I just finished a marathon reading of Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith, the third novel of hers, which is set in Victorian England. This is really one of those can’t-put-it-down-til-you’ve-finished books, with a lesbian love affair wrapped up in Dickensian settings, typical of her other novels. Now I want to go back and reread the other two, particularly Affinity, as that is my favorite of the three. True to form, Fingersmith was very atmospheric, with so many twists and turns – a truly satisfying read. Her newest novel comes out in the spring, and although it’s a departure from the typical setting (taking place in WWII London), I can’t wait to read it.
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Victoriana with a twist
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I need to read more from this author
I read The Poisonwood Bible a few years back (*before* it became an Oprah pick, I feel compelled to add) by Barbara Kingsolver and once I got past the first few pages, really enjoyed it. For whatever reason though, I didn’t search out more of her books. Last fall I was in the Atlanta airport, about to get on a plane for Charlotte, and had already finished the book I’d brought with me. Faced with a tedious wait in the airport along with the trip itself, minus any decent reading material, I made my way to one of the airport bookshops and tried to find a worthy candidate amongst the spate of recent bestsellers. Kingsolver’s The Prodigal Summer caught my eye, attracted by the bright green cover. The book, set in southern Appalachia, held the promise of a good story and so I bought it. But then it was set aside when I got home, lost in the shuffle, and it has sat unfinished on my bedside table for months while other books came and went. Finally this week I felt the need to finish it. The story reminds me of a Maeve Binchy novel for thinking people. Everyone goes through their trials and tribulations, but all ends well, at least for the most part. Along the way, we’re shown the lives of three people and the world around them, as well as lessons on the natural world and our place in it. A great story and one I would heartily recommend. -
Maybe I just don’t get it …
Earlier this week I finished Life of Pi by Yann Martel, an author newly arrived on the Canadian fiction scene. I had seen the book in the stores for months, but never really looked at it, and then when I saw it among a shelf of books on sale for $1 at my local library, decided the price was worth finding out what all the fuss was about. Both of my former bosses had recommended it and it certainly had enough rave reviews, if the comments from various media outlets were any indication. That’s where I made my mistake. I really should know better than to read, and worse, believe, the comments the publisher includes that hype the book. You’d think I’d be smarter than that. But no, I fall for it (almost) every time. So, based on the praises that had been heaped upon it, I had pretty high expectations for this book. Maybe it was just too deep for me, and I missed it, but I really don’t get what all the fuss was about. It started off good enough, a young Indian boy who wants to follow his native Hindu religion, as well as Islam and Christianity. But once the story shifts to the main focus, the tale of a boy lost at sea, well, for me, it just falls short of the promise. It’s a fine adventure story, and Martel has superb storytelling ability, but I just kept expecting more. Perhaps the more subtle meanings elluded me – I’d be interested in talking over this one with someone else who’d read it and see what insight they had.
I also wrapped up my reading of A Field Guide to Buying Organic which in my admittedly limited experience, is one of the more factual books out there on the subject. Other things I’ve read, both online articles as well as books, seem to be at either end of the spectrum: either organic food is an over-hyped elitist waste of money, or the answer to all of our health and environmental woes. In reality, it’s somewhere in between. It’s co-authored by two people with different perspectives, which gives the book a hard-to-find balance. I didn’t feel like I was reading some starry-eyed hippie’s view of the world, nor the cynical denials of an agribusiness advocate. It’s helped me figure out what foods I should focus on buying organic whenever possible, and what is fine from the conventional offerings. This book should definitely be on the reading list of anyone thinking about eating organic foods but confused by all the hype. -
Lukewarm Verdict
Well, I finished Julie & Julia by Julie Powell last night, and eh, it was OK. I wouldn’t reread it and probably wouldn’t recommend it to any diehard foodies or Julia Child fans. Lots of things, like her two-time selling of her eggs (the baby-making kind), her rabid hatred of anyone Republican, and the pseudo-conversations between Child and her spouse in the 1940s, were unnecessary and if anything, detracted from the book. I expected there to be more discussion about the actual recipes and experiences with them, but really, they almost formed the backdrop to the larger story of a 20-something married woman and her friends in NYC. The book was formed out of a blog that Powell had kept during the experience, and in a way, it still feels like you’re reading that type of medium, rather than a book. The best part about this book was the cover, which is a lovely shade of green — I’m now thinking of painting my kitchen in that color. -
So far in 2006
I started the year reading Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser, which on the heels of reading Harvest for Hope by Jane Goodall, just furthered my commitment to eat healthier in 2006. Obviously each author had their own agenda, but even taking that into consideration, some of the stories and information were pretty frightening — and enlightening.
I decided to take a break from the subject of the globalization of the food industry, and instead read the story of a woman who made the globe her home. Rita Golden Gelman, in Tales of a Female Nomad, shares the story of her life and travels over the course of about fifteen years. Starting in Mexico after separating from her husband, Rita ‘took the path less travelled’ and explored the world and its people. A great read for women as well as armchair travellers. Next up is Julie and Julia, another foray into food, this time one woman’s quest to prepare every recipe in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking. As someone who has cursed many a recipe that did not turn out quite as designed, I can’t wait to dig in.
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