Can't talk, gotta read.

Here's a little tip, from me to you: If you're having a busy week, and you have a lot of work yet to do, and your weekend's going to be at least partially shot to hell because you have to attend a bridal shower*, do not, under any circumstances, pick up Michael Perry's new book Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting.

I started it last night at 11 p.m., and wow, was that a mistake.** So now I'm tired from reading too late, and behind in my day's work (already!) because I read some more over breakfast. But you know what? It was totally worth it. I'm not done with it yet but am trying to valiantly exert some self-control and get other stuff done so I can go back to it tonight.

I'll say more about it next week (Perry is one of my favorite authors, having written the memoirs Population: 485 and Truck: A Love Story) but suffice it to say that it's awesome. I was reading it last night, totally lost in my own little world (or, more accurately, Perry's own little world) when Mr. CR looked over and said, "Are you all right?" And I started and said "Yes, fine, why?" And he said, "You have a funny little smile. I just wondered." Evidently when I am feeling 100% joy it manifests itself in a funny little smile. Good to know.

*Nothing against the bride. Brides are welcome to have bridal showers. But I don't believe in them personally (and please note, I didn't have one myself, so I never feel bad skipping out on them and sending a check instead; for various reasons, I can't do that this time). As a religion, my Anti-Shower Beliefs rival my Catholic ones in vehemence.

**It was a mistake because it's SO GOOD I didn't want to stop reading. 

Comments

[Yvonne]

That's the best book recommendation. "This book will totally disrupt your life."

Michael Perry was guest blogger at Powell's last week, http://www.powells.com/blog/?author=508 so this book had already made my to-be-read list. I'll just have to risk the disruption.

[Citizen Reader]

Yvonne,
I totally agree. And this book just kept on disrupting my life; I couldn't get anything else done until it was finished. Although it did go with me to the doctor's office and was a great read for there--I hate doctors' offices and it kept my mind off of where I was! Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

Although--if you've never read a Mike Perry I'd still start with Population: 485. It's almost like a more "introductory" work to the rest of his books; I felt like I loved this book more because I feel like I know Mike Perry (although not really, as I am aware). Just something to consider. And thanks for the Powell's link! I love Powells.

[Mary]

I am in the middle of the book and enjoying it very much, my only crticism would be that is seems a bit disjointed because he hops from one topic to another so quickly. I am someone who does the majority of my reading in the middle of the night (insomnia) and find this style a bit distracting, his other books where much more in the narrative style.

[Citizen Reader]

Mary,
I agree with you about the disjointedness--I rather thought that "Truck" had that problem too, but I lose all objectivity when I'm around Perry's writing. More later--

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear you have insomnia. I hope it isn't too disruptive to you--even though it sounds like you're putting your time to good use reading. Still and all though, when it's time to sleep, it'd be nice to sleep.

[Mary]

I finished it last night, will not say what time that was but it was dark out and I am pretty sure everyone else was asleep. The last half is pretty powerful in many ways, I do think Perry revealed a lot more about himself in this book, and I really came to admire his parents. I also enjoyed the animals.

[Citizen Reader]

Mary,
The great majority of the fun for me was how much I feel like I "know" Michael Perry (although I don't, really, of course). My parents stalked his parents and met them in New Auburn, and then they came to visit my parents, at whose house I got to meet them. They are WONDERFUL. So reading this book and being able to picture his parents was a real treat.

I did enjoy the animals, but mainly I enjoyed READING about them rather than having to keep them. I'm all for sustainability but I am too lazy to put pigs up in my backyard.

And, hopefully without giving too much away--just how much bad luck can one person have? (In the person of his brother Jed.) That was so sad.