Project 24 is in full swing! If you missed it, it’s a year where I only buy 24 books for myself. This must be the fourth time I’ve done Project 24, at least, and it’s always a fun experiment in (a) seeing what priorities I make and (b) going slightly mad. I’ve already started dreaming about buying books. I wish I were joking.
It doesn’t take a mathematician to spot that 24 books in a year is two books a month – though, of course, sometimes a trip to a bookshop can use up a few months’ worth in one fell swoop.
As it is, we are nearing the end of January and I’ve already bought my first two books for the year – here they are:
First up is Latchkey Ladies by Marjorie Grant. It’s been on my wishlist for a long time, ever since Handheld Press republished it – and it might have stayed there for a long time, except the Handheld Press closing down sale made me realise I’d better leap quickly. In a non-Project-24 year, I might have bought far more in the sale. Their catalogue is so wide-ranging that I never knew whether or not I’d like a book they published, but some of their choices were excellent and I have high hopes this will be among them.
And I wasn’t planning on getting The Odd Woman and the City by Vivian Gornick, an author who was only on my horizons as a guest on the Unburied Books podcast… but then Jacqui reviewed it. Well, if you can read that review and not order it immediately, then you’re a stronger person than me. I’m very into books in vignettes at the moment, and Daunt Books are always a safe bet for excellently chosen books – wide-ranging too, but impeccably picked. I instantly ordered it to my local Waterstones and here it is!
Normally I prioritise secondhand books during Project 24, because the chances of coming across particular books is obviously less guaranteed than if I can just order it from a bookshop next year – but I’m sure you can see why these two books HAD to end up my shelves.
I’ll keep you posted with my Project 24 choices, and I look forward to getting through some of the many hundreds of unread books on my shelves.
The title alone makes me want to read Latchkey Ladies
It’s great, isn’t it?
Excellent choice!!! U will not regret for a second Odd Woman purchase. I became a complete Vivian Gornick groupie after reading it years ago. Great way to start your New Year. Enjoy.
Quinn
Oh I’m so glad! It does sound totally marvellous.
I have to admit that way more than 24 books have come into my house THIS MONTH already, although I feel I’ve only actually bought about, erm … 15 or so. Oops!
Very restrained!
Fortunately I am not restricting myself from any new purchases & have just put both of your January books into my Waterstones basket …
We wish you well holding fast to the two books a month for this year … perhaps at the beginning of the month along with a purchase you could pluck two bought but yet to be read from your shelves.
That’s an interesting idea – there’s certainly no lack of them.
Excellent choices Simon; and I totally know what you mean about Jacqui’s wonderful review. Nevertheless, I somehow managed to resist yesterday when I spied and flicked through the first two pages of the Odd Woman and the City in a lovely pile of new books in Waterstones yesterday. Rather than feeling satisfyingly smug, I am now ruefully regretting my decision and fear I will fail to hold out much longer. Temptation assails me from all sides!
Hahah! Yes, it definitely does. I suppose we can’t give in EVERY time.
A couple of great choices, Simon. I was very tempted by Jacqui’s review too, although the TBR seems to get bigger every day so I may try to hold off for a while!!
I’ll see if I can topple your resolve when I finally read and write about it :D
Wonderful choices! I have Latchkey Ladies TBR and also want to read Vivian Gornick after reading Jacqui’s review. This year I am going to Hay-on-Wye, Sedburgh, and Barter Books and will likely be doing Project 24 next year.
Oh lovely – yes, this year you definitely don’t want to be limiting (beyond your luggage)
Good choices! I read Latchkey Ladies last year (I think) and enjoyed it a lot although it wasn’t necessarily what I was expecting and the cover of The Odd Women is so lovely it will soon be on my shelf (and I did read Jacqui’s review as well)!
Good to know I’ve picked a winner with Latchkey Ladies!
Ooh I want that Vivien Gornick too. But I mustn’t, I really mustn’t. Tell me I mustn’t….
(you must)
Haha! Well, I’m delighted to see that my review of the Vivian Gornick has resulted in a purchase, Simon, especially in a year when you are restricting yourself to an average of two book purchases a month. That’s remarkably disciplined of you, but I really like the idea of making the book buyer think very seriously about their choices by restricting purchases to a fixed number. (I really ought t do something similar as my TBR has ballooned in the last few years, and drastic measures are definitely called for.
In the meantime, I really hope you enjoy both your January purchases. Latchkey Ladies has also been on my wish-list for a while, so Handheld’s closure might galvanise me into action…
I always think Project 24 is harder than a total book ban, because I’m still going in bookshops and hunting around for options – but you’re right, it definitely clarifies the things I genuinely want on the shelves.
They both look like ones I will have to add to my list.
Interestingly I had not heard of the podcast you mention so will be checking that out! Would love to know if there are any more you listen to, I like Backlisted ( and obviously Tea or books) but would be great to get some more ideas…
Keep up the good work!
Thank you! I think you would definitely also like Lost Ladies of Lit, if you haven’t heard that one – and The Mookse and the Gripes.
Wonderful! I will check them out. Yours is my favourite though!!
Rebecca