Finished, In Progress, and TBR

I've been busy lately and am trying now to catch up with my blog reading (and posting, I guess).

Finished Renfield (thanks, Chris, for this recommendation!) Will review soon, but if you are a fan of Bram Stoker's Dracula, this one should be on your list. An excellent R.I.P. Challenge book.

I've been reading more of Flannery O'Connor's letters (The Habit of Being: Letters of Flannery O'Connor) and am determined to finish this one before the end of the year. The letters retain their zest and with each return to them, after either brief or lengthy absences, O'Connor charms me anew. I've posted at least 10 times about these letters, and my book is full (FULL) of sticky notes and highlighting. I know that some of you cringe at highlighting and annotation, but this book will never leave my possession, and I need to be able to refer to some of the funny, humane, fascinating stuff that catches my attention. She flat-out amazes me and my admiration only grows each time I return to the book.

M.F.K. Fisher's The Art of Eating has been sidelined for a while. I'd rather eat than read about eating at the moment. As mentioned previously, this one is a long term project, nothing like the novels I (excuse the metaphor) gobble up.

Started The Lace Reader last night, and I'm enthralled. An ARC from Gary at Flap Jacket Press, I picked it up at random after finishing Renfield, because I didn't have the energy to think about choosing the next book to read, then found I couldn't put it down.

I received a copy of The Thirteenth Tale from Simon & Schuster, and since I'd read Diane Setterfield's wonderful novel last year and loved it, I passed it on to my sister-in-law. Hopefully, it will make its way through the teachers' lounge and gain wider prominence. As those of you who have read and enjoyed it know, the book is a delicious play on all of our favorite Gothic novels, from The Woman in White to Rebecca (and many others). I gave a short review here. My thanks to the folks at Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy so I could share the pleasure.

New books received from Anna at FSB: Definitive Guide to Cancer: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing (hopefully, only to be used because of an interest in the use of alternative and integrative medicine) and The Dead Guy Interviews: Conversations with 45 of the Most Accomplished, Notorious, and Deceased Personalities in History. The first one I expect to find both interesting and enlightening. The second, I think, may need to be taken in very small doses.

From Monica at Beacon Press: 60 On Up: The Truth About Aging in America. Well, of course, this one speaks to me! On the other hand, it may also have much to offer even to those who are nowhere close, but whose parents and grandparents fall into this category. As I have a little over a year left to go before reaching that marker, I am looking not only at my own entry into this group, but at my father, aunts, uncles, friends, and teachers who have reached the "on up" portion. Sobering.

This is hilarious. Found it at Basset Knitter.

Alice Wanted--

I've fallen in love with this print: Recruiting a New Alice. A Giclee print of an original work by Tiffany Electra X (tartx), it is reasonably priced and absolutely charming. I know it will appeal to a lot of you...need I even bother to mention names?
These eye pillows filled with organic lavender and flax are meant to provide "your eyes with a rejuvenating break"--sounds like just the thing for all of us readers.
I've picked up Flannery's letters again. How can I lose sight of how much I enjoy them? Now they are stationed near the back door, to be picked up when I take my "outside" breaks.

Bridge of Sighs (which I won over at Stefanie's) is still engrossing, both the story and writing.

More Flannery

In my last post I mentioned Dr. Sura Rath, a favorite professor, although I've not seen or talked to him in years. I decided to google Dr. Rath and have now placed his Flannery O'Connor: New Perspectives on my wish list, and as soon as I finish the current stack, I'm placing an order for at least 5 books on my wish list (I'm not sure how long that list is right now, it is just so easy to click "add" that I rarely give it much thought).

Here are some quotes I've posted before, straight from Miss Flannery's mouth:

"Everywhere I go I'm asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them."

"When I'm asked why Southern writers particularly have a penchant for writing about freaks, I say it's because we are still able to recognize one." Pure Flannery!

Here is a link to an earlier post with quotes from The Habit of Being. And a link to Susan's post with Flannery's comments on her reading influences.

I'm trying to decide on some "new to me" authors for The Unread Authors Challenge at Sycorax Pine; the authors may be new or used, as long as they have not been used by me. That sure leaves a lot of possibilities. I have to get this list in order because when I place my next Amazon order, some must fit this category. Or I may cheat and add something I already have, but have not yet read...

AND have you visited Miss Information lately? She entertains me no end, and I usually let her posts build up a little before paying a visit.

AND I think this is such a great idea. Many of us have remarked uponthe way covers can influence our initial interest in books, and Kerry has posted pictures of covers she likes with a warning not to take the fact that she's posted it as a recomendation.

