Yesterday my daughter and I enjoyed the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday while my poor husband spent the day in his office, slaving away. You would think with such good weather, we would have spent some of our time outdoors. Instead we made it a pajama day. Mouse slept in allowing me some unexpected reading time. I finally am making progress in Isabelle Allende's Ripper. It's my first book by the author, and I have to say I am surprised. It's not at all what I expected given the way everyone talks about Allende's writing. I am a bit disappointed. That isn't to say I am not enjoying the book. Once I finally had time to settle into it, I do like it. It just took awhile. Hopefully it will continue to get better. I will be reviewing the book for a book tour this next month.
I hope to finish Ripper in the next day or two and then will begin reading Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin, which comes highly recommended. Hopefully I will be able to finish it in time for the movie release.
What are you reading at the moment? Is it something you would recommend?
Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts
First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where
participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a
book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.
Set in 1944, this particular book features a murder and a missing bird. The protagonist is a retired private investigator with a keen sense for deduction. The opening paragraph of Michael Chabon's The Final Solution: A Story of Detection:
A boy with a parrot on his shoulder was walking along the railway tracks. His gait was dreamy and he swung a daisy as he went. With each step the boy dragged his toes in the rain bed, as if measuring out his journey with the careful ruled marks of his shoetops in the gravel. It was midsummer, and there was something about the black hair and pale face of the boy against the green unfurling flag of the downs beyond, the rolling white eye of the daisy, the knobby knees in their short paints, the self-important air of the handsome gray parrot with its savage red tail feather, that charmed the old man as he watched them go by. Charmed him, or aroused his sense--a faculty at one time renowned throughout Europe--of promising anomaly.Would you continue reading?
© 2014, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
I like that intro, and I've yet to read anything by this author so maybe it's time:) Thanks for joining in and enjoy
ReplyDeleteDiane - My review of the book goes up tomorrow. I enjoyed it and hope to read more by the future. It's a short book so a quick read.
DeleteA pajama day with little Mouse sounds wonderful to me! I'll be watching for your final review of Ripper.
ReplyDeleteKathy - We've been having too many pajama days lately, I think. LOL They are fun though. :-)
DeleteRegarding the Chabon I've not read his work before so I'd read a couple more paragraphs before deciding. Having had that sort of reading experience recently, I hope Ripper improves! And I'm reading Gone Girl, only at page 90 or so but it's enough to say that my answer to your question there is 'hell yes!'
ReplyDeleteCharlie - My husband really liked Chabon's Kavalier and Clay book, which I have yet to read.
DeleteI hope you enjoyed Gone Girl. I really liked it when I read it--even if the characters weren't the most likable.
I would love to have a pajama day! I have not read Chabon.
ReplyDeleteNise' - It was a lot of fun. :-) We had a good day together and were sad to get back to regular life the next day.
DeleteHow I love Pajama days! However, my mom won't allow it. And I am 40+. MOTHERS!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove that intro. I would go on as I like everything by Chabon...
Here is my post
Gautami - You can come to my house and stay celebrate a pajama day with us! I am sure Mouse would love having company. :-)
DeleteFascinating excerpt from Final Solution....thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeleteLaurel-Rain - It was an interesting story, one I am glad I read. I really like the author's writing style.
DeleteI like this beginning, I'd give it a go. kelley—the road goes ever ever on
ReplyDeleteKelley - It was enough to keep me going. :-)
DeleteI'd keep reading. The descriptive introduction pulled me in. Thanks for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeleteCatherine - It was such an interesting story. I do wish it was longer though. At only 131, it was more of a novella than a full novel.
DeleteInteresting teaser, nice cover. I'd probably keep going since I wanted to try Chabon's books for awhile.
ReplyDeleteYvonne - This one seemed an easy one to start with given it's size.
DeleteI could use a pajama day! Haven't read Chabon yet, but I do like that intro.
ReplyDeleteJoAnn - I think we all need pajama days now and then. :-)
DeleteI like the beginning and I really like the cover. Yes, I'd keep reading.
ReplyDeleteMargot - Isn't it a nice cover? I like it too!
DeleteLiking the sound of the Michael Chabon book, Id certainly keep reading.
ReplyDeleteIve just started reading Carnevale by M.R. Lovric. Early days yet, I'm reserving judgement.
Tracy - Some books do take time to get into. I hope you enjoy Carnevale the more you read!
DeleteRipper is not like Allende's other books. She normally writes historical fiction or magic realism.
ReplyDeleteKelly - I knew going in Ripper was a mystery/thriller, so I knew it was different from her other books. I had heard though how lyrical and beautiful her writing is, and I was kind of expecting that to carry over no matter the type of book she wrote. I'm enjoying the book, don't get me wrong. My disappointment comes more from her writing not living up to my initial expectations.
DeleteI'd love to have a guilt-free pajama day with a pile of books!
ReplyDeleteLisa - That would be awesome!
DeleteI've not read Chabon yet so I'm curious to hear what you think of this one. Sounds kind of good! Sorry the Allende book isn't living up to your expectations. I have to say I was a huge fan of hers but her earlier works. I still read her stories but don't rush out to them like I used to. I am very curious about this book though as it's so different from her typical stories!
ReplyDeleteIliana - I did like the Chabon book, and definitely want to read more by him. I'm enjoying the Allende book overall, thankfully.
DeleteLook forward to your review of Ripper. With a title like that what the heck is it about? cheers.
ReplyDeleteThecuecard - Ripper is a catchy title! The novel is set in San Francisco, which I think is great. It's not London, but it has an atmosphere all its own which I think is fitting.
DeleteI haven't read any Chabon but it definitely sounds interesting. I do hate when a book disappoints even when the book isn't bad just not what you thought it would be. Just finished Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes which is kind of a prequel to Alice in Wonderland. I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it! We made MLK day a PJ day too!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - Getting around those initial expectations can be a challenge, but sometimes a book will surprise me and be really good even despite that.
DeleteI'll have to check out Queen of Hearts. It sounds like something I might like.
Yay for PJ days!
Since Gage has been pukey today it's been a Sunday pajama day here! I LOVE The House of Spirits by Allende. I also liked a few others I've read by her, but it's many many years. Hope it gets better.
ReplyDeleteSick days make perfect pajama days. If only we could make it so they aren't sick though. I've heard great things about The House of Spirits.
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