There is nothing like the sound of hail slamming against your window and jolting you awake, to make you realise that we’ve reached rainy season here in Vancouver. (Though my umbrella is permanently in my purse and my boots are perpetually drying, I’ve been a bit in denial so far).
But I can’t ignore the weather any longer. For me, pouring rain and wind equals warm knitted sweaters, soup recipes that warm you up from head to toe and deep within, and Taboo and Risk for cold nights. And it means baking crumbly apple crisp, drinking cardamom chai in mugs the colour of the summer sky, and writing letters to far off friends on bright sunshiny paper.
And of course, it means a fresh reading list for those evenings when a warm blanket and tea is much more appealing than venturing outside.
And that’s where you come in Terry readers. Currently on my bedside table is Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. It’s fantastic so far, but I’m curious.. What have you read recently/hope to read soon? This is always one of my favourite/most referred to threads, so please do leave a suggestion in the comments below! Also, what does rainy weather make you think of?
9 Responses to With Rainy Days Come Reading Lists.
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In fact, I’ve spent most of this evening sorting through my huge Amazon wishlist (when I should have been reading through some of the books currently piled up on my floor). I’ve made things worse for myself by recently accepting recommendations from friends, not to mention checking out the AV Club Web Site. Here’s a brief selection of books I plan on finishing/starting/buying soon:
The Manga Guide to Molecular Biology by Masaharu: As a science teacher I feel I should know more about this topic, and since the Manga Guide to Statistics was so good, this seems like a good bet.
The Secret Life of Trees by Tudge: Very interesting and the edition I purchased was pricey but beautiful.
The Years of Rice and Salt by Robinson: I’ve never dabbled in alternate history before, but the premise of this one — what if Christian Europe was wiped out by plague and Muslim and Chinese civilizations became dominant — is intriguing.
Currently reading: “The 4 Hour Work Week” and “The Sound and the Fury”
Rainy weather makes me think of either a lack of soccer, or the ever growing puddles at UBC.
I’m glad I like books, because otherwise life as a grad student would have been horrible. I have tonnes of suggestions, but among those you should definitely read:
Iqbal’s ‘Javidnama.’ IKBLC has the Arberry translation – which I believe is the definitive version. Read it. It will change your life in some form or another – plus it’s absolutely beautiful. Think Rumi’s ‘Masnavi’ but written in the 1900s and featuring al-Afghani and such.
Also, Ken Follet’s ‘Pillars of the Earth.’ So good, and so hard to put down. It’s historical fiction – my favourite genre (which is why I love Salman Rushdie so much – speaking of whom, if you haven’t already, pick up/read ‘Satanic Verses’ for its aesthetic and literary brilliance).
Recently purchased used paperbacks:
Travels with Charlie – John Steinbeck
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues – Tom Robbins
Coming to the end of Pynchon’s ‘Against the Day’.
Also, working my way through George Saunders’ ‘Pastoralia’ and the Fall issue – ‘Medicine’ – of Lapham’s Quarterly.
Really good stuff, all around. Can’t recommend them enough.
Half of a Yellow Sun – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, historical fiction – Nabila, you would love this one. If you haven’t read it already
The Greatest Show on Earth – Richard Dawkins, got it as an audiobook – and it’s cool because Dawkins is narrating.
Wow, awesome recommendations! Thanks so much for commenting! I’m pretty excited about my next trip to the library and bookstore.
Keep them coming please! Every comment makes my heart so happy.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali- Infidel- amazing and inspiring
I’ve also discovered this little paperback called Notes to Myself:My Struggle to become a person offering much insight each time I go back to it.
Buddha – Deepak Chopra
a cool fictional sort of story about the life of Buddha from childhood. it’s quite interesting, enlightening, and you can’t go wrong with Chopra!