AND can you tell that there are things I need to do (pack, practice, finish my sewing project, clean house, write the review for Echoes of Honor), but really don't want to? Displacement activity...

Hey, Maggie!

Maggie has found some of the language in Flannery O'Connor's stories distressing. This I understand full well, as O'Connor's fiction often makes me distinctly uncomfortable for several reasons. When my daughter fell in love with O'Connor's work, I was surprised, but decided to give O'Connor a go. With mixed results: appalled and admiring at one and the same time. Then I discovered that my much admired Dr. Rath was an O'Connor scholar...made another effort, and I did fall in love with Hulga and her wooden leg, but still found O'Connor's writing caused me great tension. And then I discovered her letters and almost immediately fell in love with the woman behind stories.


From Flannery's letters:


"I mortally and strongly defend the right of the artist to select a negative aspect of the world to portray and as the world gets more materialistic there will be much more to select from" (173).


After selling the rights to The Live You Save May Be Your Own to the General Electric Playhouse, she writes: "Mr. Shiflet and the idiot daughter will no doubt go off in a Chrysler and live happily ever after. Anyway, on account of this, I am buying my mother a new refrigerator. While they make hash out of my story, she and me will make ice in the new refrigerator" (174).


"At Emory they had a list of questions for me to answer and the first one was: Do you write from imagination or experience? My inclination at such a point is always to get deathly stupid and say, 'Ah jus writes'" (204).

"My parent took advantage of my absence to clean up my room and install revolting ruffled curtains. I can't put the dust back but I have ultimated that the curtains have got to go, lest they ruin my prose" (215).


One of Regina's (Flannery's mother) hired hands had taken the test for his driver's license numerous times and was tutored by Regina with gradually improving results: "...Wish to announce that Willie Shot Manson was granted license to drive by the State of Georgia in Sparta, Georgia on June 3 at 4:31 p.m. EST, 1957 A.D. I tell Ma she should send out engraved announcements..." (224).

An aunt had decided to finance a European tour for Flannery and Regina, and Flannery had worried about it in letters to several people, then "Here I am misinforming my dear friends a mile a minute. No I am not going to Rome nor nowhere else (except Missouri). The doctor as of yesterday says I can't go. You didn't know I had a DREAD DISEASE didja? Well I got one....I owe my existence and cheerful countenance to the pituitary glands of thousands of pigs butchered daily in Chicago Illinois at the Armour packing plant. If pigs wore garments I wouldn't be worthy to kiss the hems of them. They have been supporting my presence in this world for the last seven years. What you met here was a product of Artificial Energy" (266).

from the Letters of Flannery O'Connor: The Habit of Being

I'm only half way through this huge tome, but each time I sit down with Flannery, listen to Regina, visit Andalusia and Milledgeville, hear about her pea hens and Regina's farming difficulties and the escapades of the hired help--I enjoy every minute of the visit.

Trying Again

Fee brought home a laptop for me to use until my computer recovers. Will have to take mine in for a check up and, hopefully, will soon see improvement in performance. I'm kinda' liking this laptop, though.

I've finished a couple of books that need reviewing (still pondering Neuwirth's take on squatters and squatter cities)and am catching up some on Flannery O'Connor's letters, which continue to delight me. I love her courage and her sense of humor and will have to fish out a few more quotes to share.

I watched a squirrel calmly seated on a branch eating one of my sunflowers, and for the life of me, can't figure out why the squirrels have to eat both sunflowers AND tomatoes from my garden. Actually, he was just after the seeds on the sunflower, but had plucked the entire flower and used the petals as handles as he dined on the center.

Flannery, again

Found this great article by Flannery O'Connor via Maude Newton.

Just to add a little color. Most of my garden pictures are on my other blog, but since I don't have much to say right now, I'm adding this clematis, potato vine pic.

Reading, Gardening, Reading, Gardening

A very interesting article about biographies in the Boston Globe.

I'm well into Evil Genius, a YA novel, and after another good beginning, it has slowed down. The Axis Institute of Evil may be a bit much for me. Difficult to care for any of the characters.

Also started Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn. Looking like it is one of the lighter fantasies at the moment.

Still working on The Habit of Being and enjoying it. My admiration for O'Connor grows with each letter. Her terrible illness is seldom mentioned and even then, dismissively, as one might comment on a headache or allergies. No, I make a bigger deal of those than Flannery does of her difficulties.

Yesterday was a full-out garden day, with all 3 books stacked on the table on the patio for my frequent breaks.

A Little ...

