Book haul and reading update!

And now, to write this blog in reverse!

I have up to this point finished five books this year. Two I have reviewed here (Stand Still Stay Silent and The Rental Heart and Other Fairytales), the other three will be coming up sooner or later, so sit tight!

My pace has been slowed down considerably by my current commute book, The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks. I'm really enjoying it, but it's a slow, sloow read. I have also (entirely accidentally) started reading the first book in Cornelia Funke's 'Reckless' series, Steinernes Fleisch/The Petrified Flesh and Robin Stevens' Murder Most Unladylike.

This allows me to segway quite neatly into the second part of this post and first part of this post title...

Book haul!

So I've bought eleven books this year (already!) and have also received a book from a friend in France.

The first book I bought was the aforementioned Murder Most Unladylike. I think I first came across it when a friend read and reviewed it. It seemed charming - I like early 20th century boarding school stories - and I thought I would enjoy the mystery, too. Well, I started reading (and skipped ahead to the end, because I'm a fool and a sucker for spoilers) and I feel like this book will prove me right. I look forward to taking it up in earnest!

This actually quite inconveniently brings me to my second book. Inconvenient, because I forgot about it. Oops! So, this makes book number twelve, which is actually the first book I bought this year. But maybe I get a reprise because this makes me fit in perfectly with the theme of the book. Tid: Livet är inte kronologiskt (Time: Life isn't chronological) does pretty much what it says on the tin. It collects the musings and thoughts of Alex Schulman and Sigge Eklund on time, and our place in it. This is the first Swedish book of the year - a title I thought would go to the third and final book of the Engelfors series, Nyckeln. Writing this now makes it hard for me to believe that around this time last year I was completing my first full book in Swedish - Mio, min Mio by Astrid Lindgren. Of course, I'd probably read the equivalent of that book several times over before then, what with my (as yet, unwon) battle against one of my favourite books of all time, John Ajvide Lindqvists Let the Right One In but that aside, I have since read seven books and started a further five. It's not the hugest achievement, but I'm proud.

Back to the (false) sense of a chronology with the book I bought at the same time as Murder..., Matter by Ian M. Banks. I have been interested in Banks' culture series since reading the first two Imperial Radch books and hearing that readers equally enamoured with them had also enjoyed these. I wanted to start at the start - that is, with Consider Phlebus, but this came onto the shelves at the bookshop where I work and I accidentally started reading it to see if I liked it and anyway, see above: chronology is an ideal imposed upon us, and isn't it really time we broke free? I'm not good at chronology anyway. And this series understands that. As said, I read the first few lines and the book had me, hook, line and sinker.

This next is one of a whole gamut of books, bought on a buying spree at work. At the close of last year and the start of this I read C. S. Lewis' A Grief Observed. The review is forthcoming here, but a quick spoiler: I loved it. I had noticed Grief is the thing with Feathers naturally, because it was plastered all over the London Underground for such a long time at the time of it's publication. Then my boss bought it, which made me want to buy it. I know, I have a problem. Then I found it in the shop, one of the volunteers mentioned that he loved it, I have no regard for my TBR and now it is mine. I'm looking forward to it. I am trying - fairly successfully - not to align it too closely with A Grief Observed. They are not at all the same kind of thing. But I do think I'll enjoy it and I am (ambitiously?) hoping to have read it by this time next week.

From here to Ice by Finnish Swede (Swedish Finn?) Ulla-Lena Lundberg. I noticed this book when it came out in English translation last year and found myself drawn to it. On to my 'to remember' it went, and I told my boyfriend about it. We happened to find it in Swedish in Malmö city library, and even managed to read a bit of it together, but I sadly didn't get very far. My boyfriend was impressed with her writing style, and I'm always for a non-Noir Nordic hit. I'm hoping this book will have a slow pace - I'm expecting something fairly gentle and very honest in itself. It's lower on my reading priorities than all of the above, but it's so gorgeous.

