Maladies Interpreted, Tales Told, Space Explored
This week I finished listening to Lahiri's beautiful collection of short stories. I also finished a touching science fiction short story by Kowal. For today's National Readathon Day I read Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. Most of my reading has been at night or on the weekend this week or in furtive 5-10 minute bursts between meetings when I have to sit and wait any way.
3. Interpreter of Maladies [1999], short stories by Jhumpa Lahiri [audiobook].
What can I say? Nothing is really descriptive enough... These short stories are... Splendid. Superb. Subtle. Serious. Silly. Sonorous. Significant. Sublime. Sensual. Sensible.
Without a doubt the most enjoyable collection of short stories I've read in ages. The beautiful writing describes places and persons I've yet to see, but still feel I know their thoughts intimately now. The glimpses of Indian and Indian-American culture are priceless and thought-provoking.
I listened to this book on Audible. My only complaint is the 'chapters' of the audiobook do not correspond in any way to the short stories. Each ends in the middle of a chapter and the next begins. Nonsensical, that. Musical interludes are inserted at the end and beginning of the audiobook chapters rather than the end or beginning of the short stories. The narrator is quite good, though, and I have not a single critical word to add.
This book is simply awesome. Thanks, Saundra, for the suggestion!
9. The Handmaid's Tale [1985] by Margaret Atwood [Kindle].
This is a classic of dystopian speculative fiction. Interestingly, in the front of the book, the author thanks the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, for providing time and space. I had no idea Atwood had any tie to my home state. This was my National Readathon Day book!
Fascinating and disturbing. A masterpiece of speculative fiction, Atwood's dystopian alternate history for the US was published nearly three decades ago. However, it's seemingly improbable society echoes with bits of our more recent reality, in terms of cause and effect as well as examples of extremism, anti-feminism, inequality, and misplaced fervor.
I read this book in a single day for the 2015 National Readathon. It was well worth the time. Many thanks to the two or three friends who suggested I read this first amongst Atwood's works.
Thanks Hilarie, Lisa, and Kendra for the recommendation!
8. The Lady Astronaut of Mars [2012] by Mary Robinette Kowal [Kindle].
This is a short story I downloaded for $0.99 on my iPhone's Kindle app so I'd have something short and interested to read this week in between meetings. It was a week full of meetings. I finished it today and it was delightful.
Kowal's captivating short story is a delight of science fiction and human emotions, especially the consequences of aging and the intersection of technology, exploration, and disaster. I won't give any details so as to avoid spoilers but it is very good, although I'm sad it is only a short story and not a full novel It is well worth the $0.99 price on Kindle for a pleasant little reading interlude. I'll be looking for more works of this author!
Still going... like the Energizer Bunny
I am sure I have reached the point of ridiculousness when I have one book going on my iPhone Kindle app, one going on the iPhone audible app, another one or two on the Kindle paperwhite, and a fourth on the old style Kindle keyboard [one of our old keyboard Kindles recently died and this is the replacement I bought used since they are no longer made. For Kindle aficionados, this one is wifi only and that is driving me nuts as all of mine have previously had 3G - but these are hard to find and at least I found one and it works. I find the old Kindle easier on my eyes than my fancy newer one (the paperwhite), even though they have even fancier and newer Kindles out now]. In addition to the three books listed above finished this week (two today), I am still working on one that I've been reading for some time (it is very long!) and have started two more.
4. Middlemarch [1872] by George Eliot (aka Mary Anne or Marian Evans) [Kindle].
I have made more progress reading Middlemarch (40% read). I am mostly reading it at night in bed. Eliot spends a few chapters weaving the tapestry around a character or a few related characters then starts bringing in a new character every few chapters. This book has many many interesting characters!
In addition to my continuing read of Middlemarch, I have started two other books this week:
10. Americanah [2013] by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche [audible.com audiobook].
Because I have spent so much time walking back and forth across campus to meetings and such this week, I decided to start a new audiobook. This book won a the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction in 2013. This book is the story of two young people from Nigeria who take different paths to escape the repressive regime and then later return to Nigeria and meet again. One immigrates to the USA and lives there for many years. The other to London. The story (so far) is told from the perspective of the female protagonist.
11. The Knitting Book [] by Frederica Patmore and Vikki Haffenden [hardcover].
This is a reference book about knitting that is beautifully illustrated with a zillion photos. I'm getting educated on knitting and this one is much better than the earlier knitting book I read.
In addition to my continuing read of Middlemarch, I have started two other books this week:
10. Americanah [2013] by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche [audible.com audiobook].
Because I have spent so much time walking back and forth across campus to meetings and such this week, I decided to start a new audiobook. This book won a the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction in 2013. This book is the story of two young people from Nigeria who take different paths to escape the repressive regime and then later return to Nigeria and meet again. One immigrates to the USA and lives there for many years. The other to London. The story (so far) is told from the perspective of the female protagonist.
11. The Knitting Book [] by Frederica Patmore and Vikki Haffenden [hardcover].
This is a reference book about knitting that is beautifully illustrated with a zillion photos. I'm getting educated on knitting and this one is much better than the earlier knitting book I read.
While I started compiling a potential 2015 reading list a couple of months ago, it is not written in stone and I am open for suggestions. Several of my friends have given me specific suggestions or links to lists of excellent books. Keep them coming!
I could use something light to read or something happy...?
Books Completed in 2015
Here is a list of completed books with links to their info page on Goodreads and to the reviews I have written on Goodreads and Amazon (or Audible).
1. Among Others [2011] by Jo Walton [Kindle]. 5/5 stars [review: Goodreads; Amazon].
2. Knitting for Beginners [2014] by Susan Wilters [Kindle]. 2/5 stars [review: Goodreads; Amazon].
5. The Story of My Life [1902] by Helen Keller [Kindle] 4/5 stars [review: Goodreads; Amazon].
7. At Risk [2004] by Stella Rimington [audible.com audiobook] [review: Goodreads; Audible].
6. The Dispossessed [1974] by Ursula Le Guin [Kindle]. 5/5 stars [review: Goodreads; Amazon]
3. Interpreter of Maladies [1999], short stories by Jhumpa Lahiri [audiobook]. [review: Goodreads]
9. The Handmaid's Tale [1985] by Margaret Atwood [Kindle]. [review: Goodreads; Amazon]
8. The Lady Astronaut of Mars [2012] by Mary Robinette Kowal [Kindle]. [review: Goodreads; Amazon]
I suppose I also have to decide whether to number these in the order finished or in the order started? Decisions, decisions... Numbers can be so confusing for me...
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