book talk

[gfrancie]

Awhile back I read this article in the guardian which spoke about the different kinds of attention books can get. How one might be lauded as a great American novel and the other is seen as a good book. The author mostly believes it had to do with the gender of the authors. Now all of that is a conversation for another day, but it did interest me in reading the book written by the woman. It is called The Cookbook Collector. I don't read a ton of modern fiction (not that modern fiction is bad -and like any period in the history of novels -some are good, some are not so good and others are awful) but it is good to see what is out there. I got it from the library (took awhile to get in) and I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the book. There was a part of me that almost felt like it was a chore or some form of homework that I had assigned myself. I figured it would take me about a week to get through since I can usually manage about 50 pages a day of reading. It isn't that I lack time to read exactly but it is difficult to get uninterrupted time. Small children like to literally pull books out of my hands. Yet they have been kind about this book. Instead I read it in a few days. Damn that book pulled me in. The main characters are these two sisters, Emily and Jess. Emily is traditionally successful, driven, ambitious and on the path to great things. She has her life more or less sorted. Complete with an equally successful boyfriend. Jess kind of floats about in the world. She is a doctoral student studying philosophy at Berkeley. She works part-time in an antiquarian bookshop and her relationships aren't exactly the most lovely or solid. And from there it takes off. Inter-connected lives and relationships and so on. What much of the book also is about is what the value is in something and how it may mean the world or might mean nothing and how it is all so transient. I suppose that isn't much of a description but there is so much I don't want to give away.

There are some descriptions in the story about books that are so beautiful and heart-breaking. There was also a scene that was so heavy with sexual tension and I was completely engrossed. I was making tea and waiting for it to finish steeping and reading the scene. I was pulled out of it suddenly when my daughter yanked on trousers. I felt slightly embarrassed like I had been spying on someone. I finished the book today and I feel like I do when I finish my cup of tea or bar of chocolate before I realize it. "damn. when did that happen?" That disappointment of it being gone. So it was indeed a good book for me.

And with that I have managed to read twenty books so far this year. It is the year of getting some reading done yo.
Now to look at the pile of things to get through and line up stuff for the next month or so.

Comments

[emmabovary.livejournal.com]

Isn't that a lovely book? I've been reading Allegra Goodman for years...she is not only a terrific writer, but a true researcher in the academic sense. Her fiction is based on a deep understanding of the subject matter (viz Intuition, or any of her Jewish heritage novels), not just a sweeping interest. I admire her greatly.

I remember putting up a quote on my LJ when I read The Cookbook Collector, something the bookseller says about the beauty of a real [antiquarian] book and its value. I use this quote when I get into discussions about eReaders.

My hardcopy also has a beautiful cover. It's one of the books I won't list on PeanutButterBooks (my amazon selling site). Her canon will stay in my library, intact and whole.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Yes. As I read the book I kept thinking, "now this is someone who has done her research." It wasn't "and look how much I know" but obviously someone who has such a talent for the little details. The stuff about the books was so romantic. Someone who truly understands.

After reading it I felt that I needed to own a copy of this and that a number of people I know need to read this. It was just so satisfying and I keep thinking, "WHY isn't she getting the cover of magazines?" She makes it seem so effortless -and that is the true talent. Like a ballet dancer who will make the choreography seem like no work at all.

[queenthesixth.livejournal.com]

That book sounds very interesting. And as you haven't steered me wrong yet in book recs, I think I'm going to have to track this one down at the library or bookshop, whichever comes first!

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

I think you might like it a lot. Do get it when you can.

[sahara-harp.livejournal.com]

I can't believe you've read 20 books this year. I have only read 10! and I don't have the small children excuse.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

I read every night in the bath. I think my reading has sped up in recent years.

[sahara-harp.livejournal.com]

So do I! It's practically the only time I seem to have. I think I shall make the excuse that one of my books was Moby Dick, so that should count for extra.

Book post coming up in a few moments.