Naomi > Recent Status Updates

I read this book many years ago and was so taken with it. Now my memories of it were mostly of water.

S. and I revisited it now, after seeing the documentary of Hurston's life on PBS. It is a remarkable book.

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I have no idea where this book is going, the jacket hints of something sinister, but I would happily go anywhere with this writer.

We are loving reading this book together. It's fun to see the world through Marty's eyes. Her reflections show both how small and simple her world is, making each thing significant,and how she doesn't miss a thing!

When I am traveling, I choose the books that will keep me company according to weight! So I browse the library before I go for interesting paperbacks.

I find it fascinatingly synchronistic that thsi book, which I will read on the plane happens to also be from an author with Midwestern Norwegian background. I've read and enjoyed Stegner before but didn't realize this. He was born in Lake Mills, Iowa.

Silloo and I are reading this book together. The writing style has a pleasant flow for reading aloud. I like that the story is wrapped around plants.

So after birth, it is no longer omniscient. If there is something beyond her understanding as a child, we aren't allowed to know what is going on, either! Yet sometimes she knows things that seem outside of time. I suspect if you grew up in Yorkshire there is some humor that I am missing.

This book came highly recommended. So far it's a bit heavy going as it slides back and forth in time through several generations of family dramas. A lot to keep track of.

It is also taking time to get used to the sort of odd voice. The book is about a Yorkshire childhood and is narrated in the protagonist's voice from the time of conception (yes, conception!)

Silloo and I are reading this together, which means v e r y s l o w y. It's a memoir of sorts and is a bit hard to warm to as yet, but has very instructive bits.

She is quite explain-y. For example there is an extensive and hilarious description of shape note singing and its community. And another graphically detailed account of fixing a prolapsed rectum on a huge ram.