Sunday, February 8, 2009

One book meme

I came across this at Reeling and Writhing. Hello Genevieve, whoever you are! :)

When I was pregnant with Lillian I found myself with a lot more time and enthusiasm for reading. It was probably procrastination since I wasn't writing a piece at the time. I love to read. My husband loves to buy me books; they don't always appeal to me but I've come across a few gems recently, and not-so-recently.

If this meme appeals to you, consider yourself tagged. And let me know, I'd love some recommendations.

One book you’re currently reading: Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited. My sister gave it to me for Christmas and I'm hooked. Saw snippets of the BBC series with Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews on ABC2 recently but I'd like to see the whole thing.

One book that changed your life: Goodness, so many! I was impressed with Alex Haley, Roots, which I read when I was in high school. A few years ago Anne Manne, Motherhood, really made me re-think so many things. Jane Austen, Persuasion, is one of the best books of all time.

One book you’d want on a desert island: Hmn, tricky. Maybe Pride and Prejudice?

One book you’ve read more than once: Pride and Prejudice. What can I say? I love Jane Austen.

One book you’ve never been able to finish: Arundhati Roy, The God Of Small Things. I just didn't get it. Also George Eliot, Mill on the Floss, but I'll give that another go.

One book that made you laugh: Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones, the Edge of Reason. Laughed till I cried. The films are not nearly as good as the two BJ books.

One book that made you cry: Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, The Nanny Diaries. I was a weeping mess at the end, and turned back to page one and started again. Great book.

One book you keep rereading: None, really. I do enjoy certain parenting books and go back to them when I feel like I need a refresher. Diane Levy, Of Course I Love You, Now Go To Your Room is my favourite and works every time. (Can I add Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion here too??)

One book you’ve been meaning to read: So many! I have a pile of books to get through, that were given to me as gifts over the past year but in the madness of having two young children and a large piece to write, the year slipped by (as did the summer break). *sigh* Here they are:
Nick Hornby, A Long Way Down
Michael Chabon, The Yiddish Policeman's Union
John Honey, Strings
David Malouf, Every Move You Make
Oliver Sacks, Musicophilia
I did manage to read Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and thought it was brilliant.

One book you believe everyone should read: Musicians should read Blair Tindall, Mozart in the Jungle. It's a searingly honest inside look at the world of classical music, and how things really work - how it's so difficult to make a living, why some people get gigs and others don't, no matter how good they are. Fascinating and somewhat depressing. If you're not willing to do what it takes to make it to the top, don't bother going into classical music. Food for thought.

Also, Li Cunxin, Mao's Last Dancer. Fascinating, riveting, heartbreaking, warm and wonderful. I definitely recommend it.

ETA: The Bridget Jones books are read aloud by Tracie Bennett as audio books - hilarious.

6 comments:

genevieve said...

Hallo Marian!
glad you liked it. It comes from a WA academic librarian whose blog I really enjoy, Constance Wiebrand.

That book about the classical music employment jungle sounds like a must- read - there are trumpeters in my family, I will read it in order to give some background to what I hear from them. It is a grisly occupation (you may know one of them, she played with TSO a few times about ten years ago, she was imported from the mainland occasionally. Ridiculous.)
I will have to chase up the original BJs too. I rather like the first film, if only for Colin and Hugh fighting so wimpily in the street at the end.

genevieve said...

oh dear, I mean Maria. SORRY.

Maria said...

It is indeed a grisly occupation. You'd certainly enjoy the book. Just so glad I'm not a performer, although composers have even less career opportunities.

The BJ books are absolutely gut-wrenchingly funny. I love Colin Firth in anything at all, and Hugh isn't so bad either - but once you've read the books the movies are so disappointing. I've also heard the books read aloud by Tracie Bennett - even funnier. Highly recommended.

http://www.audible.com/adbl/entry/offers/productPromo2.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1478807525.1234176231@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadeghdljfjfcefecekjdffidfij.0&productID=BK_RAND_000121

sharyn said...

hi Maria, if you liked the nanny diaries & the bridget jones books, you should try The Bride stripped bare (slightly racy but very well written.) Am also finding What to expect in the first year and kaz cooke's kidwrangling highly amusing/useful. Good luck at the con! sharyn http://burbsville.blogspot.com/

genevieve said...

Ooh, thanks for that.

Dani said...

We have such similar tastes in reading fodder Maria. Great meme, it's going up in KP land tonight as I have no culinary inspiration : )

word verification - wringcr - much like what I feel I've been through this week