Shame on me for not reading enough this month. I’ll say that from the outset. But perhaps I can be excused because I spent most of the month reading (and memorizing!) this:
…because the production I am in of Spelling Bee goes up November 1.
The World’s Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette’s, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family
I heard this author, Josh Hanagarne, on my favorite radio show over the summer. He has a powerful story: moderate-to-severe Tourette’s, raised a Mormon but no longer practicing, involved in competetive weightlifting and passionate about working as a librarian. The problem with this book was that he covered all of those angles in one memoir, which resulted in it being all over the map.
Despite this criticism, I enjoyed reading the book. His conversational, casual style borders on the immediately-irrelevant, but made for a quick, engaged read.
(Here is where I admit that I actually read this in September and forgot to include it last month.)
Bossypants
Tina Fey is marvelous and I squeal inside every time someone points out our similarities.
Like the previous book, Fey’s memoir often indulges in pop culture references that make me wonder “will anyone understand this book 10 years from now?” But it also is laugh-out-loud funny and manifests the warmth and affection that Fey feels toward people in her life.
In addition to our obvious similarities (dark hair, glasses, wry humor) there were a few others that I found in this book that shocks me. For instance, she compares her lack of attraction to pets to the experience of people on the autism spectrum: you know everyone else is feeling something, but you don’t feel it and you are made to feel as if you should. I have often made that same comparison (though I never said it out loud because I didn’t want to seem as if I was trivializing the autism spectrum, which perhaps I still am by offering this example. Sorry.)
I’m still working my way through Living By Faith, Dwelling in Doubt
What did you read in October?
I’m not reading enough either, but I have read Living By Faith, Dwelling in Doubt – and I loved it. Bossypants was on my summer reading list and I could not stop laughing!
Much of October was devoted to reading the many pages of Under the Dome by Stephen King. I had started watching the TV program in the summer, but bailed on it. I decided that after 5 years of hard core theology reading and no shortage of other faith books, that I needed to get out of the box, so Bossy Pants and UTD were my route. I wish that I could tell you that I loved Under the Dome, but I did not. It was OK, great themes, but so long to express.
Now I am reading Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann – so far, interesting and quirky!
I just finished The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey. I have never had a book slow me down and bring my mind and heart to focus as this one has. It’s a very small little book, as it should be given its content and its spirit, but it is one I know I will keep and read again and again when I get caught up in activity and worry and take myself, my health, and the world around me for granted.