With sporadic blogging over the last few months it has been a while since I posted a Claire’s Corner; it has also been a ridiculously long time since I have posted a review (a subjective and personal response to a book read), which is the main subject of this post.  I have mentioned that I have had a case of reviewer’s block and I think that is as much to do with the backlog of reviews still to write and post than it is to do with being out-of-practice.  Now, I have never been one to rigidly write about every book I read and I think it impractical to adopt that approach to the books I have yet to discuss; there are too many to write up whilst I am still reading (and re-reading, as the case has been recently) some great books that I don’t want to fall by the wayside either.  This is where YOU come in.  I would love if you would help me out by indicating which books you would like me to post about; if you could do so using the survey below -you can check all that appeal- and then perhaps by elaborating why in comments, that would be a great help.  I will then catch up with some of the review backlist interspersing those with the books I am currently reading (it is so much easier to write about a book that is fresh in your memory!)

The books above are not all I’ve read recently and only include up to last weekend but there are a few books that I will not be reviewing at all, but they will be discussed in a series of posts that I have had on the back-burner.

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett would have made an appropriate Hallowe’en review as would some of the other seasonal (gothic and unsettling) reading that I have done recently.  In an appropriately timely post, the Persephone Forum is hosting a discussion of their creepily-claustrophobic novella, The Victorian Chaise-Longue by Marghanita Laski; do please participate if you have read it or find yourself reading it as the nights grow even longer.

A reminder that there are only five days remaining to sign up for this year’s Persephone Secret Santa.  I am having such fun organising this year’s event and delighted that already there are a few more participants than there were last year – the more the merrier!  Not only do we have many of the participants from last year rejoining the fun but we have new bloggers, new to Persephone readers (how much fun to gift someone their first Persephone!) and even some non-blogger Persephone lovers. With a couple of planned visits to Persephone Books with visiting book bloggers this month I know that I am going to be full of the festive spirit joyfully choosing my Santee’s Persephone in person.

I have been intermittently a.w.o.l. from Paperback Reader for weeks now and I would like to explain why, where I can (more on some of the things I’d prefer not to talk about yet at a later date).

1. I was spending time organising a new personal office -above- and the bookshelves that come with it.  My lovely boyfriend created more space for my overflowing books in our spare bedroom and you can see the results above.  As you may notice in the photograph I took full advantage of the opportunity to arrange these books by colour (for which I have a penchant).

2. I have a bad case of review-block.  Review-blog occurs when you allow blog reviews to stack up to an almost unmanageable amount and proceed to temporarily lose access to your review notes.

3. I have been on a course.  Short story: exhausting.

4. I had house-guests.

5. I had another house-guest (also known as the mothership) and 50th birthday celebrations were had.

6. This week and weekend I have more house-guests.

7. I have been attending a few literary events and a conference; I will attempt to write a catch-up post on the former at some point.

8. I have been busy with career aspirations.  Next week I start a two-week placement at a large -and frequently mentioned on Paperback Reader- publishing house.  I will retain my book blogging integrity and will post about lots and lots of  fantastic books that I am bound to come across.

9. I have had a nasty bug caught from somebody on previously mentioned course.

10. My very generous boyfriend bought me a new toy.  I have been busy admiring, lavishing attention on and playing with it (the toy, not the boy).  Suffice to say: I am in love (with both toy and boy).

If you salivated over the photograph of my new bookcase then you may unashamedly drool over this amazing resource of bookshelf porn.

So, I’ve been blogging rather sporadically of late; all I can offer as a reason is that I’ve been busy and London was in the sweaty grips of a heatwave (the operative word being “was”).  Pedicures and Pimm’s have been more appealing than posting, to be honest, but I do miss conversing about all things bookish.  Anyway, I’ve been remiss in replying to comments and reciprocating but I shall try to catch up.  First of all, though, I am off home to Glasgow for an extended visit.  I’ll be mainly spending quality time with my boyfriend, family and friends but I do plan on some essential reading time (hopefully in the garden with a little bit of sun … a girl can dream, right?)  Above are the books that I’ll be taking home with me this weekend.

