I’ve got a pile of books on my nightstand that is easily above my head (when I’m lying down, that is–though it’s dangerously close to that height when I’m standing up!) and I am determined to make my way through it this holiday.
But at the top of the pile are two books I’m VERY excited about.
The first is READING MY FATHER by Alexandra Styron which came highly recommended by two women whose admiration for William Styron is out of this world: my mother, and my friend, Teri.
The other is LIVING ARRANGEMENTS, a collection of stories by Laura Maylene Walter, a gifted author I met through blogging. Laura, I can’t wait to dig in, lady. (And because this is the season of giving, I just learned there’s a Goodreads giveaway for one copy!)
I hope everyone is right at this moment enjoying some sort of comfort and/or joy during the holiday season. I can’t wait to see what adventures are ahead for all of us in 2012–and I hope, most of all, that we keep sharing them with one another. The good, the bad, the humdrum. All of it. Hey, we’re writers! We can turn anything into a story, right?
Okay, back to the gingerbread cookie mines. Warm hugs all around, and I’d love to hear what book you all are cozying up to before visions of sugarplums dance in your heads…
I’m going to be trying to just plain read *something* this weekend. We don’t get any break until Lunar New Year here, since Xmas and New years fall on weekends rather than weekdays. Sigh. Oh well, we get the whole week in January!
Hi Kaitlin, thank so much for stopping in. So glad you will have some time to look forward to to read–Happy New Year to you!
Well you’ve already seen my nightstand, so I need say nothing more. But I will say thanks for the Alexandra Styron recommendation. That one looks good and I love William Styron’s works as well. Happy Holidays!
Leah, I have indeed seen your nightstand pile!
I think all of us should agree to touch base after the holidays in case one of us is buried under the avalanche of our TBR piles and help must be sent!
This holiday I’m going to finish LITTLE GALE GUMBO which I was thoroughly enjoying until my book club rudely pulled me away and LARRY’S PARTY (which was given me this same time last year) which is absolutely superb.
Have a wonderful holiday, Erika!
Aw thanks, MSB. And thanks for the recommendation of LARRY’S PARTY. I’m looking that one up right now.
Wishing you and yours a warm and merry holiday, lady!
Larry’s Party -fond memories.
I’m so glad that I’m not the only one whose TBR pile is now taller than me. I think you’ve just helped me add two more titles to the growing list.
I’m going to attempt to read The Magicians by Lev Grossman during the holiday break. We’ll see…
Happy Holidays to you and please give Lady Olive a special Christmas pat from Sir Reginald.
Jackie–it’s sort of like literary Jenga, isn’t it?
Olive sends her best wag back to Sir Reginald…and wishes they could tear through some wrapping together. Happy holidays to you, my dear!
My TBR pile has literally taken over the floor all around my desk — pretty out of control!! Thank you for the Goodreads giveaway tip. I have now entered!! I hope that pile of books next to your bed is secure!? Or maybe your should consider wearing a hard hat to bed??? I’m just sayin’…
Might be time for a pic, Julia, dear–this sounds impressive!!
I was just joking with Leah that we all are living dangerously–it sounds like a Stephen King short story–the women who were buried alive under their TBR piles and never heard from again!!!!!
I think I may have THE most dangerous TBR stack in the world. For starters, it is on top of a short bookcase, looming 41 books high. Secondly, I’ve got two ornery Bengal cats who see this stack as a climbing option (not good). And finally, I could. not. help. myself. … I asked for MORE books for Christmas. Who knows, I might get another dozen. As I told Julia, I’m such a book whore. Someone, stop me!
Happy holidays, Erika. Gingerbread mine… hmmm…
Aahh! Add the cats–okay, YOU WIN!
Book whores are always welcome here, my dear–you know that!
Hope you are carving out some precious moments of quiet to write in the midst of all your hosting. Even if it means sitting in the car and “pretending” to be on your way somewhere
I’m loving Laura’s book. Thank goodness they are short stories, or I’d have sat down with it and not stopped until I reached the back cover. I’m trying to make it last, like a box of truffles.
I’m also knee-deep in noir (reading and writing), and I’ve got Alice Munro’s RUNAWAY waiting in the wings. (I’ve been a good girl, Santa.)
Happy holidays to you and yours, Erika!
Like a box of truffles. I love that. I’m so excited to get started.
Adding RUNAWAY to my tower. Oh boy.
Warm wishes back to you and your precious family, Averil dear!
I’m reading a book called Oxygen. I bought it for 69 cents at Value Village. I know nothing about it, except that it looks like a story that won’t exactly lull me to sleep at night.
P.S. I finished Little Gale Gumbo a while back and really liked it. Are you ready for your questions?
Hi Angie! Who could resist a book for 69 cents? And I do love the title.
