Sunday Salon: A Reading Retrospective (November 2004)

When I began keeping a reading journal six years ago, I hoped to look back upon my reading to see if there were any patterns. Not only was I curious to see the changes in what I read, but also, perhaps, in how much I read in any given month. In terms of numbers, there really is no discernible pattern. Except for the month of November. November seems to be the month I read the least amount of books. I switched that up on purpose a couple of years ago, determined to break the cycle I seemed to have developed. It is too soon to tell how this month will fare in comparison, especially with the Thankfully Reading Weekend coming up at the end of the month.

Since I will be busy reading next weekend, I thought I would travel down memory lane a little early this month, seeing where my reading took me five years ago this November. The year had already brought with it plenty of bumps, and November of 2004 was no different. My discontent with my job was on the rise and my paternal grandfather died, having suffered with Alzheimer's Disease in the final years of his life. On the plus side, Anjin and I decided it was time to buy me a new car, replacing the first one I'd ever had.

Reading wise, I spent time with old friends in Victorian London, England, investigating crimes right alongside Inspector Thomas and Charlotte Pitt from Anne Perry's mystery series. Charlotte is still one of my favorite heroines, intelligent and thoughtful. I read both Belgrave Square and Farriers' Lane in November 2004. Perry pays close attention to details in her novels, aiming for historical accuracy. While entertaining on one hand, Perry's novels also tackle social issues of the day, making them, in my mind, all the more worthwhile to read.

That November five years ago, I spent a good deal of time reading Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Set mostly in England during the early 1800’s when practical magic appears to have been lost, the simple question of why magic was not practiced anymore created a stir among the magic community, which was made up mostly of scholars and theorists at that time. A prophecy about how two magicians would join together and reintroduce magic into English society began to unfold. This is their story, the story of Jonathan Strange and his teacher, Mr. Norrell. Mr. Norrell and Mr. Strange are the unlikeliest of companions with very different ideas about magic and how it should be practiced and studied. With their own warring ideas, the question arises if the two magicians can work together to conquer the malevolent forces that threaten them and their loved ones.

What I liked best about Clarke's novel was the air of realism that permeated the entire story, even with the most fantastic of magic performed. I fell in love with Clarke's writing from the start. I was never overly fond of Mr. Norrell. My favorite character in the novel by far was Arabella, Jonathan Strange's wife. She was strong, intelligent, and quite an interesting character. I also took to Stephen Black, the butler who was enchanted by the King of Lost-Hope, and yet he remained ever the polite gentleman even in the direst of situations.

My husband also read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell around the same time. He loved the book even more than I did, if that's possible. It's definitely a novel that has stayed with me all these years later, and one I hope to eventually revisit.

While I may have only read three books that November in 2004, I was lucky enough to make up for it in quality.

This November seems to be full of its own bumps. Not a week has gone by yet this month when Anjin or I haven't landed in the hospital for one thing or another. This past week it was my turn again. Just when I'm ready to jump right back into blogging, my back had another idea. At a time when Americans are counting their blessings and offering up thanks, let me extend my gratitude to kind emergency room doctors and staff and the makers of pain medication. And thank you to all of you for your patience and friendship.

This Week In Reading Mews:
Reviews Posted:
From Book to Film: Push to Precious

Reading Now:
The Fifth Servant by Kenneth Wishnia
Guests of the Ayatollah: The Iran Hostage Crisis by Mark Bowden
Palestine by Joe Sacco

Posts of Interest This Week:
Thankfully Reading Weekend
Wordless Wednesday: Waiting Their Turn

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