Happy Mother's Day! I've finished off a delicious pancake breakfast, opened some gifts, and have now settled in with my laptop for a few minutes before preparing Mother's Day dinner for my mother.I'm happy to report that this has been a somewhat more productive reading week. After two busy weekends on the road, we are finally spending one at home and I have finally finished a book! My review of The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield will be posted later this week. This week's short story, The Lady's Maid's Bell by Edith Wharton, was a wonderful surprise. I was expecting a story of New York's Gilded Age, but found myself wrapped up in a ghost story instead!
I started reading The Big House: A Century in the Life of an American Summer Home by George Howe Colt. It is my bookclub's May selection and already has me wishing for a long, leisurely summer on the Cape. I also printed out Virginia Woolf's essay How Should One Read a Book? to read later this week.
Two new books were purchased this week. The first, The Best American Short Stories of the Century edited by John Updike, was totally an impulse purchase. If you've been reading this blog for any time at all, you'll know that I rediscovered short stories this year. A Short Story Monday post has become a regular feature here and I've discovered some very talented writers. This collection was just too appealing to leave behind. As soon as I got this book home, I sat down and read two stories for tomorrow's post.
The other purchase (the one that I went to the store armed with a 30% off coupon to make) is A Jury of Her Peers - American Women Writer's from Anne Bradstreet to Annie Proulx by Elaine Showalter. This is a book I brought home from the library, but quickly decided I needed to own it instead. I'm not sure yet if this will be a book to read straight through, or whether I'll pick it up to read a chapter here and there. Either way, I know I'll enjoy working my way through it!
What are you reading this Sunday?
A Jury of Her Peers is one I am slowly making my way through also. Just like The Book of Dead Philosophers. But enjoying both and love both cover designs.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading!
Frances,
ReplyDeleteI had to check The Book of Dead Philosophers on amazon - hadn't heard of that one, but looks like another for my wish list! Thank you so much for visiting.
I'm working my way through Dickens' Great Expectations, having not read much of him at all in my life. Good for you for enjoying short stories; I'm not such a huge fan because they end too quickly for me to befriend the characters. But, maybe I'll gain a better appreciation through you. A very Happy Mother's Day to you!
ReplyDeleteBellezza,
ReplyDeleteI've come to think that short stories are an acquired taste. I like that they let me 'try out' new authors without as large an expenditure of time as a novel.
I haven't read much Dickens, but two of my daughters loved Great Expectations. Other than A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities is all I've read.
Woolf's essay is absolutely wonderful as is her Hours in a Library. I read them for an essay challenge and was so pleasantly surprised because my prior readings of Woolf did not go over well. I hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteHappy belated Mother's day:)
BookPsmith,
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to Woolf's essay. I haven't had much luck reading her in the past, so I thought I'd give essays a try.
Hope your Mother's Day was happy, too!
Happy Mother's Day! It's nice to spend some time at home isn't it?
ReplyDeleteLisa,
ReplyDeleteI think just being at home was the best part of the weekend! Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day, too.