I seem to have mislaid the first two weeks of June. Has anyone seen them? Really, where has the month gone? It makes me feel old to say time passes too quickly, but it does pass too quickly. I don't want to be twelve again, but I wouldn't mind having the entire summer spread out before me with the only responsibility to worry about be washing dishes on Wednesday nights. Okay, and maybe making my bed. Deep sigh. I think the next time I'm in that situation I will likely be far too old (and probably crabby, too) to enjoy it. All this to say that the last two weeks of the month are going to be filled with busy reading days.
First there are several impending library due dates--in the form of interlibrary loan books, which I try very hard to read and not be so flippant about (as I can be with regular library books) by returning them unread or half read. I've decided that Elizabeth Berridge is one of my great finds this year. I've been reading Across the Common and should finish in a day or so (proper post to follow next week). She is a Persephone Books author (they have published a book of short stories) and several of her other titles have been reissued by Faber Finds. Thanks to Margaret P. I've already requested Touch and Go.
As soon as I finish the Berridge I'll be picking up Stella Gibbons's Westwood, which is being released in the fall, but I couldn't wait for the lovely new Vintage edition so have an old copy that was printed in 1946. It is supposed to be a "delightful tale of romantic entanglements and self-reliance".
Yesterday I took the afternoon off to read Valerio Varesi's River of Shadows. The catch was the book had to stay in the library where I work as the lending institution it came from had certain restrictions--no renewals and must remain in the building. Luckily it seems to be a short and fairly quick read, but I needed a couple of hours with it to really get going in the story. My reading tends to be piecemeal as it is, but I usually need a nice chunk of time to at least get going in the story and orient myself--fifteen minute breaks just don't cut it. Now I understand why I see so many students snoozing. There really is something soporific about the library--at least when you've just had your lunch and have settled down to relax with a book. I caught myself drifting off a few times, though it isn't a reflection of the story--no worries!
To round things off I've also got to finish Liza Marklund's Paradise by the end of the month. It is a fast moving story even though it is a longish one. I like Annika Bengtzon so much I've requested another of Marklund's books--hopefully the first since I have begun by reading the books out of order. Library books (at least interlibrary loan requests) can be a vicious cycle--no sooner do I finish one batch than I have a few more on the way (my own fault of course...)!
Now it's time to start reading Cakes and Ale by W. Somerset Maugham (I mistakenly thought I needed to read it last month) for the Slaves of Golconda. We're planning on discussing it at the end of the month if anyone would like to join us--you're most welcome. I had something of a false start last time, but hopefully it will go better this time around.
To round things out I'll also be reading Primo Levi's Survival in Auschwitz for Caroline's Literature and War readalong. Discussion starts June 24. I'm hoping it won't be too disturbing a read coming hard on the heels of the Endo. I read a fair amount of fluffy stories, though, so it's good to have some good, serious books in the mix as well.
As something of a last hurrah I decided to pick up Helen MacInnes's Decision at Delphi. I say last hurrah as I am going to try very hard in July to not start any new books, other than those that have some sort of due date attached to them, in order to try and whittle down my current reading pile (are you getting tired yet of seeing the same book jackets on my right sidebar?). The books on my night table are starting to make the wood buckle there are so many, so something has to give. Now, of course don't quote me on this, but that's my plan! So none are you allowed to tempt me with new books--okay you can tempt me, but remind me to write the titles down, not go and buy or borrow them to read immediately!
On that happy note, I'm off to go read.