Here is a list on Bookshop.org with all the Maeve Binchy books I’ve read all year.
(I am on a short Binchy break, reading an unpublished novel.)
Tuesday, September 24
- Book: Bellows & Burrows, an unpublished novel by D’s roommate
- Chapters: at the end of this reading, I was 25% done with the book!
- Location: Front Porch
- Smoking: Royal Highness
What I’m listening to:
Did I cry?
Naw, dawg
Thoughts while reading (could be about the book, could not):
First up – she (me) watches Challengers once and becomes instantly addicted to the soundtrack. Oops.
It’s really good music for thinking. It’s repeatery, but with enough energy to keep my brain engaged at exactly the right level so that I can find myself lost in a book.
I keep getting lost in this one.
There’s a real fairy tale feel to it, but not a twee one at all. It feels solidly adult and not at all familiar.
Which, in my eyes, is a good thing. Cause mostly, it feels like the fairy tale story structure is kind of played out. I mean, even Disney seems to keep going back to the same (or extremely similar) wells over and over again.
It’s refreshing when something feels new.
I particularly find myself enjoying the parts of the book that take place in the woods. It feels comfortable, as if that is the environment where SW (the author feels most comfortable.)
The other thing that really feels great (and fresh, which is important to me as a reader) is the way the characters are introduced.
We’re not getting lists of characteristics or being told details about the characters. We simply get to encounter them. Often we’ll “see” them before we meet them. I think that’s an excellent way to build interest and intuigue about your characters.
So far, I am drawn to everyone for different things, but mostly I am drawn to Noah, the hotel lady. Her personality just bubbles off of the page.
I am forming some theories and am excited to see how the rest of this mystery unfolds.
New birds heard:
None
Saturday, September 28
- Book: Bellows & Burrows
- Chapters: 42% done
- Location: Front Porch where it is drizzly
- Smoking: Jokerz
What I’m listening to:
Did I cry?
nop
Thoughts while reading (could be about the book, could not):
See? I’m obsessed with this dang soundtrack. Here’s my view:
Let’s read.
Wait, I have something to say first.
An interesting thing I’ve noticed about reading books I’ve read repeatedly is that no matter where I stop, I have no trouble picking back up. I know Maeve Binchy’s stories so well that I’m instantly transported back to the moment I stopped reading.
I do not have the same experience with this book, but I don’t fault the author. This is simply a Jacki brain defect which I navigate by reading back a few pages to get caught up.
It doesn’t take very long to get me sucked back into the story, though, which is the mark of a great writer.
ok brb reading (not birb related – this is, though.)
Just popping in to say that the dialogue in this book is fantastic. Dialogue is one of the most essential parts of storytelling to me, so it warms my heart when someone new is excellent at it.
I could feel the conversations volleying back and forth like a tennis match… or else I’m just listening to Challengers too much.
I am very proud of myself that I haven’t rewatched it yet.
Back to the book – Dotty is a full, complete character more than the others in a way I can’t explain. It’s like the author has a deep knowing of her and knows exactly what to do with the character in all aspects. Dotty is sure of herself and the SW (the author) is sure of Dotty.
I dig it.
There is a lovely balance to this story that I hope carries throughout.
As I am reading, I’m getting the vibe that the climax of this book will take place at the annual festival and I am looking so much forward to it.
I love a good festival. They’re good chaos, and often see a community at their surface best, but underneath they are near their worst.
This is all unfolding very nicely.
At this point, I have a loose theory on the murder, but I don’t want to say it here in case it is right.
Like, this one time, on Christmas Day, Mickey and I went to the movies to see The Hateful Eight on opening weekend on 35 millimeter. It was fantastic and we were all buzzy as we were walking out.
There was a long line of people waiting to see The Force Awakens, which we had not seen yet. Mickey says to me in passing, a little louder than normal, “Oh man, too bad that Han Solo died.” and just kept walking.
Then, when we finally saw The Force Awakens, we found out that Mickey accidentally spoiler alerted ourselves part of a line of people waiting for the movie.
Oops.
So I don’t want to do that to y’all.
New birds heard:
Too much rain noise for birbs, y’all.
