Last night after fumbling through the channels and finally settling on my latest Netflix arrival, Extras, I decided I needed something to read. I've recently finished Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, by David Sedaris and The Making of the African Queen, by Katharine Hepburn and wanted something new, something to inspire me. I thumbed through several books in my collection, most of which I've read and remembered, and some I didn't remember but must've read because of the copious notes I left behind in the margins. Nothing got my attention and as Duncan watched me go through volume after volume, he cocked his head when I said, "I need something to inspire me."And so, to you, dear reader, I ask, what have you read that opened your eyes, struck you as beautiful and touched your heart? I have recently acquired my first library card in 12 years, and am looking for something new, something old, something powerful, something beautiful. Send me poetry, prose and essays. I want a list of things that you'd like to share, things that will carry me through the coming winter and warm me through and through.
6 comments:
Everything is Illuminated, by Jonathan Safran Foer, and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by the same dude. You may have enjoyed the film version of the first...you can look forward to a fantastic read and, interestingly, a very different story.
Also, check out Steve Almond. He's recently published a book that might be at your library (I don't know the title) and I heartily recommend his first, My Life in Heavy Metal.
You should also check out anything (everything?) by A.L. Kennedy. She's a fantastic Scottish writer you'll love to have found.
Oh, and have you read A Girl Named Zippy? If not, go get it right now.
Thanks, Roof! I'll get to the library as soon as I can and start checking them out! Does anyone have any other recommendations?
I believe you should read James Baldwin's short story "Sonny's Blues". Listen to jazz in the background.
Maxine Hong Kingston's China Men is also wonderful. I haven't read it in years, but I still have strong feelings for it.
I keep thinking.
Since you insist I post the comment and not just tell you...I recently read, "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and I loved it. Lush descriptions of Barcelona and the power of books wrapped around a mystery of somewhat mystical proportion.
Traci
Another vote for The Shadow of the Wind. If you ask nicely, I'll lend you my copy.
Actually, when Traci was here she was kind enough to purchase me my very own copy. As soon as I'm done with Everything is Illuminated, I plan on hitting Shadow next. If only People Magazine didn't come out every week. It seriously cuts into my quality potty reading time.
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