I suspect that my absence here means far more to me than it does to anyone else. Given this, I will say that the absence is felt strongly. I’m not sure what combination of life’s variables motivates this right here, but figuring that out is a top priority of mine. After starting and stopping too many books and then failing to choose any book at all, I was desperate for a straightforward recommendation from a reliable source; I’m skeptical of must-read lists, best-sellers receive far too much attention, and randomly browsing a bookstore rarely yields results. In late October, while scanning my own bookshelf with hands on hips for the nth time, I glimpsed An Uncommon Education and thought, I’ll ask Elizabeth Percer. She had proved exceptionally kind when I contacted her for a Q&A last year, so I thought I would test my luck again. Nevertheless, I was surprised to not only receive a swift response, but one that also reads like this:
“I’m so sorry to hear that you’re in a book rut. Sometimes it’s good to let our fields go fallow. Walk around, read things other than books. Imagine the book you wish you could read, and tell people about it.”
Elizabeth ends her email with exactly the kind of recommendation that I was looking for: a single title and its author (So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell). I’ve since finished the book but I’m continuously re-reading it, settling in and opening to a random page, as if testing how much I remember. I love reaching the point in a book where no matter which page I flip to, I’m so familiar with the story that I can carry on without a hitch. So Long, See You Tomorrow is a simple story made rich by the details and emotions, much like our own lives. Books often have us dive into the ordinary lives of a cast of characters, only to lead us towards a bombshell that derails everything we’ve come to know and love/hate. In So Long, See You Tomorrow, the bombshell happens on the first page – Clarence kills Lloyd – and we work back and forth through time to answer all related questions. In her message, Elizabeth calls the book “generous and kind and brilliant,” and it doesn’t take long to discover exactly what that means. Maxwell takes great care in contextualizing the characters’ actions and motives, as if exonerating them, as if they have every reason in the world to behave exactly the way that they do. Perhaps we all do.
Best, Yuri
@yuriroho
“I’m so sorry to hear that you’re in a book rut. Sometimes it’s good to let our fields go fallow. Walk around, read things other than books. Imagine the book you wish you could read, and tell people about it.”
Elizabeth ends her email with exactly the kind of recommendation that I was looking for: a single title and its author (So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell). I’ve since finished the book but I’m continuously re-reading it, settling in and opening to a random page, as if testing how much I remember. I love reaching the point in a book where no matter which page I flip to, I’m so familiar with the story that I can carry on without a hitch. So Long, See You Tomorrow is a simple story made rich by the details and emotions, much like our own lives. Books often have us dive into the ordinary lives of a cast of characters, only to lead us towards a bombshell that derails everything we’ve come to know and love/hate. In So Long, See You Tomorrow, the bombshell happens on the first page – Clarence kills Lloyd – and we work back and forth through time to answer all related questions. In her message, Elizabeth calls the book “generous and kind and brilliant,” and it doesn’t take long to discover exactly what that means. Maxwell takes great care in contextualizing the characters’ actions and motives, as if exonerating them, as if they have every reason in the world to behave exactly the way that they do. Perhaps we all do.
Best, Yuri
@yuriroho
I’m happy you shared this book here. I’m excited if I will read it someday or not. It’s on my list 😉
Haha, I hope you do read it! I think you’ll like it.
Whenever I’ve found myself uninspired by my current book selection I’ll pick up one of my favorites. Somehow reading a book I’ve loved and read a few times before gives me the energy to try something new! xx
http://www.2BlueEyes.com
What a lovely approach! Cheers 🙂
I really enjoyed reading this, and am all too familiar with the book rut, so thanks for sharing. I always love to hear your recommendations and I look forward to getting to this one!
Maria | Moore of This
Thank you, Maria! I love your “Notes to Self” series.
Thanks for the recommendation! When I’m in a book rut, I always re-read the classics and sometimes my favorite books I used to read as a kid 🙂 The Magic Faraway Tree is my all time favorite 🙂
The Magic Faraway Tree ? I’m intrigued! Looking it up now.
I was wondering why I wasn’t seeing new posts from you for a while. I love reading your thoughts on books and life in general. I was just in a reading rut probably about a month a go and I started reading letters. Weird I know, but they were refreshing and full of emotions as well.
Thank you for the kind words. Letters sound just lovely 🙂
Such good advice. When I’m in a book rut I do other things – watch films, do crafts. Usually a book will come along to inspire you. I’m glad you found one.
Just came across your blog. The way you describe the book is beautiful. And, great advice on the book rut.
Yuri, I was wondering if are you are a writer yourself?