I’m breathing little sigh of relief as I’ve actually managed to make it to the summer break from work – phew! Life has been pretty manic lately so I could do with a bit of space to regroup – and catch up with the reading. I’ve failed, of course, to make it through any kind of challenge floating around in the book blogsphere, but I don’t mind really – I tend to plough my own furrow when it comes to reading! However, August does bring a couple of reading events in which I always like to take part, and I’m hoping this year will be no different.
I’m also painfully aware that I’ve been reading a *lot* of books by men recently and that’s perhaps unusual as I *have* tended to read a lot more women authors in the past – perhaps it’s just the way the books have fallen. However, I’d like to redress that this month and to be specific I hope to read at least these four lovelies if nothing else!
All four are by women authors and all sound fascinating, although they don’t all fall into the challenge categories – nevertheless, I want to read them all this month! 😀
Let’s start with “Plastic Emotions”:
which is a very pretty looking book (sorry to be superficial there…) It’s neither a Virago nor a translated work; but it’s by a woman author and about a pioneering woman architect, so I’m going to count it in for getting back to reading more women. The subject of the book is Sri Lankan architect Minnette de Silva, an inspirational woman who I’m ashamed to say I’ve never heard of before. So I’m looking forward to finding out more about her via Shiromi Pinto’s intriguing-sounding book.
Next up is a book for All Virago/All August (which I never stick to – I couldn’t restrict myself to one publisher for a month!)
Although not a Virago edition, it’s a Virago author in the shape of Vita Sackville-West. I’ve read and loved her work (though much of it pre-blog), and when Simon wrote about “The Death of Noble Godavary” recently and mentioned it was reminiscent of Vita’s book “The Heir” I was sold. Looking forward to this one!
There are two books in translation by women in the pile above, and first up is this from Fizcarraldo Editions:
Again, I’m intrigued and excited about this one. The Vivian of the title is the American photographer, Vivian Maier (who oddly enough featured in the wonderful “Selfies” which I reviewed a while back); and the author is from Denmark and apparently regarded as one of the country’s most inventive and radical novelists. Sounds fab! 😀
Finally, where would we be on the Ramblings without a Russian?!
There has been a flood of wonderful translations of Russian emigré literature recently, much of it from the lovely Pushkin Press; and this one has just recently been issued. It’s the first time this author’s been translated into English (thank you Bryan Karetnyk and Irina Steinberg!) and it’s described as a disturbing portrait of a lost generation of Russian exiles. Sounds amazing, frankly!
So. I have plans for August. Modest ones, I think, as I shall be on a break from work and also going off on my travels to visit the Aging Parent and the Offspring; which gives extra time for reading, especially whilst on trains… The question is, will I *actually* read the books planned?? I have to say that the hardest thing at the moment, looking at these four lovelies, is making a decision as to which one to pick up first…. =:o
Aug 01, 2019 @ 07:21:02
These all sound really interesting Kaggsy, and such lovely editions too! I’ve been on a blogging slump lately but I’m hoping WITMonth will see me right. Like you, I’m not 100% confident I’ll stick to my plans… 😀
Aug 01, 2019 @ 09:25:27
They all look to match image and content well! 🤣 I think they’re fairly modest plans – which gives me more chance of actually sticking to them!
Aug 01, 2019 @ 07:38:05
Interesting selection. Very curious about Plastic Emotions. We ran an extract at 3:AM Magazine.
Aug 01, 2019 @ 09:26:39
It’s fascinating and I’m very keen to find out more about de Silva. Watch this space for a review!
Aug 01, 2019 @ 07:45:43
Lovely to see that you’ve managed to find a suitable WIT read to satisfy your love for all things Russian! Odoevtseva is a completely new writer to me, so I look forward to hearing more…
Aug 01, 2019 @ 09:27:32
I always do,try to squeeze in at least one Russian! And August is a long month with no work so I have no excuses!
