I had a serious look at my pile of books on my night table that I grab from every day, and decided I needed to revamp things a little bit. A few I hadn't actually started properly and as it seemed as though I wasn't going to be do so anytime soon, I shuffled them back into my TBR piles. I always feel bad doing this, but I tend to accumulate more books on my bedside table than I can actually manage. Nothing got jettisoned due to lack of interest or because the story was in any way inadequate only thanks to a lack of reading time. So now my sidebar sort of resembles more closely what I am reading, or at least what is sitting on my night stand to choose from daily.
One of the books that was relieved of duties was poor Wilkie Collins. I love Wilkie Collins. He is actually one of my very favorite authors, but I was stuck in a rut with No Name. I would enjoy it when I picked it up but I was feeling overwhelmed by the sheer size of the book. My night table has a slanted shelf under the actual table part and books are often relegated there when I don't want to put them aside, but I know I am not really actively reading them either. He is joining Charles Dickens. They were friends in life, right? So now they join each other on the bookshelf and will hopefully keep each other company until I am ready to finish them both. By the way, it's Bleak House that is already sitting there.
Since I have not read a single classic yet this year--three months in and nothing--I decided I needed something short and perhaps just a little more modern to get things moving. I decided on W. Somerset Maugham's The Painted Veil and I am Loving it. I've often looked at it but never got around to it. I admit it was it's size in part that helped me choose it. I read Up at the Villa a few years ago and had forgotten how much I like his writing style--very clear and succinct, easy, but sophisticated easy (if that makes sense). So far it is set in Hong Kong in the 20s and begins with an affair, but has already flashed back to show how this unhappily married couple managed to marry in the first place. It's definitely just what I needed.
I've also started reading Shirley Hazzard's The Transit of Venus in earnest and I am really enjoying it as well. I had read the first page or two several days ago and something about her writing style made me wonder if it was going to be difficult to get into, but as I had taken it with me to the gym and had nothing else to look at, I just plowed through the first few pages and it started coming together. It's not quite so pared down or simple as the Maugham and I suspect it will take me longer to read, but I like it.
Since I have a couple of books out from the library that are Orange longlisters, I was thinking of starting one of those as well (should wait until I finish something else first, but must remember those due dates...). I have Nicole Krauss's Great House and Julie Orringer's The Invisible Bridge. Both are authors I have wanted to read and I have already checked out Orringer's books once before. The Krauss is shorter. Has anyone read either of them? Decisions, decisions.
Before I go look over the two books and see which one really grabs me, I thought I would mention that I joined Twitter this week. Yes, I caved in. It was a matter of curiosity as I keep seeing links to Tweets showing up on the back end of my blog, but as I don't belong I can't tell what it is people are referring to. It's actually turned out to be fun, and while I don't think I'll be spending too much time there, I will likely log in in the mornings or evenings. I am at WorknProgBlog, which is a little clunky, but I couldn't find a better user name that people might recognize (that wasn't already taken). I'm not quite sure yet how everything works, or what the proper protocol is, but I would of course be flattered if you "followed" me, or better yet let me know if you are on Twitter, too, and I will follow you!
Just clicked to follow you on Twitter. I'm a bit Twitter-shy and still learning my way around it too. Like you, curiosity brought me there, but I'm always afraid of committing a Twitter-gaff so I err on the side of not sending many tweets.
Posted by: Marcia | March 17, 2011 at 04:13 PM
I'm SO glad you are on twitter! It's so much fun over there. I listened to The Painted Veil on audio a while back and loved it. I don't love all Maugham's works, but when he's good, he's very good. I hope you enjoy this one.
Posted by: Dorothy W. | March 17, 2011 at 08:21 PM
I can't cope with Twitter, but good for you for joining the masses!
I feel pressured if I have more than one book on my nightstand! You are a brave woman! I like your choices though.
And do perservere with No Name one day - it's a corker!
Posted by: Rachel | March 17, 2011 at 08:35 PM
I loved The Invisible Bridge---sweeping, immersive, and moving.
I'm @readingape on Twitter. Lots of good book stuff happening on there.
Posted by: The Reading Ape | March 17, 2011 at 09:42 PM
Welcome to Twitter, Danielle. Checking in morning and evening sounds like a good plan. When you put up a new blog post, you tweet:
[new post] Revamping the Reading Pile http://bit.ly/dOakYi
And if you want to RT (retweet) someone, you do this:
RT @delightfulepas Bananamisu - Banana Pudding My Way http://bit.ly/hq6p5k
Hope this helps new tweeters!
Posted by: Jean | Delightful Repast | March 17, 2011 at 09:47 PM
Marcia--Thanks. That is a wise way to approach it. I'm thinking that it's best only to say something you would to a roomful of people! It's been very interesting to try it out.
Dorothy--I guess I should never say never! I was so determined not to do anything more than blog, but curiosity got the better of me. I like be able to chat in real time--and I like getting links to articles and book posts and other information, too. This is only the second Maugham I've read, but I am enjoying it Very much. It makes me want to read more, but I take it all the novels aren't quite the same (style-wise?)?
