Two weeks and counting. Yes, in just two weeks I will be on vacation from work (I'm taking a few extra days off, so I will have a full two week break before having to return in January). That's a good thing and a bad thing. But that also means I only have a little over two weeks to finish buying gifts (and I thought I'd be done by now, what a laugh), address the few cards I send out and wrap presents. However, almost more importantly I need to think about what books I want to read over break. These are different books than what I am reading now and different than those books I'll be reading in January. Really, this is more of a fantasy post, because you know me and vacations and reading. Nothing ever turns out how I want it to. Still I can fantasize. Although I won't get to all of them, I would love to be able to read two or three of these (am leaning heavily towards the first four). Here's what I am considering choosing from:
A Room with a View, E.M. Forster. I watched this movie again a few days ago and it reminded me how much I love E.M. Forster's work. Some time ago if you would have asked me my who my favorite author was, Forster would have topped the list. I still love his work, but it has been so long that I think it is definitely time to start rereading him as his novels have started to fade from my mind. Even if I don't read this during my vacation, I've already pulled the book out of my bookcase and it is sitting next to my bed. I will get to it eventually.
Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen. I've been itching to start this ever since I finished reading Ann Radcliffe. I am planning on reading/rereading all of Austen's work next year, and this would be a great holiday read. I thought of starting with some of her other juvenilia, if I can get my hands on it, but I am too excited to start with this one first.
Lady Audley's Secret, Mary Elizabeth Braddon. Another great holiday read I think. It is one of the novels I chose for my Victorian winter reading 'challenge'. I have a rather large soft spot for sensationalist novels I'm finding.
The Needle in the Blood, Sarah Bower. From what I've heard from other readers this is the sort of book that once you pick it up and start reading you won't want to put it down. It is the perfect combination for me--a historical novel that also is about the famous Bayeaux Tapestry. I don't think I've ever come across a novel with an embroiderer as a main character!
The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory. This book has been making the rounds at work. It sounds as though the size (over 600 pages) should not put me off as it is a quick, page-turner sort of read. Another great book to lose myself in for a few days I think (and in anticipation of the forthcoming movie).
The Lollipop Shoes, Joanne Harris. I bought this earlier in the year. At this point I may wait until I reread Chocolat, which I seem to do every February, so the characters are fresh in my mind. Chocolat is one of my very favorite comfort reads (perfect for cold winter days), so I am hoping this will compare favorably.
Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette, Sena Jeter Naslund. Poor Marie Antoinette. I swear I will get to the books I have on hand about her (both fiction and nonfiction). I've been in the mood to read about the Royal Court (brutal though that life must have been it is no less intriguing for that fact). Of course the Gregory book may fill that urge nicely as well.
I'm lucky to have time off from work as the university closes down between Christmas and New Years. I realize not everyone is as fortunate to have a block of time like that away from work at this time of year. If you have extra free time over the holidays, what will you be reading?