I was going to write about the wedding we went to yesterday, but I realized that probably a lot of my readership has never been to an Orthodox wedding and there is so much explaining that it made me want to lie down and take a nap. (Or maybe I want to lie down because AM is cutting two more teeth, and Miss M has a nighttime cough that doesn’t bother her in the slightest, but keeps me awake for hours.)
(Although I cannot resist for those in the know. Chuppah: about an hour and ten minutes. I kid you not.)
Anyway. niobe tagged me for a book meme. Pick up your nearest book, turn to page 123, count 5 sentences in and reveal the next three to the world. Here goes:
We are about halfway through the crossword. My attention has drifted.
“Read that one again, child,” says Grandma.*
I have to say this is not the best representation of this book, which I love so much I put it down so that I would not read it yesterday–Taxman was at work and I had to take care of the kids, plus go to a birthday party before the wedding.
This is pretty much the least stressful meme in existence; if anyone cares to participate–I tag thee.
While I am at it, I had wanted my Leap Day post to be a tally of all the books I’ve read so far this year. May as well do it; better late than never.
The Emperor’s Children by Claire Messud**
The Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan
The Double Bindby Chris Bojhalian**
Mister Posterior and the Genius Child by Emily Jenkins
One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson
An Unfinished Season by Ward Just**
* from The Time Traveler’s Wife
** = For a book club
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March 3, 2008 at 11:34 am
3daughters
That was a long chuppah! What were they doing up there for so long? I hope you had seats…
March 3, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Not So Little Sister
Wow, long chuppah! I mean, I really have no idea what you’re talking about but I wanted to be a part of the conversation.
Do let us know how the Chris Bojhalian book is. I haven’t read anything by him in a long time.
March 3, 2008 at 12:15 pm
revdrmom
How do you like the Chris Bohjalian book? He was a “local” when I lived in VT (He’s still there) and I liked his earlier stuff…
If you haven’t read People of the Book, I highly recommend it.
March 3, 2008 at 12:30 pm
caramama
You finished six books already this year? I’m totally impressed. This weekend’s short romance novel was book 5 for me, but your books are like real ones. That are long and interesting.
Sounds like a busy weekend. I hope you had a good time!
March 3, 2008 at 1:30 pm
chichimama
Did you have the kids with you? And did you have seats? And was it outdoors? Cause it wasn’t all that warm this weekend to be outside for that long!
And I too am impressed that you have already finished 6 books…I haven’t been able to slog through the Emperor’s Children, is it worth it to continue?
March 3, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Jennie
I, too, am intimidated by your bookreading thus far this year. Perhaps I can turn that intimidation into inspiration to finish the three I’ve started.
Would you particularly recommend any of the ones you’ve read? I received Time Traveler’s Wife for Christmas but haven’t even opened it, although I read on another blog or two that it was excellent. (I didn’t ask for it, it just came in response to ‘book’ on my Christmas list.)
And feel free to blog about the wedding. Those of us who are ignorant Gentiles can just go to Wikipedia or Google (this time, lol).
March 3, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Rebecca
An hour and ten minutes??? Ouch.
I loved The Time Traveler’s Wife, too. Brilliant literature? Perhaps not. But it stuck with me as nothing else has for a really long time. I’m jealous that you’re still under its spell.
March 3, 2008 at 4:51 pm
onetiredema
Hmm. Of the seven books under scrutiny, I’d say that The Time Traveler’s Wife is going to be the one I like the best.
A lot of people at my book club (including me) did not like the Bohjalian book–others who have read more of his work recommended Before You Know Kindness instead.
The Amy Tan was quite good, but not great. Kate Atkinson is one of my favorite contemporary writers, but this was not my favorite of hers. (Behind the Scenes at the Museum or Case Histories are great intros to her work.) The Emily Jenkins was weird. The Ward Just I am still processing; my book club is meeting next weekend. It took me 150 pages to get over the fact that he didn’t use a single quotation mark in the whole book, although there is a ton of dialogue. (This pisses me off.)
And The Emperor’s Children? It was kind of “eh” because I did not like a single character. It’s a very long book to read when you think everyone in it is a total prick. (How’s that for mature?)
In case anyone needs a really glowing recommendation–the last book I read for 2007, also a book club selection, was My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki. It was amazing. Everyone in my book club loved it–even the curmudgeon–which rarely happens!
March 4, 2008 at 1:57 pm
ccw
That seems like a really, really long wedding to me but the weddings I attend (minus the Catholic ones) are always short.
I just finished reading “Nickel and Dimed”, “Duma Key”, and “Picture Perfect”. I am now reading “Atonement” but I also bought “No Country for Old Men” and “The Unquiet Mind”. These are what I have read in the past 2 weeks, I read at a ridiculous rate which costs me too much money b/c I love to own my books.