It is Friday afternoon and very warm in my little corner of Switzerland. I thought I would post a short update of what I’ll be reading over the weekend and then find a nice, cool spot under the tree in the garden. I plan on bringing a few liters of homemade raspberry lemonade with me!
I stayed up late last night and read Kate Chopin’s first novel At Fault, which I quite enjoyed. It struck me as significant that Chopin published this novel in 1890; it definitely seemed like a novel ahead-of-its-time. Which I realize is often how The Awakening is described, but that book was actually published nine years later. I’d like to read Hardy’s Tess of the D’Ubervilles next to see how it compares, since it was published in 1891.
There is a small void on my nightstand since finishing Anne Fadiman’s Ex Libris, but I’m hoping to fill it by starting to read through The Penguin Book of Contemporary American Essays…
Otherwise I’m on the hunt for some outstanding contemporary fiction. I’ve got lots to choose from on the shelves but haven’t been able to make up my mind:
Do I start Midnight’s Children? Do I read one of the two Carol Shield novels I recently received? Do I break down and read Ishiguro’s Nocturnes, knowing I will have to read from cover to cover?
So difficult…
7 responses so far ↓
Steph // July 3, 2009 at 5:16 pm |
Something you might enjoy if you haven’t read them already are Nick Hornby’s essays/articles that he wrote for The Guardian. They’re all about books, and are so much fun to read (though I warn you that you’ll likely add tons to your TBR list!). They might be a nice substitute now that you’re done with the Fadiman. Start with The Polysyllabic Spree and go from there (he’s published three total volumes).
Lilian Nattel // July 4, 2009 at 12:12 am |
Wonderful choices. I haven’t read At Fault but I like Kate Chopin so I’ll add it to my list. Have you read Esther Waters by George Moore? It’s another 1890’s novel and one that reads surprisingly modern.
gentle reader // July 4, 2009 at 6:00 am |
Ooh, I really enjoyed The Awakening, so I’ll have to put At Fault onto my list! Let me know what you choose to read next
ds // July 4, 2009 at 7:26 am |
Oh no, another Kate Chopin–I will have to read it (loved The Awakening & have read some of her shorter works as well, but had not heard of At Fault)! Only you would consider comparing Chopin with Hardy
I second Steph: rush right out and read Nick Hornby’s essays NOW. They will do for your TBR what you have done for mine–expand it exponentially…
Of course, Midnight’s Children is wonderful & riveting & I can’t wait to get my hands on Nocturnes, either. Horrid to have so many choices, isn’t it?
ted // July 5, 2009 at 2:47 pm |
I’ll be curious to hear if you can get through Midnight’s Children. But I think you are a much more dogged and patient reader than I. I’ve tried.
Dorothy W. // July 5, 2009 at 4:21 pm |
I’m not familiar with At Fault, but I admire Chopin, so I’ll have to check it out. I’m curious what you will think of the Penguin book of essays; I don’t have that one and am always on the lookout for essay anthologies, so I hope it’s a good one!
verbivore // July 6, 2009 at 1:53 pm |
Steph – I have heard wonderful things about Hornby’s essays, thank you for reminding me. I should find a copy and dive in.
Lillian – No I haven’t, thank you for the suggestion. I will have a look right away.
Gentle Reader – Apparently, readers might be disappointed with At Fault if they read it after The Awakening. I read The Awakening so long ago now I can hardly remember it, so I’m curious to see what I will think since I definitely enjoyed At Fault.
DS – Way too many choices. And I was clearly overwhelmed because I went for something completely different and read Chekhov’s The Shooting Party instead. Will definitely get my hands on the Hornby essays – thank you.
Ted – Now I am very curious, I’ve heard such great things about this book, I didn’t think it might be difficult to get through. So we’ll see!
Dorothy – I’ll let you know about the Penguin essays, some of them are older so it will be interesting to see how the essay format has evolved…