Last week was a holiday during which I had intended a reading bonanza. However, the best laid plans and all that …. Decorating aside, I decided to bring this blog up-to-date. I didn’t quite manage it and so I’ve still a number of reviews to write from August! The books were truly excellent, details of which are still vivid in my mind. Most notably Robert Cormier’s The Chocolate War and Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day. Also Hjalmar Söderberg’s crime classic Doctor Glas. Fortunately John Self has now written a truly excellent review on TheAsylum and so now no need for my tuppence worth!
Celebrations for the 200th post shared with a celebration of the greatest novel written here. And with it the semi-official launch of a desert island book series. The reasoning behind this being that I will some time in the future move home. It will be a downsizing and I will have to cut down my library. So let the mental preparations begin….. Not sure if , in reality, I could cut my 1500+ collection down to just 10, but as an intellectual exercise, I’m quite curious to see the results.
Books 1 and 2 have been named. Look in the special desert island box on the right. —> Today I’m adding Janice Galloway’s Clara to the list. It’s the finest historical novel I’ve read. Full, glowing, even gushing, review here. I had a spare copy to giveaway during the Edinburgh Book Festival but it vanished. Thanks to this week’s decorating, it has reappeared from behind the cupboard. So, somewhat belatedly I offer it to the blogosphere. Usual rules. Just leave a comment. Giveaway open to the whole world. Non-UK destinations will receive it via surface mail.
The winner will be announced in next week’s Sunday Salon post i.e 9.11.2008.
EDIT: More giveaways this week with bookroomreviews organising a book giveaway carnival. Go check it all out.
Could I at this juncture ask Michelle from Australia to claim her copy of Charles Cumming’s Typhoon. I have emailed you several times but maybe my mail got lost in the spam.
—————
Other literary events this week. A midweek trip to the theatre and another to the Goethe Institute in Glasgow to hear Sasa Stanisic reading and discussing his mega-successful “How the Soldier repairs the Gramophone”. Stewart from Booklit has promised a full write-up and as I have time management issues at the moment, I await it impatiently! When I told him of my cunning plan, he suggested I rename myself LazySiddal. Many a true word …..
Amidst all these non-achievements, I did however perform the impossible. A full hour’s browsing in Edinburgh’s Princes’ Street Waterstones and I walked out with nothing, nada, nichts! See I have some willpower! I was sorely tempted by a number of titles on Philip Pullman’s Writer’s Table. It appears that our reading tastes are highly attuned. A quick mental jog through the TBR at home and I counted at least four of his choices gathering dust. No need to buy the other half-dozen that were added to the wishlist …. not at this juncture anyway. I was delighted to see Kolymsky Heights in his list. “The best thriller I’ve ever read” says Pullman. “The first thriller I ever read” says Lizzy and the seed that sowed a reading addiction!
And I also managed some reading in the course of which I almost fell out with this year’s Booker judges …. more on that later this week.
Last week I did virtually no reading. I feel so bad about it.
Darcys, Bingleys, gang wars and a dog too
I must confess I had never heard of Janice Galloway, but your review of Clara sounds very interesting – an intelligent historical novel about a subject that I love almost as much as books: music. I’d like to be a candidate for your resurfaced extra copy.
Moving home, moving on
someplace new, or back where I’m from?
Can’t take you all,
it will break my heart,
but from some of you,
I have to part.
There’s just space for ten
(at least in theory)
so be prepared,
I come with boxes,
tape, and teary-
eyed, I will pack you up
and ship you out:
to second hand stores
and friends eager hands,
home and far
or foreign lands.
Where will you go,
my books, my precious?
You world is unknown,
I’m almost jealous.
But for the fact
that I’m moving too.
So fair ye well
my steadfast friends
and whoever gets you next
remember,
page corners, do not bend!
Good luck!
Like the above comment I have not come accross Janice Galloway before but would love to give her a try.
Many Thanks,
Jennifer Dee
Clara does sound interesting. Please add me to the drawing!
Hi Liza, the Mr. Linky is up, come on over and add your giveaway and thanks for participating:) Make sure to add a link back to my blog also so they can enter more giveaways.
http://bookroomreviews.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/book-giveaway-carnival-today-3rd-9th/
oops, I meant Lizzy:)
Hello! I’d like to enter to win your book giveaway. :o) Thanks!!!
would love to read this..soundsvery interesting
I’d love to read this.
