Have I said on here that I’m doing Project 24 again in 2025? I think I’ll do it ever two or three years, to try and stem the flow of books into my house – and to read more books from my shelves. For those not in the know, Project 24 is simply a self-imposed rule to only buy 24 books throughout the year. Well, for myself. I can buy books for other people, and I can get books as gifts.
Before that kicked off, I did go to a couple of bookshops in Bristol – and got some books as Christmas presents from friends and family. Here is my December pile (actually with a couple missing, because I’m currently reading them – being the Taskmaster book from my brother, and The Woods in Winter by Stella Gibbons from my parents).
Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion
Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
On Boxing Day, we were in Bristol city centre to a (very fun) escape room. While we there, I thought I’d check if any secondhand bookshops were open – and came across Second Page. It’s on the top floor of one of those rather dispiriting shopping centres that many UK cities and towns have, where everything is neglected and sad – except for this wonderland of a shop. The prices were pretty high, but the selection made up for it. Some really lovely, interesting stuff in there. I’ve been meaning to read some Didion – all the more since she featured in the 1970 Club – and, when I saw these waiting to be priced on the counter, I jumped at the chance.
Homesick by Jennifer Croft
From the same shop – this was mentioned by someone in answer to my request for more books told in fragments/vingnettes.
The Gutenberg Murders by Gwen Bristow and Bruce Manning
Also the same shop – how had I not realised that more than one book was back in print by Bristow & Manning? A few years ago, their brilliant murder mystery The Invisible Host was one of my best reads. I’m intrigued to see whether lightning strikes twice.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
This came from the other bookshop I visited – the always-reliable Amnesty charity shop on Gloucester Road. The prices are very affordable and the selection is pretty interesting. I’ve seen this Yagisawa in lots of front-of-store piles in bookshops, and always willing to take a gamble on a book set in a bookshop.
Kinds of Love by May Sarton
I’ve fallen in love with Sarton’s non-fiction, but not yet found her fiction that really captures me – but, having tried a few, definitely want to keep hunting.
Bookshops by Jorge Carrion
The first of a few gifts from my parents, from my wishlist. I put this on years ago, when I got a copy for a friend and wished I’d got one myself.
Why Women Read Fiction by Helen Taylor
Also on my wishlist, though I can’t remember how it got there. Flicking through, it looks slightly scholarly, though I will read any book about reading.
Among the Janeites by Deborah Yaffe
Another wishlist title from my parents, and I don’t know how I managed to resist grabbing a copy myself. It’s about the Jane Austen fandom – having really enjoyed All Roads Lead To Austen by Amy Elizabeth Smith, about teaching Austen in Latin America, I think this could be of the same ilk.
O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
I keep stockpiling Cather. I must be nearing the end by now?
Those Fragile Years by Rose Franken
I have bought SO many of Franken’s Claudia series despite (a) having not read any, and (b) not owning the first in the series. I figure I’ll get them all and then work out whether or not I like them?
Remind Me Who I Am, Again by Linda Grant
This 0ne has been on my peripherals for a very long time – it’s Grant’s non-fiction account of her mother’s gradually worsening dementia. Will need to read when I’m feeling resilient…
Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent
A gift from my dear friend Lorna – if you don’t know Susie Dent, she is the beloved ‘dictionary corner’ co-host of Countdown, and she’s now turned her hand to a murder mystery. I have higher hopes for hers than for many celeb murder mystery writers, and the world of lexicography is certainly up my street.
William Morris: The Story of His Life by Giancarlo Ascari and Pia Valentinis
A graphic biography of Morris (the painter rather than the car guy) – a flick through and this looks really beautiful.
I would say ‘where should I start?’, but I started immediately with the un-pictured Taskmaster and Stella Gibbons books. So… where would you go next?
Had a chuckle over the fact you enlarged your library in advance of your new project. Were you a squirrel in another life maybe, desperately needing to stock up for the winter famine?
Ha Ha – I call that a book buying binge before the fast! I I think you will really like The Woods in Winter, I read that in November, and Why Women Read fiction (I remember reading that at the very beginning of the pandemic). I will be interested to hear your reflections on that one. The rest of the pile looks as if there is enough to keep you going for a little while. And there are always the shelves and the thrill of choosing those precious 24!
I really enjoyed the Morisaki Bookshop and Guilty By Definition. Why Women Read isn’t too scholarly at all, though it is suitably referenced (and mentions a project I worked on!). I’ll be interested to hear what you think of it. Re Project 24 I have no words as by yesterday I had already acquired FOURTEEN books.
I admit, Project 24 is my least favorite year, only because when you buy unfettered, I get to buy vicariously and add books to my list based on what books you get and how you describe them. But as someone who has piles of books on the floor because there’s no room on my shelves, I admire your Project 24 and should do the same. I’ll give it a go, too, she said hesitantly.
I very much enjoyed vicariously pawing through your treasures! So wise, to stock up before beginning an austerity program! Like you, I’ve been meaning to get to Didion (in my case, for years) and I’ve also been acquiring lots of Willa Cather, which I’ve yet to read (good intentions, etc). I really must thank you for discussing the Bristow/Manning book! In the days when I was reading historical fiction, I was absolutely addicted to Bristow’s novels but at this point I’d largely forgotten them as well as their author. I had absolutely NO idea Bristow also co-authored mysteries with her husband until I read your post; seeing her name was like coming across an old friend. Besides, I now have an excuse to go on the hunt for either/both of the two mysteries you mentioned.
I “sort of” browsed through Taylor’s “Why Women Read etc” a couple of years ago but TBH found it a tad dull. No reflection on Taylor — she seems to have done an excellent job–I found I just wasn’t in the mood at the time for nonfiction.
I don’t know how you have any room left in your flat at this point! I’d pick up the Cather next as I love her early novels.
Glad you mentioned the 2nd-hand shops in Bristol as I’ll be going there next week to visit friends, and hope to find some time for some browsing (always awkward when you are with friends/family and suddenly spot what looks to be a great charity shop for books and wonder if you can get away with diving into it, or if that would be terribly rude!)
Managed to visit Second Page and also Amnesty – except that the Amnesty shop was temporarily closed as someone had driven into their door and smashed it up – but there are lots of other charity shops and other interesting independent shops along the Gloucester Road.
Oh gosh, sorry to hear that about the Amnesty shop! Glad you go to Second Page though
Some great books on your pile! I also loved The Woods in Winter, and O Pioneers! is one of Cather’s best (also a very quick read, I know you love a short book!)
Among the Janeites is very fun and I have actually met one of the people in the book, Baronda Bradley who is famous at the Annual General Meetings for her incredible wardrobe, she’s a lovely person (as most Janeites are).
And good luck with Project 24, every year I vow to read more books from my own shelves and each year I fail miserably, I think I only read one or two books from my own shelves in 2024 that weren’t rereads. Ebooks and library books are just too tempting and too easy to order online.
That’s a lovely haul, Simon. I’ve had the Carrion in my sights too!
Lovely acquisitions, Simon. One can never have too much Willa Cather, and Joan Didion never fails to deliver. (‘Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream’ from ‘Slouching…’ might be one of the best non-fiction pieces I’ve ever read.)
I’ll be very interested to hear what you think of Homesick, which didn’t quite live up to expectations for me, although admittedly they were pretty high due to the early buzz. (I’m a bit of an outlier on this one, so it’ll be fascinating to see how you fare with it.)