I’m devouring books right now. I’m currently re-reading Clan of the Cave Bear. I read it when I still lived at home, sometime in the late 80′s. I can say now, looking back, this was my first historical fiction novel. Reading stories based on historical events is pretty much my favorite way to learn my history! If only I knew that in High School!!!
Before Cave Bear, I read “Blindness” by Jose Saramago, which still has me thinking. The book was hard to read for two reasons- he wrote in long, run-on, comma spliced sentences that included the dialogue between characters but did not always identify which character was talking. This was intentional – the story is about an entire city population that one by one goes blind. So really, you don’t really know who’s talking because you’re blind! (Well, you do, but it’s not spelled out plainly for you- you have to pay attention). It also delves into the suffering and chaos that goes in hand with sudden blindness, of an entire city. It’s incredible how fast humans will go from civilized to barbaric. So some of what tranpsires is hard to read. But it’s also interesting to think about. It is also said that the author wrote it as an analogy for religion/spirituality.
Before that, “American Wife” – which was not-so-loosely based on Laura Bush, enough that I had to remind myself it was a fiction, not an autobiography. Still a fun read though.
My next conquest is “The Book Thief” which I hope to pick up soon. I’m sharing these books with you in the hopes you’ll do the same and tell me what books you’re reading- and what books you can read again & again!
Lorraine
June 19, 2009 at 07:18
Hey, could I borrow The American Wife? Sounds like it might be an interesting one for Book Club. Thanks.
Karen H.. (kthaman)
June 24, 2009 at 11:44
I don’t think I’ve ever posted to your blog, but I loved reading your posts on your work.
I’ve been reading this summer too. I’ll look into picking up the ones you’ve posted here. I too prefer my history as well written Fiction:) My hubby recently picked up “What is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng” – about a man who left the Sudan. I haven’t started it yet, but he had high praise for it.
Tanja Fussell
July 7, 2009 at 17:10
Hey YOu! Good luck with keeping the demo status. I would order, but I’m a hobbyist/demo and have to work towards my minimum usually. I wanted to let you know that “Blindness” was made into a film with Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. It definately was interesting, but not uplifiting.
I, too read the Clan of the Cave Beat in my high school days.
I have picked up my reading habit again and found the most wonderful gems, so (in order of favoriteness.. :) ..):
A Thousand Splendid Suns (the most amazing storyteller – he wrote The Kite Runner)- this is historical fiction at its BEST,
Lovely Bones – loved the narrator/main character,
and White Tiger.
If you don’t mind utterly depressing, The Road is pretty attention -grabbing