Sunday, January 22, 2012

Progress? Not a lot

So this is just a quick update since it's been a while. I'm still working on the 2 books I said I was going to read next. By "working on" I mean that I've barely cracked one and have not even opened the other. I had some stuff I had to put time into over the past 2 weeks so I've been a slacker in regards to reading, but don't fear I'm free most of this week and plan on getting through at least one of the 2 books. I'd really like to stay on track for no less than 3 books a month with out forcing myself to tear through them. That being said I took advantage of some gift cards I had from Christmas and just bought 6 more books which just means my reading list is growing, which keeps me motivated, although I am placing myself on hiatus and am not (read NOT) buying any more books until I'm more than 1/2 way through my current stack of 15, which does not include the books I just bought. It's easy with so many options to let the ADD get ahold of me and start a ton at once but never finish any, so I try to be disciplined in finishing what I start before even looking at the next one. I'm also going to start the construction of the full wall of bookshelves in my spare room this month which for me is really exciting and gives me a place to put all the books I feel the need to buy. Well that's all I got, just wanted to check in with an update. I hope you're reading is going better than mine is.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

2 Deep

Happy 2012!!! I hope that the new year is treating everyone well so far. We're almost 2 weeks in and I have 2 books so far to report on. Each literally took me combined about 2 days to read and both were quick and enjoyable.

1. Her Name Was Lola, Russell Hoban. I heard about this author by reading an article on (I think) Salon.com. The article said that he was more of a cult classic type of author with an underground following, on that cue I looked him up on Amazon and was hooked based on the reviews. The book that the article was mainly about was Riddley Walker, but I'm a sucker for one cent books on Amazon so I got this one first. Her Name Was Lola was weird, in a really good way. Parts of it reminded me of The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It was a quick read w the perfect amount of redemption at the end. It was a fun, enjoyable, albeit a little cheesey, book.

2. Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney. I have read one other book by McInerney and was surprised by how invested I found myself at the end with out knowing it. I wondered if this one would strike me the same way, it did by 1000! I've found that McInerney will lead me along and then grip my heart before I know that he's done so. His writing style is such an easy read that it makes you feel like you are just having an inner dialogue. The main character in this book is a mess and I wanted to both punch him and save him from the beginning but what happens in the end makes the story and your emotions settle into place. Take that as you will but I cannot wait to read more stories by this author.

As a heads up for the next post, the next 2 books I plan on reading are "You Don't Love Me Yet" by Jonathan Letham (of course) and a guilty pleasure "I Love Everybody" by Laurie Notaro. I hope you'll stay tuned.

Enjoy your books- The Reader

Sunday, January 1, 2012

As promised my 2011 list

So, I had said that I would post a list of books I have read in the last half of 2011 and yes, this is later than I anticipated I would post it, but still here it is. I told you that I got this bug in May, these are the books I have read since then, please pick up at will and in some instances, seriously please pick up. In no particular order these are my 2011 books:

1. As She Climbed Across the Table - Jonathan Lethem (1. It's Jonathan Lethem, 2. It's not surprisingly a brilliant novel 3. Your loss if you don't pick it up).
2. Almost Home - Jessica Blank. This is a young adult novel that took me just a few hours and for those few hours tugged the shit outta my heart strings. I'll save my pontificating for other books but I wasn't regretful about this novel, adolescent geared or not.
3. Brightness Falls - James McInerney. This was one of the first books I swan dived back into and I was not disappointed. This was a sleeper, I didn't even realize I was invested in the characters of this book until the last few chapters where I suddenly found myself crying for them. I have another book on the waiting list by him and I cannot wait to see if he tricks me and sucks me in again in such a good way.
4. Girl In Landscape - Jonathan Lethem. Really all I have to say is Jonathan Letham and brilliant, read it and prove me wrong.
5. The Brief History of the Dead - Kevin Brockmeier. Very interesting novel and I enjoyed it.
6. My Father's Tears - John Updike. Brilliant work of short stories. John Updike is just amazing.
7.& 8. The Sportswriter and Independence Day - Richard Ford. I could say a lot but I won't because I'm not Richard Ford. I'm glad I've read at least 2 into the series and will read more because I don't give up.
9. The Disappointment Artist - Jonathan Letham - sadly one of my least favorites, but mainly b/c it made me question me. I LOVE Jonathan Lethem and this book made me question that love. That's not to say don't read it. I learned a lot about Jonathan and would read it again, I just disappointed myself in my engagement and enjoyment.
10. Night - Elie Wiesel - wow, this is my downfall, I'm a huge sucker for nonfiction/fiction about WWII. This book was haunting.
11. & 12. My Happy Life and Love In Infant Monkeys - Lydia Millett- where to start?? I definitely liked Love in Infant Monkeys better but I think that was due to hype. Lydia is a very interesting inventive author that is definitely worth a shot.
13. I Am the Messenger- Markus Zusak - **disclsimer** I effing love Zusak, the first novel I read from him was The Book Theif and I have yet to be satiated. This book, although written for a young adult audience like the book thief, is brilliant, along w heart wrenching and emotionally grading. I dont care what you read , pick up something by him and you won't be sorry.
14. I Have Lived a Thousand Years- Livia Bitton-Jackson, a WWII diary-esque novel as tend to be my faves but I was not blown away and I think writing style and story limited me, still a decent read.
15. Those That Saved Us - Jenna Blum. This book was effing spectacular. Made it to my top five favorites, the research that went into the book plus the added bonus of now V. Then. This book stunned me in a great way.
16. These Things Hidden - Heather Cudenkauf- this was a random amazon recommends and I was not disappointed, I read the whole book in 2 days and it was like a soap opera with its twists and turns although I kinda saw the end coming, regardless an enjoyable read.

So there it is my latter 2011 reading list, as promised. I hope you stick w me through 2012, id love to provide insight to you and have you do the same for me. So suggestions opinions disagreements, please send them this way. The Reader, signing off, for now