Whoaaaaaa… it’s 2016?! I mean, I know that it’s 2016, obviously, because I’ve been working on New Year’s posts for a couple of weeks now (you’ve already seen our year in review, and there are more posts coming – in fact, it’s probably going to take me most of January to get caught up on everything, if not into February). But still, it seems like 2015 really went by in a flash – even more than they usually do – and now we’re staring down the barrel of the first work week of 2016. I missed posting last week, because Christmas, but I actually hadn’t finished any new books over the course of the preceding week so I had nothing new to report anyway.
Rolling right along. I wrapped up the last of my 2015 reading by finishing The Sword of Summer (the first in a new trilogy, focusing on the Norse gods, by Rick Riordan) and then reading the last few essays in Marilynne Robinson’s new collection, The Givenness of Things, in the same day. Is it possible to have two more different books in the same sentence? Riordan’s books are uproariously funny and fast-paced (although, as a matter of fact, they’re incredibly well-researched and deceptively smart) and Robinson’s essays on theology, history and philosophy are academic and cerebral. Two very different reading experiences, indeed.
And now it’s onward. I haven’t gotten much reading in since wrapping up the last two 2015 books several days ago. I started Rebecca Makkai’s The Hundred Year House and am enjoying it, but have been reading it slowly and choosing to spend more time in front of the TV than I usually do. I gave Steve a Disney Infinity for Christmas and we’ve been playing our way through the Star Wars game that came with it – he’s an avid video gamer and I’m not, but every so often it’s fun to play together when he has a game that looks appealing. (The last one was Super Mario Galaxy, many moons ago before children, so you can see how rare that is.) I picked out the Disney Infinity because it looked like something that we might be able to enjoy together, and we are. We’ve also been watching more television than usual – we’re a few weeks behind on Supergirl, thanks to November travels, and we’re trying to get caught up (I haven’t been able to stay spoiler-free, which bums me out) and we’ve also fallen down the rabbit hole that is The West Wing. (I watched it back on first run but haven’t seen the entire series, and Steve had never seen it at all. He’s really enjoying it, I’m having fun rediscovering my old favorite characters – Josh and Leo! – and we’re both loving all the shots of our home city, D.C.) Last night started Downton Abbey, so I expect reading time to take even more of a hit until I find out who Lady Mary is going to marry. (And please, Downton writers, some happiness for Edith? I know the show is already wrapped and aired, but in case things end badly for her I’d like it if you could go back in time and fix that, please and thank you.)
Happy New Year! What are you reading – and watching – this week?
covered in flour 
Downton! So excited that season 6 is here. I’m a little sick of Mary, truth be told, but I second your wish for some happiness for Edith.
Mary is my favorite, so I can never get sick of her, but she’s been such a focus for so long that I can see how others might. We had a rough night on Sunday and didn’t end up able to watch anything, but I’m hoping to be caught up soon! I’m so sad that it’s ending, but I respect the show for closing the curtain while it’s still popular. I have high hopes for happy endings in this last season, although if five previous seasons have taught me anything, it should be to not get my hopes up!
Just closed the cover of Cold Mountain about 40 minutes ago. Watching…hmm…nothing? I do have to watch the Sherlock special I recorded but nothing else is on my mind. I’ve been curious about Rick Riordan’s books so I think I’ll give them a shot.
I’m always nervous about recommending books, especially because I don’t “know” you very well, but I do think Rick Riordan is worth a shot! I binge-listened to the entire Percy Jackson series on audio while I was commuting in DC a couple of years ago, and while I didn’t like the narrator I LOVED the stories. Magnus Chase was excellent too, and made me want to go back to Percy in print. It’s easy to miss while you’re deep in the stories, but Riordan really knows his stuff. His takes on the deities are very modern (for instance, in the Percy Jackson books, Ares rides a motorcycle and calls everyone “Punk,” Aphrodite is obsessed with her makeup, etc.) but they make sense, and his mythology is all correct. (I know this not because I am an expert in mythology – I’m not – but because I’ve gone and looked up the stories he bases his novels on and they’re basically exactly as he says. Proving that he’s no lightweight, I just acquired the Penguin Deluxe Classics edition of Robert Graves’ Greek Myths, and Riordan writes the intro!) Anyway, they’re really excellent. I have a post from a couple of years ago about the Percy Jackson books, which might interest you if you’re thinking of picking those up: https://messybaker.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/in-which-i-have-all-the-thoughts-about-percy-jackson/). Hope you like them!
Thanks! They sound like a lot of fun, but smart. Aren’t there film adaptations too? I’m not an expert either but I have taken several myth. courses so it is up my alley! Going to check the link now. Thanks again. Your’e like a personal WP librarian😀
There are film adaptations but I haven’t seen them! I was just recently thinking of seeing if they were on Netflix because I think my husband would like them. I hope you enjoy – do let me know what you think! I’m honored to be your “personal WP librarian” but it’s a bit of an intimidating task! I love recommending books, but always get nervous because I don’t want to waste anyone’s time, so I put a lot of pressure on myself to recommend something that the person is really going to like.
I can’t recall if you ever blogged about it but did you read Mr. Norell and Jonathan Strange? Speaking of magic. or The Night circus?
I’ve read both The Night Circus and Jonathan Strange, both I think close to their release dates – it’s been awhile. I think I read Jonathan Strange either before I started blogging or before I switched over from food blogging, so probably haven’t written anything about it. The Night Circus is likely in one of my monthly reading recaps, maybe from 2011? I have a vague memory of reading it around then, but can’t remember for sure. I enjoyed both, though! I know opinions are mixed about Jonathan Strange in particular, but I really liked it.
I’m halfway through Jonathan Strange and it’s starting to pick up but I’ve loved the imagery so far throughout and the humor. It’s pretty funny!
I remember Jonathan Strange being a bit slow through the first half but really enjoying it once I got to a certain point. Have you read “Sorcerer to the Crown” yet? I’ve heard it described as “a diverse, feminist Jonathan Strange” and thought that was pretty apt! I loved it. (Can’t remember if Sorcerer was what started this whole comment chain or not, so forgive me if it was and I just asked a dumb question!)
Oops…that’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.
Heh no worries! I got your meaning. 🙂