June is the month when I’ve been supposed to be reading the next book in Dorothy Richardson’s “Pilgrimage” – “Revolving Lights”. However, I confess I’ve got a bit behind and in all honesty I shan’t finish it this month so the review will follow in July.
There are a couple of reasons for the hiccup: firstly, I spent a *looong* time reading a review book “The Glory of the Empire” from NYRB and so got quite behind; and secondly, “Revolving Lights” itself. Having glided through the last Richardson, this one is proving much harder – the opening chapter is an enormous stream of consciousness one, where you have to guess who’s talking about who and what most of the time and it isn’t an easy read. I’m not going to beat myself up and force myself to read it quickly just to meet a deadline – I’ll probably do as others on the Virago group are doing and space it out a bit it a time while reading something else. Much as I admire Richardson’s work, at the end of the day writing a book is about communicating *something* and there are times I wish she’d made things a little easier for the reader….
Jun 29, 2016 @ 07:12:19
I’ve yet to start Pilgrimage – I am looking forward to it but feel a bit daunted as well. I think you’re right to pause it if its not working for you right now – reading is supposed to be a pleasure, after all!
Jun 29, 2016 @ 10:11:50
Indeed – and having taken the pressure off myself I feel very much better about reading it! 🙂
Jun 29, 2016 @ 09:17:15
That sounds eminently sensible, and the later books are shorter so I’m sure we will still be able to make it to the end of the year on schedule. My copy of Pilgrimage 3 is missing in action, so even if I was inclined to pick it up I couldn’t. But the library has a 1923 edition and so I’ve placed an order and am hoping that it will inspire me.
Jun 29, 2016 @ 10:11:22
I’m actually feeling much better about it having taken the pressure off myself, and I’m reading it a bit at a time alongside a Sherlock Holmes pastiche. The trouble is that I liked the last one very much, and raced through it – but this one I think will take me longer! 🙂
Jun 29, 2016 @ 10:27:41
I know exactly what you mean. I’m way behind in my Pilgrimage reading, having only just started Deadlock. My own thoughts are so scattered at the moment, I can’t face trying to pin down Miriam’s as well!
Jun 29, 2016 @ 15:03:59
Spot on – I’ve gone for a murder mystery because I can just about handle that!
Jun 29, 2016 @ 12:18:44
amen to that…I never finished it (don’t tell)
Jun 29, 2016 @ 15:03:39
I won’t….. 😉
Jun 29, 2016 @ 12:58:06
Sounds like a good plan. Reading challenges are hard to stick to sometimes, there is no point making things difficult for yourself.
Jun 29, 2016 @ 15:03:26
Exactly – and I feel better now I have no time limits and can just take on a few pages a day.
Jul 01, 2016 @ 12:33:40
I’m only facing the next one at the start of this month because I can see it’s really short – and in fact I’ve taken a photo to inspire myself which I’m going to put on my state of the TBR post later!!
Jul 01, 2016 @ 13:56:54
🙂 I’ll look out for that!
Jul 01, 2016 @ 18:49:35
Oh I think it’s so sensible to take your time with reading… I’m finding the more I try to read to fixed deadlines the less I seem to manage!
Really thinking about what I want to read…
Jul 01, 2016 @ 20:14:00
Yes, I’m trying to avoid deadlines at the moment…. 🙂