- Poundemonium by Julian Rios
- Spadework for a Palace by Laszlo Krasznahorkai
- Journeys and Flowers by Merce Rodoredaa
- The sweet indifference of the world by Peter Stamm
- Sweet days of discipline by Fleur Jaeggy
- The english Path by Kim Taplin
- Blue Postcards by Douglas Bruton
- In late Summer by Magdalena Blažević
- Río Muerto by Ricardo Silva Romero
- Winter Mythologies and Abbots by Pierre Michon
- My kingdom is dying by Evald Filsar
- The Possession by Annie Ernaux
- Voracious by Malgorzata Lebda
I feel this is one of the best months of reading I have had for a while it started with me half trying the book a day in May. But I knew as last year with my shift pattern, it is very hard to try and do I have a pattern of two 11 1/2 shifts, then two days off, rolling on my rota, so some days after leaving home just after seven and coming back at half eight, it is hard to focus on a book. However, this month was a real journey; the first book of the month saw three Spaniards in London learn of Ezra Pound’s passing and follow his footsteps in London. Then Innew york a librarian became obsessed with Melville and an outlandish architect.. Then we visit villages and flowers in a wonderfully unique collection of short stories from Spain. A writer meets a woman, hears her story, but is it his story? Is this life a loop, meeting at different points? Next, we see a girl at a private school fighting to be herself. Then we learn about paths and how they used to be the pipeline in England many years ago. Blue postcards in a book obsessed with Blue. In late summer, a young girl recalled that the Balkan war hit a small village. Then a man sees his wife fight for justice, as he was killed for seeing something. Then we had a lot of historical fiction about Abbots. A writer has writer’s block and then goes to a retreat with the cream of writers in this fever dream of a book. Then another slice of Ernaux, and this time she is obsessed with who her ex is seeing.Lately, a granddaughter has taken care of her ailing grandmother in a small rural village. One new publisher, Linden Editions, with two books. No new countries.
Books of the month
I picked these two as they are both from the Balkans, one of the most well-known writers in Evald Fislar, and his tale of a writer’s block and a fever dream of how he overcame it. Then, in Magadalen Blažević, we have a new voice and her story of one girl’s last summer before the walk hits their remote village.
Non-book events
I watched The Game, the new series with Jason Watkins and Robson Green, which has a serial killer move in next to the detective who nearly caught him! A great short series. Music-wise, there were a couple of female singers who had new albums out on 4AD, a label I love. First was Lustre by Irish singer Maria Somervile, where you can just drift away. Jenny Hval’s album Iris Silver Mist is a little more experimental, and finally, Robert Forster has recorded an 8-track album in Oslo called Strawberries. It is just wonderful to see a singer like him having a great later career in his singing.
Next month
Well I recently commented on Mookse and gripes’ discord about their episode around reading goals and said I tend to not have them as I never keep to them, apart from the Booker International and the Years Club, Simon and Karen do. so, after reading many books early on last month, I think I will do the same this month. I’ve a few books on the go that I hope to finish in the next few days. I also have a couple of crime novels in translation that I hope to get too. Other than that I will see where my reading takes me as ever. What are your plans for next month ?
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