At the beginning of every year I try and start out with a reasonably small (for me, keep in mind) stack of books. No more than perhaps six or eight different books--one or two novels, a mystery, a nonfiction, you get the idea. But it's not long before things get out of control, and all of a sudden my night stand is groaning under a leaning pile of books, all started, bookmarks in varying places within the books. They are a little like weeds. You pull one, but then three more seem to pop up the next day in its place, and pretty soon your yard is full of crab grass.
Well, it's that time of year when I look at my night stand and think that the pile is too tall (or as the case may be, piles...), and it's time to rein things in. Before I tackle the books and get things back under control by the end of the year (and it will take me a few months to accomplish this!), it's time for a last hurrah. Turning a blind eye to what's already started I have a stack of books that I want to start reading. Normally I would at least make some attempt at finishing something before starting something new, but throwing all caution to the wind, these are the books I've started or will be starting soon. Guilt and a desire that people not think I am totally obsessive about reading keeps me from adding all these books to my sidebar in one fell swoop. I'll do it slowly, when you're not looking.
Old School, Tobias Wolff - Cornflower's book group is reading this one. I wasn't sure I would manage it this late (discussion starts this Saturday), and I might be a bit tardy in finishing it, but I can't pass it up. The prose is so gorgeous I have to read it.
Ruth Hall, Fanny Fern - This is next up for the Slaves. Discussion is at the end of the month, so there is plenty of time if you'd like to join us. I'll start this when I finish the Wolff book (see, I'm not being quite so bad after all).
The Fortnight in September, R.C. Sherriff - This is the group read in my Dovegreybooks group. It seems the perfect book to read this month.
Mystery Book - The next book for my postal reading group is on its way in the mail. I love bookish surprises!
Vienna, Eva Menasse - I still retain a faint hope I might actually finish this challenge.