New Century Reading

It's Tuesday, where are you?

Hosted by Raidergirl

I'm in a barn in an unnamed community, trying to deliver an overdue introduction to an anthology of rhyming poems while sorting through my messy personal life (girlfriend left me, deep in debt). No matter what, though, I'm very passionate about poetry, and sometimes I'm even funny. (Yes, I'm enjoying this book!)

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Miz B. The rules:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!   

I'm going to give more than two sentences, but no spoilers:

"What did she really mean by 'It doesn't have to rhyme?' Did she mean it could rhyme but it didn't have to? No. She meant Don't rhyme. She meant: I am going to manacle your poor pliable brains with freedom. I'm going to insist that you must be free. She wrote 'FREE VERSE' on the board."

The Anthologist by Nicholson Baker. A great, fun read so far (not quite done). It's also on the shortlist for the 2010 Tournament of Books.

It's Tuesday, where are you?

I'm revisiting a beloved place--a worn, well-loved family beach house in Scotland, where a protective, loving mother watches over her family with keen, insightful perspective, while entertaining various houseguests.

I've decided that as long as I'm doing the "It's Tuesday, Where Are You?" piece, I might as well do the other Tuesday component, hosted by Miz. B. 

 

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"To pursue truth with such astonishing lack of consideration for other people's feelings, to rend the thin veils of civilisation [sic] so wantonly, so brutally, was to her so horrible an outrage that, without replying, dazed and blinded, she bent her head as if to let the pelt of jagged hail, the drench of dirty water, bespatter her unrebuked. There was nothing to be said."

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, for this week's Woolf in Winter read-along, hosted this week starting Jan. 29 by Emily. The Mrs. Dalloway conversation was wonderful--if you've read or are reading To the Lighthouse, be sure to check in with Emily on Friday for more insights!

It's Tuesday, where are you?

Sponsored by Raidergirl

I'm in London, preparing for a party. Sounds simple, but not in the least.

Mrs. Dalloway, by (of course) Virginia Woolf.

It's Tuesday, where are you?

I'm in Lexington, KY, in the early 1800s, living a life marked by tragedy that will turn me into an enormously unpopular, reviled historical figure.

Mary Todd Lincoln by Jean H. Baker, a deep look at the tumultuous life of Lincoln's wife.

It's Tuesday, where are you?

Joining in with Raidergirl, as I try to do every Tuesday...

I'm in two very different places this week: a post-apocalyptic America, where children are chosen to fight to the death in televised gladiator matches, and 14th-century Norway, where a headstrong young woman is forced to come to terms with the choices she's made--and the husband she fought so hard to win.

The Hunger Games. Yes, I know, I'm just about the last person on the planet to read it. Loving it so far--Collins hits the ground running and so far hasn't lost pace.

Kristin Lavransdatter, Book 2: The Wife. An oddly compelling and troubling tale.

It's Tuesday, where are you?

I'm in 14-century Norway, a young girl from a well-regarded family that has known its share of tragedy. But now I'm facing my own hardships and the struggle to accept an arranged marriage, all while balancing her Christian beliefs with centuries of folklore and superstition.

I've joined the Kristin Lavransdatter Readalong. Currently, I'm still in part 1, Kristin Lavransdatter: the Wreath. It was slow in the beginning, but I'm finding myself more and more anxious to find out what happens to Kristin. It was originally published in the early 20th century, but it's not a nicey-nicey view of the world whatsoever; even with a 14th-century setting, there's much to compare to a 21st-century world.

It's Tuesday

I'm in Ireland in the 1950's, but I've just arrived there and have no idea what's going to happen. But when it's written by William Trevor, it's sure to be amazing.

Of Love and Summer.

It's Tuesday

I'm in Vienna in the early 1800s, watching a biracial violin prodigy meet the man who can change his life--Ludwig Beethoven--only to have his youth play against him in a life-destroying way.

Sonata Mulattica by Rita Dove. This is a book-length story told in poetry, and I'm nearly done and slowing down because I don't want it to end. Dove has written an amazing book, readable, sly, taking advantage of all different poetic forms to tell her story, to great success. I borrowed this from the library, but think maybe I'd like my own copy, to read and make notes in. A wonderful read.

The truly great cities are never self-conscious:
They have their own music; they go about business.
London surges, Rome bubbles, Paris promenades;
Dresden stands rigid, gazes skyward, afraid.

Vienna canters in a slowly tightening spiral.
Golden facades line the avenues, ring after ring
tracing a curve as tender and maddening
as a smile on the face of a beautiful rival.

You can’t escape it; everywhere’s a circle.
Feel your knees bend and straighten
as you focus each step. Hum along with it;
succumb to the sway, enter the trance.

Ah, sweet scandal: No one admits it,
but we all know this dance.

  

It's Tuesday...

 

Where in the world are you? 

I'm in Miami, trying to solve the mystery of the ice truck killer--but for all the wrong reasons.

 
  

Darkly Dreaming Dexter. I'm not done yet, but so far I'm leaning towards thinking I like the TV series better than the book. Very unusual.

It's Tuesday, where are you?

 

I'm all over the world, following the trail of Phoebe Snetsinger, the first birder to build a life list of 8,000 birds. A great accomplishment--but it came at great cost, to her and to her family. Life List by Olivia Gentile (a great read!).