Books Read Recently

I've been a bit...absent from the blog these past months but I'm hoping I can start it up again and keep it going.

Let's get reacquainted by starting with one of my favourite things - books.

My library card expired in January and I haven't yet had it renewed. 

I was reading everything on my e-reader and I found myself missing paper. 

I wanted to hold the concrete, solid form in my hands to feel as though I was getting through it. Actually accomplishing something. 

(It's nonsense, really. Kind of like how I set a reading challenge for myself every year through Goodreads. 

Why do I bother? 

It's not like I need to "get back into reading" since I haven't had a reading lapse, oh, ever. 

And yet - 50 book goal in 2016! (sigh.)

Regardless, I was enjoying reading printed books again, but for at least one I had to start a second book because the one I was reading was too big to carry on my commute to work (I'm looking at you Goldfinch!) 

I don't usually read more than one book at a time as I find it hard to keep the stories straight but this time I really had no choice so I was able to do it.

I've enjoyed them all for the most part with a hiccup here and there.

1. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

It took me a long time to get through this one because, well, it's huge. But I thought it was great. As mentioned above, I couldn't carry it to/fro work so it did take longer than usual but it's such a good story. I was invested in the characters and I didn't know what was going to happen. I bought this book back in December thinking I'd read it over the holidays but the sheer size of it made starting daunting. I'm glad I finally did. Did it deserve the Pulitzer? I can't say. But it was one of the best books I've read this year.

My rating:

★★★★

2. I'm Thinking of Ending Things - Iain Reid

There has been a lot of hype about this one. My fella picked it up second hand since we'd heard about it on the radio and our interest was piqued. I'd just finished reading The Goldfinch and I needed a break from "epic" stories.  I read this entire book in one day and found it to be a tense, what's-going-to-happen, nail-biter but when I got to the end my first thought was huh? Did I miss something? I went back and read a few pages again but it didn't help. I looked at some of the reviews on Goodreads and some of those readers said the same thing. I don't want to say it wasn't good, I think I just maybe didn't get it? I almost wanted to go back and start over to see what I missed in my race to the finish, but then I realized I didn't care that much. I'd give it a solid meh.

My rating:

★★★

(I'm giving it three stars because it was good enough to keep me reading for an entire Sunday. That's got to get some credit.)

3. Girl Through Glass - Sari Wilson

I was in the bookstore buying a gift and they had a deal on that if you bought 3 books you got one free so I knew I couldn't leave without taking advantage of that. I don't know about you, but my mind often goes blank in the bookstore - I have 150 "to-reads" listed on Goodreads but in a pinch I can't remember a single one. 

I had pinned an article of "must reads" for 2016 and this one was in the list.  It stood out because it's a book about ballet. I love books about ballet. When I was little I wanted to be a ballerina when I grew up (excessive height and flat feet notwithstanding) so I was interested. But really, I'm not sure that it was "about ballet." 

The main character was a ballet dancer and she teaches the history of dance at a college somewhere as an adult. I waited for it to get better but I started thinking that maybe the person who wrote the "must reads" list was getting some kind of kickback to include it because really - it just wasn't very good. The main character is kind of loathsome and unlikable and I didn't find myself rooting for anything for her but therapy. Not even the ballet parts were very good. Harumph.

My rating:

★

(harsh, I know. I felt cheated.)

4. A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara

This was the 4th book I bought at the aforementioned sale. When I read reviews of the Iain Reid book, one reviewer said that it was totally overrated and if you wanted to read the other most overrated book of the year, pick up "A Little Life."

And so that brings us here. Another long one that took ages to get through. But as with "The Goldfinch", I loved the story. The character of Jude is heartbreaking and the dedication of his friends and loved ones, is, well, bottomless. This book wasn't what I think of as a "hard read" or overly complicated but I did find it slow at times. (Except for that one section where I started reading in bed around 11 and just couldn't put it down until I'd finished that section and when I finally shut the light it was 12:30. Ugh!)

My one criticism of it was the over-usage of names.