More Flannery:

on religion: "The only force I believe in is prayer, and it is a force I apply with more doggedness than attention."

on Freud: "As to Sigmund, I am against him tooth and toenail but I am crafty: never deny, seldom confirm, always distinguish. Within his limitations I am ready to admit certain uses for him."

on reading her work aloud: "I do it whenever I go to Nashville or anytime anybody asks me, which is not often. Usually it works very well; however, the funnier the story, the straighter the face it should be read with and I am the kind who laughs heartily at my own jokes. This weekend I read the first story in the book and disgraced myself in this fashion."

Excerpts from The Habit of Being: Letters of Flannery O'Connor.

Your turn, Susan!

My disappointment in Avi's book may be related to the book that was, I think, a turning point in my reading career - The Secret Garden, which I read at about nine or ten, either the summer before or after the fourth grade. I was an avid reader early, but TSG whetted my appetite for more involved stories. From then on, I was not a hungry reader, but a voracious one. While not all books will capture our imaginations, it is important to have a book like TSG to turn young readers into lifetime readers.

Once Upon a Time...

Carl has posted his Challenge! I'm not sure which Quest (or Quests) I will pursue. The books I have in preparation are listed here, and I can't wait to dive in! Have one book to finish before starting (The Rossetti Letter) and will continue with Flannery O'Connor's The Habit of Being.

I'm combining the Once Upon a Time Challenge with Callapidder's
Spring Reading Thing.

O'Connor's Influences

I was going to use O'Connor's reading influences in tomorrow's post. However, Susan beat me to it, so go right here, right now and read which authors Flannery O'Connor read. (I still can't believe I almost included it in this evening's post and then found the exact section at Susan's --great minds?)

Very tired as...

I have spent nearly 12 hours today in the yard: weeding, trimming, cleaning up, planting a few marigolds for their lively color. Kept books outside for reading during my breaks, which became more and more frequent as my neck began bothering me. Nevertheless, I've accomplished a great deal and have two wheelbarrows full of junk for the trash people tomorrow. Old plastic pots, old stakes, tree trimmings, weeds. Lots and lots of weeds.

Turned again to The Habit of Being and during my breaks indulged in more letters. O'Connor received many "fan" letters:

to a man who had not read her stories: "[he] doesn't really see how I can say a good man is hard to find. he is an industrial engineer, likes to play bridge, is the active type, 31 years old, single etc. etc. I wrote Mr. Semple that I didn't think I'd like him a bit but he would be crazy about me as I had seven gold teeth and weighed 250 pounds." ("A Good Man Is Hard to Find" is one of her short stories)


on religion: "I believe that there are many rough beasts slouching toward Bethelem to be born and that I have reported the progress of a few of them, and when I see these stories described as horror stories I am always amused because the reviewer always has hold of the wrong horror."

and

"Dogma can in no way limit a limitless God.....For me a dogma is only a gateway to contemplation and is an intrument of freedom and not of restriction."

Her religion and the Catholic Church were paramount to O'Connor so reading some of her thoughts in the form of nonfiction is revealing.

New Books

Went to the library yesterday and picked up several mysteries, most of which are related to books or manuscripts. Started Blind Submission last night, and it is speeding along. When I stop and rest (yard work), I pick the book up and give it 10 more minutes, and since I read over half of it last night, should finish it tonight. Not great, but very tense, especially as I approach the conclusion.

Fee and I had a good discussion about Nelle Harper Lee and Flannery O'Connor last night, and he is itching to read a little O'Connor (I always recommend Good Country People) and the letters as well. He may simply want me to quit reading aloud to him. Who knows?

My neck hurts from planting and weeding. Have not done anything strenuous, but something about the way I hold my head always gives me problems in the spring.

Received an ARC from Harcourt's Children's Books Division yesterday (Thanks, Anna); perfect timing as it should fit into the fantasy challenge. Evil Genius (has not been released, but review is on Amazon.com) by Catherine Jinks is a nearly 500 page YA novel and looks quite interesting. Jinks has won the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award 3 times.

Flannery O'Connor...

was 23 in 1948 when she wrote the first letters in this book, and already in the process of writing Wise Blood. She won the Rhinehart-Iowa Fiction Award for a first novel, with the incomplete manuscript and was recommended for a place at Yaddo, where she worked for a few months with the likes of Robert Lowell. Pretty heady company!

The $750 prize from Rhinehart gave them the option to Wise Blood, but they weren't really pleased with it and suggested that O'Connor revise the parts of the novel that she felt were the strongest. She refused. That must have taken courage, don't you think? At 22-23 years old to stand up to a publishing company with that kind of confidence in her own work? She told John Selby that she would "listen to Rinehart criticism but that if it didn't suit me, I would disregard it."

