I am an avid reader,especially of fiction and poetry which I also write. This makes up about seventy percent of my life; the rest is spent with my family and friends.
I have no particular time that i read although I often read poetry late at night and early in the morning. Lately Im finding the spectacular poetry of Hyesoon Kim, Vi Khi N Dao, Mahmoud Darwish, and Douglas Kearney so I tend to drop everything and keep reading. Im retired and not starving so Im fortunate enough to do that.
Im never bleary eyed and Im usually satisfied and more often than not thrilled and delighted that so many human beings are so amazing in how they use language- Virginia Woolf, Jean Toomer, James Alan Mcpherson, Grace Paley, Toni Cade Bambara, Vasko Popa, Hassan Blasim, Darwish, Pablo Neruda, Nicholas Guillen, Ernest Hebert, Chinua Achebe, Tadeusz Rozewicz, Bao Nin, Doan Le, Frances Chung, and so many others.
When I find a writer I llike I wind up reading everything by them. Im 77. Ive read at least ten books by Chester Himes, Richard Wright, Graham Green, Edna Obriene, Sherman Alexie, Cynthia Ozick,
Haruki Murakami, William Faulkner, Patricia Highsmth, Mahmoud Darwish, to name a few
Your reading is both deep and broad. Thank you for sharing some of your faves. I see some of mine (Gracey Paley, Woolf, Achebe) on there along with ones I've long wanted to read. Great to see you here, Ernie!
Loved your insightful take on the work of Kate Atkinson, one of my favourite authors. I think I’ve read every book she’s published with the exception of a collection of her short fiction, which I must get to. My co-host and I recently talked at length on our podcast “Two Chairs Talking” about her novel Life After Life and the BBC television series based on it.
I am a die-hard fan of Anne Tyler. I read all of Ann Patchett's books even when I don't love them (although I always like them or find something particular to appreciate in them). Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie mesmerizes me with her writing and makes me look harder at everything. I recently discovered Claire Keegan who can write the world on the head of a pin. I was reminded recently of the historical novels of Lucretia Grindle when I re-read The Villa Triste and The Lost Daughter. I loved all of Elena Ferrante's "My Brilliant Friend" series -- her other work fascinates me but I do not love to read it in quite the same way.
I read Case Histories, but I didn't care for it. I found it slow going after the first three chapters, and wasn't grabbed by the main character. It's great there are so many books for all us readers! Because we are not all alike. Re your idea for Resources ... I am both an author and an editor, and I find your idea exciting!
It's true: no two readers react the same way to a single book or author which is one of the things that makes book conversations fun. I'll get busy on my plan for next week and we can get started on that project!
So excited to see my moment of zen shared. 😊Thank you! Also, I love this because we are writing along the same vein this week. My post tomorrow is on why it’s so hard for me to let go of a book when I’m not really into it, which made me reflect on the joy of really being into a book. Here’s my short list of books I just couldn’t put down.
1. Americanah by Chimamanda Aduchie
2. I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb
3. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss- I briefly write about this one in tomorrow’s post.
4. Beartown by Frederik Backman
5. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
6. Educated by Tara Westover (I know 5 is a more succinct number but I had to get a memoir on this list.)
7. And speaking of memoirs... Wild by Cheryl Strayed
I won’t keep going. Don’t feel guilty when a book pulls you in. Let it take you under.
I, too, was late to Brodie (and I've only read Case Histories so far, which I loved) because Life After Life was so masterful I worried that a mystery series would be a letdown. She's such a great writer, God in Ruins is waiting by the bed. I was late to mystery, too, and didn't think it was "my thing." Then a friend convinced me to try Tana French and I was hooked. I ripped through In The Woods and The Likeness faster than anything in recent times. Smart, sharp page turners are not easy to find and, I imagine, a lot harder to write. Some of my favorite books are slow and dense, but what a pleasure to rip through something that is just - a pleasure! I have several French books by the bed and now I have to read the rest of the Brodie books. And as for my 2023 aspirational book list - forgotten goals. This is what happens to me with books, I follow new trails and go down rabbit holes. I'm currently reading a book that wasn't even on my radar a few months ago, and have another surprise waiting at the library. As long as I'm reading something, I'm happy. Maybe I should let go of annual aspirational reading and just call it a life goal. I'll never read them all, but I will (hopefully) get to all those that call to me.
