What I’m Reading : Episode 55, October 2023
What I just finished reading
The Snow Hare by Paula Lichtarowicz was one of my TBRbook jar selections. It draws on the Polish heritage of the author’s grandmother and her experience in a Siberian work camp during World War 2. The story is told by an elderly woman who is in her final days on this earth, as a series of memories and morphine induced hallucinations. It’s a reasonably interesting novel but takes too long to fully get underway.
What I’m reading now
By coincidence, my current read also has a World War 2 background and multiple timelines. The Land of Snow And Ashes by Petra Rautiainen has one storyline during the German occupation of Lapland, which resulted. inthe near eradication of the indigenous Sámi people. The other storyline takes place five years later when a Finnish journalist visits Lapland to report on rebuilding of the area’s infrastructure and attempts to integrate the remaining Sámi people into Finnish society
The constant switching between timelines is irritating but I suspect it will get easier once the characters have been established.
What I’ll read next
I’ve already read two books this month for Australia Reading Month hosted by Brona of Brona’s Books and now I’m wondering if I can squeeze another in before October comes to an end. I had it mind to read The Weekend by Charlotte Wood but the less than enthusiastic review by HopwellsLibraryof Life might cause a change of plan. I could switch to The Well by Elizabeth Jolly who is fast becoming one of my favourite Australian authors.
OR
I could delve into Armadale by Wilkie Collins which was the book chosen via the Classics Club Spin. A 19th century sensation novel sounds perfect for this time of year.
OR
I could be. a swot and read Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates which is the book club choice for November. It will be my turn to propose the books and gave the club members a choice of this one or Tender is the Night by F Scott Fitzgerald. By the narrowest of margins (ie, my casting vote!) we’ll. be reading the Yates.
What do you think of those options for the next few weeks? Anything there that you would recommend?
What I’m Reading is in support of WWW Wednesday hosted by Sam at Taking On a World of Words. WWW Wednesday is actually a weekly meme but I choose to do it just once a month.
I loved Charlotte Wood’s novel. It is a fairly quick read and the interaction between the friends kept me going. They could get quite cranky. 🦋
Interesting to hear how people’s reactions have differed to this book. I’m just going to have to try it for myself I think 🙂
I really enjoyed The Weekend. I feel really bad about not managing to get anything read for Aus reading Month but it just didn’t work out this time round.
There are so many reading events that are enticing but I’ve come to realise that if I try to do them all, I end up just reading for events and I would prefer to have some fleibility
Of course, November is always a really busy month in the blogosphere.
I’m doing really poorly with AusReading Month, now hoping I can squeeze one in. I read a lot at the start of the month but thought I would have time for reading when we were having house renovations and no I have not.
Whenever we’ve had major renovations in the house I’ve ended the day with little energy to do anything so I fully understand!
Enduring new flooring (finally done) and now a bathroom ceiling re-do. Ugh. I just want to sleep all the time from the chaos–and I’m no Marie Kondo or even Martha Stewart, but this chaos is exhausting.
Thank you both, that really helps!!
I managed to be away for work the time we had our kitchen replaced. My poor husband had to do all the clearing out of the cupboards then put up with having nothing more than a kettle and a microwave for seven days. He said it was exhausting
Exhausting is the word. Trying to get all my stuff moved home is too. My son got sent to Albany, NY so little help. May end up paying to get the large things moved the 3 miles home [trying not to]
Sending you virtual hugs – sounds like you need them!
Thank you!! And assembling the headboard from hell that won’t stay together LOL
Oh yes, been there with self assembly items that haven’t been drilled properly or are minus crucial bits
Armadale! It will sweep you along…then you can be a swot.
HaHa. Thanks for helping me get off the fence of indecision
I’d say Tender is the Night.
I was attracted to this because of the setting – would be lovely to be in the south of france right now
Richard Yates is definitely a good choice, though I haven’t yet read this one. I wonder how your book group session will go? You sound underwhelmed by the other books you discuss. The height of my TBR remains unaltered.
Snow Hare was very so-so. Snow and Ashes is much more interesting and better written.
I told myself earlier this week that I shouldn’t buy any more books for a few months. So what happened today – I bought two. So little willpower!
I know. I buy books that take forever to reach the top of the pile.
Oh PLEASE let me counter-balance the less-than-enthusiasm for The Weekend! It’s one of my favourite books, possibly Charlotte Wood’s best (though I realise that’s not a popular opinion). I absolutely loved it, and would love to hear what you think of it!
Well that is certainly a strong endorsement and I see that Lisa also recommends it
I have only read Tender is the Night, and actually liked it
I think I’m hesitant because I really didn’t like Great Gatsby
You did not like the writing or you didn’t like the story?
I think it was a bit of both – I just couldn’t get into it
It happens. I just read 2 good books i could not review..
I’m finding it increasingly hard to write reviews these days – takes me ages
Yours are on a professional scale–that must be utterly exhausting. Be kind to yourself. It’s ok to post a summary Book A–loved, Book B–dnf, Book C–“ok” once in a while.
I do give myself a talking to some days – telling myself that I really don’t need to sweat so much over the reviews. I should just get them done!
Y
Too bad… Tender is the Night is good! Thanks for linking to my review
Interesting to see how your review has created some dialogue
I’ll go read….
Oh my, that review of The Weekend… what can I say?
May I merely plead that you read my review too before you make up your mind? anzlitlovers.com/2019/12/08/the-weekend-2019-by-charlotte-wood/
With a request like that how can I possibly refuse
[Bangs on table] Ar-ma-dale! Ar-ma-dale!
I thought I heard some loud noises coming my way