Reading

[gerbie]

Always playing with numbers, I started calculating after I decided to count the books I read this year and wrote reports here in Lj. While on the road, I easily managed 10 a month, I estimated that I would still manage 100 books this year anyway. I think I won't. The last few weeks I have been to busy to just sit down and read. Apart from that, with the weather brightening (september saw me cycling to work only twice, which is the exact amount of days I took the train this month), I do not even read in the train anymore. The book I'm reading, by Iain Banks is good enough to eagerly continue, but I am a victim of my own curiousity. I read the paper every day, most of the times two different ones. I buy magazines (Sportweek, Nieuwe Revu, Aloha, Johan) and read some at work (Vrij Nederland). I subscribe to two magazines (Amnesty's monthly magazine and When Saturday Comes, a British footy zine), which have piled up during my absence, so I have started reading recently all the back issues since late 1999. I get another one (Carp) for free, which is ideal toilet lecture. Not only is it shit, it takes a shit to read it completely. I have to view to news every day, I watch trivia quizes on tv, I tape interesting programms on tv. There are just not enough hours in a day. I just don't get to read books anymore. Next week in the train, I'll have some time, I already look forward to it.

Comments

[repoman.livejournal.com]

I finished "The Crow's Road" by Banks a couple months ago. Any novel tat can start with mentioning how his grandmother blew up can only lead to promising things. Way too good!!!

I read about 5-10 books a month. Lately, I've slumped a bit (haven't had the time to hit the used store) but I'm hoping to correct this in a couple weeks. I subscribe to Harper's and The New Yorker, for times like these (inability to buy books) but theyc an only hold me over for so long.

I'm trying to plow through The Blind Assasin by Margret Atwood but it's becoming a chore...

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[gerbie.livejournal.com]

I think Crow Road was a good book, but it didn't hit me like The Business and Complicity did later. The one I'm reading now Song of Stone isn't bad, though halfway through I still haven't got a clue where it's heading to.

Atwood will not be for me. My mom tried it, she's a big reader, but didn't enjoy it. She knows my taste, I've got plenty of others lined up, I'll give it a miss. The fact that you're struggling just confirms my thoughts.

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[repoman.livejournal.com]

I have a hard time putting down a book once I've started it. I keep thinking maybe it'll get better in a the next couple pages. For example, I was reading Jazz and Beloved and it wasn't until near the end of the book did it finally gel and bring me in.

I read A Handmaids Tale and wasn't too impressed. I'm giving the Blind Assassin a try because a friend thought I would get into it. I'll probably finish it this week and decide if she was right or not. As of now, it's not looking good...

If I may suggest a author, almost anything by Russell Banks is just beautiful. Rule of the Bone, The Sweet Hereafter, and Cloudsplitter are just wonderful books...

Re:

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

You may certainly suggest, that's why I joined this community in the first place. One thing though: I believe you on your word that Banks is a good author, but why would I want to read him?