“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”
― Charles W. Eliot
Reading 2020.
I’m a bit behind in getting out my August reading post. If you’ve read my most recent post, Tuesday Truth #63, then you are already aware that I had other things that took precedence during the month. Even with a week of reading deprivation (week 4 of The Artist’s Way journey) and the things I mentioned previously, I still managed to read a decent amount of books.
Since this is a running list for the year, each month will start with the number that follows where the prior month ended.
If you missed my first “What I’ve Been Reading” post, you can find the Jan/Feb reads in this post. When we became housebound, I changed the original format of bimonthly sharing to monthly sharing. You can find March reads in this post and you can find April reads in this post. You can find May reads in this post and June reads in this post. And finally, you can find the July reads in this post.
After this post, I will again return to the bimonthly format.
Reading List.
53. The Stranger – Albert Camus
“Only the words ‘yesterday’ and ‘tomorrow’ still had any meaning for me.”
Now that we are moving deeper into the year, I can see that my goal to read 100 books was a lofty one. Life happens as it often does. In order to move closer to my goal, I looked up short classics and this book was one of those listed. It tackles existentialism and societal expectations surrounding grief amongst other things.
54. The Invitation – Lucy Foley
“It is there that I think I left her, the girl that I was.”
Last month, I read The Guest List by Lucy Foley. I enjoyed her writing style and had this book in my stack as well. I suppose this one had an element of suspense as well, but the main genre is love story. I enjoyed her writing style just as much in this book.
55. Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Truman Capote
“I want to still be me when I wake up one fine morning and have breakfast at Tiffany’s”
This was one of those short classics. I’ve seen the movie many times and Audrey Hepburn is one of my favorite actresses. Any yet, I had never read the book. It seems to me that books always give a little more detail to stories than a movie does. Or perhaps it’s because my imagination creates the visual scene. I thought this was a great, quick read.
56. The Metamorphosis – Franz Kafka
“Was he an animal, that music could move him so?”
You’ll notice a recurring theme of short classics. I’m not gonna lie, this was a strange little book. I recognize that it was about societal expectations (i.e. – responsibility to family at the expense of self interests) and how change (metamorphosis) can affect that, but it still was a bizarre little story.
57. Wide Sargasso Sea- Jean Rhys
“It was a beautiful place – wild, untouched, above all untouched, with an alien, disturbing, secret loveliness. And it kept its secret.”
Jane Eyre is one of my favorite novels. When I learned that Jean Rhys has written this story as a response and prequel to Jane Eyre, I knew I wanted to read it. Written in 1966, it is told from the perspective of Bertha Mason, Mr. Rochester’s wife. It touches on multiple issues that eventually lead to Bertha’s madness.
58. Looking for Alaska – John Green
“Francois Rabelais. He was this poet. And his last words were ‘I go to seek a Great Perhaps.’ That’s why I’m going. So I don’t have to wait until I die to start seeking a Great Perhaps.”
I really like John Green’s works. This is actually his first novel. What can I say? It was good. It kept me invested the entire way. I followed it up by watching the series on Netflix. Of course, they made changes to the storyline. Part of which was giving away some clues much earlier than the book does. But overall, I enjoyed the show as well.
59. Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe
“But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness.”
So I had a moment of synchronicity with this book. The concept of things falling apart is mentioned in Looking for Alaska. I knew there was a book of that title and made a note that I should read it. When I finished reading Looking for Alaska, I picked up the next book in my pile and what should it be… yep, Things Fall Apart. The story is about pre-colonial life in Nigeria and the arrival of the Europeans. I thought it was a book that my husband would enjoy as well. He started it and was indeed enjoying it. However, the title gives away that it isn’t necessarily a joyful story and with his mother’s recent passing, the timing was such in his life that he’s decided to read it at a future point.
I would point out that it does require you to be prepared for unhappy moments. The same can be said about some others on this list.
Now over to you.
Have you read any of these classics?
How about the others?
Have you read anything interesting lately?
Let’s chat below!
Stay safe and healthy out there! Sending you all love and light!! xx
Let your light shine!
