Thursday, July 17, 2008

Dang Angela and Her Ashes...

I don't read much these days. I think the last time I was reading-for pleasure-on a regular basis was when Kennedy and Julia were the only little Tatro children. I would read because I had always been a reader and got great pleasure from it. I would sit and devour a book, unable to put it down. Then at the end of the day I would look around me and my house would be a mess and my children would have been neglected all day, sent off to entertain themselves while I read my book. I would feel bad and tell myself that the next time I would just read a chapter at a time. I would just read when the baby was down for a nap, for just 1/2 an hour. Or maybe just when the kids were in bed. Turns out i didn't have the self-control for that. But I've been missing it terribly. I read a book back in May when I went to the beach and it felt so good to be between the covers again! So I've been thinking about giving myself another try. It's hard to get to the library, though. I mean, especially the adult section. Picture books, sure, but grown-up books? Historical fiction? (My fave genre). Not a chance. Well then a couple days ago Lincoln comes home from work with a stack of books his boss loaned him. In the pile was Angela's Ashes. Hey! I said. I should totally read this! Everyone else on the planet has. It's a sign. So I began. I've done pretty well so far with the whole not neglecting my kids thing. But I've been up late. Bawling my eyes out. Let me just say here that I rarely, if ever, cry when I'm watching a movie. But books. Books are another story altogether. I cry like a baby. I'm about half way through the book-No spoilers in the comments section please!!!-and I just want to finish it to end the pain. So if anyone has a good light read they'd like to recommend for when I'm done with this heart-wrencher, please let me know!

4 comments:

Terri_B said...

Hey! I just wanted to comment on your comment. You are the VERY first person to tell me that Stephen looks like me. Most say he is a spittin' image of David! I'm glad to know that at least SOMEONE can see me in ONE of my kids!!

I read Kite Runner about 1 year ago (maybe more). I loved the book, but cried my eyes out. It is probably the only historical fiction book I've read in FOREVER. Right now I am finishing up the Stephanie Meyer Twilight series. EASY EASY READ, and I am actually enjoying them. I'm not much of a Sci-Fi fan, but I'm hooked on these!

Longhurst Family said...

Wow! What beautiful coutry up there.
I bet ya'll are enjoying the not as humid summer. :) Jesse sure is getting big.
cl

Virginia said...

So - if you like historical fiction and are interested in well researched young adult fiction about Celtic and Roman Britain, I recommend anything and everything from Rosemary Sutcliff.


We found her b/c her books are recommended reading for MB's homeschool curriculum. She's got good historical/cultural information, her characters are just about real, plots are exciting and her voice is incredible. These are not girly books. You will find blood and battles in her work and most of her main characters are young men and soldiers. But her treatment of violence is very sensitive and heartbreaking.

Aside from the violence, her books are morally clean and read pretty quickly - but they are not easy to put down after just a chapter.

The only thing I've been disappointed in from her are her series retelling Arthurian legend - Sword and the Circle, Light in the Forest and Road to Camlaan - those were disappointing, I think because she was trying to present a sort of abridged version of Arthurian legend for young people. However - her adult re-telling of Arthur's story, Sword at Sunset is beautiful and amazing and heartbreaking.

I could go on but there is sooo much to do today. Gotta run and make instructions for making frog beads for Girl's Camp. Bleagh.

jessie said...

Hmm.. I'm just about to read two books.. Cage of Stars by Jacquelyn Mitchard (which is supposed to start out very hard to read due to the graphic depiction of some murders) and Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson - which is a true story. Both came very highly recommended by my mom so we'll see!

I'm interested to see what you think about Angela's Ashes. I just read that this year and am eager to hear another person's review.