Snapshot of August 2017
As a new month begins I’m sitting here feeling very sorry for myself . After a year of being stuffed with chemicals and radiation before three rounds of surgery to remove nasty tumours, I thought I’d had my quota of medical treatments. Life was beginning to look up with a holiday even being planned. All of which I scuppered by falling over while helping to set up a community event, breaking my humerus in three places. So now my dominant arm is in a sling making it extremely difficult to do basic things like eating and dressing (I dare you to try fastening a bra one handed). My blogging is curtailed because it’s so slow to type one-handed so if you find I’m not commenting much on your posts it’s not that I’ve fallen out of love with you. Reading is about all I’m good for but even that begins to lose its appeal after a few hours. Sigh…
Apart from nursing my damaged paw, what else was I up to on August 1, 2017?
Reading now
I’m gradually making my way through the titles on my 20 Books of Summer reading list. After a diversion to read The Monster’s Daughter, a debut novel by Michelle Pretorius) I was looking for something from my list that promised to be equally well constructed and thought-provoking. Sacred Hunger ( joint winner of the Booker Prize in 1992) by Barry Unsworth gets that bill perfectly. It’s set in the eighteenth century when the slave trade was in full flow. The action takes place on a ship sailing from Liverpol to pick up a human cargo in Africa and sell it in the sugar plantations of Jamaica. It makes for grim reading understandably though Unsworth doesn’t wallow in details of the inhumane conditions under which the captured Africans were kept on board. His theme is the lust – the hunger – for money which drives men to extraordinary actions.
You couldn’t get more of a contrast between this and a book I just started today – What Matters in Jane Austen by John Mullen. It’s a collection of twenty essays about different aspects of Austen’s work. One deals with the names characters call each other and how this is often used to denote not just their different social status but their changing relationships to each other. Another looks at the question of the age at which its deemed appropriate for people to marry. I’ve read three essays so far as part of my participation in Austen in August and am impressed by how thoroughly Mullen knows these novels. He deals with details and nuances that escaped me when reading Austen but know I can see add new perspectives. Fascinating stuff.
Reflecting on the state of my personal library
One of my goals for 2017 is to enjoy the books I already own and to reign back on acquiring yet more. I started 2017 with 318 unread books. I’m now down to 278 ( it would have been lower except I indulged with four new purchases and two ARCs in July). I had been thinking to buy a few more once the judges chose the Booker long list but when the announcement came last week I was underwhelmed. I’m sure there are many fine books on that list but with one or two exceptions it felt rather predictable. So I’m just going to get some samples and se if anything sparks my interest.
Thinking of reading next…
This month is All August/All Virago month so I have Good Behavior by Molly Keane lined up. This is the first novel she published after a writing break triggered by the death of her husband and was the first time she used her real name. It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1981.
I also have Larkinland by Jonathan Tulloch which was recently published by Seren ( a Welsh publishing house based about 45 minutes from my house). It’s part mystery, part biography, part romance set in 1950s Hull and recreates the world of Philip Larkin. Larkin makes an appearance in the guise of librarian Arthur Merryweather and through his poems which are woven into the narrative.
Watching: The Handmaid’s Tale as dramatised by Channel 4 in the UK is coming to an end. I ddo nt enjoy the one episode which showed the backstory of Offred’s husband but everything eelse about this series has been first class.
Listening: Since I stopped commuting to work I’ve not listened to anywhere near the same number of audiobooks this year. I did try one in the Aurelio Zen series about a fictional Italian detective but the narration was really off putting so I gave up after an hour. A pity because this series written by Michael Dobdin is meant to be excellent.
And that is it for this month. Lets hope by the time of the next snapshot I’ll be feeling more perky. A Chinese friend tells me that this is the year of the Roster which is my animal sign. According to Chinese traditional beliefs, you may face big challenges in your animal year. However once those are overcome good fortune will come. It can’t come too soon for me! I’m advised that wearing red ( especially red underwear) will help. Time to get the credit cards out I think.
I’ve just seen this, hope the arm is mending well! It’s a pest, and a painful one at that. An elderly lady I know recently broke her arm, and I went into her house each morning to take the lids off jars and pots and peel veg, and all the other jobs the two-handed folk take for granted!
