This post is actually pretty much a comment that I left on Gigi Thibodeau's new writing blog, The Magpie's Pen. After I commented, I decided it was long enough to be a blog post on it's own, with a few more details added! Be sure to check out both of Gigi's blogs, The Magpie's Fancy and The Magpie's Pen—they are both beautiful, well written, interesting blogs.
Right now I'm reading The Distant Hours by Kate Morton. It's a British novel, reminiscent of the Gothic novels I read as a younger person, and the heroines are also writers—I'm enjoying it. I should finish it tonight—the scariest part is coming up, I think!
I'm also reading a book called The Art of Attention by Donald Revell. This one is deep—I read a bit and then have to ponder. I love the book—it's about paying attention to the world as a way of finding poetry and the Divine. Excellent book.
I also have more in the series about writing called The Art of…; I think I have The Art of Syntax, by Ellen Bryant Voigt and The Art of Description, by Mark Doty, in my stack, thanks to Interlibrary Loan. I love Interlibrary Loan—it allows me to read almost any book that my heart desires, if I am willing to wait a bit. And since there are many more books in The Art of series, I have a lot to look forward to.
I 'm also reading One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp . Yes, I read multiple books at a time—something for every mood! Voskamp writes about being thankful for everything as a way of finding and loving God. The book is prose, but she is definitely a poet. Her writing is breathtaking—as a matter of fact, thinking about her way of writing led me to thinking about syntax, and then the book The Art of Syntax came into my attention—synchronicity!
And these aren't including the other books stacked around the house—from the library, from friends, or my own books. Books I've dipped into enough to know I want to finish reading them, yet I haven't started yet.
It was a sobering realization when one day I realized that no matter how much I read I would never be able to read everything in the world—or even everything in my own house—let alone all the new books that are being written every day! Oh, that is so sad to think! Still, I am going to give it my best shot! I read every spare moment that I get. How about you?
4 comments:
I am also reading more than one book, and the majority of them are books whereas the reader is given a challenge to address in writing. So I won't be finished reading them for weeks. The one novel I'm reading is the last one in the series by Stieg Larsson, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. Absolutely love the characters whom I would categorize as the good guys. It is so sad that Larsson died soon after he handed in all three manuscripts at one time. I've not been able to find out how or why he died.
When my daughter first begun reading at a very young age she progress quickly through all the books in our little library at home. Living in a tiny rural community libraries were scarce and rare treats. We did however have a bookmobile that visited one of the home of one of the older couples on our little backroad, so we were regular patrons of the crowded shelf in the corner of their living room. My daughter would request books by authors she was familiar with or dealing with her favorite topics. When she finally went to public school and was taken to the library for the first time she remembers thinking, "wow, there are a lot of new books here, but I can read all of them". Her response was similar when she first was exposed to the county's public library. She says she will never forget that the first time she encountered a LARGE library she became upset because she realized she would never live long enough to read all the books ever written. But, she surely makes the effort. While I do not aspire as highly as she does, I do enjoy spending time with a good book. And, I am thankful that my children and grandchildren also have a love for reading. As a teacher, I am continually trying to pass this love on to my students, however, at the high school level it is much more difficult than it is with younger children. I have recently introduced several students to Dan Brown, and they are passing his books around amongst themselves, discussing ideas, and comparing experiences. It is so much fun to watch.
me too. i usually am reading more than one book, at a time.
i really do love the feel of a book, in my hands.
hello my friend.
xo
Thank you! I often choose books to read based on your recommendations! I was not familiar with the Art series, but now I'm going to look for them! I'm reading a book that is hard to get in to, so... I may switch to your recommendations!
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