An All-American August

July 29, 2023

An All-American August

I’m inordinately pleased that my reading for the coming month features American novels. This was not planned!

Light in August by William Faulkner. I have already started this one and am enjoying it immensely. So far, this is a very different reading experience than The Sound and the Fury. I couldn’t be more pleasantly surprised by the tone, pacing, and characterizations that feel true to life without being relentlessly cruel. Let’s hope this continues.

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle. Readalong with Cyberkitten. At first I thought this didn’t count, but then I remembered half this novel is a flashback set in the Wild West. It counts, I say!

East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I am tackling this tome for a readalong elsewhere and also with my reading buddy for Reading the World. This will be our second book for the US; hopefully it treats us better than Lincoln in the Bardo.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. Still a little wounded from The House of Mirth, I nonetheless have had this book on my shelf forever. It needs to be read, or it needs to go! I saw a readalong opportunity for this and decided to go for it. Also planning to watch the movie afterwards.

I won’t have any extra time, but if I do, there’s always Dune by Frank Herbert, who was born in the Pacific Northwest, making him practically a neighbor.

What’s on your August TBR?

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Marian

Blogger, YouTuber, reader, and scribbler. I love classic literature, tea, and rain, preferably all at once.

14 responses to “An All-American August”

Diana @ Thoughts on Papyrus

July 30, 2023 at 12:36 am

A great idea! I do love a good American novel! I adore Wharton’s The Age of Innocence (but then I did like The House of Mirth, too). I wanted to read Wharton’s The Custom of the Country this summer, but I don’t think I will now – something saved for autumn! I am intrigued re your praise of Light in August, but Faulkner still scares me a little especially after As I Lay Dying. One other American novel I want to read soon is Melville’s Billy Budd.

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1. Silvia
  
  July 30, 2023 at 6:16 am
  
  Same feelings about Faulkner.
  
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2. Marian
  
  July 30, 2023 at 7:44 pm
  
  Billy Budd is sooo good!
  
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Silvia

July 30, 2023 at 6:16 am

Awww, what wonderful titles. I’m tempted and curious about Faulkner. I have never read any of his books. Would you think this one more approachable that The Sound…?

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1. Marian
  
  July 30, 2023 at 7:42 pm
  
  So far, much more approachable and straightforward. I just finished chapter 2 and am still enjoying it!
  
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Cyberkitten

July 30, 2023 at 7:16 am

Looking forward to ‘Scarlet’. I’d forgotten about the Wild West bit…… Oh, and I’m presently reading a book about the Middle East you might find interesting:

‘Heart Beguiling Araby – The English Romance with Arabia’ by Kathryn Tidrick. I’ve read a book by her before. She’s really good. She calls herself an ‘amateur’ Historian and is a trained Psychologist (PhD), so has a very interesting perspective on things.

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1. Marian
  
  July 30, 2023 at 7:47 pm
  
  Wow, that does sound interesting! I eagerly await your review. I always enjoy it when people in those kinds of fields write or talk about history. John E Mack, a psychiatrist, wrote my favorite biography of Lawrence (A Prince of Our Disorder).
  
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Erion

July 30, 2023 at 7:34 pm

I hear you about The House of Mirth. I re-read it this month and… yes, I know what you mean. It sent me on a rabbit trail to find out who Lily Bart was modeled after. I haven’t read The Age of Innocence. Not only do I need to fix this, I need to find a good edition. It’s not 100%, but I might read Hardy or Daphne Du Maurier for August.

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1. Marian
  
  July 30, 2023 at 7:52 pm
  
  Ooh, which Hardy are you thinking of reading? I read Far From the Madding Crowd once, but that was the extent of my interest until one of my booktube friends praised his writing in Tess. I’m warming up to the idea of reading it at some point. 🙂
  
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  1. Erion
    
    July 31, 2023 at 12:48 pm
    
    Last Victober I read Far From the Madding Crowd and The Mayor of Casterbridge. The beginning of the Mayor really shocked me! And after research those things actually took place. Even more shocking.
    I’m on the fence between Return of the Native and Tess. I thumbed through Tess and I think I may have read it in high school. So I pulled Native off the shelf. I’ll probably read Tess this Victober. I have heard Tess is a hard read.
    
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Cyberkitten

August 5, 2023 at 2:20 am

Planning to review ‘Scarlet’ on Monday, but can hold off till Thursday if you wish…. How is this sort of thing normally ‘done’? It’s my first time…..

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1. Marian
  
  August 5, 2023 at 7:55 am
  
  Hm I think if we post in the same week that should be close enough! Mine will probably be towards the end of the week so Thursday would be great!
  
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  1. Cyberkitten
    
    August 5, 2023 at 10:19 am
    
    Thursday it is! I’ll switch it with my Arabia post instead.
    
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September Again – Classics Considered

September 2, 2023 at 11:48 pm

[…] update on my ambitious August reading is in […]

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