Two months of the old year left – goodness – how the years fly by these days.
I began October reading The Ghostly Lover – a book which really deserves a better title – it was the first novel by Elizabeth Hardwick, a coming of age novel set in depression era Kentucky.
Strong Poison – by Dorothy L Sayers was a re-read, the October choice of my very small book group, which provided us with an enormous amount to talk about, perhaps surprisingly so.
The Librarything Virago group had selected Margaret Kennedy as the author of the month – and I found myself engrossed in The Oracles, a fairly unusual novel in some respects, but one in which I could see echoes of other Margaret Kennedy novels. It tells the story of a community wrangle over a piece of modern art, and a group of abandoned children who get caught in the cross fire.
Narcissa by Richmal Crompton was a fabulously compelling novel, with one of the most monstrous characters, I have read in a while, at the centre of it. A darker story than the other books by Crompton I have read, but quite unforgettable.
Reader, I married him – a collection of short stories edited by Tracy Chevalier – had been a gift I was really looking forward to reading. The stories, all inspired by that famous final line in Jane Eyre – were something of a mixed bag, but overall, I was a bit disappointed in the collection.
I have fallen out of love a little with the Booker prize the last two or three years, but I still keep my eye on it. This year I happened to read two of the longlisted books, and now two of those that were shortlisted. I can’t say I fancy the winner much – but I am open to persuasion. Elmet was the first of those shortlisted books, and I enjoyed it enormously. Not sure I understand why it was shortlisted and Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie wasn’t – but then what do I know?
Eva Trout by Elizabeth Bowen was the first of two books I read for the #1968club hosted by Simon and Karen. Bowen’s last novel – it has a simply unforgettable ending.
My second read for the #1968club was By the Pricking of my Thumbs, a Tommy and Tuppence novel – the couple are described as (a little tongue in cheek I suspect) ‘quite elderly’ by that I suppose about sixty. It might not be Agatha Christie’s best – but I enjoyed it enormously, finding very hard to put down.
I finished the month reading Autumn by Ali Smith – the second of those Booker Prize shortlisted novels. I haven’t read Ali Smith before – at least I haven’t finished one of her books before – having given up on The Accidental several years ago. This one -chosen by my very small book group as our November read, I enjoyed.
Those final two books of course will be reviewed soon.
I spent a week in my favourite seaside location during half term – and it really helped to re-charge the batteries, and while I was there I had a mooch in a little bookshop I like to pop in to each time I am there. I only came away with two books – a Persephone book The Gardeners Nightcap by Muriel Stuart (complete with matching bookmark) – not sure it’s a book I would have bought new – but I am happy to add it to my collection, and Wet Magic by E Nesbit, which looks perfect comfort reading. I admit, that one is already calling me.
November is a month that is perfect for curling up with a book and large pot of tea, but this year has been a very slow reading year so far – so I expect that will continue. However, I have one or two things set aside for the month. This month the Librarything author of the month is the wonderful Margaret Atwood – as well as several potential re-reads, I have three of her books tbr – Wilderness Tips, short stories from the early 1990s and more recent novels, Oryx and Crake and The Hagseed. I feel like the short stories are particularly calling to me – but I shall probably only decide which to read as I pick it up. A Facebook group I am a member of is having an Angela Thirkell reading week next week – beginning November 6th – so as I have a battered old copy of The Headmistress I shall be reading that.
With December and the end of the year on the horizon, my thoughts have turned to possible reading challenges. I sort of had a year off in 2017, though I paricipated in a few as I knew I would end up doing.
I am considering two for 2018.
1. A century of books, I know Simon and others are doing it again. I have never done it before. I will attempt to do it over two years, however, and I won’t make a list before hand. I assume that’s how everyone else has done it?
2. Read the 16 books of the Jalna series by Canadian writer Mazo de la Roche. I will read in narrative order, not year of publication. I have very few expectations really, are these even books I will like? I have purchased the first one.
Anyone have any thoughts, advice etc. Anyone like to join me?
So how was your October for books? Any exciting plans for November?
I managed to read 12 books in October but that’s mainly because I had a very quiet holiday at the start of the month, followed by Marathon Tapering which involves lots of Resting (i.e. lounging around reading). I have never read the Jalna books but will be interested to hear how you find them. I’ve been doing a Century of Books since 2014, allowing it to happen organically rather than scrabbling around for books to fill gaps, although I will eventually have to do that. I didn’t make a list and kind of have a rule not to count two by the same author. My list is here, might give you some ideas https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/about/a-century-of-books/
As for challenges, I’ve just started reading Ladies of Missalonghi for AusReadingMonth hosted by Brona’s Books as I’ve read lots of Australian books in my time but I’ve never managed to take part in her challenge.
