The other thing that made me OK with the lack of new books was that I had a big old book to savor and enjoy, and I could really devote a lot of attention to it.
Which was good, it needed a lot of attention... (much like the man to whom the book was devoted!)
The book in question was Too Brief a Treat: The Letters of Truman Capote, edited by Gerald Clarke.
And it's a big old honking behemoth of a tome, weighing in at just under two pounds!
Clarke is the author of a very highly regarded biography of Capote, which I would enjoy reading. I'm putting it on the list.I'm very glad that I read this book, but I am not sure that I would recommend that you drop everything else and go read it. It was a very unusual read: it managed to be both wildly interesting and yet somewhat dry at the same time. I know that that sounds strange, but I can't think of a better way to put it.
Capote was a shameless, shameless name dropper (which didn't surprise me at all) and seem to catch the crabs fairly frequently (which did - see, it's the unexpected stuff that kept me reading!) He could, and did, turn ruthlessly on his acquaintances, but if you were a true friend, he would do anything, anything for you. In short, he was as fascinating as I had imagined, even if this collection of his letters grew a little wearisome at times.
I also snuck in a silly little read - Breakfast at Stephanie's, by Sue Margolis. A rather by-the-numbers, but inoffensive little British-chick-lit book.**
*Ack - we're already done with the fifth week of summer vacation? Where is it all going????
**Yes, you would be right in thinking that I read an inordinate amount of "chick-lit".
It's funny, I don't dislike the genre, but I don't have any real affection for it either. However, when Schecky was just a baby, I got to talking with one of the librarians at our branch library about "Bridget Jones". Turns out this librarian is the Queen of Chick-Lit, and whenever she reads a book and enjoys it, she sets it aside for me. That, to me, is such a thoughtful and lovely thing to do.
Plus, I really enjoy talking about the books with her once I've read them. So, whereas I don't have any real natural affinity for this genre, I have a genuine fondness for her. And if she's thoughtful enough to pull a book for me, I'm going to read it.
Besides, sometimes a fun, non-taxing read is just what the doctor ordered. And, BTW, I do think that Bridget was a smashingly enjoyable book.....
3 comments:
Have to agree with you about Bridget Jones -- I loved it. And the movie. Although I'm a big P&P fan and have a HUGE thing for Colin Firth. I go back and forth on chick lit. I've read some I love, but then there's all the rest, some of which is abysmal. Like anything else, I guess.
yeah, i'm not so into capote. after i read what he did to someone... can't recall who... i just wrote him off as not someone whose work i wanted to read. sounds like you need some good library juju. i'll send some your way and maybe next trip to the library you'll get your reserve books after all!
Was Breakfast at Tiffany's a Tivo pick or were you channeling a little extra Capote?
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