The Best Book I Never Read
My friend Patry from “Simply Wait” had three hot new ideas in October. One of them was to host an online book club called “Third Day” in which participating bloggers agree to read the same book and post about it on the third day of each month. The first book chosen for club reading was “Half of a Yellow Sun,” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and today our homework is due!
Patry is a writer I admire. Her first novel, The Liar’s Diary, published by Dutton, is due out this coming February, and her blog never fails to deliver top notch reading. I wanted to be involved in the book club, to do some literary hob-knobbing with her and her readers, but as the October clock ticked by it looked more and more unlikely.
I have never thought so much about a book that I didn’t read as I’ve thought about this one, with its bright yellow cover seared in my mind. 
I wanted it to appear in my mailbox, to see it in the grocery store at the check out stand. I tried to plead hick. There’s no Barnes and Noble or other big book chains in my small one stoplight town, I reasoned. But in fact, I did go to Christiansburg, where several book stores are located, on three occasions in October, but by the time I finished with my reasons for being there, I had no energy to stop at the bookstore.
It didn’t help that I kept forgetting the name of the book (I didn’t even try to remember the name of its Nigerian author). I must have written down the title half a dozen times, checking to make sure I had it right. Was it Piece of Yellow Sun, A Yellow Piece of Sun, or Half of a Yellow Sun? To my credit, I took one of those scraps of paper with the name of the book scribbled on it to our local library, but they didn’t have the book.
With October came the scheduled guest appearance I made with a group of local book club members who had read my book, The Jim and Dan Stories. I wrote and sold three articles to the Floyd Press. Two blogger meet-ups with out of town bloggers took place, as well as a Floyd Fandango where my husband and I saw a clown balance a wheelbarrow on his head. Distracted by trees in bright colors, poetry readings, apple picking, Halloween parties, and politics, when the end of October rolled around, I had to face reality.
Like a fly on the wall with no voice, I’m left to read online reviews and the entries that Patry and her readers post.
Go on over and check out what’s being said about the book that Patry paraphrases one reviewer as having said ‘it’s simply the future of literature.’ That’s were I’m going next …
Post Note: The Third Day logo/photo above is via Simply Wait.
November 3rd, 2006 9:49 am
This is one of the reasons I do not join book clubs. I have to be able to read at my leisure and when I am ready and have the time. Book clubs are a little like school homework. There is a deadline on when you have to read it. Then when you do read, it you are rushed and I find that to be not as enjoyable. Are you planning on reading it or just continuing on the book clubs schedule?
November 3rd, 2006 10:07 am
I’m hoping to read the next book chosen. It’s half the size, for one thing, and looks intriguing. Patry grew up in Brockton and she’s a waitress turned writer (and you know how waitressing runs in our family). I think she first left a comment in the summer of 2005 on a Paragon Park post. I’m glad she did. She’s been a regular read on my blog list since then.
November 3rd, 2006 10:26 am
i have a whole shelf of books i want to read- probably most will have to wait until my son starts school. and colleen- you are officially linked! 🙂
November 3rd, 2006 1:11 pm
Books certainly can get lost in the shuffle of activity. 400 pages can be a trifle daunting even when one can remember the name. Patry said 70,000 novel writers for teh month. Can you imagine?!
November 3rd, 2006 2:20 pm
I rather like the book club I belong to, but it’s because we meet in person. Then there is a lot of estrogen in the room and much laughter as we sip cider and discuss … whatever. I don’t know that I could do an online bookclub, though. I doubt the estrogen could get through the computer!
November 3rd, 2006 2:54 pm
Ha! …to the estrogen comment. I already belong to a meditation group and writers’ workshop and at one time a woman’s circle. I like the idea of The Third Day because it introduces bloggers to eachother and has the potential to cross pollinate minds and build readership on all sides. Also, it looks like fun and is only once a month. I like Patry’s suggestion list on what we might write about.
I went to 2 book clubs this year that had read my book. Both were all women. Hmmmm.
November 3rd, 2006 4:07 pm
FYI…
Colleen I noticed you mentioned “Sophie’s Choice” on Ginnie’s blog and I didn’t know if you knew or not but novelist William Styron died Wednesday. He was 81 and apparently died of pneumonia.
November 3rd, 2006 4:11 pm
I’d love to join a bookclub too, but I am like your first commenter – I need more time than a book club will give me to read the book. I’m going to check out Patry – thanks for the ref.
November 3rd, 2006 4:27 pm
Yes, Alan. I saw a spot on the PBS News Hour on Styron’s death, which is probably what made me think of “Sophie’s Choice” becasue they showed a clip of the movie, the scene where Merly Streep is being told she has choose which one of her children will live or die. The look on her face still chills me to the bone.
