This month I’m reading a short story collection by a novelist I’ve had a slightly patchy experience with, a memoir combining travel and food – two of my favourite things besides reading – and a prize-winning novel I’d hoped to enjoy more than I am.
The short story collection I’m reading is Tessa Hadley’s After the Funeral which I picked up having enjoyed her first novella, The Party, much more than her full-length fiction. It’s off to a promising start with the dark titular piece about the fraught relationship between two daughters and their mother after their father’s sudden death.
The non-fiction book I’m reading is Caroline Eden’s Cold Kitchen which has already taken me to Uzbekistan, introducing me to winter melons, then on a six-day train journey across Russia which sees Eden eating Russian hand pies, before consuming copious amounts of pork fat and vodka with her compartment mates. Trying not to race through this one.
What about you? What are you reading?
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Well, I’ve reserved the Eden at the library, but decline to order any more fiction for a while because … well, you know the reason. So the builders are still at it? You must be having the house re-built!
I do, indeed. The Eden’s a real treat. It’s been three weeks – we’re on the final couple of days I’m Pleased to say.
Having any kind of workmen in the house is sure to be disturbing. Even if they’re quiet, tidy and considerate you still know they’re there
It’s like being invaded. You sound as though you speak from experience!
Interesting selection. I’m still reading Yesteryear – I am in the like it camp but have struggled to find time to read over the past few weeks. Hoping that will change now
One of the most talked about titles in my part of the blogosphere this year. I’m glad you’re enjoying it, and fingers crossed for better reading time.
I looked at the cover of the Hadley thinking it was familiar… I haven’t read it but I do have Seasonal Associate by Heike Geissler in my reading stack that curiously uses the same photograph!
I see what you mean. It’s almost as if they’ve lifted the image and stuck it on a cream background.
I empathise with builders in the house being not conducive to concentrating on reading. I find it very distracting to have workmen in my home. I hope you either get into it or find another book that is more engaging soon.
I hadn’t heard of Caroline Eden but I very much like the sound of Cold Kitchen – excellent vicarious travel via the pages of a book! My library does not have it but I have reserved Eden’s Green Mountains.
Not easy, is it, but we’re on the last few days so concentration should return, at least I hope so.
Cold Kitchen is a superb combination of food and travel. I’d be interested to hear what you think of Green Mountains. Adding it to my list.