Thursday 24 March 2011

Reading. Writing. No Arithmetic.


I've gotten back into reading. I love reading. It's like living two lives. I lost that loving feeling, and now I am back.

I started reading 'Eat, Pray, Love' - and didn't love it. It was ok - but not amazing. I felt a bit crankypants when reading it. I saw the movie, and quite liked it. The book, notsomuch.

Unceremoniously, I dumped it. Just because everyone under the sun has read it doesn't mean I have to read it.

Instead I've taken up with Richard Yates' 'Revolutionary Road'. Again. Take two. First time, couldn't get past page 10. This time, cracking on. It's depressing, but it's enjoyable at the same time. I've seen the movie too. Pretty powerful.

Are you reading anything beyond cereal packets at the moment? If so, do share!
image via Awards Daily

16 comments:

Allison said...

I am waiting, waiting, waiting impatiently around the letterbox creeping out the postman. Waiting for "Water for Elephants" to arrive. I'll (try to remember to) report back once I've finished it.

The last book I read was a kids book - Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan. He rocks! All of us (me and the three big kids) are hanging out for his next book to arrive instore.

Anonymous said...

Hello PPM,

First time commenter here, long time reader.

Currently reading Valley of the Dolls and loving it sick! Totally before it's time. It makes me want to run through the streets while holding my burning bra. Def. good so far.

x

Anonymous said...

Me TOO! I didn't much enjoy Eat Pray Love - especially despised the Bali bit. But I didn't mind the flick (and I really loved the Bali bit!)

I'm reading Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall at the moment. Good. Though sometimes I lose focus on who is actually talking (the voice is pretty spectacularly written, but, well you know, I'm daft) and then I get confused. Part of reading I think.

I'm also reading a Siri Hurstvedt 's the Summer Without Men. I like it. Sort of. I think. Maybe.

And next I'm going to re-do the Jane Austen catalogue. Can you believe it has been 200 years this year since Sense and Sensibility was first published?

[Good Mum Hunting] said...

I've got a whole bunch of penguin classics sitting on the sideboard at the moment. High Fidelity is next on my list, as well as Frankenstein.

Mama Mash said...

Hey,

If you're into reading books that are turned into movies I would suggest White Oleander... best book ever imo and the movie does a really great job too.
I didn't mind Eat Pray Love book form but thought the movie wasn't so great.

deux chiens et un garcon said...

Hi PPM
Ditto for first time to commnent. I think you are pretty cool. Have only just have the headspace to feel a bit normal to pop into bed at 9pm and think I now need a book. I have not read anything fictional for say 2 years. My brother in law lent me "The Life Of Pi", by Yann Martel. It really suits my rambling brain. Just in the early stages but I love his insight into animals.

Now cant wait to have this as my nightly ritual again.

Have a lovely windy day.
Jill

suzy said...

Well I didn't like the book or the movie. I thought she was a whinger and it made me mad too.
Flood, famine, disaster, radiation, I can't dance....I didn't get what the heck she was complaining about?!

Tania said...

I was a underwhelmed with "Eat Pray Love" also. Couldn't get past page 5...you've made me feel better. I'd heard so many rave reviews.

Danielle said...

Hi Lexi,

Its Danielle from Agent 99!! Just trying to get in contact with you for the Easter Event happening next Sunday. I'm not sure if we have the best email address, but just wanted to check if your still comming :):):):)
you can email me back on danielle@agent99pr.com

Anoosh said...

'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy. I too have just rediscovered reading and at first glance this book seems nothing but bleak. But (in my opinion) it is so beautifully written that it hurts when it's over.
Btw, I enjoyed 'Eat Pray Love' but read it before all the hype and felt no need to see the movie... same applies to 'Water for Elephants' which read like a script - enjoyed reading it but don't think I need to see it as it was already so visual.
p.s. I'm a mum of one and recent follower of yours - think you're pretty awesome :)

Mel said...

Hey there PMM,

Been meaning to comment here since you checked if I was exercising my pelvic floor muscles while reading your blog. I was and it totally freaked me out!!!!

Anyhoo, just wanted to agree with you about Eat Pray Love, I didn't love it at all.
One of my all time fave books is The boy in the striped pyjamas by John Boyne. It is so simply written but such a moving story about a heartbreaking topic. I thought about it for weeks after I finished.

Bronwyn said...

Am I the only one in the world that hasn't read Girl with Dragon Tattoo? I did try to - twice - but I could not get into it; it actually bored me - what is wrong with me?

Corrie said...

Well I just read craft books and magazines and food magazines but never get the time to make anything

totally hearing you on eat pray love, bought the book and read a few chapters then ditched it!

loved revolutionary road the movie! pretty dark in places but good!

corrie;)

Brenda @ 13 Acres said...

Ohhh good luck with that book - i saw the movie and was a bit deflated by how depressing it was. For some strange reason I'm reading Pride and Prejudice and I struggled for the first 50 pages, but now it's ok, I've gotten used to all that Jane Austen proper fancy English!!

ps- didn;t like EPL either, i think us women in Aus are far to strong and full of self that we don't need no guru telling us what to do = well that's how i saw it anyway xxx

shine little light* said...

I too have just gotten back into reading and have had some CORKERS recently. ANYTHING by David Mitchell is basically amazing. Cloud Atlas. Black Swan Green. I also love John Wyndham - for more of that futuristic stuff. Also njust read water for elephants by Sara Gruen and it was bonza.
Ive also just started not finishing books im not enjoying - i figure there are so many out there to read no point wasting time on one that you dont love.

patidifussa said...

Totally agree!! It happened in Spain with "the pilars of the earth" and this "millenium trilogy"
not beause everyone and their mother has read it, we have to love it!

another recommendation?

like so much your blog! a recent discover!

greetings from Madrid

Patricia

aquiseguroquenomeencuentran.blogspot.com