And so we stagger to the end of another month, and one which has been surprisingly frantic…. September usually is for me, as it’s back to work time after the summer break; and this year had been particularly taxing because of the amount of catching up and the strain of acting as if the world is back to normal when it really isn’t. Despite this – or perhaps because of this! – I have managed some good reading and so here is the pile of books for September!

I hasten to add I did *not* read all of the Nabokov or the Borges – just some relevant sections…. ;D
I usually have no duds, but this month does feature one book which really did espouse views far from mine…. And one underwhelmed me rather, but the rest were great!
September *did* bring some treats, though, as the three Offspring paid a weekend visit to celebrate Mr. K’s birthday. Although we had seen them in different configurations over the summer, this was the first time we had been all together as a group since Christmas 2019. So it was absolutely lovely to have them here, and of course there was celebrating and shopping and plenty of eating! I had my third trip into town since the pandemic began with them, and of course there was lunch at Hank’s vegan deli, as well as a little charity book shopping – here are the highlights! 😀
The book finds were from the Oxfam, British Heart Foundation and Samaritan’s Book Cave, and I was so pleased with them! The Sybille Bedford was £1 and is to swap out for a very battered copy I already have. The two Virago Travellers were real finds – I have a number of these, but haven’t seen any in the wild for ages, so snapped them up at a bargain price.
Leonardo Sciascia is an author who’s featured once on the Ramblings before, and I thought I’d explore further with this one. And the collection of Angela Carter stories was impossibly to resist – I have a couple of collections, but not all of them plus this had some previously uncollected works, so for £2 there was no way it wasn’t coming home with me. I’ve missed in person book shopping…
We had a lovely family evening out at Ask (who miraculously were able to cater for all our various needs!) and the weekend was a real treat. It was absolutely marvellous to see the Offspring all together again and hopefully it won’t be too long until next time…
Looking forward to October’s bookishness, I will of course be focusing initially on the #1976club which runs from 11th to 17th of the month. There are some wonderful titles to choose from and I have been gathering piles of possible reads from the mountainous TBR – and these are just some of the choices:
As you can see, there’s quite a variety of reading available and so I suspect I may not get to everything which interestes me – we shall see! Aside from 1976, I shall probably try to keep the reading plans loose, though I do have some vague ideas of what id like to pick up next, and these are just a few possibilities:
British Library Publishing have some wonderful titles upcoming, and I have been lucky enough to receive review copies. Such marvellous books and it’s very hard to choose!
Similarly, Notting Hill Editions are releasing a lovely pair of books in their gorgeous clothbound hardback editions. Both of these sound excellent – can’t wait!
And this is what I’m currently reading, in tandem with other titles:
I’ve read Bely before and his writing is wonderful, very unique and not always straightforward… The book collects together four ‘symphonies’ written over a period of time and I have decided to pace myself with this, reading one at a time and interspersing it with other books. Certain the first piece is unusual and often beautiful, featuring writing which favours repetitions and reads almost poetically in places. Very intriguing…
So – roll on October, with club reading and plenty of other choices! Are you joining in with 1976, and what plans do you have for reading generally?
Oct 01, 2021 @ 07:10:11
Lots of interesting books there, especially the Bely I spotted at the end. I wonder if one of those is coming in my direction…
Oct 01, 2021 @ 15:35:50
I hope so – it’s intriguing so far!!
Oct 01, 2021 @ 08:39:23
I am so impressed with how many books you’ve managed to read while also going back to work (one of my daughters works in school admin in London and she echoes everything you’ve said – she’s frantically busy.)
I haven’t read any of your September books except The Moving Toyshop and – possibly! – the Amanda Cross; I read most of the Kate Fansler books years ago, but think I must have lent some and never got them back. And of course I can’t remember if I’ve read this one.
