readingroom

Anymore I feel as though this blog is relegated to lists of books I’ve bought and might read sometime. Although, I bought Jane Austen: A Life (2001) by Carol Shields on Sunday and dip into it between all the required reading I’m doing for two classes I’m taking; one is public history and the other is an archives class. The Austen bio is from the Penguin Lives series. And if it is an indication of what others in the series are like, then I’ll read them all.

I don’t know whether it’s my recent fascination with all things Austen, or just that Shields’ writing is that good. Her approach is fabulous. I only wish I had more undivided time to sit and sink into her sparkling words. I thought she died a few years ago, the author, not Austen. Stone Diaries (1993) was a favorite of mine. So it’s sad to remember that such a good writer only lives on in her words.

My trip to Malaprop’s (Asheville, NC) on Sunday, where I bought the Austen bio didn’t break the bank. But it could have. I took notes on at least a dozen other titles I wanted to buy but did not. Instead, I came away with two other books, but can only remember that one was Best Hikes with Dogs: North Carolina (2007). It is signed by the author, whom I believe, lives in Western North Carolina.

The other was a fat piece of fiction, but that’s all I recall.

Love this Austen bio so much I could lick it.