The excessive heat and humidity continues. This is the 5th day of this awful, awful weather and we have one more to go. It really messes with my allergies and my brain is in a fog. There were lots of thunderstorms around us yesterday, but they seemed to be just to the north, so we weren’t impacted. But there are more on the way today, tomorrow, and Monday.
I keep watering and sweating and watering again and sweating. Attractive, right?
I finished Sarah Perry’s newest book – Enlightenment – yesterday, which left me shaken and moved and overwhelmed with emotion. I can’t stop thinking about it and, as usual when this happens, the next book in the queue will suffer by comparison.
I cannot speak highly enough of Perry’s novels. She is an extraordinary writer, simply extraordinary. She bases her stories in Essex (England.) This one is a story of unrequited love, of faith, God, science, astronomy, the heavens, and the plot is so beautifully woven together that it made me weak in the knees. I felt that way about The Essex Serpent (read during lockdown) and, to a slightly lesser degree, Melmoth. Ghosts, mysticism, questions about life and death, the metaphysical, love, the one you cannot help loving, friendship, the bonds between human beings – it’s all there.
Her prose is so rich, so detailed, so lyrical. I got this from our library system, but I feel very strongly that it should be in my home library, so I most likely will buy my own copy at some point.
That’s all I can say today. I finished it yesterday and it’s still with me. The characters live on in my heart.
Stay safe.
Happy Saturday.
I’ve never read Sarah Perry, so thanks for the recommendation. I’m guessing they are historical (vs. contemporary?) in nature? True? It’s wonderful to find an author you really love.
I was planning to go to the lake today but the hourly said the percentage of rain on the hourly (and storms) was between 70 to 100 percent depending on the time. So staying in the heat dome here. Tomorrow will cool off. If it gets too unbearable, I may actually go to a “real” movie. We watched “On Golden Pond” last night — it had been years since I’ve seen it and it’s one of those films that has an entirely different focus if you watch it at 70 versus 30-something. I figured Hepburn was my age — 73 (almost for me) — when she made it and did her own stunts and such, which made me feel quite the slacker. She looked so lovely.
Have a good weekend. I hope the allergies ease up!
Some historical in that they take place in a different time, but this one was both – historical and fairly contemporary.
We are all slackers in comparison to Kate.
Stay safe, Jeanie.
I appreciate all your recommendations. It seems to be harder to find movies or books to want to spend time on. I am not into all the weird sci fi stuff that’s so popular. A great movie would be nice.
I’m not either!
Stay safe, Kay.
I recently put this book on my hold list at the library. I’m even more anxious to read it now after your review. Oh this heat is terrible and my allergies are also crazy. I’m still unpacking some boxes but I’m finally feeling like the new place is home. Hugs!
So glad it’s feeling like home now, Linda!
Stay safe.
i hope sarah perry finds your review of her books, writing . it is very nicely done and i’m sure she would be pleased. and it made me add her books to my “tbr” list; thank you.
and thanks very, very much to you and anyone else who prayed for my family (prayers are always appreciated)!!!!! the colonoscopy went well yesterday and the doctor feels certain the 1+ inch thing that was removed will be found benign. we all are relieved. what i couldn’t say the other day, because it was so scary just to think about, is that because of age and other health concerns, this procedure was done with more anesthesia (not the lesser “conscious sedation” that sounds typical for colonoscopies, and which i had for my own colonoscopy several years ago) and in a hospital operating room. praying for good biopsy results and we all slept much better and longer last night. thanks again from my heart. xo.
hope everyone stays well, happy and cool!
kathy
Good news!
Stay safe, Kathy.
I just put Sarah Perry on my list of authors to read. You have been a great source of great “reads” for me.
I hope a cool down is coming your way,
Kaye
Thank you, Kaye.
Stay safe.