Bookish Chatter | A New Release and An Oldie

Happy Wednesday! Sorry about not showing up on Monday but, as predicted, morning time at my desk was hard to capture over the weekend. That’s okay because I might be able to get this post together despite it all; I’ll just stick to what’s happening in my little bookish world right now and try to stay focused. Today I’m talking about two books I’ve finished since my update last Wednesday, one book that I’m reading very slowly, and the two novels that I’m doing my best to devour. Let’s chat!

BOOKS FINISHED THIS WEEK:

Last week I described the characters in Hello Beautiful, despite my hesitance for angst, as achingly beautiful — I stand by that description! I enjoyed this story of four sisters who grew up thick as thieves in Chicago until the pain and pressures of life got in the way. This was a fun spin on Little Women that almost made me want to reread it. Maybe I’ll plan for the audio version around Christmas? Bronwyn and I have made a little tradition of watching the Winona Ryder version on Christmas Eve over the last couple of years so a reread would fit right in.

I’ll add that Hello Beautiful almost got too mopey for me in the middle and I considered abandoning it but I’m glad I stuck it out: the ending was worth wading through any frustration I felt about the decisions of these characters!

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I turned my full reading attention to Doctor Zhivago over the last few days to ensure that I’d get it finished. I think I’m in the minority when I say that I didn’t love it nor did I find it romantic. I thought that Yuri (Doctor Zhivago) was a selfish jerk for hiding out with Lara while his wife and children were alone and scared during the war; their affair throughout the whole novel was difficult for me to stomach.

I enjoyed the descriptions in the last third of the book, when Lara and Zhivago returned to his home and had to fix it up after it had been abandoned. I also loved the description of Zhivago writing at his desk after he’d been away so long. Those scenes of domesticity are right in my wheelhouse. But still — even this was darkened knowing that Zhivago had another family, including a baby he’d never met.

Also: I think that Russian classics just aren’t for me? I’m still planning to read Anna Karenina in the fall but that might be my last Russian classic EVER. We shall see!

SLOW & STEADY:

I’ve continued to read When I Was a Child I Read Books, but very slowly. I’ve finished three essays and, as usual, they have been thought-provoking yet difficult to comprehend. The title would lead you to think this is about her experiences reading as a child but no, not so far (although that essay looks to be coming up). The first three essays have been very philosophical about the role of intellectuals in American culture and how imagination strengthens communities when allowed to flourish. It’s all very interesting when I can actually understand what Robinson is saying!

CURRENTLY READING:

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I am still listening to The Covenant of Water and really enjoying it. This is such an interesting time and setting for me: the novel starts out in India in 1900; it is now the 1930s and I’m looking forward to seeing how the author ties the storylines together. But I’m only 20% through the audio and I only have a few more days left on this library loan so I’m worried that I won’t be able to finish it in time. I’ve decided to save this month’s Audible credit for it just in case, even though I’d already had my mind set on using it for Birnam Wood. Maybe next month?

I’ve started The Bandit Queens and am loving it! This book is ALSO set in India (what are the odds that I’d be reading two at the same time?) and is about women in a small village who set out to kill their “no good” husbands. I have laughed out loud several times and am enjoying these characters! This was longlisted for this year’s Women Prize and will be my last book from the list – that means I will have read 14 out of the 16 longlisted titles. Not too bad!

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And speaking of the Women’s Prize for Fiction: the winner will be announced today! You can watch it live here at 2:10pm EST. I am planning to be there – are you? And what’s your pick for the winner? Mine is The Marriage Portrait. I am so excited!

I hope to be back on Friday with another update, but you never know what will happen between now and then! Regardless of my ability to show up in this space – take good care!