12/27/06

Food For My Oft Wild, Wandering Mind


With this post, Jen over at oneplustwo gave me a suggestion for a book to read. I was chomping at the bit to read this based on her suggestion. However, I was bogged down with reading "necessary" materials for research papers & tests and the like. So, it stood to reason that this book would have to wait a bit. And as I was steeped in reading out of necessity & not for pleasure, this meant that the other two books that I was trying to read for pleasure had to wait. And not only could I not read for pleasure, I also felt that I couldn't go out purchasing books higgeldy-piggeldy simply because I wanted to read.

I had come up with the suggestion to Ravioli that when drawing up our Christmas lists this year, we write down 5 CD's, 5 books (we both enjoy reading & he is a book carnivore. Eating up books faster than anyone I've ever seen. I always joke about 2 good visits to the throne, and he's done with a book.), and 5 movies that we want. Lists within a list, if you will. So, at the top of my book list - on my master list - was The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Ravioli indulged me & bought the book for me as one of my gifts. I picked it up on Christmas, while the kids were asleep & from the first line I knew I was in trouble. I knew that I would ingest this book like I would a good Belgian white ale or nice glass of red. I got pretty far in & in the wee hours of this fine morning (2 a.m.), I finally put the book down after finishing it.

WOW.

Amazing.

Haunting.

Brilliant.

I don't like giving book reports. When I do, I feel like my mother beating me with her scriptures. Telling me which ones I should read.

But D-A-M-N. Probably one of the best books I've read in a looooong time.
So, Jen. Thank you, dear one, for suggesting the book. Your suggestion & the delayed gratification were simply delicious.

11 ripples in the pond:

joker the lurcher said...

this is a good book. when you read what it is about you feel it will be depressing but it really isn't. i read it just like you - at a rate of knots.

Girlplustwo said...

woohoowoohoowoohoo....

my favorite line of all time:
there is no bullshit in my heaven.

Nothing sums it up better. Nothing. So glad you liked it.


Since I am on a roll, try the Time Traveller's Wife next. xo

Tabba said...

joker - I agree with you that at first description, the book has the appearance of depressing. But not at all...

Jen - I will check that one out. And you know, I read that line & laughed out loud. I loved it, as well. Perfection, that line.

OhTheJoys said...

I loved that book too.

I'm recommending - The Birth of Venus, by Sarah Dunnant and Middlesex by Eugenides.

Anonymous said...

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger is the BEST book I have ever read! Seriously! I finished it while riding on a train, and I was so completely moved that I was unable to control my outloud boo-hooing. Okay, so I was many months pregnant at the time... but it was THAT good!

Anonymous said...

P.S. I can't believe "little" Bryan turned out to be a bookworm! That's awesome! Maybe we can start a book club someday. (Hi, Bryan.)

Anonymous said...

Middlesex is excellent, so is The Time Traveller's Wife. I just read The Memory Keeper's Daughter which was pretty good too, I liked it because it was about a handicapped child and her family.

Tabba said...

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! I will certainly take them ALL into consideration....

Jen R. - Bryan is insane with his reading...and how fast he can read & still retain is sickening. I'm one of those people who reads a book & then a week later, I'll forget what it was about...I'll know whether I liked/disliked it, but will forget most of it. He can remember insane little details. Sickening, I tell ya. Sickening.

But I want to send this question out to you all: Has anyone read 'The God of Small Things'??? I'm interested in it, but have yet to find anyone who has read it...

Slackermommy said...

I've heard that it's an awesome book before. I'll have to add it to the pile books I hope to find enough time to read. Thanks for all your kind words and thoughts while I'm recovering from surgery. Love ya girl!

Hev said...

I totally agree with Joker the lurcher. You think this book is going to be grim & gloomy (and the whole premise of the book is) but the way it is told & the story itself just makes you want to keep reading. I read it a few years ago after reading a review in a UK paper. I read it in one sitting!! Literally could not put it down!

Glad to see that other people are enjoying it too.

May try a couple of the other recommendations (always wanted to read the God of small things so someone tell me if it is worth it!).

Tabba, love the literary 'bent' to this!!!

Tabba said...

Hev - glad to see ya! I have heard from a reliable source that 'The God of Small Things' was a good read. Now, my source has said that not too many people she ran into liked it, but that she enjoyed it. And I also have to say here that I value her opinion. If that helps.