Couples by John Updike is my choice for the next meeting of the Riverside Readers.  It’s a book I’ve had and been wanting to read since last summer and there’s something about a New England settingthat seems summery to me; I can easily see myself reading this with a cocktail in hand waiting for the BBQ to heat up.  I suspect that it’s also going to complementary the choice I made for my other book group, Peyton Place by Grace Metalious.

Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood is a book I have been wanting to read for around thirteen years (seriously, I remember wanting to borrow it from my school library and the librarian refusing; apparently the book wasn’t “appropriate” for me even though my English teachers were giving me copies of Sons of Lovers and Lolita to read at the time. Hmph).  Anyway, I should really have read it by now and have been requiring more Atwood in my life recently so the long overdue opportunity presents itself.

The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle is another one I’ve been meaning to read for some time, especially after I enjoyed Drop City so much.  Kim of Reading Matters reminded me of my desire to read it and describing it as a meaty summer read with lots to chew over sealed the deal!

Crow Lake by Mary Lawson was a gift from my sister-in-law who always chooses and recommends the best books to me.  Living in Canada she has introduced me to several Canadian authors (Ann-Marie MacDonald, Camilla Gibb) that may have passed me by otherwise and Mary Lawson will be another.  I’ve had this on my TBR since last year saving it for the perfect reading opportunity.

Looking for Alaska by John Green is a very recent acquisition and one I couldn’t resist adding to my holiday pile; after enjoying Paper Towns so much I relished the idea of immediately acquainting myself with more of Green’s work.

Mariana by Monica Dickens made it into my final selection because what summer is complete without a Persephone book, preferably of the lighter persuasion?  It was between this and Miss Buncle’s Book but the cover alone of my Classic edition evokes summer to me.

A library book or two will also make it into my case but these are the books that I am itching to read whilst I relax at home.  Although there a couple of lighter, absorbing reads, the bulk are books I’ll be able to sink my teeth into.  Recently I’ve been reading quickly (and somewhat obsessively but more about that in another post) and I am craving longer books that I can lose myself in and some of the books I have selected should provide exactly that.

I have a major backlog of reviews so some are scheduled for when I am away and I will endeavour to be on top of things once I return at the end of July.

In the meantime, have you read any of these and what holiday reading do you have planned, if any?

Have you seen Google’s homepage today?  They have the beautiful literary-inspired dedication above to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, today is the 110th anniversary of his birth.  If you haven’t read his novella, Le Petit Prince, then please do; it is a curious and wonderfully philisophical book.  I have a beautiful illustrated edition and also a cherish bookmark of the prince, bought in Paris.

I do love the Google homages and find myself ridiculously excited at new ones, especially when they have a literary theme.  The first I remember seeing was one commemorating the birthday of Dr. Seuss, which was as colourful, quirky and as fun as any of his books.

Speaking of anniversaries, this year sees the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee on July 11th. To celebrate I am thinking of re-watching the 1962 Gregory-Peck-as-Atticus-Finch film adaptation as opposed to rereading the book; To Kill a Mockingbird holds such a special place in my heart that I am reluctant to reread it less I simply break the spell it cast over me.  I am, however, tempted by the anniversary editions that have been released last week by Random House; personally I prefer the paperback version to the commemoration hardback, although it is very reminiscent of the cover art on my copy of The Little Friend by Donna Tartt (scroll down to other covers).  Isn’t it curious how cover art can be used and recycled for disparate titles?