I dont know how I would have managed the first week without my husband – he was chief cook, chauffeur, laundry maid and dresser. Tried his hand at hairdressing too though not very successful.
Karen, I am SO sorry to hear of these health issues; I was feeling sorry for myself for some oral surgery which is nothing compared to the your courage displayed in this post. My best to you. Wish I could make you a cup of tea. xo
It certainly has not been a fun time. I thought I was through it all so we could celebrate with a holiday but that’s not possible ….
Oh Karen, I’m only reading this now. I hope you are recovering well. I’m sending you my best wishes!!
I unexpectedly had to have surgery on my shoulder so feeling rather bruised right now
You poor thing. Hope you’re mended soon. At least you only need one hand to hold open a book. Well, I think you do!
except my current read is a 600+pager in hardback…
Difficult enough with two!
I really hope your arm heals quickly and well after all your other health problems. Wishing you a speedy recovery. I’ve now managed 7 of my 20 books of summer – I keep getting distracted in between!
distractions are good fun and who cares if we dont make the 20…..
Sorry about your health challenges but I hope you’ll be good as new really soon.
I am also trying to read more of the books I own. I used to request a lot from the library and I put that on pause for a bit. Now that the Booker list has been announced, see me scrambling to request some of the titles.
Ive decided to wait until the shortlist is announced and thn see what interests me most
I am so sorry to hear about your arm – I pray it will heal quickly.
thanks for those kind wishes Jessica
so sorry to hear all you are going through! Hang in there, there’s light at the end of the tunnel
I’ll keep my eye on that tunnel – the end of it can’t come quick enough
Dear Karen, what a year you’ve had! I wish you a speedy recovery & a bill of good health. Isn’t it funny when we’re busy & hectic, we wish we had the time to stop & read all day, without thinking about what it actually means and would take to make us stop & have the time to read all day!!
Sending all the positive red vibes your way.
Isnt that so true. So many days when I worked I was annoyed I didnt have enough time to read and used to long for an afternoon doing nothing but hat. i guess I’m never sastisfied 🙂
Oh no.. take care of yourself and I hope you’ll be out of that cast or sling in not too long!
at least four more weeks to go I think
Oh dear, I’m sorry to hear about your break. I wish you a speedy recovery. I know how it is not to be able to do the simplest of tasks, like fastening a bra. If you can forget about that contraption for now, if not try a sports bra. I broke my dominant wrist in college. Got me out of school work for a while. 😊
Anyway, when I saw the Man Booker list I was underwhelmed. It was quite predictable.
I tried other options but i cant get them over my head without raising my bad arm and that is what I’ve been told not to do. anyway its too painful
Sorry to learn about your injury on top of the other drama – wishing you a speedy recovery. If I were nearby I would give you a cautious hug so as not to hurt the arm. Here’s a thought, ditch the bra for the duration. And kudos for typing such screeds.
i did ditch it for a few days out of necessity…. I’m thankful for your virtual hugs across all the miles
I’m so sorry about your injury, on top of the other things you’ve been dealing with. I hope all is well soon, and you don’t get too burned out on reading. I can understand your frustration.
frustration is certainly my mood – not just tht I cant do so many things but that I was stupid enough to fall in the first place
Sorry to hear about your arm – how frustrating! Isn’t it funny that when reading is all we’re able to do, it quickly loses its appeal? Maybe a good time to catch up on movies! I’m glad to hear you’ve been enjoying The Handmaid’s Tale.
I am relly trying hard to not end up vegetating on the couch watching daytime tv but I fear I might have to succumb
Feel better soon! Breaking bones IS horrible.
I do enjoy your blog: the perfect blend of smart and chatty.
And I love Barry Unsworth and read Sacred Hunger quite some time ago. He wrote a sequel–his last book–which I’ve been meaning to get to, too.
thank you Kat, trying to get that balance right is quite a challenge….
Oh nooooo! How awful, and just when your health has improved!! I do hope the arm improves quickly – you need to get yourself a personal reader, who can read books to you!
i fear it would be the same person who is currently my personal chef, laundrymaid, dresser and hairstylist. Might be a request too far!
