And I have finished Project 24! One of these actually came in the post a couple of weeks ago, but the other three were bought on a jaunt around Oxford at the weekend. Because I had got so close to the end of December with a few books in hand, I allowed myself the delight of spontaneous buying.
On the Calculation of Volume 1 by Solvej Balle
This series has been all over the bookish internet for a while, but somehow I only recently learned that it was a timeloop concept. I LOVE a timeloop. I decided to take a plunge on the first one, and I’ll doubtless scoop up the others that are available if it proves to be a hit.
Christmas: Tradition, Truth and Total Baubles by Nick Page
Nick is a good friend of mine, and yet somehow I’ve only read a couple of his prodigious output of books – so I thought I’d rectify by getting his Christmassy one to read over Christmas. Here’s the description: “Combining in-depth historical research, cheerfully irreverent humour and cutting-edge guesswork, Nick Page explores what this festival really means, and how we can get back to something real and true beneath all that wrapping.”
Peter by E.F. Benson
Hurlingham Books and I have a sporadic 84-Charing-Cross-Road-style relationship, modernised for the 21st century, where they WhatsApp me when they have any E.F. Benson or Beverley Nichols books in stock – and I couldn’t resist getting this E.F. Benson which is signed by him!
Aphra Behn by Vita Sackville-West
I actually left this slim volume behind in a charity shop in Oxford – and only when I got home did I google and see that it’s actually pretty hard to get hold of. Since I love Vita Sackville-West and remember enjoying Aphra Behn back in the day, I was relieved that the good people of Oxford had left it on the charity shop shelf for the couple of weeks that intervened before I could go back and claim it.
There we go! Project 24 has, as usual, made me think more deeply about the books I buy and why – and the things I’ve ended up purchasing have surprised me. 2026 will see me return to unbridled book buying, but at least I can say that I definitely read more books from my shelves in 2025 than I added to them.
Love an 84 Charing Cross Road connection! Even if has 21st century vibe…congrats!
It is so fun!
E F Benson is a fav of mine with his books about the fabulous Lucia & the ghastly Mapp in a corner bookcase here where I keep volumes I have read more than once & will no doubt read again.
There was even an admirable BBC (?) production of his work featuring her.
That you are this near (thumb & forefinger very close) to finishing this year having kept to your resolution I must add my respect to your resolve.
Waving from Cambridge UK where there are many tempting books to buy spots which I seldom resist.
Oh this is Mapp slander! I am always on her side over Lucia :D I guess because I love the underdog.
Well done on keeping to Project 24. Happy unbridled book buying for 2026; I shall look forward to all the inspiration and temptation!
I had not heard of Nick Page, but I have made a note to try to listen to his podcast. His Christmas book sounds very intriguing.
Thanks Sarah! Nick’s theology is a bit more liberal than mine, so I’m not always the right audience for the podcast, but I did just read his Badly-Behaved Bible and it’s very good.
I listened to some yesterday and I think I agree with you as far as the theology. I shall look forward to a review of The Badly Behaved Bible if you do that in due course. I am intrigued and the goodread reviews on it have left me more confused rather than enlightened!
Congratulations on completing Project 24 this year and for some great finds to finish with!
Thanks! Looking forward to our unbridled shopping trip in 2026 :D
I expect after this project your buying habits next year won’t be as unbridled as they used to be! Congratulations on sticking with the year!
Sadly it seems to go the other way… every post-Project-24 year, things get a bit out of hand…
Interesting finds Simon, and well done on completing the project – totally admire you sticking to it!!
thanks Karen!
I was interested to hear about the books by E. F. Benson and Vita Sackville West since I had never heard of either. I need to go back to the “Read the Year” Club lists. Not doubt there will be even more to add to my already tottering heap of lists – lots of books, but many lists!
If you’d like to know more about them, there are lots of posts about both on here – I’d say All Passion Spent is a great place to start with VSW, and the Mapp and Lucia series (starting at the beginning, not with the book called Mapp and Lucia!) for EFB.
Congratulations on completing Project 24! I may try to do it next year.
I read Benson’s Michael recently and just loved it. I’d like to see you do Unnecessary Rankings posts for Benson and also for E M Delafield as I have several of unread books for each author.
Thanks Grier! They are both authors I’ve wondered about doing Unnecessary Rankings for, though very hard to divide between so many very similar books!
I might try something like this next year as a way of slimming down my TBR, which is totally out of control right now! And I like how it made you think very deeply about which books to buy (and not to buy).
The concept behind the Balle is very intriguing, and while I enjoyed the first instalment, it didn’t grip me enough to carry on. I’ll be fascinated to see how you get on as I’m probably an outlier in this respect!
Yes, I think it’ll be every couple of years for me, unless I move somewhere rather bigger! Space is definitely running out in my little flat.
Well done, I’ve enjoyed watching your restraint this year. What do you do with books you’ve read? I find I can pass on ones I’ve just read quite easily (if they’re not part of an essential collection) but the ones I’ve had for years do stick. And I’ve rather filled up a substantial house, though I could fit more in I’m sure if I really tried …
Thanks Liz! It depends – if I don’t like them or not much bothered, they go to a charity shop. But I probably keep 80-90% of the books I read, at least initially.