Literature
Lately I seem to alternate hard-hitting, emotionally wrenching reads with lighter, fantastical fare. This month was no exception, with two Oz books and a slew of stories by Joan Aiken filling in the latter role. On the heavier side, I was particularly impressed by Michele Filgate’s collection and want to read more by every author included in it. I also finally delved into Mildred Taylor’s powerful depiction of the evils of racism, as seen through the eyes of a child and her family in Depression-era Mississippi was another highlight — somehow I managed to miss these books growing up.
In other reading and blogging news, I posted thoughts about my summer-long read of Madame Bovary, and previewed a couple of wonderful new books, Better Living Through Literature and The Release. I hope you’ll check them out!
Here’s what I read in September:
- Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum – Ozathon
- Love Lettering by Kate Claybourn
- Savor: A Chef’s Hunger for More by Fatima Ali – Around the world, Nonfiction Reader
- Paths into the Book of Books by Elspeth Weymann
- What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About, edited by Michele Filgate
- The Lost Princess of Oz by L. Frank Baum – Ozathon
- Radical Love by Zachary Levi
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and Let the Circle Be Unbroken by Mildred D. Taylor
- Fantastic Fables, Weather Witches and Wise Women, A Ghostly Gallery, and Siren Stories by Joan Aiken – anticipating Witch Week
Language
I passed my French language test and am now eligible for permanent residence in Switzerland! That was a relief. However, now I have to switch gears and work on German, because I’m taking a course starting at the end of November that will be taught in that language. It’s a Red Cross training for certification as a healthcare assistant, but I hope it will also boost my language skills. For me, it works better to actually use language for something rather than just study it in the abstract.
Life
Preparing to leave on a trip to the US (my first in over five years) has occupied a lot of my attention this month. As well as seeing my family — my main reason for going — I’m glad to be able to arrange a few events to help spread the word about my book, When Fragments Make a Whole. For those in the NYC area, here’s a weekend of sharing and writing that might interest you or someone you know.
September is my birth month, and I also shared some photos of my birthday trip to St Ursanne, a lovely medieval town. Here’s one more:
Linked at The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer, the Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz, and the Monthly Wrap-up Round-up at Feed Your Fiction Addiction
What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About looks like a perfect book for me. I’ll definitely look that up. Congrats on your French test and happy belated birthday!
Yes definitely, if you have not read it, do!
Well done on the French test. I totally agree about the language learning – I am still learning Spanish and really what I need to do is write out verb tables and go and live there for a month!
Living there is the only thing that really works for me. Any chance you could actually go to Spain?
Hi Lory, another wonderfully diverse mix of reading for you! 😊 Well done on passing your French test, and I hope prep for your US trip goes well.
Blessings, Jessica 💌
Thanks Jessica! It was a great trip and I made it back safely. Now recovering from jet lag…
Oh, I had missed this post, félicitations pour l’examen de français !!
Merci!
Congratulations on passing your test in French! That is quite an accomplishment.
I am a huge fan of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. For me, it’s personal. My dad grew up in the same time period, on a farm with parents and siblings much like those in Roll of Thunder, on the Louisiana side of the Mississippi. But his life was completely different. He is white.
Such a powerful portrayal and it would be fascinating to hear your father’s stories too.