Eyes are steadily improving (though the cold weather isn’t helping), so I’m tentatively ending my blogging hiatus. We’ll see how it goes! And I’m starting with a meme I used to use a fair bit more than ten years ago. Feel free to use it on your own blogs, of course – a handy way to give an overview of what’s what in current bookish life.
1.) The book I’m currently reading
Last night I started my first William Trevor book – for the year of reading William Trevor, run by Kim at Reading Matters and Cathy at 746 Books. It WAS the only one of my shelves, though keep reading… So far I’m enjoying it, though only about 20 pages in.
2.) The last book I finished
On Saturday, I finished The Seven Good Years by Israeli writer Etgar Keret – while his stories are translated from Hebrew, he wrote this memoir in English. It’s about the seven years between the birth of his son and the death of his father. While it, naturally, isn’t as surreal as his fiction, there is still a recognisable oddness to the way he frames anecdotes – and more heart than his short stories.
3.) The next book I want to read
Looking back at the times I did this meme before, there are some ‘next books I want to read’ that I still haven’t read, more than ten years later. So, to avoid setting myself up for a fall, I’m going to choose an audiobook I bought the other day – Scoops by Sam McAlister. McAlister was the booker for the BBC’s Newsnight, and the book is a behind-the-scenes on how she went about getting some of the programme’s exclusives. As well as a broader memoir, I think.
4.) The last book I bought
I bought FOUR books yesterday. I am enjoying Project 24 being over! These all came from a remainder and secondhand bookshop in Oxford.
I bought The Portrait by Willem Jan Otten mostly because of that beautiful cover, but it sounds interesting – a Dutch painter is commissioned to paint a dead child, but then the father never collects the painting. And look, there’s the next William Trevor! I’ve wanted The Boarding House ever since Jacqui included it in her round-up of boarding house novels. The Census-Taker caught my eye because I liked China Miéville’s The City and the City, and it’s no secret that I’m a fan of Penelope Mortimer – so was pleased to spot Saturday Lunch with the Brownings.
5.) The last book I was given
A belated Christmas present from my friends Paul and Kirsty – a signed copy of Tom Allen’s Too Much! I really enjoyed the audiobook, so it’s great to have a copy on my shelves.
That was fun, and it’s nice to be back. Hopefully more soon!
Great news that your eyes are improving Simon! I was hoping to get the Tom Allen for Christmas but my hints went unheeded so it will probably be my next bookish purchase :-)
Haha! Yes, sometimes hints need to be sledgehammeresque, don’t they?
Ah, that’s good to hear about the eyes, hope they keep on getting better! I like your second-hand books purchase – but I probably need to reign in my book buying habits this year, which is set to become a very expensive one.
Thank you! I’m definitely enjoying being able to buy again after my abstemious year.
Ooh, I also made a (relatively) recent discovery of William Trevor – from the shelves of the Oxfam bookshop at Herne Hill, London SE24. So far, I have read The Silence in the Garden, and the one you are currently reading, Lucy Gault. They are extraordinary renderings of colonial legacy, remnants left behind as part of the Anglo-Irish experience. I hope you like it as much as I did. I am not sure that I will manage much William Trevor this year, as I’m still reading my way through the 1790s- 1820s (although there are affinities between William Trevor and Maria Edgeworth’s Castle Rackrent, IMO), but I will check out those blogs you mention, and see if I can squeeze in some of the short stories.
Glad your eyes are recovering – how miserable for you.
Funny you should mention Maria Edgeworth – I live in the village she was born in! Or at least lived in at some point. Good to know you liked Trevor so much – I haven’t got to any more for a few days, but must go back to it.
Welcome back, friend! I hope the eyes carry on improving steadily. It looks like your reading year is going very nicely so far, which is always good. I’ve just finished a little Mollie Panter-Downes collection of short stories, and it was such a nice experience I might straightaway read the other story collection of hers I own.
Thank you Jenny! I’m very grateful. And hurrah MPD! I’ve only read one of the two collections, and can never remember which of the two…
Some nice new books there, and so glad the eyes are improving! :D
Thanks Karen!
Welcome back and what a great clutch of new books, I’ve been meaning to read The Boarding House since Jacqui’s post as well, I’ve given it as a gift but not for me – may be this year!
Thank you Jane! Yes, so many of us love a boarding house novel
Glad to learn your eyes are improving. I like the format and the beautiful photos too. I’ll be interested to know what you think of The Story of Lucy Gault. I remember reading it along with several other William Trevor novels nearly 30 (yikes so long!) years ago and finding them compelling, very well written and yet quite dark and bleak so have not been inclined to reread since (in fact I was thinking of culling them!).
Following your meme, the last book I read was South Riding and I am now reading Ruth (ready for the next tea or books). The last book I bought was A Jest of God as inspired by your 2022 best books. The next book I want to read is Edith Bagnold’s The Loved and Envied, which I borrowed from the library after enjoying The Squire.
I love your recent reading! I’m also keen to read The Loved and Envied. And you’re ahead of me for Tea or Books – I’ve read Ruth now, but not far with South Riding. And I guarantee that Rachel hasn’t started them :D
I hope your eyes continue to improve. I have been having my own hiatus so I know it can be frustrating.
I read The Story of Lucy Gault years ago, I love his writing. I read The Old Boys earlier this month. I hope you enjoy The Boarding House.
I thought Saturday Lunch with the Brownings was a really good collection. I haven’t read enough by Penelope Mortimer.
There are definitely times when it felt it would never improve, so I’m very grateful. And I’m excited that The Home by Penelope Mortimer is coming out soon from BLWW – hope people enjoy it.
It’s good to see a post from you, especially one with such encouraging news! I hope this year brings many wonderful books, and time and health to enjoy them.
Thank you so much, Lisa, I really appreciate that :)
Good news on your eyes! Did you know that Edgar Keret presented bits of family stories on a very recent This American Life podcast?
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/788/half-baked-stories-about-my-dead-mom
(this would rest your eyes for 1 hour)
Oo I didn’t know, thank you! I’ll explore
So wonderful to hear your eyes are doing better!
Thank you Emma!
Good to hear that your eyes are improving, Simon, and it’s lovely to see you back here again – you’ve definitely been missed!. And I’m delighted to see The Boarding-House in your little pile of acquisitions, definitely something to look forward to now you’re getting into William T!
Hooray, and hope the eyes continue to improve!