May Bibliolust

My “nonresolution” of trying to read what I want when I feel like it seems to be having benefits. My progress on Bibliolust for both this year and past years has improved greatly. In fact, there’s only two books from this month’s list so far I haven’t read or abandoned — and for those two I’m still on the library reserve list. And a side effect appears to be I am more likely to drop a book if it isn’t grabbing me.

As usual, though, the list grows:

A Land More Kind Than Home, Wiley Cash — A review or two of this piqued my interst, I think in large part because the reviews called to mind The Evening Hour, which I enjoyed earlier this year. Perhaps that’s too much to hope for a book you find out of the blue but, again, thanks to the library I’ll be reading it.

The Colonel, Mahmoud Dowlatabadi — Feeding my foreign lit kick a bit, a review of this novel of the Iranian Revolution told from the perspective of a colonel in the Shahs’ army drew my attention. Besides, it isn’t like there’s a ton of reliable history coming out of the country.

The Lady and the Peacock: The Life of Aung San Suu Kyi, Peter Popham — I’ve been intrigued by Burma and, as a result, Aung San Suu Kyi for a number of years. That made me a bit curious about this biography and the fact the library is getting it put it on my reserve list there.

Railsea, China Miéville — It’s Miéville. That’s all that really needs to be said since he is one of maybe a handful of authors whose latest release will always be on my list.

Report Card:

January-April 2012

Total Bibliolust books: 19

Number read: 14 (73.7%)

Started but did not finish: 3 (15.8%)

Cumulative (September 2008-April 2012)

Total Bibliolust books: 222

Number read: 179 (80.6%)

Started but did not finish: 17 (7.7%)

Jeanette Winterson