Why start just one new book when two is double the fun? That seems to be my attitude of late when I finish a book. And so, within the last few days of finishing Summit Avenue, I have begun reading To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis and Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid by Jimmy Carter. Since I have been waiting my turn for the Carter book since December I had to start reading it because there are other holds behind me and I won’t be able to renew the book. So I have some justification. But it gets canceled out when I admit that I got the notice from my library Saturday afternoon and started reading the Willis book anyway. When the mood strikes to start a new book waiting is for the birds.
I must say, I am enjoying both of the books. To Say Nothing of the Dog is funny. The main character, Ned Henry, who was sent back to 1888 England to try and avert a parachonistic paradox from having any horrid effects, is about to embark in a boat with two other men. Ned himself realizes how like Three Men in a Boat his experience seems to be. That’s as far as I am at the moment. I am anticipating fun ahead.
While the Willis book is plain fun, Carter’s book is eye opening. My knowledge and understanding of events in Israel and its surrounds are not exactly deep. Carter is giving me an education and I thank him for it. I’m about a third of the way through the book and already I have a firmer grasp of not only the facts but also the context. I know Carter has received a lot of flak for the title, but the book itself is even and fairhanded. Carter places no blame on anyone, but instead shows all sides of the dispute and where all of the players have both contributed to the chaos and the attempts at peace in the conflict. This is, however, a dangerous book for those who are hard-line pro-Israel because Palestine (as well as Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon) is shown to have valid and just concerns.
My guess is I will finish Carter’s book sometime this weekend or early next week. And if I start another book, or two, I am going to blame Sylvia and her Top Five Wanna Reads meme for forcing me to consider all the books I want to read but haven’t gotten to yet. Here are my five:
- The Divine Comedy by Dante
- Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon
- Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
- The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
- The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe
Ask me for five next week and the list will probably look a little different since there are quite a few more books than five in the top wanna read category.
Wow, another vote for Dante. That might make a good group read…
I bought Gravity’s Rainbow for my friend for Christmas…it just occured to me that I never asked if he had finished it yet and if he liked it as much as he had hoped…he’s been dying to read it forever.
I’m shocked. SHOCKED! Dante is my favorite poet, and I LOVE The Divine Comedy!
Glad to hear you’re enjoying the Carter. My son should start it in the next week or so and I’m trying to decide if I want to read it along with him or wait until he’s done.
Yours is the only post I have time to read and I was GRABBED by the title. I always have at least two books and usually more in the neighborhood of four or five perking at a time. Yes, I finish them. I am ruthless re: putting something down forever if it proves a literary betrayal to my personal (admittedly snooty) sensibility. My perfectionism used to prevent this but there are just too many wonderful writers and books to waste time. Enjoyed your list…..most classics got that way for a reason, eh?
Ilsa
I love ‘Three Men in a Boat’ so I will have to check out ‘To Say Nothing of the Dog’ – thanks!
I always tell myself that I have to finish TWO books before I can start a new ONE. So I finish two and then start three new ones! Ah. I would happily start a couple more now, but I am trying to wait until the end of the month at least! I want to read Mysteries of Udolpho, too (and then read Northanger Abbey!).
Glad to hear you are enjoying Carter’s book. After hearing a bit about it on NPR some while back I was intrigued. There’s a long wait list for it at my library too though. And, this year I will read Connie Willis. That’s just all there is to it
Ooohh I ought to read more about current affairs. My knowledge is shockingly bad. Perhaps I’ll just catch up a little through reading about you reading it
I’m glad you mentioned the Carter. It’s the sort of thing I wouldn’t be likely to leaf through in a bookstore, but you make it sound interesting – and truth be told, I’m ashamed to say that my ignorance of that whole issue is nearly total.
I like your Wanna Read list, too. I’ve only ever read a few short stories by Faulkner and have long thought I’d like to read his novels. I’ve always wondered if they should be read in any certain order but haven’t been able to find the answer on the Internet (or anywhere else).
I want to try that Radcliffe too. However, last night I dreamt about reading Jane Eyre so I think that’s a not-so-subtle sign.
You might be right Sylvia.
Silverneurotic, I’ve heard you either the love the book or hate it. Hopefully your friend loved it.
Brandon, do you have a favorite Dante translation?
Susan, the Carter book reads quickly and easily despite the subject matter and begs for discussion.
Ilsa, thanks for stopping by! I used to have a hard time putting books down too but it has gotten easier to quit the ones I am not enjoying. I tried to think of books for the list that weren’t classics but I couldn’t.
Lesley, if you loved Three Men in a Boat, chances are good you will like To Say Nothing of the Dog.
Danielle, I almost started a third book but with nothing close to the end at the moment and Lady Susan looming on the horizon I managed, for now, to resist.
I heard about Carter’s book on NPR too Iliana and apparently so did a lot of other people in Minneapolis! Connie Willis is a god author. I’ve read her Doomsday Book and really liked it.
Litlove, that’s sorta cheating, isn’t it?
Del, Carter is making the Middle East understandable for me. As for the Faulkner, I tried to read Sound and Fury once just for fun when I was 17 and gave up after a few pages. I have to try it again.
Imani, since you just read The Italian it’s a good sign you want to read Udolpho but I think when a book appears in a dream you have to pay attention to that one first
The only Dante translation that I’ve read is by John Ciardi, which I found to be the easiest to read while still retaining the poetic structure. My first attempt was with the Allan Mendelbaum translation, which I couldn’t get into. And I know Longfellow did a translation, but I’ve never sampled it, so can’t comment on it. It goes without saying: do your homework, do comparisons, etc. It’s been a while since I’ve read the Comedy, so I probably have to read it again soon, this time with another translation.
Nice list of books there — I’d kind of like to read more Pynchon someday, but I’m not sure how hard going the book would be. I’ve never read Carson, but I’m quite sure her book is wonderful — I feel like I HAVE read it already, I’ve heard so much about it.
Thanks for the information Brandon. I own the Mandelbaum translation, bought it a very long time ago. If that one doesn’t suit me I will look for the Ciardi translation.
Thanks Dorothy. I’ve not read Pynchon before and find him a little intimidating. I feel like I’ve read Carson too, but haven’t and I hear she is a wonderful writer.