Winter reading kick-off

By meredith in Winter Reading 2019 on
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So, the top book on my stack, “The Underground River,” was given to me by my son Michael for Christmas.  I finished it this afternoon, and absolutely loved it.  The writing is subtle and easy to read, while dealing with intense subject matter, which created a contrast that I found very appealing.

The book in the middle, “The Art of Hearing Heartbeats,” is next- another book that Michael chose for me, and I look forward to seeing if it is as good as the first one!

Lastly, I decided to pick up a copy of Maggie Nelson’s “Bluets” and will follow up the novels with a little poetry…

Happy to be back, and looking forward to our next reading journey together!

Published by meredith

7 comments on “Winter reading kick-off”

  1. Meredith, I haven’t read these books so I am looking forward to your thoughts about them. Looking forward to hearing more about The Underground River because your appreciation of it is already compelling.

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    1. Hi Teri- The Underground River was a wonderful read. I was trying to figure out why I loved it so much while I was reading it- and I think it was because it was written in a calm and subtle manner. I guess what I mean is- the characters were not over-done. The sentences were not too adjective-laden. And the story flowed smoothly and easily (which is compelling, because of the material it contains). The setting- the Ohio River during the time of slavery- provided an intensity that did not need to be embellished- and I find it rare to come across an author who allows a story in a setting like this to kind of tell itself. She doesn’t *create* a hero or a drama- she lets the characters act and speak, and we – as readers- are drawn to our own reactions and conclusions… Also, although we (as readers today) look at this time in history with the gift of hindsight- she creates a feeling in the book that is in the present moment- there is a sense of mystery about what is happening, so we learn along with the main character by being exposed to certain scenes and story-lines… All in all, I think the book invites the reader to learn without hammering us over the head with information. And it is a book that will definitely stay with me…

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      1. Many thanks for diving in about this book, Meredith. I sat up straighter when I saw the setting. I am from Ohio, originally, and I have a high school friend who is in two book clubs, so we trade book suggestions. She and her husband have just moved into a condo in Cincinnati, up on a hill with a wide-ranging view of the Ohio River. She sent two photographs, east and west views, in her Christmas letter. I shall fire off this suggestion to her post-haste. It sounds pretty perfect!

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  3. Happy New Year! I look forward to your posts. I get so many good ideas for books to read from the group. You’re lucky to have a son who supplies you with great choices.

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    1. Hi Barbara! Nice to see you here again 🙂 It has become a bit of tradition on any gift-giving holiday, my son spends time in the bookstore picking out books for me. I love it so much! And many times, his selections stick with me longer than the books I choose for myself… I do feel lucky!

      Hope you are well, I look forward to seeing your posts, and hanging out for another round of reading…..

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