Reading and Life in a Woman's Body

Reading and Life in a Woman’s Body

I’m not finding that I’m reading more or less during the pandemic than normal, nor am I seeking certain books for a certain type of succor.

Though, I am making a list of books I want to run down to my local bookstore (Water Street Bookstore) and purchase. One aspect of the pandemic that has hit me is the loss of one very large client, the slowing of new work coming in, and slow payments, so I find myself holding onto my cash with the plan to spend on a few books when a bit of money appears.

On the list so far:

The Men in My Life by Patricia Bosworth (she died of Covid)

Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby

The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch

The first two because they seem entertaining and funny.

The third because she writes what it’s like to live life in a woman’s body, which is an important thing for male writers to learn. I’ve been told I write from a woman and girl’s perspective well, but there are shades of meaning and complexity that I still need to understand.

And right now, I am rereading The Stories of John Cheever. He does not write in a style that I generally like—lots of expository and explaining, not quite telling—but he was very good at what he did. His stories also take me back to a time and place that gives a bit of insight as to what my Mother’s young life might’ve been like.

It’s a nice escape.