I used to tell you guys all the books I read each month. Some of you liked it. Some of you hated it. I stopped doing that, you may have noticed. Is it because I started reading books of which I was not proud? No, but I did reserve the right not to tell you about the books I hated, in that caveat that I only wrote about the ones I could recommend. Remember that? Or only about the ones I finished. Because although I am a big girl with complete control over my life, I don’t want to waste time with dumb stuff.
Did I stop blogging all the books I read because I stopped reading? Well, no, not really. But I have read far less in the past 2 months than maybe ever before (just busy, is all).
Did I get really, really picky? I think maybe so.
I read a book (on recommendation) in April (I think) that gave me some things to think about regarding my current manuscript (the book was GRACELING), and it’s good to think about the manuscript when you’re revising. And I read Alexander McCall Smith’s THE DOG WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD. Do you know Mr. Smith? I should like to have him over for tea, I think. He writes a great many books, and I’ve loved all that I’ve read. THE NUMBER ONE LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY series is delightful (as is the HBO series — try it on Netflix) and I really like the CORDUROY TOWERS one, and THE DOG… is the second of those. And I think that in May, that was it. All the rest of my discretionary time was spent revising. Crazy.
So this week I picked up (again) John Green’s THE FAULT IN OUR STARS. I bought it in January, when it came out. And I read it in a couple of fairly breathless days. Guys. John Green is a writer who makes me want to be a writer. His sentences. His voice (middle-aged man as teenage girl and all that). Seriously, his prose leaves me breathless. Every sentence makes my brain bigger. This book is a laugher. And a crier. And it’s got such good, sad, giddy, wonderful emotion. It isn’t for everyone — but aside from WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE and ALEXANDER’S TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY, what books are? I love the experience of reading THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, and I am trying to enjoy it this time in sips, rather than gulps. Which is hard for me, because it is so GOOD that I want to gulp the whole thing right down. I’m an instant gratification junkie like that.
So, knowing this about me… what should I try next, assuming I read another book at some point this summer?
(8) Comments for this blog
Love the #1 Ladies Detective books and HBO series. YOu read a lot more than me, if that makes you feel better. My favorite book in May was Tell Me Who I Am. Not even kidding. Trying to finish Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck right now and it is wonderful too.
Love the #1 Ladies Detective books and HBO series. YOu read a lot more than me, if that makes you feel better. My favorite book in May was Tell Me Who I Am. Not even kidding. Trying to finish Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck right now and it is wonderful too.
Goodness, Becca, I read The Fault in Our Stars (and loved it), but it was too intense for me to want to read again…so, hats off 🙂
My favorite recent read was Divergent by Veronica Roth. That’s one people seem to love or hate. A safer bet might be A Friend at Midnight by Caroline B. Cooney–one of my all-time favorites…and a little like Bright Blue Miracle 🙂 (which I am reading with interest!)
Goodness, Becca, I read The Fault in Our Stars (and loved it), but it was too intense for me to want to read again…so, hats off 🙂
My favorite recent read was Divergent by Veronica Roth. That’s one people seem to love or hate. A safer bet might be A Friend at Midnight by Caroline B. Cooney–one of my all-time favorites…and a little like Bright Blue Miracle 🙂 (which I am reading with interest!)
This is the kind of mom I am: other moms plan everything, as in activity every day during the week in the summertime, and then I just show up with my kids. And bring food if I need to.
But I’m also the mom who is planning a massive party for this weekend where lots of 7/8 grade boys will be coming to my house and building weapons of mass destruction and terrorizing my neighbors. So I’m not sure if it balances or not, but for sure I run to extremes.
This is the kind of mom I am: other moms plan everything, as in activity every day during the week in the summertime, and then I just show up with my kids. And bring food if I need to.
But I’m also the mom who is planning a massive party for this weekend where lots of 7/8 grade boys will be coming to my house and building weapons of mass destruction and terrorizing my neighbors. So I’m not sure if it balances or not, but for sure I run to extremes.
Hm. I think I meant to put this on the other post. But as far as books go, I’ve been reading lots of YA contemp stuff. Haven’t found any gems yet, but I just started one that’s shaping up to have potential.
Hm. I think I meant to put this on the other post. But as far as books go, I’ve been reading lots of YA contemp stuff. Haven’t found any gems yet, but I just started one that’s shaping up to have potential.