OMG you guys! It’s November 1st! And, since I don’t think I can work up the follicles for a ‘stache, maybe I should celebrate with a blog post every day for the entire month? What do you think?
Ahahaha I know, right? Dumb idea.
But, you never know. I might just have to give it a go, like I do every year. And I think that at least one of those years I managed to make it all the way through to 30 posts in 30 days. So it could happen.
But for now, I’m segueing into a wee little Bookish post, because it’s been awhile since I’ve mentioned any of the books I’ve read, let alone give you a review of any of them. And, since it’s getting on towards that coldest of seasons blogfriends, I’m thinking you might want to take note of some winter reading material. Or not. But either way! Let’s take a look at some recent and current books courtesy of the UIG, shall we?
Blindness by Jose Saramago. A surreal story of a city – and eventually it seems an entire country – stricken with a plague of blindness. The only person to retain their sight is the doctor’s wife. This was one of those stories that bumped you along from one awful situation to the next while you witness the extreme social breakdown that happens in a world where no one is sighted and it’s every person for themselves. Dystopic? Oh hell yes. I really liked this book, even though I had to skim over some of the most horrifying bits.
You & Me by Padgett Powell. Two dudes sitting on a porch just talking. Day and night, talking about everything and making plans to do stuff like head to the liquor store, that never seem to materialize. There’s some good social commentary in amongst the crazy shit they talk about, but even with that, I can’t even explain the appeal, you really just have to read it for yourself. And if you do and you hate it, well I’m sorry. But I loved it.
The Cat’s Table by Michael Ondaatje. I think I’ve gone on record before saying that I would read Ondaatje’s grocery lists and enjoy the hell out of them. The Cat’s Table was another excellent yarn (yeah, I said yarn) from the master. A motley crew of passengers on a ship sailing from Ceylon to England in the 1950s form a bond during the 3-week crossing, among them, the narrator – an 11-year old boy. Seen from his perspective, the ship is one big adventure, as are its passengers – including a prisoner and a variety of other mysterious individuals. It should come as no surprise that I loved this beautiful book. I love stories that are woven from a child’s perspective – but only if they’re done well (they often aren’t) but of course Ondaatje does it perfectly.
So happy November 1st, blogfriends. See you here tomorrow?
The Urban Info Girl 