Hello, friends. We've finally had a week of normal Florida winter weather... breezy morning walks, cool evenings, and plenty of sunshine! We checked a few more seasonal maintenance chores off our list last week, plus I had my annual physical. The highlight was a glass of wine on the beach at sunset with friends!
Recent reading//
by Hwang Bo-Reum, translated by Shanna Tan
I cannot resist books about books and reading. Every Day I Read consists of fifty-three short (often just 3 or 4 pages) essays about various aspects of the reading life. This book, originally published in Korean in 2021, was just recently translated into English. I enjoyed the thoughtful, often philosophical, essays about books, reading, and finding ways to incorporate more reading into our daily lives. One of my particular pleasures with this type of book is encountering titles I've read, or at least sampled, over the years. However, since these essays were written in Korean, many (most?) of the books mentioned were, disappointingly, unfamiliar to me. I'm glad I read this one, but also glad I borrowed it from the library.
⭐⭐⭐💫
A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella
This is my latest "read the books I own" selection. Ethan Joella has been on my list of authors to try for several years and I picked up this title on a kindle deal last fall. It's about three people, each going through a difficult time in their lives, whose paths intersect in unexpected ways and, as a result, their lives are all better for the experience. They face challenges, sadness, and struggles, and eventually each character finds happiness or a new path forward. This was a quick, enjoyable read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Current reading//
This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman
This novel published on Tuesday and I was first on the library hold list. It's a multi-generational family drama told in connected short stories... basically my catnip. I'm really enjoying it so far. (50%)
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Year-long slow read with Footnotes and Tangents
On pause for now//
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
The writing in this novel shines... it is positively gorgeous. But unfortunately, it's not the story I want to read right now. While in the process of trying to commit suicide, a young man named Hai is deterred by an elderly woman with dementia. In exchange for basic living assistance, she takes him into her decrepit home. I was finding their stories to be profoundly depressing and, after 30%, decided to set it aside for now.
The week ahead//
Today I'll check out a craft show on the island, and then I have plenty of cleaning to do. Our NYC daughter and son-in-law arrive tomorrow for the week, then an old friend from central NY arrives the day after they leave! The first neighborhood gathering of the season is coming up and I'm really looking forward to it. There are still a few people we haven't seen yet this year.
I'm hope to squeeze out enough reading time this week to at least stay current with the W&P !
How was your week? What have you been reading?
The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
I had exactly the same reaction to The Emperor of Gladness---beautiful writing, but I'm not in an emotional place right now where I can read it.
ReplyDeleteThis is Not About Us might be something I might try. Let's see what you think.
Deb - I hope The Emperor of Gladness becomes less grim as it progresses but, even with the excellent writing, I'd had enough by 30%. Grazina, especially, made me sad.
DeleteEveryday I Read sounds fabulous, as does a glass of wine on the beach. Have fun with your family!
ReplyDeleteErin - The glass of wine on the beach with our neighbors was definitely the highlight of the week. She's a reader, so we even got to talk books!
DeleteWith the warming weather you're sure to have even more visitors coming your way! Have a wonderful time with family and friends.
ReplyDeleteHelen - Our guest room calendar is filling up fast! We have a lot more space here than we do in CT, so entertaining/hosting is even more fun.
DeleteI’m going to be in Fort Myers Beach this week on Thursday for work and am so very glad the weather has improved. (It sounds like you have a busy week too, otherwise I would have asked if you were free for coffee so we could talk books in person.)
ReplyDeleteMelissa - When are you available on Thursday? Turn out my daughter and SIL will be working remotely Th/F, so I'll have some flexibility. My email is on my profile... maybe we can work something out.
DeleteWhoohoo! Look at that pretty beach scene! Glad your weather has improved, JoAnn. I love books about books, but will pass on Every Day I Read. I'm actually thinking about re-reading The End of Your Life Book Club. I listened to it several years ago, but would like to read the print edition. You enjoyed A Quiet Life a bit more than me. (Review here) But isn't that cover aren't lovely? Reminds me of the winter view out our windows in Lincoln. I'm eager to get to This is Not About Us. Like you, I love mult-generational family dramas. The subject matter of The Emperor of Gladness sounds so heavy. Probably too sad to read with all the depressing news in our world right now.
ReplyDeleteI'm re-reading Tana French's In the Woods, which is keeping me reading late in the night. I love it even more than the first time around! Slowly making my way through Emperor of All Maladies, as well as The Winds of War. Listening to Theo of Golden, which may not be my cuppa. A little too sweet? A la Mitch Albom? I'll keep listening to see how it evolves.
Sounds like you'll have a busy few weeks. Enjoy your visitors!
