Current mood: relieved.
Why?
I haven’t read a lot of fiction lately. This wasn’t entirely unexpected – when I’m writing fiction, I don’t consume a lot of it. I get distracted. I don’t know if this happens to other writers, or it’s just me. I think it also depends on the book. I won’t list a few other novels I’ve tried this month, only to abandon. That wouldn’t reflect fairly on them. Or maybe it would because I was hooked as soon as I picked up The Book of Strange New Things last week. I read it in the car, while watching TV, eating… whatever I was doing, I had to have it at my side, ready to pick up again. For two straight nights I dreamed of a spongy, wet, alien planet and its human settlers that may (or may not) have nefarious intentions and, at the centre, the preacher sent to teach Christianity to the locals, leaving his wife at home on Earth.
This novel is a consummate achievement, beguiling and full of compassion. The sad news is Michel Faber has said it will be his last and I hope that’s not the case.
I haven’t started Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? yet and it’s another example in a long list of ‘Books written by super smart women comedians I’m woefully uneducated about’. Think: Lena Dunham, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey and, also, now, Mindy Kaling. Haven’t read any of them. I know, I know I’m lagging on the zeitgeist. I’m trying to catch up.
Last is Creative Confidence by Tom and David Kelley. It was very much an impulse purchase – I’m a sucker for both those words, what can I say. And Brené Brown wrote a blurb that’s on the back cover. Fingers crossed.
What are you reading this month?
