To Be Read: Authors I Love, Titles I Should Pick Up

Last February, I finished Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome; shortly after that, I read Willa Cather's My Antonia. 
In my mind there's an unrelenting association between the two that I never really thought about until now.


Long story short: I loved each novel. So much so (even with the depressive nature of Wharton's Frome), I didn't want the book to end.  Oh, how I loved them.  However, I didn't necessarily enjoy either for the storyline (although, My Antonia was both sad and inspiring), I really could dig the feelings that resonated with my person after the stories had ended. 

Perhaps my association lies in the fact that both writers' have this incredible way with imagery that literally places you within the walls of the story. Or because they were female figures writing in an era when this art form was still predominately produced by men. I could feel the chill of the space that surrounded Frome's small kitchen table, the frigid wind whipping through and knotting my hair as I rode a sled barreling down a hillside.  Furthermore, I witnessed golden fields of wheat, the brilliance of the changing seasons in the great Midwest, and the sacrifice and reward in cultivating foreign land. 

After reviewing must-read lists and "greatest pieces of literature in the entire universe" lists, I realized I had to read more from each of these authors.

I'm no doubt kicking myself for not buying that fabric covered, vintage-looking O Pioneers! that I saw at the used book store not too long ago.

Enjoy Wharton or Cather?   What titles do you suggest I tackle next?

Which authors left you in awe and have other works that you haven't read?

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Bring in the Fall- Bring in Yard Sales with Books for Cheap

Many cities around the US of A are experiencing cooler temperatures, along with the nostalgia-producing changes of verdant greenery to bursts of bright flame-like variation along the roadsides. It's officially Fall, and expected.  But I'm in Atlanta, the city that resists such violent interruptions to it's sweltering, sweat producing temperatures, and doesn't go cool until late OCTOBER.  Nevertheless, the Druid Hills neighborborhood, meaning giant houses and meticulously manicured lawns to match, kept their promise and hosted their annual yard sale.  


And I couldn't resist.  


It was hot.  I was sweating profusely- dressed in black and dark denim! But I got what I went for and here are five finds that cost me only five dollars and fifty cents!

To accommodate this find, here are some little previews of the selected titles:

•  Isabel Allende's The House of the Spirits

A narrative that follows four generations of a family in Latin America.  The novel provides magic realism, and features strong female characters.

I've heard and seen this novel for years without picking it up.  Magic realism sometimes turns me away, as I've never been much of a fan, but I'm giving it another go.  Finally, when I sat down with an acquaintance to discuss books for a feminist book group we'll be leading starting October (details to come later) this book was on a list of books that explores women's issues and provokes discussion.

• Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children

An infant born at the exact moment that India gains independence spends his life with otherworldly capabilities.  This novel exposes the emergence of modern India through the narrative of it's protagonist. 

I've shamefully never read any of Rushdie's work, so I thought now would be the time to get to it.

• Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge

Mrs. Kitteridge is a creature of habit, and detests abrupt changes to the life she leads in a small town in Maine.  After self-reflection and a closer look at the characters that surround her, Mrs. Kitteridge begins to see the world in a new light.

I've seen this book at nearly every book shop I've stopped in, and once I found it on a must-read for book clubs on Bookmovement I thought it imperative that I purchase it for the 1.50 the woman had priced it.  Furthermore, this synopsis alone sounds remarkably similar to Julia Glass's The Widower's Tale, which I'm currently reading and really enjoying.

• Colum McCann's Let the Great World Spin

A novel that captures New York in the 70s, features a mesmerizing tight rope walker, that just happens to be making his way between the Two Towers.  An intricate story filled with various characters around this dynamic city, it's sure to tug at the heartstrings.

I befriended a fellow on Goodreads that could not speak more highly of this novel.  That being said, I felt that I really just had to get it.  It's also a National Book Award winner and that speaks volumes to me.

• Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis and Other Stories 

I cant' do this summary justice so I'll just take it from the back of the book:

Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning to find that he is not the man he was.  What he has become forms the starting point for a piercing, painful, and sometimes comic look into human connection and isolation.

Again, another literary great that I've never managed to pick-up. Better late then never, right? 


Read these titles?  Have some suggestions?  Want to share some great finds you've made recently?

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Thesaurus Thursday

Can you believe it's Thursday already?  I guess that's what happens when you have a holiday (-ish).  I was able to leave the office at noon this past Labor Day Monday, so that's a little bit more time for reading and relaxing. I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday, regardless of whether or not you had to labor on the holiday that exists to honor that labor.  You get it.  Anyway, moving forward.  I am really excited about this upcoming weekend.  My lovely boyfriend, J, is taking me on a little adventure to North Carolina. Winton-Salem, to be exact.  I don't know much more than that... he just happens to be an excellent secret keeper.  So here's to a surprise-filled weekend! 


I recently picked up Lionel Shriver's We Need To Talk About Kevin: A Novel (which I'll be posting about upon completion).  To choose one word, or even a few, from such a verbose novel has proven difficult.  I've decided that I can't read it unless I have the dictionary propped open next to me; otherwise, I'd miss many important details.  So, expect many words from this endeavor to appear, here, on the Bookworm Meets Bookworm site. 


Today's word: insouciance.


Insouciance- Noun, first used in 1799.  1. lighthearted unconcern: NONCHALANCE. 


