Despite a hectic couple of weeks at school, I am reading. Blogging about books, posting reviews, reading and commenting on blogs: not so much. I'm hoping that once I get past the grading frenzy that approaches as the quarter draws to a close, I will have a little more time for reading blogs and writing reviews. So here's what I've been reading:
During silent sustained reading time (every Friday) I usually read something from our school media center. I am more than halfway through My Lobotomy, a memoir by Howard Dully. This gut-wrenching book recounts the life of Howard Dully, who was the victim of a lobotomy at age twelve, mostly because of the decisions made by an egotistical and sadistic doctor, and a neurotic stepmother. I've also been reading Burned by Ellen Hopkins. Hopkins writes for a young adult audience, and her fiction is written entirely in verse. Students are enthralled by these books, so I thought I would see what it's all about. I'm impressed.
At home I've been finishing up the galley/advanced reader copy of Dave Maine's Gamble of the Godless, a strange and strangely endearing fantasy novel by a respected novelist who usually takes his stories from Biblical tales. Gamble of the Godless is available only as an e-book. A full review is coming soon.
Also at home, I started Christy English's To Be Queen this weekend. It was exactly the right book for my crazy life. To Be Queen tells the story of Aquitaine's early life.
Finally, I'll be starting Joan Leegant's Wherever You Go. It is a novel about three Americans in Israel. It looks like my kind of novel (complex, well-written literary fiction) so I'm looking forward to this one.
Oh, and amongst the published books I'm reading (or planning to read) I've been reading a manuscript by a talented writer and blogger. I'm a beta reader, which is kind of cool. My lifetime aspiration is to write a novel of my own, and it is impressive to read a work in progress that is so good. Who, you might ask, is this writer? The talented Mayowa Atte at Pens with Cojones. To get a taste of Mayowa's wonderful writing, check out his post "Notes from a Visit Home."
It's Monday-what are you reading?
6 comments:
I'm on a bit of an ancient classics jag (again;-). I'm reading Robert Graves' "The Greek Myths," and Robert Fitzgerald's translation of "The Iliad." This week I will also be reading a translation of Euripides' "The Trojan Women" aloud to my wife as we will be seeing a performance of the play at the Getty Villa next Saturday evening.
And, as if this weren't enough, I'm still plowing my way through the masterful Julie Rose translation of Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables."
I wish you a wonderful week and happy reading! Cheers! Chris
Burned by Ellen Hopkins sounds interesting. Poetry and fiction are hard enough to write without combining them. Christy English sounds interesting as well - I'm a historical fiction buff - when I read the title on your Sunday Coffee I thought it might be non-fidtion about Elizabeth II (ugh - modern royal biographies are so greasy and often have a greater resemblance to fiction than fiction itself).
I hope you like the Leegant book. I read it last year and enjoyed it. She's coming to a local temple book club in early October; I kind of can't wait to meet her!
Thank you for reading my work, Lisa and for such kind words!
Gamble of the Godless sounds like a great read. I'll be looking out your review.
I'm currently reading Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okarafor for an Independence Day (Nigeria's) meme on the 1st. Going okay so far.
@Christopher-immersing yourself in the Greeks, I see. I know you don't waste your time on fluff!
@Scriptor Senex-I'm really only just starting to read some historical fiction. I do enjoy losing myself in the past.
@Marie-I'm looking forward to the Leegant. If you meet her, maybe you'll write a post about the book club? I'd like to read about it.
@Mayowa-your post about home is so powerful-one of your best pieces ever.
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