Book Chatter

I love books like any other book blogger, but I am lusting, LUSTING I say, for Murakami’s new book. I am really hoping that a review copy comes my way. It’s 944 pages and I cannot wait to sink my teeth into it. Here’s a little blurb:

A love story, a mystery, a fantasy, a novel of self-discovery, a dystopia to rival George Orwell’s—1Q84 is Haruki Murakami’s most ambitious undertaking yet: an instant best seller in his native Japan, and a tremendous feat of imagination from one of our most revered contemporary writers. (Indie Bound)

Review copy or not, come October 25th, it will be in my hands.

On a shopping note, I was at B&N the other day and noticed that their receipts list recommended reads based on what you purchase. Most of the time, I don’t pay attention to “if you liked this, then try this” but I have to say, that these recommendations are pretty spot-on. Especially when it comes to Young Adult books. The books that I purchased for The Boy came with a list of other books that I’ve never heard of before, yet when I showed him the recommendations, he agreed that they were all books he’d read. So when they hand you your receipts, be sure to check out the recommendations.

This question is specifically for bloggers but readers can weigh-in too. When you post reviews on your blog, where else do you post them? I post them on Facebook, Twitter, Library Thing, Goodreads, StumbleUpon and B&N. Recently, I was asked to post them on another site. I’ve gotten a lot of new readers from these other sites but my main interactions takes place here, on my blog. If you are a reader, how did you find me?

And just because it’s Friday, what are you reading? Anyone paying attention to my Goodreads account will think that I’ve been reading the same old books for quite some time. It may seem like that, but I keep getting distracted by library books that need to be read before their return and sometimes I forget to add them to my “currently reading” shelf. So here is my honest answer:

I am just pages away from finishing Annabel by Kathleen Winter.

I am just a few pages into The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach.

I am just starting The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian on my Kindle (he is one of the nicest authors on Facebook, just sayin’)

I am about halfway through with Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez which I am reading for my book club.

Yes, I read many books at once. For some reason, this works for me. I don’t know how, but it does.

Happy Friday!

On Chesil Beach
By Ian McEwan
(Anchor, Paperback, 9780307386175, June 2008, 224pp.)

The Short of It:

Stripped of all pretense, these characters are pushed to surrender to what they know is true.

The Rest of It:

In 1962, Florence and Edward celebrate their wedding in a hotel on the Dorset coast. Yet as they dine, the expectation of their marital duties weighs over them. And unbeknownst to both, the decisions they make this night will resonate throughout their lives.

McEwan is known for exquisite prose and On Chesil Beach is no exception. As the newlyweds dine and anticipate the consummation of their marriage, it’s clear to the reader that all is not right in the world of Florence and Edward. Love is most certainly present, yet there is a delicate balance between Edward and Flo that tips precariously as the meal progresses and before you know it, dread has made its appearance.

As the tension rises, and the moment of consummation nears, we are told in flashbacks how the couple came to be. In part, this knowledge of the couple makes their situation even more tragic. When you ask someone to marry you, you assume that you know everything about them, but this is not the case with Edward and Flo. Insecurities exist that neither are aware of until it’s too late.

I love McEwan’s writing for a lot of reasons, but what I love the most is the level of detail within his stories. He puts you there, with the characters as they are experiencing their awkward moment and although it’s uncomfortable, it’s impossible to look away. I tend to lose myself when I read his writing and that to me, is the sign of a good novel. That, and the fact that his characters are often forced to deal with truth and the tragic consequences of their actions.

I’ve read a few of McEwan’s other novels and although this one is incredibly short, it still manages to be a very powerful read with characters that you can easily relate to.

Source: Borrowed