A Book and a Confession

Waking up this morning I was full of resolve in my personal challenge to read from my shelves for as long as possible this year.  Once The Heiress was packed up and driven back to school today, a blog post declaring my intent was going to be written.

The only thing I have to declare at this moment is that I AM WEAK!

This was not an indiscriminate purchase, plucked from a shelf out of greed...it's a Folio Society publication for goodness sake!  Costing the same as a mere paperback there was really nothing to think about.   More Pick of Punch will add another layer of knowledge to my education in 20th century authors and is full of just the sort of humour I adore.  Flipping through the pages I spied snippets by EM Delafield, PG Wodehouse, Graham Greene, Kingsley Amis, Antonia White and even a bit of Diary of a Nobody.  Off to the cash register!

I'm not planning to don a hair shirt or anything and there are no feelings of guilt, I just wanted to share my folly.  But just for fun, as of right now, I am going to see how far into 2011 I can go without adding to my bookshelves.  It's not that they are groaning, it's to see how disciplined I can be in enjoying the books I already own.

Is anyone entertaining the same idea?

Simon says...

Simon wrote a post the other day about finding a photo or picture which sums up your reading taste.  I chose this one.

Being completely enamoured with so many aspects of traditional English life...despite whether or not that ideal even exists apart from glossy magazines, this says it all. 

The English domestic cosy read is a favourite of mine.  Should even the word 'tea' appear on the page when I'm flipping through a book in a shop it will most likely be coming home with me.  And please don't mistake my cosy reads for fluff.  My favourite characters are complex in their personality, thought processes and emotions whether discussing their relationships, finances or unmolding the blancmange for pudding.

I unashamedly admit to buying my dream over and over again in books and magazines.  If I can't live on the other side of the pond then I'm quite happy to immerse myself for as long as it takes to read a story about someone else who does. 

Stepping back in time is also extremely appealing.  Not that things were easier but at least when the power went out you wouldn't need an engineering degree to get everything back on again...I digress.