November 3rd, 2006 5:20 pm
I really think I might like a book club when I retire. I think getting just the right people is the key. Right now I am too stressed (in case you didn’t notice.)
November 3rd, 2006 7:15 pm
I love the “idea” of a book club, but have never really wanted to join one…I guess in some ways it feels too much like school…a limited amount of time to read, etc…But I love reading reviews of books and certainly find that THAT can spark my interest like no other….
You sound so incredibly busy Colleen…And I think it is wonderful!
BTW: Today is the 1st Anniversary of my Blog! Where sis it go….?
November 3rd, 2006 7:18 pm
Hi Colleen: don’t feel bad about not reading the book. I am in awe of all you get done. You need some time to just enjoy your beautiful surroundings. I can’t wait to get back next spring.
November 3rd, 2006 8:23 pm
Colleen, on that trip to Pennsylvania I wrote about, I came past the Floyd exit on 81. The next time I travel north, it would be fun to meet you at the coffee shop (my treat) for a bit and compare notes. How far is Floyd from 81? Let me know if you would be up for that. I doubt it will be for awhile with everything going on. The drive both ways was spectacular.
I’m so sorry you lost your Dad because of sloppy hospital care. Health care is the biggest boogeyman in the US these days and getting worse just in time for all of us Baby Boomers to worry about the kind of care we’ll be receiving.
November 4th, 2006 6:50 am
I was in a book club years ago and for a time I did enjoy meeting monthly to discuss said books. As time went on though I seemed to want to read what I wanted to read; ie, just as Sherry said in the first comment – it felt as though I had homework to “have to” read a certain book. Not that that’s an altogether bad thing, but I ended up dropping out after a year or so.
I still have a passion for reading though.
Right now I’m stuck on Dennis Lehane, which is a whole world away from the kind of books I usually go for (I seldom read fiction). His books are chock full, via his can’t-put-down fictional tales, of that which I crave, which is to understand the human psyche.
November 4th, 2006 9:08 am
Thanks for your comment on my Half of a Yellow Sun post. I came to see your blog. I also like Natalie Goldberg’s writings.
I’ll be checking back.
November 4th, 2006 9:17 am
I am the worst at remembering an authors name…I will ask Martin “who wrote you know that book I read about the man that didn’t kill his dad but his wife did….” and normally he knows. I love to read and keep the story but unless it is Larry Brown or a classic like Hemmingway I will forget the author name.
I’ll go over and see if it was really any good!
BTW…I like those 3 hot peppers!
November 4th, 2006 9:42 am
I’ve never joined a book club before but some of those books look interesting. Thanks for sharing those. I will certainly be on the lookout for them now.
November 4th, 2006 1:39 pm
Now come ON, Colleen….You simply haven’t convinced me WHY you had no time to read this book….lol It’s safe to assume you’re bored with nothing to do, day to day, right?
On my way to read the review on the book you didn’t read.
November 4th, 2006 11:51 pm
Your teachers must be rolling over and groaning…. I had to laugh. Is this how you did book reports in school? Frankly, it wouldn’t surprise me if you could get away with doing it!!! 😉 Perhaps you could request a book that is in the library next time.
November 5th, 2006 1:30 pm
I have so much to say about this that I think I’m going to have to number my comments.
1. I was so excited to come here and see the three red peppers looking back at me!
2. I almost forgot that I found you through Paragon Park! It was tacky, a couple of the rides made me throw up and the food probably left cholesterol in my veins to this day, but I still feel a sweet nostalgia whenever I think about it.
3. Congrats on the three articles in the Floyd press and all you did last month!
4. Next month’s novel, Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell, is much shorter and hopefully will be available in your library.
5. Thanks for writing about the book club. I know an on-line book club is not as much fun as the kind that involves wine and laughter
and hugs, but you pointed out the strengths it does have: a) you don’t have to leave your house or give up an entire evening to it b) it attracts new friends to your blog and c) Even if you don’t finish the book on time, you still get to join in the discussion whenever you do.
xo Patry
November 5th, 2006 8:00 pm
srp, I guess you could say this it an anti-book review, like writing a poem about a poem and better than saying the dog ate my homework.
Patry, I’ve written “Winter’s Bone” on a scrap of paper!
November 5th, 2006 11:45 pm
Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting on my review of Half of a Yellow Sun. I loved Patry’s idea and had a blast doing the review. I like your blog and will stop in now that I’ve found it. 🙂