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bookgazing) wrote2011-05-04 12:00 am
bookgazing) wrote2011-05-04 12:00 am
May Reading: Striking a Deal
This month I made a deal with my mum that I would mostly read books from her bookshelves.
The situation: She buys really interesting books. I keep saying ‘Oh I want to read that too’.
The problems:
1.) She’s a much faster reader than me.
2.) Before the book buying ban I would keep buying myself new books and reading those before reading her books.
There are now about 30 (alright maybe more like 50) books on her shelves that she could send off to the charity shop, or sell online if only I would read them.
The solution: Pick some books and read them before she puts me out of the house for being a worthless daughter. Simples.
The picks: I generally read about six or seven books a month, so I’ve selected six that I’m going to try to read, with the caveat that I can change my mind at any time.
‘Iceland’ – Besty Tobin: This is actually one of her library books, so it won’t clear any space on the shelves, but it was a random library find and I’ll probably forget all about it if I don’t read it now. It’s a retelling of a Norse legend set in 1000AD, which is good because I quite fancy reading about early history right now.
‘Snowdrops’ – A D Miller: This novel is supposed to be a literary twist on the crime novel which could be good, or very bad. Some of the greatest surprises come when literary writers show an interest in genre, but some of the very worst example of high handed ‘genre fixing’ turn up as well. Cross your fingers I get all the good stuff.
‘The Street Philosopher’ – Matthew Plampin: Even though I’m not a great fan of the Victorians (I know, I should leave Britain immediately) I the Crimean war fascinating.
‘Nemesis’ – Lyndsey Davis: The blurb for the latest Falco mystery sent me into such a panic over who might be dead that I flipped through the first couple of pages to reassure myself. I am reassured and I can read on in one of my favourite series.
‘Ruby’s Spoon’ – Anna Lawrence Pietroni: A well reviewed fantasy by a Birmingham based author that I’ve been meaning to read since it came out.
‘A Fine Balance’Balance’ – Rohinton Mistry: At least two celebs brought this to Anne Robinson’s recent show ‘A Life in Books’ and one said it was the best book he’d ever read.
I'll also be reading a fantasy book with Jeanne, (we'll be talking about that book together this month and I am so excited about that exchange). So that’s what I’ll be reading this month, though don't expect to see reviews of these for a while as I've got about a month's worth of other reviews that need writing and sharing first. Does anyone want to praise up any of the books on the list, or suggest what I should start with?
The situation: She buys really interesting books. I keep saying ‘Oh I want to read that too’.
The problems:
1.) She’s a much faster reader than me.
2.) Before the book buying ban I would keep buying myself new books and reading those before reading her books.
There are now about 30 (alright maybe more like 50) books on her shelves that she could send off to the charity shop, or sell online if only I would read them.
The solution: Pick some books and read them before she puts me out of the house for being a worthless daughter. Simples.
The picks: I generally read about six or seven books a month, so I’ve selected six that I’m going to try to read, with the caveat that I can change my mind at any time.
‘Iceland’ – Besty Tobin: This is actually one of her library books, so it won’t clear any space on the shelves, but it was a random library find and I’ll probably forget all about it if I don’t read it now. It’s a retelling of a Norse legend set in 1000AD, which is good because I quite fancy reading about early history right now.
‘Snowdrops’ – A D Miller: This novel is supposed to be a literary twist on the crime novel which could be good, or very bad. Some of the greatest surprises come when literary writers show an interest in genre, but some of the very worst example of high handed ‘genre fixing’ turn up as well. Cross your fingers I get all the good stuff.
‘The Street Philosopher’ – Matthew Plampin: Even though I’m not a great fan of the Victorians (I know, I should leave Britain immediately) I the Crimean war fascinating.
‘Nemesis’ – Lyndsey Davis: The blurb for the latest Falco mystery sent me into such a panic over who might be dead that I flipped through the first couple of pages to reassure myself. I am reassured and I can read on in one of my favourite series.
‘Ruby’s Spoon’ – Anna Lawrence Pietroni: A well reviewed fantasy by a Birmingham based author that I’ve been meaning to read since it came out.
‘A Fine Balance’Balance’ – Rohinton Mistry: At least two celebs brought this to Anne Robinson’s recent show ‘A Life in Books’ and one said it was the best book he’d ever read.
I'll also be reading a fantasy book with Jeanne, (we'll be talking about that book together this month and I am so excited about that exchange). So that’s what I’ll be reading this month, though don't expect to see reviews of these for a while as I've got about a month's worth of other reviews that need writing and sharing first. Does anyone want to praise up any of the books on the list, or suggest what I should start with?