Here's another stack of books beside the bed.
A friend loaned me Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl. This morning I found myself on the subway, standing next to a woman reading the same book. This is not surprising given its popularity but I did like that we were both reading it without the jacket cover (I put it back on for the picture). When I first glanced over, our pages appeared identical, each labelled an AMY ELLIOT DUNNE diary entry. Upon closer inspection, I saw that the entry on her page was dated July 5, 2008. Mine: April 21, 2009. I loved that we were in this strange time stretch together but I was just a few months ahead. What I know she will know. What she read I read once.
I found Hiaasen's Hoot on the sidewalk. Friends with overflowing shelves gave me the rest of the stack. We can't keep them. Take them.
I like that this stack came to me, the bindings all worn, because they didn't quite fit where they were. These are books I didn't seek out. But sometimes a book finds you. Sometimes the list of desired books is too enormous, the wait at the New York Public Library too long, and maybe I think I know what I want to read but don't really, so I did something a little crazy. I pushed this spontaneous stack ahead of everything else. I'll put my faith here.
Have you read any of these books? What are you reading?
I don't have any of those books, but I like what you said: "But sometimes a book finds you."
ReplyDeleteI had been hearing of Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture and wanted to read it. I ended up buying it in the oddest place: a mattress store. It was at the counter display, being sold as a fundraiser for pancreatic cancer. So, yes, sometimes the book finds you. :)
I've got Hoot on my bookshelf, I found it at a used bookstore a few months ago. And I've got a Didion book (After Henry) on the same shelf. Think that came from a library book sale last spring. I've heard good things about Gone Girl.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely. Sometimes I go to the library and just wander the aisles and pull out books that look interesting, even if I've never heard of the title or author. I also did this with books on tape when I drove an old 1961 Mercedes that only had a tape deck. I would pick up 4-5 different books on tape at the library, then sift through them while driving. If I didn't like one, I'd go to the next book. This is how I discovered "Mao's Last Dancer", one of my favorite books. And because of that, it's a practice I still do today -- pulling off books I wasn't necessarily looking for, but I love once I begin.
ReplyDeleteI read HOOT way back when it first came out, but it didn't grab me. Although it is available in my school's book room, I never choose to use it for a reading group. I have to love a book to use it in reading group -- read it over and over, write questions for it and read the students' answers, talk about it again and again. (Like A LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO. I will never tire of teaching that book!)
ReplyDeleteI also read GONE GIRL and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I haven't read any of the books in your stack. Right now I'm reading STARTERS. It's really good. K read the whole thing over the weekend.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of these but I think your stack of books is a lovely sight!
ReplyDeleteI've read Ian McEwan's "On Chesil Beach" - really good. And I too have a Joan Didion book on my nightstand, "Blue Nights." Funny too, since I just wrote about my never-ending list of books to read :)
ReplyDeleteHave you read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern? I'm only halfway done, but it is gorgeous. I think you would love it :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of these, though I want too. So many books, so little time :(
ReplyDeleteI just started Paranormalcy yesterday. So far so good. Finished Measuring Up by Nyrae Dawn yesterday and OMG. LOVED it. One of my favorites this year.
What a great stack! I want to read more Didion--I've only read The Year of Magical Thinking. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI have heard amazing things about Gone Girl and I think it may be the next book I read.
ReplyDelete