Normally I put reviews of what I’ve been reading at the end of my Week in Review posts but that has just gotten away from me during #coronavirusdays. So I figured I’d do a separate little catch-up post.

I’m not getting to read as much I’d hoped…and I’m not listening to any audiobooks since I no longer have a daily commute, so “reading” is way down. But I have gotten through these four since I last wrote a review.

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

I had no frame of reference for this book. Everyone was always saying YOU HAVE TO READ DAVID SEDARIS, HE’S HYSTERICAL. And I tried, years ago, with Me Talk Pretty One Day…and I just could not do it. And I swore off him for life. Til someone whose book recommendations I respect said that she really liked his book Corduroy. I tried to get it from Paperbackswap but the deal fell through…and I ended up with Dress Your Family…which doesn’t have the greatest reviews, but I found it readable, at least – better than MTPOD. And he was clever and witty. “Hysterical” is not the term I would use, but definitely clever and witty and entertaining enough. It’s a memoir, I guess? Sort of unrelated stories from throughout his lifetime (which is a vague definition of a memoir, I suppose), but I am not generally a fan of books of several/many unrelated stories. I know I have more of those on my book pile, maybe someday one will win me over. But this was not that one. It was fine, I was not blown away. I will still read Corduroy when I can get it. But that might be his last chance with me. 3.5/5

The Mare: A Novel by Mary Gaitskill

The Mare: A Novel (Vintage Contemporaries) by [Mary Gaitskill]

This was…interesting and unusual and not at all what I’d expected. And I don’t know that I’d say I LOVED it, but I had to keep reading it. It had such disparate elements to it: it was disturbing but hopeful, surprising, real and unreal. A young girl from the projects in NYC got to be like a Fresh Air Kid and go to a family “in the country” for two weeks in the summer. The wife in that family was slightly unhinged and desperately wanted a child, so the girl became way too important to her. And there were horses. That was the “unreal” part. I would recommend if you like things that are just slightly “off.” 3.65/5

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

First Comes Love: A Novel by [Emily Giffin]

Sometimes it’s just nice to read something a little simple and easy, like watching a rom-com. This is that. I’ve read most of her books. I think I have one left…and it’s on my bedside table right now. Her books make a good palate cleanser after too many deep, depressing, difficult books. This one was more “sister sister” relationship than man/woman…a long-dead brother, a good friend, maybe a new love interest. It’s a good enough weekend, car-trip, or beach (if ever) read. 3.25/5

Asleep by Banana Hoshimoto

Asleep

This was another case of “I couldn’t get the book by this author I really wanted, so I got this instead.” I shouldn’t have liked it, it’s three entirely different stories with one common theme: sleep. BUT. It’s translated from the Japanese and written in such a charming way that I just enjoyed reading it. I enjoyed the words and the way they were put together. When I used to sell on eBay sometimes I would sell something to a buyer in Japan…and they would write me the loveliest thank you notes (NO ONE else wrote thank you notes!) in their broken English and they were just the sweetest. I wonder if I still have any saved anywhere. Anyway, this was another very quick read, a delightful little book with…three odd little stories. If you like that kind of thing, I recommend this. I still want to read her book “Kitchen,” which was the one originally recommended to me. 3.68/5

This afternoon I started The Silent Wife by A. S. A. Harrison, a psychological thriller, not my usual jam. I can’t remember how it ended up on my list or my book pile, but here it is. Two chapters in and it is annoying me. Very sexist. That kind of thing in books or movies used to just roll off my back, unnoticed, and now it disturbs me to the point where I wonder if I even want to continue. I’ll give it two more chapters.

So that was my quick catch-up. Many months ago I started a separate page on the blog for just book reviews. Someday I hope to get back to that! I thought during quarantine I’d have time for things like that, but nope!

What are you reading? Got anything to recommend??

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