Back from Summer Hiatus

Greetings, everyone! I am now officially back from summer hiatus, and I'm ready to start blogging again. I also should note that I'm using this blog to work out my reading, writing, and paper ideas. Additionally, I will be having my 101 students blog weekly, so it's only fair that I blog with them!

At any rate, here's a sampling of what I've read this summer:

American Pastoral (by Philip Roth) -- One of the best books I have ever read, hands down. It's fantastic. I try to read a Roth book every summer, and this one was the best. I can't wait to read my next one!

Angels and Insects (by A.S. Byatt) -- Another of my favorite authors. The first novella in this collection (there are 2) was fantastic and positively haunting; the second one I did not like, though the writing was characteristically excellent.

The Brooklyn Follies (by Paul Auster) -- Yet another great read. I literally could not put it down, and it made me glad I picked up my second Auster novel (the first one I read 8 years ago).

Tristram Shandy (by Lawrence Sterne) -- Good, but not what I expected. I had thought it was going to be more like Italo Calvino, but it wasn't. Still, worth picking up.

Luncheon of the Boating Party -- A very good pleasure read. Nothing too spectacular, but I love Renoir, and the author personifies him well, as she does with narrating the painting. So, it was worth it, but a guilty pleasure.

Everything is Illuminated (by Jonathan Safran Foer) --- Great book, a little bit disturbing, though. In my opinion, not as good as his latest, which is below. Interesting, compelling, and ultimately moving, though.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (by Jonathan Safran Foer) -- Awesome. Just awesome. A tad weird, at first, if you don't know his style, but definitely excellent and moving. One of my favorite reads this summer.

Maps and Legends (by Michael Chabon) --Chabon is one of my favorite authors, so he never lets me down. This time, he did not disappoint. His essays were interesting, honest, insightful, and impeccably written. He writes the way I want to write. Pick it up!


There are many more. Academic texts later. :)