September 19: Reading Notes (RIP Edition)

I'm a little bit miffed at Typepad at the moment.  Of late the service has had a lot of annoying little bugs that seem to take forever to be worked out, and some of the problems have been ongoing for many weeks.  The one that has been perturbing me most is an inability to update my books lists on my right sidebar.  So, you see those books I am reading?  Well, I might or might not be reading them at the moment.  If I remove titles from the lists, I can't put in anything new as they will not update.  There have been a couple of workarounds, but I don't like either of them--I can either add an Amazon widget (but I don't like the idea of ads on my sidebar) or add HTML and manually incorporate the books, which sounds like a lot of work (and a large part of the reason I am paying to have Typepad is the idea that this will all be made easy for me and work seamlessly).  The problem has been occurring for at least three weeks now, but it was likely around earlier since I was on vacation before that.  Then there is the small issue of the spell check turning off a second after I click on it rendering it all but useless, and the weird formatting that has been going on within my posts that I have to mess about with to set to rights.

Okay.  Mini rant over.  I know these glitches happen and I am sure Typepad is working on coming up with proper solutions, but whenever I check the 'Help' page to look for updates, the only update seems to be "we know it's an issue and are working on it, no date yet for a fix".  So tell me to be patient.  Okay, I'm going to try and continue to be patient, but when you have a book blog you really do like updating your books!  

Instead, let me tell you about what I am currently reading.  And I am reading some very good books (and wish I could have them displayed in my sidebar).  Most of my reading at the moment is revolving around  RIP VII.  The book stack I put together has offered some really good choices.  I've finished my first book, and am reading my second, third, and what might be considered a fourth.  And actually am contemplating a fifth (as yet to be determined, but half the fun is thinking about reading something new, right?).  My weekly ghost stories have been fun and I am always looking for something new to read and write about on Sundays.  Do you have a favorite ghost story (short story that is) that you can recommend?   

I've been thinking about what makes a ghost story scary.  Most of the time I just go with the flow and enjoy the atmosphere, but there have been a few cases where I actually have been a little scared by a book.  Susan Hill's The Woman in Black rarely fails to raise the hairs on the back of my neck.  Sarah Waters's The Little Stranger did give me a shiver or two.  Cliff McNish's YA novel, The Hunting Ground, is the tiniest bit disturbing and I can see why there is a warning on the book that it is not suitable for younger children.  Had I not been reading it in the bright lights of the gym I might be looking over my shoulder when I hear a noise or sense a movment behind me (I think I could apply the laundry test to it and it would pass--I'd skip getting that last load out of the dryer until morning). 

It's Peter Straub's Ghost Story, however, that is giving me chills even in the light of day.  I think it is the ordinariness of the story that makes it scary--the events are so plausible and creepy that it's not so far fetched to imagine them actually happening.  Also Straub knows just how to tease his reader.  He gives just enough information to make you interested, a little doubtful, and very uncertain as to the character's motivations.  Is a character doing something not just illegal but sinister as well?  And then cut to another group of characters.  You know the stories are going to tie together eventually so you keep reading out of curiosity, maybe against your better judgement even, since there are unnerving substories being told as well.  All good stuff and it hangs together well.   

I'm also reading Anne-Marie MacDonald's The Way the Crow Flies in tandem with Buried in Print, and we've decided it actually fits in well with the RIP reading that is going on at the moment.  I'd been looking for a book that had a more substantial and complex story than the sorts I'd been reading of late (keeping in mind how much I love my comfort reads, but I like an occasional story where you have to slow down and read more closely, too), and I think I've found it here.  It's substantial in more ways than one as it is a chunkster of a book, weighing in with over 800 pages.  Still, it's the sort of story where you don't really feel bogged down by those pages since they are turning so rapidly.  It reads almost like a coming of age story, but there is  more to it than that, something darker and more complex since there is a murder involved.  But let me save this one to talk about more in depth later.

A few other quick mentions.  I've been reading a little of Roger Deakin's Notes from Walnut Tree Farm every day.  It's a book, since it is in diary format, that really calls for steady dipping into rather than flat out gulping to finish in one reading session.  I could just breeze through it, but there is too much there to savor.  I'm also working on my latest postal reading group book, which I know I mentioned once before.  I think nature writing in general is going to be my next reading project since I am learning so much and have discovered that I really like this type of writing. 

