The winter storm is edging ever closer and within an hour or so it will have reached me here in Minneapolis. The reliable weather forecaster is saying 14-18 inches total snowfall. I’m limbering up my snow shoveling muscles as I type. Okay, maybe not as I type, but I’m ready!
I decided to give up on How to Read Literature Like a Professor. I am disappointed that I had to because I wanted to like the book but it just wasn’t happening. There are some nice lists at the back of the book I will go through so at least it isn’t a total loss.
I was in the mood for nonfiction last night so I began reading Proust and the Squid. The introductory chapter jumps around and seemed unfocused but finally settled down to my relief. Now, I think it will be a good book, I was worried at first.
I discovered today that Jasper Fforde has a new book. It is not a Nursery Crime or a Thursday Next book but something new. Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron is the start of a new series that is the usual Fforde style but this time in a dystopian world ruled by a “Colortocracy.” The title link will take you to a brief review and you can decide for yourself whether or not you are intrigued. I like Fforde in spite of a few clunkers so I’ll be on the look out for this one.
If you need some humor to lighten your holiday stress, take four minutes to enjoy a Colbert Nation video in which Colbert defines a new word phrase: Spyvate Sector. It’d be even funnier if there wasn’t any truth to it.
I’m so jealous, I want a reading snowy vacation !
Thank you for you referring to “How to Read Literature Like a Professor “ I was planning to order it even when I had sceond thoughts about it, it just sounded like a school book! Now I know for sure it shouldn’t be on my list
I actually loved How to Literature…..but only because I had not gone to school for literature and I found his down-to-earth teachings very easy to understand. I could definitely see why not everyone would like the book, however.
We are supposed to get some of the snow from this storm – but only about 4 inches or so. I am certainly not complaining, however, as we have not had a white Christmas in several years.
I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas – with lots of free time for reading by the fire.
We are only expecting 9″ to 12″ here. But that’s okay, I’ll let you guys have those extra inches of snow!
It is pretty and festive and all that, I guess….I’m working on finishing Wives and Daughters myself and then moving back and forth between a historical novel and a crime novel…hmm…may pick out a new one, too, today. Too bad about the Reading Like a Professor book, but you’ve probably already been there and done that! Enjoy your other books, and we can commiserate later over shoveling. 
Oh I’m sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy the How to Read Like a Professor book… It sounds like it’d be a good book.
But good to hear you are ready for the storm with some other good books nearby and hopefully you still have some goodies left over from your feast!
Have a wonderful reading day, with just enough snow to meet your needs
I hope Proust and the Squid will settle down for you; I thought it was a very interesting read, though not perfect.
Aw, snowy reading vacation with cats and delicious treats… enjoy! And then work it all off with the snow shovel! (jealous!)
Glad to hear you’ve found a book that catches your attention. Merry Christmas.
That is serious snow. We’ve been wimping around here in the UK over a mere 4 inches! Sounds like you are having a wonderful reading time. I am going to have a go at the Reading Like A Professor book as I have a copy and a professional interest. And very keen to know how Proust and the Squid turns out! Stay warm and cosy over there, dear Stefanie!
So, did you get the snow? Bob and I are headed to Maine tomorrow (fabulous new book marks in tow for our week’s worth of reading) where we hope to encounter a little snow for snow shoeing, as all of the 18 inches that was dumped on us last weekend here in PA is basically melted and has been washed away by rain today. Thanks for the tip on the new Jasper Fforde, which I didn’t know. I, most definitely, am intrigued. Happy New Year!
Dammit. The Colbert link will not work for me BECAUSE I AM IN CANADA!
Rats!
I LOVE Colbert.
I’m sorry that the Foster book was a dud for you [I kinda liked it....] and here’s me, standing on a a chair so you can hear me wishing you a VERY MERRY………. DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS AND BEYOND!
Faith, How to Read is not a bad book, it is good actually, but if You have studied literature at all it will be a bit basic.
Molly, thank you for the good wishes! I hope your white Christmas was most enjoyable. How to Read is very down to earth, I agree. I would have kept going but I wasn’t reading anything I didn’t know so it got boring for me. I am glad you enjoyed it so much.
Danielle, we only ended up wit a foot because it rained. I would have rather had the snow than the rain turning everything icy. Still we got enough snow that my back is tired from shoveling as I am sure yours is too!
Iliana, How to Read is a good book, but it just wasn’t good for me. We hunkered sown good an did have some goodies left from our feast
Melanie, Thanks! Proust and the Squid is settling down and I am quite enjoying it now
Daphne, any time you want to come shovel some snow, you are more than welcome
Vasilly, Thank you and I hope you had a lovely Christmas!
Litlove, I will be interested to know what you think of How to Read. I think he does a fine job on an introductory level but sometimes makes some rather broad strokes. I predict that you will like him, mostly
Emily, Oh yes, we got a foot of snow. Yours has all melted already? Ours won’t be melting until April. If you don’t find enough snow in Maine, pop up to MN
Happy New Year to you too!
Cipriano, That stinks that you can’t watch Colbert in Canada. Totally unfair. He is hilarious. The Foster book isn’t bad, just a little basic given my background. Thank you for the good wishes. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and me and the cats send you and Jack happy New Year wishes!
I think it makes sense to give up on that Read Like a Professor book — just getting some good things from the list and moving on sounds right. I’m curious to hear more about Proust and the Squid — I’m glad it started to focus, and I hope it stays good.
Dorothy, How to Read is good but definitely intended for a reader that is not me. He makes a couple of good recommendations of lit crit titles though that I look forward to trying sometime. Proust and the Squid is currently going swimmingly
I enjoyed Lost in Austen. I wasn’t sure about it, but it was available on the instant play in Netflix so I tried it and ended up really liking it. I also love Jasper Fforde. I’m excited he has a new book coming out, I had just saw that on Amazon the other day. It’s nice to see someone else who enjoys him, most people look at me like I’m a little crazy when I try to describe his books.
I have heard Proust and the Squid is just great! Look forward to your thoughts as you go through it.
Lindsey, I watched it on Netflix instant play too! I love Fforde, he’s such goofy fun and I like that his books are so impossible to describe.
Rebecca, Proust and the Squid has turned out to be marvelous. Will post on it soon.