Read Well

I'm reading the chapter on "Walden" in The Promised Land and here Parini reminds me of one of my favorite quotes to live by:

"To read well, that is, to read true books in a true spirit, is a noble exercise, and one that will task the reader more than any exercise which the customs of the day esteem.  It requires a training such as the athletes underwent, the steady intention almost of the whole life to this object.  Books must be read as deliberately as they were written."

~Henry David Thoreau~

I am thoroughly enjoying The Promised Land.  I wish all of the books Parini discusses were required reading for all Americans.  Most used to be standard offerings in the curriculum.  But I'm afraid now they are ignored -- doubtful if they are even referred to.  Such a loss.

Self-Discipline

Time to confess:
I have veered away from my reading list!

I read a review of a mystery that recently won the 2014 Edgar Award.  It intrigued me so I went to our local library and picked it up.  I thoroughly enjoyed the book.  But now I feel a little guilty that I have not stuck with my reading plan.  Hmmmmm.   I guess the good news is that I borrowed it instead of purchasing it!  It is very well written -- a nice descriptive novel.  It's more than a simple mystery -- it explores issues of family loyalty and dreams deferred.  I'm glad I read it, but now I need to use a little self-discipline to get back to my list!!!

History

I just read this op/ed piece by Timothy Egan.  It's an interesting coincidence it appeared in today's NYTimes because I was thinking along the very same lines yesterday while reading The Promised Land! As a society we have neglected the common knowledge of our past.  What does that say about our future??  Lost in the Past

A Teacher and a Writer Who Made a Difference

I am so excited to finally be getting a handle on reading my book stash. Thanks, Janice, for the idea to encourage one another and to discuss some really good books. These two will be easy to read simultaneously. Before I start on the list, I will finish Charcoal and Chalk. Ms. Burlingame's great-grandfather, John Ogilvie, a Scottish immigrant, was determined to offer school to the freedmen in Texas. Her first book is based on letters and documents that she inherited. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Dillard 's award winning book, is described as "a form of meditation, written with headlong urgency, about seeing."

First Up!

I'm finally opening the book that is first on my list you generated for me Patty!!  I've had The Promised Land  on my shelf for 3 or 4 years now.   I'm excited to finally dive in!! But I'm in quandary because I also am determined to finish Amy Tan's latest: The Valley of Amazement.

Hmmmm...I guess I'll just stick with my habit of reading multiple books at a time.  I'll keep you posted on my progress!

Where'd You Go Bernadette: A Novel by Maria Semple

My first reaction: WOW!  I loved this book.  The plot is unique, the characters interesting, and the theme is poignant!  But with all that, it's a fast, fun, ridiculous romp that keeps the pages turning!

Semple somehow manages to keep the tone light-hearted while creating a cautionary tale of excess, privilege and the perils lurking as a consequence of our modern age.

It is the story of Bernadette and her family.  She and her husband, Elgie are geniuses in their respective fields.  Their daughter, Bee, is precocious and strong-willed.  They find themselves in outrageous circumstances, all the while managing to keep a solid devotion to each, despite a few hiccups along the way. 

But mostly this is a story of how we are in danger of building prisons around ourselves in the name of progress and prestige.  Thought-provoking, funny, outrageous...this novel is worth a read!

And then some...

We both have a handful of books in queue that for one reason or another we left off of our TBR lists.  We've agreed to read these first, or maybe insert when we feel so moved.

We'll post our thoughts about our books as we go along -- sharing, reviewing, and relishing our love of reading together!

Let the posting begin!!!

A Plan

We think we've come up with a perfect plan!  Yes, it's true -- sisters really do think alike!!!
We've tamed our TBR lists and are ready to dive right in!  This is going to be a FUN project!

Between the two of us, we have nearly 200 books on our TBR list!!!!!  But after putting our heads together, we've created manageable goals for ourselves!  Who doesn't love the goal of reading?!?!

Here are our first lists:
Janice's List

Promised Land by Jay Parini
Jonathan Strange... by Suzanna Clark
Radical by Maajid Nawaz
Tenth of December by George Saunders
And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hossei

Patty's List

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard

Last Train to Memphis by Peter Guralnic

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

The Word by Irving Wallace

Let the reading begin!!!