My uncle sent me a link to an article in The New Yorker about poet Jorie Graham's new book called From The New World: Poems 1976-2014. Graham has won every major literary award, including the Pulitzer Prize. Y'all know that I have difficult relationship with poetry, never quite sure I'm "getting" it. Frankly, the article itself is a bit esoteric. But...it does make me curious about Graham's work and I'd wager to say I'll be looking to pick up one of her collections.When my aunt and uncle moved to Iowa, many years ago, Jorie Graham was on the faculty of the University of Iowa. One evening when they were out to eat in Iowa City, they watched Graham holding court with a table of admirers. My uncle says the lady definitely has a presence and held their attention as well. Sounds like Jorie Graham might have been the Dorothy Parker of Iowa City in her time there!
I like to believe that but as I looked through those books, I realized it's not entirely true. And publishers are quite eager for us to judge their books by the covers. Why else would they go to so much bother with the cover? The covers are meant to give prospective readers an idea of what the book is about, after all. A couple embracing? Probably a romance. A skull or dripping blood? Probably a thriller. An anime image? Graphic novel. The problem, of course, is that if we entirely dismiss books with covers from genres we don't normally read, we miss some great books. I'm forever grateful that I was convinced to read Persepolis, a book I would never have picked off a shelf.
I've long been meaning to read Beryl Markham's West With The Night so I was excited to find that Paula McLain's (The Paris Wife) latest book is about Markham. Needless to say, it's one that I've downloaded. Circling The Sun is the story of Markham's life from childhood through her relationship with Denys Finch Hatton and her rivalry with Karen Blixen who is best known for Out of Africa. I've long been interested in Blixen since I first saw the movie adaptation of Out of Africa so this one seems like a win-win for me.
What books have you added to your wish list lately?
I'm curious about the Paula McLain. I've been wanting to read The Paris Wife so this one really tempted me. NetGalley shopping is always dangerous but it looks like you got some good ones!
ReplyDeleteI have West with the NIght on my Classics 50 list but I really know nothing of her, the book, etc. Not sure what made me put it on my list.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of any books right off the top of my head that I've added to my wishlist, but I do so often - most from blog reviews. My tbr on goodreads is HUGE. Another reason why I have never looked at NetGalley is I am afraid I will want to too many books. I also delete all the "NEW BOOKS to KNOW ABOUT!" emails without reading them. I just want to read the books I already know I want and not be seduced by anymore. Crazy, huh?
I am often guilty of choosing or rather dismissing books on cover. I hate that I do it, but then console myself saying that there are a bazillion books out there anyways - how am I to know what book clicks? Plus, if a bad-cover book turns out to be the next Best of the Year book, I will always hear about it from someone.
ReplyDeleteA cover can make a difference in whether I check out a book further to see if I might want to read it or not. I have enjoyed quite a few books whose covers I haven't especially liked though and so I try to remind myself of that before I completely dismiss a book because of it.
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