You might have noticed that not only am I bit rubbish at doing monthly round ups, I’m also notoriously bad for not following reading plans (when I’m silly enough to make them). However, I realised over the weekend that I’ve actually read very little during March – so little it was actually shocking. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s my busiest time of year at work (with financial year ends and budgeting and the like) and admittedly I’ve been fairly worn out at the end of the day and haven’t had the energy to do much at all; even the Dostoevsky marathon has slowed down a little…
But with spring approaching, as well as the Easter hols, I’m hoping for a bit of a resurgence of reading energy; and on that basis, here *are* some very loose plans of what I hope will happen on the Ramblings in the next month!
Finishing Dostoevsky
The Russian Chunkster…
First up, I *will* finish “The Devils” – of that I am sure! It’s a wonderfully involving, very dark and very funny and yes, very Dostoevskian read and I’m loving his characters and situations. It’s a long book that needs stamina and I think I’m about to get my second wind! 😀
More Thoughts on Venice
When I haven’t had the gumption to pick up the Russian Chunkster, I’ve been enjoying some slimline books about the City of Bridges (or Masks or Water or Canals, depending who you consult) – Venice! It’s a place that seems to polarise opinions, and it’s been fascinating and bracing to read what people think of it. There’s one more book to be covered and that will hopefully be soon.
The 1965 Club
Most important of all (hah!) in April is of course the next of our reading week Clubs. Simon at Stuck in a Book and I are looking forward to co-hosting this and the year in question will be 1965 (so hopefully you’ve all been planning and reading up in advance). The Club will take place from 22nd to 28th April, and I’ll have a page where you can post links as well as coverage of what I’ve read, what I recommend and what I loved in the past from that year. The Clubs are always great fun so I do hope you’ll all join in with the #1965Club – we’d love to have you take part!
*****
So that’s what I potentially have lined up for April. I’m particularly excited to see what people discover for the #1965Club, and am looking forward to some interesting reads myself – watch this space! 😀
Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings 
Apr 01, 2019 @ 07:01:32
Those Venice books look interesting. And 1965.
Apr 01, 2019 @ 11:32:22
They’re turning out to be fascinating. And 1965 looks good – hope you can join in! 😀
Apr 01, 2019 @ 07:07:02
I’ve had a bit of reading lethargy myself. Too much going on and when I stop to read I fall asleep. I can feel a bit of energy coming back though. Good luck with it all and enjoy the Easter break.
Apr 01, 2019 @ 11:32:01
Thanks – you too! I must admit to feeling slightly more energetic myself! 😀
Apr 01, 2019 @ 07:54:36
Sadly, I may struggle with 1965 in spite of having all this reading time on my hands. I seem to have quite a few books from 1964, but virtually nothing from ’65 (not even with the Anthony Powell which hits ’64 and ’66 – gah). My one possibility is a Lew Archer mystery by Ross Macdonald, but as I’m nowhere near that point in the series, it may not be a goer.
Ah well, sometimes these things are just not meant to be. I’ll be interested to see what you choose to read though – maybe I’ll get some ideas between now and then.
Apr 01, 2019 @ 11:31:38
Aww shame. I plan to read from the shelves as usual, and fortunately have a number of titles to choose from. The hard thing will be making that decision….
Apr 01, 2019 @ 12:20:08
I know. Sometimes these things don’t quite work out despite our best intentions!
Apr 01, 2019 @ 16:03:04
Not to worry…. 😉
Apr 01, 2019 @ 17:30:38
This was superseded by my other reply. I think I have something in the tbr. Fingers crossed it will work out. x
Apr 01, 2019 @ 19:35:51
Yes, I think I was answering comments in the wrong order! Hope you can join in! 😀 x
Apr 01, 2019 @ 13:20:59
Wait…I think I may have found an option. Leave it with me. x
Apr 01, 2019 @ 15:57:46
Yay! :DDDD
Apr 01, 2019 @ 08:14:02
Hopefully work will ease off now so you can get back to the important things in life Kaggsy 😉 I do find it very frustrating how life insists on impinging on my reading time!
Speaking of which…March has been terrible for blogging/reading for me, and I think April will be the same, but I do hope to join in with the 1965 Club. I have my reads planned, so fingers crossed.
