What I'm Reading, Week 33

Two miniatures from the Sarajevo Haggadah

Just yesterday, I finished reading Geraldine Brooks' People of the Book, a fictional account of the history of the very real Sarajevo Haggadah. The novel, unfortunately, failed to captivate me as intensely as the idea of the haggadah itself. Certainly, I have no complaints on the way it was written, or the characterization, or the plot in general, which definitely had enough thrills for the average fiction reader. But for a history junkie like me, I just kept thinking about the haggadah, and who really created it, and the people who used it for their seders over centuries past. This haggadah in particular is also of special note because it is one of the most elaborately illustrated and illuminated texts to survive from the medieval Jewish community in Spain.

If you're looking for an exciting story with a historical setting, you should definitely check this out, but if you have an interest in medieval European history, I think you'll find yourself wanting to go more in depth than is intended in the scope of this book.

What I'm Reading, Week 30

Aaaaaand, we're back. While I was away from my blogginess, one of the books I finished was A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson. I must admit, it was beautifully written, but I found it less immersive than her previous novel, Life After Life. This is not to say that it was bad, but I think Atkinson wrote a more engaging main character in Life After Life.

That being said, taken together, the two novels give an affecting impression of the horrors of World War II. I find that, when trying to convey the scope of such a massive tragedy, using the microcosm of a single character's experience can be much more effective than simply stating facts and figures. Through Ursula Todd, in Life After Life, and her brother Teddy in A God in Ruins, Atkinson does just this. Somehow, the personal aspect engages the reader in such a way that it seems more, I don't know, real. Both are definitely worth a read, but if I had to choose one or the other, it'd be Life After Life, no contest.

What I'm Reading, Week 20

Just started this piece of historical fiction. Honestly, I started reading it so quickly after finishing Amy Poehler's book (I think there was all of two minutes between that one and this) that I'm not even sure what's going on yet. This is what I've gathered so far:

World War II

Occupied France

Blind chick

Very young German soldier

Possible pirate treasure

Yeah, so that's what I got. It's enough to keep going.

What I'm Reading, Week 17

Still reading Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell! It's quite long, turns out.

Normally, this is not something that would bother me in any way, but I've only got the same three weeks in which to read this, Wolf Hall, and The Paris Wife, on account of how things came off hold through my public library account. It never rains, but it pours, am I right?

Seriously, though, I'm not an idiot, I know most people who work 50-60 hours a week are not also trying to read 100 books in 365 days.

Anyway, I'm still really enjoying this book, I'm nearly halfway through, I only wish I had a little more leisure at which to read it. You know what I mean? Definitely give it a go if you have any interest in a dry sort of fantasy (I can't think how else to describe it properly).

What I'm Reading, Week 16

I waited what felt like an eternity for this to come off hold, and by the time it did, I'd forgotten all about it. I must say, though, I'm having a hell of a time reading it, in the best possible way. It's set in early 19th century England, so there's that right off the bat to get me engaged, and it seems so far to concern at least one very odd man who intends to bring the practice of magic back to his country. I've read Susanna Clarke before, and she has an interesting habit of writing somewhat in the style of the period in which she sets her tales. I find it enjoyable, but I fear it might be a hindrance to less voracious readers. Nevertheless, I'm excited to discover what follows in this book! Tentatively, I'm quite willing to recommend it.

Happy Wednesday!

What I'm Reading, Week 11

I'm struggling, y'all.

I'm currently reading The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters, and despite being set in post-WWI England, it's just so awfully Lifetime scandalous. I've already read half of it, and in my quest to complete 100 books, I feel like I can't justify not finishing, but it's just not enjoyable. It's so tawdry and needlessly dramatic. Ugh.

I've also had a couple other books come off hold, so it's quite possible this one will just fall by the wayside. The ending is totally going to be absurd and overblown. Ugh, just, ugh.