Goodreads reliably informs me that The Gone-Away World made it onto my radar and my reading list until 2015, where it sat, forgotten, for about a year. I came across it again on one of my regular, but mostly unsuccessful, TBR streamlining attempts. I thought it would be an easy one to cross off: I couldn't remember quite why I had popped it onto my list and the blurb didn't really capture me. But I'm mostly fair, and so I downloaded a sample from Amazon, started reading and wait, no, why is it finishing, I'm not ready I want more and I want it now!
So yeah. That's the story of Lily and The Gone-Away World. I was massively happy when it came up at the bookshop, and added it to my pile immediately.
(The downside is now I'm terrified of reading it, in case I don't love it as much as I think I will.)

Wool by Hugh Howey. I don't know why I added Wool. I don't know when I added Wool. I don't remember anything at all about Wool. My mum joked about me falling for it because of the title - I'm a knitter, in case anyone forgot - and we giggled but actually that's as good a suggestion as any other. I have absolutely no clue what to expect, and it's low on my priorities list. So probably I'll have read it this time next week.

We got a donation from a review which included this gem. This book has been on my list more or less since it came out. It's a gem of a book, physically, and I also am excited to get something a little less than standard in my reading diet. REPRESENT.
(Literally).

Do I even need to talk about this book? Probably not. It's been on my TBR for a gentle age or two. Everyone ever seems to love it, and I want to love it, too. I think I would have preferred A Monster Calls to be my first book from Patrick Ness, but I'm certainly not complaining. This is another book that I'm almost scared to read, just because I want so desperately for it to live up to my expectations.

I'm a sucker for all things Scott Westerfeld. Fun fact: I spent (and still spend) a good portion of time thinking his surname is Westerfield. Thankfully I caught that one from the off this time round. I had been holding off on buying this book because I still hadn't finished reading Afterworlds, which I bought last year. (For the interested, I'd been holding off on finishing that because I still hadn't finished reading whichever inordinate number of books that I hadn't finished reading from the year before, which I was holding off on reading because... you get the picture). But then I remembered that life is far too short not to buy all of the books you've ever wanted. Also, I read the first chapter and I am way more excited for this than I was for Afterworlds. Problem: solved.

And so we are bought to the large book of this spree - although not the large book of this post. Please do bear with me just a little longer...
I have wanted this book since it came out. Unfortunately, at that time I was a poor student and couldn't buy it. I did what any poor student would do, and got a friend to buy it so that I could borrow it. Except then it got leant to another friend instead, who took it to Germany for a year and then I don't even know where it went. This was coming up to three years ago, now, for a little context. Probably everyone who ever lived or breathed has read and loved this book now - save me. Don't worry, I'll join you all soon. (Just - after I read all the other books, first!)

The above haul happened yesterday. The next two books happened today. The first is Joanne M. Harris' Gospel of Loki. Norse mythology has had a hold on me since American Gods and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I've never actually read any Harris before, although of course I'd seen the film of Chocolat and I also enjoyed following her on Twitter. This is the book that made me really want to give her a chance. Norse gods, yes please! Plus, I heard that she learnt Icelandic for this book. Once again: Hook, line and sinker.

Finally, this beauty. Hands up who thought my Ann Leckie obsession was a thing of last year? You were so, so wrong. I've read the first two books a few times each now, and will read the third when I come to terms with it a bit more. I will probably also read the short stories again a few times. I want so badly to go back into her worlds.
I went back to Tours late last year and, predictably, we went to a bookshop. I looked around for a couple of books which I wanted, but couldn't find. Then, as if in dream, I thought to look for this...
It was love at first sight. I think this cover design is gorgeous, I couldn't bear the thought of going through life without it. Sadly, my pocket couldn't bear the thought of going through the doors with it. Enter stage left: my angel of an ex-roommate. She bought it for me in December but couldn't send it to me until this month - which is more than I had been expecting. It is now sitting proudly on my bed, waiting for the moment I can come back to its loving embrace...

So, this post took a long time but I'm finally through to the other side. I have one more book on my 'currently reading' that I want to get through before I start any of these in earnest - The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. But you can expect a lit corner and general reading update before then, methinks.

