Thursday, January 04, 2007

Books

Borrowing (yes, ok, copying) Donna's good idea, I thought I would also share with you the books I was given for Christmas.


I read the Short History of Tractors in the Ukraine by Marine Lewycka within the first few days of receiving it, and its wonderful. Very funny, absorbing and it left me with a lovely warm fuzzy feeling.

I have of course already mastered (mistress-ed?) ALL these yoga poses since Christmas Day and therefore feel justified in taking time off now to read the Pratchett book.

As If.

("as if" mastering Yoga, not "as if" reading Pratchett. I love Terry Pratchett's writing).

Tove Janssen wrote the Moomintroll (click here) stories which are obviously indispensable for any fully rounded life - her Summer Book is a beautiful book about her childhood visits with her grandmother and this Winter Book is a collection of short stories.
I'm also immensely looking forward to the Susanna Clarke book - I thought her Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell was fabulous, I could hardly put it down.


I'm not too disappointed at being given a mere 5 books this year - not only because they are such very good books, but also because I do have a few books already in the waiting-to-be-read pile at the end of my bed.


I think I need to stop looking at the book shelves in the charity shops......

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have never read Terry Pratchett...I keep thinking...Sci-fi....Sci-fi....Sci-fi....EW!

But your 'To Read' pile in your bedroom looks awesome....I am drooling over my keyboard.

Anonymous said...

Thats a good book collection. Our friend was reading winter stories over the new year weekend. She told us a quote from the first story which was good but I can't remember it something about the differance between men and women.

Anonymous said...

Excellent piles of books Lettuce :-) I have an obscene amount of magazines under my bed that need to be taken to be recycled. I aim to go to bed earlier so that I have the energy to read books not just magazines! I collect books too and am not so good at chucking them out so we have shelves of them all over the house.

Anonymous said...

Envy the book pile lettuce, I've stopped buying books as once I get into them I can't put them down, not good when there's work to be done! Got a few nice books for Christmas so will have to start going to bed earlier too!

Pod said...

i love the moomin books!! genius. and i am pleased to see carol ann duffy ('warming her pearls' and 'word, wide night' are brilliant). angela carter too! did you read the magic toy shop and night at the circus?? loved boating for beginners too. maybe use the as byatt if the bonfire dies down though hey......

Pod said...

ps. dons.....what magazines exctly do you have under your bed hmm...?

Pod said...

i am just finising ' a million little pieces' by james frey, and i think i am going for hilary mantel's 'beyond black' next. have you read 'we need to talk about kevin'?

Pod said...

'kevin' is a bit bleak but its frankness is refreshing, and its not depressing. very articulate. did you read joan didion's book about her husband?

Pod said...

oh letty!! i finished my book yesterday and started reading one i bought for someone else (they ent gettin it now!!). i can't put it down! infact i didnt go out last night, because i was sick of course, and stayed home reading. it is wonderful. you will love it i know. 'the vanishing act of esme lennox' by maggie o'farrell. if it wasnt such a silly idea, i would send it to you! good day!

Anonymous said...

Gosh Pod was on a slightly orgasmic roll there.

Thanks for all those recommendations Poddy...I now know what to look out for.

:O)

Pod said...

ooh, sorry...i guess i did get a little carried away hey? i do get very enthused when i like something!! the esme lennox is great!! i want to make the film.

my mate james in bath has left a very sweet apology for you in my latest comments box......i think he needs forgiveness poor think