I've been meaning to share a photo of my flowers while they still look all nice and full. I wish I were a gardener. I do love gardens, but I don't have much of a green thumb. My house is situated in such a way (and with lots of trees and shade) that makes it hard to grow vegetables. Flowers are iffy. I have quite a knack for weeds, however, which is really very unfortunate. In any case, every Spring I optimistically buy containers of flowers. They're quite pretty now, but come August, they'll be in a sorry state of affairs. Maybe this year will be different. I always tell myself that anyway.
In honor of Spring sunshine and flowers, I thought I'd take my new stack of books out on the porch and let them pose next to my pink petunias. I've not been to the bookstore for a while now. Had I not had a gift card, I wouldn't have come away with a stack like this. I'm not used to paying nearly full price anymore (library book sale on the 13th of this month...something to look forward to). It's almost indecent how much new books cost. Here's what I found:
50 Great Short Stories, edited by Milton Crane - See yesterday's post on this one. Despite being lean on women authors, I think I will enjoy this anthology. There was also an anthology of all women authors (another little mass market book) that I think I need to buy next time I go to the bookstore.
Selected Stories, by Anton Chekhov - He's the master from what I hear. I've only read one of his stories and thought I should really read more. I wanted to find a collection of stories by a contemporary author (preferably female), but nothing really jumped out at me. I've become addicted to short stories I think.
Justine, by Lawrence Durrell - I've been so curious about Durrell's Alexandria Quartet for ages now. The novels are set in Alexandria, Egypt around the time of WWII. "The four novels explore the city's polyglot society, full of intrigue, mystery, and sensuality, telling essentially the same story from different points of view." If I get on well with this, I'll be looking for the other three novels.
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, by Maggie O'Farrell - I read one of O'Farrell's earlier novels and really liked it. This is about a young woman locked away in an asylum, and is released 60 years later. I've heard very good things about this.
Divisadero, by Michael Ondaatje - I've alternately heard very good things about this, and not so good things about this. Ondaatje's The English Patient was a favorite of mine for a long time, but I never have gotten around to reading any of his other novels. Despite hearing some negative remarks this one really appeals to me.
Beasts, Joyce Carol Oates - When I read a short story by Oates not too long ago, this was the book most often mentioned by readers who commented on my post. I saw it on the shelf and bought it without even thoroughly reading the description (see how much I trust other reader's judgment). So, now the description: "The story revolves around a group of college girls in the 1970s and their obsessive preoccupation with charismatic anti-establishment English professor Andre Harrow and his artist wife, Dorcas. The two stand out in their small New England college town, and they revel in their difference, which draws Andre's female students to him like bees to honey. A talented and infatuated junior, Gillian is relegated to the shadows until Andre picks her out as one of his 'special' girls. What follows is a disturbing look at the power of obsession and the abuse of trust. The story, though implausible in today's world, is quite believable in its 1970s setting." Sounds good!
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick - I'm still in the mood for sci-fi. I hope to squeeze this in as one of my 1% Well Read books.
A Year in the World, by Frances Mayes - I wanted this when it first came out. For once I'm glad I waited, since I found a copy for $5.98 on their remaindered table. Perhaps this will stand in for my vacation this year.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie - Another remaindered book, and a nice little hardcover, too. Her first mystery.
I may have to ask for some time off to be lazy and sit on the porch and read some of these soon.