The Reading List: Winter Blues
Whether you're traveling or forcefully house-bound and hating life, now is probably an excellent time to pick up a book and get your damn read on. Here's what I'll be reading while I shoot death stares out the window at the snow and ice.
THE NECKLACE
Remember how Sloane Crosley is my literary crush/girl crush/Twitter crush/crush? I just finished reading "The Clasp," which means I'm officially out of Sloane to read. However, "The Clasp" is a present-day spinoff from the classic short story "The Necklace," by Guy de Maupassant. I've never read "The Necklace," and "The Clasp" has piqued my interest. Especially considering this quote of de Maupassant's included in "The Necklace":
Every happy man who wishes to preserve his integrity of thought and independence of judgment, to see life, humanity, and the world as a free observer, above all prejudice, all preconceived belief and all religion, must absolutely keep himself removed from what is called Society; for universal stupidity is so contagious that he cannot frequent his fellow-creatures without, despite his best efforts, being carried along by their convictions, their ideas and their imbecilic morality.
Obviously this guy speaks to me, and if I were in the market for a third cat, I'd probably name him or her Maupassant.
1Q84
Obviously I'm several years behind on this one, which Jen recommended to me ages ago. But I think it's about time I read this critically acclaimed epic that takes place in a fictionalized 1984 that shifts back and forth, bending reality and the lives of the two main characters. Plus it takes place in Tokyo, and loving that city, I'm looking forward to reading a story that takes place there.
HOTELS OF NORTH AMERICA
I don't remember how I found out about "Hotels of North America," but I e-mailed the title to myself to remember that I want to read it. The Amazon review calls it "metafiction," and it's a satirical story about a motivational speaker who writes hotel reviews on the side. "Dark humor" is also used to describe it and travel is a main part of the plot, so basically it's right up my alley.
MOMZILLAS
Not all my reading should be dark, serious, and/or critically acclaimed, right? "Momzillas" is a novel about being a wealthy yet out-of-place mom on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Bravo adopted it into the show "Odd Mom Out," which details Kargman's real-life experience. I haven't seen it, but Carly told me about it, assuring me it's hilarious. Not to mention, Kargman was wearing a "24601" t-shirt on one episode, so clearly she's someone I'd enjoy immensely.
What are you reading this miserable winter?
-Staci