Les - It finally feels like Florida here! This morning was the best walk I've had all season. I listened to The End of Your Life Book Club, too, and remember going on to read some of their selections. Schwalbe wrote another book, Books for Living, that I meant to read but never did.
DeleteI did enjoy A Quiet Life, but am not sure I'll try Joella's other novels. Thanks for the link.
I remember listening to In the Woods while walking the beach years ago when we were still in the condo - so good. Glad you're enjoying the reread. Theo of Golden seems to be having a moment, but being a little too sweet is one of my concerns. I'll wait and see what you think. Hope you have a great week!
I suspect that The Emperor of Gladness will have at least somewhat of a happy ending for those who manage to get that far. But sounds like a painful trip all the way to the end. Honestly, you’ve made me kind of curious about the book now. I’ll see if my library has a copy or two.
ReplyDeleteAnonyous - I kept waiting for the main characters' circumstances to improve, or at least to show a glimmer of hope. I'd be curious to know if that eventually happens...
DeleteEvery day I read sounds really interesting! Sounds like a lot of fun weeks coming up with visitors.
ReplyDeleteJinjer - It was an interesting read, but I wish I'd been familiar with more of the titles mentioned.
DeleteI’ve only read one book by Ocean Vuong, and I think you’ve convinced me that this one is not on my list.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week!l
Mae - I still have On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous on my kindle and want to give it a try at some point. Wondering if that's the book you read...
DeleteI'm reading Goodman's Isola right now and really enjoying it. Didn't know she had a new book out already, so thanks! Just requested it from the library.
ReplyDeleteAmy - Have a feeling I'll be adding to Isola to my list!
DeleteBeautiful picture up top -- glad the beach is becoming warmer. I'm glad too you are liking the Allegra Goodman book. I think I will add it to my list. I have not read her yet but I am eyeing Isola still. Isola got a lot of talk last year but it was a bit long so haven't picked it up just yet.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have a busy week ahead but I hope you enjoy your beach walks. Cheers.
Susan - I thought I'd read Allegra Goodman before, but don't find any of her books in my reading journal. Have a feeling Isola will be added to my tbr list shortly!
DeleteLovely picture of the beach! A bit warmer weather is nice after that cold time, right? My thoughts about our area as well. Now I want to request that the wind dies down so that we don't have all of the pollen in the rest of Texas blowing into our area. Not too much to ask, right? Ha! Enjoy your visitors and enjoy your books! Hope your week goes well.
ReplyDeleteOh, Kay... I hope your winds and related pollen troubles die down soon. My brother had the worst allergies when we were kids and I always felt so bad for him. At least you have plenty of great books to read if you have to hang out indoors...
DeleteA Quiet Life looks wonderful and I love reading from my own shelves. I'm trying to do more of that right now with mixed results! I'm also really curious about Every Day I Read. It looks intriguing. I hope you have a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I really need to get those books off my shelf and this is the year! A Quiet Life was a good read, but I'm not sure if it will stay with me very long. We'll see. Good luck reading from your shelves !
DeleteThe weather looks spectacular. Enjoy your guests and your visiting!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful reading week
Thanks, Shelleyrae. We are enjoying our daughter and son-in-law's visit very much and the weather has been perfect!
DeleteWell I suppose I Thought I commented here...but it may have been on Goodreads, lol. How are you liking the Allegra Goodman book? I love a family drama and just added another one to my list called Clutch by Emily Nemens. Not sure if that will be good as it has a rating overall of 3.46 but, I'll give it a whirl...one day. The book Everyday I Read is appealing to me.
ReplyDeleteYou have some good weather and lots of fun things to look forward to, glad to hear it! Maybe the cold is gone. We have 77 degrees yesterday but are supposed to get the 30s again so I will need to cover my plants AGAIN! But it is February.
Tina - I almost 70% done and am really enjoying Allegra Goodman's book! The structure is is especially interesting and the writing is very good, too. Will probably add her last novel, Isola, to my list when I'm done. How are you doing with Clutch?
DeleteWe've had perfect weather all week, but they're warning us about another cold snap next week. What a crazy winter, even here in south Florida!
That's always great to be the first to get a library book! I'm glad that you're enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteJoy - Being first on the library hold list doesn't happen very often! It must've been my lucky day :)
DeleteI enjoy books about books as well, and stumbling on books I've read (or meant to) is a big part of the enjoyment.
ReplyDeleteThis Is Not About Us looks like a cookbook. I still have a copy of this author's The Cookbook Collector waiting for me on my TBR shelf.
I totally get why you put The Emperor of Gladness on pause. I am sure the writing is stunning, but some topics require a certain fortitude and frame of mind.