Sorry I’ve been absent. The past month has been a jumble of personal and
professional challenges, so the blog took an unplanned vacation of sorts.
But I’ve been reading—lots. Here’s a snapshot of what’s caught my
attention:
· Life
After Life by Kate Atkinson.
(Oddly, another novel with the same title appeared at about the same time last
year.) This was a re-read for me, as it was my book group’s selection for July.
I’d immersed myself in both the book and unabridged audio CD last year. I’m a
huge fan of Atkinson’s work and loved this novel, which seemed more expansive
and complex than her Jackson Brodie “mysteries.” (Quote marks because the
Brodie books are more existential mysteries than the traditional genre fare.)
Life After Life, with its time shifts and multiple what-if
scenarios, requires—and rewards—close reading. Not all books stand up to a
second reading, but Life After Life
did—in spades. More than ever, I admire Atkinson’s wit and vivid evocation of
domestic dynamics. She is a marvel.
· All
the Light We Cannot See by
Anthony Doerr deserves longer discussion, which I’ll tackle soon. For now, just
to note that this is among my favorite books of 2014.
· Love,
Nina: A nanny writes home by
Nina Stribbe was a library book, not a purchase—a good deal, as it was a fun,
gossipy read, but ultimately forgettable.
And here are the top
books in my to-be-read stack:
· The
Stories of Jane Gardam. I
love Gardam’s novels (Old Filth, etc)
and look forward to dipping into this collection of short stories.
· Middlemarch by George Eliot. Delicious to anticipate
re-reading (again, for my book group) this—perhaps my favorite novel of all
time. I’m also planning to read, as a companion piece, My Life in Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead.
