It’s a new year and the time of year when all us book bloggers make our reading plans for the coming year. Well, a few old favourites blog-wise, will still be on this bloggers list to do. I will be doing another Shadow man booker this year. I want to do another Spanish lit month with Richard. I have a number of books waiting for this year event. Then, of course, German lit month. I have already filled my shelves ready for next year event. For me these three events keep me ticking over I love a challenge. I have seen a number of lists of books coming out. But I always just happy with the books I get sent and if anything else catches my eye book wise I tend to get them these days.
I hope to remember John Steinbeck over the year as it will be 50 years since his death, I have a number of his books on my shelves I’m not doing a readalong or week but would happily help anyone that wanted to do. Books on my TBR I am looking forward to are the open letter books from last year I have brought and still have to read four of them. The invented part, island of point Nemo, Tomas Jonsson bestseller and Chronicle of the murdered house. River by Esther Kinsky is another great looking book from Fitzcarraldo. Before that, I need to clear a backlog of about five books from last year. I am already one book into this year reading this year.I intend to try and reach 100 French books on the blog and also get to 900 books read and maybe add three or four more countries to the blog. What are your plans
I have several Steinbeck book but alas i have read only A russian Journal but i guess it is the time to start reading his other books.
Since i discovared your blog you rekindled my reading nature and i hope in the end of this year to read five books from Balzac five books from
Three from gaustave flauber
Three from guy de maupassant
Four from Stendhal
Five from George Sand
I guess am iver reaching myself but i believe they worth it and i hope i achieve it
Great to know I sparked your reading they sound great plans
Am really grateful and thankful for your blog
I *loved* that Russian Journal by Steinbeck. It was such a contrast to the picture of the USSR that we grew up with. I would certainly recommend that one too.
Thanks Lisa I haven’t read it so may get it
Hi Lisa we live in time where people of my age am 23 know and have read Harry potter or game of thrones more than they have read dickens or even Conrad
It is people like you and many bloggers who still keep the reading the really good books and motivate young people like us to really good books .
I really reading Steinbeck journal as he yold the whole truth about the living standards in post war USSR and since he was American he had the more freedom to tell the truth more than his contemporaries
I know, sometimes it can feel quite lonely when everyone else seems to have no interest in the great books out there, but as the blogosphere shows there are many of us, and we can all chat to each other online:)
Thanks a lot for your work
Nice bookshelves!
I keep meaning to read some more Steinbeck so maybe I will as it’s now fifty years since his death. I want to read East of Eden amongst others. I get the feeling that Steinbeck is slowly fading away in the public consciousness, which is a shame really.
I have that feeling too although a lot was due to family infighting after his death I thing that now is over as four films in production hope it raises his profile again
I haven’t read East of Eden since college, but boy was it good! I still remember it well, and it was XX years ago.
I’ve only seen the film and that was XX years ago as well. As is usually the case I’ve been told the book is much better.
I have grapes of wrath DVD to watch at some point after I have reread the books
The film is pretty good from what I remember of it.
Hope you choose to read him
That’s a cosy looking reading nook Stu! I have lots of unread Steinbeck so maybe I will get to some this year.
I agree with you about loving the MBIP Shadow Panel, and German and Spanish lit month. I also love Paris in July and ny own Japanese Literature Challenge. 😉 These events are time honored and a joy to look forward to. (I like the picture of your reading space.)
I need join in Japanese challenge this year a few piled up ready
Nice to see that your relatively new bookcases are already double-stacked, Stu. Happy reading!
Yes had to in the end but always getting books
Yes, yes, YES on the Steinbeck’s Stu <3 <3. Hope your 2018 goes well.
Thought be up your street Rob
I hadn’t realised it was 50 years since Steinbeck’s death – reading some Steinbeck this year sounds like a great idea. Your Open Letter books are all on my wishlist as well! Good luck with your plans for 2018 – whatever you read I can’t wait to hear about it.
Yes I hadn’t till Noverre the new year and saw a post about it somewhere
Thanks for the reminder re Steinbeck. Haven’t read him since my teens. High time to revisit.
Welcome look forward to seeing who you choose
Stu, What great reading plans! Before you start those Open Letter books you might like to look at publisher Chad Post’s Two Month Review program. I read The Invented Part and Thomas Jonsson with the program. Chad posted notes on his Three Percent blog, set up a Goodread discussion group, and had weekly podcasts with interesting guests (including the translators and author Rodrigo Fresan). It was a lot of fun and really enhanced my reading of these two great books. It’s all still available at http://www.rochester.edu/College/translation/threepercent/ (notes and podcasts) and https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/216472 (Goodreads group).
I also read and enjoyed Chronicle of a Murdered House. And Steinbeck!…but I’ve used enough space. Happy Reading!
Thanks I have caught some of the podcasts but could do with listening through them
Again
Well Stu, having seen your 100 up aim for French books, and then looked over my numbers I guess I will be aiming for 100 on French too, 50 on German and 25 on Spanish, if I can manage round numbers, thanks for making me think about it, i suppose I need to just do it as the sportswear people say.
Pat