I wanted to just share a bit about the current books I’m reading. My reading has been a bit slow going but I’m really enjoying my current reads very much so I don’t mind if it’s taking me a while to get through them.
First is Devotions by Mary Oliver. I purchased a Kindle edition earlier this year when it was at a special price and I think I’ve learned that I need poetry books in physical form. When I read poetry I like to go back and forth between the pages and this is just not working as well for me. Of course when it comes to the poems themselves, what can I say, I have fallen in love with several of them.
My other read is O Pioneers! by Willa Cather. What a wonderful story of struggle, love and family in the Great Plains. I love the main character, Alexandra Bergson, who is intelligent and willing to take risks to get ahead. I’m more than half way through this book and think there’s going to be some heartbreak ahead but I can’t wait to see what happens next.
For Paris in July I decided to read All the Flowers in Paris by Sarah Jio. This is a dual storyline with two characters from different time frames. Celine is living in Paris during the German Occupation and Caroline is living in Paris in current times. The two women’s lives are somehow connected and this will be discovered through some letters. I don’t know why but I thought this was going to be all in epistolary form but it’s not. While I definitely want to know how this is going to be wrapped up, there are some aspects of the story that are bugging me. I’ll have to share more about that once I finish this book.
Finally, I started Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosely. Now this book has a ton of atmosphere and I feel like I’m right there with Easy Rawlins in 1940s Los Angeles. I can hear the music of the clubs he’s visiting and sense the charged-atmosphere of encounters he has with men who may be wearing suits but you know are gangsters and would soon put a bullet in anyone who looked at them in the wrong way. I hope I can finish this one by Tuesday for my book group meeting. So curious to hear what the other readers have to say about this book.
So those are my current reads. I hope you are reading some great books. I’m going to be doing some bookbinding this weekend so I’ll tell you more about that in the next blog post. Let me know what you are up this weekend and hope you have a great one!
I like the sound of the Sarah Jio book!
“All the Flowers in Paris” and “Devil in a Blue Dress” sound interesting to me! Enjoy your books and happy reading!
I’m glad you’re reading what suits you right now, Iliana. I think we all need to designate 2020 as the year we do that without worrying about whatever we like to worry about with our reading. Aren’t you glad the temps are trending down a bit? My walk outside this morning was comfortable for most of the time. Just got a little warm-ish at the end. Have a good weekend!
O Pioneers is a great book! I really like Willa Cather’s writing. Hope you have a great weekend! 😀
Devil in the Blue Dress appeals to me right now. Partly because of the setting in the 1940s. It has been since I read O Pioneers that I don’t remember anything about it, but Willa Cather is an interesting woman, and maybe I’ll look for a biography.
I absolutely loved O Pioneers! and all of your other current reads sound good, too. Hope you have a good weekend.
I keep meaning to buy some of Mary Oliver’s books, but never remember to. Thanks for the nudge!
O Pioneers! is probably my favorite of all the Cather books I’ve read over the years. Song of the Lark is also very good, if you haven’t read that one. Oh, and Death Comes for the Archbishop is wonderful. Obviously, I’m a big fan!
I just listened to a podcast (He Read She Read) in which they discussed Devil in a Blue Dress. I might like to give that one a try. My hubby might like it, too.
Have a good weekend! Stay safe!
I read My Antonia as an adult and loved it – it was my first experience with Cather and I’m going to get the oneyou’re reading now! THanks for the idea.
Marg – I ended up liking it quite a bit. Will have to post a review soon!
Melody – Devil in a Blue Dress is awesome. So atmospheric and I guess a surprise to me as it’s not my typical read.
Kay – I agree! I think this is the year that we give ourselves a pass for not completing goals, challenges, whatever. It’s just too stressful. I need to get into a walking routine before starting my day but work is just nuts.
Lark – I am sitting here thinking why have I not read more of her books by now! Wonderful story.
Jen Mullen – I think a biography on Willa Cather would be interesting to say the list. Just the little bit about her in my copy makes me want to know more.
Joann @ Gulfside Musing – It really is a wonderful story. I’m still not done yet because I’ve been focusing on Devil in a Blue Dress but it’s really good.
Les in OR – I really enjoy her poems and need to get some more of her books. I am sure I’ve read another book by Cather but it’s been so long I can’t quite remember. I will definitely have to follow up on this one.
Melissa A. Kowalewski – I know I read one of her books probably when I was in my early 20s and unfortunately cannot remember which one but I really want to continue to read more by her.