In a letter to Paul Engle: "Selby and I came to the conclusion that I was 'prematurely arrogant.' I supplied the phrase."

That absolutely delighted me when I read it, and I highlighted and flagged it immediately because this book isn't going anywhere. This is one that will stay on the shelves all highlighted, flagged, and annotated. For me. (I know many of you don't mark your books, but I have a number of nonfiction books that I've marginalia'd to death.)

In 1951, she was reading "Dr. Johnson's Life of Dryden. Dryden 'embraced Popery' but Dr. Johnson is very lenient with him about it and says the measure of his sincerity was, he taught it (Popery) to his children..." That quote is to show Dorothy how well-rounded Miss Flannery was because I'm enjoying D.'s updates on Dr. Johnson.

When Wise Blood was published in 1952, O'Connor wrote Robert Giroux asking for extra copies (that she could get for 40% off) to be sent to several people because "My nine copies have to go to a set of relatives who are waiting anxiously to condemn the book until they get a free copy."

She tells Sally Fitzgerald that her mother is "composing you a fruitcake."

and "My mamma & I are on the way to the polls to cancel out each other's vote."

To Ben Griffith: " Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, and Bean [ducks] are slated for the deep freeze in August but Clair Booth Loose Goose is going to live a natural life until she dies a natural death."

OK, OK...enough already! This is like having someone read the newspaper to you.

I know there is a copy of Wise Blood (or maybe of Three) boxed up in the garage somewhere, but it might be easier to buy another copy--

O'Connor was strongly influenced by Faulkner (no surprise there), and Bookfoolery and Babble
has several posts and pictures of Off-Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi and here.

Flannery O'Connor's Letters

Yesterday, I had to go over Laddie's and wait for the locksmith to arrive, wait for him to re-key all of the locks, and pay him. He was a nice, shy, and efficient young man. During my enforced wait, I need something to read, so I grabbed Letters of Flannery O'Connor: The Habit of Being. I've hesitated to begin this because there are so many books in the various stacks, and this one is over 500 pages, but for some reason, I grabbed that particular book before starting out.

I've fallen in love with Flannery O'Connor! Will have to reread her works with a fresh, new outlook when I've finished. Sometimes I read the introductions before reading a work, sometimes, after. Usually, I glance at the first two paragraphs and make a decision, and this introduction seemed necessary as a review of O'Connor's life before getting into the letters themselves. Fitzgerald's introduction is a pleasure; a useful and necessary preface to the letters.

And the letters! Oh, I have so many little portions marked already...so funny, so dry, so Southern! O'Connor has absolutely charmed me with her wit, her view of life, and her relationship with her mother.

This will be my April biography, as I plan to enjoy this a little at a time and will not likely finish it this month. It is the perfect thing to read as counterpoint to all of the fantasy that I'll soon be delving into. Like short stories and essays, you can read a little, put it down and come back later without losing a narrative thread.

Great Mail

Today's mail brought wonderful gifts! The Habit of Being (a hefty tome 596 pages), one of the Amazon orders I've been waiting on) and Shadow Cities from Lotus Reads! Thanks, Lotus!

Now, I'm only waiting on two books that I ordered earlier this month. I'm resisting the library and further orders.

I've finished two more books: Candide and Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles. Both are tiny little books. Both are weighty books with a good deal more influence than their small sizes would indicate.

I'd almost finished Candide and took it with me when I went to my father's to spend the night. He's on a new medication, and I'll stay again tonight to make sure there are no difficulties. The doctor said to give him the meds at 9:00 and stay with him for 3 nights, but I have someone else to stay tomorrow night.

Anyway, I finished Candide and almost finished Weight last night. Today, I rushed through the rest of Weight and will be reviewing both of them soon. Both are excellent

Overwhelmed

I'm getting to be like Danielle - I want to read everything. Blogging only increases the need to read. The constant exposure to books and topics that appeal is never ending in the blogging world, so in addition to all of my previous interests, I'm finding myself inundated with reminders of books and authors that I've been interested in but haven't gotten around to reading, new titles and interests that arise in my own reading, and ALL of the titles and topics that the rest of you are reading!

This has produced a curious greed and the feeling that I must stockpile these books so that I can get to them when needed. At this point, I know that settling down and refusing to purchase any more and refraining from library visits is a good thing. But might not something get away from me if I don't act fast, get that book, and add it to the TBR stack?

