Thursday, November 29, 2007

A Reader in Search of a Book


Did you hear the drum roll when you opened this blog? (Not really, just a metaphorical drum roll!) Well, that was in recognition of my 200th blog entry!

That's right--200 blog entries.

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Do you remember that play Six Characters in Search of an Author? Well, I have a variation on that title—I am a reader in search of a book.

Today, I just finished reading
Memoirs of a Geisha, and now I am roaming the house looking for my next book to read. That search should prove fruitful as we have at least 500 books in the house! Many of them I have already read, but there are a few I bought and squirreled away for future reading. It’s just a matter of my deciding what kind of a reading mood I am in.

Memoirs of a Geisha is an unusual book. Set in Kyoto, Japan, just before the start of World War II, and then continuing into the 1960s or thereabouts, the novel gives you a glimpse into the highly ritualized stylized world of old-style geishas. The plot line of the novel is frequently chatty, shimmering on the surface. I found myself interested but not really invested on the lives of the characters. Thankfully, the novel was a quick read—contrast that to Simon Winchester’s
A Crack at the Edge of the World, about the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Winchester is my kind of author, though I tend to be exhausted after reading one of his works.

So, now what do I want? Do I want something meaty? Something that will stir my blood? Or a good mystery read that engages my brain? Or a wonderful friendly novel that puts me in the mood for a cup of tea? What to choose, what to choose?

Watch the right hand side to see what I am currently reading, and you will know what I chose.

That’s all for now, dear blog friends. The semester is winding down, and in one week I will get some 40 research papers to read. And in a week after that, I will have the final exams to grade. THEN, and only then, I will be able to give you the sequels on some of the people you met from my classes—e.g. Ms. Mac Cheese.

16 comments:

entoto said...

Congratulations on your 200th! I have not kept count of mine.

I really enjoy seeing what others are reading. It gives me ideas for future reading and a window into the mind of another.

I have little time for reading with working, homeschooling, and general mommy/wife stuff. However, I find time almost every night to read a little something for me. Right now I am reading *His Dark Materials* trilogy. My 12 year-old insisted, and I am glad she did.

Pam said...

I enjoyed "Memoirs of a Geisha," just finished "The Yellow Wallpaper" and I'm moving on to "The Giver."

Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

I seldom read fiction but a couple of years ago I started reading the works of Lee Smith beginning with "Fair and Tender Ladies". I love her strong women like Ivy Rowe. It also got me interested in the southern Applachian area.

Well! that is my "two thumbs up."

KGMom said...

Trixie--Hi! I don't keep track of how many blogs I have written; Blogger does. When I sign on and pick "post new blog" there is a number that tells me how many entries I have done.

Pam--I enjoyed Memoirs of a Geisha--I was not blown away by it, however. I much prefered Inheritance of Loss, for example. Sounds like you read good books!

Philip--I try to mix fiction and non-fiction. As a lit major, I can't abandon fiction. However, I am very picky and will not (or try not to) read "trash" literture. I do, for example, read romances. I like good solid fiction that might last through time; or that has lasted through time. I will look up the series you mention.

KGMom said...

Oh dear--my spelling deteriorates through the semester (too many poorly written essays to read!).
It is PREFERRED, not prefered; and it is LITERATURE, not literture!

I wish Blogger would let me edits comments after they have been posted!

Anonymous said...

Wow - 200 posts! That's a book in itself, isn't it? I've been trying to read fiction lately and can't find anything I like. It looks good in the library and when I get into the book, it's terrible. I'll have to pay closer attention to your book recommendations too.

Anvilcloud said...

That "preferred" thing is odd because American English doesn't usually double the consonant for "ed" and "ing" endings. It drives me crazy because most default spell checkers are American, and they keep insisting that I'm wrong when I do double up.

possumlady said...

Congrats on your 200th blog! I'm just now getting caught up on everyone's blogs. I've been trying to read The Golden Compass, which I believe is the first in His Dark Materials trilogy, especially with the movie coming out. I put it down to read Harry Potter and need to get back on the horse (or polar bear--if you've read the book).

Mary said...

It's the mood. Maybe that is why I have four entirely different novels started but not finished... :o/

Forty research papers? Keep that Advil handy. And am definitely eager to hear the fate of Ms. Mac Cheese!

Mary said...

Oh, and Congratulations on your 200 posts! I look forward to a few hundred more.

Anonymous said...

How amazing! Congrats on your 100th Blog Posting! Wonderful achievement!

Climenheise said...

I've enjoyed reading your blogs; I wish I kept mine going as faithfully, but I find it easier to respond to others.

I am in the middle of reading a pile of research papers, a master's thesis, and several doctoral projects -- all of which makes posting or responding harder. I wanted to say more about last year's trip to Ghana. Maybe something about the ocean. But I already have too many papers that I have to comment on!

Like anvilcloud, I keep fighting with American spellings in a Canadian context. At least I can select Canadian English for my word processor.

Now, you go write 200 more.

Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

Let me remember my high school spelling rules:

"If a word end in a consonant preceded by a vowel you double the connsonant when adding a suffix."
(This allows you to pronounce the word keeping the vowel long.) This does not apply to words ending in w. x.y. or z. In a two syllable word with the stress on the second syllable the rule applies.

How is that for remembering 50 year old trivia. I too get confused with American spellings which often ignore the rules. I didn't even notice "les faux pas".

KGMom said...

Here's the "rule of thumb" I learned for making verbs past (not passed) tense.
If the vowel in the word is a short vowel, you double the end consonant--usually an R.
If the vowel in the word is a long vowel; you do not.
So--prefer becomes preferred.
And occur becomes occurred.

Usually, a verb ending in the vowel E will have the middle consonant be sounded as a long vowel. In that case, you don't double the consonant.
So wire becomes wired.

Then you have all the irregular verbs that change form for past tense.
So eat becomes ate.
Or beat becomes. . .not bate.

No wonder English is confusing for ESL students. I always tell them--you just have to memorize some of these variations.

The rules help, but they don't cover everything.

KGMom said...

Verb Spelling Rules here!

nina at Nature Remains. said...

If you're ever looking for a book and haven't already read it, I recommend Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer.

I read it one summer and it's at the top of my all-time-favorites list. Not too many I love enough to buy--this is one I had to own.