You may remember that I started the countdown to the 2012 Edinburgh Book Festival the moment I left Charlotte Square last year. I’d just like to point out to my fellow festivalers that at 14:00 today (21.07), the hour count will have reduced from 8400 to just 500. (Not that I’m obsessed or anything …..)
In preparation I have installed a coffee table in the library and have stocked it with books pertaining to the events I’m hoping to attend. I have the full 17 days off work but life is being consistent only in throwing wobblies at me this year. I may get to everything I’m planning to see and then again I may not.
In the meantime, however, I want to read/sample as many books on this table as I can. The 5 books in the small pile far right are the ones I have already read. If proof were needed that I should have learnt to speed read by now, this is it! But I haven’t and so if things go quiet around here between now and the 11th August, you’ll know why. I’m reading!
I had a very precocious schoolmate who mastered speed reading by age 14. During an average class period of 50 minutes she could get through perhaps 5 books, put the finishing touches to whatever short story she was working on at the moment, and still keep at least one ear open to the lecture of the day. She could probably get through your table of books by lunch time, but I would require several months at the very least!
I should be typing this comment in green, to express my extreme envy! you lucky lady, going to this Fest.
Surely one doesn’t arrive at the same appreciation by speed-reading? I’ve actually slowed myself down recently. I’m intensely jealous, I’d love to go to the festival. I’ve read the Mantel and have a few others to review (the Neuman is huge). Looks like a good collection.
See you there, Lizzy! If Jessie Lamb is in your “to read” list, I’d say don’t bother. It was the book that put me off the judges of the Booker last year. Of course the attitudes and inane statements put me off too.
In which case I’ll put Jessie Lamb on the pile of books authors need to persuade me to read. But I will be at the event – Jane Rodgers is paired with Juli Zeh, which makes it an absolute must for me.
No HHhH in your piles? I’m gutted that I’m not going to be in Edinburgh for Binet’s talk. Good luck with your reading – see you at the festival!
Not sure Binet will be there, Jackie. I do know that he’s won’t be taking part in the French translation duel ……
Oh, wonderful! I hope you get to read a few more books before you go. Or at least, familiarize yourself with them. I would love to go to EIBF but I decided not to. I hope you have a great time!