I’m not quite to the point where I can easily make myself
give up on a book. Consequently, I’ve been uninspired in my reading for much of
the last couple months. So, why would I want to share the titles with you? I’m
just naughty that way, I guess.
The World Before Her follows George Eliot in Venice (1890) as
she begins her passionless marriage to a younger man. Alternating chapters
follow Caroline Spingold, also in Venice (1990) as her marriage to an older man
deteriorates. While the descriptions of Venice were enchanting, 288 pages of
bad marriage was too much for me.
Our decision last year to postpone reading Little Bee
because it might add to a string of depressing books we had already read was a
good one. I don’t know when we might be “up” for this book. It was a
well-written, compelling story, but depressing.
So, I thought, a romance novel was in order. A Lady NeverLies had its moments of humorous repartee, but in the end was just another
formulaic romance.
Ever a glutton for punishment, I joined an online book
discussion of the book How Learning Works. This fell under the heading of
professional development/continuing education. The book was a bit dry and the
discussion leader didn’t know how to lead an online discussion (not that I’m an
expert; but I would have recognized it had I seen it).
So, I was delighted – DELIGHTED – to read State of Wonder. I
loved Patchett’s descriptions of everything – Minnesota, the Amazon, the
Lakashi. Hey – I read online that she named the tribe after her favorite
breakfast cereal. I loved the story and Marina and Dr. Swenson. I’m looking
forward to our discussion on Monday.
