As for what I'm reading. Here they are:
1. How The West Was Written, Volume 2, by Ron Scheer. This is a nicely researched book on the history of western fiction. This volume one covers 1907 to 1915. This is not a book you sit down and read straight through. You want to take time to study the various sections on writers such as O' Henry and Clarence Mulford.
2. The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair. One of those classics I should have read long ago. Generally slow but interesting.
3. The Hours, by Michael Cunningham. I'm enjoying the writing in this one but I really dislike most of the characters. That may be why I'm reading it slowly.
4. You are Now Less Dumb, by David McRaney. Lana read passages of this to me and I thought the guy was very insightful so now I'm giving it a try. So far, very good.
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I don't think I've ever read more than two books at once. And even then, I usually stick to one novel and one non-fiction.
ReplyDeleteI liked Michael Cunningham's writing, too, but I really expected to like The Hours more than I did.
Good luck with all that grading.
Charles, when semesters are underway, I try to limit my "recreational" reading to one title while I am locked into reading for my classes (i.e., I never trust my memory of previous readings, so I reread all the assigned material along with the students).
ReplyDeleteI recall admiring _Mrs. Dalloway_ much more than the "sequel" by Cunningham (_The Hours_). And I recall read _The Jungle_ in high school but have been reluctant to revisit the slaughterhouses of Chicago for fear of being forced to become a 100% vegetarian.
And, as I ponder your reading about western fiction, isn't it odd that there haven't been more authors and titles from that genre making the cross-over to so-called mainstream/literary markets? Western fiction is a bit like crime/detective/mystery and S/F in that way. I should note that most of my colleagues in English departments over the years are total snobs about so-called genre fiction. I have no patience with their prejudices. Hey, writing is either well done or it isn't, and the "genre" label is irrelevant.
So, while we're on the subject, can you think of any hybrids out there: westerns that also qualify as crime/detective/mystery fiction? I would be interested in considering a few for my ABC's of Crime Fiction Challenge at Beyond Eastrod.
Finally, isn't it something the ways in which teaching can dominate our lives at times. We really need to be better compensated. What other profession has such relentless demands upon a person's time outside the office and beyond the 40 hour week?
Sarah, I particularly don't care much for Mrs Brown in that book, although I'm not finished yet so maybe it will improve.
ReplyDeleteRTD, you said it about the time demands. I can go weeks with very little break, although then things can slack up dramatically. As for crime/western crossovers, I'll have to give it some thought. I know L'Amour did a series about a western detective. I think the character was Bowdrie. I'll have to check.
Charles, regarding my recent comment regarding westerns, I think this is interesting (especially Ishiguro's comments about westerns):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/08/books/review/kazuo-ishiguro-by-the-book.html?_r=2
This is what I call a lovely coincidence. A question arises, and an unlikely source weighs in with an answer. Ishiguro is probably the last person in the world I would have picked for being a reader of westerns.
ha. i need to check out that last one...i like some insight...i feel i have read The Jungle...
ReplyDeletei am reading a rather trash novel right now...china takes over the US...the guy writes quite awkward though...
I know, no matter how fast I read, more keep coming out. I Admire that you can juggle so many at once.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
I have a bunch of half-read and half-reread books. Does that count?
ReplyDeleteRTD, nice when it comes together.
ReplyDeleteBrian, I like trashy novels. No reason they can't be well written, though.
Alex, i'm not juggling them too well at the moment,
Cloudia, thumbs up. and yes!
Not surprisingly, I have several books "going" at a time. I usually am reading two novels, working away on whichever I'm in the mood for at the time, as well as a handful of short story collections I jump around in; one or two science fiction, one or two mystery.
ReplyDeleteI used to be a hard line one-at-a-time reader, but then if I lost interest in a book, I was stuck: finish though I didn't like it right then or declare it a DNF and dump it, but maybe go back someday, or get rid of it, or? Still, I only let a partially read book sit for so long and then I give it up and move on.
I usually read two books at a time, plus all the daily blog material I can squeeze in. Can't keep up with all the new ones coming out.
ReplyDeleteRichard, when I lose interest I always start another book, but I generally still finish the first one even if I do speed read parts of it.
ReplyDeleteOscar, I know, but I guess it's better than running out of material to read.
I always have at least two going, usually three; one will be an ebook that I read on my phone, one will be a physical book, and then one will be a collection of stories, or an anthology, or a collection of essays that I try and read one/day of. Even then, an occasional 4th book might slip in there.
ReplyDeleteCharles, I find myself forever in a "reading jam" — more books in hand than I'm actually reading. I enjoyed reading volume one of Ron's book, by way of reference rather than "straight through," as you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteThat is quite a variety. :)
ReplyDeleteChris, I do a lot of anthologies like that myself. Ron Scheer's book is like that. I can read one entry at a time.
ReplyDeletePrashant, yes, it works good in that way, especially since you need to study on some of his points.
Bernard, variety keeps me happy.
I usually read a collection of short stories and a novel at the same time. I remember reading THE JUNGLE as a teen but never since.
ReplyDeletePatti, the Jungle is pretty slow.
ReplyDeleteI've read the Jungle and it has always stuck with me--Ron's book sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! The Jungle is on my should-read list too. I've been reading 2 books for the past couple years and haven't been able to finish either yet: Basic Auto Repair for Dummies and Essential Haiku.
ReplyDelete- Greg
Sage, it's pretty potent in the imagery department.
ReplyDeleteGreg, It was like that for me with Moby Dick.
I've read #2 and #3. Interesting choices! I'll be curious to know what you think of those.
ReplyDeleteI usually stick to one at a time.
ReplyDeleteI made an honest attempt at reading Upton Sinclair back in high school (read about him in American History) but I don't know if I actually finished it or not.
Riot kitty, eventually I will review!
ReplyDeleteG. B. I'll finish it but I don't know how much I'll enjoy it.