I never did quite finish off Persephone Reading Week properly, in the manner of others – which is to say the Persephone Books I’m keen to read next. I had hoped it would clear my backlog a bit, but instead it just made me very keen to read lots of others…
Before I do that, Rachel’s recent post at Book Snob included a picture of all her Persephone titles in non-Persephone editions, as well as a picture of her Persephones. It seemed a fun idea, so here’s mine:
I also have Flush by Virginia Woolf, of course, but not in Somerset. Me being me, I don’t see these collections as competing, but rather complementary… i.e. I’ll buy a Persephone copy and a non-Persephone copy if I come across it cheaply enough.
And my copy of The Priory by Dorothy Whipple came with an exciting surprise, once I got it home…
As for the Persephones I’m now keen to read – here’s the top five.
The Village – Marghanita Laski
Little Boy Lost – Marghanita Laski
Saplings – Noel Streatfeild
Farewell Leicester Square – Betty Miller
A House in the Country – Jocelyn Playfair
Luckily I have all of these waiting on my Persephone shelf. I wonder how many I’ll have read by the time we get to next year’s Persephone Reading Week…
I would have loved to have seen the look on your face when you saw Dorothy Whipple's signature in The Priory!
Oh my goodness – a signed copy?!
So, how many Persephone titles do you own in total (in grey, classic, or complementary)?
I recommend Little Boy Lost highly; it was the definite reading highlight of the week for me.
I also find that it added more to my list than cleared the backlog. By next PRW I am hoping to have read a number.
I can't wait for the next Persephone Reading Week either, so am reading probably one a month. I don't have a collection yet like you all do so I'm purchasing as I go along. I've placed an order for Mariana a few days ago and will read as soon as I get it! :D
A SIGNED copy?! You lucky, lucky thing! What a wonderful surprise! I am excessively jealous of your copy of High Wages…I can't wait for the Persephone release. You've got a fabulous collection.
As for the ones you want to read next, Saplings and A House in the Country are marvellous and highly recommended. Both very war and its effects oriented which seems to be right up your street. I haven't read the others yet either and I have both Laskis waiting for me to read on the old TBR pile…I should get around to them sooner rather than later judging from recent reviews.
Ooh, I like that post very much! What a good way to round off Persephone week.
Paperback Reader – 59, in total! 56 Persephones and another three in non-P editions.
Quite the collection, Simon! Not long to go for a complete -and ongoing- one.
How fun to find a signed copy! All those Persephone books sound very good.