Here's hoping for February! All the best for you all, and your challenges!

Little Newman.

(PS. This month I've started going at Finnish in earnest. I have a dream that, by the close of this year, I'll be able to read stumble through a Finnish book in Finnish!)

Book Haul part two

Remember when I talked about my Germany book haul that I would finish another time? Well, now is that other time.

My friend visited this past weekend and carried back the remaining ten books that I couldn't bring back last time. This is clearly evidence of true love - TEN BOOKS!

Of course we had to do a bit more book shopping while she was here, in order to fill the gaping void in her bag, and so I picked up a few more books there, too.

So, without further ado...

The first book on my shelves is Momo by Michael Ende. It is on my list, but it has been taking second place to Die unendliche Geschichte. Looking at them both, however, I may as well just start with Momo, instead. It's shorter and may well be easier, too. However, they can both wait until I've brought myself through Tintenherz. Momo is about the fight of the young girl by that name to stop the grey 'time thieves'.

Next comes Trix Solier: Zauberlehrling voller fehl und adel (Trix Solier: Sorcery apprenticeship full of error and nobility) by Sergei Lukyanenko of Night Watch fame. I read the first half of The Night Watch, and really enjoyed it, but the second half threw me a bit. The poor book's case wasn't much helped by the poor editing in the edition that I have. I'm hoping that this book will keep a hold of me all the way through. 

Next comes a series of three books. They are together Das geheimnis des Herbstlandes (The Secret of the land of Autumn) trilogy by Herbert Osenger. I picked them up on a whim at the book market. I'm really not sure what to expect from them, but I hope that I'll be pleasantly surprised. They have a secret world type thing going on, which anyone who knows me knows that I love. The first book is called Haus der Türen (House of Doors). Lisa is just looking for her house key but ends up on a long journey to unlock the secret of the autumn lands...

Das Magische Messer by Phillip Pullman follows. I think The Subtle Knife was my favourite of the three books. As said, I love it when someone from one world finds that they've slipped or otherwise travelled into another, so naturally I loved all that happens here.

Then comes Schlachthof 5 oder Der Kinderkreuzzug (Slaughterhouse 5) by Kurt Vonnegut. I read it and loved it in English, and so I couldn't resist when I saw it in the book market.

Then is a bilingual French-German edition of Comment on se marie et comment on se meurt (How we marry and how we die) by Zola. I don't think I've ever experienced any particular desire to read Zola before, but I may well surprise myself. At any rate, it's a fairly slim volume, so if I am not surprised, and least it won't last long. I'm afraid to say that you'll all have to do without a picture of this handsome edition.

Bringing up the rear are two volumes of a manga I really like and have already read in English, Kamisama Kiss by Julia Suzuki which translates to something like 'Goddess Kiss'. It's a fun number about a girl who moves into a temple when her fathers debts mean she can no longer live at home. It's fun, silly, and not very realistic, which is precisely what I like from a manga.







So, those are the books my friend was kind enough to lug around for me for over five hours. Next comes new acquisitions and a borrowed book.

The first was Don't try this at home, a collection of short stories by Angela Readman, published by & Other Stories. I've wanted this book for a while, but have had trouble finding it in bookshops. I put off ordering it online mainly because my shelves are already crammed full of books that I have yet to read. But when I saw it while browsing, I simply couldn't resist and so picked it up and only barely managed to let go long enough for the cashier to scan it. I haven't yet started (see the aforementions shelves crammed full of books; also, my obscenely long 'Currently Reading list). However, as I type this my cousin is sitting next to me, the book open and completely absorbed. I'm taking this as a sign of excellent things to come.

Then, still clutching hold of the above, I came across the holy grail. Of course I mean the edition of Alice in Wonderland as illustrated by Tove Jansson, published by the Tate. Being something of a traditionalist at heart, I am very sceptical of editions of Alice without Tenniel illustrations. Naturally, I have seen certain, non-Tenniel illustrators do amazing things but I've seen others create illustrations that feel like nails clawing across the chalkboard of my delicate soul. Jansson is an exception. I'm almost entirely convinced that everything she touched turned to gold. Or, you know, something close enough that I can't tell the difference.

