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Reading Plan: October 2015

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley book cover
September and October are frequently hectic months for me as the start of the academic year kicks in but this year has been a real whirlwind. So much so that I’ve barely had time to enjoy the beautiful Indian summer we’ve been enjoying for the past few weeks. Forgive me for not getting reviews out very often lately – even with three months to go, I fear I’m going to fall well short of the fifty books I’d wanted to read this year. It’s an ever-optimistic target but one I was actually doing fairly well a sticking to (ish) until deep into the summer this year.

Now I find myself in that horrid position where I’ve read a few books that I’d like to talk about but am caught between using what free time I have to write reviews of these books or reading new books. Ah, the problems of a book blogger – don’t all rush to feel sympathy for the problems of someone whose worst dilemma is whether to read or write of a day.

You might be interested to know what I’ve been reading lately (presumably that’s why you’re here after all, otherwise what are you loitering about my techno-pad for, weirdos). The one thing I’m quite excited to write about is The Watchmaker of Filigree Street and this because I’m hoping to have an interview with the author Natasha Pulley to run along with it. An interesting mix of Victoriana, science and the fantastic, and a few other things besides, it’s one of the few contemporary novels I’ve read this year.

I tried Goodbye, Columbus too, against my normal aversion to short stories. I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t blown away although I did quite like Philip Roth’s story of being a young Jewish chap entering the world (not that I’ve ever read that theme before – I’m pretty sure Julian Barnes said that all young men have to write a bildungsroman in their own image at some point).

Goodness me, what else was there? I tried some Henry James in the form of The Portrait of a Lady and that is on the cusp of becoming part of my reading past rather than my reading present (something both I and Henry will be glad of, I think). I also read an interesting book on WikiLeaks by one of the site’s early members. Not a literary masterpiece but a topic worth talking about.

So, for October I promise nothing and expect to deliver even less. I’ll see you again this time next month for more apologies on my part…

Notable Posts from September
Review: The Trial by Franz Kafka

1 comment:

Ethan said...

I'm in the same boat! I've read quite a few books, but have yet to find the time to write reviews. Sometimes it can be difficult to choose between reading or writing, but as you said...what a nice problem to have! I look forward to more reviews from you when you get the chance!

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