Reading some great (and not so great) books. . .

I'm on a bit of a Nemirovsky kick I suppose as this is the third "book" I've read by her in less than a year.  I put book in quotes because the first one I read -- Suite Francaise -- was really two novellas, then there was Fire in the Blood which was actually a stand alone novel, and I just finished David Golder, The Ball, Snow in Autumn, The Courilof Affair  which consists of 4 separate works. 

What can I say?  I find her work mesmerizing -- her characters are so realistic and engaging that you can hardly escape their pull.  This current book was no different. Take the main character of David Golder -- I'm not sure if I disliked him or pitied him, but I know he was human and couldn't stop reading about his struggle.    I found these works to be quite dark as they explored the issues of money, war, society and class -- the four worked remarkable well together and I had no problem reading them one right after another.

I strongly urge you to give Nemirovsky a try -- I don't think you'll regret it.

Next up was J.M. Coetzee's Diary of a Bad Year and I have to say that I might rename it "Diary of a Bad Book".  Ugh!  I really tried to get through this one and waded through 90 pages before I gave up and returned it to the library.  I had high hopes because I read Coetzee's Disgrace back in 2005 and thought it was stunning.  So read that and forget the strangely structured political rant that is Diary of a Bad Year.

And since I'm serially reading certain authors, I decided to pick up Philip Pullman's The Ruby in the Smoke which is the first of the Sally Lockhart mysteries.  I have to say that it appears Pullman can do no wrong in my book because I loved this little gem and tore through it in just a couple days.  I'm very much looking forward to reading the other books in this series -- I'd call it a trilogy, but it appears there is a side book as he is want to do.  Speaking of Pullman's side books, I have Lyra's Oxford on my shelf waiting to be read and he has another Dark Materials side book -- Once Upon a Time in the North -- coming out soon!

Right now I'm in the middle of Flann O'Brien's The Third Policeman and I'm really into it so far.  More on that soon, I'm sure.

Comments

[--Deb]

I have one of the Sally Lockhart books and liked it enough that that was the REASON I bought Golden Compass (which you already know I didn't like). He does write a good story!