Embarassment of riches
I have a huge stack of books to read, and I don't really know where to begin. Here's the list:
- The Orientalist, by Tom Reiss. A biography of Lev Nussimbaum, "a Jew who transformed homself into a Muslim prince in Nazi Germany." I like biographies about eccentrics, and this seems to fit the bill.
- Don Quixote, the relatively new translation by Edith Grossman. I've never read this, and feel like it's about time. And I'm kind of fascinated by any book that is the sole etymological source for a word, especially one as cool as "quixotic."
- Birds of a Feather, by Jacqueline Winspeare. The second installment in the Maisie Dobbs series. Should be fun.
- Sister Pelagia and the White Bulldog, by Boris Akunin. I've liked his other mysteries quite a bit, and this seems to be a new series. This is an advance copy I got from the store, due to be published in January. God, do I feel cool. (And that makes me such a dork, but I don't care.)
- The Color of a Dog Running Away, by Richard Gwyn. Another galley, due to be published in March. I don't know anything about this, really, but it looked interesting. Historical thriller, adventure, etc.
- Neruda: Selected Poems. I love Pablo Neruda. I can open any page, read a few lines, and I feel it catch in my chest, soft claws dragging through my heart. Pure, arresting emotion. Beautiful.
I think I have a few more galleys floating around, too. I think a temporary moratorium on books is in order.
Posted by thevieve at October 17, 2006 5:39 PM