Is it vacation time yet? One more work day to go after today and then eleven virtually free days to spend as I like. Well, minus a few holidays and family-obligation sorts of days. Eleven days to catch up here, but only ten more days to finish this pile of books? Well, I admit it was a lot of wishful thinking. I have finished two and imagine I will very likely finish maybe three more? I think Jane Smiley is going to go with me into the new year (I didn't really realistically think I would get it read in the last couple of weeks of December anyway).
That leaves six books but at least three of them I hope to finish . . . so, three left? That's not too bad really. Which three. And will I just send them back to the shelves. I really don't want to carry over a whole stack of partial read books once again. The reader's dilemma. Or should I say, The Reader's Dilemma. It seems like a phrase that should really be capitalized. Maybe I will take a little extra time off here in order to read?
So, just a little mindlessness for you today so I can put my attention elsewhere.
I have one of these Ten Overlooked Books by Women on my own reading pile and there are two others I had wanted to read but just don't own. At least not yet.
I have one of these (Some of the) Best 2016 Books from Outside the USA. I am always on the lookout for books set elsewhere and all the better if they are translated works, too.
Curious what a few poets, musicians, diplomats, filmmakers, novelists, actors and artists read this year? I especially like the books Maxine Hong Kingston read. She seems (much like myself) an equal opportunity reader as not only is Charles Darwin on her list, but so is Wilkie Collins and Daisy Goodwin. I have never read MHK by the way, but I do have a book or two by her. Maybe this is a nudge towards one of those books next year?
For you poetry readers check out this New Year's Day Marathon Reading 2017 in celebration of the Poetry Project's 50th anniversary.
Do you know I didn't read a single holiday-oriented novella or short story this year? I wonder if there is still time to squeeze something short in. Any suggestions? Maybe some Dylan Thomas? I have the Big Book of Christmas Mysteries edited by Otto Penzler (because murder and mayhem--fictional, mind you! is always good at holidaytime).
But I have been giving a whole lot of thought to which book will be my (early--since I am not sure I will even manage to finish all those nightstand books) reward book for my vacation. I plan on choosing one book (or maybe . . . two . . . just maybe) to start reading on Christmas Day that will carry over into January. The choices keep shifting and I am not sure which it will be. Such a good dilemma to have.
Happy first day of winter everyone. Time to cozy up with a few good books. (That's what I plan on doing for the next week or so).