Where did December come from? What happened to May? July? September? Did I do a Rip Van Winkle? The year can’t be almost done already!
So far setting monthly reading priorities has gone pretty well. I thought when I sat down to write this that November had gone terribly but looking back there is only one book I didn’t read, The Bridge of Beyond by Simone Schwarz-Bart. My excuse? A library book I had on hold came my way. That’s valid, right?
I am usually up to date with writing about books I have finished but there are two books from November I haven’t written about yet: Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse and MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood. The Atwood was fantastic. The Hesse, I am still trying to puzzle it out. I think I should have read it while under the influence of mind-altering drugs and it would have made more sense. Write ups about each of the books are forthcoming.
Books for December. I am having trouble putting together my priorities. I have the week of Christmas and the week of New Year’s off from work, that’s two full weeks, and I am inclined to cram it full with books. But I know I have a tendency to cram it too full so I back off and then worry that I haven’t planned enough. What the heck. Let’s cram!
So while others binge on food this month, I’ll binge on books. Here’s the meal plan:
- Bicycles: Love Poems by Nikki Giovanni. She will be giving a reading at the public library on December 12th and I am planning to go. While I know who she is a search through my reading history revealed I have never read her. I began the book the other day and what a delight! I look forward to hearing her speak.
- Burning the Midnight Oil edited by Phil Cousineau. The publisher offered this to me and I couldn’t refuse. It’s a little anthology of prose and poetry, fiction and nonfiction about the night. The book is being published on the winter solstice. It is one of those perfect dipping books that has so far been very enjoyable.
- Vital Signs, this is a book of essays on psychological responses to ecological crisis. I am not planning on rushing my way through this and finishing by the end of the month. I am taking my time and plan on finishing in January so this one is a more long-term book.
- Singing School by Robert Pinsky. This is a book about poetry. I am next up in the hold queue at the library and it looks like my turn will come around the 17th.
- To the Letter by Simon Garfield is another book I am waiting for at the library. The library just purchased it and as soon as they have it cataloged a copy will be mine.
- The Cusanus Game by Wolfgang Jeschke. This is the book that came in from the library that kept me from reading The Bridge of Beyond last month. It is a chunkster but so far so good. It is a science fiction novel that involves time travel and climate change. Bookman decided to read it too. One book, two readers. Watch us juggle and negotiate!
- Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett. I started this on my Kindle a week or so ago and am enjoying it very much. A nice antidote to the Hesse.
- The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore. Another book of comedy, this time Christmas comedy. Bookman read it last year and laughed all the way through and then foisted it on me. Seems like a good time to read it.
And if I manage all of that, there will also be The Bridge of Beyond and Trojan Women to dive into. Also on the back burner is Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot and a biography about him by Peter Ackroyd.
It’s a good thing reading binges are calorie-free!
Stef, you are right. Where did it all go? The time, I mean. I have not picked up Singing School yet, but it is ready for me and I must pick it up by tomorrow from the library or loose my place, so I definitely will do that. I’ll want to know what you think of it after you’ve had a chance to read it. Herman Hesse will do that to you, but I really want to read MaddAddam. I’m not a great fan of Atwood yet and perhaps I never will be, but I really want to read this one. I still can’t get through Robber Bride, but I will try again next year. I’ve tried both Blind Assassin and Handmaid’s Tale, and could finish neither one. I wonder why? Well, that’s okay, I guess. There are so many others and so much else that it seems silly to try to “get” an author if one just doesn’t. As always, I’ll be interested to hear what you think of the things you read and I’ll benefit from your insight.
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Grad, I’m looking forward to Singing School and I am excited that you will be reading it too. I loved MaddAddam. It was a great conclusion to the trilogy. Don’t feel bad about having trouble finishing an Atwood book. She is sometimes hard to get. She is a very subtle writer who I think you have to read both what she says and what she doesn’t say because sometimes the things she doesn’t say are more important the things she does and it is really hard to read that way.
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I got to see Nikki Giovanni speak a couple of years ago. You’re in for a treat!
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biblioglobal, really? Now I am even more excited! 🙂
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Binging on books sounds like a most lovely concept and I’m happy you have two weeks of time off to do so Stefanie. I’ll be looking forward to what you have to say about To the Letter and Vital Signs and Burning the Midnight Oil. They all look like good books.
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Vanessa, for the last five years or so I’ve been able to take a nice length of time off at the end of the year and since I don;t have to travel anywhere it becomes a lovely binge reading vacation. I am very lucky to be able to do it and I so very much look forward to it. I hope you’ll be able to have some good reading time around the holidays too!
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Thanks Stefanie, I’m making the time this month to read. I do have a few vacation days to schedule.
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I was thinking the same thing. December really caught me by surprise. It really is time to start working on those resolutions I made back at the start of the year.
Don’t know much about the books on your list, but I like the sound of them from the summaries, particularly the one about the night.
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Andrew, LOL, yup time is running out to get to those resolutions! 🙂 Congratulations for even remembering them I have completely forgotten mine.
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I’m interested in Singing School–expect good things from Pinsky. Loved Steppenwolf years and years ago and wonder what I would think today. Grinning about you and Bookman sharing The Cusanus Game!
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Jen, I expect good things from Pinsky too so I am really looking forward to the book. Everyone I know who read Steppenworf read it during college and loved it. I’d be curious what you’d think on a reread of it too!
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I’m another wondering where the year has gone. I said to The Bears only this morning that it was just two weeks now before the nights would start getting lighter (always a high point in this house) and then thought how can that possibly be true, it was June only yesterday. I haven’t planned out any reading yet but I know I should otherwise I will fritter the time away and then curse myself when the holiday is over and I’ve read nothing I’m prepared to admit to.
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Alex, we love solstice at my house too. I know I always over plan my reading especially this time of year, but like you, if I didn’t do that I would fritter away my time and then be mad about it. So have fun planning!
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An impressive as usual plan Stefanie. I read Hesse’s Steppenwolf a long time ago now but remember almost nothing. I’ve often though I should read it again. I’ll be looking out for your review! 🙂
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whisperinggums, it’s that vacation coming up that makes me go all crazy 🙂 I’m hoping to have my thoughts together on Steppenwolf in the next few days!
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I’ll be watching out!
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How fun that you get to see Nikki Giovanni! I’m very curious about her poetry book for obvious reasons 🙂 Your December reading time sounds great. We’re going to be traveling to visit relatives for the holidays, and while I’d love to get tons of reading done then, I’m guessing it’s not going to happen 😦
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Rebecca, I am very excited about seeing Giovanni. The poems aren’t actually about bicycles, she uses the title as a metaphor because love requires balance and trust. I hope you are able to get in some reading time during all your holiday travels!
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I always like reading about your reading plans – it always sets me up thinking about my own. Have just finished Purge by an Estonian/Finnish author whose name I can’t remember and this was a haunting and tormented novel about the Estonian historical experience. Just started The Spirit Level by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett- “Why Equality Is Better For Everyone”.
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Ian, I like hearing about your reading, you choose such interesting books! I know nothing about Estonia, maybe I’ll see if I can find a copy of Purge. And Spirit Level sounds great. Enjoy!
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