I flipped my Pomegranate Reading Woman Calendar page to July and what do I see? A quote from Edith Wharton…
“The true felicity of a lover of books is the luxurious turning of page by page, the surrender, not merely abject, but deliberate and cautious, with your wits about you, as you deliver yourself into the keeping of the book. This I call reading.”
Isn’t that lovely? Just more proof that I must seek out more Edith Wharton after having read Glimpses of the Moon.
What book are you surrendering to lately? Right now, I can’t believe I’ve only got one book going on, The Collaborator of Bethlehem. It’s so very good. I also made the mistake of wandering over to Soho Press, the books’ publisher, and now I have lots more books to add to my wish list. If you’ve read any authors/books from them are there some you recommend?
Alright I’m off to continue reading my book and of course checking out the other books on my shelves which are vying for my attention. I’m sure I’ll be starting some others soon.
Ethan Frome is a good, short read. The Age of Innocence is on my list, as I loved the movie.
Wonderful description of reading!
Love the quote. I’ve got several nonfiction books going and just finished Dark Summit last night. I’m in the mood for some fantasy or a good mystery to go along with the nonfiction. Off to check out Soho Press…
Terrific quote! I’ve just finished a book of Robert Frost’s poetry and the first Mitford book. Now, I’m in a strange land with a “l-eavesdropping” vine named Betty. I’m reading The Questory of Root Karbunkulus. Fun.
BTW, The Age of Innocence is great, if you’re looking for Wharton suggestions. It’s a long-term favorites of mine.
That’s a great quotation! I’m enjoying the latest Maisie Dobbs at the moment.
I am lost in an alternate world in Boston.
Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale.
Despite the book being written almost 20 years ago, she is right on some points: like after a Islamic attack, freedoms being curtailed!
great quote!
I will admit that I just read the second in the shopaholic series…and it was okay, a guilty pleasure, but it was not as good as the first.
I am going to start up with Alamut soon, should be a good read 🙂
I love the quote as well. I have only read one of her books – The Age of Innocence. I might have to pick up a copy of Glimpses of the Moon.
I have been reading Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral but I am just not sure I will get through the entire book. Perhaps it seems a little too cliche. I have Winterton Blue and the Camelback Bookmobile waiting as well and just order another book by the same author of How Life Should Be.
Hmm….I guess I am surrendering to a few….
Dana Huff – I thought the movie was great too. Did you see Ethan Fromme? I saw that one and thought it was so depressing. Still want to read the book though 🙂
Eva – It’s great isn’t it!
jenclair – I need to visit your blog to read about your books. I want to read the green book you mentioned last week!
Nancy, aka Bookfool – Age of Innocence is probably going to be my next Wharton! I don’t think I have it but maybe I should go back to B&N this week to see if they still have their classics on sale!
Dorothy W. – Oh that one is so good! Aside from the first book in the series I think this one is my next favorite. I hope you love it.
Isabel – I love being lost in an alternate world. I love how you worded that. You’ve read Handmaid’s Tale before though right? Such a great novel.
bethany canfield – Hey, I’m all for those guilty pleasure books too! I’ve never read those Shopaholic books but have heard they are pretty cute.
Christine – You’ve got some great books waiting for you girl… Isn’t surrendering to books the best thing 🙂 Oh and I say if the book isn’t quite grabbing you, put it aside and start a new one. You can always go back to it or not. Too many books are waiting!
What a wonderful sentiment!
I love it when I surrender myself like that to a book – I think I did that with the one I’ve just finished, and will be blogging about soon, a non-fiction book called Identical Strangers.
I’m a couple of chapters in to Three Cups of Tea (nonfiction), but it’s pretty slow going right now. I’m reading it for book club, so I’ll stick with it, but for the rest of the evening I plan to read Odd Hours (Koontz).
BTW, I love Miss Wharton! That’s a great quote.
We have the same calendar! I smiled when I flipped the page and saw the Wharton quote. 🙂
Simon T – It’s lovely isn’t it. Oh, I’m definitely stopping by to check your review. I haven’t read a good non-fiction book in a while and could use a good recommendation!
Les in NE – Is it that it’s just not the mood you are in or do you think it’s the book? I think it sounds good but I’ve heard a couple of mixed reviews on it. Are you sure you want to read Koontz at night? 🙂
Stefanie – Too cool! I’m so glad you chose that book for us to discuss. Which reminds me I need to go back and see what’s going on with the discussion 🙂
Wow, only one book?! I’m enjoying several–I’m working on a Georgette Heyer (which is always entertaining) and a biography of an actress who lived in the 20s (thoroughly enjoying). I have that same calendar by the way!
Love the quote! Just love it.
I usually have more than one book going at a time. I just finished the new Jeffrey Deaver (Broken Window), plus just finished listening to “Bones to Ashes” by Kathy Reichs. That was the first one I’d read by here, and am about to start an earlier one. And I also am deep into “My seven Years in Captivity” by Bill Seaton, which is a really funny memoir about the author’s years as the PR man with the San Diego Zoo. It’s a very entertaining collection of real-life zoo stories — superb story-telling, too. (I especially liked the story about the on-stage attack by “Lassie,” and the one about being chased by an escaped kangaroo. My daughter loves zoos and animals and she’s going to read it next.
Danielle – I know, what’s wrong with me right? This is so unusual! ha,ha… Oh I want to read another Heyer. I’m not contemplating which book next. Oh and you, Stefanie and I are cool chicks with our calendar aren’t we? 🙂
Lizzie – I usually have more books going on too but don’t know what’s stopping me this time. have not read anything by Deaver or Reichs but they are on my radar. I’ll have to look into the Seaton book. Sounds cute.
Lovely quote, I’d never read that. I forgot to mention that I also love the book Wharton wrote about the French- I think it’s called French Ways and Their Meaning.
I’ve enjoyed all of the Georgette Heyer books I’ve read, but I think my favorite is The Talisman Ring because to me the mixture of romance and suspense is just perfect. It seems like her books are easier to find now than they used to be years ago, which is nice!
Finally get back to your blog and see you had a question for me. I think Three Cups of Tea is simply a dry read. I have a hard time relating to all the mountain climbing details, Central Asia politics, strange names (for people and communities). Maybe it’s not so much the story, but the writing. I’ve made progress, though, and now I’m finding I’m a little anxious to get back to the book, so all is not terrible. However, I wound up giving up on the Koontz book! Just flat out dull!