It’s the middle of the week and time for me to check in on my reading.
This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.
The Three Ws are:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
Easy enough, right?
What are you currently reading?
I’m reading Cover Blown by Ian Robinson—hot off the press—and am listening to Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan, Madeleine Maby (Narrator) on audiobook—something I’ve been meaning to read for 2-3 years.
What did you recently finish reading?
I just finished Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club—a charming and clever novel—and Smoke Bitten by Patricia Briggs, Lorelei King (Narrator) on audio.
What do you think you’ll read next?
In a very strange confluence of schedules, Seanan McGuire’s two bigger series are next on my lists—next up are her Calculated Risks and The Unkindest Tide (Narrated by Robinette Kowal) as I almost complete my trip through the Toby Daye audiobooks. Thankfully those series don’t feel like they’re written by the same person, so I’m not going to have a problem (I think).
What are you reading?
Allyson Johnson
Just finished reading “The Odyssey” (Fagles translation – fantastic!) in tandem with Daniel Mendelsohn’s “An Odyssey: A Father, a Son, and an Epic.” If you have never read “The Odyssey” and aren’t in a class, Mendelsohn’s book is an excellent guide to the epic, as well as being a moving memoir about his often troubled relationship with his father. A perfect pairing.
I also just finished the Margaret Atwood twist on “The Odyssey” – “The Penelopiad.” This tells the story from the point of view of Odysseus’s long-suffering wife, Penelope. A fun read after the other two.
I am currently reading “The Color of Law”, which details how local and state governments flouted legislation designed to integrate neighborhoods in the 40’s and 50’s – a very depressing read, especially as many of the horrible examples are in places I have lived or am living.
Also re-reading Dorothy Sayre’s “Murder Must Advertise” – Lord Peter Wimsey is always a treat, especially when working undercover as Death Bredon.
Next planning to read…. no plan. Have to see what jumps out at me from my bookcase of TBRs, or one of the local Little Free Libraries.
HCNewton
I really should re-read Homer without all the distractions of academics, and yeah Mendelsohn’s book sounds like a great companion through the Odessey.
Sayers has been on my “should get around to” list for ages (probably shortly after I read Homer). Haven’t read anything but her stuff about education and Creed or Chaos, which is probably pretty different than Wimsey. What’s a good into book for those? Start with the first? Or get grounded in another one and then work through the back catalog?
Allyson Johnson
Yes, I would recommend the first volume in the Wimsey series, Clouds of Witness. introduces the Wimsey family with a lot of background which allows much more enjoyment of the following volumes.
A friend of mine suggested that as I was on a Homeric roll I should finish off with James Joyce’s “Ulysses”. Now THAT would be a challenge!
HCNewton
Thanks for the tip, will do!
Maybe Fagles did a translation of Joyce’s Ulysses, which might as well have been written in Ancient Greek 🙂