Here I am popping up with a rare Saturday post because I am a little behind. It is already the New Year and I still have two books from the old year to review. I will try and get those two reviewed and posted next week.
December should have been a month when I could get a lot more reading done – yet I only read 8 books – taking me to the exact number in my Goodreads yearly challenge of 110. A couple of them were fairly chunky, however – and I was pleased to have got two nonfiction Persephone read having read so little nonfiction all year. Two of my December reads made it on to my Twelve books for 2020 list too – so all in all it was a pretty good month.
A quick round up of what I read:
For diverse December I started the month with Plum Bun by Jessie Redman Fauset. It tells the story of Angela Murray – a young very light skinned African American woman who leaving her home in Philadelphia heads to New York where she intends to pass for white.
The first of two BLCC books read in December, A Surprise for Christmas edited by Martin Edwards. A really good collection of festive stories told in a variety of styles.
Having so loved Girls, Woman Other last year, Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo was a book I had looked forward to reading and it really didn’t disappoint at all. In this novel we meet Barrington Jedidiah Walker, or Barry to his friends. His voice is immediately engaging, warm, funny, vulnerable a little defensive and often outrageous – he pulls us into his world. It is just brilliant.
Virago sent me Death Goes on Skis by Nancy Spain the second of her books I have read. It is fun and farcical and though a little dated in places it’s perfect escapism.
The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak was yet another big hit – the first novel by her I have read. It is a novel of modern Turkey – but with a beautiful, poignant acknowledgement of its history, and the different peoples who make up its population.
A Very Great Profession by Nicola Beauman is a Persephone book that Liz bought me last year for Christmas. It was the second of my December reads to make it on to that best of list – I just loved it – all about the kinds of books I love, it will remain a wonderful resource.
Crossed the Skis by Carol Carnac – another BLCC mystery and while not a Christmas mystery the story opens on New Year’s Day – and much of the action takes place in a very snowy ski resort – so it felt fairly appropriate reading it a few days before New Year.
London War Notes by Mollie Panter-Downes is a collection of ‘letters’ MPD wrote to the New Yorker during the Second World war – and charts the progress of the war and people’s reaction to it from 1939 through to May 1945. There is so much of interest in it – and MPD’s voice is wonderful and engaging, however I found it a bit dense for over Christmas and started to get a bit bogged down. Probably due to my ridiculous non-nonfiction brain – I should space out my nonfiction a bit I have found in the past. I found the end of the war entries very poignant however and truly delightful.
So now I am looking ahead to 2021 – and wondering what my lists of books read will look like in a year’s time. I want to keep things fluid – while setting myself a few personal challenges. I don’t believe in forcing things too much – but a few challenges can help widen horizons and has been responsible for taking me out of my VMC/Persephone/DSP comfort zone – and I do think that is a good thing.
In 2020 within my 110 books read, I read 17 books by POC writers – some of these were books by British or American writers writing in English, some from writers from other nations across the globe. Oddly enough, I also read 17 books in translation – there was some crossover but of course they weren’t the same 17 books. So that is just over 15% of my reading – and I would really like to get it nearer or even above 20% in both instances – and I have more than enough on my tbr to achieve it – as well as having recently signed up for another year of the wonderful Asymptote book club – a brilliant fiction in translation subscription. My first book just arrived.
In May I hope to host another Daphne Du Maurier reading week – the last two have been so good. There are however lots of other challenges doing the rounds – I don’t feel up to committing completely and yet I really do want to dip in and out of some. My dear friend Liz is reading all the novels of Anne Tyler in 2021 – two each month -and while I certainly won’t do them all I hope to do a few with her – although sticking to a schedule might be my problem. Cathy at 746 books is celebrating the work of Brian Moore this year too, for his centenary – an author I recently remembered my dad was very fond of. I read my first book by him in 2019 – and have acquired more with my Christmas book vouchers to enable me to join in. I asked on Twitter whether anyone was doing anything for the Patricia Highsmith centenary – but I haven’t found anything – and I can’t commit to running one – especially as I know so little about her. However, it seems to be a fitting time to get to know her work better. So, I have acquired three Patricia Highsmith books with those vouchers to add to the one book I have had tbr for ages. Phew, I might be over stretching myself with all those challenges – but as ever, I will go mainly with my mood! Some of my book voucher acquisitions are pictured below – though several are resting on my invisible tbr – i.e., my kindle
I am looking forward to some great reading in 2021 though – tell me what fabulous things did you read in December? And what are your reading plans for 2021?
Great selection as always, and a great selection of books and ideas for books to look forward to! You never fail to add to my TBR.
I’ve just decided on my own personal reading theme for 2021, which will be #projectfood. I’m about to finish a blogpost about it, but basically it’ll be reading books already on my shelves (or floor…) that have food, drink or related words in the titles. I was amazed at how many I seem to have,
I do read other things in between as I don’t like to be too restricted. I’m looking forward to the Daphne du Maurier week and the #1936Club.
Very best wishes for this new year!
That sounds like an interesting challenge, good luck. It’s such fun coming up with these challenges.
Well, my reading plans are simple, dip a tentative toe into the world of reading challenges and work on blogging more regularly. And then just read whatever catches my fancy as per the usual.
Oh! and trying to keep up with the blogs I enjoy reading!