What I would say: His insouciance during the evacuation was due to the amount of drinks he had consumed before it occurred. 


Any exciting plans for the weekend?  Any books you're really excited to get your hands on soon?  I'd love to hear!

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Thesaurus Thursday

 

Another week, another Thesaurus Thursday!  And I'm excited to share that I've got quite the list going with all the new books I've started... so, hopefully you'll be back for more!  Like ineffable, I really like the sound of truculent; and I just happened to see this beautiful string of letters forming this overwhemingly rich word in Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, which I finished on Monday evening.  I immediately added it to my Thursday list so I could share all of it's possibly meanings.

Truculent, and it's uses- Adjective. Circa 1540 (it's old). 1. feeling or displaying ferocity: CRUEL, SAVAGE. 2. deadly, destructive. 3. scathingly harsh; VITRIOLIC., and 4. aggressively self-assertive: BELLIGERENT. 

I would say: Such truculent actions only improve one's credibility in the eyes of the heartless. 

Hmm... That's a little depressive. Give me some suggestions! Nothing wrong with sharpening the ol' vocabulary a bit, right?

Note: Image above can be viewed at it's original home here.

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BookMooch- An Acceptable Method of Mooching From People You've Never Met.

I’ve been thinking about starting my own little backyard book swap for sometime now. However,with work, the blog and other obligations to myself, I’ve been unable to put anything together in the way of making a dream reality.

In order to get books that were on my most desired list without completely riding myself of all my savings, I searched for sites that would enable users to search for books that they could swap, with little to no charge. I managed to find this list on ZenHabits.net that offered many alternatives to Amazon, the big name bookstores and the library. (Note: I love the library, but new titles are often reserved for weeks, and even months, on end!) I’ve registered with a few, but I found that BookMooch really met all my needs. I’ve already shipped three books, received two and am currently awaiting two.

Okay, the nitty gritty…

How it works:

BookMooch allows users from all over the world to build inventory lists, and create wish lists, in order to ship and receive books. Each book posted receives a fraction of a point, while confirming that you’ll ship a book (and of course subsequent shipping) earns you one point if the requester is located in the country you reside in. Bonus: International shipping earns you 2 points. Books requested are worth one point (unless they're international requests, 2 points), so once you ship your first book, you’re already eligible to request a book from a user. The site even gives you more credit for posting feedback! 


Popular titles are often times on long waiting lists, but that doesn't mean you won't get what you really want.  Users receive an e-mail notification once a book on their wish list is available on the site. This allows the first person to respond to the e-mail the first opportunity to receive the title. You might wait a while, but so far I’ve lucked out and got some new releases that I really wanted.


What you pay:
Bookmooch offers free membership. You sign up, create a profile and post your inventory of the books you have that are up for grabs. Because books are earned on a point system, the sender and receiver only pay shipping fees and packaging. I sent two books today for a total of 6 dollars, which included shipping plus packaging. That’s pretty nice, considering the book I received last week was going for $15 in bookstores, and around $12 on Amazon!


Judging by the cover:
You generally receive books in almost new condition. Unlike, paperswap.com, which doesn’t allow highlighting, advance reader copies or creased pages/covers to be shipped to other members. BookMooch gives users the opportunity to post the condition of their books, so the user knows exactly what they’ll be receiving. Let’s face it, lots of people, including myself, don’t really care if the book looks mint or not, as long as the pages aren’t missing, falling out or are completely illegible due to writing and highlighting,then why not request a book that’s apparently received a little love.


The folks you meet: 
BookMooch allows you to make a very simple profile, nothing superfluous like facebook, or other large social media sites. This way you can friend individuals that have similar preferences, and those that have given a pleasant transaction. It's another great opportunity to learn more about what you're reading, share opinions and learn about exciting upcoming releases. You can also get valuable tips on how to fully utilize the site from the people you meet. When I first signed up for BookMooch I wasn't exactly sure the exchange would be equal. 



Note: My listed inventory was compiled of many of the most-wished-for-books on the site. That being said, I received requests for all 12 of the books I listed at one time. After the the first couple of days of exploring the site, I found that many books I really wanted weren't available. I didn’t want to be trading out all my great books, only to find that the site wasn’t lending the type of literature I really wanted.
Bottom line: I wasn’t going to pay people to take my books off my hands.



So I asked around. I sent an email to a woman, who was receiving a book from me, asking her what she liked about the site, as she had been a member for over a year. She explained the advantages and disadvantages of the site as a whole, and comparatively, mentioning other swap options. Overall, she really enjoyed BookMooch, and thought that it was a great way to get new used books for almost nothing. Her prompt response and amiable attitude caught me off-guard and could have been the very reason I stuck with the site. 


Point: Stick it out! Share and you'll certainly receive!


Little things that'll make you smile:
Little goodies in the mail. Everyone likes getting special mail. Or I assume so, anyway. And what’s better than a free book and a little handmade note or bookmark to accompany it?! Yes, two users sent me hand written cards; one was in the shape of an old price tag and had a cheerful message of appreciation for the transaction! I’ve been incorporating my own little tiny handmade bookmarks with appreciation messages and sending them to the happy receiver. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to make someone’s day!


Try it out and tell me about it.  I know you won't be disappointed. 

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