I've had a bad run of reading lights but it looks like third time's gonna be a charm. I bought a rechargeable book light yesterday with a gift certificate. Finally a book light that won't break within a week, is bright enough to actually light up a full page (it has 4 LEDs instead of the usual single), light enough to hold on a paperback, and doesn't require a constant refill on expensive watch-sized batteries. Yeah I can't believe I just promoted a reading light either.
I've come to a bit of a stand-still in my reading activity lately. I was resistant at the start but in the end really enjoyed "A Complicated Kindness" by Miriam Toews. There was something about the main character's voice that didn't jive with her upbringing and surroundings (how would she know about Lou Reed etc I wonder?) but I enjoyed the story and sped through it. On the other hand I've been sitting around the first few chapters of Helen De Witt's "The Last Samurai" for weeks now. I just can't seem to get into it. She had me with some humour in the first chapter but I'm kinda bored with being inundated by distracting obscure scholarly references and the genius kid plotline. Reviews say the book picks up in the second half so I'm willing myself to push through it.
Do you have any reading suggestions?