What We’re Reading: Unfinished Business
This week’s “What We’re Reading” is more of a “What We Should Be Reading.” Have you ever started a book, and then either gotten really busy, misplaced it, or started another one? I have three of those lying on my desk, begging for some attention. Well, this weekend, they’re getting finished. And since they’re all so wonderful in their own way, here they are, for your reading pleasure.
Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins (the quirky one). You either love him or ya hate him. Tom Robbins, that is. He spins a fantastical, stinky, sexy tale about immortality, beets, and perfume. Following four different story lines, this novel is busting at the seams. Don’t miss the underlying themes of religion (Christianity versus the Greek goat-god Pan, hence the stench), the powers of scent, Transcendentalism – oh, and lots of sex, which seems to be a trend with Robbins’ books. Sometimes Robbins is so quirky that his writing gets lost, but overall, it’s been an enjoyable read.
The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni (the most lovable). I started this one for Books & Bars last month, and I still haven’t had time to finish it. The main character, an extremely sheltered teenager who has grown up with his slightly kooky grandmother in a geodesic dome in Iowa, won my heart. His quirky speech patterns, his curious innocence, and his confusing journey and relationships outside of the dome, along with his fateful introduction to punk music, definitely resonated with the Books & Bars crowd – myself included.
Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich (the true literary one). Everyone should read Louise Erdrich. Or at least that’s what I was told. So when I happened upon this book at a used book sale, I snapped it up. It’s definitely not the same easy read as The House of Tomorrow, but it’s masterfully woven and earns every bit of praise. The complex relationships of the two main Native American families are written with great dialogue, mysticism, and an unflinching eye for life’s complications. The characters are impulsive, intuitive, and at the same time, no-nonsense. This is a novel that will shape up your literary spine.
What books have you neglected lately? Any great ones worth finishing?
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As I mentioned at Books & Bars, definitely finish House of Tomorrow. Totally worth it. The only Robbins I’ve read is Still Life with Woodpecker which, as it turns out, I was rereading recently and haven’t finished. To be honest, I’m not sure I will. I enjoyed it the first time I read it, but the second time around it seemed to have lost some charm. Sure, it was still quirky and funny, but I struggled to find something deeper to keep me going through to the end. Maybe when my stack of must read books next to my desk shrinks a bit I’ll return to Still Life and Robbins’ work in general.
Speaking of that stack, I began reading A.J. Jacobs’ memoir The Year of Living Biblically, but I got put it down and haven’t returned to it. I’m not typically drawn toward memoir in general, but Jacobs’ is funny, honest and thoughtful in away that appeals to me. If you’re at all interested in religion (I attended a Catholic high school and a Lutheran college – sort that one out), especially religions based in the Hebrew bible and the Christian New Testament then check it out.
Finally, I’d begun reading Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series over a year ago, but couldn’t get my hands on the 5th volume so I quit (I also had to attend to a heavy course load). One of my coworkers has been lending me the series and I’m finally finishing it up. Last night I began reading the 9th volume (of 11 total, I believe) though there are some apocryphal works set in the same world starring different characters. Gaiman is a brilliant and prolific writer, so do yourself a favor and read his work.
Ooh, thanks for the book ideas! I’m starting to explore memoir a bit more, too. I interviewed Patricia Hampl once (well-known local memoirist), and her ideas really intrigued me. She started off as a poet, incidentally, but since has really owned the genre of memoir.
I’m definitely going to have to check out the graphic novel by Gaiman! Looks really interesting – it seems like the graphic novel is really having a revival lately, too.