2024: how’s it going?

Here we are, nearly at the end of February. I still don’t feel much like blogging yet here I am anyway, putting words out into the ether to see where they land. 2024 continues the path of joy we have come to know and love: death and destruction in Gaza, death and destruction in Ukraine, the planet slowly drowning or burning (somehow possible all at the same time), ever-divisive politics, political assassinations. It is too much. Better to avoid the news and yet somehow it seems cowardly to look away.

Life goes on though, eh? Because it has to. So what’s been going on in my safe little life?

Reading

I am still reading books, that small joy. Quietly getting on with it. In January I read a chunkster, as has come to be my habit, though I balked at the heavier tomes I’d originally planned for (Jon Fosse, Olga Tokarczuk) and instead read The Kills by Richard House, a four book thriller (released in a single volume) which weighed in at 1024 pages long. It was very readable though the original appeal – multimedia supplementary content – didn’t work so well with a paper copy. I imagine it’s pretty good on an e-reader though. It was so readable that I finished it well before the end of January which gave me a bit of grace to start on another little project I’ve had in the back of my mind since summer.

Which is to start reading through all those book series I have languishing on my shelves. For my first set I chose the remaining three volumes of Ali Smith’s seasons quartet (Winter, Spring, and Summer) which I’ve had for aeons (signed copies too, very nice) and they were very good, though I found Spring rather sad and depressing and had to have a little break between Spring and Summer to recover my now too easily tormented nerves.

I also managed to sneak in The Devil’s Flute Murders by Seishi Yokomizo, which was a birthday gift and a very easy and entertaining read. And on reading about the sad passing of Christopher Priest I finally borrowed The Evidence from the library and that, too, is a very fascinating and entertaining read. I shall be reading more of his work.

Alongside my paper reading I am still listening to audiobooks, though my progress there has slowed for reasons I’ll get on to. My first audiobook of the year was The Twilight World by Werner Herzog, a fascinating book made more fascinating by Herzog’s gently ponderous narration. I think it would be fascinating whichever form you encountered it in and of course it would make a tremendous documentary.

Did I mention it was fascinating?

Then I noticed that my library has all three books of Deborah Levy’s ‘Living Autobiography’ , books I have read and adored in physical form. Just seeing them there made me nostalgic so I decided to see (hear?) what the audiobooks were like. Well whoever decided to get Juliet Stevenson to narrate them is a genius and they desire an award. She is just perfect. I’m part way through book 2, The Cost of Living, and it is a joy every time I listen. So funny and droll and yet so exceptionally insightful. If you’re an audiobook listener I recommend them.

And it is now nearly the end of February and I still haven’t bought myself any books. I am enjoying reading from my home library and the community library. Every time I think maybe I ’ll buy something my brain seems to remind me of all the interesting books I already have and still haven’t read, and it’s now so much easier just to wait until I’ve got a little space.

That being said I am thinking a lot about writers I’d like to know better. Currently on my list are: Christopher Priest, Francis Spufford (currently reading Red Plenty and it’s excellent), Kathryn Davis (The Walking Tour was one if my top books of last year, maybe the top one) and Emmanuel Carrere. I’d also like to get around to reading Lauren Groff, but I don’t possess any of her books right now. I think, perhaps, I will be buying a book or two in the not too distant future. Just not yet. I don’t need to.

Reading adjacent

When I first decided to stop buying books I had a thought about what I might do as a ‘reward’ once I had a little space on my shelves. I had some ideas but I didn’t do anything because I didn’t have space, but just before Christmas I took the plunge and got myself a little book nook kit. Here it is, isn’t it adorable?

It was great fun to build and it looks amazing. I would love to do another one, when I have more space and the time. As it happens I finished it just in time because…..

As you may know, outside of reading I like to climb. I’ve been bouldering for five years now and it’s great fun and even better exercise. It has made me stronger and much more physically confident. My balance has improved massively. However, at the end of January I managed to fall off a roof climb at the climbing gym, not a terribly rare event, but I landed awkwardly and managed to fracture my wrist…

Ouch

Which has made life considerably more difficult. Fortunately is not a bad fracture and I think it’s healing pretty well, but not being able to drive has been a pain (hence less audiobook time) though on the plus side I’ve had a bit more time for reading. However it is sometimes hard to keep the book held open, and typing one handed is a real pain. Only myself to blame, of course, and I’m looking forward to getting back on that climbing wall as soon as I am able. Just need to fall better next time. In the meantime, thankfully I have lots of good books to read.

Hope everyone is well and enjoying those first flushes of spring.