Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Reading, lately

I was a gluttonous reader over the holiday break. I went to the library and checked out an enormous stack of books and dove right in.

My favorite one of the bunch?

reading
{Mark Haddon, A Spot of Bother}

It was so amazingly funny and touching. It focuses on family tensions (um, do I ever read about anything else?) during a transitional period (a daughter prepares for her second wedding, the father has just retired). I wanted to tear through it as quickly as possible but somehow also make it last as long as possible. That's the sign of a good book.

I haven't read his first(?) novel yet, but it's on the list.

30 comments:

  1. Spot of Bother was good, but his first book is EXCELLENT!

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  2. I agree, both books are great! I hope Mark Haddon writes more soon!

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  3. I was about to pass this by when I realized what his first book was- I really enjoyed the Curious Incident... I'm putting this on my list! Thanks for the recommendation!

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  4. Adding it to my goodreads to read list pronto!

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  5. thank you for the recommendation - i'm looking for some more good books to read this year!

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  6. I think you just read my mind! I was just thinking of re-reading A Curious Incident but then wondered if he had another book! Checking this out ASAP!

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  7. perfect, i so needed some new book recommendations!

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  8. adding this to my library request list. thanks!

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  9. This is on my to read stack. His first book was great!

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  10. i liked this book, but also thought it was kind of strange

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  11. I was listening to that book on tape during a road trip, and the middle stressed me out so much that I stopped. Maybe I'll pick it back up!

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  12. oh I love this book so much! family tensions seem to be my favorite books as well. And as others have said, his first book is SO good!

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  13. Definitely check out" A Curious Incident," it's great. I just finished the first two books in the Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson and they were perfect curl-up-with-a-book winter reads.

    Also, a great family tensions book I recently read was "The Brothers K" by David James Duncan. Check it out if you get a chance! Happy reading to all.

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  14. DEFINITELY read "curious incident". My dad and I were just talking about it over christmas actually.

    it's so lovely. and funny. and sweet.

    Adding this one to my list too.

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  15. I love love loved the "curious incident" Enjoy!

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  16. Sounds like a great book! I might have to add it to my never ending list!

    http://thebusiestbee.blogspot.com/

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  17. Thanks for the tip, I've been looking for something good to read on my train rides to work!

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  18. I loved his first book, I haven't read this one yet though. Thank you for reminding me to look for it!

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  19. curious incident was really great. i feel like you'd agree. i'll check this one out too now. thanks.

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  20. Luckily, there's still a few spots left on my list of books to read this year. i might just slot this one in somewhere. i'm currently reading 2 books. The Dragonbone Chair, by Tad Williams (it's an old favourite of mine that i only recently obtained my own copy of), and Far From the Madding Crowd.

    It's been some time since my last visit to a library for non-academic reasons. In the past few years i've only read novels that i have my own copy of - it's my incentive so that i collect up enough books to have my own little library one day. It's working ;)

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  21. I loved this book too. And I liked The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time even more - you should definitely pick it up!

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  22. I was just thinking that I needed a good book recommendation. Thank. You!

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  23. love to add this to the list, thanks!!!

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  24. thanks for the recommendation!
    i have been reading the story of edgar sawtelle lately, which has been hard for me to put down!

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  25. Hi rachel!

    my name is susana and i enjoy your blog very much, it has a calm, girly, "flowery" thing to it, that i love :)

    i enjoyed very much the book you are reading, it's very raw, sometimes, but that's just the way people actually are, i think...and the first one is also great.
    But my favorit book is Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, from Johnatan Safran Foer... my number one, in the latest years
    **s
    www.happyhourideiasfrescas.blogspot.com (sorry, all in portuguese)

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  26. I'm putting both books on my list!
    xoo.

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  27. Duh. Now I click over. I read The Curious Incident... Very rapidly, as I recall. Now I really want to read the next one!

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  28. The book was great BUT the first one was so much better.

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