Reading...

now and in the future

Photo by Jędrzej Ugorenko on Unsplash

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I started reading Burning Questions by Margaret Atwood a couple of weeks ago. I still have several essays to read to finish the book, and I don't want to skip any of them. Atwood is a great thinker and puts her thoughts into accessible language for everyone to savor. It isn't a quick read for me, because I stop to think as I go. Burning Questions covers 2004 to 2021. The collections of essays, lectures, book reviews, and political commentary tackles such topics climate change, totalitarianism, the role of the individual, political commentary, and more.

She sometimes presents herself as almost a caricature of herself, in pieces where gives random advice to strangers. Her wit, wisdom, and thoughtfulness are on full display. I look forward to the pieces I haven't yet read.

I put the Atwood book down when a book I'd had on hold for months arrived at my library branch. All Fours by Miranda July is a page turner. I finished it by reading at bedtime in only three nights. If you haven't read it, I recommend reading the New York Times review of it for full detail. There is a lot of sex, but that isn't all this ground-breaking novel is about. If you're a second wave feminist, you might have read Erica Jong's Fear of Flying. I haven't read that one in decades, but I think July's book is better.

At the recommendation of one of the Substack writers I follow, I'm also reading The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain. This is a slender novel set in Paris. I study French, so I enjoy books set in France, and I'm enjoying this one. I'll probably finish it tonight.

Next up is Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife by Eben Alexander. I enjoyed reading books by Oliver Sacks, so I imagine I will enjoy this one too.

At night I read historical fiction, mysteries, modern fiction, and nonfiction. During the day I read poetry and sewing books. I'm literally working (sewing) my way through Claire B. Schaeffer's Couture Sewing: The Classic Cardigan Jacket.  My favorite poets are Mary Oliver, Andrea Gibson, Emily Dickinson, and Sharon Olds. I also love the poetry by my friend Kate Kasten, who didn't think of herself as a poet, but her recently published book proves otherwise. I recommend Her Right Mind.

I'm already thinking ahead to reading in 2025. In fact, I've signed up to read three of Hilary Mantel's books. (Wolf Hall, etc.) with Substacker Simon Haisell. Maybe you want to also? Here is the link.

What are you reading? What do you recommend -- I'm always looking for suggestions. I read at least fifty books every year, and as you can tell I read widely.