Reading Wednesday

Finished reading: Circling North by Charles Lillard. Some Canadian poetry has a certain... aesthetic, and I can't quite figure out exactly how to describe that aesthetic. But I figure, the Canadians on my flist probably know what I mean. Reading Lillard's stuff, there's definitely a sense of "Boy howdy, this sure is some Canadian poetry, all right". It's not just the sense of place; it's something else, too. ...But unlike some of the Painfully Canadian stuff I have read, it didn't put me to sleep.

Currently reading: Arctis, selected poems of William Heinesen, translated by Anne Born. This guy sure has a way with words, and I bet his stuff is even more beautiful in the original Heinesen was a Faeroese poet who wrote mainly in Danish. Lots of beautiful nature-based imagery here, and a definite sense of arctic-as-place, which I appreciate. "Winter Dream" is probably my favourite of what's in this collection so far.

Also Currently Reading: With Fire and Sword by Henryk Sienkiewicz. I haven't managed to get very far with this one because it's a huuuuge hardcover, and taking it on the bus to work with me would be ridiculously impractical. So. Anyway, it's an epic novel set in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the 17th century. Only one chapter in, but it's great so far! I just... wish this book weren't so huge.

Reading next:
I'm trying to read through all of the books I bought in Victoria last time I went there. Not sure what the next will be, but probably another volume of poetry.