I bring you bookish news instead. I am, finally finishing A Separate Country tonight and I have started
April, 1865 all in an effort to reach my Civil War reading goal. But I will have to finish
April, 1865 and another book still this month and, at the rate I'm going, that could be difficult. Although I do have the last week of the month off...maybe my family will give me the perfect gift of a week of uninterrupted reading for Chistmas!
If you're a regular reader of this blog, you've probably noticed that I don't read a lot of mystery books (although I do enjoy them) and far fewer spy novels. I haven't read a single Bourne book nor any Tom Clancy. But years ago, I did pick up
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and recall liking it quite a lot. I have no idea why I never picked up the next book in LeCarre's trilogy. I am, however, looking forward to seeing what Hollywood has done with George Smiley. Gary Oldman is a terrific actor but he's certainly not the person I pictured as I was reading the book.
Rachel, of
A Home Between The Pages, has written about her top five books of 2011 for
bookriot.com. I was happy to see Timothy Schaffert's
The Little Coffins of Hope, one of my favorite books of 2011, on her list as well. The Omaha Bookworms are looking forward to reading it this spring and I'm wondering if I might be able to talk Shaffert into joining us when we discuss his book.
With the year coming to an end soon, have you been giving any thought to which books were your favorites this year? I've been remiss about updating my tab of favorite books of the year so I'm going to have to give this a little more thought than I had planned.
Any books on your wish list for the holidays? I have several I would like to have asked for but my family is under the crazy impression that I don't need any more books so they won't give me any. Will your family indulge your addiction?
I don't read many mysteries either, though I do enjoy watching some of the mystery shows on regular tv (NCIS, etc.). I, too, am looking forward to Tinker, Taylor et al in the movies!
ReplyDeleteI'm currently reading Rome, by Robert Hughes, who is an art and culture critic - so it's definitely flavored with his own perspective. He covers a lot of ground in the book - probably more than any one book should - but as a fan of Roma I quite enjoyed it.
If my family doesn't buy me books, I can always count on Serena to give me bookish gifts. :) Last year, my husband let me order my own gifts (books of course), then gave me a book store gift card. I was in book heaven!
ReplyDeleteDon't feel bad about the Civil War challenge. I don't even know if I'm going to meet my goal, and I'm one of the hosts! :O
You know, I keep asking for books and no one ever buys me any. Not even bookstore gift cards. I guess they figure I have enough already.
ReplyDeleteI read a lot of books this year that really clicked with me but after reading 1Q84, they all seem to pale in comparison. My best of list might be short...like 5 when before that book, I had at least 10.
I think this is the most anticipated movie of the year, and I have heard that many people are on the edge of their seats waiting for it. My reading has slowed way down too, and I need to get back into the swing of things. I also don't think I will be getting any books for Christmas, though I will be giving many! I have a feeling that I am going to be gifted with a gift certificate, and I am so excited about that, because I can get as many books as I want, but of course that gift will be coming from a member of my family that has no idea that I have such a problem with collecting books. But hey, what he doesn't know won't hurt him, right!
ReplyDeleteAnd don't you want to scream BUT I REALLY DO WANT BOOKS!! :) I have Night Circus and 1Q84 on my wishlist. Figured if I only asked for two specific books I might get lucky.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get your Christmas wish with lots of reading time. Won't that be wonderful to have the last week of the year off! ;)
I haven't thought about making my favorite of the year list yet, but will do that during that (hopefully) down week between the holidays! My family is scared to give me books because they don't know what I have and have not read already, but I will give myself some! :)
ReplyDeleteThis Tinker Tailor book is something I'd probably never pick up... unless it gets rave reviews by you and other bloggers I trust!
No books for Christmas?!? :-(
ReplyDeleteMy boyfriend usually gives me a gift certificate so I can choose my own. This makes me very, very happy.
My father is the only one who will even consider giving me books. I gave him a "wish list" which included The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco, and The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach and a book/CD set of audio recordings by Jackie Kennedy. We'll see if he actually went for it or just gives me the money to do it myself. Not that he doesn't want me to have the books - he just hates the Christmas crowds so don't know if he'll venture out.
ReplyDeleteHope you get all your Christmas book wishes!
I must read Little Coffins of Hope...I remember your review. My family probably will not give me books because like yours they think I have wayyy too many as it is!! My Christmas gift has been the remodel that we're doing on our old house. New bedroom, front entrance, master bath, upstairs bath..very intensive and lots of back breaking work for my hubby and a little bit from me. I've been the painter..yuck! But I know that it will look great when it's finished. I haven't really been thinking about my end of the year list yet...probably after Christmas I will ponder it!
ReplyDeleteWishing you many many wonderful books for Christmas! I don't even ask for them - I just buy for myself. Actually, I did tell my one IRL reading bud that we were buying 1Q84 for each other and that I would read it first. ;)
ReplyDeleteJust stopping by to wish you a very Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year Lisa!
ReplyDeleteNo book buying here since I have plenty to keep me occupied. Curious about Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, since the movie features Firth. he is usually pretty picky about his projects. Hope you had a wonderful holiday :)
ReplyDelete