As I struggle with what to write, when to write it, and even how to write it, I thought I would just mosey on over with our reading news of the moment.
Chestnut is trying to convince me that the New York Review of Books isn't boring, and I know she's right, and that my brain cells just need to work out more and pay attention and they will be richly rewarded, I am unable to make them do that. But then again, another thing she really enjoyed reading was the New York City Board of Education's Discipline Code. I am not sure where this will all end.
I took Oryx and Crake out of the library, and it promptly disappeared into Diana's lair, where it was devoured until nothing was left but bones. She frowned and spit them out, pronouncing it "good but too message-y." Hmm. Of course, I haven't been able to recover the body, so I don't know yet whether I agree with her.
I was happily diverted by What Alice Forgot, and read it all and fast in one day. Such a pleasure to do that sometimes, even if it did make me think about the ways I have become crusty and terrible since becoming a mother.
And you, dear reader? Do you have anything to recommend? Are you curled up with the discipline code? Are you out there searching for crocuses? What's happening with you?
marcialerner.com 
Well, I’m going to tell you about a few books that I’m sure you might otherwise never pick up, because I don’t think you are such a fan of science fiction, although I know you do read a little bit of fantasy. However, I have read some of the most amazing books in the last little while.
First, Ancillary Sword and the sequel, Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie. Last year Ancillary Justice won basically every speculative fiction award out there and Ancillary Sword is fast following.
Second, I recommend to you The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (aka Sarah Monette), going head to head with Ancillary Sword this year for the Nebula Award.
Third, I would recommend to you Red Rising and its sequel, Golden Son by Pierce Brown.
Now, I know that all of these are unabashedly “Speculative Fiction” and not “Literary Fiction”, but if you have any leanings at all in that direction, then I assure you that you cannot go wrong with these.
Happy Reading:)
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I have a friend who says that if you read The New York Review of Books you can basically not read anything else and claim to have read everything else.
I’m reading a pretty weird and fantastic and erudite book by the London Review of Books writer John Lanchester. It’s a novel called “The Debt to Desire,” and it’s hilarious, smart and creepy. I highly recommend it.
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Thank you! This is the most generous comment, so great to have new areas to read in and veins to mine.
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Thank you! Is he the one who wrote the book about food and pleasure and murder maybe? I have a weird jumbled memory of reading an erudite (also) book about…a peach? And Epicurean things? And a murder? Or maybe I’m going nuts here. Nice to hear about a book, you’re the one who convinced me to read Life After Life, and I am so glad I did.
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Ack! It is called “The Debt to Pleasure” — taken from a line in the Earl of Rochester’s seventeenth century’s extremely raunchy poem. And yes, it’s about a weird psychopath/chef/effete Englishman. I chose the book for my book and food salon that I hold every month, and it was a big hit! I even served sauteed wild mushrooms, but no one died.
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