Reading Log, March 2009

In March, I had not yet left for the US. All of this reading took place in Poland, including the audiobooks. In fact, I didn't have time to listen to audiobooks while I was in the States.

The House of the Prophet by Louis Auchincloss

This is the 3rd book I've read by this author. I'm definitely an Auchincloss fan (especially since I found out he's related to Edith Wharton), but his books are not light reading--lots to think about and completely character-driven.

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler

Everything I've ever read by Anne Tyler has been top-notch, and this was as well. It the bitter-sweet story of a family muddling along, not always being very nice to each other (to say the least), but never entirely abandoning the family bond, either.

The Appeal by John Grisham

I finally got to read his latest (found it my library of all things--they don't have new books very often). I'd rate this one as just okay--not his best.

The Perfect Spy by John LeCarre

I like spy novels from time to time, but this was less a spy novel than the story of a son suffering from a dysfunctional relationship with his father. I won't be picking up more by LeCarre.

Something New by P.G. Wodehouse--(audio book from Librivox)

This was funny, as most of Wodehouse's books are. I love his understated humor (make that "humour") that just keeps going and going.


The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

This falls into the category of psychological thriller, and I like to read this sort of thing from time to time. This one reminded me a bit of Ira Levin. You see things from the criminal's point of view, but you still don't like him or approve of his actions. There are more books about Ripley, and I'll read them if they fall in my way, but probably won't search them out.

But Inside I'm Screaming by Elizabeth Flock

A woman in mental institution--it's not a pretty scenario, but it was an okay book. It was semi-autobiographical. This is the second book I've read by this author. I'd definitely read another, although I wouldn't call her a favorite. But she does characters well, and if the characters are really well-drawn, I'm hooked.

Those were the books I read in March--seven in all. It's such a tidy, modest number, don't you think? The book gluttony didn't start until April, you see, when I left for the States...

Dusting out the cobwebs

I'm a half-hearted blogger at best. I like the idea of blogging more than the actual work of sitting down and writing thoughtful posts every day. Or every week. Or every month, apparently, since my last post was in February. In my last post I was lamenting the cold, the snow, and the dark, short days. Now I'm sitting here with the outside breeze wafting through the open door, the ceiling fan whirring, and sunshine spilling through the window. It will be light past 9:00 pm, and I'll forget to send the kids to bed at anything like a reasonable hour.

Part of my absence from blogdom this time is connected with my absence from home. I spent nearly two months in the United States, and just returned home a couple of days ago, with a "books I've read" list as long as my arm.

I nearly dumped the total list into a reading log for March, April, and May combined, but decided that was ridiculous. Even if anyone cares what I've been reading, they aren't going to slog though a list like that.

The thing about the United States? It's full of books. Book in English. Books at thrift stores. Books at rummage sales, garage sales, and libraries. Books in homes and books in stores. They were unavoidable, and I seemed to have a lot of reading time on my hands.

To say that I indulged in a form of book gluttony rarely encountered would be only to state the inevitable, I think.

Without taking the time to blog, or journal, or contemplate, or even think, much, I simply basked in the opportunity to read pretty much as much as I wanted to. (Did you know that there are places in the US where you can find books for 29 cents? I hope those of you who live there appreciate that fact.) My indulgence took many forms, and if some of the titles on my lists cause anyone to shake a head or laugh out loud, so be it.

Coming soon: Reading Logs for March, April, and May...