Oh I know, keeping up with blogs and blogging is definitely a challenge in itself. Enjoy your reading whatever it is.
Lovely post Ali and those are some great December reads! There are some real chunky ones in the pile, so you should feel pleased to have read them, especially as you enjoyed them so much! I’m going to try to keep the challenges light this year, particularly as a tend to fail at most of them. I *do* have a du Maurier though, so maybe…. ;D
Ooh lovely, I would love you to join in with the DDM week. Keeping challenges light sounds sensible.
I was given a 12-month Persephone subscription for my birthday and came across your wonderful blog when I was doing some research on what to chose. Serendipity. I look forward to reading your posts from now on. All good wishes for 2021
A Persephone subscription what joy. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for reading my blog. 😁 Happy New year.
You’re only 2 reviews behind and you think that’s an issue! I think I have a backlog of about 8 – just couldn’t find the enthusiasm to write reviews these past few months…..
i signed up to the Asympote book club too. A book arrived today which I never ordered and came with no despatch note so I have no idea if its the book club choice for this month. They always used to have the Asympote logo stamped on them but this one doesn’t so I’m baffled
Lol yes, well I suppose it could be worse.
As regards that book the exact same thing happened to me, an Italian novel in translation a NYRB book with no insert arrived on NYE. No Asymptote sticker either but I assume it must be that.
That’s exactly what I received so yes it does seem like its the Asympote book – it would be too much of a coincidence otherwise
Ah OK good, mystery solved, sort of. It certainly looks interesting.
Thank you for your posts this last year.They have led me up many enjoyable paths.
You have reminded me that I have a very large biography of Patricia Highsmith by Joan Schenkar waiting to be read which I picked up for a song at our library book sale 2019 so will get stuck into it soon.
Ooh that’s good, hope you enjoy that biography.
I’m reading Strangers on a Train now and hope to post a review on Highsmith’s birthday later this month. Also hope to join in with Liz and read some Anne Tyler this year. Happy New Year Ali!
Strangers on a train is so good, hope you are enjoying it. I just started reading an Anne Tyler so off to a good start with that anyway.
I’m planning to try and get the blog up and running again with some posts about some of the books I read last year!
Oh excellent, good luck with that. An excellent way to start the New year.
I’m only planning to read with my Book Club, I have a readalong going on with my sister-in-law and read for blogging challenges. (I find it’s a good way to read from the TBR.)
I didn’t know about the Anne Tyler event, I’ll check it out, I have two of her books on the TBR.
Happy reading for 2021.
That sounds like a good strategy. Happy reading in 2021.
It would be lovely to have you join the challenge with your two books, Emma – I am looking forward to welcoming different people to join me with whatever they have to hand. Ali has linked to my project page and just comment on there if you have any questions!
I’ve bookmarked the link to your post.
While your quantity has been down over the holidays, it looks like your quality has been top notch. In December, I read a little less too, finishing three novels, however they were all really good; with my pick of the month going to the emotional historical-fiction, The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner. I wish you happy reading in January. 🙂
Yes the quality was good and is more important anyway. Happy reading to you for this first month of the new year.
Thank you, Ali 🙂
My goal for 2021 is to read from my shelves as much as possible and I’ve already jumped right into A Very Great Profession after reading your appealing review. One of my favorite reads from December is Penny Plain by O Douglas, a rather perfect fairy tale, and Charmian Clift’s Mermaid Singing, an account of her family’s year on a Greek Island in the 1950s. As always, I’m looking forward to reading your reviews this year.
Oh I am so glad you enjoyed Penny Plain it is very fairy-tale like. Really hope you enjoy A Very Great Profession too.
It’s lovely that you’re joining in with my Anne Tyler read – and you’re ahead of me already! And I’ll look forward to taking part in your Daphne du Maurier week in return. I read some decent stuff in December including a few Christmas books, no reviews hung over the turn of the year but three books in progress did!
Yes, I really enjoyed If Morning Ever comes. Glad you will be joining in Daphne du Maurier reading week too. My final 2020 book gets reviewed tomorrow. 😊
Interesting about Patricia Highsmith, I don’t really know anything about her either except that I like her. So many great sounding reads here, bad news for the wishlist!
Very bad news for the wishlist my own included. I am looking forward to getting back to Patricia Highsmith.
The Bastard of Istanbul was a fine time spending with, you should definitely add some more of Elif Shafak’s in 2021. Especially 40 Rules of Love. I just finished Many Masters Many Souls by Dr.Brian Weiss. My 1st of 2021! I’m looking forward for more of it this year..
Well I have bought 10 minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World recently, but good to know 40 Rules of Love is also good.
Aww, it seems unfortunate there’s no event for the Highsmith. She seems like someone who has a loyal and informed following. Maybe something will, yet, crop up. I’ve only read a couple myself although I enjoyed them. My December was the opposite of yours, I thought I might read a little more but it ended up being one of my most bookish months ever, partly due to finishing a bunch of books that were partly done from November or earlier (in an effort to tidy for 2021) and partly just reading from the stacks. Turns out that I don’t mind quiet solitary-ish (with Mr. BIP and neighbourhood critters) holidays. Glad to hear they suit you too, even if not quite so bookish.
I have now enjoyed my first Highsmith of 2021 and hope to review it next week. It was nice to have some quiet time over Christmas and I spent a couple of days with my mom.