I’m also going to be reading The Headmistress next week, thanks to a certain blogger who had a copy waiting for me when I got back from my holiday …
And I’m starting my own Iris Murdoch Readalong, reading all her novels in chronological order from this month until December 2019 – and I think we have a date with a certain unfinished novel in January 2019, don’t we!
Umm well I never promised to get back to The Black Prince – but we’ll see. 😂
I’m glad we can read The Headmistress together.
Good luck with MAZO.I have seen many of these in second hand bookshops and they never seem to sell.I looked at them but got the impression they were adventure stories set on the high seas.I am probably wrong.
Thank you, I expect I shall find out What they are like, even if I just read the first book and decide they aren’t for me.
Last month, that is October; it is November already in my part of the world, I read five of the six booker shortlisted.
I myself liked the Booker winner, Lincoln in the Bardo, very much; it was vastly entertaining and the myriad voices were fascinating. I am saying this because you say you are open to persuation 😀
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed Lincoln in the Bardo, I have heard fairly mixed reports of it.
Yes, I know. I was reading and doing the reviews in collaboration with a blogger and he disliked the book at least half way through 😀
We can’t all like the same things though.
Ah yes, the Jalna books. By all means sink yourself into some, or all. But if you decide not to read them all (as you might) certainly have a go at the first one published, Jalna, since it was written as a standalone and was a HUGELY popular novel in 1927.
I devoured them all in my late teens, early twenties (late 1960s, early 1970s). I bought most of them secondhand, in nice hardcover editions, and the public libraries still had them on their shelves.
I enjoyed them a lot then, and reread them too. Yes, I still have them, but haven’t reread them in decades. I think I’d prefer to remember all that passion and family drama in my memory than to try to revisit them.
Thank you, I hadn’t realised the 1927 volume was a stand alone book. I can understand you not wanting to spoil your memories of them.
I was somewhat surprised to see Mazo de la Roche celebrated on a banner as part of ‘famous people from Orillia’ when I was walking around there last week. Or perhaps from Ontario, since she doesn’t seem to have been from Orillia…
Oh right, well I must confess to not knowing anything about her.
Some nice reading there Ali and some interesting forthcoming plans. If I didn’t know myself so well I would like to do the Century of Books but I reckon I would get cross with it and fail! So I plan even less in the way of challenges next year!! 🙂 I shall be interested in hearing what you think of the Jalna books as I’m pretty sure my mum was reading them in my teens, though they weren’t titles of hers that I picked up and read.
Yes I am convinced I will succeed with either but I might as well try. I think one off reading weeks like the 1968 club and Margaret Kennedy week suit me better really.
That was quite a successful reading month! I have read WIlderness Tips but it’s been a long time and I remember nothing about it! I do know that I really liked her short stories, though. Oryx and Crake is also good but it was a harrowing read for me. Atwood is one of my favorites.
Having thought that I would read Wilderness Tips, I picked up and started reading Oryx and Crake. Atwood is such a fascinating writer.
That sounds like an interesting reading month. I’ve read and enjoyed By the Pricking of my Thumbs as well- Strong Poison I’ve read but it isn’t my favourite Sayers- I liked some others better. I am yet to read a Richmal Crompton “grown up” book though I love her William books. The Thirkell looks interesting- I’ve enjoyed her August Folly- such fun
Funnily enough, I never read those Just William books, but the few of her adult books I have I really enjoyed. Thirkell can be fun.
Do try the Williams some time. They are hilarious. I have a couple of her adult books on my TBR Steffan Green and Naomi Godstone.
Lovely, hope you enjoy them. I don’t have either of those.
I have a soft spot for By the Pricking of My Thumbs. I agree it’s not her best, but I enjoy Tommy and Tuppence so much, especially that she allowed them to age. And I’m still spooked by the whole “Was it your poor child?” thing…
Ooh yes, that line, repeated at a few key moments is definitely chilling, and well utilised by Christie. I always wish she had written more Tommy and Tuppence books.
[…] thrilled to say that I’ll be reading this alongside Ali – she’s blogged about it here and supplied my lovely new copy, reading her own elderly […]
In October, I have read an average amount of 4 books however they were all of a great quality! No big plans for November, I’m just hoping for more great reading. I hope you enjoy some more great reading in November too 🙂
Thank you, I hope you enjoy your November reading too.
I recently finished Hag Seed – it was good fun. I was tempted by the Century of Books but now having second thoughts and even thinking that next year I won’t do any challenges……
I think it’s good to take a break from challenges now and again. I’m glad I didn’t have any of my own challenges this year.
Its crazy isn’t it how we get stressed out by self-imposed deadlines
I know, I shall take a more relaxed approach to any challenges I set myself now.