Like most people, I’m reading several books at the same time right now, and I’m more likely to finish some than others. In honor of the beginning of a new semester, and the subsequent shrinking of free time for reading, it seems like a good time to take stock. The following is a list of what I’m currently reading, ranked from most to least likely finishers.
1) Five Star Billionaire by Tash Aw. Although it took a few chapters to get my bearings in this novel, I was immediately drawn into each character’s story. Unlike some multi-character narratives where you enjoy some of the narratives and feel like you're just waiting to get through others, so far each of Aw’s storylines is equally absorbing. I’m definitely going to finish this one--and soon.
2) Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. This novel feels comfortable, if that makes any sense. It’s a rich, but understated narrative, and I enjoy the leisurely way in which the plot is unfolding. Ishiguro draws a perfect balance between inviting the reader to identify with the first-person point of view while giving you enough hints about the narrator's unreliability to feel superior.
I’m definitely finishing this one, even though it's an effort not to think *too* much about Jeeves and Wooster while I’m reading. Can any narratives about the perfect butler *not* feel like a parody in a post-Wodehousian world?
3) The Hotel by Elizabeth Bowen. This one has been slow going for me, even though it’s relatively short. This is what I get for having been attracted to a book by its cover when I saw it in the library’s new books shelf.
4) Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. I keep feeling like I should like this one more than I do because I’m always seeing references to how brilliant it is.
5) Dear Life by Alice Munro. I usually really like Munro's work, but the first story in this collection felt meandering and slack, so I didn’t feel like continuing with the next one. I’ll probably give it another try before giving up, though.
6) Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell. The title story in this collection is a pleasure. Russell plays with the vampire motif in a way that feels new and that also creates a rich sense of tragedy and loss. I thoroughly recommend it, so I really have no excuse for not having read any further yet…
7) Kim by Rudyard Kipling. I’ve been working on this novel *forever,* or so it seems. If I were still teaching, I’d be eager to add Kim to my syllabus because I'd look forward to unpacking the geopolitical elements with a group of students. I love the way that this 1901 novel feels like a cold war spy novel. On the whole, though, I think that I like the idea of this novel more than the actual reading of it.
8) The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin. When I started this, I thought I would enjoy it. A few pages later, though, I wasn’t so sure. The writing doesn’t seem as strong as I expected, and the interactions between the characters don’t seem believable. I don’t see myself finishing this one.
9) Summer and the City by Candace Bushnell. I was pleasantly surprised by The Carrie Diaries, but this one doesn’t feel as fresh.
What’s on your shelf?
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