Not literary-related in the slightest but this year also sees the fiftieth birthday of Paperback Reader’s mother.  Yes, my mummy is turning half-a-century old later this year and I am already in the throes of planning something befitting the occasion.  Trouble is, I am lacking inspiration.  Does anyone have suggestions of wonderful gifts for a wonderful woman?  Usually I surpass myself with gift-choosing but I find myself under pressure for such a monumental milestone.  She is celebrating later this year by taking a cruise and is not a party person; she is a podiatrist running her own business and is incredibly busy so deserves some pampering anyway.  Any help would be much appreciated.

A stylistic point in regards to this post and my blog in general: I have altered my formatting from block justify to left justify, based on some feedback from a regular reader.  Please feel free to contact me in regards to any features on my site that may be hindering your enjoyment of it; I will endeavour to change my style -as I have in this case- where I can although in some cases I may be restricted by my blog theme and WordPress.  Personally I am a little obsessive-compulsive when it comes to symmetry and block justify everything but I can’t be having it hurt anyone’s eyes!

The latest installments of The Bloomsbury Group series -complete with vibrantly coloured covers- arrived at Paperback Reader abode today (published in the UK July 5th).  The one I am most excited about reading is the double-header photographed above: Mrs Harris Goes to Paris & Mrs Harris Goes to New York (or, And Other Adventures, as it appears on the book cover) by Paul Gallico.  My review of the first in the double-header, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, can be read here (under the title, Flowers for Mrs Harris); I am looking forward to reading about the further touching escapades of the salt-of-the-earth charwoman.

At the weekend I found this article in The Guardian fascinating; this year sees the fiftieth anniversary of the birth control pill.  Whatever your thoughts may be on this form of contraception, it was revolutionary in the Women’s Liberation movement; Rachel Cooke explores its influence upon literature of the time including The Group by Mary McCarthy, which was my favourite read of last year.  Attention is also paid to The L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks, a book also celebrating its fiftieth birthday this year, and one that concerns the pregnancy of a young, unmarried woman.  I’ve been meaning to read the book for some time -especially as it appears on Simon of Stuck in a Book’s list of books that I (and everyone else) must read- and this is added incentive to finally read it this year; I think it is one to suggest to my book group (the one that mainly reads feminist literature) and would perhaps make a great companion read with Married Love by Marie Stopes.

Lastly, I don’t know where the time has gone but did you realise that Dolce Bellezza’s fourth annual Japanese Literature Challenge has already begun? JLC IV is a challenge that I will most definitely be participating in and will be sharing a list of potential reads with you shortly (I love making lists and even if I don’t manage to read many of them, they are so enjoyable to compile); before I do run away to my bookshelves with my notebook and pen, do you have any Japanese literature to recommend?

If you’re in London then you may have noticed some elephants around.  Between May and July there are 250 baby elephant sculptures dotted around Central London, each with a unique design by an artist; the Elephant Parade is a “conservation campaign that shines a multi-coloured spotlight on the urgent crisis faced by the endangered Asian elephant.”  The above photograph was taken by Verity when we met in Notting Hill Gate at the weekend and shows elephant #51, Oran, designed by artist Adam Bridgland.  I find the charity event exciting and inspirational; I am hoping to volunteer my time and become involved as well as finding and photographing as many of the elephants as I can over the coming weeks.  It is lovely to see London with so many splashes of colour (some of the elephants have wonderfully wacky and psychedelic designs) and it is such a fun initiative to raise the profile of the endangered elephants; I have been enjoying discussing it with fellow tweeps (that’s Twitter people to lay-people!) and sharing viewing experiences.  I am also coveting my own miniature elephant (ornament, not a real one), which you can purchase here, in the official shop in Carnaby Street, Selfridges or Greenwich Central Market.  I fully support the campaign and what it is set out to achieve; elephants are one of my favourite animals and the desolation their extinction would bring is beyond my imagination.