On the same day, I managed to dig out and purchase Oliver VII by Antal Szerb, published in translation by Pushkin Press. I started reading this sometime last year, but couldn't get my hands on my very own copy, so had to stop a third of the way through. It's extremely absurd and quite funny, so I'm looking forward to diving back in with it.

Finally, I bought my cousin The Girl with All the Gifts by M. R. Carey for her birthday, on the condition that she lend it to me as soon as she was finished. I'm nothing, if not generous. This book has been on my 'To Read' list for so long that I have more than once forgotten that it's there. But now it's on my 'To Read' shelf, which is definitely a step. Not necessarily a step up, but a step nonetheless. I was unable to stop myself reading the first few pages when my cousin handed it over to me, but I can't make my mind up on them yet. I'm sure it'll worm its way on to my currently reading list fairly soon, despite my noble intentions to try and get the number of books there under 25 before adding anything more...

This has been a long post, and it has taken me a few hours to write. I could happily toddle off for another month or so, but I have yet another book review coming your way, and I should hopefully get it out within the week. So I'll be back!

Happy reading,
Little Newman

February Wrap Up: Knitting and Travel

This month has been a month of many books, but little reading. As my last post says, I bought a lot of books in Germany, and continued the trend on my trip to Sweden, from which I returned a couple of days ago. While there, I bought four books and my boyfriend gave me a fifth. The books are: Jane Eyre in Swedish translation, 'The Cape' and 'The Nose' by Gogol (also in Swedish translation), Udda Verklighet, by Nene Ormes and Eld, the second book in the Engelfors trilogy by Mats Strandberg and Sara Bergmark Elfgren, to follow on from the first book which I bought earlier on in the month.

But, no finishing of books has been done. I've read a fair bit, mostly from Cirkeln, which is the first book of the trilogy, and also a LOT of The Cyberiad which continues to be an absolute joy. I have also torn my way through a few Enid Blyton school stories, but I can't count that in good faith.

My fingers have been otherwise occupied. I wanted to finish the second sock I started knitting, but then decided I would rather finish the scarf I've been making since October. Sadly, it is still not finished, although I very well may finish it today. The scarf was far to big to take with me to Sweden, unless I wore it, and I somehow doubt that airport security would be okay with me wondering around with two massive needles attached to my neck. So, I brought the second sock with me instead... only to run out of yarn just before I finished the toe! I set those socks aside, and started on a pair that I promised my aunt. I had managed to misplace my slightly larger double pointed needles JUST before packing them, and still haven't managed to find them, so there I sat trying to knit aran on 2.5mm needles. This didn't go so well. I got a few inches in before realising the sock would be too small, even for me, and I had to rip it out and start all over again. I've gotten a bit further, but I believe the sock will still be too small, so I've put it on hold until I see my aunt again and can measure it against her. Hopefully it goes well. So, I've done a big circle, back to the everlasting scarf again.

I have no travel plans for this month, having blown my budget last month. It would be nice to make it to visit some friends around the UK, but sadly not likely. That gives me much more time for finishing my current knitting projects and starting at least one more (socks for my sister - I'm addicted!), more time for reading and more time for language study. I managed to read 100 pages of The Cyberiad last month - I realised about two weeks in that hoping to finish it was too ambitious, even for my overly ambitious self. I've got a little over 120 pages more to go, so maybe I'll be able to get through that in those two extra days that March brings. Otherwise, I should finish Cirkeln and start a new Swedish book (probably Reser med lätt bagage by Tove Jansson - the book from my boyfriend). I'll also try Je voudrais que quelqu'un m'attendais quelquepart by Anna Gavalda again, although I'm not holding my breath. When I'm done with The Cyberiad, I'll read a bit more of Bone Jack, and maybe start one of the many other English books on my bookshelves, waiting to be read.

Germany & Book Haul!

This title gives the impression that these two things are separate. Really, they are one and the same. I went to Germany to visit a friend, and timed my visit to fall on the first Sunday of the month which is when a used book market is held in a town near her home.