I've had Tana French in my sights for a while now. She seems like a writer whose work I will want to read in order so as to follow the cast of characters who are, as I understand it, connected. Is that right?
I've only read the first two in the Dublin Murder Squad series, and I'm glad I did it in order. The second (The Likeness) follows a character from the first (In The Woods). That said, I think they'd stand alone. She's so good, I think you'd be hooked (though it is gruesome crime at times - I never thought I'd read anything like that and here I am, itching to read more of her).
The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce was the most recent obsessive read. I usually read in the evenings before sleep and early in the morning before tea, meaning in bed. I read the book in three or four days. Talked about it to my friend who'd recommended it. I read another novel, then one morning I started The Music Shop again from page one. I was just doing it to see how she hooked me so thoroughly in the beginning of the book, and then she did it again. I read it all the way to the end once more and it was just as satisfying. Obviously I highly recommend this book. Set mostly in the 1980s in England it is a love story about music, especially on vinyl.
I love Kate Atkinson too, but have not read that series. Now I must...Great job, again!
I am an avid reader,especially of fiction and poetry which I also write. This makes up about seventy percent of my life; the rest is spent with my family and friends.
I have no particular time that i read although I often read poetry late at night and early in the morning. Lately Im finding the spectacular poetry of Hyesoon Kim, Vi Khi N Dao, Mahmoud Darwish, and Douglas Kearney so I tend to drop everything and keep reading. Im retired and not starving so Im fortunate enough to do that.
Im never bleary eyed and Im usually satisfied and more often than not thrilled and delighted that so many human beings are so amazing in how they use language- Virginia Woolf, Jean Toomer, James Alan Mcpherson, Grace Paley, Toni Cade Bambara, Vasko Popa, Hassan Blasim, Darwish, Pablo Neruda, Nicholas Guillen, Ernest Hebert, Chinua Achebe, Tadeusz Rozewicz, Bao Nin, Doan Le, Frances Chung, and so many others.
When I find a writer I llike I wind up reading everything by them. Im 77. Ive read at least ten books by Chester Himes, Richard Wright, Graham Green, Edna Obriene, Sherman Alexie, Cynthia Ozick,
Haruki Murakami, William Faulkner, Patricia Highsmth, Mahmoud Darwish, to name a few
Love Murakami and Achebe...I'm going to check out a few of your other listed authors.
Your reading is both deep and broad. Thank you for sharing some of your faves. I see some of mine (Gracey Paley, Woolf, Achebe) on there along with ones I've long wanted to read. Great to see you here, Ernie!
Loved your insightful take on the work of Kate Atkinson, one of my favourite authors. I think I’ve read every book she’s published with the exception of a collection of her short fiction, which I must get to. My co-host and I recently talked at length on our podcast “Two Chairs Talking” about her novel Life After Life and the BBC television series based on it.
Oh I want to listen to that!
Here's a direct link to where you can download that episode or play it in your browser: https://twochairs.website/2023-04-12-1758 .
who are some of your favorite writers?
I am a die-hard fan of Anne Tyler. I read all of Ann Patchett's books even when I don't love them (although I always like them or find something particular to appreciate in them). Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie mesmerizes me with her writing and makes me look harder at everything. I recently discovered Claire Keegan who can write the world on the head of a pin. I was reminded recently of the historical novels of Lucretia Grindle when I re-read The Villa Triste and The Lost Daughter. I loved all of Elena Ferrante's "My Brilliant Friend" series -- her other work fascinates me but I do not love to read it in quite the same way.
That's a start on an answer to your question!
