Monday, April 8, 2013

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

So I finished Wide Sargasso Sea which I... did not like. Author Jean Rhys means to tell the story of Antoinette Mason, the woman married to Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre- her childhood, the early days of their marriage, and the reasons he locks her in the attic. It probably stands alone OK but for me it's impossible to imagine it without having read Jane.  I don't read Jane as realistic fiction- I see it as a fairy tale- so I can't get myself worked up over the "injustice" of her situation. Therefore going into detail about how awful Rochester is and how pitiable and wronged she is doesn't really work for me. It's a book I've meant to read for a long time, and I'm glad I did, but I'll move on now!

I'm still working on Sisterland, by Curtis Sittenfeld, and I started reading The Jasmine Isle, by Ioanna Karystiani, a tragic love story set in early 20th century Greece. I'm enjoying it but it's a slow read, written in a very loose and impressionist style that you have to follow closely. In other words it's not a light book but worth the time you put into it. Karystiani has a new book out, Back to Delphi, which is my piles too. I also started Serve the People! by Yan Lianke, a satire set in China at the height of the cult of Mao, about a dutiful functionary who has an affair with his superior's wife. It's fun.

What are you reading? Check out BookJourney.wordpress.com for more.

6 comments:

Mystica said...

Some of the slow reads get really interesting midway. Its happening to me with my current read. It was very difficult to get into at the beginning.

caite said...

I have always meant to read Wide Sargasso Sea..but now I am not in a big rush.

bermudaonion said...

The cover of The Jasmine Ilse seems to fit the writing style you described.

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I always love to see what you are reading. Thanks for your thoughts about Wide Sargasso Sea. I'm drawing a big line through it in my mind.

As the Crowe Flies and Reads said...

I'm with you on The Wide Sargasso Sea. While I still think conceptually that it's a great idea, the book itself, particularly the writing, didn't live up to my expectations.

Good to see you last night--I'm so bummed that we arrived late because of the traffic. You going to any other dinners this month?

Anonymous said...

I didn't care for Wide Sargasso Sea either. Still love Rochester and Jane though :)