Just when I decide to crack down on my reading and not give in to more bookish temptation, along come two very tempting readalongs. Both are in June, so there is still time for me to be industrious and finish books on my reading pile. By the way, I've been reading the same four books all week (which I know probably still sounds like a lot, but for me is pretty restrained). Not that I've finished anything (maybe this weekend?), but I'm making good progress. And I'm all about progress here.
Iris just announced the Dutch Literature Month for June. There will be a group read of The Tea Lords by Hella Haase with discussion stops at the middle of the month and at the end. I've wanted to read In Lucia's Eyes by Arthur Japin for years, so maybe this will be my opportunity/excuse to do so. It's still too early to commit myself to anything definite and I'm sure I'll want to browse books before deciding, but the Japin is the first Dutch author to come to mind (and there are a few Dutch crime writers I'd like to read as well).
Following up on the very successful Muriel Spark Reading Week, Simon and Annabel are going to host a Beryl Bainbridge Reading Week from June 18-24. Dangerous, as I have a stack of unread novels by Bainbridge, and I'm always looking for an excuse to read books that have long been on my shelves. I'll be contemplating picking up one of her novels next month as well, though again it's too early still to choose.
I mentioned Booklist's Murderous Month of May (so fitting that I've really been into mysteries lately), and if you click on over you can see lots of interesting lists and articles on current mystery/crime publications--including their Year's Best Crime Novels: 2012, which I'll be taking a closer look at. After the webinar there was a chance to take advantage of some review copies of books discussed in the presentation, so now I have an ebook review copy of Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes. It's loaded onto my Nook for the next 60 days. I'm hoping to start it as soon as I finish my current mystery, Black Out by John Lawton.
And I just found out that I am getting one of Library Thing's Early Reviewer books, Herta Müller's The Hunger Angel. I don't often try my luck there these days, so I was surprised that I actually nabbed one of their books. I've not yet read Müller and am looking forward to it.
Were you wondering about the San Francisco postcard (it's a postcard I just received in the mail by chance as a matter of fact--a sign perhaps?). One of my sister's and I are thinking about traveling there in the fall. We're still just in the thinking about it mode, but I'm hoping it actually happens as it has been (literally) years since I had a proper, take a week off and go somewhere, vacation and I am in need of one. So any advice on places to stay, things to do, things not to do are very welcome. Maybe there are some good bookstores not to be missed? Or maybe there is a cool store that sells postcards? And most importantly I'll want to do a little reading up, so book suggestions are welcome (both fiction and nonfiction) as well. Planning is half the fun, right?