As I've finished a few books I decided to start reading Allgra Goodman's Kaaterskill Falls, which is one of those books I've been 'meaning to read' for ages and have decided to try and get to this year. I've only managed the first chapter so far, but it's easily caught my interest, so I'm looking forward to getting farther into it. It's set in the mid-1970s in upstate New York in the town of Kaaterskill Falls, where many families come to spend their summer holidays. It should be an interesting peek into a closed Orthodox Jewish community. The book was a finalist for the National Book Award and was listed as a New York Times Notable Book. It should also be a nice change of pace from my usual book choices.
This weekend I'll also be starting the next Slaves of Golconda read, Jeanette Winterson's Sexing the Cherry. It's a slim novel, though I hope I haven't left it too late as we'll be discussing it next weekend. You're welcome to join us, and we even have a new forum to hold our discussions.
I wasn't able to participate in Cornflower's last group book read of Anne Tyler's Breathing Lessons, but I was interested to read Cornflower's post and the accompanying comments. I've never read Anne Tyler and had bought the book in expectation of reading it, but it just didn't work out. I often feel there are all sorts of gaps in my reading, and not having read a single Anne Tyler is sort of a gaping hole (I still really hope to read more American Lit this year). Eventually I will rectify that, however, I am going to try and make a concerted effort to read Cornflower's next book choice, Alain Fournier's Le Grand Meaulnes. This is another book I've had for years, but never found the time to pick it up. I've been neglectful of reading any classics so far this year (sorry Mr. Dickens--I do promise to get back to Bleak House soon--you somehow got bumped as my bus book...), so perhaps this will be just the thing to get back to the classics.
One more book. Since I've been so caught up for the last week in Elizabeth Jane Howard's Slipstream, I think it's time to continue on with volume two of the Cazalet Chronicles, Marking Time. For some reason I am also in the mood for something set in WWII, and this one opens in 1939. It will be interesting to compare her fiction to her biography once again now that I've pretty much finished her memoir.
Happy weekend reading everyone.