I’m in a weird place with books, in that while I’m physically finished with the last one I read, I’m still lingering over it mentally and emotionally.
That would be The Song of the Lark, by Willa Cather. It was really amazing. I think I go too long between reading Willa Cather because they do leave you (me) with pretty deep feelings and they take a bit of time (but not if you swallow them in one weekend like I just did). But I guess I’m saying they’re books you need to bring something to.
And this in itself is great. I wish more books were like that. But since coming back on July 4/5, I haven’t been able to get invested in anything I’ve been reading. I don’t know if it’s that I’m still stuck on The Song of the Lark (Ugh, feelings!) or that everything is paling in comparison to the lyrical-yet-plain prose of Willa Cather, or if I’m actually hitting a run of not-great books… but for whatever reason I’ve been pushing a lot aside.
So hopefully one of these will stick the landing and get me out of this… funk.
(There’s a Colette, so probably).
- The Thousand and One Mornings, Colette: At the same time, I am beginning to scrape the bottom of the Colette barrel. 😥
- The Mortgaged Heart, Carson McCullers: Speaking of writers who will leave you with deep feelings and unresolved emotions… Why do we do this to ourselves?
- The Art of Happiness, The Dalai Lama: Resolve my emotions please, Your Holiness.
- Stet, Diana Athill: Book three of my Diana Athill exploration- this time about her career in editing. I’m really enjoying her oeuvre.
- Cousin Bette, Honore de Balzac: I like Balzac.
Something will do it, right?
(The image is the painting by Jules Breton that inspired the novel and its title)
List Mimsy 