After reading two such wonderful books in a row, Enchanted April and then Rebecca, I was a bit concerned about what I should pick next. My hand and eyes scanned the shelves and piles and lingered over several recently published novels but hesitated. The two previous books had such a soft and lyrical language they made me feel comfortable and cozy and I was not ready to leave my happy little cocoon. I feared something recent would be too harsh. I hemmed and hawed. Dickens? Or maybe the Wilkie Collins I wanted to read? But I wasn’t in the mood for something so big either. Finally, I landed on Barbara Pym.
The one I chose is Less Than Angels. It has turned out to be perfect. It is a social satire on anthropologists. Doesn’t that alone sound goofy and make you smile? While it isn’t quite the depth of coziness that the other two were, it is still delightful. I have laughed out loud several times and I have a new expression that tickles my fancy, “not quite out of the top drawer,” as in not exactly the best. I’m longing for an opportunity to use it in conversation.
Off to read about digital libraries. What I originally thought they were is slowly changing. Can’t quite put it into words yet, I just know that the concept I am working on is much more exciting than scanned books.
I now have three books to add to my TBR mountain.
It can be difficult to pick the next book to read. You don’t want to spoil things. Oddly enough, though, most times the next book is precisely right. Not always, but usually–at least in my experience.
I think Barbara Pym is an excellent choice, and I’m glad you are enjoying it so much. I’m not familiar with that book and will have to keep an eye out for it. Although I did have two unread Pym’s already on the shelves …
Barbara Pym? Perfect! But, um, now, what to read next? Perhaps it’s time for some Rose Macaulay?
While my day was ‘not quite out of the top drawer,’ I always like to see what you are reading! Barbara Pym has been recommended often to me; I should find some… so glad she was the cozy solution!
Oh, good call for a transition piece.
I love fabulous phrases. My recent acquisition was, “second-grade fresh” (meaning second-rate passed off as quality) from The Master and Margarita. It apparently entered into common Russian parlance upon publication, because readers living under Soviet rule could find so many places to use it.
You know, Stefanie, your site is the first one I started to read. I was so blown away by it, I e-mailed a bookish friend of mine right away and told her to check it out. Then, I branched out to the sites of the commentators. What a great source of information! I tell you this because it is from your site that I first heard of Barbara Pym! How could I have missed her? You had picked up one of her books (I think Excellent Women) and the reason you gave for selecting that book was something like, “because it’s Pym.” So, long story to tell you that I checked Excellent Women out of the library right away, and found a new favorite author. Pym is just the ticket for the “happy little cocoon” (although Woman in White or The Moonstone both by Collins would have also fit the bill.
P.S. Even if it wasn’t you, I’m giving you credit. Thanks.
‘Not quite out of the top drawer’ along with ‘second-grade fresh’ are going to be fairly useful phrases. Barbara Pym! Excellent transition choice.
Those definitely would be hard books to follow up on for me as well. I think you made an excellent choice with a Pym book. You’ll have to tell us when you get to use your Pym phrase
Finding out what to read next after one particularly good book is always a hideous challenge–especially if you’ve finished all of that author’s work already!
I just love that moment [those moments] when I can run my hands over so many books [no, not your blog-title]… but like so many unread books in my shelves, as I come to the close of a current read, and just anticipate the next one.
Is the Wilkie Collins you skipped over –> The Moonstone?
I have wanted to read that one for a long time, and have yet to do so!
Barbara Pym does sound wonderful. Now I want to read her, too…..She must have a thing about anthropologists–weren’t the odd neighbors in Excellent Women also anthropologists??
Danielle, you know, it’s been so long since I’ve read Excellent Women that I don’t recall if the odd neighbors were anthropologists. She did work with anthropologists at one time in her career so she knows how to make fun of them