Summer Reading
It’s been awhile since I’ve taken the time to read anything. Usually I read whatever Alysa has for summer reading, about 3-4 books during my week in Bass Lake. Then during the year, whatever she’s reading in class. My preference, hmmm, I guess it depends on my mood. But the one important criteria, it has to be a quick read. If I’m not interested within the first couple of chapters, I drop it. If I can’t finish it within a couple days, I lose interest.
This year I didn’t go to Bass Lake and Alysa is now in college. So considering all the time I spend at the Vet’s office, I started reading again. The first book was The Glass House: A Memoir. Jeanette Walls describes her childhood living in poverty with vagabond parents. I can’t imagine how people could live like that, so poor, in a house with no restroom. Their parents had to be mentally unstable to allow that kind of life.
Next, The Southern Vampire Mysteries. This is what the HBO series True Blood is based on. Sookie Stackhouse is a telepath living in Bon Temps, Louisiana. This is her story of her adventures living with vampires and other supernaturals. I finished all 9 books in a week and yes, didn’t get much sleep. But I needed my fix of Eric. I enjoyed most of the books, but after awhile, the storylines were all over the place. Charlaine Harris tried to fit too many things into such a short time. Also her lack of keeping facts consistent, bothered me. But wanting more of Eric kept me reading till the end. Her next book is a compilation of short stories, I think I’ll skip it, book 10 releases in 2010. I can’t wait.
This week I finished Out by Natsuo Kirino. Good story, graphic in it’s description of what four women did to survive their mundane lives and what happens to them once they cross the line. Of course it ended like most Japanese movies, quietly. It was difficult reading it on the train without getting a little queasy.
So what’s next? Maybe I’ll read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. Yes, Auntie Ami, after reading the synopsis, I’m intrigued. It looks like he wrote a series of books, maybe I’ll read all three. I have plenty of free time nowadays.