Karen, where have I been? I didn’t know you were going through all this. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Take it easy 🙂
i dot talk about it that much Fariba so easy to miss this bit of info
Poor you! I can relate to one handed bra snapping; I broke my wrist once and did not know until then. You are doing more reading and listening than I managed, so hang in there.
I’ve been reading Saul Bellow’s books since I read he was an inspiration for one of my favorite authors, Ann Patchett. Have you read any of his books!
I think I tried him once but it was so long ago I really cant remember anything much. maybe i shall have another look
Gosh, you have had a rough time of it lately. I’m so sorry to hear about your arm. I can only imagine how frustrating that must be for you. Wishing you all the best for a speedy recovery. Take care.
I cant do things in small measures it seems – if i am going to break a bone then just once isnt enough, seems I have to break it in three places
Goodness, you have been going through a tough period! I hope the arm is soon mended, although these things always seem to take frustratingly long. Podcasts or audiobooks sound like a good compromise for the time being, as so many others have said. It sounds like your catching up with your own bookshelves is working well, though…
Ive fallen a bit behind on the podcasts recently so yes this would be a good time to catch up
I’m so sorry about your arm, Karen. I broke my wrist four years ago so have an idea of the awkwardness. I’m sure the hospital mentioned this to you but there is a simple, cheap product called a LimbO which keeps it dry. I found it invaluable. I’m well acquainted with the bra problem – fastening it at the front is the only way!
my husband got one of those limbo’s for his foot when he developed a bad ulcer. we did look for the shoulder but nothing doing. I just got the doctors ok to tke the arm out of the sling and let it dangle at my side for a while so that means I can take the neck thing off and shower. hooray
Sorry to hear about your health challenges and then a fall on top of it all, yes, audio books sound like a good option, I think you deserve to put that down to necessary selfcare, you can get back to the books on the shelf when your arm is mended.
Sending healing vibes for a speedy recovery, choose your reading wisely, nothing that doesn’t make you feel good, let the literature aid the recovery!
Thanks for the sympathy Claire. I shall go looking for a suitable audio book tonight
I’m very sorry to hear this as I know how disheartening a set back can be. My advice: spoil yourself if you are stuck at home. Whatever your passions are, indulge them.
Well my passions are chocolate (easy to follow your advice on that); exercise (will have to wait); genealogy (can still do some of that) and reading (no limit on that front)
Oh, wow, you have been through the wars! And then to break you arm! There is no way I could type as much text as you did with one hand. Not to mention that whole bra thing….LOL.
I enjoyed watching The Handmaid’s Tale…and I’m with you on the husband’s backstory…not that interesting.
Feel better, and have a good week!
It took a long while to do that typing Laurel
Oh my goodness. You had mentioned some health issues, but I had no idea about the tumors. Sounds like a pretty rough year. Do take care, and get well soon!
Trying my best Nish
I don’t know how I missed the radiation/tumor thing, but I’m glad you were on the mend even with the temporary setback of the arm. I’ve only seen Episode 1 of The Handmaid’s Tale, it was just too dark for summer for me and I love the book so I want to do it justice.
It was very dark Geoff – doesnt get much lighter….
Yeah – I figured and that’s why I’m saving it to add to the depressing weather in the winter here. But maybe that’s faulty logic.
our summer is currently depressing enough on the weather front. I got drenched this morning
Ours has been very mixed. Cold and rainy one day and hot and muggy the next
You poor thing! I am sending ALL my sympathy and agreeing that you now deserve a good decade of perfect health! I hope you have some really wonderful reading to help distract and comfort you while you heal.
That’s sweet of you. Thank you. Yes I do deserve at least 10 years off now
Oh no! It sounds like a bad year. I’ve had a series of health issues this year as well, though minor in comparison. I hope your reading plans go well. I’ve been trying to read as many from my TBR pile this year as well which is going ok.
Hope they stay minor and are over soon Jonathan
So sorry to hear about your current state! Maybe it is the perfect time to sit back, relax and listen to some audiobooks?!
I never thought of doing that. You might just have saved me!