I’ve not done a chatty post like this for a good while. I was just saying on Twitter that I miss a lot of bookish chat; I don’t have anyone in my sphere of friends who is particularly as bookish as me. I loved Twitter, but it has died, and I am a dreadful blog commenter; I go in spits and spurts. But the thing I have found with seeking an Autism diagnosis is I struggle even online to open conversations up. If anything, this has become a real problem alongside a feeling of being the most under-read person around (I know in a way this isn’t the case, but I often feel it\). Anyway, I am just saying I am here and willing to chat. I’ve been thinking as I head towards 140 reviews, but more so, there are 1500, which I aim to get to at some point next year. I’ve been doing that gap-filling exercise in. my mind. What I have missed from around the world is a lot of classic books. I must try to get some reading over the next year. The new OUP Proust appeals, and I must read a Zola or two. Also, a few more countries from Africa and Asia would be good. I heard a chap in the recent Mookse podcast talking about when folks get excited about the next book from a place, he thinks, what about this place, another country’s, places never mentioned. I was thinking about how little Central American literature is mentioned from Mexico down to the tip of South America. Very little is mentioned, but I’m sure there are books about it.A rabbit hole for another day. I love a good rabbit hole and then a list. Even if the list is never finished, the making and finding of the list is the job. The other thing I need to try to do is change the format I review books in I have done it the same way for years but I need to break the moukld it is ease to do it to the current format as I know roughly so many words in each part makes 800 word plus quotes post. In a way, I used to be more fun about my reviews, and I miss that naive nature and not worrying about other thoughts ! One of the other things I want to do in the next 12 months is visit a booktown either Wigtown or Hy on wye . I’ve never been to either recommendation. On either. You are most welcome to suggest shops and places. As for reading, I have a few books left from this year’s Spanish Portuguese lit month to review. But move over into Women in Translation month with The Girl in the Photograph by Lygia Fagundes Telles the tale of three women in the middle of the dictatorship years in Brazil. A book from the Dalkey Archive from a few years ago. I am also slowly working through this collection of writing in Analog Sea Review, a magazine to bring you off your screens and read. This issue has a wonderful interview with Wim Wenders. Anyone else read this magazine?
That’s such a coincidence that you mention Hay-on-Wye and Wigtown, because just yesterday I was thinking I’ve never been to either and must plan a trip. Not sure my bank balance will survive such adventures though…
I think that has been what has put me off all those shops and books so very tempting
I’ve been to Wigtown – not the easiest place to get to but I had a great day, and there are so many bookshops! I’d love to go to Hay-on Wye!
They both look great yes Wigtown a good drive from here about hour or more further than hay for me
I completely understand what you’re saying about bookish chat – my real life friends (who are close by rather than the ones scattered all over the globe) tend not to read as much or as varied as me, so I miss having long bookish discussions. I’m not quite sure what the solution is, neither Twitter, nor Instagram are that attractive at the moment and don’t necessarily lead to discussion (not to mention Tiktok, which feels very performative rather than discussion-based).
Yes rather hard I’m on Bluesky and threads but they just seem very quiet at moment
Yes, I’ve noticed that at BlueSky too.
I’ve always done most of my bookchat directly on the blog or at someone else’s so I don’t miss Twitter even though it’s a bit of a shame…
The initial rush to Bluesky seems to have dampened off, as X didn’t die – just became more commercial. Yet it is still possible to have a bookish convo at X if you try! 😀
I’m the same Stu – very few people I know in real life are bookish hence my online bookchat. As for what to read, there are definitely too many books and too little time. But Proust would be a great project!
I am lucky that there are a few avid readers at the school where I work – but we rarely have time to talk books! I have my book group too and can always have a bookish chat in our local indie bookshop when it’s not busy, but the rest is online too.
Can I recommend Yuri Herrera as a Mexican author I love. I’ve reviewed two of his and both were excellent – he’s published by &Other Stories.