Hello from sunny Florida. I hope all of you in the path of this monster winter storm are safe indoors, warm, and cozying up with a good book. It's actually warmer than normal here, but we're expecting a cooler week ahead.
I don't have the words to convey how angry and disheartened I am by the news this week, so will jump right into the book talk.
RECENT READING
Seascraper by Benjamin Wood
This short novel, longlisted for the Booker Prize, is heavy on atmosphere and light on plot. The writing, as you'd expect, is very good and it's probably best read in just one or two sittings. I made the mistake of beginning the book before we left on our travels, setting it aside while we were on the road, and then picking it up again ten days later. The spell was broken. I own this book, and will likely pick it up for a reread at some point.
⭐⭐⭐💫
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
I really enjoyed this book! It's a bit lighter than my usual fare and has me thinking I should read more cozy mysteries. Vera made me laugh, but there were also times when I rolled my eyes at her antics. The plot includes a 'found family' element that I found heartwarming. Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping [On a Dead Man], the next book in the series, has been added to my tbr list.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
CURRENT READING
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
I'm going to do it this year - finally read War and Peace! Every year I think about giving it a try and this year I learned about a slow, chapter-a-day read sponsored by Simon Haisell at Footnotes & Tangents. I bought the Maude translation, started reading on New Year's Day, and everything was fine for nearly a week. Our travels derailed this book, too. But once we got settled in Florida, I made the decision to start over and catch up. I managed to do that this past week and am slightly surprised by how much I'm enjoying it! We'll see if I still feel that way when we get to the 'war' parts.
There is a set reading schedule, a daily summary with historical notes and asides, plus a daily chat thread... which I've only looked at once or twice. Wish me luck!
Are you in the storm's path? What are you reading this weekend?
The news this week is so disturbing -- it's hard to know where to start. But what they're doing with ICE in MN is sick. Seascraper really worked for me. I liked the protagonist and the storytelling and the setting. I would like to read more of Benjamin Wood's books. I might get to the Vera Wong book sometime. Enjoy your beach walks.
ReplyDeleteSusan - I really should have started Seascraper all over after the ten day break. As it turned out, I enjoyed the second segment (which I read in little more than 24 hours) much more. That could have been due to finally being ready to settle into a book again. Just wish I'd started over from the beginning. At least I own the book and can reread at some point.
DeleteWe are in the storm's path, but it's almost played itself out by the time I arrived here. We are expecting some very cold temperatures tonight and tomorrow night, but it seems less likely that we will have ice or snow.
ReplyDeleteAfter I tried and failed several times with W&P, a friend suggested I focus on the "peace" parts and read quickly through the "war." That helped and I made it through the book!
Deb - I hope your area has managed to avoid the worst of the storm. I'm really enjoying W&P so far, but just hit the first 'war' part today. It's a bit confusing, but the recap from Footnotes & Tangents put it in perspective.
DeleteI am tackling Moby-Dick this year. It is my One Big Book. I am giving myself all year to read it.
ReplyDeleteMy heart is heavy this week: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2026/01/sunday-salon-minnesota.html
Anne - Moby Dick is on my list, too. I'll wait to see how W&P goes this year before committing to another BIG book next year. Hope you end up liking it!
DeleteI agree with you 100% on the current news!
ReplyDeleteYour thoughts on Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers made me get a copy!
Vicki - I'm at the point where I need to start limiting my news intake again. This is all so upsetting. Vera was able to make me laugh though and I hope you like her , too.
DeleteHang in there with War and Peace! I actually loved it. I'm in MN where both the weather and the events are grim. The cold has been brutal, but I take some morbid solace in knowing many of the agents planted here are from the South and probably hating the weather.
ReplyDeleteAmy - I'm pleasantly surprised by W&P so far, and feel invested in some of the characters already. Just getting into a war section today, so we'll see how that goes. I met a guy from MN on the beach yesterday and he told me there was a 100 degree temperature difference from Sanibel. That obviously includes wind chill, but even this Syracuse gal was shocked!
DeleteWe have had a very, very cold weekend with sleet and freezing rain and ice and snow. Our area does not deal well with it. However, hoping that most of the ice on the streets will melt or evaporate today. We'll only be above freezing for a few hours. Everyone here has closed or shut down and they are encouraging all to stay home. Hope you guys don't have an event such as this.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with War and Peace. I've never read it and I think I'm safe saying that I won't. However, I do have the Vera Wang book. Our mystery group read it last year, but I was out of town and decided to wait to read it. They loved it though. Hope you have a nice reading week! I'm very much trying to stop my constant news/weather checking. Sigh.
Kay - I real feel for Texas with this weather and hope you get above freezing for long enough today to get rid of the ice! Just about everything in CT and NYC is closed today and Hartford has already closed schools for tomorrow, too.
DeleteNot surprised your mystery group loved Vera Wong, what a great character! I'll read the second book later this year and already hope there will be a third. I think you'd enjoy her, too.
