The novel I’m reading is an unsolicited copy of Juhea Kim’s City of Night Birds sent to me for review but I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it. It’s set in St Petersburg against the backdrop of the intensely competitive ballet world and follows a prima ballerina whose career has been scuppered by an injury. It seemed worth a try given how much I loved Meg Howrey’s They’re Going to Love You but I’m not gripped by it.
The short story collection I’ve just started is Kevin Barry’s Dark Lies the Island chosen because I loved That Old Country Music and if the first story is anything to go be I won’t to be disappointed. Across the Rooftops sees a young man, at the end of a long night partying, overthinking his approach to the woman he longs for. Barry draws out the tension capturing the discomfiting awkwardness of a missed opportunity.
The non-fiction book I’m reading is Edward Chisholm’s A Waiter in Paris which, a bit like Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential, is making me a little queasy about eating out. Chisholm was determined to make some sort of life for himself in Paris despite being broke, close to homeless, knowing no one and with very little French. He managed to wangle a job in a bistro as a runner (busboy/dogsbody) beholden to just about everybody and with no idea what he’s supposed to do. An eye-opener for anyone who thinks things have moved on from Down and Out in Paris and London.
What about you? What are you reading?
I really like this snapshot format! I’m a sucker for anything to do with ballet (also loved both Howrey’s ballet novels) so I’m drawn to City of Night Birds for that reason alone.
Glad to hear that! City of Night Birds feels a bit plodding although I’ve had lots of interruptions which isn’t helping.
You’re very disciplined, reading one of each every month. I haven’t read a short story in a while, but my last two fictions have been a success: Stephen May’s Green Ink, and Alba de Céspedes’ Forbidden Notebook. After my break in Spain I’ve just got back to Patrick Bringley’s All the Beauty in the World, about his being a museum attendant at NY Metropolitan Museum of Art, which I’m enjoying enormously. A Waiter in Paris sounds horribly Orwellian. Kevin Barry is always reliable and seems more my cup of tea: no story about ballet, my least enjoyed art form is going to hook me in, so I’ll give that a miss.
Years of reading for work! I have the May on my list but not Forbidden Notebook which I’ll add. I loved the Bringley – one of those books I was sad to finish. The Chisholm is a bit of an eye-opener,
I have seen Chisholm’s book reviewed elsewhere. I worked in the catering industry years ago and have seen lots I could write about too! That it’s set in Paris makes it more appealing. I bought Orwell’s book recently and aim to read when I head to Paris again this year. I am only managing one book at at a time. Just finished the classic The Princess of 72nd Street, a cult classic apparently. Then moved onto another intense read Liars, halfway through!
It might put you off Parisian restaurants! Not an easy sector in which to work, I’m sure. Liars is definitely an intense read.
Ah, I loved A Waiter in Paris, very Orwellian indeed!
He certainly has gumption!
I’ve seen A Waiter in Paris around, too, it does look appealing yet unappealing … I am currently reading Jamaica Road by Lisa Smith, set in 1980s South London with a British-born narrator befriending a Jamaican boy who doesn’t have his papers yet – I can only see heartbreak ahead; and Walking the Bones of Britain by Christopher Somerville which is about the geology of the British isles as seen through walks from the north-west of Scotland to Essex and is book 3 in my 20 Books of Summer.
Both of those sound interesting, particularly the Somerville.
I want to read more Kevin Barry, so good to hear the collection is looking promising so far!
He writes so well. I’ll be looking out more by him when I finish this one.
I love that Barry collection and the Chishom really appeals. I love behind-the-scenes in a restaurant!
Isn’t it great? I’m several stories in, now, and so enjoying it. This Chisholm is great.
Decided I should read my first Virginia Woolf. Mrs Dalloway was apparently the most accessible so I am ploughing through that. Yes ploughing! Sometimes I like it and sometimes I wonder what on earth she is going on about. Onwards I will go.
That’s the only one I can say I enjoyed so you may want to leave it at that!
I’ve always been a book at a time sort of reader, and the one I’m reading at present is The Narrow Land by Christine Dwyer Hickey. Although I’m only 70 pages in, I’m loving it. I’ve already read Our London Lives, so it’s a big thumbs up to you for bringing this wonderful writer to my attention.
I couldn’t be more pleased to hear that, Wendy! She doesn’t get nearly the attention she deserves.
I enjoyed a Waiter in Paris, but yes – it does put you off eating out…
Although I’m sure we’re both nice to waiters!
I’m always on the lookout for a new/good ballet novel, but here’s hoping that one picks up for you. I have an ILL headed my way (due to arrive this weekend) of a collection of short stories by an(other) Irish writer you recommended: I’m looking forward to that!
It was a DNF, I’m afraid. Over a hundred pages in and my attention wouldn’t stick withit. That’s intriguing. Who could it be?
We find ballet boring and ballet books even more so. So we didn’t read this book. But we liked the Orwellian waiter book.
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
I’ve given the ballet novel up but I’m still in Paris with the waiter!
Enjoy Paris
I like the sound of Kevin Barry’s short story collection as I loved The Heart in Winter & he gave a brilliantly energetic reading of an excerpt from that book at the Walter Scott Prize ceremony.
I remember how much you enjoyed The Heart in Winter, Cathy. I’m several stories into the collection now and enjoying it very much.