Nom de Plume

Books, books, books.

I’ve kinda decided to stop posting reviews of everything I read because I always feel behind, then put upon, and then the blog languishes unto death. So for now, let me just say that the two best books I’ve read recently are Richard Power’s The Echo Maker (though I still liked In the Time of Our Singing better) and a strange little novel called Philosophy Made Simple by Robert Hellenga. It’s funny because as I was reading it, I told Steve that he would like it. A week later, he picked it up off the coffee table, and asked, “Would I like this?” It’s about a widower who leaves Chicago to go run an avocado farm in Texas, and is really quite charming.

Other than that, I finally reread Jane Eyre a few months ago, and although I had read a couple of novels in which various characters comment on Jane’s rage, what struck me the most was how modern she is, how self aware. Also that it’s a true romance, from the perspective that the disappointments bind two people together just as much–if not more–than when it’s all smooth sailing. She loses her innocence to Mr. Rochester’s spoiled bratitude, and hey, he gives up his sight and a hand. Flip, I know, but I have to tell you: Mr. R is such a BABY. (I tried reading Villette after this, but quickly lost interest.)

And for those of us who first encountered E.M. Forster through Merchant Ivory’s A Room with a View (and oh, that kiss): I’ve been on a Merchant Ivory kick lately, which has led to a complete reread of all things Forster. Oh, lovely, lovely days …