Summer Reading...

"Summer reading" isn't really a thing for me because I read all year long and don't make much of a distinction between seasons -- I just read what I'm in the mood to read. But I will happily acknowledge that there are definitely certain books that are just more pleasurable to read at certain times of year, and I have a well-documented history of reading more Southern and L.A.-oriented authors when it's hot outside. I have no specific titles in mind this summer, but I am looking forward to reading some Faulkner this year, and he is both a Southern writer and a man (something I was not allowed to read last summer). Here are some of my recommendations for your summer reading, if you're into that kind of thing:

-The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides: There is a Bookhive List post on this forthcoming, but it's good enough to warrant multiple mentions. An especially relevant novel if your summer will involve any proximity to fish flies or dying trees.

-Anything by Joan Didion (except A Year of Magical Thinking): Her essays on the American West and late 20th century counterculture are spare, essential and sizzling. I recommend her constantly for every occasion and will continue to do so, unapologetically.

-Any of the major contemporary women writers who are writing excellent literary fiction that is often mis-characterized as women's/genre fiction: Megan Abbott, Meg Wolitzer, Sarah Waters, and Tana French, for a start.

-Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee: Not because it will be good, but because it will be the literary event of the year.

-Re:Jane by Patricia Park; I have Roxane Gay's recommendation to thank for this, but Park's debut novel is a contemporary retelling of Jane Eyre, with the protagonist as a Korean-American woman. I already got a copy of this, so expect a longer review soon.

-The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins; I haven't read this yet but it's definitely on my list, as it was recently endorsed by NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, which has never steered me wrong. It's been described as Gone Girl-esque, and it has already made a big splash this year.

-Missoula by Jon Krakauer; I love to read Krakauer in the summer, because it's very intelligent non-fiction that is actually quite easy and quick to read. Granted, this one is about rape at colleges, so not exactly light, but I also read his book on murder in the Mormon community during the summer, perched in a patio chair, so take that as you will...

-Loving Day by Mat Johnson; This was one of 2015 most anticipated works of literary fiction, and while I haven't read any of Mat Johnson's novels yet, I religiously follow him on Twitter and I try to read his essays and nonfiction online whenever I can. He is smart and funny and works issues of race and identity into his writing so seamlessly and effectively.

To Be Read...

How do you decide what qualifies for your queue, your bedside stack, your 'to be read' list?  I used to have a much simpler methodology, which was lazily pacing in front of my bookshelves, grabbing anything that looked intriguing. I have a tendency to buy books slightly faster than I read them, so at any given time, about 25% of the books I own remain unread. Now that I have a Kindle, the process is much more complicated, because I keep a steady stream of unread materials on there, in addition to the physical collection. Then there is my public library request queue, which is problematic because I normally use it for the latest release, which tend to be popular, which means I rarely get them when I'm ready to read them (6 of 10 on H is for Hawk). 

After taking a long break from actively engaging in reading, I feel a bit like I'm starting fresh, and I'm ready to construct a new TBR list for myself, but I can't really figure out where to begin...

What should I read next?

Books I Can't Even: 'Invisible Man' by Ralph Ellison

Technically, Invisible Man should not count, because I did once read the entire book; it was an AP English Literature assignment, so I had little choice, but it was probably the only novel I read for school that I absolutely hated. Plus, I will always remember the time it helped me win a Quiz Bowl competition (Never forget -- Invisible Man and The Invisible Man are two different books).

 As I've mentioned, I'm making an effort to infuse my reading with more diversity, and generally I've found that to be a really rewarding challenge. And certainly I would agree with most high school English teachers that this is a book Americans should read But because I've already read it, I can be smug and complain about how little I enjoyed it. Naturally, a book that seeks the dramatize the African American experience in the first half of the twentieth century is not going to be a laugh riot. It's not just that the plot is plodding, joyless, struggle, but that the writing reflects this; because our nameless protagonist is treated as an "invisible man" by the world around him, he lacks development in a way that is frustratingly effective. It completely succeeds in its assertions about being African American, but as a result, it's incredibly tough to get through. Sometimes struggling through a difficult novel can be a really enriching experience, and often stellar African American literature is the best example of this -- Beloved is gut-wrenching, and there were so many times I had to put it down and take a break, but it absolutely deserves all the praise it has received and more, and Toni Morrison's incredible prose really eases the pain. Ralph Ellison is not trying to make this easy for the reader, however; the difficulty is the whole point. So in the end, I'm glad I read it and now I never have to read it again.

Books I Can't Even (apologies for the use of Internet cliches) is a recurring post on books I absolutely could not finish, usually after several attempts.

No 'War and Peace' This Week-- but a few thoughts on reading slumps...

