I have just finished reading W or The Memory Of Childhood by Georges Perec. The book was nearly 8 years on my bookshelf.
It was purchased in Shakespeare & Co on our visit in November 2016. The two other books purchased were read long ago – John Berger on flight home; James Joyce early the following year. The lucky dip purchase, Huxley, remains in its box unread, so far.
It is strange what prompts the taking of a book from the bookshelf. There are so many unread books on my shelves – and many more that cannot be accommodated on the shelves and are stacked in different places.
Sometimes it can just be a spine that I spot as I am finishing a book. Sometimes, an observation in one book can prompt another to be taken from the shelf for early reading. Occasionally, a recently purchased addition to the stacks will jump the queue.
Last week, my listening choice for the long journeys was the Illuminated series from BBC Sounds. My introduction to this BBC Radio 4 series was a story about a one legged man doing the Camino and the remaining episodes followed, as they do.
An episode from June was called The Beauty of Everyday Things. It was by poet, Ian McMillan. He cited another book by Perec, An Attempt At Exhausting A Place In Paris and quoted from it.
That was prompt enough for it to be taken down as next reading distraction.
It was purchased in Shakespeare & Co on our visit in November 2016. The two other books purchased were read long ago – John Berger on flight home; James Joyce early the following year. The lucky dip purchase, Huxley, remains in its box unread, so far.
It is strange what prompts the taking of a book from the bookshelf. There are so many unread books on my shelves – and many more that cannot be accommodated on the shelves and are stacked in different places.
Sometimes it can just be a spine that I spot as I am finishing a book. Sometimes, an observation in one book can prompt another to be taken from the shelf for early reading. Occasionally, a recently purchased addition to the stacks will jump the queue.
Last week, my listening choice for the long journeys was the Illuminated series from BBC Sounds. My introduction to this BBC Radio 4 series was a story about a one legged man doing the Camino and the remaining episodes followed, as they do.
An episode from June was called The Beauty of Everyday Things. It was by poet, Ian McMillan. He cited another book by Perec, An Attempt At Exhausting A Place In Paris and quoted from it.
That was prompt enough for it to be taken down as next reading distraction.
 |  |
