The plan has been a while in the making. It is to address my ToBeRead (TBR) stack which gets bigger by the week. Have you a similar pile? You know, the one that sits on a shelf or at the side of your bed. Yes that one! You pass a bookshop and something new catches your eye. Okay then, let's get that. Or you've been to a book launch, met the author and because it was a free event (maybe with a glass of wine) you felt it was just downright rude not to buy a copy of their latest. Don't even think of the book programmes on TV and Radio when listening in inevitably leads to another purchase.
So yes, I welcome all those opportunities for the new but feel the need to balance the flow and make room for them. The way I'm doing that is through a reading planner. I'll share this on another post but essentially I have created a specific calendar on my phone to schedule a month's reading in advance.
What's the saying? Those who fail to plan are planning to fail.
Some of the books I list in this post have, not for the first time, made it to the top of the pile but by sharing my intention to read them this month I hold myself accountable and trust that any readers who happen upon this post will call me out if I don't meet the challenge.
So here's the plan for the six books I'm going to read this September:
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig. It's our Library Reading Group's assigned read. We meet to discuss on the last Thursday of each month. So that's a pre-fixed, no fail deadline.
44 Poems On Being with Each Other from Pádraig ÓTuama. I've already dipped into this one as I finished his collection of Kitchen Hymns which I loved. I had the pleasure of meeting Pádraig back in February when he shared his poems with us at Belfast's Crescent Arts Centre. And I listen in regularly to his podcast, Poetry Unbound from the OnBeing Studios. Do check it out! Worth a listen.
Les Kangourous by Dominique Barbéris. I'm a keen Francophile and run another blog over at francofiled.org - come say bonjour ! - And so as to keep up my French I read texts in the language. These days it's getting harder and I have to stop reading to look up meanings, references and definitions. I confess that I usually use an e-reader. Not only do I get an instant translation with a touch or two but I can also highlight and add new words to my vocabulary builder. This book though is a hard copy, paper version. I love the scent and feel of paper. I've read another book by Dominique Barbéris - A Sunday in Ville d'Avray which I adored. It boasts a bookplate signed by the author. I was so taken with it that I also bought a hard copy in the original French. Looking forward to this one.
Two Summers by Glenn Patterson. Glenn is a regular contributor to local book readings and launches. I read his Where are we Now? a while back and enjoyed it immensely. He tells a good story. I'm interested in the structure of this one as apparently it's two good stories in one book. The blurb promises: Two boys, two cities and two summers. Another attraction was the endorsements from Wendy Erskine, Roddy Doyle and Will Self. Better crack on with it then. Actually it's first on the planner for this September.
Beowulf by Seamus Heaney. Hands up - I've little knowledge of this and it is one of the books that has made a recurring journey to the TBR stack. Time to put that right. I have a shelf full of the great poet's works and often lose myself in the various collections. Why now with Beowulf? I've spotted it a few times recently. Surfacing? Perhaps the old adage provides an answer, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.
The School for Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. I remember studying this at school and our teacher really brought it to life. I enjoy plays with witty dialogue and this one has that in abundance. This edition dates from 1964 and is in remarkably good condition - only minor scuffs and of course the odd naive annotation from my younger self. It's also short and is scheduled for the end of the month.
So there we are. Six for September.
Just to really push the accountability thing - I'm also going to add a comment or two in footnotes to this post so that I can record my reactions to what I have read.
Come on TBR - let's go!