Becky (laney_poATyahoo.com)
I really enjoyed Galloway’s The Trick is to keep Breathing and Clara sounds great too!
Thanks for the contest 🙂
I’d love to read it. If you liked it that much, I think I would too!
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail(dot)com
I haven’t read anything but this author but would love to give a try. Thanks!
Sounds interesting, I am always looking for new authors to read! Thanks for the chance to win!
I am rather embarrassed to admit I have not heard of this author. However, your description of the book compels me to want to read it and I hope I win. Please enter me in the giveaway.
Not sure I’ve heard of her either. But…if I win…I’ll read her front to cover.
Thanks
Not familiar with it, but if it’s the best you have read, I would love to join you.
Thanks for having the giveaway!
I would like to be entered too – sounds great!
akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com
Thanks for the review–I’m definitely adding this to my wishlist. It sounds terrific. I watched a movie about Clara and Robert once. Old black and white. I want to say it starred Katherine Hepburn, but I can’t swear to that. Anyway, I’d love to win this book!
I’d love to be entered, thanks!
Hi! I know what it’s like to have so many reviews to write:) I have wanted to read your review so please enter my name:)
BTW, I’m reading “The Falconer” at them moment and enjoying it very much, thank you:)
clara sounds interesting or atleast your review of it makes it look interesting! 🙂
and wow, such restraint!! not even one? a great achievment. though be careful about downsizing thing, you would miss some that you think you wouldn’t and then start looking for them and buying them again!! really, i know! so i would suggest to put the ones that you think you want to say goodbye to, in a temp box and see if you can do without them for a month or two and then wave goodbye for real!!
Your review sounded great – enter me in the contest please
florida982002@yahoo dot com
Thank you for being open to international entires. Please enter me – thank you for the giveaway!
Pleae enter me in the drawing, thank you!
thank you for having this! THis looks and sounds like an excellent read. Thank you!
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
Sounds like a good book to read!! Thanks for the chance!
nice read thanks
I love good historical fiction and have been dying to read Clara, please enter me!
Count me in to win! Thanks.
I like the Desert Island book theme and will think about doing it myself. All new ideas for blogging greatly welcome!
Tom C
The desert island books theme is tougher than it looks – the first 7 or 8 are easy. 9 and 10 are really difficult.
I read your review of this book and now I *really* want to read it. I enjoy historical fiction done right and this sound like it is. The fiction fills in the gaps and colors in the blanks; the historical gives a picture of the time period in which the events take place. Yes! Please enter me in the drawing to win a book that now going on my “wanna read” lsit! Thanks for the giveaway and for bringing this book to my attention.
Free book – you betchya! May be the nearest I get to the Edinburgh Book Festival. Thanks for the chance.
Sounds great..I used to live in England and so miss it…
Thank you for the giveaway. And, congrats on the 200th post!
My favorite genre is historical. I would appreciate being entered in your delightful book drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
i love historical fiction. please count me in!
I would love to read Clara, historical fiction is my favorite genre.
I love historical fiction. Count me in!
Awesome! I need something “new” to read!
I’d love to join, thanks!
Sounds like a good read! Thanks for the chance to win it!
How can I not try for the best Historical FIction Novel you ever read? Please enter me!
Thanks!
Sararush at hotmail dot com
If I have to I’ll just take your word for it, but I’d much rather read for myself! Please enter me.
dreamseeker52 AT gmail DOT com
I love historical fiction, please enter me.
Please enter me for the drawing. Thanks! 😀
I would love to win Clara. It sounds like an interesting book.
I’m entering! Thanks for the giveaway!
Pick Me! Pick Me! I would love to win a book.
This book sounds like an awesome read! My husbands favorite author is Stephen King. I have two favorites: James Patterson and Mary Higgins Clark.
I am currently reading WHAT YOUR 1ST GRADER NEEDS TO KNOW by E.D. HIRSCH
It’s very kind of you to offer such a great giveaway, its rare that I see giveaways for people like us (avid readers).
Thanks
Tammy OHagan
tammyohagan ~~~ AT ~~~ westco ~~~ DOT ~~~ net
Sounds great! Thanks for the giveaway!
Giveaway now closed.
Hmmm. I still need to write this up, don’t I? Hopefully this weekend. Hopefully.