january reading

Writing about books is not the easiest thing to do. Loving or choosing a book is so personal and it's a bit like your palate - you may love the taste of pesto, but I may not, no matter how hard I try. I may sing the praises of mushrooms but they make your skin crawl - it's okay. I have never claimed to be a great book reviewer but I always love to talk about what I'm reading and hear what others are discovering. I want to get better about expressing the what and the how behind my reading. This year, I am still keeping up with my reading with my little paper journal, but also trying to use Goodreads more. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and it's also where I pledged to read 75 books this year. It's very easy to organize a shelf just for the year and that makes it easier than flipping through several years of books read. 

I usually try to take a picture of what I'm reading, because why not obsessively record my book reading? I've got all bases covered. My grandchildren will never doubt that that crazy darling Granny Sam was a bookworm. 

The funny thing about sharing what you're reading with others is that you start to judge your choices. I admit I ask myself: is this book WORTHY? Would I be embarrassed to tell someone I'm reading this? I try not to let it keep me from what I want to read, because I am not above a re-read of a childhood favorite if that's what my heart needs. Or something silly and light. 

With that said, it's pretty embarrassing that I started off the year with Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper. This is a memoir by Diablo Cody, who, of course, wrote Juno. It was extremely readable. Still, the world of strip clubs is anything but pretty. Cody seemed to fall into stripping, and later, other situations. I admit I learned far more about fetishes than I ever wanted to know when she recounted her stint at one of those peep show places. Look, I'm all about being in touch with your sexuality, but some people are just plain disturbed. If anything, it made me sad for women who get stuck in that life - it's completely disgusting how many strip joints are run. Still, I suppose you could say I enjoyed reading about a whole world that I have no first hand experience in. I couldn't put the book down. 

What really made it interesting is that Cody went in to her experience with a sense of trying to connect with her inner, unexplored bad girl. She was college educated and had a pretty good idea of what she was walking into - and yet she had to wrestle with feelings of selling herself and what that means.How low do you go, and for how high a price? So, it's really not just about stripper heels and weird fetishes. Lots of good things to think about as you read. 

Next up was Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, which has been on my to-read list for quite some time. It was truly funny. I don't often laugh out loud while reading, but this book made me do so. It was pleasant and charming and I learned a lot about Mennonites. Really, it was more about the cultural aspects of the author's Mennonite family rather a spiritual journey, but it was fascinating all the same. See, it's been over a month since I read it and this is all I'm coming away with - nothing too deep, but a fun read. 

I happened to find Little Bee at the library, after picking it up and putting it down several times in bookstores over the past year. Someone told me I absolutely had to read it, so I finally did. The whole deal is that you're not supposed to say what happens in the end, but I can say that it is truly fascinating. Especially with all the rhetoric and tragedy that our own country's immigration policies generate, it's eye-opening to read what other countries do with their own illegal aliens. Of course, it's not just about immigration. I do highly recommend it, though it's not a feel-good read by any stretch of the imagination. 

After all the emotional issues of Little Bee, I gravitated towards an old favorite: Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher. I've read this book countless times since high school and it's always such a comfort. This time, I got very emotional reading it. It's not a surprise when a character dies but I feel so connected to them that I cried several times. The complexity of the relationships struck me this time, and of Judith being so alone in the world. I always come back this book with more understanding: of the war, of relationships, and it stands the test of time. I realize it may not be important literature but it's a story that always calls to me. 

I think I'll give February it's own post, so look at that - another day, another post! Let me know what you're reading and if you want to be friends on Goodreads. 

Comments

[lizardek]

I've looked at Little Bee several times at the bookstore, but keep walking away without it, too. Hmmm...will have to give it another look.

[el-e-e]

I'm still slogging through Cutting for Stone. It's good, but so dense.

These are great recommendations. I'm definitely interested in Little Bee, Mennonite in a LBD, and my Mom has been trying to convince me to read Rosamunde Pilcher for YEARS. Seriously, years. I need to put her on my list ASAP.

Your description of the stripper book reminded me very much of the feelings I had when I read "Brothel: Mustand Ranch and its Women," by Alexa Albert. It's one you might like for its "totally other world I've never known about" quality.

I have a Goodreads account but I NEVER use it. Hrm.

[el-e-e]

Mustang Ranch. whoops.

[Sam]

El-e-e, oooh, sounds good. A brothel! That's a whole different sort of interesting. As for Rosamunde Pilcher, she has a ton of shorter novels that are easy to read in a day or two. Very light and yet satisfying. She also has two books of short stories that are wonderful, too. Coming Home and The Shell Seekers are pretty long, but oh so worth it. September is not quite as long...

[Nancy]

Thanks for the book reviews. I love Goodreads and your blog, so I friend requested you over there. :-)

[lindsey]

little bee blew me away! and i loved mennonite in a little black dress. currently reading the paris wife and allison pearson's, i think i love you (i had a thing for david cassidy, too)! i always LOVE your book reviews.

xo