September was such a busy month in all parts of my life — work, gardening, biking and of course reading. I kept waiting for the cold weather to arrive but it never did. Part of me was disappointed about that and another part of me was really excited. But the go go go is starting to wear me out and even if I would love to keep go go going I am looking forward to cold weather whenever it finally gets here. Better late than never!
September reading plans were crazy and of course I didn’t read all I had I hoped to. But that’s ok. I dream big and if I read half of what I hope to I am happy. One book I did not get to read in September and had to return to the library was Helen Vendler’s The Ocean, the Bird and the Scholar: Essays on Poets and Poetry. I read the first two essays and liked them very much but just ran out of time. Vendler also does not exactly have a breezy style, one must read slowly and pay attention. So I have decided this is a book I would like to own. That way I can take my time with it, mark it up and always have it around for reference. I have been waiting for a Barnes and Noble coupon and one arrived in my email today so this will be the weekend of the purchase. Yay!
October catches me almost done with Still Time by Jean Hegland. I am very much enjoying the book. It’s a lovely and sad father-daughter story. I should be able to tell you more about it soon.
I am in the middle of Azar Nafisi’s The Republic of the Imagination and liking it very much. I somehow expected her literary analysis to have more of a critical textual focus but like Reading Lolita in Tehran, she mixes analysis with personal stories and focuses more on the broader story and its themes and context rather than picking away at scenes and nuances. It is good stuff and I plan to finish it this month.
I am picking away at The Rider by Tim Krabbé. It is lots of fun as he gives a rider’s view of a big race and the strategizing and physical effort. I had no idea the riders in the peloton chatted with each other while racing. It all seems like a friendly group ride until it isn’t. They never forget they are riding in a race.
My Elizabeth Bishop project continues. I am really enjoying her poetry. I didn’t get to spend much time with her letters and no time at all with Rare and Commonplace Flowers in September, so I am hoping to be able to carve out more time with those this month.
I just started reading Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson. I spent years thinking he was a she and I still have to catch myself. I have never read him before but have wanted to and now I am. This book is about a generation ship that after nearly 200 years of traveling from Earth to its destination is almost at journey’s end. The focus of the book is about all the unexpected changes that have happened to the humans on board and what that means for their survival.
New books on the horizon for the month include Foragers, Farmers and Fossil Fuels: How Human Values Evolve by Ian Morris. My turn for this just came up at the library yesterday. I read the introduction last night and almost decided no thanks until I learned that after Morris’s arguments he has three people from various specialties comment and argue with him. One of these people is Margaret Atwood! So while I get the feeling I won’t be agreeing much with Morris’s thesis, it isn’t every day an author includes three people who directly criticize in his own book. Plus, Margaret Atwood.
You may also be wondering what I chose for my first nature book after I asked for recommendations. Since it has been on my shelf for years and because several of you mentioned it, I decided to go with Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard. I will be starting it sometime this month.
And probably later in the month it looks like my turn at the library will be coming up for The House of Twenty Thousand Books by Sasha Abramsky. The book is about Abramsky’s grandparents and library and is published by the New York Review of Books. I have yet to meet a NYRB I didn’t like and I expect this one will be no exception.
Scaling back a little on the plans for October. So far. Tomorrow and Saturday Bookman and I will be attending NerdCon and who knows what kind of bookish craziness might ensue because of it! I will of course let you know.
Can’t wait to hear all about NerdCon! Have fun!!
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Jenny, thanks!
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Azar Nafisi is going to be here for the Texas Book Festival later this month so I’m hoping to go hear her speak on her new book. Have fun at NerdCon!
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Iliana, oh I hope you get to hear her speak I am sure she will be really interesting!
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Seems like Republic of Imagination is good stuff so getting it…great October reading plans! Hope you have fun at NerdCon…expecting to hear a lot about it once you are back!
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cirtnecce, it is good stuff! NerdCon was great! More on that soon 🙂
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I haven’t read Pilgrim. I am course offended that you didn’t take up MY suggestions, but your reason for choosing Pilgrim is so valid that I’ll accept your apology!
Just wanted to let you know that I’m on the road for the next 18 days, so if my visits are infrequent that’s why … And not because I’m offended. 😀
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whisperinggums, LOL, I’ll try to work one of yours in next 🙂 I hope you have a nice time traveling! Safe journey!
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Oh, and I enjoyed as usual your October report.
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Oo Jean Hegland. Is that one new? I thought I had looked up what else she had write back when I read “Into the Forest” and found nothing but her book about birth. Speaking of, have you read “Into the Forest”? I can’t remember.
Have fun with Tinker at Pilgrim!
I can’t wait to hear about NerdCon!
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Nikki, yes the Hegland is new. I have read Into the Forest, long time ago when it was first published. This new one is very different but good!
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Pilgrim at Tinker Creek is absolutely gorgeous. I wrote a review of it a while back, if you fancy a sneak preview before the book itself (https://ellethinks.wordpress.com/2015/05/23/pilgrim-at-tinker-creek-by-annie-dillard/). Enjoy the book–Dillard is amazing.
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Elle, thanks! I just started it yesterday and it is already pulling me in.
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Must be because I am living in another part of the world, or I am just very ignorant, what is NerdCon, Stefanie? I tried to search for it but couldn’t find a pausible explanation. And I follow all wishes above anyway, have fun there and enjoy buying your new book!
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Cath, sorry I forgot to put in a link in the post. NerdCon Stories is a storytelling convention being held here in Minneapolis. 🙂
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I still haven’t read Pilgrim, and every time I see Dillard’s name, I am reminded of my slack attention to what I want to read. Can’t believe the far north is still waiting for cold weather. Of course, we don’t expect any until January, but I like knowing that some people get cold weather and light fires.
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Jenclair, I have been operating the same as you with Pilgrim for years and years so I figured it was finally time to do something about it! The cold is coming, it has just been delayed. No one is really complaining about the delay either!
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I didn’t know there was another Azar Nafisi available. I must get hold of a copy. When I can get away from Dickens, that is. The postman struggled up the path this morning with copies of ‘Bleak House’, ‘Little Dorrit’ and ‘Our Mutual Friend’. 800 pages, each of them!
PS I also need to know what Nerd Con is!
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Alex, yes, the paperback of the book is coming out, I think the hard cover was published last year. Your postal carrier deserves a present for carrying all those books to your door! NerdCon stories is/was a storytelling convention. More on it soon!
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Not sure I will be rushing to get Republic of the Imagination. I was disappointed with Reading Lolita in Tehran because it felt Azar Nafisi didn’t resolve the question of whether she was writing a lit crit book or a personal story. The two elements pf the story ( the lit discussions and the personal experiences of her students) each worked well but she didn’t really blend them well enough tog for my taste.
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BookerTalk, hmm, yes, you may have some of the same issues with Republic of Imagination then. I think they are blended better than Reading Lolita, but then I am not quite halfway yet so I’ll have to let you know!
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That is a wonderfully diverse range of books – even for you! Interested in what you make of the Anne Dillard which I read years ago. I am pretty much sure you will enjoy it.
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Ian, heh, I admit I was getting a little bored with the usual stuff so had to shake things up a bit! So far I am enjoying Dillard very much.
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