Example: "Jude - what did you think you were doing Jude? Why, Jude, did you think that was necessary? I don't understand you, Jude." (I totally made up those sentences. None of them were in the book.) Did the author love the name Jude? It suits the character really well but the main theme of the story is the depth of the relationships that these people have with each other and, specifically, with Jude. It was just too much and got on my nerves. Other than that - loved it.

My rating: 

★ ★ ★ ★

5. Espedair Street - Iain Banks

Fella fell in love with Iain Banks within the past couple of years. This was one of the ones he kept encouraging me to read and I'm glad he did. I don't think I loved it as much as he did, but I did enjoy the story and thought the quality of his writing was excellent. This one is the story of a successful rock star who has lost his way and is thinking of ending his life. It goes back and forth between how he got started and where he is in his current life and how he's become what he now is. 

Enjoyed it. Wouldn't rush to read other Banks books, but there are a couple that Fella endorses so I might give them a spin.

My rating:

★ ★ ★

Those are the books that bedazzled (or not) in recent weeks. I'll be back soon with the next round!

good reads gone bad

I wrote this post months ago and saved it as a draft and then....never did anything with it.

So I'm posting it now. 

Just pretend, for a moment, that it's January

(and then be grateful that it's not and enjoy the stinking hot temperatures of summer.)

For the last two years I've set reading goals for myself. 

I'm an avid user of Goodreads and it's a great source for finding new books,

finding out more about authors you are curious about

and checking out other people who love to read as much as you.

All in all, nothing but good things. 

It's also a great way to remember and keep track of all of the books you've read.

But back to the goals. 

In 2013 I set a goal of reading 50 books

and it was easy. 

I surpassed my goal and I think I finished the year with 60 under my belt.

For 2014, I set a goal of reading 75.

I'll cut to the chase - I didn't meet the goal.

I started to feel like the challenge was a burden. 

Which I guess is common with challenges or goals. 

They become hard

and you want to quit.

I found myself racing through books, so focused on getting through them that I couldn't even tell you what I was reading. 

And then I had a mini-epiphany.

What was I doing? 

People set goals for themselves to accomplish things they think they need to do better

or more of.

To help them make healthier decisions.

I don't have a problem with not reading enough. 

I read a lot and I enjoy it.

Why was I spoiling something that wasn't broken and in need of mending?

I've set many goals and resolutions over the years

but this year, I'm going to opt out of the Goodreads reading challenge.

Because really, the last thing any of us needs is to have our joy taken from us.

 Especially if it's ourselves doing the taking.

So no goal this year.
No pressure.
Just back to the sheer enjoyment that I get
from my love of reading.
No adjustments needed.

P.S. I did not take that photo and because this post is so old, I can't remember where I found it. My apologies to the picture taker.

What I've been reading

Something has been missing as of late.
A voice that I hear in my head.
Thoughts that spin about - nothing of any great consequence
but with nowhere to go - they just
spin.

It's this ol' blog.
I believe I am coming up on year 5 of the blogiversary
but this past year hasn't been much of a year.

But I miss it.
So I'm going to try to get back on the horse and get things out.

So up first?
Reading, of course.
Every year Goodreads has a reading challenge.
You set your goal number of books and keep track on their site of your progress.
Last year I set my goal at 50 and blew it out of the water.
So I thought this I would double it and go for 100.

I'm a few books behind.

But that's ok.

Sometimes I find that challenges and competitions can make me race through something and not savour what I'm taking in. I'm totally guilty of reading too fast and then hardly remembering what I've read so to amp it up with a challenge - well sometimes I wonder what I'm doing at all.
I love to read.
I have to remember that.

