Reading on Wednesday

What are you reading now?

The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty – It’s tough to talk about this one because I’ve only just started, so it’s still early to tell how much I’m going to enjoy this or, for that matter, what the plot is going to be (I don’t like to read cover copy on books; I prefer to discover it as I go along). Thus far: guy is in Maine on vacation, guy’s parents die, guy’s sister is mentally ill. It was recommended by the person who loaned it to me and the writing is good — I’m liking it so far. Not everything has to be high-concept.

What did you just finish?

The Clairvoyant Countess by Dorothy Gilman – Well, for certain values of “finished”, anyway. This is another one from the cheap-paperback pile, which I had picked up at the used bookstore because I like her Mrs. Pollifax books; they’re a bit twee, but also very charming. And straight back to the used bookstore it goes, because it’s so unbearably twee that I quit halfway through. There is no overall plot, just a series of mini-mysteries in which Madame Karitska, psychic, helps the police, usually by telling them things that are so blindingly obvious that I’d already figured out the twist a few pages ago. The police in this town can’t find the bathroom without Madame Kariska telling them where it is. Tightened up a bit and with a solid plot, I think I might have enjoyed this book a lot more, because the characters are likable, but it’s just too rambling and self-consciously precious; there’s too much of Madame Karitska being wise and darling and telling people really obvious stuff that solves all their problems.

What are you reading next?

Something else from the Cheap Paperback Pile, no doubt.

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