Now that I’m re-reading The Question of Max for the 1976 club, I decided to treat myself and buy the ones I’m missing. Oh happy day – not only did I find most of them on eBay, I also discovered (no doubt belatedly) that I could use nectar points to buy them. Dangerous! But I’ve got masses of these as I never know what to do with them. So now I’m eagerly anticipating a Kate Fansler binge.
I have to admit I didn’t get nearly as much as you did out of The Moving Toyshop. I think I should re-read it, I feel I missed a lot, so thank you for enlightening me.
You do have some fantastic charity shops! Part of the reason I decided to buy the rest of the Amanda Cross books is that I have now given up hope of finding any in the charity shops of Aberdeen or Edinburgh. I expect people hang on to them, as I have the five that are still with me.
Oct 01, 2021 @ 15:35:37
Yes, it’s been a bit insane and shows no sign of easing off – I wish I was closer to retirement some days…
As for the Amanda Cross books, I’m keen to read more having enjoyed this. May well have picked up a couple more of her titles too… I hadn’t thought of using nectar points on ebay, that’s most useful!
As for the charity shops, we do have some nice ones round here, though I don’t get to them as often as I used to (I wish…) Though it might well be a good thing, bearing in mind the size of the TBR!!!!
Oct 02, 2021 @ 02:15:14
I had forgotten about Amanda Cross.Just catching up with Simon Brett and Nancy Spain. I have selected three books for the 1976 Club. Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy, Beard’s Roman Women by Anthony Burgess and The Painter of Signs by R K Narayan.
Oct 02, 2021 @ 12:39:45
Excellent – look forward to your thoughts! There seems such a variety from 1976, it’s an interesting year! 😀
Oct 01, 2021 @ 08:53:36
I would really love to know how you keep your books, Mrs K. Are they alphabetical by author? By year of publication? Your Virago Travellers appear to be all on one shelf, but where does the TBR mountain live? (Or mountainS, even.) I love it when you gather books together by author or date, but I am SO curious as to where they all are!
Oct 01, 2021 @ 15:19:19
There’s a sort of system – well there was, when I had less books. They live in shelves in a spare room, and are mostly categorised then alphabetised e.g. women writers, crime, Russians, Beats, Japanese authors – or sometimes specific authors like Orwell or Calvino. As for the TBR, it sprawls over a couple of the kids’ old rooms and is threatening to take over… It needs to be pruned a bit….
Oct 01, 2021 @ 23:00:50
Thank you for that.
Oct 02, 2021 @ 12:42:38
Welcome! 😀
Oct 01, 2021 @ 09:30:12
Great selection there. I had a few Christie’s on my read pile this month, and Murder by the Book is there. I’ve also read These Names Make Clues which I really enjoyed. Hope you do too.
Oct 01, 2021 @ 15:11:54
I do love classic crime – and I’m looking forward to These Names Make Clues, soon I hope!
Oct 01, 2021 @ 10:04:18
I’ve had a wonderfully lazy bookish September (frantic in all other respects though) and am already starting to feel the pressure of planned reading: Bohumil Hrabal for 1976 Club, the Virtual Crime Club read for 11th October which I haven’t started yet, the library books I need to return, the Romanian ones I plan to read or reread…
But I have to ask you which was the underwhelming one?
I also used to be an Amanda Cross fan but haven’t seen any of them around in ages!
Oct 01, 2021 @ 15:11:15
Lol, yes planned reading can be a pain… But 1976 should hopefully been fun and not too pressureful. As for the underwhelming one, I’m afraid it was the Janet Malcolm one – just didn’t grab me at all, I’m afraid, and I rather wondered what the point of it was… 😦
Oct 01, 2021 @ 10:52:14
It sounds as if you had a lovely September, especially given the celebrations for Mr Kaggsy’s birthday! On the reading front, I’m particularly curious about The Inseparables, especially as it comes with an intro by Deborah Levy (whose non-fiction I adore). Has your review gone live yet or is it in the works?
Oct 01, 2021 @ 15:10:07
Yes, it *was* a lovely month mostly. As for The Inseparables, I’m covering that for Shiny New Books but am still writing the review – loved it though!
