Come Tuesday, I will no longer be a university student. I am trying not to think about that too much, trying not to contemplate Tuesday in particular (although the nightmares about failed presentations and awkwardness keep recurring), what I allow myself to think about instead are the Pride and Prejudice rewrites I’m currently reading [oh, but they are silly]. And also, I am dreaming up Winter reading plans. You see, I have no clue what this winter is going to be like. It will probably consist of a strange mix of desperate job searching, PhD applications, and trying to find something useful to do with my time & something that will bring in some money in lieu of the job market at the moment. So talking about reading plans may be all too ambitious. But you never know, perhaps I will actually stick to my plans for once. Plans I have been making for a while now, because while writing the thesis, what I kept looking forward to the most was having the time to tackle some of the long-anticipated, but always deemed too heavy in subject matter or page count, books on my shelves. This is my selection for now:
From left to right: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith & I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
I know these are favourites of many of you. And I would love it if one or a few of you would like to join me in a discussion of these books. It need not be a “proper” read along, with set chapters and dates, I rather enjoy the less stringent version of setting a week to post about the book and visiting each others posts at leisure. I am just throwing out an idea here, not sure if anyone even thinks these novels fit the winter (I somehow picture them as winter reads?), and if anyone would care to join (I know I am probably the last person in the world that hasn’t read these books), but if you’d like to, please let me know!
Totally up for a joint read of I Capture the Castle and/or Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell as I own them both and haven’t read either. I don’t tend to assign books to seasons so happy to read at any time (apart from Atonement, as we were discussing the other day).
Iris, I’ll join your for I Capture the Caste. That book has been on my shelf for awhile now. Just let me know when you want to start reading.
You’re done on Tuesday! That’s crazy. I’m sure your presentation will go wonderfully well. I would be up for a group read of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and/or I Capture the Castle.
I plan to re-read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell next year but don’t see why it can’t be a winter read. I heart long books even more on cold winter nights. I’ll join you for that one. I’m interested to see if I’ll love it as much the second time as I did the first.
Congrats on finishing up!
Good luck for your defence! You’ll do great! If thinking about the defence makes you nauseous, think about the awesome feeling that will overwhelm you once you’re done. Now that’s something to look forward to!
What wonderful choices! I’ve read all three of those, and they’re all terrific. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is one of my all-time favorites. Hope you enjoy them!
I Capture the Castle is the most wonderful book… it’s my favourite book. I want to read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn as well and I think I own it but I’m not sure if I’m mixed up with another one I bought on a recommendation.
I probably won’t get around to reading along with you although it just depends what I’m reading at the time you start. I’m definitely interested in your thoughts on those two books.
I would join in any any of these but would love to reread Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell!
i always feel such time-pressure for read-alongs since I always sign up thinking my schedule will magically be emptier then it ends up being. i’ll loosely join in for ‘i capture the castle’ cause it has been on my list for so long.
Iris, I officially finished university many years ago but I still think of myself as a student. I completed my first degree in 1996 and although that seems like a million years ago (maybe it is?) I love the notion that I can make my own schedule when it comes to reading about the things that I enjoy!
I hope that you revel in your retirement from academia but that you never stop learning and being a student!
I loved I Capture the Castle, you’re going to have so much fun with that one. I’d join you for ‘Jonathan Strange’ if you’re reading after January as my schedule is packed out for that month.
These are all books I’ve wanted to read for a good long while now, but I just haven’t gotten around to any of them. Maybe I’ll take a leap over the break and give A Tree Grows in Brooklyn or I Capture the Castle a try.
I’ve read all three and I absolutely adore , A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and I Capture the Castle. I don’t know if I can fit either in this winter, but I’ll try. I hope you love them though!
I’m happily lost in the middle of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, so I’l be delighted to discuss it. And I can warmly recommend I Capture the Castle.
I LOVE I CAPTURE THE CASTLE SO MUCH!
ahem. Right. Sorry about that. Awesome though really and I hope you love it. Also, I’m sure you did great and can’t wait to hear. Thinking of you!
my winter plan over christmas is reading the alexandra quartet ,good luck with the books I did enjoy jonathan strahge ,all the best stu
I would like to read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn with you, Iris! I won’t be able to start it for a while so it depends on when you’d like to read it, but I’ve been wanting to for some time now as well.