My visit, at four nights in total, felt far too short. Also, it was apparently carnival time in the region. If I had know before hand, I would have definitely bought a fancy dress costume with me. Dressing up and drinking? Count me in!

But, enough of that. Lets talk about books!

My total number of books bought and received on this visit was... well, it was certainly more than I could fit in my ryanair restricted hand luggage! Especially considering I made the mistake of bringing four of my currently reading books with me*.

I managed to bring back seven books, which will be the ones I talk about. The ten or eleven I left behind will have to be the talk of another time.

Having recently lived the surprisingly exciting and empowering experience of reading Pride and Prejudice in Swedish, I bought the German translation, Stolz und Vorurteil. My German is nowhere near as good as my Swedish, but I know the story so well that it's like having a pop-up dictionary in my head. I've decided to make it a tandem read with another friend, and so we'll aim to read two chapters per week. However, she's already on chapter five, so I'll have to catch up with her first.

Next is Frostfeuer (Frost Fire**) by Kai Meyer. This book has been sitting on my 'to read' list for a while now, and as my friend had a copy, she lent it to me. I... am in all honestly, no longer sure what this book is about, which is a little embarrassing, if I'm honest. But, the blurb mentions a magic duel and a snow queen, and the writing generally makes me happy. Also, the cover has a lot of blue on it, which is nice. I probably shouldn't start reading this anytime soon, but that's never stopped me before. After all, I've only got 28 other books to work my way through!

Next on my shelves are the first, third and fourth books from the Pucki series by Magda Trott. These were purchased at the book fair for two euros each. They are in great condition, although they are obviously well aged. They remind me of my childhood favourites: the Little Women series and the What Katy Dids. The series is quite long running, and there were three other books at the market, but I wasn't much interesting in Pucki the happy bride, or Pucki the housewife or even Pucki and her three young boys - although I'm thinking I may regret my decision if that last is anything like Jo's Boys. I intend to make my way through these at some point, but they're quite old so I'm a bit wary of the difficulty.

The sixth and seventh books are also book market purchases. The sixth is a gorgeously bound book of poems. I'll be honest: I bought this books based on the cover, the fact that it is printed in that wonderful old German typeface and the fact that it contains a poem called 'Fieberträume' which, if I'm not mistaken, translates to 'Fever dreams'. For the interested, it is called Dreizenlinden by F. W. Weber. The title seems to mean 'Thirteen Lindens', and I would chance a guess and say that the poems are at least loosely religious. From my flick through, it doesn't seem to be completely opaque, which is always a plus. It was also only four euros. How could I pass it by?

The seventh and final book for this post is Die schönsten Märchen aus aller Welt, a collection of folk tales from all over the world. The majority of the tales are unlabled, and so can be assumed to be European. However, there are also tales from the Americas (one apiece), quite a few from Asia, and some from Africa. There is also one Inuit tale. I'll make my way through this fairly slowly, as I am to be taking part in a challenge to read one short story or tale per week, and I am woefully behind as I decided neither the stories from Sommarboken or The Cyberiad count. This'll do me until I buy Låt den gamla drömmarna dö by John Ajvide Lindqvist.

This has been a rather long post, but before I sign off I'd like to share the fact that while in Germany, I started knitting a sock, which I finished yesterday (Thursday) morning. Go me!

I've never knitted a sock before, or anything in the round, so I'm pretty proud of myself. This was definitely a learning process. Of course, it's only one sock. As soon as my fingers have recovered enough from five days of almost straight knitting on teeny tiny needles, I'll start the second one :D

Happy blogging, all
Little Newman

*For the interested, those four books are: Bone Jack by Sarah Crowe, The Cyberiad by Stanislaw Lem, Die unendliche Geschichte by Michael Ende and Tintenherz by Cornelia Funke. Bone Jack is the only one I see myself finishing this month, contrary to previous expectation, which also included The Cyberiad in that projection.

**The return of the extremely liberal translations... consider yourself warned!