I found myself thinking that a weekly sort of update might be nice this week...and then it occurred to me that it would be easy to do with Book Journey. So here's what's happening around these parts:I just finished reading The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I found it refreshing at first, and then got kind of bored. Took more willpower to read than a book of 137 pages should. Hm. I'm glad, however, to have experienced Muriel Spark.
The Shakespeare Stealer is next up in my Junior Lit...including this one, I have 4 books left in my Junior Lit challenges & I'm hoping to wrap those up before June hits.
Team of Rivals is glaring at me from the coffee table, the nightstand, and anywhere else I happen to tote it to. I need to dive into it, because I have a few other nonfiction books lined up, but it's big and I'm procrastinating. Blogging instead, see?
Mostly I'm avoiding books all of a sudden. What's the deal? Well, I made myself a goal to finish a certain 4 books before my book club date (last Monday) and though I accomplished my goal, my group's discussion got pushed 2 weeks at the last minute and it threw me off. It's taken me a little longer to regroup and set a new goal. I'm in the mood for classics and nonfiction, but having a hard time drumming up the concentration and patience they can demand. I'm working on it though!Oh, and one more...I read another story last night from New Irish Short Stories. I haven't gotten through very many of them, and haven't had a huge amount of success with them either, but I haven't given up yet.
What are you reading?
I go through phases of wanting to read all the time and backing off a bit. At the moment I would spend 24 hours reading if I could! Muriel Spark doesn't really appeal to me and seeing as you found it tough going, I think I will steer clear of it.
ReplyDeleteI understand about procrastinating about big books. I usually set them aside in favor of shorter titles. I do recall reading The Shakespeare Stealer quite a while ago but don't remember much about it. Here is my Monday Report. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteYou had a good week even with the struggle. Have a great week reading!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of these except Team of Rivals which is one of my all time favorites. (but, then again, I'm a Lincoln fanatic!) I don't see how you can come away from this book with anything but increased admiration for Lincoln. Consider this a little nudge of encouragement to jump right in.
ReplyDeleteI'm somehow in a phase of backing off books too *grrr* I haven't read any of the books you mentioned, and I hope the short stories turns out a bit better than it's faring for you so far.
ReplyDeleteI read Miss Jean Brodie way back when, in high school. Don't remember it that well, but I did enjoy it. Fascinating in an oddball kind of way. BTW, you have the same wallpaper that I have on my blog! What's up with that? :)
ReplyDeleteI am a couple chapters into Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry. So far so good.
ReplyDeleteI am a couple chapters into Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry. So far so good.
ReplyDeleteSam, I didn't really know anything about Muriel Spark...just jumped in. And eh, it was interesting but not really my kind of exciting. About reading phases, I do have them too, but not as much if I set myself some goals. I work well with deadlines, so I try to keep books lined up that I "need" to read, but somehow forgot to do that in my rush to finish books before book club. :/
ReplyDeleteKathy, I've been veering towards shorter titles in the last couple of years, not real sure why. I almost have to make myself read the longer things, even if I'm interested in the topic.
dollycas/Lori - thanks (and thanks for stopping by!)
Donna, that helps! Thanks for the encouragement! The writing is fabulous so far, really bringing the people and times to life.
Tanya, isn't that frustrating? And there are SO many books I want to read!
Amy, funny about the wallpaper! In my procrastination mode I was just thinking of trying something else, spice it up for summer or something. I get bored. :) I can see Miss Jean Brodie being oddly fascinating...I'm not real sure why it didn't end up capturing my imagination.
Robin, I've only read a bit of poetry by Berry, but I've heard that his fiction is good too. Have you read anything else of his? I think it's Jayber Crow that's on my wishlist.
ReplyDeleteHer Fearful Symmetry by the author of Time Traveler's Wife. I am Super Digging It! It is dark and it reminds me of the Thirteenth Tale and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil rolled into one.
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