It’s the first Wednesday of the month, so it’s time for WWW Wednesday, an idea I borrowed from David Chazan, The Chocolate Lady, who borrowed it from someone else. For this feature, I report
- What I am reading now
- What I just finished reading
- What I intend to read next
This is something you can participate in, too, if you want, by leaving comments about what you’ve been reading or plan to read.
What I am reading now
I got on to Henryk Sienkiewicz quite a few years ago now, when I read his gripping novel With Fire and Sword, the first of a trilogy. When I was reading it, I learned from a friend who is first-generation British/American of Polish descent that his were the books Polish children grew up with, but these aren’t just books for children. He is a late 19th century/early 20th century writer of historical fiction, a Nobel Prize for Literature winner. His best-known book is Quo Vadis, my least favorite of his so far. Sometime back, I noticed that someone was selling a used copy of The Teutonic Knights by him, and it finally made it to the top of my pile. I have since read that he considered it his best book, and I’d say it’s a real page-turner. It’s also very long. All of his books that I’ve read so far are quite long except Quo Vadis. But somehow the time goes quickly. Almost finished!
What I just finished reading
I just finished a book sent to me by NYRB, The Sweet Dove Died by Barbara Pym. It’s about an attractive woman of a certain age, a “fragile” woman, who becomes friends with a much younger man and his uncle. Although friendship with the uncle is more suitable, she prefers the young man and slowly begins drawing him in so that he is dependent on her. At 207 pages, this one squeaks in for Novellas in November.
What I will read next
I usually have written quite a few reviews ahead of time, and I see that I should be reading things I will be reviewing in November, which means two things: Novellas in November and Nonfiction November. Since Nonfiction November tends to be more about the nonfiction people have read during the year, I have a pile of novellas on my bed table that it’s about time to start reading. And Seascraper by Benjamin Wood serves both the purpose of being a novella and of being a book that I’ve read about lately (and also a Booker Prize longlister). So, I’ll start reading my pile with it.
What about you? What have you been reading?
What? Me Read? 
I’m interested that you reviews set up in advance, this is what I should try and do, instead of the worry and scramble! I’m going to read Seascraper as well!
Nice! Yes, I am usually reading about two months ahead of my reviews, and what I do is, when I finish a book, I write my review up in a notebook (obviously, that could be done online), although I often change the wording, but I have the ideas set down. I usually have about 20 reviews online ahead, and every time I get to my Best of Ten post, I figure out what my next ten books will be. If I start to run out of books ahead, I post less frequently, and if I get too far behind my reading, I post them more often (which will start happening in October). If something unexpected comes up, then I either post on Wednesdays, when I don’t usually, or I rearrange the books on my schedule. Oh, one more thing, if I read a book that is really great, I save it for my Best of Ten and try to have only one every ten. I like that better than when I first started and was forced to pick a best book out of whatever random 10 books I had read, so that sometimes I didn’t think that best one was that worthy, and other times I had more than one that were really good. Of course, using that method, sometimes the best books have to wait a while before their review gets posted.
Thanks for the tips, all makes perfect sense!
You’re welcome!
I’ve been meaning to read With Fire and Sword for years, so thanks for the reminder! I would like to read The Sweet Dove Died too as I’ve enjoyed others by Barbara Pym.
On With Fire and Sword, try to make sure you find the Kuniczak translation. When I read it, I just happened to luck out and got it. Then I heard there was a big to-do about the translations, because the Kuniczak translation was really well written but took liberties with the text, including moving some chapters around. However, I had occasion to look at a copy of an earlier translation, I can’t remember whether it was by Binion or Curtin, and it was so poorly written that I was glad I got the controversial translation, which is really well written. The older translation was what you’d call turbid.
Thanks – I’ll remember that. Finding the right translation can be so important.
Yes, I think it would give people a completely different idea of the book if they got one of the earlier translations. By the way, my translation of The Teutonic Knights seems to be great. I thought of another thing about With Fire and Sword. It’s the first book in a trilogy. I’ve read them all, but I have to say I think the first book was the best, and they’re not as closely connected as trilogies today are. They are more like the connections between the three musketeers books. They feature some of the same characters but in different and unconnected circumstances.
I was feeling quite tempted by The Teutonic Knights till you mentioned ‘long’ – I’ve read way too many long books recently and am determined to stick to ‘short’ for a while! Maybe you’ll break my willpower when you review it…
It’s about 780 pages, but they go quickly.
I thought it seemed like your kind of book, though. You might keep it in mind for a time when you are ready to read something longer.
Yes, I’ll add it to my wishlist – my enthusiasm for monsters will revive once I’ve had a break!