If you see a whole thing - it seems that it's always beautiful. Planets, lives... But up close a world's all dirt and rocks. And day to day, life's a hard job, you get tired, you lose the pattern. - Ursula K. LeGuin

Friday, February 5, 2010

On The Nightstand or Adventures in Reading For Pleasure

Things have gotten a little out of hand. I've been purchasing books like a crazy woman. Granted the majority of them have been from secondhand bookstores and so I haven't spent all Angel's tuition money (yet) on my reading material but I am definitely in over my head. I have quite a bit of work-related reading to do this semester yet I can't stop buying non-work related books.

Currently I am working my way through three volumes of short stories. I finally got hold of Jane Yolen's Sister Emily's Lightship And Other Stories. I'm only two stories in but that is because I am savoring them. I just finished Snow in Summer, which is her retelling of Snow White. As I've mentioned before, I love me some fairy tales.

I'm also still working my way through Angel's Christmas gift: The Dragon Book. The stories are not your usual dragonfare but rather using dragons as analogies for bigger issues. So far all of the stories have been well-written and engrossing. Finally I've started reading Wally Lamb and the Women of York Correctional Institution's Couldn't Keep It To Myself. These are stories written by imprisoned women as part of a writing workshop he has been conducting at York Correctional Institution for several years. Truly fascinating and poignant work.

In addition to slowly making my way through the above, I've also now have the following sitting on my nightstand:
Alas there is still more filling my poor little nightstand, as I had a rather large stack of books that were awaiting my time and pleasure before I bought all of the above. In addition I've recently discovered Seth Godin's blog. I just purchased Lynchpin but am letting b have a go at it while I'm starting in on Tribes.

It is hard to say which of my addictions I love more: books or coffee. Luckily I don't have to choose but instead can enjoy them together.

5 comments:

Annie said...

I feel for you, and I'm happy for you. I have stacks of books everywhere, mostly fiction. I also love historical fiction, right after fantasy. As you move through your reading, I hope you'll write about your favorites!

Maggie May said...

a woman of my own heart!

Julie said...

Thanks, Brig! They all sound great, but I'm especially excited by "Couldn't Keep It To Myself." It's right up my alley. I would love to do a prison workshop someday. I wasn't aware of the book, so I appreciate the info.

Anonymous said...

You're always reading such good stuff and you know I think a girl can never have too many books!

BrightenedBoy said...

I so do this, although since I'm a poor college student I usually check the books out from the library instead of buying them.

I'll make a trip to grab one or two things, see a bunch that look really interesting, and leave with ten things that I don't read because I've tried to handle too much at once.