Sunday, July 19, 2009

Sunday Salon--Scattered

I've been really scattered in my reading lately. Sometimes it happens that I start a whole bunch of books at once, and then I'm pulled in too many directions in my reading. That's what's happening to me this weekend.

I started Christian Moerk's Darling Jim, which I'm reading for my book group. I'm reading it on my Kindle. It's a suspenseful novel, written with a lovely, lilting style, about obsession and storytelling, and some gruesome murders in a small Irish town, and of course I was just getting up a good head of steam when I realized the Kindle battery was low. So I had to interrupt my reading to rummage through my big box of electrical cords to find the Kindle charger. And then I couldn't find the charger, because I realized it was still packed in a bag I had taken on my last trip, and had already put away, up high, in the garage. So, that book got sidetracked by my short attention span, my bad organizational skills, and my inability to manage technology.

I am also reading Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger, which won the Booker Prize last year. I love the narrator's voice, and I'm really enjoying the story. I also love the details about life in India. But I brought the paperback with me to a doctor's appointment a few days ago, and then I left it in the car. So I know I'll pick it back up again on Monday, when I start the week's round of carpooling and errand-running again, but today I'm trying to stay out of any four-wheeled vehicles. I'm just like that on Sundays.


I'm also reading Beverley Nichols' gardening memoir, Down the Garden Path. My sister-in-law and I first saw Nichols' books in a little bookstore when we were on vacation, and were intrigued--but neither of us could remember the author or titles later, when we wanted to buy them. But between us, we mustered up the brain cells to recall the title, and I immediately ordered the first book online. I like Nichols' 1930s-style wit, and being a haphazard gardener myself, I'm enjoying living vicariously through this book, as Nichols gets put through his gardening paces while putting his cottage garden in order. By the way, I love the covers of his books, they're so wonderfully old-fashioned.

I got distracted from the book on gardening by another passion of mine, food. I was trolling through my favorite food blogs, and I saw noted pastry chef David Lebovitz's book, The Sweet Life in Paris: Delicious Adventures in the World's Most Glorious - and Perplexing - City, mentioned. It's about his expatriate adventures living and cooking in Paris--with recipes!!--so of course I bought a copy of the book. So far I'm enjoying Lebovitz's sense of humor, too. There's a David Sedaris-style, self-deprecating, fish-out-of-water quality to the memoir so far, and I love books about life in Paris. Since I love dessert, and Lebovitz is a famed pastry chef who worked at Alice Waters's Chez Panisse, that's a plus.

Oh yes, and I'm obsessed with Masterpiece Theater's production of Little Dorrit. I'm watching it piecemeal, while I walk on the treadmill, but I've never looked forward to exercising more!

What are your Sunday reads this week?

18 comments:

JoAnn said...

All of those books sound great, but I'm especially interested in The Sweet Life in Paris. The cover is beautiful, I love food memoirs, and think David Sedaris is a pretty funny guy. I'll keep an eye out for this one!

Frances said...

I am coveting both that lovely gardening book and The Sweet Life in Paris. Obtained a copy of Au Revoir to All That this week though so my foodie self is also happy. Happy reading!

Becky said...

I have the White Tiger, and can't wait to start reading it. It's good to hear that it has an engaging story and narrator!

Gentle Reader said...

JoAnn--I really enjoy me a food memoir, and this one is satisfying!

Frances--Ooh, looking forward to hearing more about Au Revoir to All That--enjoy!

mjmbecky--enjoyed your post, too. I have been chuckling through The White Tiger--it's edgy and funny, too. Let me know what you think!

Gavin said...

Oh, I hope you can get back to Darling Jim. I am adding it to my list.

Ti said...

I get this way too with books sometimes. For me it's a distraction thing but you can't help it if the book cannot be read due to a misplaced power cord. LOL.

I also swore I would not add more to my TBR pile but after your brief mention of Down the Garden Path, I added it to my Goodreads list.

I am reading Fear the Worst and I just finished Ugly Man. Ugly is very strange but somehow I like it.

Tara said...

I wonder if we were inspired by the same food blog to read The Sweet Life in Paris...as I have a copy waiting for me!

Anonymous said...

I just read Beverley Nichols' book about his London garden, Green Grows The City, which I saw at our new community library and I absolutely loved it! My second favorite book of the year after The Elegance of the Hedgehog. I picked up Down the Garden Path and one other to look at next. Green Grows the City was written just before WWII and, in addition to beguiling stories about his garden, his cats and his kooky neighbors, Nichols includes lots of witty commentary on Hitler's rise to power. You have to read this one.

Liz

My Novel Thoughts said...

Darling Jim sounds interesting - I just ordered it from the library. Thanks for writing about it!

Gentle Reader said...

Gavin--I'll definitely get back to it, because I try to finish all my book group books! I'll let you know what I think :)

Ti--I'm just so easily distracted! I am interested in hearing about Fear the Worst, and Ugly Man--they sound interesting!

Tara--for me, it was "Chocolate and Zucchini"--was that where you saw it mentioned? Let me know what you think of The Sweet Life!

Liz--Ooh, I'll have to read Green Grows the City. So far I'm really enjoying the tone of Down the Garden Path...

mynovelreviews--Darling Jim is a real page-turner. I'll be interested to hear what you think!

Bernadette said...

I loved THE WHITE TIGER. I'm going to pick up his second book which is just out. Hope it's as good.

Iliana said...

I actually love having so many scattered reads going on. It makes me feel like I'm traveling and meeting people all over the place :)

I'm not a foodie but I wouldn't mind reading a book that reminds you of David Sedaris style!

Tara said...

Actually, no, it was Smitten Kitchen - I guess this one is making the rounds! I've browsed through it, and it looks like a fun read.

Gentle Reader said...

Bernadette--Ooh, let me know if you like his second book. I'll have to put that on my list!

Iliana--I am usually okay with the scattered thing but for some reason this weekend I felt overwhelmed by it!

Tara--Don't you just love Smitten Kitchen? I think it's probably my favorite food blog. I love her photos, and I've had pretty good luck with her recipes, too. I might have seen it mentioned there, and I'm just thinking it was on the other site--or maybe it was both places!

Rebecca H. said...

I can get scattered too, although I try to keep the number of books I'm reading to four or so, and fewer when I'm busy. But sometimes the book you're in just isn't the right one, and it's time to move on to something else.

Gentle Reader said...

Dorothy--yes, and sometimes the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, and I get distracted by the new thing...I'm trying to limit myself!

Jess said...

Little Dorrit is fantastic -- I have already watched it twice! Have a great week.

Gentle Reader said...

Jess--isn't Little Dorrit good? I thought the actors were brilliant. I'll probably watch it again, too :)