I like that idea of a chapter a day. This will be a good tactic for me with large books that I have been putting off.
ReplyDeleteThe news! Can you imagine what the repubs would be screaming about if a Democrat in office said and did the same things?!
Currently I am finishing up with a nonficiton and had finished the Cecile Pin novel Wandering Souls. This short term reading goals are working well for me so far. Just pick six booked owned and try and fit them in during a 2 month period. I still plan on doing buddy reads as well as the Classic Spin...plus there are always the library books arriving when I don't expect them, lol.
Stay warm and enjoy the beach walks. It's going to 23 tonight and we have deep freezing temps all week so I am back to covering plants and dragging pots into the garage.
Tina - I think this chapter-a-day approach will finally get me to finish W&P. So far, so good.
DeleteI'm glad the short term goals are working for you and really hope I can concentrate on the books I already own this year. I'll use my library mostly for book club selections and a few select new releases.
The cold air moved in here this afternoon and temps are dropping fast. We'll be in the 40s for the next several nights, but daytime highs tomorrow won't get out of the 50s. Pretty cold for here, but nowhere near what you're looking at. Take care of those plants and stay warm!
Reading War and Peace was on my bucket list for decades and then I crossed it off. I just don't think it's for me. Your timing of arriving in Florida is perfect as the storms hit the middle and east. We're doing ok out here in SoCal with temps in the upper 60s/low 70s.
ReplyDeleteHelen - I think it's good to adjust those bucket list goals every few years. Not sure why W&P was finally calling to me now after all these years, but I'm glad to be reading it now.
DeleteAfter several mild winters, this has been the first real one CT and parts of NY have seen in some time. My father said Syracuse is already over 100" on the season and it's still January! We've had so much snow in CT, that I'm sure our HOA will hit us with a special snow removal assessment come spring! Glad we're in FL now...
I love Vera! The second book tackles a darker issue but Vera is still Vera. I'm a big escapist reader so I'm a big fan of lighter reads. I want to read War and Peace. I loved a film adaption I've seen but my experience with Russian authors has always been a bit bewildering. We are at the edge of the storm and it has thankfully been more rain than ice though has been ridiculously cold. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - Another Vera fan! I hope to read the second book later this year. Wonder if there will be a third? Glad the storm was mostly rain for you, try and stay warm!
DeleteWe were on the fringes of the megastorm, so while the Denver/NE game was a blizzard in the second half, we didn't actually get much snow--just temps down to 1 degree F!
ReplyDeleteI share your horror at the events unfolding nationwide.
Vera Wong is delightful--loved both books in the series and am eager for a third. We were inspired to make dumplings based on Vera's nonstop cooking.
I really enjoyed War and Peace when I finally read it a few years ago. A slow read is definitely the way to go with this one.
JaneGS - I am pleasantly surprised by W&P so far and already invested in several of the characters. The summaries from Footnotes & Tangents have been helpful, and I really appreciate the character index, too. Having such a successful experience with the Dracula slow read gave me the courage to finally try this one.
DeleteDo you know if the author is planning more Vera Wong books? I couldn't find anything definite, but sure hope she is. My daughter left her copy of the second book in CT, so I'll have that to look forward to this summer.
Glad you didn't get all the snow. Hope the deep freeze doesn't last too long!
I started the War and Peace readalong last year and lasted until about August when I went back to work. I am determined that I am going to finish it though!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Marg - It's easy to see how going back to work might do that! ;-) Good luck getting back to W&P. I'm finding the Maude translation to be very readable and like it so far.
DeleteGood luck with War and Peace! It took me months to slog through that beast.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Aj. I'm still keeping up the chapter a day pace and enjoying it. Hope that continues!
DeleteIt's warmer here than normal too, JoAnn. We had a little drizzle last night, but we're down almost 5" this month. My daughter and her husband lost about 10 trees on their property due to the ice storm in Franklin, TN. I feel for everyone who suffered from this recent storm. And, I agree with you about the current state of our country...
ReplyDeleteHmm, maybe I'll look for Seascraper at the library rather than buy a copy.
Good for you to dive into War and Peace. I've been slowly reading The Winds of War and finding it quite enjoyable (and rather timely, too). I'm also reading The Grey Wolf (Louise Penny), which is slow going even after reading almost two thirds of the book. Hmmm. And I'm listening to Wild Dark Shore, which is very good!
Enjoy your sunshine!
Les - I have a feeling I would have liked Seascraper a lot more if I had read it without the week-plus break. If you borrow it from the library, you can always buy a copy later if it earns a spot on your 'keepers' shelf. I remember watching The Winds of War miniseries decades ago, but don't think I've ever read Herman Wouk. Pretty sure I have a copy of Marjorie Morningstar on my tbr though. Still on track with W&P and actually enjoying it!
DeleteSorry to hear about all the trees your daughter lost. Hope they didn't do much damage as they came down! My daughter near Hartford got 18" of snow and it took the snow plow guy several days to get them cleared out. Looks like they may be doing it all again this weekend - yikes!