Looking for a good book to read? Me too! It's so exciting that we met each other here. This is going to work out just fine.
How's it goin' eh? (I couldn't resist)
Raise your hand if you like to read! Now take that hand and slap yourself in the butt because that's the last time you're going to have any feeling in it for the rest of the winter. The holidays are over, the house is cleaned up and it's January. Put your furry slippers on, the official month of slothing has begun.
It's time to revel in the fact that you have no lawn to cut, no garden to weed and no gutters to clean. Unless you're renovating your house or spending 5 nights a week taking tap dancing lessons, chances are you have time to whump your ass down on the couch and read.
I mean, I can't do that, I just fall asleep when I try to do that, which is why I only read before I'm going to bed. But YOU might have the rare talent of being able to open a book on the couch and read more than 3 sentences before waking in a pool of your own spittle. I do not have that talent.
Over the past few months I've made my way through a classic Agatha Christie novel, an adult fairy tale, a slavery novel and did NOT make it through an American classic, American Pastoral by Philip Roth.
Based on the description of American Pastoral, including the fact that it won the Pulitzer Prize, I thought I was going to really like it but within the first few pages I was drowning in a pool of my own spittle and I wasn't even asleep. I boredom drooled through the first chapter or so before I abandoned it. Life's too short for books you don't like.
The Agatha Christie classic, And Then There Were None (formerly named something I can't even type for fear Google will flag my site for racist language and also because ... well I just can't.) was good, but I wouldn't call it the greatest mystery of all time. Which incidentally is what it's considered. You can click here to read about it's original title on Wikipedia if you like.
I really liked the slavery novel The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead which also won the Pulitzer Prize. Unlike the Philip Roth novel, Whitehead pulled me into the story with his extraordinary writing as opposed to pushing me away from it. Whitehead's writing seemed effortless, Roth's seemed like he was doing everything he could to prove to me HE WAS A GOOD WRITER DAMMIT.
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And My Mrs. Brown by former Vogue editor and society page columnist William Norwich is a quick, fairytale-esque book about a plain, older woman who decides to save up for a $7,000 dress. It's a really easy, silly read but is also enlightening.
So those are a few I've gone through recently. For January (the official month of slothing) I'm going to be cracking open these books. Or at least one of them ...
Good Books to Read
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson is a book I've been reading on and off for a couple of months. It isn't a novel so it's something I feel like I can pick up and put down. I put it down a LOT, not because it isn't great but because it's terrifying. Not voodoo, horror show terrifying, but HOLY CRAP terrifying. It's exactly what it sounds like. A short history of nearly everything, starting with how the universe was formed. If you ever want to sort of understand how inconceivably vast the universe is and how inconceivably insignificant WE are ... read about how the universe was formed.
Benediction by Kent Haruf is one I've been holding off on. It's the third and final book in a series of books by the late author. I know when I finish it, it will be done. Haruf's writing is poetic in the most subtle way. The first two books in the series are Plainsong and Eventide so look at those two first if you're thinking of reading the series. And you should.
Tin Man by Sarah Winman is going to be a complete surprise to me. Someone I follow on Instagram raved about it so I bought it immediately. I have ZERO idea what it's about. And I'm going to keep it that way because sometimes it's fun just to not have a clue. Unless you're performing surgery, in which case ... that's just irresponsible.
The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware is the third novel of hers I'll have read in the past year. It's your basic suspense novel but I like them. Ruth Ware novels that is, not necessarily suspense novels. I didn't like Gone Girl for example and I HATED The Girl on the Train.
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. I still don't know if I'll be able to read this. I bought Kitchen Confidential as a Christmas present for my mother 2 years ago intending to read it after she did. Before I got to it, Anthony Bourdain committed suicide and I couldn't bring myself to read it. I, like a lot of people really liked Anthony Bourdain and was hit hard by his suicide. Definitely harder than I should have been considering I've never met the man. For instance, at least once a week I mutter "You f*cking asshole" to him in my head for one reason or another. It may not be this month, but some time this year I will read this book because more than an interesting character, a good chef or irreverent tv personality - Anthony Bourdain was a truly exceptional writer.
