I’m really not sorry to see the back of July – it was a long and busy month, and I spent a lot of it reading one book, Dostoevsky’s “The Adolescent” (the review for which will be appearing in the next Shiny New Books). It wouldn’t normally take me so long to read 600 pages, but I *was* busy and I *was* tired! The minute I finished work for the summer, I raced through the rest of the book….!
So, with July out of the way, do I have plans for August? Well, yes – there are a number of challenges up this month and I’d like to take part if I can.
First of all there’s All Virago/All August, which the LibraryThing Virago group organise. I never go for reading nothing but Viragos for the month, because I would fail – like Jane at Beyond Eden Rock, I prefer the approach of “Very Virago/All August” and just read the ones that fall in with my mood. This month, I hope to catch up with the Dorothy Richardsons I’m behind on, and also read a large and interesting-looking Edith Wharton, “Hudson River Bracketed”.
I’d also like to keep up the impetus with the Penguin Modern Poets project; the next one is volume 6 and it features two poets I know of (and at least one I’ve read) so it should be an interesting experience.
August is also Women in Translation month. Goodness knows I have a ton of books by translated women, but choosing will be hard! There are two lovely Irmgard Keun titles lurking on the shelves so I may pick one of them.
There’s also “Grand Hotel” which I’m doing for Shiny. Plus I may well re-read my favourite Colette, “Break of Day”, as I picked up the Capuchin edition in a charity shop!
Last, but most definitely not least, I want to dip into HeavenAli’s #Woolfalong; the current phase is biography of all sorts and I’m considering “Orlando” or possibly “Recollections of Virginia Woolf”. Knowing me, I may end up reading neither of these, but I do want to read something Woolfish soon!
So those are the plans for August as they stand on the first day of the month – watch this space to see what materialises! 🙂
Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings 
Aug 01, 2016 @ 07:07:58
Lovely plans – I look forward to hearing what you make of them all 🙂
Aug 01, 2016 @ 07:51:46
Indeed – let’s hope I can stick to some of them…. 😁
Aug 01, 2016 @ 08:39:52
Looking good! I’m looking forward to reading “Hudson River Unbracketed” with you, although it might be near the end of the month, as I have that and her “The Reef” on my 20booksofsummer list (why? but I wrote the list, I have to read them!). I am reading Orlando, too – that will probably be on my short trip to Iceland, as it’s a lovely re-read and comfort read for me. Happy August reading!
Aug 01, 2016 @ 10:17:10
I think I will be later in the month with the Wharton too – on a train journey I have planned – but I’m looking forward to getting sunk into it. I may be tackling Orlando too – I haven’t decided which Woolf I shall read or re-read yet!
Aug 01, 2016 @ 08:52:46
oh… very busy reading month ahead Karen! I’m doing predominantly #WITmonth and so especially look forward to your Irmgard Keun titles and I’ve had Grand Hotel on the wishlist for a while 🙂
Aug 01, 2016 @ 10:16:04
Keun is an author I really like so I’m hoping to read at least one of hers. And I’ve finished Grand Hotel, though I shan’t be reviewing it till the next SNB – but it’s absolutely marvellous, definitely one of my reads of the year!
Aug 01, 2016 @ 09:22:30
Well although it’s called All Virago/All August I won’t be doing *all* either but I hope to read a few Virago. I also have two or three books for #WITmonth and a review ebook I want to read. Will look forward to hearing about Hudson River Bracketed – I have loved the Wharton I have read to date.
Aug 01, 2016 @ 10:15:17
I’m looking forward to the Wharton though it *is* big. But I have some train travel later in the month which might be a good time to read it. And I’m definitely going to fit in some translated women too!
Aug 01, 2016 @ 10:58:16
That looks like a great reading month to come. I hope to catch up with Richardson too, after running out of time to fit in July’s installement, and I love what I’ve read of my library’s copy of Grand Hotel. I was already thinking I’d want a copy to keep and as you rate it so highly ….
Aug 01, 2016 @ 11:01:03
I’m certainly looking forward to August’s books! And yes – I do need to catch up with Richardson. I’ve finished Grand Hotel now although my review won’t be up until the next SNB, but I rate it as one of my books of the year!
Aug 01, 2016 @ 12:34:20
Clearly your brain is not melting from hot weather, what an excellent challenge you set yourself. Love the photos btw, such pretty vignettes!
Aug 01, 2016 @ 15:56:09
Thank you! Yes, now the summer break is here my brain is coping with reading rather better!
Aug 02, 2016 @ 15:54:26
You are an inspiration to me. When I read your blog, I feel inspirited to keep up my life in reading just as you do. I look forward to the coming blogs.
Aug 02, 2016 @ 16:18:54
Awww – thank you! As a certain Morrissey once said, “There’s more to life than books, you know, but not much more….”!!
Aug 02, 2016 @ 17:15:23
I’m jealous. I would love to own that Wharton novel. I wanted to read it for ages and as a green Virago. I feel silly. I didn’t realize my post would look like I was going to read only Viragos. I’m pretty sure I won’t. Two or three, I hope, but I’ll squeeze in a few other things. You’ve got some nice books lined up.
Aug 02, 2016 @ 17:19:42
I’d never seen or heard of the Wharton till I stumbled across it in a local charity shop – but I’m looking forward to it! I shan’t manage to read all Viragos but as long as I read some I shall be happy!
Aug 02, 2016 @ 17:34:04
I actually first saw it in its German edition “over here” a year ago or so and it immediately caught my eye as I’d not heard of it before. The translation got great reviews. I’m looking forward to hear what you think.
Aug 02, 2016 @ 19:03:45
I’m looking forward to reading it! 🙂
Aug 03, 2016 @ 03:42:34
Great photos of books–and I rely you to keep me informed about what’s going on with book groups. I’ll have to crack out my Viraogs!
Aug 03, 2016 @ 09:57:52
Oh yes, do join in with a Virago or two – doesn’t have to be all month, just as many or as few as you fancy!