Thursday 17 March 2011

More excuses! But you'll forgive me.

A round-up of books I've read very and not so recently and which I've concluded I'm not going to take the time to review individually. Why? Two things: 1) I start an awesome new job in approx. 10 days and want to spend as little time as possible before then on the cpu. 2) Spring is insinuating itself into the blasted deathscape that is Toronto in late winter; I can't help but go outside a lot, especially on days like today - when it's so warm out that my most favourite cuorduroy jacket is deployed sans hat, mitt, or scarf! Vitamin D absorption is nigh.

1) Anthony Trollope, The American Senator.
I really wanted to spend more time on Trollope's look at moral and cultural relativism through the lens of as, as usual, a damned fine story. Suffice to say, it's one of my Trollopian favourites and has helped to confirm him as one of my most beloved authors.

2) Hwang Sok-Yong, The Guest.
The guest, small pox, as a metaphor for American cultural imperialism in the Koreas. A very good book - both writing and plot-wise - in spite of (because of? That would be a first.) Hwang's unabashed didacticism. Also, Hwang is a real-life ass-kicker, which makes the Truth-Telling even more okay/awesome.

3) Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit.
My experience reading this book disturbingly reflected the arc of the novel's plot. I began it during an unmitigated shit-storm (bookstore-closing) and concluded it at a time of unrivalled happiness (added to, but not created by, new job mentioned above). Still, my life is not all even close to being as strange as Dickens's fiction. Dickens, you managed to surprise me with this one - unexpected, and I thank you.

That is all. I'm going outside into the sun again RIGHT NOW.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good luck in your new job! Great news:)

Interp said...

Fast and furious you read! I'll hold Little Dorrit's hand. I will. Soon. K

Stefanie said...

Hooray for sun! And congratulations on your new job!

Trapunto said...

Congratulations, I'm happy for your happiness!

Rebecca Reid said...

I've been enjoying the sun too. And congrats on the job.

I am glad to hear of another highly recommended Trollope. I still need to work on the Palliser series and then I'll let myself branch out.

Unknown said...

Another interesting Trollope - one for the Kindle...

Congrats on the job: am I supposed to know what it is?

Meytal Radzinski said...

Nothing like springtime (and Vitamin D) to make everything awesome again. Including reading. A warm breeze, a comfy bench, a good book... and the world is fine once more.

J.G. said...

Spring, new job, good read, etc., etc. Congrats on turning the corner!