Good reading

We are still experiencing electricity rationing. The government announced last night that it will probably last until the third week of December. We were supposed to get cut this morning, but that didn’t happen. I don’t know why, but I’m not complaining!

One of the positive aspects of this period of energy rationing has been that I have been reading more. I normally listed to audiobooks while I sew, and I really enjoy that. But I can’t do that while working on the computer. I tend to concentrate more on what I am drawing that on what I am listening, and I will be halfway through an audiobook before I realize I haven’t listened to a word!

Holding a book in my hands again is a gratifying experience, I must admit. Reading certainly is food for the soul. I wanted to share a little about the books I have read the last couple of weeks…

Gioconda Belli (Nicaraguan) is one of my favorite authors. I obviously read her in Spanish, but have been delighted to discover so many of her books have been translated into English, so I can heartily recommend her work. The Scroll of Seduction is her take on the life of Queen Juana of Castile, known as the “crazy queen.” Belli’s depiction, rather, is one that I think any woman can identify with at some level. Highly recommended! Read the original Spanish if you can, or the English translation:

I just finished reading Belli’s latest book this morning. Yes, even though there WAS electricity, I haven’t been able to put this book down and read it in two days. The title: Infinity in the Palm of Her Hand: A Novel of Adam and Eve. Need I say more? This book has been absolutely delightful in her imagination of what the world was for that first man and woman, and how they awakened to consciousness. A lot of food for thought! And, if you care to read the original Spanish, more power to you! El Infinito en la Palma de la Mano.

Another book I read last week and was surprised to find (most of it!) gripping was The Red Scarf. Jamie had bought this a while back, and although I had it on my pile of “have to read books” I hadn’t gotten around to it. I will let you read the review yourself on Amazon (you can see inside and read a few pages)… just to say this was another one that was hard to put down.

Last but not least, another book on that pile was given to me by a Chilean friend early in the year. Let me tell you, that pile has sure been sitting there for a while, but I’m working on it! Anyway, I had never read anything by this author, and the twists and turns certainly surprised me. It’s one of those books that probably shouldn’t be read if you’re feeling blue, because it will feel like a kick in the stomach. But the language is beautiful and the story something I never would have come up with! Unfortunately, there’s no English translation for this one, only the original Spanish: La Razón de los Amantes.