I've been inspired by one of Iliana's recent posts on the choice for my next short story. Actually I plan on reading the entire collection of Susan Vreeland's Life Studies: Stories. I've enjoyed the novels I've read by Vreeland and have several more that I'd like to read. Her work always deals in some way with artists lives, which is a topic I'm fond of reading about. I'm not sure why I didn't think of reading this collection before, but I'm really looking forward to it now. Although I like picking stories at random, I'm wondering if I should approach The Short Story Reading Challenge slightly differently in the future. There are so many short stories to choose from, and it can be hard to know what to read next. I wish I could find the equivalent in short stories to Philip Lopate's The Art of the Personal Essay. I'd love to have an anthology of the best short stories written (from all countries and time periods), so that I could use it as a sort of guide. I'll have to browse around a little. I've come across many anthologies, but they tend to be themed. If anyone has any suggestions, I would appreciate it.
I've had more library books trickle in. Although this pile was fairly small, added to the rest of the books I've got at home, I won't be in need of any ideas for novels to read for a while. The book I've been most anxious to start is Gerri Brightwell's The Dark Lantern--"A fascinating portrayal of a vanished England as well as an unconventional mystery, The Dark Lantern exposes the grand 'upstairs' of a Victorian home and the darker underbelly of it's servants quarters. The clash between the classes makes for a suspenseful novel of mistaken identities, intriguing women, and dangerous deceptions." Of course I had to start reading it right away and I slipped easily into the story, which is of course filled to the brim with Victorian atmosphere! I hope it lives up to my high expectations.
I also finally got a copy of Benjamin Black's The Silver Swan. Dorothy recently wrote about the novel, which makes me impatient to start it. I enjoyed Christine Falls last year. The Silver Swan takes place two years later concerning the apparent suicide of the wife of an acquaintance. Hmm, another dark and atmospheric read.
Christina McKenna's The Misremembered Man is a new discovery. The blurb calls it a "beautifully rendered portrait of rural life which delights with its authentic characters and gentle humor." It goes on to say, "McKenna lays bare a sinister period of Ireland's history; one which many would prefer to leave hidden and safe from investigative eyes."
Just so you won't think I'm only into dark reads, I also brought home Angela Thirkell's The Demon in the House. The demon refers to Tony Morland, "an irresistibly maddening 12-year-old." I started reading Thirkell's Barsetshire novels last year. The first was really enjoyable, and I've meant ever since to continue on.
And I snagged one book from the university library today as well. I was searching around our catalog seeing which Virago Press books we owned and when I went looking at some of them Rebecca West's The Birds Fall Down. I've still not read anything by her despite my good intentions. Per the blurb, "Through a vivid canvas layered with intrigue, conspiracy and murder, Rebecca West has created a story that is at once a family saga, a political thriller, a philosophical drama and a fine historical novel." Sadly our copy has not been checked out since 1990, but on the up side, I guess that means I'll be able to renew it as many times as I need to. It's the little things in life, you know.