Its the time of year when my pile of 'on the go' and 'to read' books reaches a critical mass, boosted by Christmas presents; a tipping point from which I will not be able to catch-up, but will enjoy trying.
Currently sustaining me through the winter months are:
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| J.A. Baker's The Peregrine; a hawk-eyed and visceral account of bird, man and landscape. |
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| Richard Mabey's Nature Cure muses far and wide in chronicling his personal resurrection from depression through a reconnection with the natural world. |
| Humphrey Jennings Pandaemonium 1660-1886: The coming of the machine as seen by contemporary observers is an eccentric miscellany of reportage and opinion on the seismic shift caused by Britain's Industrial Revolution; and part inspiration for London's Olympic Opening Ceremony. |
And for dipping into on a stormy night, The Oxford Book of English Ghost Stories (Michael Cox and R.A. Gilbert, Eds.).
I'm also particularly looking forward to:
After London - Richard Jefferies
Dark Mountain Issue 3 - Various
Headwaters: Walking to British river sources - Phil Clayton
Land of Lost Content: The Luddite revolt, 1812 - Robert Reid
The Art of Wandering: The writer as walker - Merlin Coverley
The Daylight Gate - Jeanette Winterson
The English Lakes: A history - Ian Thompson
The Great God Pan - Arthur Machen
The Leaping Hare - George Ewart Evans and David Thomson
The Living Mountain - Nan Shepherd
Who I Am - Pete Townsend
Why Willows Weep: Contemporary tales from the woods -
Various
Wolf Solent - John Cowper Powys
And with no plans to re-boot to a Kindle, the house will continue to be populated with erratic-like piles of books awaiting discovery.
A fine list, which should keep you going for a while. Interestingly, apropos the kindle issue, my current read is 'Paper: An Elegy' by Ian Sansom. It has strengthened my resolve not to resort to the e-versions, but to prefer the tactile pleasures of real books.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to more of your interesting posts this year.
Happy new year
Ian
Thanks Ian and happy new year to you. To me ebook v real book is no contest. Books will live on, as has radio, as has vinyl, as has walking...
ReplyDeleteYes indeed a fine list, Richard Jeffries 'After London or Wild England' is a particularly good read, could not put it down. There is also 'Bevis (The Story of a Boy') with illustrations by E.H. Shephard, which I doubt you would find in an ebook.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year as well