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Back in the pages
It's strange, a few months ago it was like I fell out of love with books. I've been a lifelong bookworm but I just couldn't garner the excitement about reading that I have for the past 9/10ths of my life. Book depression maybe? The 37-year-itch? Student overload? Adult onset ADD? Whatever the cause, it made the rest of my life seem a little blah, too. I'd pick up a book, flip a few pages, put it down. Repeat. I think I get some kind of vitamins from reading so I've probably been suffering from mental scurvy without the nourishment from books and stories.
Well, I'm back! (<-- read with Jack Nicholson voice if you so desire). I think it has a lot to do with the last few books I've read so I thought I'd pass them along. If they can bring me out of book gloom, maybe you'll like them, too.
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I uploaded The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet to my kindle last summer but only made it a few pages in before turning to other, more beachy reads (hey, it was summer). A week or two ago, I had nothing else to do (ha!) or read so I gave it another try. So my advice: give it a few chapters to draw you in. While a pirate-like setting in a distant trading post in the late 18th century might not sound like your cup of tea, give it a chance.
In 1799, the Dutch East Indies Company is in Nagasaki Harbor, where Jacob de Zoet, a devout and principled clerk is trying to earn enough money to go home and marry his fiancee in Holland. As the years turn, he falls in love with a disfigured midwife and his principles are tested as he encounters devious and selfish men on both side of the cultural divide as well as challenges to his faith, principles and affections. My one complaint is that the ending part, the rest-of-his-life summary is too brief and felt tacked on.
Mitchell is a fantasic storyteller. As one of the other reviewers noted, he won't baby you with constant action (and sometimes it's hard to keep track of all the characters, well-developed though they are) but his descriptions and characters and words dazzle. I've started reading all of his others, hoping to maintain the book-thirst he gave me with this one.
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From my Good Reads review: Caleb's Crossing is a vivid historical novel based on Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck, a Wampanoag who was the first Native American to graduate from Harvard (1665), as told through the narrative of fictional character (and strong female voice) Bethia Mayfield. The two meet on Martha's Vineyard when they are both about 12; what follows as Bethia and then others educate Caleb is Brooks's lyrical story addressing faith, friendship, culture, love, education, and freedom. Lofty principles, yes, but approachable and real in the telling.
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Honorable mentions: Lest you think I'm all high-minded in my reading, I also devoured Rob Lowe's autobiography Stories I Only Tell My Friends and really liked it. Not your typical celebrity bio, I found it a compelling and interesting read. (Guys, Rob Lowe can write!) But then again, I am a child of the 80s and fondly remember The Outsiders and St. Elmo's Fire and, later, loved The West Wing so I was interested in the inside stories. True to the title, it did feel like a good dose of all his best stories from over the years, complete with salty language now and then (profanity alert).
Also: In Every Last One, Anna Quindlen (whom I really love) creates a true-feeling, detailed picture of a modern day suburban family and then takes them through a harrowing, painful HUGE tragedy. This isn't going to be for everyone, but I admired Quindlen's deftness and insights. Also, in the author interview at the end, she talked about her favorite book lately, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, which made me pick it up and try again. So, thanks, Anna.
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What makes a book a winner for you? Here are my criteria for a recommended, 4- or 5- star book:
1) it makes me crave writing something
2) I would read it again. And, possibly, again and again and again.
3) I want to underline passages (and usually do)
4) it's difficult to put down
5) it transports me to the world of the story
6) it inspires me in some way
What about you? Any great reads lately?
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Top image via Say Yes to Hoboken
Friday, May 27, 2011
Reader Comments (6)
I do the same thing with books. It's an on-again/off-again love affair that never ends.
I just finished reading "Stiff: The Secret Life of the Human Cadaver" and was RIVETED. It's a non-fict, but totally fascinating look at cadaver research, history, and physiology. Have you read it? Maybe it's your Goodreads shelf I got it from. I'm always browsing my friends' books...
I'm going to give your Jacob de Zoet a try. I need something new. Plus, the pool opens this weekend, so I'll be needing some reads!
I am the same way. I go through a little phase once in a while where I'm onto something else and don't feel like reading. Quilting, gardening, or new babies usually do it. Right now I'm a gardener but back in my reading a book a day-and-a-half phase so I save the book for the night. My husband doesn't like that. But my garden needs me, in fact I should be there right now, but I took a break to read you.
Oh, I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I am a reading nut, but lately not so much... I pick up and put down. Summer will have me back in the swing of things, though! Thanks for the great suggestions. I love Geraldine Brooks.
Christie, Lauren read Stiff recently and was enthralled. I'll have to pick it up.
Martha & Rochelle, glad to hear I'm not alone. (p.s., Martha, I need some of your gardening mojo. I want to get out there and love it but I don't know where to start.)
Thanks for chiming in, girls! As you might know, comments are my love language :)
I have a cyclic affair with reading. I can go a long time without reading anything and then suddenly be engrossed again. In my grown-up life it is connected to what's going on and frankly finding things that I enjoy. In my latest slump I had wearied of obvious author agendas. Geraldine Brooks is the author that broke it for me this time with March--so your recommendation intrigues me. I've been trying to think if I could narrow down what my criteria for a 4 or 5 star book (I call them my "top shelf books") would be. This is what I have so far: It inspires me, helps me see the world a little differently, the language is expertly crafted, motivates me to do something--not just think about it. Thank you for being one of my "top shelf" blogs.
I'm always reading something, listening to something or wanting to be. However, I go through cycles of wanting to read fiction or nonfiction. My favorite nonfiction author is David McCullough. I think my favorite of his was The Johnstown Flood, but I love his president books too.
We just moved and for the first time in my life I have enough bookshelves. Because of this I was able to have a 'favorites' bookshelf. Books I've reread a million times (James Herriot), books that can bring me out of a bad mood (Jane Austen), fantasy books that can pull me into another world and give me a break from my own (Shannon Hale, Robin McKinley), books that I want to share with my friends (Juliet Marillier), and books that I want to share with my boys (Brian Jacques) so they'll learn to love to read.