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A review by cherylanntownsend
So Many Books, So Little Time: A Year of Passionate Reading by Sara Nelson
4.0
With a mission to read a book a week, which to many is no big feat, the author selects from her massive piles of ARC’s (she does book reviews) TBR piles and what’s new temptings. She does have a family and job that adds a bit of diversion to her goal, but fully intends to work around that.
A little background into her family, marriage, book selecting makes it less of a Goodreads profile page and more biographical, hence, more enjoyable. Selective trashing, tho not ruthlessly, of her DNF’s or DNevenS, give me solace. Then her raves, well, often give me pause. Goose and gander, I suppose.
I liked the chapter on Anna Karenina & Madame Bovary, where she likens her reading to adultery... sneaking off for relationships with her characters. I sometimes feel that way. These are MY friends, don’t interfere!
The chapters are short, referring to one or more book, relating to their relevance to that time in her life, her family, her work. Often, the very selection is based on such. (Ditto!) I could not read Rowling’s “The Casual Vacancy” given my husband just suffered a severe brain bleed and subsequent stroke. So, yes, the book choice echoes the mood.
It’s a fun read that allowed me to feel more normal in my reading habits. Tho I am not on a review payroll for any magazine, I do, nonetheless, get my share of ARC’s. I do still have a substantial stack of such from my years of having a bookstore. This was one such book. The haphazard method of selecting this week’s book is akin to what’s for dinner. Look in the fridge or cupboard and find something tasty. Next to my bed is a metaphor for exactly that.
So surprised to see so many books I had never heard of, but that’s just another plus to this book... several have been added to my TBR list.
A little background into her family, marriage, book selecting makes it less of a Goodreads profile page and more biographical, hence, more enjoyable. Selective trashing, tho not ruthlessly, of her DNF’s or DNevenS, give me solace. Then her raves, well, often give me pause. Goose and gander, I suppose.
I liked the chapter on Anna Karenina & Madame Bovary, where she likens her reading to adultery... sneaking off for relationships with her characters. I sometimes feel that way. These are MY friends, don’t interfere!
The chapters are short, referring to one or more book, relating to their relevance to that time in her life, her family, her work. Often, the very selection is based on such. (Ditto!) I could not read Rowling’s “The Casual Vacancy” given my husband just suffered a severe brain bleed and subsequent stroke. So, yes, the book choice echoes the mood.
It’s a fun read that allowed me to feel more normal in my reading habits. Tho I am not on a review payroll for any magazine, I do, nonetheless, get my share of ARC’s. I do still have a substantial stack of such from my years of having a bookstore. This was one such book. The haphazard method of selecting this week’s book is akin to what’s for dinner. Look in the fridge or cupboard and find something tasty. Next to my bed is a metaphor for exactly that.
So surprised to see so many books I had never heard of, but that’s just another plus to this book... several have been added to my TBR list.