In the High Peaks
















Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Re-Entering Earth's Orbit: Day One--A Brief Note

I'm finally coming down to Earth after a few unexpected weeks away from this blog.
I am so very sorry to say that I had a spin-and-crash event after reading the first 58 pages of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. And to think that this happened when I vowed to read it with Katrina of Pining for the West--a terrible blunder.

It has only rarely happened that I've vowed to read a book and been unable to continue. I think this happens to everyone at some point or other. For reasons I do now understand, One Hundred Years was deeply disturbing to me--so unsettling that  I could not carry on. I am glad I had the sense to stop. So whither now?

My next few posts will cover my June and July reads, and it may take several to relay info about each one.

I picked up nearly 20 books at a summer library book sale. So interesting and some great finds. Will hope to report some more substantial book news. A dull post, this--but interesting stuff awaits!

14 comments:

  1. I'm really looking forward to reading about your recent book purchases. Your up on me as I only bought five yesterday in Edinburgh!

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    1. Hi Katrina,
      I'll devote a post to them this weekend. And oh gosh, there's a library book sale in our town this weekend. Here we go!
      Only five??? You're clearly not getting out anywhere near enough. Tell Jack your sanity depends upon it.

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    2. By the way, Katrina, do report on the five you purchased!

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  2. Welcome back! As for not finishing a book l, I think that everyone does it from time to time. Sometimes one has to do it.

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    1. Thank you so much, Brian. You know I feel so sorry that the book I had to dismiss is one that you liked quite a lot. But you're right--sometimes it's necessary.

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  3. Welcome back! So pleased as I was wondering where you were and hoping nothing was wrong.

    Sorry to hear about your dislike of One Hundred Years of Solitude, I haven't read it so can't comment. Oh gosh, yes, it does happen. The most embarrassing time for me was when I accepted a free copy of a book from an author who tended to pass a lot of books on to book bloggers (probably still does) the minute her books were released. Everyone else loved this book, I couldn't get past chapter 2. Not because I was unsettled by it but it was such a hackneyed plot I felt I didn't want to read any further. I had to write and explain to the author who, bless her, was very understanding. It's one of the reasons why I now rarely do ARCs.

    Oooh... would love to hear what you bought at the library sale!

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    1. Oh, thank you, Cath--
      Nothing really has been wrong, but having to set aside a disturbing book that I committed to was hard. I'm moving on now and have been reading. In fact, I have read so many books that I haven't commented on, I will need to do some real catch-up work.
      And, oh gosh, I know about the dilemma you must have been in. And it is, just like you, the reason why I do not request or even allow myself to become involved with ARCs. Like you, I very rarely do sneak one in, but only because it's about New England history, or another field I've been involved in professionally, and I know the author's work ahead of time.
      I also want to say that I feel badly that you had to deal with horrendous heat recently. How bad was it, and did your garden survive it?
      I read online tonight that southern England gets a break tomorrow (Friday)--thank goodness.
      Post about my library sale haul scheduled for this weekend!!
      Best wishes to you

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  4. I do think we all have experienced the unexpected when reading - a book that moves in a "too disturbing" to continue direction based on our emotional state at the time. I can recall a few. Hopefully, you will find a few perfect, lighter reads that get you back to a good reading rhythm.

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    1. Hi Diane,
      It helps so much that you, as a fellow reader, understand the predicament I was in. Thank you.
      I have been reading lighter things, many of them very interesting. When the temperature hit 88 degrees and the dewpoint was 75 (ultra-humid) last Saturday, I bought a new thriller that I hoped would totally distract me. But you know, so many thrillers and suspense novels are not at all original right now, they're all derivative. A new take on The Gone Girl or whatever.
      Don't worry, I have loads of other books up my sleeve, so I have lots of more interesting books. Will be posting a lot, I hope, catching up and describing some of my most memorable books since early June.
      In the heat, do you go to the beach and move your beach chair right near the water?
      Just wondering!!
      When it's too hot to hike, I swim a lot at the outdoor pool that I belong to. Thank goodness for that.
      Take care now!
      Judith

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  5. Glad to see you back. I had surgery and wasn't very active at times either, but now we can catch up. I read a lot, but I have to read more classics.

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    1. Hi Tracy,
      I'm so glad that you're home from your surgery. I'm thankful that you've been able to read a whole lot! If you are already back at work, I wish you loads of relaxing weekends and evenings. I'm looking forward to catching up with your blog!

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  6. Count me in as excited to see what you bought at the library sale! I can't resist them myself either.

    Sorry that One Hundred Years of Solitude didn't work for you. I will still give it a whirl and will report back on my blog since I wanted to read it for the Back to the Classics challenge.

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    1. Hi Ruthiella,
      I'm so pleased to hear you're going to read One Hundred Years. I'll look forward to your review of it.
      I've got to catch up with your blog as well. Like right this minute!
      Best reading wishes!

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  7. Welcome back :)

    I'm curious as to why you found 100 Years unreadable. I read it decades ago as a very young adult and remember really liking it and have been planning a reread. Sometimes, though, a book comes along at the wrong time and it just doesn't work and should be set aside. I think most of us dedicated readers no longer feel the need to finish every book we start--too many great books out there!

    Looking forward to hearing what you picked up at the library sale.

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