I have a longish weekend to look forward to as I am taking an extra day off from work on Monday. As always I have a stack of reading material to fill my time with, though strangely I tend to get in more reading during the work week than on weekends. That doesn't mean I can't try, however, to read more. Finally, after a wait of several weeks my May issue of World Literature Today arrived, which is a double issue focusing on "New Hebrew Writing"--right up my alley and I can't wait to begin reading properly. On first glance there seem to be lots of new-to-me authors to discover. And there is this week's New Yorker to peruse and a story by Ben Marcus to read. And as you see, I even have some of my favorite chocolate to enjoy while reading . . .
I have been a little bad this week, as I ordered several new short story anthologies to add to my always growing collection. It is always nice to have new material to draw from (new being new-to-me rather than newly written or published--though I like that as well). When they arrive I will be sure and share titles with you. Francis Wyndham is still close at hand, but I liked last week's story so much I have decided to read a few more from Short Story Masterpieces edited by Robert Penn Warren and Albert Erskine. As a matter of fact I have already read this week's story (couldn't wait . . . ). It's a secret until Sunday--I might even chose another story--either by someone else in that collection or another by the author whose work I have just been introduced to and will soon be telling you about.
And then there are a few new additions to the reading pile . . . Why have I no self control when it comes to picking up new reads? As another blogger has noted--'I can't stop starting new books'! I was updating my Century of Books page and decided I need to pick a year and find a book to read for it. It has been ages since I read anything by Anita Brookner. I binged on her when I was younger, collected nearly all her books, and then haven't picked up any of those unread novels for ages. So, Providence it is, and Thomas suggested reading Benjamin Constant's novella, Adolphe, alongside. I can't pass up a temptation like that (especially since it was already on my shelves) and it has made me very curious now about the parallels between the two stories.
How could I forget what a fantastic writer she is?
And then in my online (new books) meanderings this past week I discovered that mystery writer Clare Langley-Hawthorne has a new book out! I loved the first two Ursula Marlow mysteries set in Edwardian England and was anxious for the next, but unfortunately Penguin who was her publisher at the time must have dropped her from their list. After a five (or so) year hiatus she has published Unlikely Traitors, which I, of course, didn't hesitate to order. It actually came out last year--how did I miss that? Her books are in a similar vein as the Maisie Dobbs novels, though still very different. Ursula is a young woman of good family, an heiress, but a militant suffragette and independent thinker. She shows a lot of moxie and is quite likable so it was easy for me to decide I should reread those first two books before picking up the newest. So, I am in the middle of Consequences of Sin and enjoying it as much as I did the first time. I already have The Serpent and the Scorpion lined up to read as soon as I finish rereading the first. Nothing like having a new mystery to read soon as an incentive to picking up those in progress books rather than letting them languish. I have 'lost' more than one mystery series due to publishers dropping them so am thrilled to see a new book out and fingers crossed there will be more!
And then there will be the last few episodes of Outlander to watch before I return the first half of the first season to the library, and I will be definitely watching Poldark on PBS this Sunday! Lots of bookishness for me this weekend. As it is forecast to be nice and hot and a little too toasty to spend much time outside, I hope to spend more time than usual with my books.
However you plan on spending your weekend I hope it includes some good reading along the way!