Oh, but I am reading a truly great fiction book right now, courtesy of Dora. Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver weaves together stories of a few people living in in the southern Appalachians. They are all connected to the landscape in different ways and understand their relationship to that land independently. The writing is very sensuous and kind of gritty in some way I can't quite pin down. Kingsolver has obviously done her homework because as you read you learn all kinds of things about moths and other insects, arboriculture, predator-prey relationships, and the vast ecosystem that humans are a part of - even if some of us refuse to acknowledge that connection. I don't have much left of it to read and I'm not looking forward to finishing the novel. I read Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible a couple years ago and was a bit disappointed, more in the plot resolution than in the writing style or subject. Let's hope I'm not equally disappointed with the conclusion of Prodigal Summer. Thus far it's an engrossing read particularly for people with an interest in environmental issues and/or botany and biological systems, but anyone with an ear for lyrical prose can appreciate this book as those environmental elements become plot devices for stories of love and loss, expectation and revelation. Put it on your summer list!Ooo, that's another good thing to blog about, and to ask you to blog about. What should I read? I always need a good work of fiction to dig into at night before bed. Prodigal Summer should be on your to-read list; what should be on mine?
"La vie devant soi", which is conveniently on your bookshelf. Miranda
ReplyDeleteStrangely enough, that's exactly what I expected from you! Always true to form jkarmo. Have fun on Saltspring!
ReplyDeleteLullabies for Little Criminals
ReplyDeleteKath
I've heard that's a tough book. It won the CBC Canada Reads competition this year though so Lullabies For Little Criminals does have a lot of supporters.
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