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For those keeping track – I did it!

The challenge was set; the cap thrown down; the wallet fitted with an anti-bookshop device. For the whole of January I didn’t buy a book. 31 days. Not in a shop, not online, not in a back alley or on the black market. It worked so well, in fact, that I am going to try and repeat the venture for Lent. Which gives me a window of 6 days to buy books…

Don’t worry, I haven’t let the grass grow under my feet. To mark the occasion, Lucy (who made the bet with me) and I went to a Book Fair! It was more fun than productive, in that I bought one book and she none – the books brought were towards the top end of the sellers’ fare, and a little out of the price range of a trainee librarian. Luckily a trip to Oxfam Bookshop in my lunch break earlier that day provided a few more spoils… and I also bought a couple of books online that I’d been hankering after. Which brings today’s total to seven.

So what were they, you ask? Well, sit comfortably. And then tell me what you think. And sorry that I appear to have put one book upside down in the photo…

Belinda – Maria Edgeworth
Pandora have published a few gems, and Maria E is someone I’ve intended to read for quite a while. I had to leave a beautiful copy of Burney’s Evelina behind at the book fair, so this will have to be my Austen-period purchase for the day.

Pencillings – J. Middleton Murry
This is the Book Fair book – written by Katherine Mansfield’s husband, this is a collection of “little essays on life and literature”, to quote the jacket.

A Voyage to Arcturus – David Lindsay
The author of ’50 Books…’ novel The Haunted Woman, this is the one aficiandos most eulogise. More fantasy than THW, so we’ll see…

The Wings of Heaven – Monica Dickens
Another ’50 Books…’ author, thought I’ve yet to read any of her non-loosely-autobiographical works, if you know what I mean.

Lettice Delmer – Susan Miles
Always a pleasant surprise to find a Persephone book secondhand, though can’t imagine why anyone would ever give one away! LD is a novel in verse… a first for me.

The two books I bought online:
Counting My Chickens – Deborah Mitford
Still embroiled in the world of the Mitford sisters, and intrigued by this book by my favourite Mitford.

Chedsy Place – Richmal Crompton
What torture it was to have the automatic email from abebooks.co.uk alert me to the fact that an RC I didn’t own was for sale! I waited for two weeks… and thankfully it was still there! Will be heading to me before long.

I don’t know how to insert that little heart picture, otherwise today’s subject title would be a play on the film ‘I Heart Huckabees’. I know nothing about the film other than that the title is fun, so perhaps I wouldn’t want to parody it.

ANYWAY. Somehow my posts often seem to stray into the irrelevant and slightly silly, but perhaps that’s part of the charm. I certainly try to use it to full effect in Real Life and Real Work, since it covers a multitude of sins. No, can’t see how to turn on the printer – but I’ll charm you so you don’t notice. Where’s Room 312, you ask? Couldn’t tell you, but here’s a dollop of charm. I do, of course, jest – which I should mention, as I believe some of my Bodleian superiors read this page anonymously from time to time.

ANYWAY. (I wonder how often I’ve used the term ‘anyway’ on this blog?) ANYWAY. I’m talking about Hesperus Press and the very lovely Ellie, who responded with alacrity and generosity to my nonchalant enquiry as to the possibility of more books. I just mentioned a few authors I’d espied whom, you know, she could send, if she liked… please pretty pretty please. Well, the need for beautiful editions of unusual texts by classic authors was clear in my voice, and four stunners were sent speedily. Speedily on their side, that is – the good ole Royal Mail kept them at the post office for a while, and under the auspices of my housemate they remained at the post office for a while longer. But now they’re in my hot little hands, and ripe for the reading. Just look at ’em.

Jerome K. Jerome – The Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow
The first one I’m going to read – loved Three Men in a Boat, have Three Men on a Bummel waiting in the wings, and have heard excellent things about this gem. Can’t wait for the woman’s reply, Lazy Thoughts of a Lazy Girl by pseudonymous Jenny Wren, which Hesperus republish in March.

Elizabeth Gaskell – Cousin Phyllis
I liked Liz even before the BBC got their hands on her, but have yet to read this one. Won’t be long… I need a nice dose of Victorian.

L. P. Hartley – Simonetta Perkins
A little disturbed to discover what my Christian name would be, is feminised, but The Go-Between was a joyous read last year – this will hopefully prove the same.

Fyodor Dostoevsky – The Eternal Husband
What a good title. And finally I am reading some Dostoevsky! Perhaps I should have started with one of the bulky classics, but I like this back-door entrance to the Great Man.