I took a week off from War and Peace, but not for any reasons you'd expect. I'm still enjoying it and it's progressing relatively painlessly, but I wanted a week to enjoy other books because I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately. I read constantly, so it's not as if I've stopped, but I've definitely slowed down, and when I have free time, I'm just not reaching for a book these days.

#ReadWomen2014 gave my reading habits some loose structure and more of a purpose, so I think part of the problem is struggling with what to read/how to read now that it's over; this strikes me as funny because by the end of 2014 I had a long, long list of books by men I planned on reading. But these days nothing I'm reading is really thrilling me. Maybe it's inevitable to get tired after almost a year of reading and blogging at breakneck speed, but lately books just don't interest me.

Do you ever have reading slumps? What books have you read to get out of one?

Books to Lean In to the Cold

Some people want to escape the cold this time of year, but I'm one to revel in the changing seasons. In Michigan, you don't have much of a choice anyway. For me, winter is all about lazy weekends on the couch, lots of slowly cooked soups and roasts, and flipping through seed catalogs, dreaming of spring.  The following titles are my suggestions for those who want to enjoy winter while it's here:

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis -- It's always winter but never Christmas and kids run around in huge fur coats. If you haven't read this since you were a pre-teen, do yourself a favor and pick it up because it's still a great book.

His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman -- This series warrants a much longer post and eventually it'll get one, but in the meantime, all you need to know is that there are zeppelins and human souls exist outside the body as cute animals and it mostly takes place in the Arctic. It is also the series to read if you became an Atheist and hate C.S. Lewis now.

Anything by Jack London -- I hated these books when I was a kid, but they get the job done; there are adventures in the snow with huskies, and people falling through ice and death by hypothermia, etc etc.

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton - Never has sledding seemed so melancholy. Avoid if you're suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt -- One of the very first books i wrote about for Bookhive, and an excellent read if you like sexy collegiate bacchanalia and long, drawn-out descriptions of Vermont apartments without heat.

The Mysteries of New Venice series by Jean-Christophe Valtat -- A decidedly literary adventure series of the steampunk persuasion that takes place in the Arctic, natch. These books are also great for winter because they're addictive, thrilling reads.

Books on Love, Part II: Optimists Version

Their Eyes Were Watching God  by Zora Neale Hurston -- My favorite thing about this novel is that I read it in school and in our discussion it quickly became obvious that everyone had a completely different opinion on which man was Janie Crawford's one true love. This one's all about love as life-long journey.

Middlemarch by George Eliot -- Three different central love stories, each very distinct. Everyone has their favorite, and Fred Vincy's struggle to demonstrate his worth to Mary is definitely mine. Not just a great love story, one of the best novels ever written.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton -- Does not qualify for everyone's definition of a "love story," but I think there's something really beautiful and admirable about the central relationship between Newland Archer and his wife May Welland. Her cousin the Countess Olenska shows up and Newland wastes about 400 pages in a cloud of passion and lust but still marries May in the end; they have a very long, happy marriage and several lovely children. Some people hate this ending, but I'm a huge fan of it because it feels very possible, plus, Winona Ryder is May Welland in the film adaptation and I will never not take her side.

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez -- A widow revisits her first love after the death of her husband and the results are beautiful and sad. There is a stillness to this novel that absolutely knocks you to the floor.

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling -- Because there is no greater literary love than the slow-burning relationship between [SPOILER ALERT] Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. She gives him up to fight the greatest darkness the world has ever known and a part of me was secretly mad that she didn't divorce him before the epilogue scene.

Persuasion by Jane Austen -- Because there has to be a Jane Austen on the list and this one is very quietly the best Jane Austen novel.

Books on Love, Part I: Cynics Version

There is an over-abundance of books on love, and very few of them end happily, which is why I've rounded up a list of recommended fiction for those who are less than thrilled about Valentine's Day this year.

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene -- The name says it all; if you like your love stories to include terminal disease and weird Catholic overtones, this is the one for you.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood -- For those among us who have decided to swear off men for good, this is the validation you need.

Heartburn by Nora Ephron -- A very funny, sweet novel based on Ephron's own divorce experiences. Not nearly as cynical as the rest of the list, and an excellent breakup book.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte -- A book about love for anyone who feels too much. 

The Awakening by Kate Chopin -- I am so tempted to summarize this novella about an unhappily married woman but I would inevitably ruin the ending for you, and it is such a treat (if you hate Edna, as I did).