Lay it on me! What are you reading right now? Give everyone the name and a short description of what kind of book it is in the comments and before you know it we'll all be slothing our way out of winter and into spring.
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Donna Hargrove
Okay now I've got several more to add to my list! I just finished educated by Tara Westover - great read and very moving. The Outlander series are by far my favourite reads EVER, but set aside about 5 years to get through the 8 or 9 giant books!
The Art of Racing in the Rain is an excellent read as well.
I have one of Bill Bryson's books 'Home' which is the history of just that - how homes came to be what they are today. I haven't made it through yet, but the first few chapters are intriguing.
Now I'm off to find my next book ...
Kristin Ferguson
My favorite recent books were Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and (in an entirely different vein), Where’d You Go Bernadette? which I loved to bits. I have also been systematically rereading all the Agatha Christies, which I haven’t read since I was in my teens. I love the cozy peep into British everyday life in 1930-1940’s (I’m going chronologically and this is as far as I’ve come so far.) Although man, the casual racism! Cultural relativism and all that but, c’mon Agatha!
I’m also gonna read Bill Bryson’s One Summer. I love his writing so much. No one makes me laugh like Bill Bryson. Except maybe David Sedaris. I highly recommend Bryson’s Neither Here Nor There and I’m a Stranger Here Myself. Both so funny!
My sister gave me The Tuscan Child and another book whose title I can’t recall at this moment about a church choir in England during WWII.
I also have been loving a new book written by the producers of my favorite podcast, The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe, which is a general scientific look at how our brains play tricks on us and contribute to the conspiracies, silly beliefs and Virgin Mary tortillas, etc.
writing this, I realize I have a lot to read. There are at least seven more books I haven’t mentioned sitting in my shelf waiting for me! I’d better get cracking.
Teri on the left coast
By the way Karen, love the sweater. I’m old enough to remember the sturm und drang over the new flag with the maple leaf. Now it makes me happy to see it.
Jill F
When our book club read American Pastoral, the girl wo picked it walked in and threw it across the room! We all breathed a sigh of relief because we all hated it and most of us didn't finish it! I'm glad you weren't gushing over it, either!
Beth Nosworthy
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine!!!! Wonderful book. Also A Gentleman in Moscow.
Trish
One of my favourite Canadian authors is Giles Blunt. His series of books with John Cardinal as the main character are currently on tv titled " Cardinal". There are six books in the series, starting with 'Forty Words for Sorrow'.
PMMK
I love the Cardinal series! Giles Blunt and I were in the same high school English class about 100 years ago. I couldn't get over my surprise years later when I saw his face plastered on a huge poster in the underground concourse at Yonge and Eglinton subway, an advertisement for the launch of "Forty Words for Sorrow". I remembered him well because he was always more polite than the average male humanoid hooligans in our school. That means almost all of the other guys. I didn't even remember him standing out as a writer when we were teens. A boy named Wayne wrote some entertaining and hilarious stories that I did remember. I was envious of Wayne. As a teen I couldn't even write a grocery list if my life depended on it. I had to read "Forty Words ..." several times. First of all because I couldn't keep myself from imagining our classmates as the characters in the novel, which was very distracting, and then again because it was such a damned good read.
Jessie Gairdner
Bought a cheap book at my local grocery store, The Swans of Fifth Avenue. Melanie Benjamin is the author. Story is about 5 New York socialites and their relationship with Truman Capote. Was a very good read for $5. Based on true events as well.
Shawn
Anything written by Lisa Scottoline, best selling author! I think the two of you may have been separated at birth! Lol
Julie
Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese. The ending got me. I wanted to write the author but then found out he passed in 2017! Quick read only because I couldn't put it down.
Sara Brashear
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. What if you could live your life over and over until you get it right? This novel is mesmerizing! You’ll want to read it again immediately after you finish it as I’m doing now.
judy
The Dog Stars by Peter Heller was a book that I just loved and I would love to know if anyone else found it as engrossing. I won't include any caveats cause I don't want to provide spoilers or discourage reading it. I have always loved reading,gave away 15 boxes of books to the local prison and have 7 6' x3' bookcases filled,and more books in the attic. I thought of getting rid of them but maybe our 2 sons 54 and 58 will enjoy them after we're gone. Lovely thought,a coffee,a couch and a good book-wonderful way to slip gracefully into old age.
