As it’s 11/9, I’m well into 3, 2, 1 month (3 Authors, 2 Books, 1 month). I began November by starting the audiobook version of House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III and a print version of The Violent Bear it Away by Flannery O’Connor.
Thoughts:
House of Sand and Fog was incredible. It feels odd to say that because it was gut wrenching and dark. I will be thinking about this novel for a very long time to come. I’ll be posting a full review Friday, but I enjoyed the fact that this book was narrated by the author and his wife, Fontaine Dollas Dubus. While they are not the best narrators I’ve experienced, this story was ingrained inside them and I could sense that. Others could have better performed it, but I don’t think anyone else could have lived it they way that they did.
I am about a third of the way through The Violent Bear It Away. What stands out to me the most from this book is that I completely screwed up the title on Twitter not once, but twice. I started with The Violent Bare It All (porno version apparently) and then “corrected” it with The Violent Bear It All. I blame extreme exhaustion for the lapse, but it’s also true that I’m not very involved in the story. I last picked it up Friday night and haven’t had the desire to pick it up again. It isn’t that it’s bad, it’s not. I’m just not “there.” From what I’ve gathered from my tweeps, it’s best to start with O’Connor’s short stories. I have the audio version of Everything That Rises Must Converge. I’m contemplating reading A Good Man Is Hard To Find and going back to The Violent Bear It Away some other time.
Moving Forward:
I am chomping at the bit to get to some Stewart O’Nan. I got my eGalley copy of his latest novel, The Odds on my Kindle this very minute and it’s killing me to stay away from it. My original O’Nan plans were to read A Prayer for the Dying and Wish You Were Here, which leads up to Emily, Alone. With The Odds burning a hole in my Kindle, I think I’ll hold off on Wish You Were Here until next month, when my pre-oredered paperback copy of Emily, Alone is due to arrive. After the kids are in bed tonight, I’m going to be jumping into The Odds with both feet.
In audio, I’ve started Dr. No, the next James Bond book by Ian Fleming. It’s not part of 3, 2, 1, but it is part of my Shaken, Not Stirred Ian Fleming/Simon Vance challenge. Our November Twitter party is scheduled for 11/19, which will be here before we know it.
With Thanksgiving quickly approaching for us Americans, I’m curious to see how it will impact my reading. We’re planning a trip to Grand Rapids, so I may not get much read at all once we’re on the road to Michigan.
Now that you know what I’ve been up to on the bookish front so far this month, how has your month been? Have you read anything outstanding?
I’m having a pretty good month so far I have read THE KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD which is a really dark story about a 40-something teacher who has a relationship with a 16 year old student. Next I read The language of Flowers which was a beautifully written story with some great mother/daughter themes. Then just for fun I read some vampire fiction THE STRAIN. I’m also reading THE MARRIAGE PLOT for the readalong. In audio, I just finished THE NIGHT STRANGERS which I loved both the story and the production. I’m having getting ready to start listening to READY PLAYER ONE and start reading the second book in the vampire series called THE FALL
I have heard great things about The Language of Flowers, The Night Stranger and Ready Player One. I haven’t heard about The Kingdom of Childhood. All of that and vampires. Definitely a good reading month.
I have House of Sand and Fog but haven’t read it–now you’re tempting me and I have such a big pile of books to read!
My suggestion – pick a time when you can read ferociously and won’t mind some darkness and anxiety. It has definitely been a highlight of my reading year.
I wouldn’t even be able to begin to guess how long House of Sand and Fog has been on my TBR pile. One day I really must read it!
You are not alone in having it on your TBR for a long time. I’ve had it on one list or another since before I started blogging. Thank goodness for my review copy of Townie. It was exactly what I needed to get my act together.
Your enthusiasm for The House of Sand and Fog has been infectious, and when I finish the final edits on my new novel, I’m going to read it.
Happy Thursday, Jennifer!
You’ve heard right; it is better to start with O’Connor’s short stories. I’d recommend A Good Man is Hard to Find. I think the collection has seven or eight stories. It’s still heavy lifting, but more manageable.