others in a series of thirteen tales. Wonderful writing, and very interesting premise for a novel.
It can be hard to read when your life is in flux — I wouldn’t worry too much if certain books aren’t working for you, that might work in other circumstances!
GOODREADS! Love it. I have a library thing account as well but it has really become secondary to GR. I enjoy updating my account and browsing others’ shelves.
I’m glad you’re enjoying Silent in the Grave. Its one of my favorite mysteries.
Fun fact: I saw Hilary Jordan read from her book here in New York about a month ago. I haven’t read Mudbound, but it seems like it should be good.
I’m three or four stories into Olive Kitteredge and I absolutely love it. I’m finding the stories heartbreaking, though, so don’t read it when you’re feeling fragile.
What a bummer to have empty bookshelves! Isn’t Deanna Raybourn good? She’s definitely a good author to take your mind off things. I have Outcast on my TBR pile. I just need more time to read it…
I haven’t read any of those, but Mudbound is on my wish list. I’ll look forward to your reviews. And, best of luck on that move. I don’t think it’s so weird looking forward to the break. I’ve been looking forward to phone calls from the roofer, of all things. He’s just pleasant to talk to and I don’t hear human voices, very often, since I’m home alone. 🙂
I recently picked up a copy of Unaccustomed Earth because I couldn’t resist anymore. I am looking forward to reading it.
I got a jury summons in the mail earlier this week and when I mentioned it to my boss, she clapped her hands together and said, “You can spend the day reading!” She knows me well.
I know just what you mean about waiting & time to read 🙂
I was going to read the Frances Itani book, but I have Deafening by her and I really should read that first before picking up another book by her!
Oh Iliana! I love this: “…so I pretended that the B&N bookshelves were all mine and petted the books.” Petted books!! A perfect description from a true book nut! 🙂 I have an image of a girl (you!) walking down a row of books on B&N shelves, gently touching them, petting them. Lovely!
Think I shall now go and pet some books too, The Shadow of the Wind to be exact. Toodles!