Another very exciting announcement to give you!
Yes, that’s right: Shirley Jackson Reading Week will be taking place 13-18 July. It sprung from a conversation on Twitter with two very lovely bloggers, Ana/Nymeth of Things Mean A Lot and Jenny of Reading the End, and (some quick messaging and emailing later), dates were decided and Ana has made this beautiful button/badge to accompany the week.
I’m so excited to be co-hosting with these fab ladies, especially since they give me a run for my money on besottedness with Shirley Jackson. The only other author week I’ve co-hosted was Muriel Spark Reading Week, with Harriet Devine, back in 2012 (was it?) and that was really great fun.
So, basically, we’d love you all to join in! Whether you’re after her spooky novels We Have Always Lived in the Castle and The Haunting of Hill House, her brilliant comic apocalypse country house novel The Sundial, her hilarious family memoirs Life Among the Savages and Raising Demons or any of her other works, then we’d love you to get involved.
This post (and posts soon appearing on Jenny and Ana’s blogs) is to spread the word and prepare people – hie thee to a bookshop or library and look forward to July! Do ask any of us if you’d like recommendations for what to read, of course. And feel free to borrow and share Ana’s beautiful button.
Hooray!!! Shirley Jackson Reading Week! My post goes up tomorrow!
Wooooooooo! I love that I’ve found someone else in the blogosphere who loves SJ as much as me. (And I should give me thanks to Lisa at Bluestalking Reader, who originally introduced me to Jackson.)
Awesome!
I’m so excited for the blogosphere to be reading Jackson!
Nice! I have been meaning to read Life Among the Savages and this summer would be a great time.
It would be! SUCH a lovely book. SO funny.
I am so excited! I want to read The Bird’s nest and some non-fiction. A new collection of her stories is being published in the US this August and I am so excited. http://www.amazon.com/Let-Me-Tell-You-Writings/dp/0812997662/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1433990304&sr=8-5&keywords=shirley+jackson
Oh yes, I think it’s coming out here too – will have to doublecheck when. Yay for more Jackson!
The Bird’s Nest is SO ahead of its time. Not up to date with modern understanding of dissociative identity disorder, but decades ahead of its publication date nonetheless.
Simon, Shirley Jackson is one author where you and I do not see eye to eye! But since I make my judgement on one short story (The Lottery), which I hated and found deeply disturbing, I feel I shouldl try again. If one of her books turns up in Oxfam I’ll read it, but I’m not sure I want to order one specially.
Ah, Christine, I can believe that you wouldn’t love The Lottery, and possibly wouldn’t love quite a few of her books – BUT I absolutely guarantee that you would adore Life Among the Savages and Raising Demons. I stake my blogging reputation on it! They couldn’t be more different; very witty, very undisturbing. PROMISE.
OK. You’ve persuaded me… some of the birthday money I was saving for Persephone on next London trip can go on Life Among the Savages (I’ve already broken into it for a stash of Little Black Classics )… All I can say is this had better be good!!!
I’m a little nervous now… but I am SO confident. I really am. *bites fingernails*
I’ll be joining in. I bought The Sundial after your Shiny reviews.
Oh, excellent! I can’t wait to hear what you think of it. I *think* it would be right up your street.
What fun! And I own “We Have always Lived in the Castle” so I shall do my best to join in! :)
Yay! I think, once you’ve read the first few pages, you won’t be able to stop yourself. The opening chapter is a masterpiece.
Brilliant! A colleague recommended “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” to me only last week, so this sounds like the perfect reason to get reading…
Oh, wonderful! And that means there are more Jackson fans at OUP? Who? Who?! :)
If I can squeeze it around other business, I’d love to be in. Got The Sundial on your recommendation and just waiting for the right moment!
Hurrah hurrah! I’d so love to know your thoughts on The Sundial, Victoria.
I am tempted! But I am the world’s worst completer of bloggy readalong-type tasks, so I hope nobody sees this comment if I fail.
Fingers crossed! I usually manage to join in reading weeks a week or too late, so… that’s entirely acceptable. Right?
Another author I know nothing about, probably good reason to join in.
Everyone should try her, definitely!
I have a shameful confession to make – I’ve never read her. The good news is – I always wanted to read her and I have already bought one of her novels. So, if everything goes well, I’m in. The button is great.
Fab! Which one did you buy?
And, yes, Ana did a fantastic job :)
Sorry for this late reply – I was travelling. I’ve got The Haunting of Hill House.