In May it’s my Birthday – nothing very special about it I have one every year. This year I will be 45 (shudder) and I have decided to launch my own little reading project to celebrate (?) it.
The whole thing started when I found myself idly wondering – as you do – whether any of the authors I read were born on my birthday. I did some quick internet searching – and found lots of authors I like – including several who’s books I already have TBR – were born in May. So – I have decided to devote the whole of May – my birthday month – to just reading books by people born in May. I was actually spoilt for choice – and I have to admit to having bought two books especially to read in May. I bought Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier – which is a book I have read before though I don’t own a copy and she shares my actual birthday (A VMC author too – oh joy!) The other book I bought specially is ‘A Love song for India by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, a book of short stories that look wonderful. I have only read three of her books before but really enjoyed them – so this was crying out to me to be bought when I discovered she was a May author. I was then overjoyed to discover that I had five books TBR by authors who were born in May – as well as realising that Arthur Conan Doyle who’s books I am always happy to re-read and already have in the house – was another May baby. I downloaded a couple of free kindle books by May born authors – including ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ which of course is a children’s book – but I have never read it – and I really would like to, I anticipate a truly cosy comforting read – despite the wicked witch. I’m not sure it will lead me to reading all the others however.
So then – this is a list of books I have to choose from so far –(the list may change or be added to) – I must say they really make for a tempting list from where I’m sitting.
Graham Swift – 4th May The Sweet Shop Owner already TBR
Gaston Leroux – 6th May The Mystery of the Yellow Room already TBR
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala 7th May ‘A Love song for India: Tales from East and West’ – bought via Kindle
Pat Barker 8th May Liza’s England already TBR and Toby’s Room on Kindle TBR
Daphne Du Maurier 13th May – which is my actual birthday!- I’ve ordered a new copy of Jamaica Inn to re-read on my birthday
L Frank Baum 15th May – downloaded free kindle book of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Arthur Conan Doyle 22nd May – already own (and have read) all the Holmes books in a box set – (though I fancy re-reading The Sign of Four in May)
Alan Hollinghurst – 26th May – The Folding Star – already TBR
Arnold Bennett – 27th May – Hilda Lessways – a free Kindle book – I’ve actually wanted to read it for years – now I have an excuse.
Now as this is my birthday, and this is a small project just for me I’m not really expecting anyone else will be inspired to join me. However if anyone wanted to read any of these books along with me, to help me celebrate my birthday I would love it. There were many other authors I could have chosen – I toyed with the idea of Angela Carter – though as I don’t own any of her novels ( I’ve only read The Bloody Chamber) and it would have meant buying more books I decided against it. Are there any obvious ones I have missed?– if so let me know. What do you think of my little project? Maybe you’d like to do something similar for your own birthday?
My birthday reading challenge
March 14, 2013 by heavenali
Another May baby here and that’s a really clever idea!
Hooray for May babies.
My birthday is the day before yours but I’m ten years older. I have been saving Rebecca to read, so perhaps this May is the time to read her!
Great idea! I loved Rebecca.
I am with Tui. Very clever idea. I think I will try that in November.
Yay, great.
What a super idea! I think that’s lovely! Of course my birthday falls in one of our Months of Re-reading … I have some more Jhabvalas if you need them and an Angela Carter or two knocking around, so if you fancy a borrow, you know where I am!
Oh – I went to look up who was born on my birthday and found that musican Cat Power is my twin, but where did you find your lists of authors from?
well I just did a basic google search – several lists came up – some authors were missing from some lists which is why I assume there will be many others I have missed.
Eva Ibbottson shared my actual birthday; apart from her I get AA Milne, Joe Orton, Julian Barnes, Chekhov, CLR James, David Lodge, EM Forster, JD Salinger, Tolkien, Jack London, Virginia Woolf, and Byron. Think I can work some of those into the next January of Re-Reading!
Love this idea! Have just googled, and authors born in June include Thomas Hardy, the Marquis de Sade, Salman Rushdie and George Orwell. Haven’t found anyone on my actual birthday yet.
Imagine your shudder when you turn 65 (as I just did!) :<)
: )belated happy birthday. I might not mind being 65 at least I may be able to retire.
We share a birthday also with Stevie Wonder! (I think he’s a genius) We also share a birthday month with Canadian writer Farley Mowat (Never Cry Wolf, A Whale for the Killing, The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be, Lost in the Barrens, etc.). Also, James Barrie author of Peter and Wendy, The Little White Bird, etc. Best to you from very chilly Canada.
ooh keep Warm : ) maybe you could read some of those Canadian authors around our birthday.
What a great idea, Ali – and a fascinating mix of books!
That’s such a great idea – off to google October birthdays!
Great idea! I love Graham Swift’s Ever After, I even wrote him a letter how much I enjoyed it and he wrote me back (years ago). My birthday is in April so of course i’m off to google writers born in April and see if any share my birthday which is the 10th. Looking forward to rereading Less than Angels for May Barbara Pym read too. So many books, so little time. Have a great weekend.
I’m going to read both April and May’s Pym books in April to make room for the birthday reading in May.
What a neat idea! Next January I will try to remember to read books from authors who were born during my birthday month. Enjoy!!!
What a great list of books – and such a fun way to pick items from your TBR list!
I love this idea — my birthday is June 13 and Dorothy Sayers and Fanny Burney were born that day also. And Simon Callow (also the Olson twins, but I’m trying to ignore that). And Yeats, I should read some poetry.
Love this idea. I’m also a may child butnsonfar haven’t found anyone interesting born on the same day (19) I did however come across this http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1459197/People-born-in-May-can-count-their-lucky-stars.html
That is an interesting article – thanks : )
Lovely idea Ali! I have an August birthday, which I share with Herman Melville. Could this be the year I read Moby Dick?!
Ah – maybe : )
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Oh what a good idea – I have a May birthday as well,and may steal your idea, if you don’t mind. I share a birthday with Robert Browning (May 7) and was thinking of re-reading his poetry, and trying to find a decent biography, but I love the idea of expanding it into a month-long celebration of May authors.
steal away that’s fine : )
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