Recently I've been really struggling with writing reviews. The words either don't come or, if they do, they don't make any sense to me so it's even less likely that they'd make sense to you. My pile of books to review is threatening to topple and flatten me at the moment, but I'm loathe to just push them aside and start writing reviews again when I'm able because they're SO GOOD. Over the last couple of months I have completely fallen back in love with reading. Not that I ever fell out of love with it, but rather it felt like we'd been married for fifty years and, although the love is all there, we were so used to each other it didn't feel exciting any more. I don't know if it's because I've made more time for reading or because I seem to have stumbled upon some truly wonderful books, but recently that all-consuming passion for books has returned. I'm loving it. Yet I can't seem to share it. So, for a little while at least, my reviews are going to look a little different. I hope you enjoy them even if they are short and sweet.
The Rector's Daughter by Flora MacDonald Mayor
1924
'On the whole she was happy. She did not question the destiny life brought her. People spoke pityingly of her, but she did not feel she required pity.'
'The tempests of life can die down as though they had never been.'
'Life is meant for experience; that's the thing that counts.'
In Three Words: compelling, sorrowful, unexpected
Read this review by Book Snob (basically everything I want to say put so eloquently)
I have Susan Hill's Howards End is on the Landing to thank for the recommendation. Shortly after reading Hill's literary memoir I stumbled upon this lovely second hand edition at the Southbank Book Market and knew I had to have it. I love serendipity.
Have you read this neglected classic?
I have a toppling pile of books to review too! I am tearing through books at a much faster pace than usual which has lead to the back up. Changing up the format and doing shorter reviews is a great idea -- sometimes I think I'll do that and then I find I can't shut up about the book after all, lol I used to have the opposite problem -- having absolutely nothing to write about until I finished my current read -- I'm not sure which scenario is more troublesome... Glad to hear you're in your reading groove though -- that's always a good thing!
ReplyDeleteNever heard of it or her I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteOh, BTW there's another non-fiction WW1 book (naval warfare this time) being reviewed on my Blog on Thursday.
I love your introductory paragraph here - I'm tempted to print it out and stick it in my notebook.
ReplyDeleteI'm hugely behind on reviews too, but I've come to terms with that and it's okay. It really started to bother me last year, to the point where I didn't want to read anything because it'd just mean something else to review.
You're a reader first and a reviewer second! Enjoy your love of reading and post however/whenever you want to :)
*whispers* You know why I think I'M enjoying books so much at the moment? BECAUSE I'M NOT REVIEWING THEM PROPERLY. I've been writing those end-of-month mini reviews that worked so well during The Depression Months, and that's still enough for me at the moment. I know if I read teeny reviews like mine (and yours!) I still pretty much know at the end of each one whether I'm going to look out for that book or not, so... they're still doing the job, y'know? And I'm falling back into reading with massive enthusiasm knowing I won't have to write an essay at the end of each one. I'm not getting as distracted WHILE I'm reading either, constantly thinking, "Oooh, must mention this theme in my review" or "must note down this page number for a quote". It's been very refreshing to just KEEP READING. I haven't done this not-reviewing thing since before I joined LibraryThing - over seven years ago - so it's been a bit of a revelation!
ReplyDeleteThe short version: do whatever makes YOU happy. If the 'sharing' part is going to drag down your reading, keep it short and sweet like this instead. The reading's the most fun part, and that will still translate whether your review is 3 lines or 30... :)