Thank you to Verity for the use of the photograph; I don’t have any of my own yet as the first few elephants I saw in early May, I was completely oblivious to what they represented and was out shopping without my camera.  Verity and I had a fun day book-shopping in Notting Hill (in the amazing book and comic exchange, where we could happily lose ourselves for hours seeking green and grey spines and reminiscing about children’s literature we read) before the UK book bloggers’ meet-up.  The meet-up was such a fun evening and perhaps the first of many; a second in Oxford this summer is already in the pipeline.  Along with a lot of bookish chat and an ice-breaker hosted by yours truly (many thanks for that, host Simon T!) we also had a book swap; I received a hardback copy of a book I have been wanting to read for some time, The Child That Books Built by Francis Spufford, from Katy of Fifth Estate.  Polly of Novel Insights received from the swap (from Simon T) a copy of The Vet’s Daughter by Barbara Comyns; serendipitously I also picked up a green Virago Modern Classics edition of the book earlier that day (credit to Verity who picked it up for herself before realising that she already owned it and has reviewed it here) so we have decided to read-along together at the beginning of June.  For anyone who also has a copy of the book or can borrow it from their library, then please join us in reading it; it’s a short book and from the Comyns I have read before -Our Spoons Came from Woolworths- and the reviews I have read of her other books, it is bound to be a little bizarre!

Speaking of Virago Modern Classics, I am excited to see that Capuchin Classics are reissuing The Aloe by Katherine Mansfield later this year.  I had been under the impression that Virago were themselves bringing it out again but this way I now have an excuse to take advantage of Capuchin’s online offer…  From those familiar with my blog, you may know that Katherine Mansfield is one of my favourite writers and one whom I have waxed lyrical about in the past; I look forward to reading this earlier work that eventually became her acclaimed Prelude.

Have you seen Nymeth’s 1930s Mini-Challenge?  I require no additional encouragement to read from the time period (I love inter-war literature) so I shall definitely be participating, especially when all that is required is to read one book during a three month period (beginning this week), which helpfully overlaps with Persephone Reading Week.  Excluding those Persephone Books that easily meet the requirement, I hope to pick up some Jean Rhys, Colette, and Virginia Woolf novels from that decade  and also view it as the ideal opportunity to finally read my copy of Save Me the Waltz by Zelda Fitzgerald, published in 1934.  The Thirties is such a rich setting and period for literature and it is hardly surprising that my favourite imprints -Virago, Persephone, Vintage and Penguin Modern Classics- all broadly publish novels and short stories from that era.

Colette’s Claudine novels don’t fit the time period as they come from earlier in the century but I could not resist the photo-op of four beloved book covers of mine. In 2001 Vintage Books reissued a selection of Colette’s literature with Ian Bilbey illustrations gracing the covers; I think that the bright images capture the vibrancy of Colette’s work and they are by far some of my favourite books in my collection (and contribute greatly to a number of my coloured bookshelves).  Often books you buy hold a cherished memory or significance and my Claudine novels have a story attached to them; in the year they were published I bought the four above for a friend’s 21st birthday but shortly after we went our separate ways and I inherited four beautiful novels as a result (every cloud has a silver lining).  As it is I have only read the first two in the series (and some others written by Colette) but have always been meaning to immerse myself more deeply in her writing.  The stars aligned and this post by Eva of A Striped Armchair prompted part of this post by me and now this current one; expect more Colette on my blog in the future, both rereads and continuation of the Claudine novels and those from her oeuvre that may fit into Nymeth’s challenge.

The above is a fitting decision because recently I have been reflecting on why I have been neglecting those authors on my bookshelves whose entire back catalogue I have sought out but not yet  fully read.  I struggle between the desire to devour a writer’s work or to exhibit restraint and ration it, eking the books out over a long period of time.  I am enjoying new, contemporary fiction but I’m also anxious to return to my roots of classic -mainly twentieth century- literature.  It’s a cheery thought but I could easily be hit by a bus tomorrow (or plummet to my death in an aeroplane whose engines shut down due to volcanic ash, the day after that) so I shouldn’t deprive myself of the books I have been hoarding for a rainy day.  The rainy days are here and I am going to submerge myself deeply in authors that I already know, whilst still -but less often- discovering new ones.

