I'm feeling very uninspired at the moment. Usually I have all sorts of ideas in mind of things I want to blog about, but I hate to say it--all that stretches before me at the moment is a vast desert. And nothing is growing in it. I think this is due in part to the fact that I am reading the same books (and not finishing anything). Someday, I swear, the covers you see on the right are going to change (or at least slowly disappear one by one). I feel like I am reading and reading and not actually getting anywhere, which is not entirely true (less than 150 pages stand between me and the end of The Mysteries of Udolpho), but I can't seem to cross any books off this list.
So, rather than think about what I am not accomplishing, I will mention that I did do something I threatened to do last week. I took a long hard look at my library books and returned those books I knew I would not get to anytime soon. Not only that, I took most of my online requests for books and moved them to a wishlist, so I am only waiting now for one book, and it is a crafting book. I'm hoping this will allow me to concentrate on what I already have started (so I can perhaps finish them...). In January I am sure I'll join the library's Winter Reading Program (and I'll have lots to choose from as my wishlist is quite long), but until then here's what I have at home:
The Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver -- This is actually waiting for me at the library. It has been on my list since last April! After waiting that long I couldn't bring myself to get out of line.
Not Yet Drown'd by Peg Kingman -- I am a third of the way into this novel and am looking forward to getting back to it.
All in Together Girls by Kate Sutherland -- I started reading this today. I think I'll read a story every day or so. They are fairly short, so they will be a nice break from Emily St. Aubert, who I've been spending lots of time with lately.
The Far Traveler by Nancy Marie Brown -- Another one I am looking forward to getting back to.
Mozart's Sister by Rita Charbonnier -- A historical novel, which "draws you into the lush palaces and salons of eighteenth-century Europe and into the fascinating life of a woman who ultimately found a way to express her own genius".
The Gathering by Anne Enright -- Yes, I am curious about the Booker Prize winner. It looks like a short novel, so I'd like to try and fit it in.
I probably would have saved the last two books for later as well; however, they were already waiting for me when I dropped off my other books. Six books is actually very reasonable for me considering I did have well over 20 at home a week ago. There was one small glitch when I returned my stack of books last Friday. One of the books apparently did not get checked back in, though I am certain I returned it. I always check my account online so I can keep track of what I have and their due dates. The book in question was still showing as something I had at home. Although I've called and explained the situation the book still appears on my account and shows "claimed returned". I can't tell you how annoying I find that. I'm sure I brought it back--it was a heavy coffee table sort of book, which weighed a ton to walk with in my bookbag. And now every time I look at my account I feel like they're thinking....yeah, suuurrre, we believe you......Tomorrow I'll go pick up the Shriver book, and I plan on checking the shelves carefully for that book--no doubt it is sitting on some shelf somewhere--still checked out in my name. Ah, the trials and tribulations of using the public library.