Reading Roundup #46: Timing is Everything

Hello, friends and neighbors! It’s been fairly quiet around here — in fact, I wondered if I would have enough to talk about for a Roundup this week, but I managed to squeeze in a few goodies. During a week with ups and downs, revisiting an old favorite and crossing off two more that have been on my TBR for ages was satisfying. I can’t say I have any particularly deep thoughts this time… I just enjoyed myself, and I hope you will, too.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens: I wasn’t planning on a reread this year, simply because I have so many other books clamoring for attention, but I suddenly found myself in the mood. And, as always, A Christmas Carol does not disappoint. Every time I read or listen (there are some excellent audio versions out there!), I laugh, I cry, and I find some new detail I’d missed before. I know Dickens isn’t for everyone, and A Christmas Carol is that story we all know at this point, but if you’re going to read only one… well, this is the one, for me. If you want to read more about why I love A Christmas Carol, check out my full review from last year!

Steps in Time by Fred Astaire: Astaire has always been one of my favorite movie stars, from the time I was a teeny tot, dancing around the living room, and I’ve been rewatching a lot of his films this month to lift my spirits. His autobiography has been sitting on my shelf for a couple of years now, and I finally decided it was time to do more than just skim for tidbits about my favorite movies. And I’m very glad I did! Always rather private, Astaire doesn’t indulge in gossip or linger on the events of his personal life, but his good humor and interest in life and work come through. He writes in a conversational style, recounting his life to date (this was originally published in 1959, long before his retirement) and providing a fascinating picture of life in Vaudeville, on Broadway, and finally, in the movies. Considering that his time on the stage takes up roughly half the book, he speaks relatively little of his sister and first dancing partner, Adele’s, experience, and one wonders how much of this is a male’s lack of awareness or simply respecting that it is someone else’s story to tell. Perhaps a bit of both. Overall, it is a light, engaging read, and I happily recommend it to anyone interested in Astaire particularly or in early 20th century show business history generally.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot #4) by Agatha Christie: This is excellent, as expected of Christie, but I wasn’t quite sure why it’s so lauded as one of her best… until I got to the final act. When I saw the little clues she’d given that I’d blithely passed over, I was lost in awe. Well done, indeed, Dame Agatha!

—b