Books to Escape the Cold

My official Theory of Winter is that January is the worst because it's the darkest and longest winter month; 31 days is God's idea of a hilarious joke. February on the other hand, is nice and short and even includes a very indulgent holiday (I know a lot of people will bristle at this because it is NOT cool to like Valentine's Day. And those people don't have my husband, who historically knocks it out of the park for this holiday, probably because he knows how insane I go in winter). So you've survived the worst of it! Now you just have to coast through this short, terrible month. and the following list of books will help you forget the weather:

A Passage to India by E.M. Forster - Prolonged engagements! Unrequited love! Colonialism! And false accusations of sexual assault! All under the hot, Indian sun. I read this a few years ago in January. It helped a little.

The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner - This novel jumps between the steamy, gritty New York art scene of the 1970s, the sizzling streets of Rome amid political and civic turmoil, and the white hot salt flats of Utah. There is a lot of talk of engines and burning metal and motorcycles. It's also just a good book that you should probably read, regardless of the weather.

Play it as it Lays by Joan Didion - If you trend toward Season Affective Disorder, then stay away from this one. I wouldn't go so far as to say this novel will help you forget your cares, but it will certainly put your weather problems in perspective. Plus there's a lot of Los Angeles freeway cruising in a convertible.

The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene - Literally every page of this novel includes some reference to humidity or sweat. A bit more colonialism, if that's your thing, this time in Sierra Leone. There's also a juicy affair (because it's a Graham Greene novel) and a Catholic crisis of faith (because it's a Graham Greene novel).

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys - A really inventive and cool response to Jane Eyre, this novel tells the pseudo-prequel story of Rochester's first wife, a Caribbean heiress who later goes insane and ends up locked up in his attic. There is a 1993 film adaptation with an NC-17 rating, in which a young Naomi Watts plays a small role...You're welcome.

Bookhive's 2015 Reading Resolutions

I make New Years resolutions every year, but I generally try to go easy on myself. I'm not looking to give up caffeine or lose 50 pounds; normally I pick a few things I'd like to learn, a few dishes I've always wanted to try cooking, and some books I know I want to read. It's nice to start the year with some intentions, even if they're small.

Last year my resolution was #ReadWomen2014, so that was relatively simple, and I stuck with it. As part of that goal, I also strove to read a lot more women authors of color (which I did) and some of the major feminist texts (which I mostly did not). 

This year my reading resolutions are very influenced by the blog; I don't spend much time on reading that I can't later write about, so my resolutions are also (hopefully) a forecast of what you can expect to see in 2015:

One poetry book per month -- This is not something I have ever had much success with, but Adrienne Rich has made me believe again. I will try not to let this become One Adrienne Rich Book Per Month, I promise

Doorstop Books -- I've read some very long books, but all the major ones (Atlas Shrugged, Infinite Jest, War and Peace) are still on my shelves. I still haven't decided which I'll attempt first, and I'm not going to put any metrics to this, because one will feel like a success. I'll be blogging throughout the experience, and I hope someone is inspired to read along with me.

More of Those Obnoxious Books I Missed in College -- The Rilkes and the Walter Benjamins of the world deserve my (and your) attention. I miss the experience of collegiate reading immensely, and I don't want to let too many post-grad years go by without revisiting the meaty stuff.

What are your reading resolutions for 2015?

#ReadWomen2014: A Year in Review

2014 is over, which means #ReadWomen2014 is over (although #ReadWomen has only just begun!). It was a success for me in the objective sense, in that I exclusively read books by women (and women completely dominated my other reading, like online content), and I add a tremendous number of titles by women to my bookshelves.

It was a success in a much more abstract sense in that I enjoyed it immensely, and it proved to be the easiest "challenge" I've ever taken on. I've attempted structured, directed (pleasure) reading in the past, but it never worked. This was so effortless to stick with because there is no end to excellent literature and non-fiction written by women in every possible genre; not that I doubted this very obvious fact, but the reason I was able to stick with it is largely because I was always able to find something I was in the mood to read.

Probably the greatest takeaway from the experience though is the greater breadth of exposure to literature I feel I've gained. There were so many women authors who I always intended to read, and this year I did because I had the ideal opportunity, and no excuses. I can now speak knowledgeably about Joan Didion, when a year ago I had never read a word by her; I would even go so far as to call her one of my absolute favorites now, and someone I will keep reading for the rest of my life.

Probably the biggest failure of the experience for me has been my inability to conquer the big, definitive feminist texts. At the start of 2014 I made myself a reading list to ensure I didn't waste a year reading one Margaret Atwood book after another (JK, that's the opposite of waste, it's a sacred task). On the list were many of the landmark feminist works of the 20th century, and most of them remain unread or partially read. I was shocked and disappointed by how irrelevant I found them to be. But to keep things in perspective, I also found myself enjoying so many books this year that were distinctly feminist, if not necessarily Feminist.

