Tomorrow could be... interesting
Well. Some news I've been expecting is coming tomorrow. So, my day could be pretty good. It could be a bit of a bummer but manageable. It could be extremely bad. Don't want to get into more- just hoping for the best (or at least not seeing worst case scenario. I'd settle for that).
Weather has been warm, but not unseasonable. In fact, it's been nice. Mid-80s, a lot of sun. Can't believe we've passed Independence Day already. Seems like we just wrapped up graduations, and here we're halfway through summer. Yikes.
Speaking of July 4, had my first three-day weekend in a while. It was nice to just chill. Finished a book (in three days, because my book club met Sunday. It was really good- review to follow.) Started a drawing, did some cleaning, puttered around. It was nice to recharge.
Not much more to say, so... on with the book reviews. I've pretty much wrapped up my readings of O. Henry stories, last batch is here. Wow, he was prolific!
127. The Story of An Hour, by Kate Chopin. I was reading a bit about the reactions to this story when it first came out in 1894, it was met with some controversy. I can see why. Indeed, I can see it raising some eyebrows even today. Interesting sidenote, the original title was The Dream of An Hour. Interesting change. At any rate, a young woman has just been told that her husband has died. Her reaction is not what one might expect. It is well-written, and keeps you guessing as to what direction the story will go.
128. Eve's Diary, by Mark Twain. I read this, considering it for my online readings. I'm glad I read the whole thing first. The first three-quarters I really enjoyed. The shortish story is mostly told from Eve's view, and it's whimsical and humorous. It's the last bit that made me cringe. This story's conclusion did not age well. I guess, typing out loud, the ending could be seen as an exaggeration, too. Maybe it should have been interpreted that way, as her thoughts being ridiculous and over the top? That would be like Twain. Now that I'm writing this, I may have to think it over.
129. A Dark Brown Dog, by Stephen Crane. On the surface, this reads like a sinister version of the "boy and his dog" story. That's dark enough. But when you read this as an allegory to the Civil War and slavery, that's a whole other level of bleak. It's well written, to be sure. The message can't be missed, and the story is heart-breaking. I do recommend it- but follow it with a comic chaser. There's a lot of emotion packed in a short tale.
130. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, by Ambrose Bierce. A Confederate sympathizer faces the noose after he tries to sabotage a bridge used by the Federal Army. He dreams of escape. The resulting tale has a bit of a twist at the end. While the ending might seem old hat now, it was novel when this was published.
131. Code Name Verity, by Elizabeth Wein. If you are a fan of World War II historical fiction, read this. This is an amazing and detailed story focusing on two young women who meet during the war, their friendship and the perils they face when a mission goes awry. The first two-thirds is told from one point of view, the remaining third from the other. It's hard to tell who the narrator is in the first part- which I liked because it keeps you guessing how much she is sharing the truth. There's so, so many layers of subterfuge, sleight of hand and intrigue in this quick read (I finished it in three days). Some parts of tough to read emotionally, especially the descriptions of torture. Then again- those descriptions are honest. A good book for teens wanting to know more about this part of history (with the understanding that some liberties were taken, these didn't bother me because the story felt plausible) and for those who love a good, suspenseful story.
132. The Eyes Have It, by Philip K. Dick. This was a hilarious short story! The narrator is reading a book he found, and winds up taking it a little too literally. It can also be seen as a poke at some of our turns of phrase. Either way, it made me laugh. I had fun reading it for my online reading.
133. Witches' Loaves, by O. Henry. This short story, while amusing at first, has a twist that's actually quite sad. It's a tale of a middle-aged baker, her distinguished customer, and the perils of jumping to wrong conclusions. In this narrative, the result of the erroneous assumptions is nothing short of disastrous. I do like the story, title is in poor taste, though.
134. While the Auto Waits, by O. Henry. O. Henry is known for his twists, but what I liked about this one is that there are hints to the twist throughout this story. It's worth a read- and a reread. Here, a young woman imperiously tells a young, modest-looking man about the boredom she feels with her wealth.
135. Ulysses and the Dogman, by O. Henry. This is somewhat similar to another O. Henry short story (that one told from the dog's point of view). That story was amusing, misogyny aside. This one, not sure how I feel about it. OK, that's not true. I didn't care for it. The positives is that the beginning paragraphs and the descriptions of the men consigned to walking the family dog are hilarious. But it sort of devolves into the two main characters bar-hopping and getting drunk, and I really hated the ending.
136. Transients in Arcadia, by O. Henry. This was a charming tale, perhaps a bit predictable, but lovely all the same. A young man and young woman meet at an establishment that's considered the area's "best kept secret." They get to enjoy each other's company, but at the end, the reader discovers they haven't been forthright with each other.
137. Tracked to Doom, by O. Henry. After reading this, I'm convinced that O. Henry really did not like Agatha Christie's stories. While his parodies on Sherlock Holmes are funny, this- where once again we meet French detective Tictocq - is rather mean-spirited. Also, there's some phrases that haven't aged well. Didn't care for this one. Here, Tictocq is called upon to solve a murder-- and he basically flubs every hint and clue.
138. Tommy's Burgler, by O. Henry. This was cute and funny. A burgler is interrupted during his theft attempts by a sweet and precocious boy. The resulting exchange brings some surprises. Reminded me a bit of Six Characters in Search of an Author- except a lot funnier and sweeter.
139. To Him That Waits, by O. Henry. In this story, which centers on a reclusive hermit who has shut himself from the world after a romance turned to disaster, O. Henry turns the phrase "good things come to those who wait" on its head. The hermit is tempted to rejoin society after his heart is won again by a vacationing woman. Will he be able to leave his secluded life?
Currently reading: First They Killed My Father, by Loung Ung, and The Hard Way on Purpose, by David Giffels.