It's the middle of the weekend and I'm still trying to make the time to read. All good things preventing me. As of tonight I'm still reading "Lovingkindness" which is a shame because it's so good and it's so short I should have finished it by now.
I had one library book left over: "The Book of Fires" by Jane Borodale, a historical novel. I picked up five more on reserve to me--all looking good--and I don't think I'll find the time but I'll try. Here are the titles:
"Strangers" by Anita Brookner
"Private Life" by Jane Smiley
"Chef" by Jaspreet Singh
"Sima's Undergarments for Women" by Ilana Stanger-Ross
"The Rebellion of Jane Clark" by Sally Gunning
If I have to prioritize I'll start with "Chef" and "Strangers". Somehow sooner or later they will all get read.
In addition, I very unexpectedly receive an Amazon Kindle as a birthday gift, so of course I bought two books for it. It's very easy to use, which I figured. I decided that long novels that would otherwise be heavy to carry around might be the thing and I can read a chapter a day. They were already on my wish list. Here are those titles:
"Every Man Dies Alone" by Hans Fallada
"Matterhorn" by Karl Marlantes
I've already started the Fallada book. Since it's dealing with Germany, World War II, and the holocaust I can see that it's going to draw me in and envelop me. I think it's an important book, although depressing. Not a book for the faint hearted, I understand that the author wrote the book in 24 days in 1947 right before he died. He had spent time in a Nazi insane asylum and was addicted to drugs and alcohol. Based on a true story of a couple who were trying to foment resistance against the Nazis by civil disobedience.
"Matterhorn" is being touted as the penultimate war novel and true to life, based on experiences of young American soldiers in the Vietnam War. I'm greatly looking forward to that book as well.
Another book on my wish list that would be good for the Kindle is a biography: "Edith Wharton" by Hermione Lee. Although a definitive biography has been written of her, this one is supposed to cover new material. I generally don't read biographies, especially long ones, and I believe this is almost 900 pages, but if it's about a person that intrigues me, whose supposed to be well known, but I know little about, I will buy it, put it on my coffee table for awhile, and read a chapter here and there--such as Maimonides and Chagall. People who don't intrigue me enough to read their biographies are politicians and celebrities, but there are always exceptions. A couple of years ago I read "Sway: A Novel" by Zachary Lazar, not strictly a biography, but based on the early days of the Rolling Stones as seen through a journalist's eyes. A stunning book. I try to keep an open mind. There's usually something to learn, but it's also a question of time constraints.
The Einstein biography by Walter Isaacson I wound up buying the hardcover, but listening to the audio version, and I did get through the whole thing. Einstein as an individual was fascinating and complex, beyond what he contributed to science and his life was fascinating. Isaacson also has a way of bringing it all to life that's accessible, full of insight, and enjoyable reading.
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