February was a month filled with a delicious number of books. It’s no accident that this coincided with the arrival of a lovely hand-me-down armchair in the house and a lack of good TV (no, I haven’t yet got with Breaking Bad; sorry!)
After a winter of stormy cold reads, I turned towards warmer climes with Fried Green Tomatoes. This book was filled with charming characters whose southern drawl just leapt off the page. The small-town-small-drama still touched on bigger issues: Alabama’s race relations, the desperate poverty sweeping the country, and the uplifting persistence of Railroad Bill. I enjoyed how people helped others in simple, unexpected ways. Everyone had something to give; even the very old, who can sometimes seem on the fringes of mainstream society. A sunny uplifting read for a rainy month.
I also read Wool: a much bleaker story; cold and steely with a dark centre. This post-apocalyptic vision is not my usual choice (and I’ll admit I first picked it up thinking it was about knitting). But the main character is a brilliantly strong woman who stands up to some intimidating shit. I was hooked and read it super-quick. A good holiday read!
I picked up Stoner purely because we had a brand new copy on the shelf and it always feels a terrible waste to not read a full price book (incidentally, another book I first picked up thinking it was about something else). Initially slow going but well worth the time. It got me thinking about a lot of things, and now I just want to find someone else who’s read it. A good book group read.
The Rosie Project has been getting a lot of press, and I’ve seen several copies in #theyearinbooks. I fell in love with Don Tillman. What a brilliantly quirky guy. Lots of fun to be had with someone who leads life so methodically and literally. This is a perfect rainy weekend read; sit in your armchair with a pot of tea and devour it in two big bites.
So, what lies in store for March? I’ve just started reading The Tiger’s Wife and also want to read some non-fiction. What’s on your March reading list?
I loved ‘The Rosie Project’ too. Such a great book. Someone in my book group read ‘Stoner’ and she gave it a bit of a mixed review but I want to give it a go. ‘Wool’ sounds good too!
Wow, lots of books in one month! I’ve been seeing lots of reviews floating around about The Rosie Project too, seems that everyone who has read it has loved it so far.
Kim x
grace & flower
I read ‘Stoner’ last year without realizing that it was the ‘in’ book of the year. I picked up a copy in the local Oxfam shop and was intrigued by the promised that it was ‘the greatest novel which you’ve never read’. I really enjoyed it, despite the fact that it could be read as a depressing story. Williams’ style of writing appealed to me and I’ve meaning to look out for some more of his work.
I agree Mairéad. Could be depressing, but ultimately seemed much more.
oooo i read stoner in January! I loved it, slow and quiet and yet by the end i was so caught up with the character! i cracked up to read you picked up ‘wool’ thinking it was anout knitting….there’s a shock! Great to find you via the book linky xxx
A good shock though- got me reading something I wouldn’t usually pick!
Hello! I lost you a while back, but here you are :)
I haven’t read Stoner but it’s already on my list for next month. This month I’ve blogged about books from both world wars, particularly Few Eggs and No Oranges, which I’m really enjoying.
Hello again! I’m interested to know what you think of Stoner. I’ll keep my eye out for your review!
Finished Stoner a couple of weeks ago. Mixed feelings about it. My husband read it and liked it a lot so I was expecting something more. I did find it a bit depressing and was not entirely convinced by the character’s supposed love of literature. But there was something very readable about this book. It quietly drew you in and you cared about him. I loved ‘The Tiger’s Wife’ so would be interested to know what you thought of it.
Browsing other entries on The Year in Books when I discovered yours.
Good going! Nothing nicer than snuggling up in a comfy armchair with a good book. I loved The Rosie Project, and Stoner is on my to-read list as well. Love the photo for this post. x