Renewed Reading

My last post about a book was way back in November 9, 2015. It is true we had the holidays in there that kept me busy, but it is more than that. I was stuck reading a book that really did not excite me but I hung in there thinking it would get better. It did not, and I never really picked up an alternative because I was already in the middle of a book. I was trying to get through Wishful Thinking. It is the story of a single working mom of two young boys who gets at app on her cell that allows her to be two places at once. I found her job and her kids' recital both yawn-worthy and the book was weighed down with stereotypes. I had higher hopes because it was recommended by Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project author and I generally like her writing. I guess I like what Gretchen writes but not necessarily what she reads. I did not finish Wishful Thinking and so did not enter it on my 2015  book list. I wish I had set it aside sooner and I wish I had picked other books to read.

One source of book recommendations for me comes from my daughter-in-law, Carrie. Annually she sends her book club's picks for the next twelve months of the year. I like to try to read what she does, but I do not always share the taste of her club members, so I pick and choose what appeals. This year Carrie sent me a second list as well, from another source. It was thirteen books about to be made into movies so if I wanted to read them beforehand, I'd been given fair warning. This list inspired me.

One of those soon-to-be-a-movie books was The BFG. When my daughter Robin was in third grade, her teacher read that story aloud to the class, a little bit each day. The kids lapped it up, so I was curious. It is by Roald Dahl and he writes really strange stuff. The book is a lighthearted romp across the countryside involving a Big Friendly Giant (BFG) and a littler orphan girl. The language is very creative; e.g., the giant does not want to be put in the zoo with "the jiggyraffes and cattypiddlers". And, even though it is a children's book, the tongue in cheek references can be enjoyed by an adult. For example, giants eat human beans but the Greeks from Greece are very greasy and the ones from Panama taste very strongly of hats. Did I like this book? It was off-the-wall, cute, clever, humorous, and satisfied my curiosity as one of those books I've heard of but never pursued reading. It was not stellar but I am glad I read it. Since it can almost be devoured in one sitting, my time investment was minimal and I no longer need to wonder about it.

Curious about the author who writes such macabre and inventive books, I checked out the Wikipedia article on Roald Dahl. I have a lot more respect for this author after having read of his experiences. His life was far from mundane. He was an ace fighter pilot. He coped with several children and a wife each who suffered various challenging health issues. He was a co-inventor of a valve to alleviate hydrocephalus. The article was very fascinating, reporting that even after death, "He was buried with his snooker cues, some very good burgundy, chocolates, HB pencils and a power saw. Today, children continue to leave toys and flowers by his grave."

Referring back to that list of thirteen books-soon-to-be-movies that Carrie sent me, I have read three of them now, currently have two of them checked out of the library, and we own two. I now have a reading goal and guidance for 2016!

1. Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them by Newt Scamander
2. Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
3. The BFG by Roald Dahl (this post)
4. Let It Snow by John Green
5. I Take You by Eliza Kennedy
6. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
7. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (my post for 6/28/15)
8. Inferno by Dan Brown
9. Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children' by Ransom Riggs
10. The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman
11. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
12. Allegiant by Veronica Rot
13. The Girl On The Train' by Paula Hawkins (my post for 5/16/15)

The link that describes these books in more detail is

https://www.romper.com/p/13-books-to-read-before-they-become-movies-in-2016-2721

In 2015, I read twenty-nine books, the first four in January. I am off to a very slow and shaky start in 2016. Oh, well – it is a leap year and I will have an extra day...