Aug 01, 2019 @ 08:56:44
Those all look fabulous. I don’t think I have heard of that Vita Sackville West – perhaps I missed Simon’s post about it. I loved The Heir, so that would appeal to me too. I hope to juggle some #Witmonth and some Virago/Persephone during this month.
Aug 01, 2019 @ 09:29:09
They do sound good, don’t they? The Vita was one of Simon’s 25 book sin 25 days so possibly easy to miss amongst the others! I think juggle is a good word – I don’t like to restrict myself to just one thing but juggling what I fancy reading is ideal!
Aug 01, 2019 @ 09:44:36
I hope you enjoy your break from work and if you get some books read too, that’s a bonus for those of us who read your reviews:)
Aug 01, 2019 @ 11:21:05
Thank you! I’ve been reading up a storm so far! 🤣
Aug 01, 2019 @ 11:29:05
Great plans, Karen! I am particularly curious about Isolde and Vivian and will be looking forward to your reviews 🙂 Happy WIT reading!
Aug 01, 2019 @ 15:08:03
I’m looking forward to Isolde too. And I definitely think Vivian will be worth your time exploring…
Aug 01, 2019 @ 13:26:05
Enjoy your break from work, Karen. Happy reading! 😊
Aug 01, 2019 @ 15:07:16
Thanks Paula! The stress levels have dropped dramatically already…😁
Aug 01, 2019 @ 13:51:52
Looking forward to hearing what you think of Vita! I’m hoping to manage at least one woman in translation and one Virago in August… setting low targets that I probably still won’t achieve…
Aug 01, 2019 @ 15:06:49
I’m very keen to,read the Vita, as I loved The Heir. Low targets are safe I always find and I think these four books are a realistic choice. But we shall see…
Aug 01, 2019 @ 14:05:47
A nice problem to have, which to pick up first, and to have a choice, I have a pile from which to read, hoping there’ll be enough inspiration as I don’t like to preplan my reads, but WIT is the nearest thing to a challenge I participate in all year, so here’s to it uncovering a few gems!
Aug 01, 2019 @ 15:05:53
It *is* lovely to have the luxury of choice. I’m generally rubbish at challenges but the few I’ve selected here are varied enough to hopefully satisfy my increasingly grasshopper mind!
Aug 01, 2019 @ 20:27:33
You always showcase the best looking and interesting books.
No kidding about the women writers, last year it was 38% women for me, this year out of 33 books only 8 by women. But I am going to say I don’t intend to change the way I go about reading, and this year has been pretty good, with nothing I have not liked. I mean, yeah, I have books by women right now I intend to read, we will see how the year ends.
Aug 01, 2019 @ 20:32:24
Sorry. I need to amend this comment. Given that I read mostly classics, there’s more quantity of those written and published by men. I must say though that, even if I read less book by women, I’m very impressed and a big admirer of many women authors, and I value them a lot, since we have not always been as able to think, write and publish, and be of contribution to the Humanities as men. As soon as I hit the XIX, XX, and XXI centuries, my choices get broader, and I love that fact.
Aug 01, 2019 @ 21:14:45
Yeah the classics canon is more men than women which is why I think initiatives like WIT month are so good. And you’re right that the choice gets wider as we get more recent! 😁
Aug 01, 2019 @ 21:12:16
They are very pretty and interesting looking, I agree! I don’t plan to change my reading habits which are simply to go wherever my grasshopper mind takes me. And these four are calling me strongly right now! 😁
Aug 02, 2019 @ 14:18:49
Good luck with your challenge. Hope to hear about these books.
Aug 03, 2019 @ 10:00:37
Thank you! I’m reasonably optimistic about actually reading them! 😁
Aug 06, 2019 @ 07:45:55
Those look like some lovely reads! I’m doing a WIT book for once, shockingly (a Japanese one) and am already on my second (slim) Virago of the month. Didn’t realise there was a hashtag for that, so that’s good to see!
Aug 06, 2019 @ 16:54:08
Yay! Glad you’re doing WIT! I don’t know if it’s a proper hashtag for Virago but I used it anyway! ;D