Litchfield Independent Review
July 16, 2015 Edition
News from the Litchfield Library
By Jan Pease
Sometimes I like to peek into my book bag and share what
is there, just in case anyone wonders what I’m reading in my spare time. My book bag has gone digital, which is a good
thing because I have entirely too many books in my “library.”
I’m reading “Seveneves,” by Neal Stephenson.
This is an epic sci-fi story with excellent world-building. Mr. Stephenson puts the entire human race to
death except for a handful of survivors, who just happen to be able to tinker
with genetics. He jumps ahead to 5000
years in the future, when seven races each have their own distinct languages,
customs, culture, and appearance. I’m
not done with this one yet, but I’m 600 some pages into it and still
interested.
“Why I don’t Write Children’s Literature,” by Gary Soto,
is a collection of his essays on life in general. The essay mentioned in the title is darkly
funny, and shows that Mr. Soto could and probably should write for younger readers.
“Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell,” by Susannah Clarke,
is another long, long fantasy novel. 800
some pages, in fact, but I want to read it because I’ve been watching a series
based on this book on BBC. Two magicians begin as teacher and apprentice,
and become rivals as they use magic to help England win the war against
France.
“Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner
& Saint,” by
Nadia Bolz-Weber, is an interesting
read. I don’t see eye to eye with everything
the author writes, but she intrigues me because she was raised in the same
conservative denomination in which I was raised. Now a Lutheran pastor and founder of a church,
her faith is profound; so is her profanity.
The book I should be reading is “Letters
to a Spiritual Seeker,” by Henry David Thoreau.
My book club is meeting on July 19th at Main Street Café, so
I have to do some fast reading. This is
a collection of letters written by Mr. Thoreau to Harrison Blake about 100
years ago. I would have found it
interesting to read Mr. Blake’s letters in response, as it's been like experiencing
one half of a conversation. I’m finding
it slow-going, but I’m sure that I need to read this collection of Mr. Blake’s
mail.
A friend recommended “Ghost Boy: The Miraculous Escape of a Misdiagnosed Boy Trapped Inside His Own Body,” by Martin Pistorius. Mr. Pistorius was mentally completely alert and trapped in his own completely unresponsive body. His parents never gave up on him and his world opened up when he was able to communicate by using a computer. He is now married, living in the UK, and owns his own business. Let me never, ever complain about my life after reading this memoir.
What’s in your book bag this summer?
