I have a confession to make. After trying to get my reading piles in order, I picked up a new book to read over the weekend. But in my defense it is one of those 'fine print' books I mentioned since it is going to count towards my RIP reading. Now ideally I would have finished one of my other RIP reads before starting it, but sometimes you just have to go with the moment. Book in question? Laurie King's fourth Mary Russell mystery, The Moor. It's set in Dartmoor, the scene of one of Holmes's most celebrated cases. This time, though, there is more than a phantom hound--the sighting of a "spectral coach carrying a long-dead noblewoman." I have no idea what prompted me to go and pick it up, but I just had this overwhelming desire to read another Mary Russell book right now, and the setting and story was so perfect, I knew I had just the right excuse.
Not too many Sundays ago I decided that I was not in the mood for gritty crime stories, but I find I am still in the mood for a good cozy mystery, and my pile seems to be lacking in one so I think the Russell/Holmes mystery should do the trick.
Judith at Reader in the Wilderness has announced she's organizing a Russian Literature Month in January, which is not so very far off if you think about it (but maybe best if we don't think about it too closely yet). If I can organize myself I might raid my pile of unread novellas as I have quite a few by Russian authors and try and read along.
The Longlist for the Scotia Giller Prize has been announced. I am always curious about these lists and check them out for potential new reads (because I am always on the lookout for something new and different--and you know I never have enough reading material on hand . . .). I am most interested in reading the books by Frances Itani and David Bezmozgis. More books to add to my wishlist.
Last Friday I saw a really interesting film. I guess my tastes don't coincide with the tastes of the rest of the world. As it is a new film and only just opened at the cinema, I thought I might not get a seat. Silly me, as I was the only one in the theater until midway through the previews when finally another lady came in. The film is called Fifi Howls from Happiness and it is a biographical documentary of Iranian artist Bahman Mohasses who spent most of his life in exile. He lived in relative seclusion in Italy until his death in 2010. He had quite a presence in the film, incredibly irreverent. I had not heard of him prior to seeing the movie, but maybe it is not so unusual since he destroyed quite a lot of his own work, which I find sort of surprising. I guess he did his art as a means to an end--at least to some degree--it is how he lived. I especially like his sculptures. You can see the movie trailer here.
I am probably just about the only person in the world who is not on Facebook (and have no plans ever to do so), so I know I should probably not complain, but I really hate it when companies (publishers especially) have online giveaways or do promotions via FB. I guess I should not be so greedy in any case, as it is not as though I have a shortage of reading material and (thank you public library!) I can pretty much access new books as long as I don't mind waiting my turn for them. Still, I feel like sometimes the world revolves around social media and it annoys me. Is that irrational? Am I showing my age?
I've been very slowly finishing a couple of stitching projects. The 'mystery' project that I had been stitching on is basically done--other than the actual finishing it into something useful and practical, or if not that at least something nice to look at. And my bee sampler only has a few small motifs and part of a border left to complete. I was going to share a photo today of the latter but as I am so close to properly finishing it, the next photo you'll see will be a complete (though not yet framed) bee sampler. I definitely need something autumnal to work on next. I have several Halloween charts that I wouldn't mind working on--but here we are midway through September, so I wonder if it is almost too late to start something? Naw, I can always carry it over to next year. (That was said only partly in jest--I know how pokey I am so it isn't too much of a stretch to think I might start it in 2014 but finish it in 2015.
I am running a little behind in emails and postcards and blog commenting, which seems to be a normal state of being for me. Part of the trouble I have with finishing books in a timely manner is just not having enough reading time. As I am never going to find a tree to grow more time that I can just conveniently go out and pick a random hour of, I will have to come up with another solution. I think I must threaten to do this at least once a month (if I don't say it, I know I am thinking it), but I want to cut down on posting so regularly. Maybe only three or four times a week? This is always such a dilemma for me. I like posting regularly and I like chatting with other readers (always my main motivation), yet I often think how nice a break would be so I could spend more time reading. So I guess I'll keep thinking about it.