In a previous incarnation, when I was being remunerated for my work, I was a high-school English teacher.  As part of our efforts to encourage wide reading and improved literacy amongst our pupils, they had to keep an annual log of the books they had read and present this, with a brief synopsis and review, at the end of the year to the teacher.

By year 12, pupils were also given two lists from which to make their reading selections – one was a much-debated canon of ‘Works of Critical Reputation’ and the other, an even more contentious list of books that were considered of some literary worth, though plainly (to those of us setting the lists) not up to the standard of the ‘A’ list.  The lists were revised annually to include the contributions of the previous year’s literary community, and they gave the pupils plenty to choose from.

How I wish I had access to those lists now!  I find that although motherhood has not given me nearly as much time to sit and read as I had initially anticipated, disposing of the television has prompted both Akira and I to read more – and I am attempting to read widely this year in order to spread my horizons a little.  So, with the Sixth Form Reading Lists in mind, I will attempt to read more, and provide you with a little synopsis and response to my reading material as I go along…

2010

January

Animal Vegetable Miracle – Barbara Kingsolver Technically I read this late last year, but finished it off finally over the holidays.  It is one of those ‘year of’ books.  In this case, a year of growing/eating only locally produced food. I loved Barbara’s honest reflections on this challenge.  I was inspired. Though it’s fairly obvious, in our urban circumstances, that we don’t have the werewithal to grow enough to feed a family of three, but I am keen to see how much more we can adapt our lifestyle and choices about food to adhere more to the principles of this challenge.  It is good for us, the local economy and the environment. It is really a no-brainer not to at least TRY!

February

Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons This book has been tucked at the back of my reading list for a long time.  Posh-girl-falls-on-hard-times-picks-hick-relatives-to-support-her-and-makes-a-project-of-them-all-swept-away-by-posh-suitor-at-the-end.  Heralded as a marvellous comedy, it was somewhat disappointing.  It was a little ironic in a pretentious middle class sort of way.  But I did kinda like the quirky self-consciousness of it.  It reminded me a little of Bella Pollen, and now I would like to watch the film, just to see what they did to improve on the slightly musty raw material.

Love Falls – Bella Freud Another foray into the preoccupations of the overly privileged.  It is an adolescent coming of age novel set in the pastoral idyll of Tuscany.  A lightweight, easy read but fitting for the grim days of February.

March

Eva Moves the Furniture – Margot Livesey Think I was recommended this by my FB Bookshelf…Not really my usual cup of tea, I am not drawn to books that deal with the ‘supernatural’ as I am largely skeptical in nature and not that convinced by fiction that is too fantastical.  The protagonist has ‘companions’ only she can see that intervene in her life in practical (though not always helpful) ways.  However, once I put aside my mistrust, I did find this a moving story and was surprised with the sense of cathartic satisfaction that the ending provided.

April/May

Oh dear, I slowed down comprehensively when the weather improved.

Life is Elsewhere  – Milan Kundera I am a Kundera fan, I have trawled my way through a few of his more well-known works.  He is a good fall-back option, so I am enjoying the musing so far…

Eating Animals – Jonathon Saffron Foer The carnivore read this first and so I was on a mission to keep apace with his thinking.  I loved Everything is Illuminated and I enjoyed the chatty editorial style of this book.  I did find some of the details hard to wade through as it was a truly compelling argument for cutting out animal consumption.  But I did also see that there was some defense of family farms and this dovetailed nicely with some of my other reading in this area.  We are changing our eating habits somewhat…

Summer

Ok, the weather totally caught me up, and I know I read something else, but maybe I didn’t finish…sigh…anyway, I DID finish this:

On Love – Alain de Botton His first novel and similar to some others I have read.  Although it is a bit of a narcissistic take on the development of a romance, some little quirky details definitely ring true.  Charming.

Currently Reading

The Lacuna – Barbara Kingsolver Quite engaging so far.  I discovered it in the local library here in Scotland…  But now I am plowing through this as well:

The Children’s Book – A S Byatt Really enjoying the Arts and Crafts backdrop to this book about how children’s authors exploit their small muses.