As for trusted presses, time period and authors, Persephone Books have published their two newest choices for spring and summer, which are available to order in time for forthcoming Persephone Reading Week.  I am particularly excited about Still Missing by Beth Gutcheon, which Rachel of Book Snob reviewed today.

Reading this post by my lovely co-host of Persephone Reading Week, I began to consider which books I would read during the upcoming 2010 event.  I’ve been conflicted between those Persephones that I have been wanting to read for some time and deciding on a whim during the week (much as I did last year, influenced by the wonderful reviews I read of Little Boy Lost and having my interest piqued by Hetty Dorval).  Of course, I have enough Persephones on hand that allows for some spontaneity and, in the case of Hetty Dorval last year, I have a generous co-host who owns most of the Persephone back catalogue.  I’ve decided to combine a little pre-planning with some spontaneity; there are seven days of Persephone goodness this year and I’m choosing four books to be potentially read during that time and may pick up another two or three at random (there are fewer shorter titles in my collection these days so I doubt that I’ll be achieving a book a day).  I sat in front of my grey bookshelf at the weekend and selected a few of the titles that are presently appealing to me most; I also rescued To Bed With Grand Music from where it had been languishing unread on my bedside table (that’s a must-read for me during the week as I’ve been desperately wanting to read it since its publication last October and yet despite owning it since January I have yet to read it). So, I’ve narrowed it down to the newest Laski novel; There Were No Windows by Norah Hoult; The Montana Stories by Katherine Mansfield (which I will probably dip in and out of during the week) and The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher, which I bought for my Persephone Secret Santa, Thomas, and have been coveting myself ever since (please read his review that I’ve linked to if you then want to covet it too).  I also hope to have in time for the week one of the newest Persephone releases (released next week), Still Missing by Beth Gutcheon but will feel free to be led by all of your reviews, which I am sure will tempt me, and may be so spontaneous to go off and read entirely different Persephones … either way, it’ll be an enjoyable week.  If anyone is considering their own choices then I recommend reading this review of Doreen, which may sway you.

I did have other things to muse over in this Claire’s Corner but, instead, I am curling up in my comfy virtual armchair (Eva mentioned to me on Twitter that when she reads this feature of mine she envisages me sitting in a cosy reading armchair in the corner and that was exactly the vibe that I was going for although my Ikea reading chair and matching stool don’t really cut it) and read.

I’d like to use this week’s Claire’s Corner as a formal announcement of this year’s Persephone Reading Week, which will take place in just over three weeks time during the first week in May (from Monday 3rd to Sunday 9th).  If you have been reading my or Verity’s blogs then you will know that this has been in the pipeline for some time and I know that regular followers have been talking about it amongst themselves on their own blogs, in the comments of blogs that they read, have been conversing about it on Twitter etc.  There has been an exciting buzz growing and this post by Frances reminded me that I am not the only one becoming excited and mentally preparing my pile of potential Persephones to read.

For those who have enquired about Persephone Reading Week via email or comments or that are coming across mention of it for the first time in this post then consider this a comprehensive introduction.  Last August Verity of The B Files and I co-hosted a fun, popular and successful week celebrating Persephone Books (“neglected classics” written mainly by women re-published by a quaint press) and we hope it will become an annual event starting with our second one next month.  The rules of Persephone Reading Week are that there are no rules!  Well, only one and that is to read at least one Persephone book during the week and post about it (if you don’t have a blog yourself then email either myself or Verity and we will post on your behalf).  For anyone new to the event, by clicking on the category Persephone Reading Week at the bottom of this post or on the link, you will be able to read through my archived posts pertaining to the event and see exactly what took place last year.