Alex Griller
OK, Karen, I give in since no one else has asked. Where did you get the brass lamp? Is it a brass lamp??
Love all the book recs. So sad that we lost both Bourdain and Haruf. Two entirely different but gorgeous writers.
Amy Hart
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, Where the Crawdads Sing and Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and the best of all - The Golem and the Jinni - just fabulous!
Mara
Being a nerdy librarian, my winter break reads included:
The Library Book by Susan Orlean.
The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth and Other Curiosities from the History of Medicine by Thomas Morris.
Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities by Amy Stewart .
Dracul by Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker, which is a brief foray into fiction (or is it?) for me.
Just started American Eden: David Hosack, Botany, and Medicine in the Garden of the Early Republic by Victoria Johnson
Bonnie Harris
Before I forget, I like your sweater, is it handknit?
I'm almost finished The Death of Mrs. Westerbury and it's pretty good. I like that it's sort of an old-fashion English country-house mystery set in believable today's world.
I don't like anything too dark or too silly, and especially enjoy mysteries.
Here are some authors I've enjoyed in the last few years (taken from my library and Kobo histories) . . .
Frances Brody, Wayson Choy, Michael Connelly, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Esi Edugyan, |Lawrence Hill, Freda Jackson, Vincent Lam, Linden MacIntyre, Margaret Mayhew, Deborah Moggach, John Mortimer, Alice Munro, Barbara Pym, Ann B. Ross, Annie Proulx, Alexander McCall Smith, Guy Vanderhaeghe, Martin Walker, S. J. Watson, P.G. Wodehouse, Inger Ash Wolfe.
Christine
Totally off topic.l am 66 next month and have never coloured my hair.l have been blessed with natural blonde hair and it is still blonde but your ash was so inspiring l went for highlights.omg! Thank you,it looks amazing!
On topic,l am trying to read through the BBC top 100 books.l never will finish because l am NOT reading the Bible! I did make it through Moby Dick only because l was on a beach in Grand Cayman with lggy Pop a few towels over( he is way better looking in person).Worst book ever!
Karen
I haven't met Anthony Bourdain but I did meet Iggy Pop for a few seconds. Wait, no. It might have been his son Eric, lol. K. nevermind. ~ karen!
Gretchen Sexton
Hamilton by Ron Chernow--not a page-turner, but I enjoyed the musical so much I wanted to give it a shot. Turns out that Alexander Hamilton was a remarkable human being. While the book is not a thriller, it is consistently interesting. It's one I started last year and will finish this year.
Transition by Kate Atkinson-a curious story of a young woman who transcribes conversations of German spies for the English CIA (MI5) and the consequences of that in her life. Well written, told in first person (with lots of thoughts and commentary interjected), and somewhat of a mystery because the main character is trying to figure things out. Almost done with it.
Coming soon: How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals. Can't wait.
Gone Girl (Although now I'm skeptical because you didn't like it.)
Almost Everything- Notes on Hope by Anne Lamott-because I'm needing hope these days.
Suzanne LH
Adore Anne Lamont. Would read her description of playing tiddlywinks.
Becky
I haven’t read Transcription but life after life by Kate Atkinson was really good!
Kipper
We have those little lending library boxes in the hood. I’ve read lots of books that I’d probably never buy or borrow from the city library and enjoyed most of them.
Current read is Crazy Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan, which I just started.
I’ve passed on the Anthony Bourdain books as his passing still saddens me.
Bonnie
I’m reading Killers of the Flower Moon about the murders of the Osage people and the birth of the FBI. I’m also reading The Crowning of Calla Lily Ponder, a coming of age story. I just finished My Cousin, Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier of Rebecca fame. All recommends.
Norma
You might enjoy Bryson's At home: a short history of private life. It's a tour through his home in England and each room sends him into a history of that type of room, e.g. the kitchen. It's fascinating.