Fire Watch by Connie Willis

Fire Watch is a collection of twelve short stories by Connie Willis a well known science fiction author from my home state, Colorado.  She has won six Nebul awards--more than any other science fiction writer.  If you enjoyed her novels Blackout or All Clear you will enjoy the title story Fire Watch which is in the same setting, but Willis has a varied offering in this collection. 

The stories cover a large scope of subject matter. They range from Daisy, in the Sun a story about the sun going super nova to A Letter from the Clearys about a family's life in the aftermath of a nuclear war. My favorites were Samaritan and Blued Moon.  Samaritan brings up the question of whether animals have souls in a unique and thought provoking way.  Blued Moon takes place in Wyoming at a site where a company is sending waste into outer space and the unique consequences that result.

Many are moving and some are a little creepy but they all kept me reading.  Most of them are not for someone who worries about what will happen in the future because the stories in this collection are not all "happily ever after" tales. 

Sometimes a short story fits into my schedule more seamlessly than a longer book.  It is easy to pick up, read a quick story and then put it down again.  A short story also seems to required less energy and commitment from the reader, although at least one of the these stories seemed quite intense to me. 

I always encourage people to read something by Connie Willis.  Her storytelling skills are top notch and her imagination runs everywhere!

Mrs. Dalloway, January Book Club

Let me start by saying everyone should read something by Virginia Woolf at least once in their lifetime.  I think this holds true for man authors such as Shakespeare, Hemingway, Joyce, and Rand.  You don't need to fall in love with the book or the author but you just may.

While I did not love Mrs. Dalloway, or the author Virginia Woolf I am extremely glad I read the book.  The style, stream of consciousness, was at first a chore to read but gradually I got into it.  The story takes place on one day of the life of Mrs. Dalloway and includes some peripheral characters that touch her life very remotely.  As someone who loves the extremely large epics this book forced me to change my focus. 

This book was the pick for our early January discussion at book club.  Since it was for our group I was committed to reading the whole book.  Since my book club met on January 4th I began reading after Christmas and read in several large chunks.  For me that may have helped to hold everything together. 

One thing I have learned belonging to a book club is that the book you love is not always the book that generates the best discussion.  Some books lend themselves to a lively and diverse discussion while some do not.  Mrs. Dalloway is an excellent discussion book. 

Have you read a Woolf book?  If not, I do highly recommend Mrs. Dalloway.  You many not fall in love with the book or the author but you will be glad that you read it.   If possible share this book with someone else, you will have a lot to discuss.

Welcome Back!

I feel like this message is for me, but I intend it for you as well.  It seems like summer arrived, we tackled a huge landscaping project and suffered through the heat then suddenly school began.  I just fell off the bandwagon and I apologize.  It was heart warming to come back and discover that you've been here all along, checking in from time to time.  Thank-you.

My resolutions for 2013 including blogging every book I read this year.  Although I won't complain about books I don't like I will at least least acknowledge that they were read.

So, lets skip the lame excuses and go right to the books!