I don’t have much to blog about lately as I am in a frustrating reading slump and can’t seem to stick with any book for longer than 25 pages. There are signs that this slump is on its way out the door, but in the meantime I remembered this meme that Simon at Stuck in a Book introduced many years ago and thought it would be fun to share a few tidbits from my bookish life lately (such as it is).
- The book I’m currently reading: The Virago Book of Ghost Stories edited by Richard Dalby and The Whirlpool by George Gissing – Every year I check out The VIrago Book of Ghost Stories from the library yet, sadly, I never read any of the stories. This year will be different! I’ve already read 4 of the stories and am determined to work my way through them all by the end of the month. Authors who have stories in the book include Elizabeth Bowen, Elizabeth Jenkins, Winifred Holtby, Rose Macaulay, F.M. Mayor…pretty much all the authors we love. I’ll be sure to report back on my progress. And also, again thanks to Darlene, I just started reading The Whirlpool by George Gissing.
- The last book I finished: My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout – I can’t really write about this in any detail since it won’t be published until January, but I can say that I loved it. If you like spare, lyrical writing and completely realistic and memorable characters keep this one on your radar.
- The Next Book I Want to Read: Mrs. Sinclair’s Suitcase by Louise Walters – This has a bookshop, old letters, WWII, and family secrets – I hope it turns out to be as good as it sounds.
- The Last Book I Bought: Kitchen Essays by Agnes Jekyll – I own almost all of the Persephone Classics, but this one has never appealed to me as much as some of the others. However, I’d like to have a complete set so I recently sent away for it.
- The Last Book I was Given: Life at Thrush Green by ‘Miss Read’ – My lovely friend Sara brought an old Penguin edition of this back from England for me.
I’m hopeful that I’ll be back with more regular posts soon!
A Certain Fondness 
I like the photo at the top too! And I really like the sound of Mrs Sinclair’s Suitcase. You really had me at WWII letters. I haven’t thought about collecting all the Persephones, but there are quite a few more that I do want to order.
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Well, I already gave up on Mrs. Sinclair’s Suitcase – I fear I may never finish another book again!
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I feel exactly the same as Lisa. I haven’t read any of those books, not even that particular ‘Miss Read’. I like the photo too.
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I’m looking forward to reading the Miss Read – it sounds nice and cozy, maybe perfect for the holidays?
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Hope your slump is indeed on its way out 🙂 Good to hear you’re read a book you keep meaning to, it’s always nice to be able to say you read it at last. Completing the set sounds reason enough, though I hope ‘Kitchen proves to be a good read in the end.
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My slump, unfortunately, continues. But I did get my copy of Kitchen and it looks like it will be more fascinating than I thought it would be.
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How lovely your friend brought you a copy of Life at Thrush Green by ‘Miss Read’. I love her Village School book. I hope you get out of you reading slump soon 🙂
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Yes, it was so kind of her! I hope I get out of my slump soon, too.
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Oo, the Virago book sounds fun! A perfect read for the fall! (Our weather was tending fallwards earlier this week but has reverted to summer, alas, alas! I will have to save my fall reads for later.)
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We had the same thing weather-wise! It was in the sixties early in the week and now it’s back in the nineties – horrible! At least I can pretend it is fall when I read atmospheric Halloween stories.
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I love the Virago ghost story anthologies. It’s years since I read them, but I try to remember to pull them out each autumn and reread some stories.
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Some of the stories are really very good and some of them are just so-so, but I do love the collection of authors – such a dream.
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I like the photo too! (and the books! All of them!! What a tempting group of ghost story writers. I’m hoping to read The Whirlpool with you both too though I may be a little late to the party…
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I’m a bit stalled on The Whirlpool (as on all books) but need to just make myself read this weekend. I think I am being too easy on myself!
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Think it must be the time of year! I’m plodding especially with my blog.
I am definitely going to look out for Mrs Sinclairs Suitcase.
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I was feeling a bit let down by The Whirlpool in the beginning but it’s pulling together now. Still, at this stage I’m not feeling the love quite like I did with The Odd Women. And I have that book of ghost stories by Virago on my shelves…thanks for reminding me!
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I have to admit that The Whirlpool has been slow going for me, but I do plan to try again.
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