I can’t remember if I’ve talked about Project 24 in 2022 yet – basically, I’m only going to buy 24 books (for myself) this year. I’ve done it a few times in the past, and succeeded by the skin of my teeth. I’ve found that I buy a lot more books for other people in Project 24 years…
Why? It’s not a budget thing – it’s because I don’t have space. I live in a very small, very full flat. I also have about 1700 books I haven’t read, so I do realise that I won’t run out of things to enjoy.
Because it’s primarily about space, I’m not limiting the number of audiobooks I’m buying. If I read e-books, they’d be fine too.
It’s interesting to get to the end of the year and see which books where deemed important enough to get hold of. So, yes, I will be keeping you up to date with what I buy in 2022, but I thought it would also be fun to look back at 2017 and see how many of the 24 books I’ve read.
(Incidentally, I’d read 10 before 2022 ended – so I’ve got a good start.)
1. Dearest Andrew by Vita Sackville-West
Yes – I read this collection of letters more or less as soon as I bought it.
2. Norman Douglas by H. Tomlinson
No – I collect Dolphin Books whenever I see them, but this is one of the ones I’ve not yet read.
3. The Runaway by Claire Wong
Yes – my friend Claire wrote this one, and I read it straightaway. Though have yet to read her next novel, and must.
4. The Pleasures of Reading: a Booklovers’ Alphabet by Catherine Ross
No – though it’s been a while since I read a book about reading, so…
5. A Winter Away by Elizabeth Fair
Yes – bought this one for a podcast episode, so read it pretty quickly.
6. Sunlight in the Garden by Beverley Nichols
Yes – another one I read instantly, because I had the other two in the trilogy and adored them.
7. The Pelicans by E.M. Delafield
Yes – I really kept pace with buying and reading in Project 24, as apparently I also finished this one before 2017 was over.
8. Country Notes by Vita Sackville-West
No – still waiting, still enticing.
9. All the Dogs of My Life by Elizabeth von Arnim
Yes – having accidentally bought a book I already had, I have since read it. Really interesting, and quite troubling.
10. Catchwords and Claptrap by Rose Macaulay
Yes – I think I’d read it before I bought it, in the Bodleian, but have re-read it since.
11. The ABC of Authorship by Ursula Bloom
Yes – a wonderfully out-of-touch book about becoming an author – that I quoted in the afterword to Tea Is So Intoxicating.
12. Jacob’s Room is Full of Books by Susan Hill
Yes – loved this sequel to Howards End is on the Landing.
13. Insomniac City by Bill Hayes
Yes – a lovely memoir by Oliver Sacks’ widower.
14. Letters From Klara by Tove Jansson
Yes – I’ll always buy, and instantly read, any new translation of Jansson’s fiction.
15. ABC of Cats by Beverley Nichols
No – though honestly don’t know why, since it combines Nichols and cats, two of my favourite things.
16. Stephen Leacock by Margaret McMillan
Yes – and with special memories of visiting Leacock’s house.
17. My Remarkable Uncle by Stephen Leacock
No – I think it’s a bit different to the other Leacock books I’ve got, so should experiment.
18. Swamp Angel by Ethel Wilson
Yes – in fact, I finished it earlier this week.
19. The Equations of Love by Ethel Wilson
No – but even keener, now that I’ve read and really appreciated Swamp Angel.
20. A Journey Round My Skull by Frigyes Karinthy
No – it’s an odd one to be the right mood for, but its day will come.
21. Letters of Margaret Laurence and Adele Wiseman
No – I used to have a book of letters on the go all the time, but it’s been a while.
22. David of Kings by E.F. Benson
No – and it is definitely too long since I read an EFB.
23. Aspects of E.M. Forster by Rose Macaulay
No – if I’m honest, this felt more like one for the shelves, to dip into, than one I’d necessarily read cover to cover.
24. E.M. Delafield by Maurice McCullen
No – and why not? This study seems so up my street. I’m not entirely sure where I put it…
So, I’ve read 13 – just over half, but only 3 of those were between 2018 and today…
Have I learned anything from this exercise? Sadly, no. But it was fun.
My first Project 24 book of 2022 has been bought online, and I’ll share what it is when it arrives. Wish me luck!
Good luck Simon! I’m also trying to rein in the book-buying this year (I also live in a very small flat.) I considered a total ban (which I did manage for the duration of 2018) but I’ve decided to see if moderation can be managed…
In some ways, it’s easier when I just ban – because I’m still going into bookshops occasionally, to find candidates for those 24…
Best of luck Simon – I am trying to restrict the buying, but a good number of review books have arrived!! ;D
Ah, that always helps! My review copies have definitely decreased over the years, so it’s harder to cheat…
Well done! I am trying to be careful this year as I have had so many books in for Christmas and Birthday and I really cannot outgrow the bookshelf I’ve recently requisitioned in its entirety for my TBR …
Good luck!!
Ooo, I just LOVE Swamp Angel. Equations of Love, I enjoyed a great deal. But I think my other fave of hers is Innocent Traveller. The story in Swamp Angel, though, I just love it. So besides it being Ethel Wilson I love the story. Not sure any of the others had a chance that way. Also love that collection of letters between Laurence and Wiseman.
And I share your goal of reading the previous year’s books before adding to the stack. With such a backlog of collected but unread books, one has to somehow strike a balance (or, not exactly a balance, is it, but less of an imbalance heheh). You’re off to a great start with ten already completed!
I’ll have to seek out Innocent Traveller – but will make sure I read Equations of Love first. And it’s so rewarding to read and love something that’s been on the shelves for ages.
Well, over half is something, if you ask me. Good on you!
Thanks Davida!
Well done — I think reading over half is quite impressive. Even more impressive is limiting your yearly purchases. I’ve made very little t (well, TBH, no) attempt to limit my acquisitions for the last two years, as compensation for stress. But my new shelves are almost full and it’s time to face
reality . . .
Yes, sometimes the crunch comes…
How odd. I made a similar resolution, limiting myself to two purchases per month (but not reducing my budget). I do make an exception with the $2.00 offerings of our local charity shop. It’s rare that it offers anything I’m interested in, but every once in a while… Just this week I came away with a very nice first edition of Officers and Gentlemen.
(On an unrelated note, The Innocent Traveller is my favourite Ethel Wilson novel. Highly recommended.)
Project 24 prompted me to have a sort through of my book stash which resulted in the sobering discovery that I have at least 100 books to read. In fairness this is post-lockdown and follows a much postponed visit to a well-known bookshop in Alnwick (resulting in 14 titles being added to my library). Also I work in a Northern supermarket that hosts a second-hand book sale table – this is a good fundraiser for charities, but isn’t helping to lighten my bookshelves. I have had immense fun this afternoon culling out a list of 24 titles that seem to have fallen into 3 themes: Ireland, India and Women authors. Wodehouse and Pratchett are givens. I also have 3 titles that were published in 1929 so that checks another project list off. So, here we go and wish me luck!
First book read: A House with Four Rooms by Rumer Godden. An autobiography of her life post World War II that takes us from tea with Charlie Chaplin and making a speech at the Library of Congress to spending time in a convent and living in Lamb House in Rye (former home to Henry James and E F Benson). Fascinating, well-written and well-worth £3.50.