I can hardly believe it, but this week I managed to finish three books. These days (with two small children) that's the equivalent of what I read in a month, so I wonder if it's extra free time or really good books that is the cause of the change? What's the most you've read in a week recently?
I managed to finish A Mercy by Toni Morisson which I had started last Sunday. Then I finished YA novel, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. But most of my week was spent reading Affinity by Sarah Waters.
I had watched the TV adaptation at Christmastime, about a lady who visits a Victorian London women's jail and befriends one of the inmates, Selina a spirit-medium and I thought that because I knew of the twists that would happen that I might not enjoy it as much. It wasn't the case. I was absolutely swept away. This was the first book I'd read by Waters but it certainly won't be the last.
What do you like to do first, read the book or watch the adaptation? (I find that I like to watch the adaptation first. The book will always be better, so if I read the book first then it spoils the adaptation. Watching the adaptation first means that I enjoy the main points of the story and like it for what it is without cringing at small details that were changed/altered to make it a good adaptation from the book.)
Since then, I have picked up a book by one of my favourite authors, Paul Auster. I have had The New York Trilogy out from the library for several weeks now. I had tried reading it a few times before but it never stuck. So far, I'm 40 pages into the first story, City of Glass and I'm fairly sure that I will finish this story at the very least.
I'd read on other book reviews of The New York Trilogy being compared to Haruki Murakami and I understand that connection a bit more now. It does resemble the beginning of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, in that a weird phone call sets of a chain of reactions that leads to some rather bizarre circumstances. Have I mentioned that Haruki Murakami is one of my favourite authors as well?
Do you always finish a book once you've started it? If you didn't, do you discard the book forever? How long would you wait before trying it again if it was a book you were fairly certain you would like?
As far as my week has gone on this blog, some bookish links: I discussed my love of Anne Frank's diary, I shared some bookish memories in the Bookshelf meme, and this weeks Sabuda Saturdays took a look at Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Check out what everyone else is up to at The Sunday Salon.
Good to hear Affinity was good! I have Fingersmith by Waters on my tbr pile. And Speak too, actually...I should get to it.
ReplyDeleteI didn't get to see Affinity at Christmas because I recorded it on Sky+ and then my Sky box broke and had to be replaced. I think I will definitely have to read the book now.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm terrible for starting books and then putting them down. I don't feel obligated to push through awful if it's "really great at the end".
ReplyDeleteA lot of the time I find that's because the rest of the novel was horrible & gut wrenching by comparison!!
Finishing three books in a week is great, Michelle! I am looking forward to reading A Mercy and Affinity someday. I've heard good things about Speak, but haven't decided yet if I want to try it.
ReplyDeleteI was aiming for reading two books a week this month, but then I decided to read The Woman in White, which is taking me a lot longer than I anticipated. I didn't have a lot of reading time this past week or this weekend and so I'm hoping this coming week will be better.
I tend to prefer reading the book before seeing the movie--I like going into a movie knowing the background, plus I hate book spoilers but I have no problem with movie spoilers. There are exceptions though. Sometimes I do prefer seeing the movie first, especially if it's a classic or difficult to read and understand book. Having seen the movie, helps me appreciate and follow the book better.
I hope you have a great week, Michelle!
While I was unemployed, I managed a few 3-book weeks. However, I had large blocks of time while my kids were in school. Now that I am working, my goal is to finish at least one book a week. You managed to finish three books with little ones at home. Brava!
ReplyDeleteI like to read the book first. If I read it immediately before watching the movie, then my brain will automatically fill in the details that were left out. This is especially helpful if the book had a lot of internal dialogue that isn't easy to show on screen.
I prefer to finish a book that I start within a reasonable window of time, say, a week or so. If I cannot get into it, I'll put it down and god knows how long it will be to pick up again.
ReplyDeleteOnce I've read the book, I can't stand to see the movie adaption.
ReplyDeleteI forgot they were doing a tv adaptation of Affinity. I must try to get hold of the dvd. You must read Fingersmith! It's really good!
ReplyDeleteI usually prefer reading the book first. Like Wendy I don't mind spoilers if it's something I watch but I don't like having a book spoiled. Sometimes I don't mind watching classics first and Shakespeare definitely first but otherwise, nope, book first. :)