So here's what has been on my Kobo lately (there have been a few stinkers so I'll probably leave those out.) Maybe I'll rephrase that by saying - here's what I'd recommend:

The Circle by Dave Eggers
A few years back, I started to read "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" and I hated it. It's Dave's memoir and I thought he was an arrogant, pompous ass. I vowed to never read anything by him again. Recently I read that "The Circle"was similar to another book that I'd liked (you know how you get those - If you liked this, then you'll love this! links from Chapters (Goodreads does it too.)
So I requested it from the library.
And I loved it.
It's a little bit Big Brother. And a little bit Ready Player One. Right off the bat you know that it's not possible for everything to be as perfect as it seems. This book got some not-so-great reviews - some people didn't think the characters were well developed and that the writing was ordinary at best. Maybe those things are true and maybe that's what made it easy to read. Sometimes I find that authors try to show how smart they are by using a lot of big words to say simple things. Maybe I'm just not as smart as they are (but it does make me appreciate the dictionary on my Kobo) but often I find it's just unnecessary. I expected that of Dave Eggers (since I had a pre-conceived idea of who he is) but it wasn't what I found. It was a page turner for me and I couldn't put it down.
Let me put it this way - for the past 6 months or so I have started getting off the subway a a stop further away from my workplace then I have to - it adds an additional 10 minute walk to my commute but also saves me from the crowded train (which I find hard to handle lately). When I was nearing the end of this book - I rode the extra distance so I could keep reading.
That tells you something, I think.

Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch
Oh Herman, you are a dark, dark soul. I read "The Dinner" by Herman Koch last year and had no idea what I was in for before starting it. It was incredible. A brutal book, but brilliant. Creeps up on you and takes a big bite.
So I guess you could say I was prepared for his newest release. And it didn't disappoint. I don't want to tell you too much and I suggest you don't find out what it's about before you read it. If you liked "The Dinner" I'm pretty sure you'll like this one. It's another one that's hard to put down but good to the finish. Apparently he has written other novels but I can't find them in english. Our loss.

Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey
Another one that I didn't know the premise of before I started reading it and I would recommend that you do the same. Really well written - you feel the confusion and anxiety of the main character from a perspective you don't normally get to see.
I was in the bookstore last week and saw a woman looking at this book and I told her she should buy it.
Books that make you talk to strangers are a good bet.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
This is the first David Sedaris book I've read. I'd read about how hilarious he is but something had kept me from reading his books all these years (I often resist hyped things just to be stubborn. I can't help myself).
Finally - I resisted no longer.
I was disappointed. I didn't really enjoy it and I found I was just trying to get through it.
But here's the interesting part. I found his stories unoriginal.
They were ideas I'd heard before and I thought - who cares?

But then I looked at the publication date. He wrote this one in 2001 and then I realized - he was the original. Others have copied his ideas and modeled their stories after his. Huh.
It didn't make me enjoy it any greater but I respected him more once I figured this out.
I guess his stories are timeless, in a way, or at least they've made a mark.
Maybe next I'll read his most recent volume - to see what he has to say these days.

The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
This is a sweet little book. I love post-apocalypse stories about survival and "what went down" and this one didn't disappoint. It's a great story - good pacing. I loved it - plain and simple. Highly recommend.

So there are 5 - all ones I'd recommend (except the Sedaris).

Happy reading!


P.S. People often ask me how I find or choose books. There are a few sources - sometimes it's a simple stroll through Chapters but I also find a lot on Goodreads (linked above) and from this lovely blog - Heart of Light. She has similar tastes in reading to mine and does lists just like this one (I didn't mean to copy her - I'm really just trying to re-boot the old blog and reading is a good kickstart for me). I've gotten a lot of recommendations from her - The Dog Stars, The Jack Reacher books (which I didn't talk about here) and many others. I love the library - I download most of what I read. It's free!

What I Read

I set a goal for myself of reading 50 books in 2013.

I read 60 in total.

I've told everyone that I couldn't have done it without the Kobo.

I took it everywhere and read more because of it.

Of all of the books I read, I bought only one.

One!

This is good news for my bank account,

(not such good news for publishers and authors). 

I borrowed everything from the library.

The beloved Toronto Public Library!

Some of the books I read were easy reads (many of them)

some of them were a bit more difficult

but I don't think it really matters

because what I did was make it a priority.

I read instead of watching tv

(although I did watch some tv too)

and I feel that it was time well spent.

I've decided to set a goal of 75 books this year.

But til then,

here's what was read in 2013.

There were some good ones and some not so good ones.

I love having a record of them on Goodreads (and now here!)

If you haven't checked out Goodreads yet, you should.

It's a great way to find new books, find interesting people

learn new things.