You know when the snowdrops show that winter is nearly ended and soon it will be spring. It has certainly felt that way the last few days, a bit warmer, shoots poking through, lighter in the evenings.
It has been quite a full month for reading too...
Read - 3/4 a book
Completed - none
Currently reading - Whit by Iain Banks. Slow progress but I will finish it.
Caught by the River: A Collection of Words on Water by various authors.
The English Novel in History 1895 - 1920 by David Trotter
TBR Pile - currently at 96 (according to GoodReads) with 5 added
The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
Generation X by Douglas Coupland
After Dark by Haruki Marukami
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell
Challenges -
-Currently reading Whit to complete #6 of The Octogon 2011 challenges.
-Summarised the intro and first chapter of The English Novel in History 1895 - 1920 and now on page 60 so the next summary will be posted soon. To read the first part use the link.
-Bought 2 of the titles I need for the challenge I have running with AR from work, to read at least one of 3 recommendations by the end of the year.
Wishlist Additions -
Into the Forest by Jean Hegland
House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski
Tiger, Tiger: A Memoir by Margaux Fragoso
Discoveries - A lovely and interesting website that celebrates book cover art... The Book Cover Archive
Events -
The month started with a Waterboys concert at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. This tour was a bit different because Mike Scott had set Yeat's poetry to music. The tour is called An Appointment with Mr Yeats and it was brilliant.
World Book Night is gathering speed for next saturday, 3rd March. I was chosen as a giver and I collect my books on monday, so look out for my post about giving them away. There has been quite a bit of TV coverage, including 2 series about books...Faulks on Fiction which I really enjoyed, celebrating characters in novels, the hero, the lover, the snob and the villain. There is also a series on at the moment called My Life in Books presented by Anne Robinson, where 2 guests talk about the books that have meant the most to them. I have only seen one or two but again, good to see these types of program being aired.
I saw 2 good plays this month...
The Rivals at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket in London with Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles
Oedipus at the Liverpool Playhouse, a new and exciting adaptation by Steven Berkoff.
Finally too, I got my next Novel Holiday sorted, based around Thomas Hardy in Dorset.
So a pretty busy month, if not in pages turned, then in planning, seeing and pondering.
Posts
4 comments:
I'm really envious about the Oedipus, Leah. Do you know if there are any plans for this to tour?
I picked up my World Book Night parcels on Friday and you've reminded me that I must ring the school today now that they are back after half term and see how they want to organise distributing them. hoping we can use them to kick start a parents' reading group, although I'll fit another one into my schedule I have no idea.
Oedipus was really good Annie, I especially loved the chorus, and it is going down very well in Liverpool, which is great for something not so mainstream.
I'll let you know if it is going on tour.
Hi Leah, I read Whit some time ago and I found it very slow to read. All in all rather un-engaging and unenjoyable. The last 100 pages or so were slightly better. So persevere. All the best for World Book day and night. I'm going to an even with Kate Atkinson next Sat Night in York main library and I'm looking forward to it. Ciao. A.
Hi there lunarossa, I agree about Whit, it has been very laborious in parts. I have now finished it and as you say, it gets better at the end. Will be reviewing soon.
Have fun on Saturday in York Library. It is good to see so many book events about at the moment. I am looking forward to giving away my books on WBN.
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