Another Wednesday, another opportunity to share my reading roundup. Many thanks, as always, to Taking on a World of Words and Coffee and Cats for the inspiration!
This month’s reading challenge is to “smash your stack,” and I’m doing my level best. So far, I’m sticking to my promise to read only my own books, the one exception being Colm Toibin’s Brooklyn for my book club (well done, me!).
What are you currently reading?
I’m still working my way through The World Between Two Covers: Reading the Globe by Ann Morgan. It has been three weeks since I started it, and I’m just beyond the halfway point. Sometimes, it feels like I’m reading in slow motion. Perhaps I should accept that it’s not what I was looking for and set it aside, but apparently, I’m unwilling to consign it to the DNF pile. Partly, this is because, as I read, I’m gaining a clearer understanding of why the book isn’t working for me, and that feels important. Also, I respect what she set out to do and want to honor that by getting to the end of the story.
After struggling through another chapter yesterday, I decided to give myself a break and plucked The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah from my “smash your stack” list. It’s another book that’s been in my library since it first came out and that I’ve somehow managed to neglect. I don’t know why, as it’s a World War II novel, my favorite genre along with time travel novels. The first chapter didn’t grab me, but once I got beyond it, the novel sucked me in, and I’ve been reading it obsessively every chance I get.
After what feels like eons of rainy weather, we finally had a string of sunny days. Translation: I’ve been enjoying plenty of long walks to the beach while listening to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling.
What did you recently finish reading?
On my friend Jessica’s recommendation, I finally read A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. This one has been on my bookshelf for years, but I never found the right time to read it. Love it or hate it – and I had moments of both while reading it – the book is genius. It’s a farce and a satire, stuffed to bursting with literary references (on multiple levels) and wordplay (beginning with the title), and alternately hilarious and depressing.
I also finished listening to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling. It’s one of my favorites in the series owing to a time travel twist.
What do you think you’ll read next?
In addition to a few titles I contemplated last week, I’m thinking maybe The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
by Douglas Adams, the second in the Hitchhiker’s Guide series. It popped up over the weekend when I reshuffled my e-library to show books by author (A for Adams!). I read the first paragraph on a whim and laughed out loud, so I’m thinking that will be a good choice.
How about you, lovely readers? What books are on your have read, currently reading, and to read lists?
Related
Another Wednesday, another opportunity to share my reading roundup. Many thanks, as always, to Taking on a World of Words and Coffee and Cats for the inspiration!
I can’t believe you read “A Confederacy of Dunces” so fast – I am jealous! It’s one of those books I did read once but struggle to re-read because it is, indeed, so genius.
As for Douglas Adams, oh, I loved the Hitchhikers books when I read them years ago and always want to re-read them, but must dig up my anthology out of storage. You make me want to do that, like, ASAP!
As for me, I’m progressing on “She Captains” and also bought a new book on a whim today -a novella by Stephen Zweig about pickpockets. Hopefully I’ll be able to crack it open soon. You’ve inspired me to try to read books I already own, but this one was so intriguing and at such a low price, that I couldn’t pass it up! I’m excited to get started!
Ah, the lure of low-priced books – how well I know it! 🙂 I hope you enjoy it! As for me, your comment has clinched it for me – next up is The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. 🙂
I binge-read the Adams books years ago. I loved being able to laugh at a book. I didn’t remember ever reading anything that funny before, I’m glad you feel the same way. My book club is also reading Brooklyn! What a good choice right now with the amazing movie that just came out.
A big YES to laughing at a book (in the good way)!
Brooklyn is a great book to discuss. We watched the movie as well. Hope you have a great meeting!
You’re welcome, Sally Allen. It’s such a good way to keep track of your reading.
I have Confederacy of Dunces on my TBR, too. It’s another book that I’m afraid to read because it might not live up to my expectations. Which is very silly of me.
I can relate to that feeling. It’s a brilliant constructed book, and I suspect I missed a lot on my first read.