Winter Reading List

Weather like today makes me want to say, “Bah, humbug!” Even the trees look listless from out my window.

But, one of the nice things about winter’s approach is that I have a little bit more “free” time with less weddings and shoots going on. This means I get to indulge in one of my favorite pastimes–reading. Fortunately for me, I’ve received three large tomes in the last couple of months…one of which I’ve already devoured.



The book on the bottom of the stack is the complete collection of Anna Akhmatova’s poetry, translated into English. I love poetry, and Akhmatova is my favorite Russian poet, so this was an excellent birthday gift.

I just finished reading Dostoevsky’s the Brothers Karamazov, which was not only entertaining but quite dense. I feel I need to take a class to unpack all the different layers to it…philosophy, theology, socialism, love, hate, duty, honor…it’s got it all. But, instead of really spending anymore time digesting it, I’ve moved on to this large book I also received for my birthday (thanks Marfa!):



I put the apple there for size comparison…still not sure if you can grasp that it’s 1,474 pages of 1950’s-set-in-India-fiction goodness. So far, I’m still in double digits. I think Vikram Seth, the author, is better known for his book “Two Lives,” so I may have to read that one after I finish “A Suitable Boy.”

Still, I know I’m going to need some more books to last me the winter….do you have any good suggestions? I mostly like fiction, but I’ll also pick up a good mystery and an intriguing biography here and there. I want to hear what’s on your list.

Goals for 2010–Must I really set some? » Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers | Birchtree Photography Blog - […] brand (already working on this one!) 6. Visit a national park. 7. Read one book a month. Remember this tome I was reading? Well I finished it over my trip, plus read another one. 8. Shoot two Trash the Dress […]

Heather - Well…since you asked…
(you know you can always count on me for book stuff)

Have you read Anna Karenina yet? I imagine yes, but if not, it is my favorite of the Russian novels I have read thus far.

Also, I joined a book club (in addition to my own) at the local book store and we just read Sarah’s Key (can’t remember who it is by) – it was really good – a “you can’t put it down” good – but sad as well. Anytime you have the Holocaust involved, it’s going to be sad. The next book we will be reading is The Cellist of Sarejevo. I imagine it will be of similar genre.

As for mystery, have you delved into P.D. James yet? She is Britain’s “mistress of mystery”, so they say. I like her – she was very much influenced by Dorothy Sayers – who is another good one for mystery. I like the British mystery writers – they don’t take themselves or their characters too seriously – there is wittiness in the midst of the turmoil.

Other notables to check out if you haven’t already:
Jane Eyre
the Jeeves collection by P.G. Wodehouse
Tolstoy’s short stories
Flannery O’Connor

And ooo, I almost forgot – you will love Matthew Pearl – read last month The Last Dickens and have in the dock to read The Dante Club. Literary mysteries, can there be any better pairing???

Ok, that should keep you busy for a bit. 🙂

And I want to hear about The Suitable Boy when you finish.

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