Apr 01, 2019 @ 11:20:48
I hope so – I’m feeling a bit mentally clearer now and hoping to ignore r/l and just read….
Sorry you’ve had a bad month with the reading and blogging – March has been an odd one, that’s for sure. Hopefully 1965 will tempt you…
Apr 01, 2019 @ 10:22:39
I tend to make a lot of reading plans and then I only partially follow them.
I am looking forward to reading your thoughts on the Dostoevsky book. I first read it for a college class and then gave it a reread a few years ago.
Happy reading in April.
Apr 01, 2019 @ 10:52:03
I’m hopeless at plans, but then I know that now and don’t fret about it. As for the Dostoevsky it’s marvellous and I’m hoping to spend the start of April thoroughly sunk in the rest of it!
Apr 01, 2019 @ 12:09:31
Thanks to you am discovering Alma Classics and wow what a great books they have
Apr 01, 2019 @ 16:03:38
They really do have some lovely book – I’ve read a lot of theirs and they’re always so beautifully put together! 😀
Apr 01, 2019 @ 12:34:01
My goodness, look at all of these 1965 crackers: https://www.goodreads.com/book/popular_by_date/1965 I might actually join in this time instead of gazing from the sidelines!
Apr 01, 2019 @ 16:02:50
There’s a *lot* of good stuff to choose from. I grabbed 5 very easily without searching, and I seem to have already read tons from the year. Plus that list is very dangerous…. What *shall* I read???? ;D
Apr 01, 2019 @ 16:58:01
Gonna have to close your eyes and point at random…
Apr 01, 2019 @ 19:37:10
Yea, I reckon that might be the answer! ;D
Apr 01, 2019 @ 16:24:47
Well done for getting on with the Dostoevsky at such a busy period. So glad you’re enjoying it. I am looking forward to the 1965 club, I have six quite different novels to choose from for that, and shall attempt to read two of them.
Apr 01, 2019 @ 19:38:04
The marathon approach is definitely working with The Devils – I’ll get there eventually.
And look forward to seeing what you read from 1965 – it really is a very interesting year! 😀
Apr 01, 2019 @ 19:18:04
I’m equally rubbish with reading plans, as I get older I find myself increasingly fickle when it comes to choosing and sticking with books. Glad the Dostoevsky is going well; I’m hoping to re-read Crime and Punishment this year. I’ll have to check my shelves to see if I have any 1965 books, might be a good reason to pick one out. Hope the plans for April progress smoothly, but if not I’m sure you’ll still have some very interesting reads to share.
Apr 01, 2019 @ 19:35:25
Yes, fickle – that’s the perfect word for my reading habits, thank you! The Dostoevsky is marvellous and I just wish I had longer to spend with it at the moment.
As for 1965, I have a lovely looking pile of books staring at me already – it could be an interesting reading week! 😀
Apr 02, 2019 @ 14:23:49
Hurrah! I’m off on holiday next week and have selected three 1965 books to get some early reading in – all three have names in the title! Doubling up on my reading projects like a pro 😉
Apr 02, 2019 @ 16:12:29
Oh, good planning! Two birds with one stone, etc etc! I have a nice looking little pile of possibles which I’ll attack with a vengeance when I’ve finished The Devils…. 😉
Apr 03, 2019 @ 16:30:23
I don’t THINK I have anything from 1965 on the TBR, and I’m having to be quite strict with myself at the moment. But you never know, I will have a poke around! I will just be continuing my Iris Murdoch readalong and hopefully continuing to make a dent in all the “official” reviewing I’m doing. I’ve got quite a lot of social business to do in April, with some cousin visits and a trip to watch the London Marathon but that last involves two longish train journeys, at least!
Apr 03, 2019 @ 17:56:16
I’m trying to be strict too, and sticking to the 1965 books I already own. Just want a bit more reading time at the mo to balance the review books and the personal ones! 😱
Apr 04, 2019 @ 13:51:51
I’ve picked out two 1965 books from my shelves in preparation.
Apr 04, 2019 @ 14:43:29
Yay! Look forward to hearing what you read!