It has been a long, hot, busy summer and I am ready for a break from the library and from my regular routine. I work tomorrow and then I am off for 13 glorious days – in a row! I haven’t had that much time off the entire eight years I’ve worked for my current library system so I am ecstatic. I’m going to spend the first week up in the White Mountains of Arizona. I hope to visit many of the small towns near Springerville, where my grandparents live, and to spend some time at the lake just reading and basking in the beautiful weather and sunshine of the mountains. The second week I’ll be back in town. My mom is having surgery so I’ll be helping care for her in between visiting my favorite thrift shops and eating at some of my favorite restaurants.
I’ve thought a lot about what books I’ll be taking up to Springerville. I’m driving up so I can take as many as I want, but I don’t want to overwhelm myself. I think I’ve narrowed it down to these:
A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark – The many wonderful reviews of this during Muriel Spark Reading Week convinced me that I need to read it too.
City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte – I just received this advance copy from Penguin and am intrigued and amused by the premise. It sounds like a good vacation book.
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell – You may have noticed that I quietly failed to complete the North and South Readalong I joined in August. It happens. I do still want to read this, though, so hope to make progress during the next couple of weeks.
The Shooting Party by Isabel Colegate – I loved Sunday’s post at Ciao Domenica about this novel and vowed I would read it one day. That day is here.
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart – My Mary Stewart mania continues.
Have you read any of these novels? What should I start first?
I am going to take next week off from blogging as I don’t know how often I’ll be able to get on the Internet. I will probably post some photos of my adventures on Twitter and Instagram from my phone, though, if you want to follow me there.
Have a great week friends! I really appreciate you reading and commenting and have so enjoyed getting to know you all. You are really a bright spot in my life. Thank you!
A Certain Fondness 
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