We had a very good Christmas (and I hope you did, too!) and other than one to-be-expected minor sour note, everything went very well and everyone was in good spirits, but it is always such a relief to have all that stress behind me for another year.
I didn't get many books as presents this year (certainly not necessary since I've read only one of my birthday books yet), but the ones I got look excellent:
Susanna Clarke's The Ladies of Grace Adieu
William Kittredge's The Willow Field
Irene Nemirovsky's Suite Francaise
I strategized my reading for the remainder of the year early last week and realized I was going to make the 75 Books Challenge after all in addition to knocking out great portions of The Brothers Karamazov and the Proust. But I didn't count on not picking up a book--except to wrap or unwrap--from Wednesday on, so it's doubtful now that I manage to finish three books plus great portions of BK and Proust between now and Sunday unless I ignore all the other stuff I'm supposed to do between now and the first of the year.
Our great new find last week:
Bernard, Manny and Fran are hilarious. So hilarious, in fact, that it's like looking into the eye of a duck.
Black Books looks like fun. I will have to see if I can find it here. Glad you had a nice Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stefanie. I'm sorry your kitty was ill.
ReplyDeleteNetflix has the first two seasons. :)
I love the day after Christmas too. In fact, I love the whole week after. The holiday spirit lingers on (well, as long as you don't fight the after-Christmas crowds in the mall), the traffic is lighter because lots of people are out of town, and the people who are here are much more relaxed. And I suddenly have all this time!
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't read Suite Francaise yet, be prepared...it's a masterpiece. But unless you are brave about crying in public places, be sure you finish it at home.
ReplyDeleteBarking K
Merry belated Christmas to you! You may have not gotten many books but you got some good ones!
ReplyDeleteLovely gifts! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHeather
www.thelibraryladder.blogspot.com
Okay, so am I reading you write that you are going to have finished 75 books this year. More than one per week!
ReplyDeleteWhoa.
Don't visit my blog. It's shockingly spartan . . .sigh.
Well, I should finish no. 73 tonight. Whether I make it to 75 depends on which books already in progress I concentrate on for the rest of the week--the short ones or the long one.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're posting again, Anita. Don't worry about how many you read--I had a decade of low numbers--just enjoy the ones you do.
Mlight--it's about time to have some time! I need to get better organized so that the week prior is not as stressful.
BK, I will choose my reading locations carefully. I think SF is the Feb. or the March selection at Readerville, although I don't know if I'll be finished with the Classics Challenge in time to make the discussion.
Merry Christmas, Heather and Carl!
I didn't get many books either, but at least they were the ones I wanted and I have gift cards now, too!! I really want the Nemirovsky book and may break down and buy it, though at this point I should wait until it comes out in paper. I will have to check out Black Books--it is time I updated my Netflix queue. And I totally agree with liking the day after Christmas!! It is nice now to just relax!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan.
ReplyDeleteI am not a member of Netflix but the world seems to be conspiring to make me one!
Nice list of books -- glad you enjoyed the holiday! I'm impressed with 75, or 73 or 74 or whatever it ends up being. That's a lot.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a wonderful Christmas! And, no, best day of the year can certainly be day after Christmas. When all the madness is over :)
ReplyDelete