I tend to read like I eat Twinkies: entirely too fast to really appreciate it. But I still love reading (even more than Twinkies, if you can believe it), and have just had an unusually beautiful reading experience.
The book is called Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner. It's not a gripping story, though it is interesting enough to hold attention. I think this is just what made it so enjoyable. The writing was really beautiful, and I was able to take the time to fully appreciate it. I didn't want to rush through it; I wanted to savor it. It also really appealed to me because it centers around a writer and English professor, and contains the kind of insights that lend themselves to that kind of introspective life, and I found myself reading with that feeling of YES!
I suppose the book has the same kind of tragedy and trouble that any other book has--there are life-altering job losses and diseases and marital strife. But the struggles are like benediction. It's taken and lived with, but more than that--it was turned into privilege and blessing. There was something really peaceful about it, and I highly suggest it to any of the three of you who read my blog. Enjoy. And if you don't enjoy, keep it to yourself, would you? I hate to cast my pearls before swine. (Do you like that, how I set that up so that if you don't enjoy this book, you're swine? Well that's right. Swine.)
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4 comments:
Okay, Swiney, but how is the ENDING, I ask? Because you know I can't stand savage ending. Although my copy of These is my Words is making the rounds amongst my friends, and they are LOVING it as I did. But I'm always looking for the next good read. So how was the ending? Also, blog more because you don't put enough pics of the shorties on there. Miles did just have a birthday, right? How bout a blog about that? Just suggesting.
Tiffany, you meant to say: how bout a POST about that? A blog would be an entirely separate webpage. Silly girl.
Courtney, I'm reading this one and very much enjoying it. I'm a little concerned that there will be no adventure (after your comments), but you are right, it is beautifully written.
If you could handle These is my Words, I think you'd appreciate the ending of Crossing to Safety. I'm not sure you'll dig the pace of the book. Try it. If you hate it, let me remind you, then pretend you never started. I have very delicate sensibilities when it comes to my books. Grazi.
I'm not completely sure I should have read this book. I almost had to stop reading because it made me too emotional. I will say that this is the only book I have ever read and continually stopped to go back and re-read sentences. Mostly because they hit a nerve or conjured up some random memory that had no relation to the storyline, but also, who can write like that?
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