Now that I’m lucky enough to have a dedicated reading chair with its little table alongside, I’ve taken to popping books onto the table for consideration as forthcoming reads – even, possibly, a bit of polyreading! The pile next to the chair changes according to my mood, but I thought it might be nice to share a little snapshot of what’s in my line of sight at the moment.
On the Book Table
That’s a chunky pile of books, isn’t it? Shall we look at some specifics?
“The German House” is a very pretty ARC from HarperVia, which I had hoped to get onto for WIT Month. Alas, that didn’t happen but I do want to read it soon – it sounds right up my street!
Next up is a book that’s been sitting on my TBR since I bought it in a frenzy of enthusiasm a while back. I loved Binet’s “HHhH” – such a clever work which plays with the whole structure of books and writing – and this sounds just as thought-provoking. I keep picking it up and getting distracted – the story of my life with books, really!
Elizabeth Hardwick’s “Seduction and Betrayal”, in the form of a quite old NYRB Classic, has been languishing unread for a number of years since I had a bit of a binge on buying Hardwick books after reading her “Sleepless Nights“. There is a shiny new Faber edition which I *nearly* bought in London recently, but held back because I thought I might already have it. Obviously, I do – it comes highly recommended and has essays on women authors from the Brontes to Plath. Glad I refrained in London, really, because I don’t need two copies!
Melancholy…
Finally on the Book Table is this behemoth of a book. As I related in an earlier post, I looked for this all around London and eventually rooted out a copy in the lovely LRB Shop. You can see how fat it is from the first picture above – it’s a book that will sit on the Book Table for some time for dipping into, as the advice is that that’s the best way to read it. Certainly, I don’t think I’ll be powering through it in one go! 😀
So what will I pick up first? Good question – as I write this I’m between books and trying to decide. Having just read several fiction titles (reviews are pending!) I may be drawn to the Hardwick as I’m really enjoying essays at the moment. Watch this space!
Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings 
Sep 17, 2019 @ 07:23:49
I’ll be very interested to see what you think of the Hardwick. It’s a book I’ve looked at and considered buying a few times without ever actually making it as far as the till. Maybe you can tip me over the edge when you get a chance to read and write about it!
Sep 17, 2019 @ 10:14:26
I’m keen to read it, because I do like her fiction and it comes highly recommended. Plus it’s about women writers too! I’ll let you know… 😉
Sep 17, 2019 @ 09:30:34
I chuckled when I saw your point about the pile changing according to your mood. My ‘read next’ pile gets giddy with the number of times I change it
Sep 17, 2019 @ 10:15:01
Yeah, I suspect it will change very quickly – my grasshopper mind is prone to obsessions and phases and so anything could end up there soon! 😀
Sep 17, 2019 @ 11:09:46
there is nothing predictable with your reading which why I love reading your blog.
but the size of Melancholy book is scary
Sep 17, 2019 @ 13:34:51
I do like being unpredictable with my reading – comes of having a grasshopper mind! And yes – Melancholy *is* a bit imposing…. ;D
Sep 17, 2019 @ 12:10:01
I am so jealous of your chair! I’ve been hearing a lot about Hardwick lately so interested to hear what you think.
Sep 17, 2019 @ 13:34:11
The chair is rather super – I’m making a lot of use of it… ;D And the Hardwick intrigues – I do hope to get onto it soon!
Sep 17, 2019 @ 14:36:42
Such good things to look forward to! My copies (real book and Project Gutenberg ebook for my laptop), of ‘Anatomy’ are never too far away; it’s a dipping-into-book that keeps me centered somehow…
Sep 17, 2019 @ 15:38:27
There are *so* many wonderful books I haven’t read yet that it’s vaguely scary…. I often think I should just spend the rest of my life reading! 😀
Sep 17, 2019 @ 14:49:31
If your are taking advice on Burton, I disagree a little with what you received. You will see at the beginning a hundred-page section titled “Democritus Junior to His Book.” I recommend reading that as a “book” whatever that means to you. Then the rest of the book is the “dipping” part.
Sep 17, 2019 @ 15:37:46
I’m happy to take advice on this one and I’ll read the section you suggest before moving on to dipping! 😀
Sep 17, 2019 @ 15:58:47
The Burton has been in my TBR forever – maybe I should take the dipping into approach too! Otherwise its just feels too overwhelming, even though I want to read it…
Sep 17, 2019 @ 16:10:25
Well, dipping seems to be the way, once one’s read the first section. That *does* seem to make it feel a little less intimidating! 😀
Sep 17, 2019 @ 16:03:25
In the reverse of you, I read 7th Function and thought it was wacky (in a good way) and definitely clever & now I have HHhH on my TBR pile.
Sep 17, 2019 @ 16:08:44
Wacky is probably the way I think 7th Function will be and I’m really keen to read it. Soon…..
Sep 17, 2019 @ 18:02:32
I don’t know any of these titles, but I love your pile of books next to your chair! So welcoming and cosy
Sep 17, 2019 @ 19:55:17
It is indeed, and it’s going to be fun to rotate the books! 😀
Sep 17, 2019 @ 18:07:11
I’m particularly interested in the Elizabeth Hardwick book, I have read Sleepless Nights and The Ghostly Lover (terrible title) and have a large volume of essays tbr.
Sep 17, 2019 @ 19:54:58
It looks and sounds great. I’ve read and loved Sleepless Nights and own The Ghostly Lover plus another Virago whose name escapes me and a collection of NYRB stories. So I really have no excuse not to read more!
Sep 18, 2019 @ 01:27:51
So much vicarious enjoyment from exploring your pile — thanks so much for sharing! And so many interesting writers. Like you, I’ve the old NYRB edition of Elizabeth Hardwick, which I’ve yet to read; HHhH has been on the list forever (i’m lazy and it looks challenging) and The German House looks very interesting indeed! As for Melancholy — well, did I mention I was lazy? Maybe one day!
And, BTW, I’ve really, really envious of that chair!
Sep 18, 2019 @ 11:14:39
I love to share pictures of books…. ;D Hardwick is an interesting author and I have *so* many if her books unread, it’s very naughty of me. Binet is also intriguing and I think I may pick this one up soon. As for Melancholy – one to be savoured, I think….
As for the chair, it’s having a really good effect on my reading. I mean, it would be rude not to sit down in it every evening and spend some time with a good book! 😀
Sep 18, 2019 @ 12:09:55
Very rude indeed! It would hurt Mr. Kaggsy’s feelings a great deal . . .
Sep 18, 2019 @ 16:06:10
It would! ;D
Sep 18, 2019 @ 17:59:56
Some interesting titles here. Is Annette Hess a German author? Maybe it’s worth keeping fir November? (If it was translated from German)
Sep 18, 2019 @ 20:07:16
Ooooh, yes, it *is* translated from German – ideal! :DDD
Sep 19, 2019 @ 09:07:39
That’s a lovely idea and a good idea for a blog post or two. I am a bit jealous of your book chair even though we have far more chairs than we have bottoms even in my actual study. I might reclaim Mathew’s Dusty Poang, though.
Sep 19, 2019 @ 09:08:27
LOL! We do have other chairs in the house, but having a dedicated one for reading has rather focused my mind on my books – which is lovely.
And yes – I think there will be more dispatches from the Book Table! 😀
Oct 11, 2019 @ 06:43:40