I read Case Histories, but I didn't care for it. I found it slow going after the first three chapters, and wasn't grabbed by the main character. It's great there are so many books for all us readers! Because we are not all alike. Re your idea for Resources ... I am both an author and an editor, and I find your idea exciting!
It's true: no two readers react the same way to a single book or author which is one of the things that makes book conversations fun. I'll get busy on my plan for next week and we can get started on that project!
I'm looking forward to it.
Hi Betsy,
So excited to see my moment of zen shared. 😊Thank you! Also, I love this because we are writing along the same vein this week. My post tomorrow is on why it’s so hard for me to let go of a book when I’m not really into it, which made me reflect on the joy of really being into a book. Here’s my short list of books I just couldn’t put down.
1. Americanah by Chimamanda Aduchie
2. I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb
3. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss- I briefly write about this one in tomorrow’s post.
4. Beartown by Frederik Backman
5. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
6. Educated by Tara Westover (I know 5 is a more succinct number but I had to get a memoir on this list.)
7. And speaking of memoirs... Wild by Cheryl Strayed
I won’t keep going. Don’t feel guilty when a book pulls you in. Let it take you under.
Great list, Mary. I laughed when I read your post "Why is it so hard to divorce a book" this morning. I've been in your shoes and will be again. I have never read Infinite Jest and I suspect I may die without reading it. [https://open.substack.com/pub/pocketfulofprose/p/why-is-it-so-hard-to-divorce-a-book?r=1dh03&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web]
I’m delighted to know my post made you laugh. Thanks for reading and including the link. 😊
I just put the first Brodie book on hold. I am an avid reader but nothing like Jeremy. So many books, so little time.
Yes. So little time!!!! Sandra did not like her first taste of Jackson Brodie. I'll be interested to see how you feel about it!
I, too, was late to Brodie (and I've only read Case Histories so far, which I loved) because Life After Life was so masterful I worried that a mystery series would be a letdown. She's such a great writer, God in Ruins is waiting by the bed. I was late to mystery, too, and didn't think it was "my thing." Then a friend convinced me to try Tana French and I was hooked. I ripped through In The Woods and The Likeness faster than anything in recent times. Smart, sharp page turners are not easy to find and, I imagine, a lot harder to write. Some of my favorite books are slow and dense, but what a pleasure to rip through something that is just - a pleasure! I have several French books by the bed and now I have to read the rest of the Brodie books. And as for my 2023 aspirational book list - forgotten goals. This is what happens to me with books, I follow new trails and go down rabbit holes. I'm currently reading a book that wasn't even on my radar a few months ago, and have another surprise waiting at the library. As long as I'm reading something, I'm happy. Maybe I should let go of annual aspirational reading and just call it a life goal. I'll never read them all, but I will (hopefully) get to all those that call to me.
I've had Tana French in my sights for a while now. She seems like a writer whose work I will want to read in order so as to follow the cast of characters who are, as I understand it, connected. Is that right?
I've only read the first two in the Dublin Murder Squad series, and I'm glad I did it in order. The second (The Likeness) follows a character from the first (In The Woods). That said, I think they'd stand alone. She's so good, I think you'd be hooked (though it is gruesome crime at times - I never thought I'd read anything like that and here I am, itching to read more of her).
The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce was the most recent obsessive read. I usually read in the evenings before sleep and early in the morning before tea, meaning in bed. I read the book in three or four days. Talked about it to my friend who'd recommended it. I read another novel, then one morning I started The Music Shop again from page one. I was just doing it to see how she hooked me so thoroughly in the beginning of the book, and then she did it again. I read it all the way to the end once more and it was just as satisfying. Obviously I highly recommend this book. Set mostly in the 1980s in England it is a love story about music, especially on vinyl.
I love Kate Atkinson too, but have not read that series. Now I must...Great job, again!
I've never heard of The Music Shop until now. Thank you for sharing it here. And yes, Kate. She's one of the masters.