Rachel--I completely appreciate how you feel about Twitter! I've pretty much felt how you do, but I decided to give it a try. As long as it doesn't become a total "time waster" I think it's going to have some benefits. I've always been a more than one book at a time reader. I get really antsy when I am only reading one, which I know sounds weird. If a book has gotten really good I will usually not put it down, or rather not pick up other books, until I have finished. But if I'm just starting out I like a variety to choose from. Before I started blogging I would never read more than maybe two at a time, but I now have so many books to choose from I can't help myself. And I do feel very bad about Wilkie Collins. He is one of my very favorite authors, but I just wasn't getting anywhere with reading classics this year so decided to let something else cut in line. I've been thinking I should just try and read two or three pages every day and I can easily finish it. No worries, though, as I have not completely abandoned it! :)
Posted by: Danielle | March 17, 2011 at 09:50 PM
The Reading Ape--Thanks for the heads up about the Orringer--I'm very tempted but wasn't sure about the size and whether it would/will take me ages to read! :) I have it out from the library so it is on hand! And I think all the book news is going to be great on Twitter--I will look you up tomorrow when I log back in!
Jean--Thanks for the hints--I've been trying to figure things out by looking around, but I should really read through the help pages. I wasn't sure about retweeting, and for a while I couldn't figure out that is how some unknown people had ended up in my list of tweets. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it and hopefully not look too silly while I'm learning! :)
Posted by: Danielle | March 17, 2011 at 10:22 PM
I really want to read some Maugham soon. I love his short stories and those novels I read so far. I saw the movie The Painted Veil which is really gorgeous. I think Krauss and Orringer are certainly both very good.
Posted by: Caroline | March 18, 2011 at 12:34 AM
I loved The Painted Veil! And the film starring Naomi Watts and Edward Norton, filmed in China is good too - the scenery is absolutely beautiful.
I'm on Twitter, but rarely tweet - anyway I'll follow you. I'm not too sure of its value - so many tweets coming in all the time and I miss a lot because I'm not on it all the time.
Posted by: Margaret @ BooksPlease | March 18, 2011 at 02:14 AM
Your post reminds me that I meant to see the film of 'The Painted Veil' and somehow have never got round to it. I must see if I can rent it. Good luck on Twitter. Not my medium I'm afraid.
Posted by: Annie | March 18, 2011 at 03:42 AM
I LOVE Maugham. Is it me, or do contemporary novelists lack the sort of elegantly distinctive voices that you find in authors from the early/mid 20th century? Anyway, Maugham is a very good thing. I'm looking forward to the Shirley Hazzard but haven't begun it yet - sounds like I should pick it up soon!
Posted by: litlove | March 18, 2011 at 04:11 AM
I really liked the film version of 'The Painted Veil' and have been wanting to read the book since. I wonder how true to the book the film is. I think I read some Maugham (Of Human Bondage) many, many years ago and can't remember most of it so I really should try his books again:)
Posted by: sakura | March 18, 2011 at 06:01 AM
I completely understand about reshuffling books on your nightstand. I did that a couple months ago and it felt good once the initial guilt wore off. Welcome to Twitter!
Posted by: Stefanie | March 18, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Yay! Welcome to Twitter! I'm cutting back on my Twitter use for Lent, but I look forward to bookish chat with you there!
Posted by: Teresa | March 19, 2011 at 08:01 AM
Now that you mention it, I haven't read any classics yet this year, either. I do still have Catcher in the Rye on my nightstand. I started it last year and don't like it at all (find it rather irritating, in fact), but hate to quit such a short novel part way through. I also have Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White on my reading shelf--does that qualify as a classic? I LOVED The Moonstone.
Posted by: Kathy | March 19, 2011 at 09:50 AM
Caroline--I've had his short stories on my Amazon wishlist for quite some time now, and I might have to break down and order one or two of the volumes. When my coworkers saw I was reading the book, which has the movie tie-in cover, they all said how much they loved the movie. I will be adding it to my netflix queue now, too.
Margaret--I'm really looking forward to watching the movie now--I've heard it was very lush and beautiful. As for Twitter--during the work week I'll likely only log in in the evenings and on weekends I check it occasionally. Since I don't follow too many people and even fewer follow me, it doesn't seem too overwhelming.
Annie--I've added the movie to my Netflix queue and will watch it when I finish the book. It certainly sounds like a good movie. There are so many ways to be connected these days it seems best to pick and choose otherwise it is all far too overwhelming.
Litlove--Yes, you have said it perfectly. I do love his style. It's simple yet beautiful and you're right that not many people write like that. I'm really looking forward to exploring more of his work. The Hazzard is good, but one that is going to be a slow read for me. I think it will make for a good discussion, too.
Sakura--I have Of Human Bondage, too, but it looks like a pretty big book. I'd love to read more of him, though, so may have to tackle it at some point. I'm so glad that everyone seems to have liked the movie--often movies pale in comparison to books!
Stefanie--I tend to go overboard--I bet you're not surprised(!) when it comes to books. I always want to read everything at once, but that doesn't work very well, so I usually have to step back and reassess things. Then I go and start a few more new books!
Teresa--I had a chuckle when I read your comment. I should limit my own computer time for lent, too. I wonder if I could stick to it!
Kathy--I feel like I'm going round and round with my reading--chasing my tail. I need to concentrate on just a couple of books and stop thinking about reading other things as I am accomplishing very little it seems. I'd say Wilkie Collins definitely counts. I love his books. I loved The Moonstone, too, and The Woman in White even more! Too bad about Catcher in the Rye--I read it in high school but remember pretty much none of it now!
Posted by: Danielle | March 20, 2011 at 05:11 PM