Amy
Hi Amy, you’ve been reading some interesting books by the sounds of it. Can’t say I’ve read any of these but I do agree with you that a book can often be more enjoyable than a movie. I’ve been reading Jon Kabbit Zinn’s Falling Apart as well as a few other light thriller novels. Most of my reading is done late at night before I go to bed. Hope you’re well. Big hugs to you xxx
I think part of the reason that more often I love the book is that the movie playing in my mind is one of my own creation, not someone else’s. I seem to be doing lots of reading at night as well. Although it does make me tired rather quickly. lol. I am well and hope that you are too! Big hugs back! xx
I didn’t know that Wide Sargasso Sea was connected to Jane Eyre. Huh. I’ll put it on my TBR list.
I’ve never read Breakfast at Tiffany’s although I’ve stood where Holly stood in front of the store in NYC.
I read The Metamorphosis in college and didn’t like it. I have Things Fall Apart here waiting to be read. But truthfully I’m reading less this year so who knows when I’ll get to it.
I was surprised to learn about the connection as well.
I’ve not been to NYC, but I think it would be cool to stand where Holly stood. 🙂
I was not a fan of The Metamorphosis, but to each their own. I suppose that’s why there are millions or billions of book from which to choose! I don’t see myself being quite as prolific of a reader next year. I’d like to focus a little more on writing.
i try to pick up a classic two to three times a year I fine I love Dumas, The Count Of Monte Cristo Is perhaps my favorite book
Keep laughing
It never ceases to amaze me that although I’ve read quite a few classics, there are so many more that I have not read. I’ll have to add Dumas to my list! 🙂
The List Mine is long enough to last till I’m a hundred
I am really enjoying your reading posts, Amy. In retrospect, I should have started doing this, since I read a great deal, yet I do not keep track of my books. There are times I want to share or remember specific parts of a book.
A friend of mine also has “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” as one of her favourite books. I appreciate you bringing it to my attention and I have it on my list. I also enjoy John Green’s books.
We just returned from our unplugged camping trip. I read many gems I will share in future. A great post, as always, Amy.❤️
I wish that I’d started keeping track of the book I’d read much earlier than I did! You are so right about those moments when you want to share or remember specific parts of a book. I find that happens to me quite often.
It felt like I knew “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” so well from seeing the movie numerous times, but I did love the fact that the book opened new avenues to the story. I need to add some more John Green books to my pile.
I can’t wait to read all about your unplugged camping trip, Erica!! xx
I’ve read several of those classics…when my oldest was in AP English. I read what he read. Two of them really touched me. For a long time I refused to see where I left my little girl. Waking up to that was…enlightening and deep which isn’t me AT. ALL.
I am much happier just rolling along not thinking about life or analyzing it. I prefer just getting on with it and adapting to what must be adapted to.
You. You make me think and dive deeper than I care to go with every post. Your the child I feared I would have. You and my two are way too smart for me! You have no idea how much you scare me. I don’t think this deep. Hell, I never go anywhere near this deep or close to the edges that you do!
So, when I don’t post a comment know it’s because I’m digesting what you’ve posted and shared and it’s so much deeper than my brain or soul ever dives! Your so brave and so much more intellectual than I’ll ever be. It’s just not me to dive this deep, but you steer me to places I would never go without you. 😀
I believe my children were given to me to teach me more than I could ever teach them, and you…I was lead to you so you could teach me more than I could ever learn by my self about self reflection. 🥰
I have to say Deborah, this comment made my day!
I tend to swim in the deep, but sometimes wish I could learn to be content in the shallows. I believe there is much freedom and lightness of spirit there. However, my mind does not let me stay there so I cannot say that any substantive knowledge. lol.
I understand about digesting before responding. I do that with posts. Read them, think on them, read them again, before I finally comment. I do that quite often with my response to comments as well. I think it’s because I tend to deal with vulnerability hangover (yep, that a real term) every time I put things that are deep out into the universe. So your comment really helps me to stay brave and continue sharing my thoughts. Thanks so much!! xx
I just finished reading Jane Eyre and I was upset at how Bertha was treated… so I’m now very interested in reading Wide Sargasso Sea! I really wonder if Bertha would have been treated so callously if she had been English instead of Caribbean…
The Wide Sargasso Sea definitely told an interesting story!