Whoa, Nellie! Get ahold of yourself! You are NOT going to run out of things to read. It just won't happen. Self-discipline is called for here.

A resolution to complete all of the books that are waiting is in order. Or at least a moratorium on purchases. Those lists will still be good in a month or so. Longer by then, of course, but the books will still be available.

Therefore, I will not order any new books until March-but will still receive those already ordered :)-and will not check out any new ones from the library. I will see what damage I can do to the stacks in 10 days without adding to them.

This stack contains a few still in progress and those that need to be read. This is my current project stack.

Here are the ones already ordered, but not yet received:

The Habit of Being: Letters of Flannery O'Connor
The Silent Tower by Barbara Hambly
Godmother Night by Rachel Pollack

If I can make myself concentrate on the 8 in the stack and the 3 to come, I'll forgive myself the greedy attitude I've developed and move on with whatever I choose. This won't be accomplished in 10 days, but should make a satisfying dent and will, perhaps, let me realize that I need to finish what I begin before adding willy-nilly to the stacks.

I just finished A Corpse in the Koryo (set in North Korea) by James Church and need to review it. And work on my quilt, and clean house, and work in the yard, and write letters, and pay bills, and balance statement, and ....

From Comments

Lotus Reads asked about Written in Bones. This book looks at archaeological sites all over the world and from various periods of time and specifically at human remains. From Neanderthal remains to those of Medieval times, from Peru to Egypt, scientists examine the skeletons, mummies, and bog bodies, and their respective burial sites. Each chapter takes a site and relates what has been discovered about the cause of death, sex, size, diet, nutrition, general health, and burial practices. Each example gives a surrounding narrative about the general time period and culture, and then specifics about the remains. Fascinating.

Jill asked about my latest Amazon order. So here are the titles: The Habit of Being: Letters of Flannery O'Connor, Candide by Voltaire, The Silent Tower by Barbara Hambly, The Shape-Changer's Daughter by Sharon Shinn, and Godmother Night by Rachel Pollack. The last 3 are for Carl's Fantasy/Fairy Tale Challenge in March. It is a mixed bag, eh? I thought I'd ordered The Boleyn Inheritance, but don't find it listed. Well, that will wait.

Fantasy or fantastic art by Robert Gonsalves. Check out the link...there are some wonderful worlds here.

Southern Grotesque and Twisted Physics

Lisa's recent posts about Flannery O'Connor have renewed my interest. I think I'll add an O'Connor biography to my growing biography list. Here is another O'Connor quote I've had tucked away:

"Everywhere I go I'm asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them." Pure Flannery!

Maggie's comment on the last post about O'Relatives was funny...until I started thinking about what some of my McRelatives might think of me!

I'm still reading the last of the nonfiction from January and enjoying both books.

Jennifer Oullette's The Physics of the Buffyverse is as much fun as I had hoped, and I'm about half way through. While physics has never been my strong point (that is an understatement of epic proportions), Oullette's combination of everyday language and Whedonist connections makes me pay more attention. She covers interesting aspects of science and the Buffyverse

Some of the topics she discusses include:

porphyria - symptoms of the inherited disease include sensitivity to light and "reddish" mouths. Severe cases may involve disfigurement and "the teeth and gums may become so taut the teeth protrude like fangs." I've read about this before, but interestingly, the show intended Vampirism to be a progressive disease.

invisibility gun - while this idea may not be feasible, Oullette relates "cloaking' schemes" that "rely on the camouflage principle" are an accomplished fact. Susumu Tachi, a real scientist, invented an "invisibility cloak" using computer generated images, and at the University of Pennsylvania, "researchers figured out how to use plasmon coatings as a cloaking device to render solid objects invisible--or nearly so--to an observer.''

centrifugal force - "in reality such a force doesn't exist," explains Oullette, but centripetal force is certainly useful.

Using episodes from Buffy and Angel, The Physics of the Buffyverse puts real science in an interesting format.

BTW - Cocktail Party Physics is the name of her blog.

Freaks and Gargoyles

My head still feels as if it is stuffed with cotten. My fingers aren't operating as efficiently on the keys, but it is a beautiful morning, and there is no headache!

Lisa over at Bluestalking Reader has a great link to a tour of Flannery O'Connor's home. O'Connor is a true Southern Gargoyle. My favorite O'Connor quote:

"When I'm asked why Southern writers particularly have a penchant for writing about freaks, I say it's because we are still able to recognize one."


Gargoyles and Grotesques of the World is the site of Walter S. Arnold, stonecarver. Here is some of his recent work.
A work in progress.