For those who did participate, Verity and I will be running Persephone Reading Week exactly as we did the first time around, by dual hosting collation posts of reviews and competitions, and making the week as enjoyable as possible for ourselves and for you.  Any suggestions of what you would like to feature will, of course, be appreciated and we look forward to seeing you in May.

In other bookish news, I have signed up to participate for the first time in Dewey’s 24-hour Read-a-thon this weekend. The Read-a-thon was originally set up by a blogger named Dewey who sadly died and is now held in her memory; I didn’t know Dewey but I love the thought behind the event and know how special it is to some of my blogging friends.  I signed up on a whim, not initially realising that the date is a big one in the life-according-to-Claire calendar, and I know that I won’t be able to read for anywhere near as many as twenty-four hours (I’m a fiend without sleep) but it is a part of the blogging community that was lovely to observe last year and I would like to challenge myself to participate to some extent.  Besides, I have a number of books that I would like to get through and this seems like the perfect opportunity to do so!  I haven’t fully decided what I’ll be attempting to read nor what I will do posting-wise but please pop by on Saturday if you can to provide some moral support.

Will you be participating in Persephone Reading Week this year?  Do you know yet which Persephone books you will be reading? Will you be joining in the read-a-thon?

Today is my birthday (I am one year off being thirty – eek!) so I am scheduling this post and may be eating a celebratory cupcake as you are reading this.  I also hope to be sharing a respectable pile of birthday books with you on a date to be confirmed.

Another year older but not necessarily a mature reader.  This post at Cornflower Books was thought-provoking but reflecting upon it I realised quite quickly that I have not yet reached this level of maturity in my reading.  There are still authors and books that I feel that I should read; I hasten to add, however, that they are books that I want to read.  Life is too short to feel forced into reading something just because it is expected of me, hence my numerous failed attempts at reading Ulysses.  However, before I reach thirty there are writers whose work I want to read including (but not limited to): Nancy Mitford; Émile Zola; P. G. Wodehouse; Barbara Pym; Iris Murdoch.  I wonder whether in another decade or two I will have less authors on my list of authors-I-really-want-to-read? There is such a wealth of literature yet to discover and I’m too young to limit myself to only those wonderful writers that have already enriched my reading experience; maybe when I reach my fifty-ninth birthday, as opposed to my twenty-ninth, I will be content to read more deeply as opposed to widely.  Are you a reader who prefers to read more authors as opposed to the canon of those you already know?  I like to ration the work of my favourite writers so that I still have new books of theirs to enjoy over future years; I do have a hopeless retention for detail though so in a decade, if I’ve read the back catalogue of all my favourite writers, then I can always reread … or move on to those writers that I am still finding and sampling.

Birthdays make me reflective and the older I become the longer the lists become of things I want to do, books that I want to read, places I want to go.  I’ve wanted to go to Brazil for a number of years now and now that desire has intensified: does this bookshop in São Paulo look like the most amazing bookshop on earth? I NEED to go.  Look at the staircase of books!

Speaking of bookshops I do have some sad news to share.  I read on the Persephone Books website this week that their Notting Hill Gate shop is closing in June and I find this news upsetting.  Of course I don’t know the reasons behind the closure of their boutique shop in an affluent area of North-West London but I would have thought that it would have been an ideally-situated locale for an existing and potential client-base.  The close of any independent bookshop saddens me but especially one as much-loved as Persephone Books.  The shop stocked a wide array of great literature (as opposed to solely Persephones as in the Lamb’s Conduit Street office/shop) that I was very tempted by when I visited and also what looked like a wonderful and child-friendly children’s book section.  Indie bookshops that are a joy to while away an hour or two in, that stocks a wealth of eye-catching books, are difficult to find especially in the current economic climate, and the loss of this shop is a loss indeed.  I wish Persephone Books success and stability post-June in their remaining shop and mail-order success; I will, of course, be supporting them in my own little way where I can (perhaps for my birthday *cough*) and look forward to the next Persephone Reading Week at the beginning of May.