I could just about do another bullet point post, but too much of a good thing and all that . . .
I was going to tell you all about the short story I read over the weekend, but am not sure I have enough to fill a whole post, so I'll share my other reading as well to fill things out. Even with all the mess and upheaval (and many thanks for all the kind words) of last week, I managed to finish reading a graphic novel (and thanks for the reading suggestions by the way) and one of the Little House books. Both books are on the agenda to write about later this week.
I have moved on to the next book in the Little House series (with an eye towards finishing the last of the books finally!), The Long Winter. I am wondering now, if I really did read all of the books as a child. I recall the earlier books, but the last one not so much and what little I have read of this new one, not at all. Although definitely still oriented towards younger readers (of course some books are so good that it doesn't matter and anyone or any age can read them), the stories are getting even more interesting since Laura is now 14. It would be easy to tell you all about what I have read but I don't want to give away spoilers and I want to write about the book properly. I hope that this is not a sign of 'my' coming winter!
I loved the graphic novel by Rutu Modan by the way and think I am going to move on to her second graphic novel for adults, The Property, a story about "secrets, money, and the bonds of love." I have French Milk by Lucy Knisley to tide me over in the interim while I track down a copy of the Modan.
Why is it the minute I set my mind to clearing the decks and whittling down my reading pile all I can think of are new books I want to read, new stories that sound like just what I want right now. I am far too easily distracted it would seem. But I am going to try and stay focused. To that end this week's main reads are Edna Ferber's So Big (am making a dash for it, Simon, maybe I can finish before the end of the month . . .), my 1924 book and a mystery by Janet Neel, Death on Site, which has rather a lot about the British Civil Service, but strangely is still an absorbing read.
So, just a quick mention of last weekend's short story, "The Tune in Dan's Café", another by Shamus Frazer from the collection, Where Human Pathways End. It is a ghost story (last ghost story of the month, I think), though really pretty conventional. Of the stories by him I've read, this one is the least compelling. Still, it was interesting enough to be adapted as an episode of Rod Serling's Night Gallery. If you click on the link you can watch it for yourself. It was made in 1969 and is vintage Night Gallery (which I loved as a child) subject matter. I think I might even like the adaptation better than the original story. The ending is a little more, um, creative.
The story is essentially about a haunted jukebox that sits in a corner of a roadside diner. The story itself is set in Britain, but the adaptation is all California! A couple stops for a bite to eat but discovers the diner all but empty and no seemingly no proprietor about. So strangely the jukebox appears to be stuck on the same record, but more strangely the song is not listed as a choice. Yet it plays that record over and over getting stuck on the same refrain in the song over and over and over. Dan, who had been out back tending his garden, tells the couple of the oddness of the jukebox and the story attached to it. A not very happy story of a man, a criminal, who was stood up by his girlfriend. He was cornered and caught by the police, and there was a shootout and you can imagine what happened next. Now, forever, the gangster waits for his lady love to return to the diner. He is not a happy man, shall we say.
I'm not quite sure where my short story reading is heading to be honest. I love short stories and by writing about them every weekend I know I will pick one up to read and keep me on track. Part of me, however, wants to be lazy and do something different on Sundays, or not post at all even. But part of me knows that if I don't keep up the habit I will get lazy and my story reading might end up falling by the roadside. A dilemma. Just like my living room needed to be revamped, I am feeling like my reading, even my blogging and the look of my blog all needs a little revamping, too.
The problem is, I am not sure which direction I want to go, and which direction I want to take things. I will be taking the next day or two off as I have outside commitments that will fill my evenings this week, but maybe I will in some way be inspired by my reading this week. Is there a new story collection that is beckoning? Or maybe I should just spend Sundays reading from my pile. Hmm.