This month’s snapshot includes the follow-up to a novel I read well over twenty years ago, a short story collection popular with bloggers a while back and an 
The novel I’m reading is Michael Bracewell’s Unfinished Business, a sequel of sorts to The Conclave which I read when it was published in the early ’90s. It picks up the story of Martin Knight, now late middle-aged and in ill health, whose grand dreams and glossy marriage have come to nothing. I’m only a few chapters in but I’m enjoying the acute social observation that impressed me in The Conclave.
The short story collection I’m reading is Deesha Philyaw’s The Secret Lives of Church Ladies which explores love, desire and sometimes disappointment in the lives of Black women who’ve chosen to go their own way, often with a wry humour. I’ve just picked it up again after coming back from holiday and I’m wondering why I didn’t take it with me.
What about you? What are you reading?
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Wow. Laing’s garden is beautiful! I do like her writing.
Isn’t it gorgeous! She writes beautifully. I’ve just finished a section about Modern Nature which has reminded me of visiting Derek Jarman’s garden.
I have read one of Laing’s fiction books. Her garden looks beautiful, not overly cultivated. Haven’t heard of the writer Bracewell before. I just finished Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively, and loved it. It’s very smart and also moving. Just started reading non-fiction in form of Arundhati Roy’s Mother Mary Comes to Me. I am really enjoying it. I love her forthright descriptions of growing up with a difficult mother. Still reading Oliver’s Upstream essays. And Durcan’s poetry anthology. And loads of articles on Substack.
It’s very relaxed planting, isn’t it. I much prefer that to meticulously groomed gardens. That sounds like a great range of reading, Lucy. I must get into Substack more.
Interesting choices. I just loved The Correspondent by Virginia Evans and How to Read a Book by Monica Wood. Check out my blog http://www.motownsavvy.com for an interesting suggestion.
Both new to me but I like the look of them. Thanks for the link. I’ll check it out.
I haven’t read these.
Last #book I finished: Tout ce qui est sur terre doit périr, by #MichelBussi
#Amreading: West Wind, by #MaryOliver
#Amlistening to: The Accident (from The Listerdale Mystery), by #AgathaChristie
#TBR Reading next: The Iron Heel, by #JackLondon
You’re ranging far and wide!
This sounds like a nice, relaxing assortment of books! It’s fun, isn’t it, to read something related to a past favorite? Right now I’m still embarked on my Booker long list slog. It’s been interesting (loved Flashlight & Land in Winter, along with the Rest of Our Lives) but somehow my heart really isn’t into this year. I may just chuck it and revisit some of my old comfort reads!
It is, although I’m always a little wary when I’ve very much enjoyed the first book.
Not such a bad idea although I’m glad you enjoyed The Land in Winter which was on my wishlist. I’ve yet to get to Flashlight but it’s the one I’m most keen to read. My favourite from the longlist was Seascraper. Highly recommend it.
I am reading Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser. A student teacher read to my class from Little House on the Prairie in the 1960s, I went on to read all the books and loved them. Prairie Fires is very interesting but a bit of a slog. I’ve requested The Secret Life of Church Ladies as I enjoy short story collections, are there any others you would recommend?
Sorry to hear that the Fraser is heavy going. I hope you enjoy Church Ladies. A few short story favourites for me are Penelope Lively’s Metamorphoses, Ben Shattuck’s The History of Sound and Jhumpa Lahiri’s Roman Stories, also Katherine Heiny’s Games and Rituals.
Thanks for these. I’ve already read Games and Rituals but I’ll certainly check out the others.
You’re welcome, Wendy! I hope you find something you enjoy. I’m quite a late convert to short stories.
Nice set of books – I like the sound of The Garden Against Time in particular. I’m reading The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann at the moment.
I’d recommend it. Laing writes so well. How are you getting on with the Mann?
The Laing sounds wonderful – I’m, off to explore her garden, thank you for the link!
You’re welcome! It’s gorgeous
I really like this snapshot post style!
Thank you! It makes me think about books I’m not intending to review in depth.
I recently read Wendy Erskine’s The Benefactors and loved it so I sent off for her collections of short stories , Sweet Home and Dance Moves. Just finished Sweet Home, the stories are absolutely outstanding, can’t recommend them highly enough.
Ah, you’re preaching to the converted! I love her writing. I really wanted to see The Benefactors on the Booker list.
I love Philya’s stories. She has an excellent podcast about short fiction too!
I was very taken with the Church Ladies. Some very enjoyable dry humour running through it.