I've been 'trying out' some other nonfiction books, since I am looking for a new nonfiction read (the last one having had to be returned to the library unfinished).  Do I pick a new nature book, a memoir, something entirely different?  My problem is there are too many books I want to read and have a hard time deciding just what exactly I am in the mood for.  And one last note--the Slaves of Golconda have picked Rose Macaulay's Crewe Train as their next read.  I'm quite excited since I really liked The World My Wilderness when I read it last year.  I've wanted to read more of her work since and am finally being given the excuse.  We won't be discussing it until November, so there is plenty of time to get a copy of the book and read along if we can tempt you.

So just mentally add these books to my sidebar and you'll have a pretty good snapshot of what I'm reading (and enjoying) at the moment.

Comments

[Caroline]

I might start to join the Slaves. It's open to anyone, right?
I'm very tempted by your Straub novel.
I don't think I found Hill's book scary but I might have feelt a few chills as well and certainly did when watching the movie. i think it's one of my favourite scary movies. I wouldn't have expected to like it that much.
I would also not have epected that Ann Marie Mac Donald wrote anything that would suit RIP. I'm very curious to find out.
Sorry to hear about your Typepad issues. I only have problems with Wordpress when they incorportae major changes but they are usually resolved pretty quickly. I hope it's going to improve soon. It's so tiresome. Missing spell check would be bad for me. I cannot type well I always make mistakes and rverese letters as you can see in my comments. I'm sure people think I'm dyslexic. :)

[Darlene]

Oh the love/hate relationship I have with Blogger, let me tell you, so I completely recognize the frustration. Have you read Her Fearful Symmetry, Danielle? A perfect read for modern day chills during the month of October - I just may pull it out again for my own RIP read.

[litlove]

Ok Peter Straub goes on the list for me of authors I really must try, and I'm so glad you're enjoying the Ann-Marie MacDonald. And yay for Rose Macaulay - really looking forward to discussing that with the Slaves.

[catharina]

So good to know you are still enjoying Notes from Walnut Tree Farm. And also looking forward to learning more would you decide on a nature reading project.

[Stefanie]

Isn't Ghost Story fun? I read it many many years ago and all the details have flown, but I do remember it was creepy and I liked it very much. Hope typepad gets things figured out for you soon. If not, I enjoy your reading notes posts :)

[Liz F]

Have been looking at the Peter Straub for years and never got around to reading it - might see if the library has a copy!

Glad you are enjoying Notes from Walnut Tree Farm - it has become a real favourite of mine and introduced me into the world of nature books, a genre I hadn't read for years.
There are some lovely ones out there - I'm reading one called Wild Hares and Hummingbirds by Stephen Moss which documents the nature he saw month by month near the village he lives in in Somerset, which I am really enjoying.
Hope you win your battles with typepad soon!

[Andi]

I love a book that creeps me out (though admittedly I've read fewer of them since I moved into my own house). LOL

I'm having trouble with my current read: IT, so tonight I'm switching to GONE GIRL. Looking forward to trying this book that so many bloggers have had such good things to say about!

[Danielle]

Yes, it is absolutely open to anyone who would like to join in. That would be great if you wanted to read along, too! And it's all very laid back--let me know if you want me to send you an invite for the blog--some people will republish their post to the Slaves blog after publishing to their own. I tend to be lazy and will just post here as I always seem to have problems with formatting when copying it over--but maybe Blogger has improved since I last used it. I am really enjoyed the Straub--he reminds me a little of Thomas Cook--if you've ever read his crime novels. And I usually don't get scared reading ghost stories, but The Woman in Black has always been the tiniest bit spine tingling for me--and the movie freaked me out--it was well done, but those children were really spooky! The Anne Marie MacDonald would fit in peripherally--it's not a mystery really, but a combination of types of stories--there is a strong suspense/mystery element to it as you go. She's a very good writer. No resolutions with Typepad--they don't even seem to have a fix in mind, so it is very frustrating to not get any updates from them. And I rely on spell check too for that exact reason. I do reread posts and proof them, but sometimes you look at it so much that you don't actually see any mistakes. I think my mind works much faster than my fingers, hence my typing mistakes, too! :)

[Danielle]

I've tried Blogger and had difficulties with it as well. Typepad had been working really well until late, and now lots of things are going wonky. I hate not being able to update my books! :) And I have not read Her Fearful Symmetry, but I do (as a matter of fact) own a copy. Good idea--it slipped my mind that I own it. It would fit in perfectly with my reading this month! If it is a book to hold up to a reread--then I am really looking forward to it.