If there is a publisher making more beautiful books at the moment, I want to hear about them. Well, Persephone Books fight it out for the top spot – but Hesperus’ are undeniably stunning. Go on, look at their website. If there’s nothing you want there, then you might just be reading the wrong blog…

Everyone likes a nice poll, don’t they? It is supposed to be the male brain that likes a list, but I daresay it’s a fun thing for everyone – and Norm of www.normblog.typepad.com has obliged. Listen up, though, because closing date is 31st January i.e. very soon.

See his post here for the original question – or just read my little summary. It’s quite simple: choose your ten favourite English-language novelists. Favourite, not best. English-language, not necessarily English. Novelists, not any other sort of prose or poetry (which is why I had sadly to relinquish Katherine Mansfield). Norm will compile the entries and provide a run-down, I imagine, though I think (and hope) that there will be lots of authors receiving one vote each. As I mentioned in this week’s Booking Through Thursday, obscure writers hold a special place in my heart.

The ten don’t have to be in order, but the top three do. I.e. give 1st, 2nd, 3rd and then another seven, unsorted.

Once you’ve racked (or perhaps wracked?) your brain, send in answers to normblog@yahoo.co.uk – but don’t take too long about it!

And my answers? To be honest, I can’t remember.
Hmm.
Let’s see.
Woolf and Austen definitely fought it out for top spot. Hence today’s sketch. Sorry it’s a bit blurry.
Virginia Woolf, Jane Austen, E.M. Delafield, Richmal Crompton, Dorothy Whipple, Monica Dickens, Oscar Wilde (for that one novel), AA Milne, Frank Baker… that’s nine. Who on earth was my tenth? Might have been Anne Bronte. She was a definite contender. Or Daphne du Maurier. Or Dodie Smith. Or perhaps David Lindsay or Edith Olivier. Truth be told, could be any of ’em… if you’re feeling more decisive, give Norm an email!

I don’t know how often you peruse the links down under ‘People To See’, but if you’ve ever decided to start at the top and work down, you’ll have come across 3191. I saw the link on Karen‘s site, when I was performing a similar run through, and fell in love.

The site started when two e-friends, 3191 miles apart, both took photos and compared. From then on, they took a photo every morning and, without comparing or conferring beforehand, uploaded them to their website. As well as both being excellent photographers, there were often coincidental links between the two pictures. My favourite coincidence was when both contributors had taken a photo of a pair of pink shoes. More often than not, the eye is drawn to a small link – the same shade of blue; a line drawing the eye across; two contrasting but beautiful materials. On their own, each photographer would have produced a delightful record of their year – together, this is something special.

I, along with lots of others, kept my fingers crossed for a book. And our hopes have been realised! It shan’t be out until Autumn (or ‘Fall’, as they would have it) and possibly only from the US, but a copy has my name on it from now. Because of this publishing deal, with Princeton Architectural Press, the Year of Mornings (as their project was called) is no longer viewable online. The pictures here are from this website, telling about the book, and – though good – are far from their best, in my opinion. But fear not! They have now started a Year of Evenings. Equally beautiful, though very different, and I hope to buy the book in Autumn 2009, perhaps…

It may seem a little odd to devote a whole post to someone else’s blog, but 3191 is a really special website – and that book is going to be a real treat when it comes out. Do go and enjoy a Year of Evenings alongside them.

The dovegreybooks group I chat about a lot has been discussing something, which I thought I’d allow to tumble over onto my blog. Sometimes my brain just won’t think of new topics every night… plagiarism is just a word for people who don’t copy enough different people…

Biographies. Particularly literary biographies (which, I’ll be honest, are more or less the only ones I read). I have of Fanny Wollstonecraft (yes, Fanny) which I’m going to start very soon, expect reports back in a week or several. A literary biography well done is a wonderful thing, offering new lights on a writer’s work, and allowing one to engage with their life, surroundings and acquaintances. So far, so good.

But readers are not rational creatures. I know it shouldn’t matter whether or not an author is ‘nice’ (whatever we choose that to mean) – if a novel or play or poem is great, then that should be it, but of course this isn’t the case. If someone discovered a beautifully written ode by Hitler, I doubt I could consider it a favourite. So, today’s point to muse and respond to – has a writer’s biography or autobiography ever spoiled the way you read their work? Or maybe improved it?

For me, a couple have been compromised. I adore Katherine Mansfield’s short stories, but Claire Tomalin’s biography left me not fond of the woman. Virginia Woolf, as you may know, is a firm favourite – but Hermione Lee depicts her as quite selfish and arrogant (though other biographies have made her seem much more gentle, self-deprecating and witty). On the other hand, biographies of Jane Austen, Richmal Crompton and AA Milne have only made me like them more. I’m determined to avoid Margaret Forster’s biography of Daphne du Maurier, after Our Vicar’s Wife said it spoilt the novels for her somewhat. So, it unquestionably does make a difference to me, what an author was like as a person – but should it? And does it for you?

