After the excitement of all the reading and sharing from the #1920Club I was as usual a bit uncertain as to what I wanted to read next. I went for some Golden Age crime of various sorts, but then I decided it was time to have a bit of a reshuffle of the book table to see if I could focus on books I fancied tackling in the immediate future. Plus, a few new titles have made it through the blockades so I thought I would share those too! So here we go…
First up, let’s take a look at the contents of the Book Basket. Some of these are the same as when I last shared this on social media – the Nairn and the two Huysmans are still WIPs. However, another sneaky little Notting Hill Editions hardback has crept in, in the form of Roland Barthes’ “Mourning Diary” – yes, another addition to my growing Barthes pile! That’s a recent arrival, as is the Dickinson volume. I’ve had a skinny Faber selected volume of her poems since my teens but I’ve been hankering after a complete edition for some time now. When I saw this one available for a reasonable price I snapped it up – ideal for dipping!
Chunksters! Let’s have some big books! All of these have been hanging around waiting for me to notice them for some time now; the Mollie Panter-Downes “London War Notes” volume is a beautiful Persephone I picked up some time back when they had a special offer. It seems like it would be apt reading for these times. The Chateaubriand is a lovely review copy from NYRB (I need to catch up….) and what I’ve read so far has been fascinating. And Carlyle’s “French Revolution” jumped back into my line of sight recently when I read the marvellous Persephone Jane Carlyle book. All would be wonderful to sink into for hours…
Then we have a few random titles which happen to appeal, mostly unearthed after a recent reshuffle. The Colette is one I’ve intended to reread for ages, but somehow never get to despite it being the perfect recent read for 1920… The Bachelard is a more recent acquisition and one which my radar picked up again recently (you might understand why next week). And “I Burn Paris” had been started a couple of times; it’s a beautiful hardback Twisted Spoon edition and although the subject matter is perhaps going to be a little triggery in these pandemic times, I do want to get to it sooner rather than later.
Last but not least, some recent arrivals. Needless to say, because of Outside Circumstances, the books making their way into the Ramblings have reduced in number – no browsing in charity shops nowadays, alas. But I *am* acquiring the odd one or two! The NYRBs are review copies – thank you! – and I’m very excited about these, particularly the Malaparte. “The Yellow Sofa” was one I read about on Tony’s Book Blog and I loved the sound of it (and it’s slim…). “Paris Then and Now” is pretty pictures of the place – ’nuff said. And the Mansfield is a most lovely first edition of her “Novels and Novelists” collection of reviews which I snagged at a Very Reasonable Price online. Last, but definitely not least, “People, Places, Things” is a collection of Elizabeth Bowen’s essays. This is a scholarly publication – but why her non-fiction isn’t more widely available is a mystery to me as I love her writing.
So there you have it. Plenty of reading available for this strange lockdown world in which we find ourselves. As I write this, I’m just coming to the end of another wonderful and comforting Golden Age crime read from the British Library Crime Classics series; so where I go next is anyone’s guess… ;D
TravellinPenguin
May 01, 2020 @ 08:30:05
An interesting selection. I seem to be in the book buying mood more than the reading mood. I must have 5 or 6 booms started . I need to complete them !! I’m finding it very hard to sit still and concentrate. Hoping it’s temporary. 🙄🙄🙄
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 01, 2020 @ 08:35:45
I go through fits and starts – I can have a few days of tearing through books and then not be able to pick one up. I think it must be mood changes because of the state of things. I need to be more focused!
madamebibilophile
May 01, 2020 @ 08:31:44
Some fascinating reads there Kaggsy. I would definitely be tending towards the last pile – I can’t manage chunksters at all at the moment, but I’m in great admiration that you can!
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 01, 2020 @ 08:34:45
LOL! Part of me wants to get totally lost in a chunkster, but part of me wants to whizz through shorter works. I am nothing if not contradictory…
BookerTalk
May 01, 2020 @ 09:17:38
London War Notes would be calling to me if only to remind me that no matter how bad we think our present circumstances it was much worse during those years.
Books are mysteriously making their way into my home too. I felt I needed to do my bit for the economy (as a way of justifying my purchases it’s not bad is it?)
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 01, 2020 @ 11:07:21
That was my way of thinking too – a kind of catharsis and a reminder that we have home comforts and not bombs raining down on us.
And yes – we most definitely need to support authors and publishers and keep the bookish economy going in these troubled times – well that’s my current excuse, anway… ;D
Shivi Chinnappa
May 01, 2020 @ 12:05:50
“Diary of foreigner in Paris “ calling my name ! I love anything with Paris ! Interesting stack .
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 01, 2020 @ 13:02:12
Me too, and I love Malaparte’s writing. So many choices! 😀
heavenali
May 01, 2020 @ 12:12:07
Wow, such a fabulous variety of reading material there. I have been thinking of maybe getting to London War notes after my Daphne du Maurier reading and I shall be interested in hearing about the Elizabeth Bowen essays. Happy reading.
Ps I do love your book basket.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 01, 2020 @ 13:01:45
Yes, London War Notes really does keep shouting at me – I love her writing. And Bowens. So many possible choices!!
The basket is oddly enough a reasonably priced little one from Poundland (ah, I miss Poundland…) – just the right size though to carry a few books around in! 😀
Simon T
May 01, 2020 @ 17:07:06
London War Notes is so great – I like to think my voice was in the throng begging Persephone to republish it!! It would be really interesting to compare it to our world now.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 01, 2020 @ 19:40:26
It’s definitely one that feels right to read at the moment – the contrast with then and now will be fascinating I think.
Emily
May 01, 2020 @ 19:00:51
Thanks for picking up the slack for the rest of us! 😀
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 01, 2020 @ 19:38:29
Happy to oblige! :DDD
Julé Cunningham
May 02, 2020 @ 01:19:40
Emily Dickinson’s work is perfect for dipping into. And someday I’d love to read the Mollie Panter-Downes and the Elizabeth Bowen for that matter. As usual, you’ve got too many books I’m sorely tempted by…
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 02, 2020 @ 13:12:12
I’m tempted myself, so much so that I don’t quite know what to read next – so I’m dipping madly! 😀
Claire (The Captive Reader)
May 02, 2020 @ 14:39:27
Lots to keep you busy! London War Notes is perfect. I’ve never loved Persephone as much as I did the day I heard they were reissuing it.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 02, 2020 @ 14:43:56
😀 I’ve started to dip and it’s eerily familiar and wonderfully written so far!
Jane
May 02, 2020 @ 15:33:56
London War Notes, but then Colette and the Carlyle. . .
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 02, 2020 @ 15:58:00
I know! So many choices…
Liz Dexter
May 03, 2020 @ 16:32:24
A nice lot there! I have actually read London War Notes, given to me by Ali! I do like your basket, too!
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 03, 2020 @ 18:48:43
Thank you! It’s a functional and rather nice basket and I’m actually enjoying carting it around and polyreading at the moment. I’m trying to read a couple of the War Notes each day and they’re so good so far!
The Book Haven
May 05, 2020 @ 22:59:16
Happy to see Emily Dickinson in the lot. Fascinating lot.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 06, 2020 @ 09:29:18
Thank you! Dickinson is marvellous and having loved her since my teens, I really don’t know why it’s taken me so long to get hold of a more substantial edition!
literarygitane
May 06, 2020 @ 17:13:23
What an interesting and eclectic collection! Thanks for letting us look at your sumptuous basket of treats! The Chateaubriand one sounds especially intriguing to me!
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 07, 2020 @ 05:56:14
Most welcome! I have read some of the Chateaubriand and it is indeed fascinating – he lived through very interesting times!