Oct 01, 2021 @ 12:13:53
I’m glad you enjoyed September, even if not every book was stellar. And you do have some lovely books there! Your October plans sound terrific, and I give you credit for making out a plan. I think that helps focus one’s reading. I look forward to seeing what you think of those books!
Oct 01, 2021 @ 14:49:23
I was lucky that most of September’s reads were great – I don’t like to spend too much time of books which don’t do it for me! There are some nice choices available for October, and you’re quite right – loose plans do help to focus the mind a little…
Oct 01, 2021 @ 16:59:08
The Moving Toyshop. So very great! I lent–turns out that meant gave away–my copy and that now means I’m without…it moved…
I’m hoping to join in for #1976Club. I was thinking about the Sokolov & have a few other possibles as well. Sleeping Murder, though! I hadn’t thought about that and it’s been so long since I read it.
Oct 01, 2021 @ 18:50:36
It’s a wonderful book – never to be loaned….
And look forward to your thoughts on 1976 books – Sleeping Murder is a great choice… ;D
Oct 01, 2021 @ 18:35:55
Well that is a healthy looking pile of September reads. Well done! Some good finds there,I really enjoyed A Compass Error. Really looking forward to the 1976 club,I am reading my second book now as I need time to get reviews done for that week. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else reads.
Oct 01, 2021 @ 18:49:26
It looks quite decent, doesn’t it? Glad you’re going to be joining in with 1976 – so looking forward to your reviews!!! ;D
Oct 01, 2021 @ 19:44:42
I love your selection of possibilities for the 1976 Club (not one of which coincides with mine!). My blogging has largely collapsed under the pressure of returning to work, but I will be around for that!
Oct 01, 2021 @ 19:54:14
I empathise! I have about 9 books waiting to be reviewed (fortunately I had scheduled ahead for September) but I am struggling. Just coping with daily life in school is exhausting – I almost find myself praying for another lockdown… 😦
Oct 02, 2021 @ 02:12:25
You have a pile of really excellent looking books. Happy your family could all gather. Sounds like a lovely time. I did not realise Virago had travel books. Is it a particular series set aside from their other publications? If so I will need to keep an eye out though I don’t often find Virago here but that would be okay as it prevents me from hauling yet more books home. I hope your school years works well for you.
Oct 02, 2021 @ 12:40:40
Yes, there was a separate Virago Travellers imprint for a while though I don’t think it carried on. They’re lovely books – pioneering early woman travellers – and they’re fascinating. Just need to get round to reading a few more of them…
Oct 02, 2021 @ 07:53:01
So nice that you were able to have the whole family complete again to celebrate Mr Kaggsy’s birthday!
Oct 02, 2021 @ 12:38:58
It was a real treat – so lovely to be reunited in one group!
Oct 02, 2021 @ 15:36:30
I visited Amsterdam three weeks ago and saw my parents and sister again for the first time since February 2020. It was great to see each other again and to be able to hug them too 😀
Oct 02, 2021 @ 17:30:19
I can imagine – so special when you can get together again!
Oct 02, 2021 @ 08:54:31
Hurrah for 1976 Club! I’m off on holiday this week and have brought a little stack of them.
Oct 02, 2021 @ 12:38:39
Wonderful – sounds perfect and have a lovely break!
Oct 02, 2021 @ 19:14:55
Is it October already? I’ve been planning to read Orsinian Tales for 1976, having finally read and loved Malafrena earlier this year (both contained in the Library of America Complete Orsinia, UK LeGuin). Also possible: Power of Three by Diana Wynne Jones, or World of Wonders by Robertson Davies, two old favorites. Whatever I manage, I shall look forward to readint others’ posts. It’s always so much fun to have a little window into the literary zeitgeist of a single year.
Oct 02, 2021 @ 19:46:08
Alas it is – the year is running away! So glad you’re joining in with 1976 and what interesting possibilities. Look forward to hearing about what you read!
