I haven’t done one of these miscellaneous posts for a while, but I think I might go back to doing them again – every now and again.
Last week there was a lot of fuss and bother over the Booker Prize being awarded jointly to Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo. Regular readers will remember how much I enjoyed The Testaments – but then I am a fan of Margaret Atwood. However, I must say that I never saw it as a Booker winner – I have read a lot of Booker winners, and it just didn’t read like one. I think the judges didn’t do either writer any favours, because there was so much negative discussion about it that it took away the joy. For Bernardine Evaristo sharing the prize must have felt like a little bit of an anti-climax – which is also really sad. Literary prizes are weird, aren’t they? producing unexpected results and controversy – but they do get us talking! Anyway, I am currently reading Girl, Woman, Other – which I bought originally back in the summer, and then wasn’t in the mood for when I tried to read it in August. I am so glad I went back to it because it’s excellent and I am enjoying it enormously.
I have acquired a few new books just lately – all of them very modern too – for this frequent reader of older/backlisted works. Pleasingly all four of these books have French Flaps – now I know that’s a silly thing to be pleased about, but pleased I am, nevertheless. Are they becoming more of a thing? One of these books was sent by a publisher, two were bought as a result of reading about them on a blog (alifeinbooks) and one is my next book group read.
Your Duck is My Duck is a collection of stories by American writer Deborah Eisenberg, they just look fantastic. Susan’s review of it had me scuttling off to buy it immediately.
Echoes of the City by Lars Saabye Christensen translated from the Norwegian by Don Bartlett. I believe it is the first book in a projected trilogy – this novel opens in 1946, with Oslo emerging from the austerity of wartime. I admit I didn’t realise what a thick book it was, but it does look so good. Another one I bought because of Susan.
The Girl with the Leica by Helena Janeczek translated from the Italian by Ann Goldstein, is a novel about German-Jewish war photographer Gerda Taro. Kindly provided by Europa Editions (my gosh their books are beautiful objects) It looks absolutely brilliant.
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker – chosen by my book group. Now, I love Pat Barker – I absolutely loved both her war trilogies and have enjoyed two or three of her stand alone novels too. I am less keen on the whole myths and legends thing (that really has become a thing) but my book group chose it, and I trust Barker’s writing to be excellent. It will also tick off another book in my Women’s Prize project (which I’m not doing that well with really).
On top of that Dean street were doing one of their freebie Fridays recently, so I was able to download several Patricia Wentworth mysteries to my kindle. I don’t know how they can afford to do it – or when on earth I will get around to reading them.
That is genuinely something I worry about – when will I read all these marvellous books? I look at my tbr – which is right next to the armchair where I always sit – and think when on earth…? I have some other review books to get to first I think, but these are some of the books (along with those I bought in London at the beginning of September) that I want to read soon. I seem to be reading slower than at any time in the last twenty years or so – too many distractions and an inability to sit up quite as late as I once could, have definitely had an impact.
I’m away to the seaside soon for half term, so I would like to think I might sneak in a little bit more reading time – but it depends on how much going out and about I do. I still haven’t decided what books to take with me, I usually take twice as many as I will probably need.
What books have come into your life recently?
heavenali 
I’m also reading (and really enjoying) Girl, Women, Other at the moment. It feels fresh, vibrant and very cleverly constructed, particularly in terms of the connections between characters. So pleased to hear you are enjoying it too!
Fresh and vibrant is a good description of the Evaristo novel. Glad you’re enjoying it.
I was away for all the Booker kerfuffle but I agree with your, Ali, and, reading between the lines, it seems as if Ms Atwood does, too. I’m looking forward to the Evaristo – I enjoyed Mr Loverman very much. I hope you love Your Duck is My Duck and Echoes of the City as much as I did!
Yes, I suspect M A was a little embarrassed by it all. Thanks for pointing me in the direction of those books.
Well my blog charts the horror of my TBR but I am reading well and more now (I got rid of my Scrabble app as I was spending whole mealtimes or times between waking and breakfast on it, and even though it was an ‘improving’ game and linked me in to friends, enough was enough. I’m so looking forward to starting Girl, Woman, Other later this week and am glad you went there first and could reassure me!
