I like Stefanie's If Only post (via Pages Turned) so much, I am going to do the same thing (beacuse you know how much I love lists). The idea is that if I had finished all the books on my nightstand that I am currently reading, which books would I choose to read next? I'm going to ignore any books I "should be reading" or challenges. These are the books I would pick on impulse today. Some are books I have been eyeing for a while and a few are books that just sound appealing to me at the moment. I am going to just choose eight books as that is (sort of) my upper limit of books (well, not counting my "ongoing reads"). There is actually a method to my madness--I tend to have different sorts of books on the go at once (a mystery, a novel, a nonfiction...you get the idea), so I will try and choose books along those lines.
- In Lucia's Eyes by Arthur Japin. I do plan on reading this one soon. This is an imagined story about real historical figures--Casanova and his first love. Last night I watched Casanova with Heath Ledger--probably not a terribly accurate film, but loads of fun.
- Age of Shakespeare by Frank Kermode. I want to read something about Shakespeare and his times.
- Women in Love by D.H. Lawrence. I am very curious about Lawrence and his work. I recently bought this and after some discussion with other bloggers, I'm looking forward to reading this.
- Devices and Desires by P.D. James. Do you think it matters if I have never read any of the Dalgliesh mysteries and I just jump in somewhere in the middle of the series? I like to start at the beginning generally, but I sort of don't feel like doing that this time around.
- Vienna by Eva Menasse. This is a series of vignettes about several generations of a Viennese family. It is not often I find books set in Austria and I always grab them when I come across them. Vienna is one of my favorites places, and I love books set there.
- Transgressions by Sarah Dunant. I like Sarah Dunant and want to read more of her work. This is a psychological thriller.
- Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. You have no idea how long I have wanted to read Shakespeare. Why don't I pick up his plays (or any play for that matter) ever? I have wanted to start with this one for a long time. First I want to read the play and then watch the movie version with Olivia Hussey. Well, eventually, I suppose.
- Katherine by Anya Seton. I have heard this is a classic love story that is well done. I love historical fiction, and have wanted to pick this one up for a while.
Now if you asked for this list tomorrow, it is likely I would give you eight different titles! Unfortunately I have too many books "that I have wanted to pick up and read for a while"!