Oct 02, 2021 @ 20:23:07
I found yet another favorite — Bilgewater by Jane Gardam. I posted a review on my old blog, so I can refer to that again. It was a good year indeed!
Oct 02, 2021 @ 20:32:29
Excellent! The more I’ve explored 1976, the more interesting titles I’ve found! So many choices!
Oct 03, 2021 @ 02:07:34
I’m looking forward to The Inseparables and to reading your thoughts on it. So glad your stressful back-to-school month also included some actual time with the family and actual book shopping!
Oct 03, 2021 @ 15:33:37
Yes, family and real book shopping – both things I’ve missed so much!! 😀
Oct 03, 2021 @ 14:34:10
I’m so impressed with all your reading Kaggsy – I’m improving but not quite back to my old ways yet! However, I am fully intending to join in with the 1976 Club as I do love the Club weeks, and I’ve found two short reads to do so – one of which is the Bawden you have.
Wishing you an October that has all of the loveliness of September but none of the frantic workload 🙂
Oct 03, 2021 @ 15:32:56
Thanks Madame B and I hope the reading continues to improve. Look forward to your input for 1976! 😀 Hope October is great for you too!
Oct 03, 2021 @ 18:10:26
What a lovely month and how super to have the offspring gathered! I’m looking forward to posting my 1976 Club review (although as usual my PC won’t save your image at all, just as a wbp file which then doesn’t post in my blog). I am mulling over my review as we speak!
Oct 03, 2021 @ 18:47:20
It was wonderful to see them all together and have a lovely weekend – just perfect! Look forward to your 1976 post and I’ll see if I can sort something out with the logo!
Oct 03, 2021 @ 22:03:39
Oh my GOODness, I cannot believe how many Virago Travellers editions you have. Now, I must say this is not my new favourite photo. Because I’ve just revealed how quickly and easily influenced I can be in that regard. But as for contents, I am thrilled just to lay eyes on them. I think I have one, but perhaps I dreamed it. In any case, I didn’t recognize any of them (other than having heard of some of the authors, I mean). Amazing!
Oct 04, 2021 @ 09:08:30
I had forgotten a little bit, too, as they’re the back row of a double stacked shelf! But so lovely and such a fascinating range of titles. And I *have* read and loved some of them!!
Oct 03, 2021 @ 22:05:09
P.S. I was so overwhelmed, I forgot to mention that I have only 90 pages left to read in Roots (which Liz and Bill and I have been enjoying-mostly-together for 4+ weeks) for 1976!
Oct 04, 2021 @ 09:07:21
Well done! So looking forward to your thoughts!
Sunday Salon…It’s October! – Dolce Bellezza
Oct 03, 2021 @ 22:50:32
Oct 04, 2021 @ 18:49:54
So many great authors on this list!
I’m currently reading Speedboat by Renata Adler for the 1976 Club, but I’m disappointed
Oct 04, 2021 @ 19:25:21
There are lots of wonderful choices for 1976. Sorry to hear Speedboat is not doing it for you – I’ve not read it but have heard it praised, so that’s a shame.
Oct 05, 2021 @ 03:10:10
I may not be in the right mood for this right now
Oct 05, 2021 @ 11:11:57
No – sometimes it’s definitely a case of the wrong time for a book…
Oct 06, 2021 @ 00:08:47
The options on my shelves for 1936 are dire! Yours are much more literary. Many of the ‘likely suspects’ were having an in-between year with no book published. I did manage to find a Dutch children’s classic from the library (Oosterschelde windkracht 10 by Jan Terlouw), so that’s one I will definitely read. I have an overview post in the making, almost ready to go. I’m really looking forward to finding out what else was published in 1976.
Oct 06, 2021 @ 16:01:52
Oh dear! I had to dig about, and I’m pleased with what I chose. Hope the book you do read is enjoyable! 😀
Oct 12, 2021 @ 08:07:29
Oct 13, 2021 @ 09:00:15