Do you ever have those times when you feel like you haven’t been reading enough, but you’ve really been reading the same as usual? Those generally come when I haven’t finished a book in a while.
So last night when I sat down to read I decided I was going to concentrate on one book instead of book hopping. I chose Lady Susan because the Slaves discussion starts Saturday. I thought I had more of it to read than I did, and was surprised to finish it in an hour filled with doggie interruptus (dog wants out, dog wants in, dog wants to play, dog wants out, dog wants in, dog is too quiet which means he’s doing something he shouldn’t). I was happy to finish the book, thinking it would solve my reading malaise. I put the book away, waiting for that satisfied finished a book feeling to creep over me at any second. And I waited. And waited. I decided it was like waiting for a pot to boil so went and brushed my teeth, hoping to give it the space to sneak up on me. Nothing. Maybe it’s because I have read the book before? Whatever the reason, I was disappointed.
I crawled into bed and picked up a different book but was too distracted to concentrate. So I picked up Bookforum. I discovered that Modern Library will be releasing an edition of Shakespeare’s complete works in early April. I immediately wanted it but came to my senses almost as quickly since we have several different complete works around the house already.
I also read a funny little article of some interest about Jim Crace. Have any of you read him before? Amazon UK apparently has a book listed called Useless America that they say he wrote (I found the book listing but it didn’t have an author). But the book doesn’t exist. Crace fans started writing fake reviews for the book. Amazon took the reviews down but left the book up. The article unfortunately didn’t say what happens to anyone who tries to order the nonexistent book. But Crace’s American publisher, Nan A. Talese/Doubleday (they are publishing his new book called The Pesthouse) has announced it is going to print a limited edition of 75 copies of Useless America as a blank book with a dust jacket and everything. The books will be given away to the 75 people who write the best “review” of the novel. The contest details will be posted on Jim Crace’s website but don’t appear to be there yet. I doubt that I will have time to read a real Crace book to even give me half a chance of winning a fake one but the whole thing tickled my funny bone.
I felt a bit better after my earlier funk and went to sleep. But today I still feel a bit off and in need of some therapy. I just so happen to have a Half Price Books coupon. If I missed out on the happy finished a book feeling I can at least make up for it with the happy bought a book feeling.
Jim Crace is a hoot. He’s been a “guest” at Readerville a couple of times and what he has to say is always interesting. He’s stated no one should ever believe a word he says.
Have you heard of Being Dead (great book!)? The main characters die in the first chapter, a brutal murder, and are left on the beach to decay throughout the rest of the book, which is primarily backstory to the murder. Lots of detail on physical decay, lots of extremely believable detail, which Crace admits he completely made up.
I think he was in cahoots with Margaret Drabble in getting a fictious author placed in the dictionary of authors that she edited several years back.
I was actually holding a copy of Being Dead in my hand last night at Half Price books Susan. It looked good and I was tempted but I wanted to wait to find out if he was worthwhile. If the book is still there on my next trip, or maybe it’s an excuse for another trip, I’ll be sure to bring it home with me. Thanks!
I’ll second Being Dead – I thought it was outstanding, as was Continent. I picked up all of his books after John Crowley highly recommended him, and I haven’t been disappointed.
Here’s another vote for Being Dead. There’s no way I could resist reading a book that starts off with the murder of its two main character and proceeds to describe in such detail the decay of their bodies on the beach where they were killed. It’s got a great back story also and I found the characters to be well developed and very believable. I have a copy of Crace’s Signals of Distress, a historical novel, but haven’t read it yet…and I’m on the look out for cheap copies of his others now.
It’s actually pretty difficult to say which feeling is better. The happy bought a book feeling is filled with anticipation, while the happy finished a book feeling is filled with satisfaction
That you finished that book in an hour is incredibly fast. How was it?
The Hood Company
I know that feeling well — of reading as usual but not feeling like you’re getting anywhere. I’ve got a little bit of that going on now, being in the middle of Proust and Boswell. Actually, that made the short Lady Susan a perfect read for right now — something quick and fast!
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John and Sam, thanks for the Crace recommendations!
Gavin, yo are right, it is difficult to say which feeling is better
Brian, the book was so-so. It has it’s moments. I didn’t read the entire book in an hour. I had already read about 1/3 of the book when I picked it up last night.
Dorothy, it’s a distressing feeling and usually finishing a book fixes it, but last night it didn’t. I’ll just have to work at finishing another book this weekend!
John and Sam, thanks for the Crace recommendations!
Gavin, you are right, it is difficult to say which feeling is better
Brian, the book was so-so. It has it’s moments. I didn’t read the entire book in an hour. I had already read about 1/3 of the book when I picked it up last night.
Dorothy, it’s a distressing feeling and usually finishing a book fixes it, but last night it didn’t. I’ll just have to work at finishing another book this weekend!
Oh I hate those weird reading funks. I feel like I’ve been reading the same two books forever now and what’s worse is that they are both a bit depressing too. I am in need of good fluff!
Sadly, I still haven’t picked up Lady Susan either. Maybe tonight. Oh and have not read Crace but that story about the fake books is great.
I think I am going to have to look for that Jim Crace book now, too! I hate that sort of unsatisfactory feeling, too. I am in the middle of a few books and feeling like I am never going to finish anything soon. I did finish Lady Susan, but my edition also has The Watsons and Sanditon in it,which I want to read, so that means I am technically not done with the book! I also got Bookforum recently and have yet to even open it. Too much time on the computer!
Add me to list of those planning on taking a look at Being Dead. It sounds like the movie Memento but also not at all. I think I am probably not the only one to make that comparison and I wait to be scolded for doing so.
It’s all a balancing act, isn’t Danielle?
Wordvariety, have no fear of scolding, we’re all nice here
Funny. I have one of the 75 copies. I won a contest back in ’06 at Powell’s in Portland. I entered twice. In one of the entries I wrote a puff piece and credited it to Jim Crace’s biggest critic in the UK. The other was nonsensical. I think the later won.