Hope you’re having a good weekend! I have a jam-packed one, seeing lots of friends (and also the musical Titanique, which I’m very excited about). Along the way, I’ll be having my first ever Peruvian meal, or at least what London thinks is Peruvian food. Not to mention, of course, a handful of books along the way – a couple of train journeys will helpfully contribute there. I also have a pile of books I finished before May still waiting to be reviewed, as they were neglected for A Book A Day In May.
Whatever you’re up to, here are a book, a link, and a blog post to help you feeling weekendish.
1.) The link – ok, niche audience maybe, but my friend Lizzie and I have started a podcast about the soap opera Emmerdale! It’s called Dingle All The Way, after the Dingle family, and you can find it on Spotify or wherever you get podcasts.
2.) The blog post – I’m not going to lie, I was hoping to see more blog reviews of The Spring Begins by Katherine Dunning, especially as Scott (Furrowed Middlebrow) and I have both made it our top books of the year. It is now available, so please do go and read it! It’s marvellous! What are you waiting for! Don’t just take my word and Scott’s word for it – Caro has written a wonderful review too now.
3.) The book – yes, this book grabbed my attention because I misread the subtitle and thought it was 50 essays about Abigail’s Party, and wouldn’t that be wonderful? But, having corrected myself, I’m still intrigued by David Collard’s A Crumpled Swan: Fifty essays about Abigail Parry’s ‘In the dream of the cold restaurant’, which looks to be far more wide-ranging than the title suggests – looking at wider issues of writing and reading, using a single poem as a basis. It could be fantastic or it could be extremely self-indulgent, and I’ll need to read it to find out.
Over here in Canada we’re still eagerly awaiting the release of The Spring Begins! Any word on the North American release date?
Sadly they never tell me these things… I will simply whisper ‘free postage at Blackwells’ as usual :D
Blackwells is always so tempting, but I try to buy from my local independent shop as much as possible. And they do consistently bring in the British Library Women Writers books without prompting!
I’m honoured you mentioned my review of The Spring Begins. Thank you! I wish I could press a copy of that book into the hands of all of my friends. It’s a special one.
I think I’ll be giving this one as presents a lot…
Oh, I would SO read a book of 50 essays about Abigail’s party, or at least give it a try.
The view of a party from 50 perspectives? Yes, please.
Wouldn’t that be fun??