With just 10 days left of my month of re-reading, I am now looking to the next challenge. Over on the LT Virago group it is nearly time for All Virago/All August. Although I read one or two Virago books during AVAA last year – I didn’t dedicate the whole month to it. This year I will. Since joining the LT Virago group – I have allowed myself to become a tad obsessed with collecting lovely green editions. I had known this would happen and had avoided joining the group for some time – but Liz persuaded me and my bookshelves may never recover. This is a problem I don’t really mind though as they are such fabulous books. I had of course read Virago Modern Classics before – I had owned some years earlier but during the time I lived in a tiny flat I had got rid of a lot of books which I had already read to make room for others. Now I have collected quite a lot of lovely greens again over the last year – and so when trying to decide what I would be reading during this August I had a good number to choose from and some fantastic titles calling to me from the shelves. As I will be on holiday from work from now till the 3rd of September I should be able to dedicate a lot of time to reading and so I have put twelve on the list. One or two are fairly slight but some are rather thick and I’m not certain if I will manage all twelve – but I will give it a good try.
My list therefore is as follows.
William – E H Young
The Brimming Cup – Dorothy Canfield
Devoted Ladies – Molly Keane
The Return of the Soldier – Rebecca West
In a Summer Season – Elizabeth Taylor
The Soul of Kindness – Elizabeth Taylor (to be ready for my blog hosting of this book in Sept)
Devil by the Sea – Nina Bawden
Our Spoons Came from Woolworths – Barbara Comyns
Painted Clay – Capel Boake
The Life and Death of Harriet Frean – May Sinclair
Losing Battles – Eudora Welty
Amour wherein He Trusted – Mary Webb.
So if you are a fan of Virago Modern Classics as I am – then in August you will have the perfect excuse to indulge yourself. Personally I can’t wait.
Hooray for AVAL! I will be reading at least the copy of “The Tortoise and the Hare” that you gave me for my birthday, and any others that may pop up in the TBR …
Don’t the Virago Greens look lovely all spread out like that! I am still trying to decide. I don’t think I will manage only Viragos in August but I am definitely going to try and read the Storm Jameson trilogy and The Little Ottleys (and of course The Soul of Kindness!)
What a delicious group of books. I have the May Sinclair on my Kindle and may also have to add the Fisher (who I know from her Understood Betsy). I also like Return of the Soldier but think The Fountain Overflows is even better.
: ) yes I am looking forward to them all.
You must have had such fun making this list! I’ve fallen behind in my Taylor reading, so this would be a good way to catch up, wouldn’t it?!
I did it took me ages
Gosh – one reading month after another for you! I have quite a few Viragos dotted among my shelves, but not many of the green ones – I’m currently reading Rosamond Lehmann’s Invitation to the Waltz, which is a Virago – but the spine is rather bright rosy pink!
I have just finished Invitation to the waltz today – just about to post my review. A re-read for me – and I liked it even better this time.
Oh, this does look inviting! I don’t think I could do a whole month of Virago Reading, but I will take the opportunity to read a few, I hope. Your selection looks lovely.
Well it is the first time I will have attempted to devote a whole month to just Virago – we’ll soon see how I get on.