Today is one of those Sundays where I feel like I don’t properly wake up at all and just sort of wander around in a daze. So it’s an excellent day for some relaxing reading, and I’ve just finished up The Ghost Stories of Muriel Spark, which were lovely and perfect for a chilly November morning. I feel like I need to stop trying out new-to-me authors because I keep finding ones I like so much I want to read all their work, and who has time for that?
On Friday I finished up reading Granta 108, the Chicago issue, which I was interested in because of the focus but mostly because of the great cover art by Chris Ware:
There were definitely some hits and misses for me here. In the end the biggest hit had nothing to do with Chicago at all—an excerpt from a forthcoming Peter Carey novel, Parrot and Olivier in America. But the bit I read was all about Parrot’s childhood in Devon and a house built by Nicholas Owen, and didn’t get to the “in America” part at all, in which Olivier is a quasi-de Tocqueville. I’m not sure I’m as interested in that.
Coming up this week: I’m going to write about Evelina, which I feel is going to be difficult. I’ve been thinking about it for a week now and I’m not sure what I have to say about it. Also Lady Susan, which I think is my favorite Jane Austen thus far (don’t be so shocked!). And perhaps Embers, by Sándor Márai. And I will probably not write about it, but soon I will be tucked away with The Original of Laura, which I’ve already read a tidy little excerpt of in Playboy. (That fine publication also took the opportunity to shoot a spread of Sasha Grey as Lolita, for those of you so inclined.) Also VN-related, check out the full set of new specimen-box-style covers (hat tip to Frances of Nonsuch Book). I have been toying with the idea of (re)reading all of Nabokov, in order, next year, and I think these would really be an excellent reason/excuse…
I know what you mean.. finding new authors can be a good and a VERY bad thing! I’ll find an author and want to read all their stuff too!