Sorry it was quiet yesterday, but I've been fighting off some mysterious ailment that has cost me my voice. And that has made my back hurt. I spent all day yesterday sitting around and whining in my head about how crummy I felt. Anyway, what am I reading? I have finished my book club book for this month, Doreen Orion's book about a year on the road in a bus: Queen of the Road: The True Tale of 47 States, 22,000 Miles, 200 Shoes, 2 Cats, 1 Dog, 1 Husband and a Bus With a Mind of Its Own.
Thoroughly enjoyable, largely because she did what PapaC and I have long wished to do, and actually hope to do after retirement (come on 401K, make a comeback!). They pick up and travel around the country for a year in a bus. She is honest about her responses to the trip, and she talks about the lessons she learned about herself along the way. Don't know that I'd recommend it to many people, but it was my cup of tea.
I currently have two books underway, something that I had tried so hard NOT to do. But I got to McKid's dance class yesterday with NOTHING to read (leaving my book on the kitchen table when I gathered up the dance bag, etc), so I had to go next door to the library (handy, that!) while McKid danced and check out something. And I'm almost finished with what I picked up: Glenn Beck's The Christmas Sweater. Yeah, I know it's not Christmas, but it looked like a fast read.I am enjoying it far more than I expected. I can relate to those times when you KNOW you ought to say you're sorry but you push away and put up another wall instead. Anyway, I have another 50 or so pages before I'm finished.
But my current reading project, really, is The Jewel in the Crown by Paul Scott. I'm actually quite impressed by the book so far, but it is a very slow read. I love books that are written in multiple points of view. I love it when information comes out little by little and you have to piece it together. I love it that you assume one thing when you hear the story told by one person then have to revise your thoughts when you hear another person's version of the events.
And what is it with me and books about India? The place I'd least like to visit, and here I am reading yet another set of books about it.
How 'bout you?
A reader of mine told me you had mentioned my book! I'm so glad you enjoyed it (and hope you're feeling better).
If you (or any of your readers) would like me to "visit" your book club via speakerphone, there's a link on my website to arrange that. I've been visiting many book clubs in this way since QUEEN OF THE ROAD came out, and it's been tons of fun (at least for me!)
Regardless, thanks so much, again and Queen On!
-Doreen
I'm reading The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. I've liked his short stories, but I tend to not want to read anything that Oprah tells me to read. But it was at the Salvation Army for less than a dollar, so I thought I'd give it a try. And I can't put it down.
I loved the Jewel in the Crown and the rest of the Raj Quartet. I initially saw the TV miniseries and then HAD to read the books. It started me on a months-long jag of reading novels and short stories set in India during the British Raj. Enjoy!
I'm currently finishing up The Genius by Jesse Kellerman, son of Jonathon and Faye Kellerman, the fab mystery writers. The son is certainly very talented and I"m enjoying his writing.
Next up: The End by Salvatore Scibona. It's a first novel, and I heard about it on Amy Wellborn's blog.