[Danielle]

I now wonder why I waited so long to read Ghost Story--I think I like Peter Straub very much and may even check out some of his other books. The MacDonald book is really good--I hope to read a good chunk of it his weekend. And I hope the Macaulay is a good fit for the Slaves--I admit, I very selfishly picked it as I like her and want to read more of her work.

[Danielle]

I like the Deakin so much that I ordered a book he wrote about trees! I can't wait to read that as well. I am working on coming up with a list of nature writings--the problem is the same as always--too many good books to choose from.

[Danielle]

I thought you had read it. Why did I wait so long to read it, too? Isn't that always the case, though! Of all the things to stop working on Typepad it had to be something book related--just my luck! :)

[Danielle]

Yes, that's the same with me--every year I had the Straub on my list of RIP reads and then never picked it up. I thought this year really needed to be his year. So far it's been a good choice, too. I love dipping into the Deakin--I first became attracted to nature writing when I was reading essays every week. I want to read more nature essays if I can find something good out there to borrow or buy. I will look up the Moss book--I think of the last nature books I've bought--they have almost all been by British authors.

[Danielle]

Yes, you definitely have to rethink reading material when you are home alone at night--I've found that out myself. I am perfectly happy with a good atmospheric read--nothing too scary just a little creepy. I have Gone Girl on my pile, too. I have heard so many good things about it I can't wait to start it either!

[Kathy]

My sympathies on your difficulties with Typepad. I have a problem with something I want to put on my sidebar with Blogger, and I'm not sure how to proceed. I just don't know enough to tinker with the HTML.

I agree that thinking about what to read next is one of the great pleasures of life. I just started Stephen King's 11/22/63, which is a monster of a book, but I've been craving some Mary Stewart or Agatha Christie or Anne of Green Gables, all comfort reads. I can read one of them in tandem with the King because I know them so well.

[Danielle]

I don't know anything about HTML either and part of the reason I chose Typepad was for the ease of use. I do hope they iron out these wrinkles as they are very annoying. I feel like it should be a simple solution, but then what do I know about any of it! :) I'm curious about Stephen King's newest book so you'll have to let me know what you think of it when you finish. He does like to write very long stories! Did you know Susanna Kearsley has a new book out? I just got it in the mail today (at least I am assuming it is new--and not just new to me). I do love my comfort reads and have to have at least one on the go along with my other books. Now that I think of it, I'm not sure I have one started at the moment (having so recently finished a Mary Stewart novel and the Maddy Clare book). Of course I am reading two nature books and they are almost comfort reads, so perhaps I'll try and finish those first before picking up something new. I'm not sure if you read Cornflower's blog, but she has a book group and her next reading choice is Mary Stewart's Touch Not the Cat. I ordered a copy in anticipation. You can read about it here: http://www.cornflowerbooks.co.uk/2012/09/cornflower-book-group-october-2012.html

Is that one you've read already?

[catharina]

I have that one (Wildwood) too, as well as Waterlog. Still to read one day.

[Danielle]

I've added Waterlog to my wishlist. In Notes from Walnut Tree Farm he talks about swimming in the moat (it sounds very frigid, too). I am so enjoying his writing "voice"--so gentle and so much common sense. I said I would only dip into it slowly but I find myself reading big chunks when I sit down with it. I'm really looking forward to reading more of his work!

[Danielle]

Oh, and it seems like trees are really his thing--though he appreciates everything about nature.

[Buried In Print]

I'm just about to sink into RIPVII reads in a bigger way myself, but I vacillate between bursts of courage and retreat. I love to be scared. I hate to be scared. You know how that goes. (Yes, it's hard NOT to talk about The Way the Crow Flies: it's amazing.)

[Danielle]

I think the AMM is going to be one of my very favorite reads of the year--it's so good, but it's going to be impossible to write about, I think for fear of giving things away to other readers. I'll have to try and think of another way to write about it. I wanted to read four books, but I am still only a third of the way into Ghost Story, so I'll be bringing that with me to work for the rest of the week and trying to decide what other book to read. It will have to be fairly short--maybe the George Eliot novella will have to come out after all. And yes, I know what you mean--I like scary, but then I need a little breather in between bursts if that makes sense! :)