Oh yes, I am sure you will enjoy Girl, Woman, Other. Scrabble sometimes gets on top of me too. I try to only have a couple of games on the go.
Girl, Women, Other is the book I was most looking forward to reading – Evaristo came to Geneva to do a session with the Geneva Writers’ Group – sadly, it was after I’d left the city and I had no money to go back to attend. But I find her an amazing and original writer!
As for the full horror of the TBR, I save myself from that by never thinking about it directly. I just think about one week or at the most one month ahead…
You’re right, I shouldn’t think too much about the tbr, when I do I get overwhelmed
I adored Girl, Woman, Other and really wished she had been given the prize alone. Have a lovely time at the seaside!
Thank you, I have heard good things about Evaristo’s other books but Girl, Woman other is the first one of hers I have read.
Some lovely incoming books, Ali – and I do empathise about the TBR looming threateningly in the background. I have more books than I will ever read and I do need to address it, spend less time on YouTube videos and actually get through the books.
As for the Booker – what a fudge. I think they feel guilty that it took them so long to finally award the prize to Atwood when they did the first time. But with this and the Nobel controversy it does make me feel even less inclined to follow literary prizes.
Enjoy your break! 😀
It was such a fudge. I don’t follow the prizes quite as closely as I used to.
What a sumptuous collection – you are in for some fun! And I completely agree with you and others about the Booker. A total cop out by the judges and I feel cross on behalf of Evaristo. But I’m sure it will be good for her in the long run. As you say, book prizes can be weird but we’d all be moaning just as much if they were boring and predictable!
I’m sure winning will do Evaristo a lot of good. I have heard good things about Evaristo’s other books.
She is a new-to-me author and so it feels like she has only just burst onto the book scene, but of course she is a well-established, long-standing writer! I’m just about to start GWO and it will be great to check out her other work too.
I hope you enjoy Girl, Woman Other.
I completely understand about your tbr, I’ve found that a huge problem of this blogging business – and now I have to add The Girl with the Leica to mine, which looks beautiful!
Oh it does, I hope it turns out to be as good as it looks.
Like I always say, books are far cheaper than golf clubs and fees, so I think we can indulge. We could have a more expensive hobby than this one.
I have to ask : what are French flaps?
Lucky you to be able to download books by Patricia Wentworth : I have fond memories of those.
You are so right!
French flaps are the extra folded over double cover on Paperbacks, which create a sort of fly leaf.
Thanks. I didn’t know it was French. 🙂
I’ll look forward to your review of Girl, Woman, Other – I’ve only read Mr Loverman by Evaristo but it definitely made me want to read more, she’s an excellent writer.
I sympathise wholeheartedly about the TBR – I also gaze at mine and wonder if I’ll get them all read. My 2018 book buying ban did make a dent, but not enough of one! It’s a nice problem to have, but sometimes I feel a bit overwhelmed!
Have a lovely holiday Ali 🙂
Thank you, I am hoping to start writing my review of Girl, Woman, Other tonight (depending on what kind of day I have). Tbrs can overwhelm us, we should probably just embrace them.
I’ll look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Evaristo when you’ve finished. I’ve heard a few interviews with her (in the past, nothing recent) and been so impressed with her talk of craft and story.
My sense is that it would be very difficult to be a judge on the jury of any literary prize and so much of the anger about the award being shared seems to be misplaced (e.g. volleyed about by people who haven’t read both/either book so why does it really matter to them?). Who knows what happened in that jury room, but getting anybody to agree about anything these days seems well nigh impossible … so why would it be any easier with a book award.
There are so many new library books wandering in and out of the room these days. I can hardly keep up with my requests and my returns – it’s a delicious problem to have. But I am getting a little overwhelmed and need to tidy the stack a bit. I sympathize with your attempts to push thoughts like those into a back corner of the mind. 🙂
Well my Evaristo review will up in the morning. You’re right about judging prizes, it must be a nightmare. Both books are excellent anyway.
Yes, read Mr Loverman. It is joyous. Also it is set in Hackney.
Joyous is a great recommendation, thank you.