We’ve had some cold, rainy days this weekend which left me wanting to do nothing else other than stay in bed and read. Granted, I ended up watching some movies too so my reading was interrupted a lot.
I did finish The Owl Service and can’t wait to see how the discussion goes. Unfortunately I didn’t like it much but I will save my ramblings on the book until then. For anyone who has read it or is still planning to, don’t forget to join in the Slaves of Golconda discussion on November 30th.
I read a couple of stories from The Museum of Dr. Moses by Joyce Carol Oates. Interesting. I can see why one reviewer said that the stories are more macabre than suspenseful. I don’t typically read short stories but I like these and will hopefully finish the book before I have to return it to the library.
Finally the other book I picked up, A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian, is a read for my foreign authors book group which meets next week. The book starts with this: “Two years after my mother died, my father fell in love with a glamorous blond Ukrainian divorcee. He was eighty-four and she was thirty-six. She exploded into our lives like a fluffy pink grenade…” Heh, I’m really enjoying this one and am already half way through it.
Now let me see if I can get organized and energized this week to finally write up some book reviews. I have finished at least six books in the last two weeks that I still haven’t written about. Yikes. What’s worse is that some of these are really good books I need to tell you about.
Ha! That book sounds great. I’m going to have to add it to my TBR list. I’m glad you had a restful Thanksgiving.
I didn’t really care for ‘A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian’ but I know I’m in the minority on that one. I’m in the home stretch of a JCO novel right now. I’ve only read one book of her short stories but enjoyed it from what I remember.
I didn’t do much this weekend either. I didn’t OD on movies, but on Law and Order episodes, though.
The Tractor book sounds interesting – I’ll look forward to your final thoughts on it.
aka Nik – I’m glad it was restful too. Holidays can be insane!
Tanabata – Really? Ah well… I’ll let you know what I think of the end.
Isabel – Ha,ha… Well I’m all for quiet weekends you know.
Tara – I’ll keep you posted. I’m almost done with it.
I have been pretty lazy myself since we got back. I am thinking it will be a quiet week – at least that is the plan! We just booked a trip to NY the week of January 14th to start the process of finding a place to live and visits to realtors (and schools)! Excited about that.
Look forward to seeing your book reviews….(and you reminded me that I need to pull my book out again…)
I’m not quite halfway through Owl Service yet. I’m not sure what I think so far. The language (what I am supposing is the slangy way that Welsh/British teens talked in the 50s or 60s–when I imagine this must take place) can be a little distracting. I’m not sure I am getting everything. But I am still curious about this myth and how it is going to play out. I am looking forward to hearing what everyone else thinks–but I better get going on it.
I’m not sure I liked the Owl Service a whole lot either — it was a strange book! The discussion will be interesting …
I want to read Short History of Tractors. I hope a copy makes its way to me soon.
I’ve been wanting to read “A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian” for a while now. I look forward to your review.
I’ve only read a few of Joyce Carol Oates’ short stories, but I loved every single one of them. They can often be dark and macabre, but in a way that I like.
Christine – Yay for your trip to NY. Ok, we definitely need to get together soon so you can catch me up. So much happening 🙂
Danielle – I think the more I read it the more annoyed I became with the characters! I need to remember that this was another place and time and maybe that will help me.
Dorothy W. – I really am curious to hear what everyone has to say about it. Plus it seems that quite a few people are reading it so hopefully lots of different viewpoints!
LK – It’s a quick read too!
Nymeth – I haven’t read any of her other short stories but I do like her novels. I still can’t believe how prolific she is!
Just to assure Tanabata that she isn’t alone. I thought ‘The Short History’ was a really bad book. It’s rare that I react as strongly against a book as I did that one but I thought it was a lazy reliance on stereotype.
Thanks Ann! It came up in discussion when I was visiting with my aunt in Canada and she hadn’t liked it either. So we’re not entirely alone. 😛
Ann Darnton – I am so glad you said that. I did finish the book and liked it for the most part but I like to hear a different viewpoint too. Especially as this is going to be a discussion book with one of my book groups.
Tanabata – And, your aunt too?! 🙂 I promise to post on any new insights I get after I discuss it with my book group next week.
I do the same thing; my to be reviewed list piles up high on my desk. :/
Erin – So glad I’m not the only one! You know, we just get carried away by other books right? 🙂