Buying books and reading books are two of my favourite things. I buy a lot of books, but I do read most of them. This is not a book blog, no reviews here, this is to keep me up to date on books I am reading this year, some projects and books I think might be interesting to buy in the future.
Some time ago I was directed by my husband to a website where they had numbered some books that had languished on their shelves, but that they wanted to read, from 1 to 20. Each month they would select a number and the book would be read. Considering the number of books I had sitting on my shelves passing judgement on me, this seemed a good idea. So 20 books were selected and numbered and placed in a big box under the bed. Hence, these became known as the under the bed box books. It took me about two and half years to read these - the book chosen by a roll of a 20 sided dice. There were only three that I didn't finish. So I have adapted this to just six books, but it means I read the pile each year. Every odd month has a new book to read.
I also have a fascination with Japanese literature, but no idea why. However, I often wonder if I am missing something by not understanding the culture or language enough and seriously considered giving up, usually when I read a book and end up disappointed. However, I have decided that I am going to learn more about Japan and see if this is the issue. I have some podcasts in mind and also a couple of anthologies of Japanese Literature.
Other genres of interest include anything with trains, gothic horror / weird, early 20th Century female writers and translated fiction.
2025
This year I am planning to read six more under the bed books, continue reading the George Smiley novels in order and also read all of the Outlaws of The Marsh books. I am also going to learn more about Japan and Japanese literature. I can't think of any books that I have ever reread, so this year I am going to also reread some books that I remember enjoying.
March 2025
Books to be read in March
PostCapitalism - Paul Mason. I have had this since an interest in economics and sustainability collided. This is from the Under the Bed Box
The Provincial Lady in Wartime - E.M. Delafield. This is the final part of the four novel volume that I bought a while ago. Combines an interest in Women in WW2 and the light heartedness of the other Provincial Lady Diaries. Interesting, but probably not as good at the others.
The Extinction of Irena Ray - Jennifer Croft. Bought on my recent trip to London and I have no idea why.
The Complete Stories of Truman Capote - received as a Christmas present a couple of years ago. Finally getting round to reading it.
Volt Rush - Henry Sanderson. I started this ages ago with my morning coffee in the office before work, but kept getting interrupted. A recommendation from Material World about the metals and mining and deal making behind the materials needed for electric vehicles. This is such an excellent book - already recommended it to two other people.
In addition to these I also read The Mindful Photographer by Sophie Howarth. An interesting book with exercises to carry out, which I haven't done yet, but I do plan to reread it at some point and carry out some of them.
Books Read in 2025
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold - John le Carre 4/5
Pen in Hand - Tim Parks 3/5
Not a River - Selva Almada 4/5
A Burnt Out Case - Graham Greene 5/5
Darwin's Island - Steve Jones 3.5/5
The Penguin Book of Japanese Short Stories Ed Jay Rubin 3/5
The Black Spectacles - John Dickson Carr 4/5
The Angel of Santa Sofia - Josep M. Argemi / Tiago Miller 4/5
The Day the World Stops Shopping - J. B. MacKinnon 5/5
Your Own Dark Shadow - Ed. Jack Fennell 2/5
The Hard Way - Susannah Walker 3/5
Outlaws of the Marsh (Vol 1) - Shi Nai'an and Lio Guanzhong / Sidney Shapiro 5/5
Volt Rush - Henry Sanderson 5/5
The Provincial Lady in Wartime - E.M. Delafield 3/5
The Mindful Photgrapher - Sophie Howarth 4/5
George Smiley novels in order
Call for the Dead - Read December 2022
A Murder of Quality - Read October 2023
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold - Read January 2025
The Looking Glass War
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
The Honourable Schoolboy
Smiley's People
The Secret Pilgrim
February
Books on February's list (with a nod to Indie Publisher's Month)
The Day the World Stopped Shopping - J. B. MacKinnon (started in January) - excellent and incredibly interesting book - lots of times when, at least locally, consumption dropped and the world didn't end.
The Black Spectacles - John Dickson Carr (publisher - British Library). I enjoyed this very much - a good old fashioned whodunnit (I sort of guessed the why but not all of the details).
Outlaws of the Marsh (volume 1) - Shi Nai'an and Lio Guanzhong / translated Sidney Shapiro (Foreign Languages Press). I absolutely loved this one.
Your Own Dark Shadow - Short Irish Horror Stories and a Christmas Present (publisher Tramp Press). Quite disapponted as these were not really horror stories; there were a couple that were OK but otherwise a bit meh.
The Hard Way - Susannah Walker (publisher - Unbound). I enjoyed bits of this but the author got too whingey and negative for my liking.
The Angel of Santa Sofia - Josep M. Argemi / translated Tiago Miller (publisher Fum d'Estampa. If anyone can tell me what this is actually about I would be most grateful.
January 2025
The books I planned to read:
Darwin's Island - my under the bed book. I have tried this a couple of times already and failed. Update - I have now finished this and it did get better as I persevered. I particularly liked the sections about evolution of flowers; insectivores and orchids, as well as those about barnacles and earthworms.
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold - continuing the George Smiley novels. 4 stars (the book was a great spy novel, I sort of guessed the ending, but I am not sure whether I have read this before).
Not a River - I loved The Wind That Lays Waste, so I am looking forward to reading this one. Update - it is an excellent book and has made me want to buy the Brickmakers at some point.
The Day the World Stops Shopping - this is sort of a work related book but I do think we need to stop mindless consumption of stuff
The Penguin Book of Japanese Short Stories - starting the Japanese reading project and also I do have a lot of short stories to read. I enjoyed some of these more than others. The books set around or after the atomic bomb detonations whilst disturbing were very well written, as were a number around or after natural disasters and give a very different view. I will definitely reread some of these stories.
I also finished reading Tim Parks' Pen in Hand which I started last month and which has made me want to spend more time thinking about translations and also rereading some books.
In addition to the above I also read A Burnt Out Case by one of my favourite authors: Graham Greene which I really enjoyed (despite the book falling apart and moulting the remains of the binding glue everywhere). It had two of Greene's favourite topics - Catholicism and Africa.