There is something about black and white films which makes everything classier, isn’t there? Although colour television has been around all my life, it was a b/w television I took to university (belonging to Our Vicar’s Wife) and I enjoyed my monochrome world for a while. A little more distant, perhaps, but so entertainment ought to be – I’m suspicious of this High Definition thing coming in; I don’t want to feel as though I’m ‘in’ the television. I want to escape there for a bit: not the same thing.

The b/w film I watched tonight was Went The Day Well? which several people recommended after I watched Mrs. Miniver some time last year. Really enjoyed it – quite pacey, which is the one thing many older films lack. Made in 1942, it depicts what could have happened, had German troops infiltrated an English village, under the guise of being British soldiers. Lots of British Stiff Upper Lip and “There is a war on, you know” attitude. People sacrifice themselves for others all over the place, and there are genuinely touching moments to remind of a all-for-one England which probably never quite existed to the propagandists’ extent. Amazing to think that the original audiences wouldn’t have known how the war would end, nor whether or not England would be invaded.

Quite an emotional film – you definitely get caught up in the lives of these villagers, and it isn’t comfort viewing, really, especially in 1942 I’d imagine.

Other reasons for watching this film:
– It’s filmed in a village in Buckinghamshire called Turville, where The Vicar of Dibley was also filmed. And Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and more or less everything else.

-One of the main characters is a young Thora Hird!! Don’t know how well she is known outside the UK, but here she is renowned for chairlift adverts, Songs of Praise, and a sitcom about the elderly, Last of the Summer Wine. Difficult to believe she was ever young, but here she is, still rather older than I am, in the war.

Any other classic b/ws to recommend? Not necessarily from the war, but b/w please… I’ve had a few ‘digitally remastered’ or somesuch – such a disappointment! That feeling of class doesn’t come from colour…

This week’s Booking Through Thursday could have been written for me.

What’s your favorite book that nobody else has heard of? You know, not Little Women or Huckleberry Finn, not the latest best-seller . . . whether they’ve read them or not, everybody “knows” those books. I’m talking about the best book that, when you tell people that you love it, they go, “Huh? Never heard of it?”

Anyone paying attention here on Stuck-in-a-Book will not be surprised when I offer a resounding “yes!” It always comes as a shock to me if anyone has heard of the books I like. Of course, there is the odd Jane or Virginia to balance out the rest, but in general my favourite books are obscure, usually out of print. In fact, being obscure adds to my enjoyment – more exclusive; I feel like I’ve made the discovery myself; just special. Everyone knows Pride and Prejudice is brilliant – Miss Hargreaves is a little more personal.

And that’s given the game away. Miss Hargreaves is my favourite obscure book. But I have given the matter a little more thought, as I hope regular visitors will have noticed. Down the left-hand column is 50 Books You Must Read But May Not Have Heard About. (BYMRBMNHHA if you like). Does what it says on the tin – though we’re a long way off 50 at the moment. It’s not in any particular order, but clicking on any of the titles will take you to my comments and advocations.

And so, my little Mwuh?-test. How many of the 17 BYMRBMNHHA had you heard about before I mentioned them? Comment, and let me know… and don’t worry, zero is an anticipated answer!

Happy 200th post!

There are some discrepancies between my Blogger homepage and the actual Stuck-in-a-Book webpage, due to draft entries I think, so my own mini-celebration was a few days ago. Now you can all enter in the fun – 200 posts!

I usually steer clear of ‘widgets’ (funny little applications and things one can add to a blog) but spotted one on several blogs which I couldn’t resist – the Feedjit thingy down on the left. It has a map of the world and dots over it where recent visitors have come from. Unsurprisingly, half of my recent visitors are from the UK, but these are all the countries which have had a look in recently:

UK, USA, Japan, Canada, France, Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Portugal, Brazil, Bulgaria, Italy, Cyprus, Belgium, Norway, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Finland, Germany, Poland, India

If you have a blog, I recommend popping this in. It’s incredibly easy to insert, doesn’t seem to slow the page down much, and I’m learning! My geographical knowledge wouldn’t impress a five-year-old – as I once famously declared, while sick with Geography homework and the importance attached to it: “Geography isn’t the world, you know!” So I’m discovering just where Bulgaria is, and that Puerto Rico is a nation and not just something in Westside Story. For the brighter amongst you, perhaps you can learn about the nations’ flags…