Greetings, Saloners! I hope you all had a good week of reading. I know I did! I finished one very good novel, started another even better one, and had several library holds come in all at once, including an ILL — all of which were recommended by bloggers. :)
The one I finished
The very good novel I finished was What I Loved, by Siri Hustvedt, recommended by Andi. Although this book was not without flaws (one almost unbelievable turn of the plot, another almost unbelievable character), overall it was quite striking. It occurred to me that although this book is about really big issues — Life, Death, Love, Loss, Grief, Survival, Friendship, Family, and above all Art — and it takes place over the course of 25 years, it doesn’t feel at all “epic.” It’s actually a very intimate book, full of psychological nuance and detail. The main characters are fascinatingly complex and you get to know them very well. I highly recommend it, and I think I will suggest it to my book group as well. There’s tons to think about, with this one, and I’m very eager to read Hustvedt’s other books.
The one I started
The one I started, and am beside myself with excitement about, is His Majesty’s Dragon, by Naomi Novik. I know I saw this book mentioned on a blog recently, and I think I even left a comment about it at the time, but now I can’t find it. Anyway, when I first heard about it I was delighted by the premise — Patrick O’Brian meets Anne McCaffrey, yes, just imagine dragonriders at the Battle of the Nile, oh ha ha! — but I was also skeptical. I worried that this book would be cheesy, melodramatic, forced, fake. That is, I worried it would be too much like Anne McCaffrey and not enough like Patrick O’Brian. :) Well, I’m pleased to tell you, my fears were unfounded, and I knew it from the opening paragraph. My husband is hankering after it, too, and I think I’m going to have to invoke the power of Mother’s Day or something to keep his hands off it until I’m done.
The holds
Since I joined the Salon my blogroll tripled (at least!) and now I realize that my habit of simply putting library books on hold when I read good reviews isn’t going to work any more. There are too many books, and I can’t keep track of who recommended what. So, I think instead I’ll just bookmark those posts, get the books one by one, and I’ll be able to keep track of (and link to) the person who made the recommendation.
This is what I’ve got waiting for me:
- Ordinary Families, by E. Arnot Robinson (this is the ILL, from Wayne State University; recommended by?)
- An Absolute Gentleman, by R.M. Kinder (recommended by J. Kaye)
- Lost and Found, by Jacqueline Sheehan (recommended by?)
- Olive Kittredge, by Elizabeth Strout (recommended by?)
13 Comments
I’ll be curious as to what you think about “An Absolute Gentleman” by R.M. Kinder. I was blown away by her writing. She’s working on a new book in a totally different genre. Can’t wait to read it.
Oh my goodness, His Majesty’s Dragon, by Naomi Novik. That is a wonderful series. I read the series when the first book came out and then the following books as they came out. Oh I think you will enjoy it. I loved it. Naomi Novik intertwines factual sounding (& it could be fact for all I know) with the fictional parts and she does it so well, that you have a really hard time telling which is which. Then in the later books you find out about Temeraire’s (the dragon) origins. It is a really interesting read. But I will hush before I give it all away.
Ah, I loved Novik. I didn’t think the second book was as good as the first (though it was still very good!), but I thought the third was better than the second.
And I’m looking forward to the fourth in Sept. :-)
Bah. I was telling you to read His Majesty’s Dragon over a year ago. (I even wrote the review with you in mind. I do remember that…. :)
Glad you’re finally getting around to it. The second one’s okay, the third is good, and the last 1/3 of the fourth is good. Just so you know…
Happy Mother’s Day, Julie!
J. Kaye — I’ll keep you posted. But I’m going to have to read the ILL book first, since it’s due first.
Hev, yeah, the fact and fiction does seem to be intertwined pretty seamlessly. That’s the charm of it. So far, anyway.
Sandy, ok, I’ll have to read all three before Sept. Somehow I don’t think that’s gonna be too hard to do.
Melissa, darn it, so you did. And I even left a comment in response. And then I (obviously) forgot all about it. I most humbly beg your pardon. :)
Fred, thanks!
I just picked up Olive Kitteridge from the library, and I must read What I Loved – I’ve been hearing so many things about it (mostly good!)
How funny, I was just in the Borders on State Street this afternoon, (after lunch at the Red Hawk Grille)and distinctly remember the original Borders with the second floor. Wasn’t the weather awful today? Good day for book browsing :)
Oh, for heaven’s sake! And do you remember their old logo with the Art Deco-ish Victorian lady? I miss her.
I love Red Hawk too. In the olden days (i.e. pre-kids) my husband and I used to eat there all the time.
I had never heard of Siri Hustvedt before Andi mentioned her, and I am glad to hear you enjoyed her book, What I Loved. I am looking forward to reading that one even more after having read your thoughts on the novel.
His Majesty’s Dragon also sounds like a good one. Another one to add to my wish list.
I hope you have a great week!
I have really enjoyed all the Novik books, so I think that you have a real treat in front of you!
LF, thanks. I will probably write one more post on the book this week. It’s one that will stay on my mind for a while.
Marg, yeah, if I can just keep my husband away from it long enough to finish it. Last night we tried reading it simultaneously, sitting side by side at the table with the book flat and the pages in between his spot and mine held straight up in the middle — but it gave me a crick in the neck. I may have to make a run to the bookstore today.
Do you use Library Thing? It’s a great way to keep track of books you would like to read. Whenever I see something interesting I add it to my LT tbr library.
I tried LT a while ago but it didn’t really grab me. I should give it another look. Thanks for the reminder, Erin.