I am beyond ready for questions, lady–I’d be thrilled! And I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Wishing you lots of love and relaxation this holiday, Erika. You’re going to love the Styron book. Beautifully written, and also a loving look from a daughter into her literary genius father, and what that really means.
I’m 3 stories into Living Arrangements. It’s my perfect one-story-a-night right before I go to sleep, reading…. Love it.
And here’s a special hug for Olive.
Teri, I wish you and your family all that and more. The vet came today and confirmed our worst fears so we are taking it one day at a time. Thank you for being such a good friend to ask when you did. I will give Olive TWO special hugs from you.
There is nothing like a good book to sweep us from our worries. I’m grateful to have so many to look forward to.
There are so many books I’m dying to read and yes, I’ve bought a bunch of them and they’re just towering next to my bed. I’m looking forward to reading these: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling, Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler, and Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally.
Happy Holidays, Erika!
Happy Holidays to you, Jenny! Something tells me 2012 promises to be the year of THE DOWNSIDE OF BEING CHARLIE!
Love this post, Erika, and love Laura’s book in your hand (I haven’t bought a copy yet but it’s on my list). Right now I’m taking a break from the perilously tall book stack and dipping into The Collected Poems of William Carlos Williams Volume II 1939-1962. Tough sell, I know…
Enjoy your cozy, Erika. Merry, happy, and healthy to you and yours.
Hi Lizi! I suspect you will find some gems in that collection–plenty, for sure–and we’ll look to you as always to share your favorites.
I wish you and your family the very same, dear–snuggling up with those we love is gift enough, isn’t it?
I’m still working on The Marriage Plot, and I’ve got Little Gale waiting in the batter’s box, followed by Living Arrangements.
I just got a friend’s MS uploaded to my Kindle though, so I’m going to dig into that between bouts with my own writing.
Being surrounded by writers is my idea of happy holidays.
Love.
Getting ready to take on Empire Falls for the book group I belong to. We’re reading our way through the Pulitzers, and since Richard Russo is scheduled to be at the Tucson Festival of Books in March, we are moving that one to the top. I also want to read Possession by A.S. Byatt. I saw the movie recently and now can’t wait to dive into what I’ve been told is a literary masterpiece written by a virtuoso.
But before either of these: I plan to finish Little Gale Gumbo over the holidays…when I hope to have some lay-around time to just savor it.
Hi Erika,
Just sent you a “kudos” fan email, thanking you for the great read with LITTLE GALE GUMBO. What a terrific story!
Happiest of Holidays to you and your loved ones, from a Gumbo gal originally from N.O. Thanks for all the enjoyable times with your writing!
My bedside stack was packed away during the move. Who knows where those damn things are? But I’m halfway through The Lacuna – a quiet but fascinating and beautifully written novel – and then it’s back to The Imperfectionists which I put aside during the move.
My preorder of Living Arrangements was cancelled by Amazon (distribution issues according to Laura) so I need to re-order it.
Merry Christmas Erika!
I have just a few pages to read to finish Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult. I have some great books lined up for the GoodReads Book Addicts challenge of 12books in 2012. That’s in addition to the Book Addicts monthly selection. I have my work cut out for me. I also want to try to read one Indie a month. Ambitious goals.
I think I will start Sarah’s Key next. Or Traveling with Pomegranates.
I, too, live in fear of being crushed by my to-read books. Here’s to a new year filled with time to shrink the pile.
I was gifted recently with an ENTIRE BAG FULL of new books from a good friend of mine. I took one look at it (a delighted look, to be sure) and realised I’d instantly joined the ranks of people who have a backlog of reading which I may never get through. I remember a time when this would never happen, but that’s the way life changes!
All said, when I got an e-reader for my birthday in November, I also received a nice “stack” of e-copies of books I’d been meaning to buy for ages, and I have read them all since then. It’s just a matter of finding the right time!
~Ashlee
http://ashleesch.com
http://theDragonsHoard.bigcartel.com
Have to chime in and give my accolades to Living Arrangements! Loved it so, so much.
And I’m excited to know I will finally get to meet Laura–and get my copy signed–on the Megabus to Chicago in February!
Now I just have to figure out when I will meet the author of Little Gale Gumbo and get that book signed, too…
Sherry, I’m so jealous of you all on the megabus (is there still talk of thermoses of margaritas or root beer floats or something equally decadent?!)
I am reading LIVING ARRANGEMENTS now and so moved by it, so blown away by Laura’s talents. She’s amazing.
Thank you for this, Erika. I saw this when you first posted it in December but I must have felt too bashful to comment. But thanks!
Laura, you are most welcome–it is truly beautiful. Even though I am finished, I was remiss not to post it on Twitter as my Friday Reads while I was savoring it, so I’ll be doing that tomorrow and spreading the word…