A few days ago I mentioned my library's annual Winter Reading Club, which I've participated in for the last couple of years. It runs from January 4 through the end of February, and the idea is to read (or listen to) five books. This year they are giving away book bags (and you know you can never have enough book bags, right?). The library is teaming up with the Henry Doorly Zoo, and this reading club is just part of a larger reading initiative that they are organizing. The catch is that one of the five books you read needs to be Jack London's The Call of the Wild. At first I wasn't especially happy about this. The thing is that a story about a dog is not my usual sort of read. However, I've decided that actually this is probably a good thing. I've never read any fiction by Jack London. But in keeping with my reading plans--I'd like to read more male authors, more American authors, more ML list titles. Really this is a perfect choice, since the book fits into all the categories. Plus it's a good thing to read outside your comfort zone sometimes. Who knows, I might just be looking for his complete works when I finish.
So, a copy of The Call of the Wild is waiting for me at the library. Over the break I also did a little browsing and borrowing in anticipation of this program. My library stack has grown to about ten books now--more than I need to complete the program, but I'll have a nice pile of books to choose from. I'm not sure where to start, but I have:
Jack Absolute, C.C. Humphreys - A new historical series of swashbuckling fun set in the 1700s.
The Company She Keeps, Mary McCarthy - These were originally published separately as short stories, here it is presented as an episodic novel. I've only read one book by her and I've been wanting to read more.
Love Falls, Esther Freud - A story of 'youthful self-discovery'. Another author I've read, but it has been a while. She is the daughter of artist, Lucian Freud, and granddaughter of the famous Sigmund Freud. Do you think she must get tired of having that noted?
Ghostwalk, Rebecca Stott - A mixture of contemporary and historical novel set in Cambridge. It is "filled with evocative descriptions of seventeenth century glassmaking, alchemy, the Great Plague, and Newton's scientific innovations".
Divisadero, Michael Ondaatje - The book blurb calls it his "most intimate and beautiful novel to date". A friend read it and didn't get on with it very well, but when I read the blurb something about it sounded appealing to me. Also I loved his English Patient (a book I'd like to reread), and have always meant to read more of his work.
Angelica, Arthur Phillips - A Victorian ghost story, that I still want to read! I think I've checked this book out twice before now and returned it unread. It is a story told from multiple perspectives.
The four titles below I've already mentioned here--they're the ones I had on hand from my vacation (but alas didn't read/start reading).
To Dance at the Palais Royale, Janet McNaughton - YA novel set in Toronto in the 1920s.
The Journal of Dora Damage, Belinda Starling - A Victorian setting about bookbinding.
Snobbery with Violence, Marion Chesney - An Edwardian mystery.
I, Coriander, Sally Gardner - Another YA novel set in medieval times.
I might end up adding to the pile if I find something really appealing when I go and pick up the Jack London book, because I can't go in without browsing.
Of course the problem now is deciding where to start. At the moment I'm leaning towards the Ondaatje or the Stott. Any favorites? Can you recommend one in particular? I'm not quite sure what I am in the mood for. Maybe I should drop the titles in a hat and draw? I will probably have to read a few pages to see which catches my attention. Choosing just the right book is sometimes problematic!