"I left the woman there, alone in the room, with the very long book. Not quite as long as Guy Fieri’s game show career. But close." LOL. I grabbed Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi while rushing to the doctor's office one morning in 2020. I love her work, and that book, but one doctor's visit turned into emergency surgery and a long hospital stay. It was a trippy story, which matched my trippy experience, but reeked of antiseptic and suffering after my release. I was glad to have it, but dropped it in a little free library as soon as I was well enough to take a walk. Glad you're both out of the waiting room/hospital rooms!
I loved this. This line really got me, "I left the woman there, alone in the room, with the very long book. Not quite as long as Guy Fieri’s game show career. But close."
I've had a number of surgeries myself the last five years. No way around it, hospitals involve loads of waiting. But it's also true, whether the surgery is a breast cancer related lumpectomy or a foot surgery to improve the quality of my life (or a do-over of earlier foot surgery), it's hard to concentrate! I have to pick something like a beach read - but the opposite? Because a hospital waiting room is nothing like the beach! I love a light book I can read in a day for these situations, like Nora Ephron's Heartburn, or Muriel Spark's Loitering with Intent. I do feel for this woman. I hated the Goldfinch. Tartt is a next level writer, and parts of it I loved. But holy cats - the editor left town when that book came in. It could have been 150 pages shorter! Apparently, publishing houses are intimidated by big name authors, and no one wants to tell them to whack a fifth of the book. In my defense, I do love Tartt's short stories. Even if I threw my own library copy of the Goldfinch across the room rather than finish it.
I always bring a book to read in those situations, but I find it hard to concentrate on the words. Mostly because there's always some version of Guy Fieri cooking or renovating a house or playing some inane game. Those shows grate on me; I hate the volume, the sharpness of the hosts' voices, the incessant banter. Ugh. It's like someone decided every waiting room should be a Hollister circa 1998. I guess noise-cancelling headphones are a must, but then how do you know when your name is called?
That being said, I thought The Goldfinch was pretty well-received across the board...
Best wishes to your mom. I'm glad you're not in that waiting room anymore!
I read ‘Weyward’ in the hallway of the ER while my dad was evaluated, waited for admission, and eventually was admitted. I read a little in the chair of his ICU room each day and finished just before he died. I don’t think I’ll ever forget its connection to that time. I’m so grateful for fiction that can transport you to somewhere that is not the everyday hell of hospital experiences (ironic since I work in one). Hoping you get a long break from them.
"I left the woman there, alone in the room, with the very long book. Not quite as long as Guy Fieri’s game show career. But close." LOL. I grabbed Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi while rushing to the doctor's office one morning in 2020. I love her work, and that book, but one doctor's visit turned into emergency surgery and a long hospital stay. It was a trippy story, which matched my trippy experience, but reeked of antiseptic and suffering after my release. I was glad to have it, but dropped it in a little free library as soon as I was well enough to take a walk. Glad you're both out of the waiting room/hospital rooms!
I loved this. This line really got me, "I left the woman there, alone in the room, with the very long book. Not quite as long as Guy Fieri’s game show career. But close."
"THIS BOOK IS GARBAGE!" made me laugh very hard. And I loved The Goldfinch! I hope your mom is doing well. It's very tough watching our parents age.
Literally opened this in a waiting room.
All my best to your mother!
I've had a number of surgeries myself the last five years. No way around it, hospitals involve loads of waiting. But it's also true, whether the surgery is a breast cancer related lumpectomy or a foot surgery to improve the quality of my life (or a do-over of earlier foot surgery), it's hard to concentrate! I have to pick something like a beach read - but the opposite? Because a hospital waiting room is nothing like the beach! I love a light book I can read in a day for these situations, like Nora Ephron's Heartburn, or Muriel Spark's Loitering with Intent. I do feel for this woman. I hated the Goldfinch. Tartt is a next level writer, and parts of it I loved. But holy cats - the editor left town when that book came in. It could have been 150 pages shorter! Apparently, publishing houses are intimidated by big name authors, and no one wants to tell them to whack a fifth of the book. In my defense, I do love Tartt's short stories. Even if I threw my own library copy of the Goldfinch across the room rather than finish it.
I always bring a book to read in those situations, but I find it hard to concentrate on the words. Mostly because there's always some version of Guy Fieri cooking or renovating a house or playing some inane game. Those shows grate on me; I hate the volume, the sharpness of the hosts' voices, the incessant banter. Ugh. It's like someone decided every waiting room should be a Hollister circa 1998. I guess noise-cancelling headphones are a must, but then how do you know when your name is called?
That being said, I thought The Goldfinch was pretty well-received across the board...
Best wishes to your mom. I'm glad you're not in that waiting room anymore!
(And thank you for your good wishes.)
I mean it won the Pulitzer! It was definitely about the moment in time for this woman.
I read ‘Weyward’ in the hallway of the ER while my dad was evaluated, waited for admission, and eventually was admitted. I read a little in the chair of his ICU room each day and finished just before he died. I don’t think I’ll ever forget its connection to that time. I’m so grateful for fiction that can transport you to somewhere that is not the everyday hell of hospital experiences (ironic since I work in one). Hoping you get a long break from them.