If you took part in #ReadWomen2014 (in part or whole), I'd love for you to share your experiences (good or bad) in the Comments.

Bookhive's Best of 2014

So many bloggers and writers and editors will tell you how much they positively despise putting together "Best of' lists at the end of the year. Those people are lying. Making lists is incredibly fun and frankly not all that difficult. Yes, there are tons of movies and books and albums that are made each and every year, but only a small fraction of them are worth consideration for a "Best of" list and it is quite literally their job to figure out which ones. So they can get over it. 

A few caveats regarding my own list: I am not a professional literary editor or reviewer; I have a full-time job so anything I read that was published in 2014 had to be squeezed into an already busy schedule, and additionally, had to be available to me at the library or interesting enough to warrant a purchase, which is rare for new titles. I'm still not enough of a mover and shaker to warrant advance review copies, so I do my best to keep up and I have the library fines to prove it. Thus, my favorite titles published in 2014:

The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore -- Smart, well-researched, incredibly interesting and so much more than a history of a comic book character. 

On Immunity by Eula Biss -- Really hard to describe but brief and wonderful all the same. Her meditations on the nature of disease and vaccination are poetic and troubling.

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples -- This comic started a few years ago but the latest issues and an omnibus edition were published this year, so it's fair game. I am not a comic book expert, so when I say it's my favorite comic book, that probably means very little, but it's really terrific; funny, challenging, and beautiful.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson -- Just ignore the YA-genre buzz around this short prose-poem memoir. Adults should read it, kids should read it.

Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant by Roz Chast -- A really warm and honest and insightful graphic memoir on the aging and death of Chast's parents. I cried less than I expected.

Women in Clothes by Sheila Heti, Heidi Julavits, and Leanne Shapton -- I was surprised by how many "Best of" lists forgot about this one, because it made a huge impression on me. I still haven't removed it from the pile next to my bed because I keep going back to it. It is endlessly entertaining and makes the smallest minutiae of women's lives fascinating.

Books to be Thankful For

We should be thankful for all (most) books, so this list is really more like, "Books to Enjoy on Your Thanksgiving Holiday." For me, that means books that are well-suited to Michigan road trips, cozy lakeside cottages, and a constant barrage of interruptions from family members. For others, it probably means good airplane books, and for a tragic few, it means a good book to fall asleep reading after you recover from a long day spent in the kitchen. Plan your weekend reading material accordingly:

Little Women by Louis May Alcott-- It starts with a Christmas Eve scene of sisterly affection, so it's a nice way to kick off the holiday season, and there is no greater story of familial love and thankfulness in times of scarcity. Either film adaptation also makes for a good family movie.

John Saturnall's Feast by Lawrence Norfolk-- A very sumptuous, lovely pseudo-historical novel about a young orphaned kitchen boy who cooks his way to prestige and power in 17th century England. I really adored every second I spent with this book and I can't think of a better foodie novel.

The Wapshot Chronicle by John Cheever-- Another East Coast family novel, but this time without any scarlet fever. I found this book to be so cozy and funny when I read it, and it's the perfect novel if you're familial interactions include WASP-y repression.

The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper -- A rousing adventure story that includes pilgrims and Indians. A great choice if you forget to pack a book, because statistically it's very likely already on your dad's/grandpa's bookshelf.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein -- This will be a controversial viewpoint, but I enjoyed this significantly more than the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which I mostly hated. The Hobbit is like the good parts of Tolkein, boiled-down into a concise novel intended for a younger audience, so you don't have worry about getting bogged down in Middle Earth history and Elvish language. Even people who don't read fantasy will enjoy this, and there is nothing more Thanksgiving-y than hobbits, who live in cozy underground houses and eat constantly.

Books for Back to School

Woefully, I am not going back to school. I have a Masters degree and enough on my plate at work, so I have to live vicariously through other people this time of year. I am a hardcore autumn fan as well. That line from 'You've Got Mail' about sending a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils is (besides being one of the most genius things to ever come out of Nora Ephron's brain, which is saying something) deeply meaningful to me. Pumpkins, sweaters, college football, maple syrup, apples, crunchy leaves and back to school. The following is my list of the ultimate school books to get you in the mood for fall.

Several of these novels have been turned into some of my favorite movies as well, and a good movie trailer is a great way to find inspiration for your next read, so enjoy some clips as well.

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Bookhive Afield

I've been thinking a lot about travelling and books lately, as I get ready to depart for five days in Oregon. My focus will certainly be on my sister's wedding and quality time with friends and family, but I can't travel without something good to read, and the flight from Detroit to Portland is long enough to plow through an average sized novel.

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