I liked Tripp's list of resolutions over at Books Are My Only Friends, and so thought I'd copy the idea (imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, after all). Also, reading resolutions I've got more than a snowball's chance in hell of keeping (unlike, you know, health or general "being nicer to other people" or "more social" type resolutions). So here goes!
1. This is the year I read Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine. I try every year and never get it done. Which is weird, as I love Something Wicked This Way Comes, but I am an autumn person, not a summer person.
2. This is also the year I read Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Sure, it's going to be a downer (did anyone catch it on Masterpiece Theatre last night?) but I, for whatever reason, have a deep appreciation for Thomas Hardy (Far from the Madding Crowd was one of my favorite reads last year) and want to read this one.
3. More poetry! More poetry! I must have me more poetry! Starting with a little Ted Hughes, perhaps, to ease myself into it.
4. Whenever I turn the TV (or, more disturbingly, YouTube) on, I need to turn it off and read instead. Unless, of course, Masterpiece Theatre is on.
Okay, let's get this year started!
My IRL book bud LOVES Thomas Hardy and I don't think I've ever reed any. Great goals; good luck!
Posted by: Care | 05 January 2009 at 11:28 AM
In high school I read Tess of the D'Ubervilles, reasoning that it would be fun to pun around with Jess of the D'Ubervilles. Changed my mind about making the play on words, seeing as Tess gets raped and all, but I do so love my Hardy. Bleak doesn't come any bleaker than that, not outside Russia, anyway.
Posted by: Lesbrarian | 05 January 2009 at 11:58 AM
Care,
I must ask, because I am hopeless at acronyms: what dis "IRL"? If you're ever up for a classic I would totally recommend Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd, or actually, his collection of short stories titled A Changed Man. Thanks for the good luck!
Lesbrarian,
And here's the kicker: not only does the poor girl get raped, she basically gets blamed for it. Nice. Now that's the dark side of Victorian times for you. I am glad you gave up the pun dream, and also very glad you supplied the correct spelling for me of "D'Ubervilles." Thank you! What's your favorite Hardy?
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 05 January 2009 at 12:23 PM
Oh, I wouldn't want to commit myself to choosing a favorite Hardy. (Interpretation: I haven't read enough Hardy to say, but I don't want anyone to realize that.)
Sometime soon I'm going to read Posy Simmonds's graphic novel Tamara Drewe, an interpretation of Far From the Madding Crowd. "A wonderful and slightly evil book," says PW.
Hardy, by the way, wrote lots of poetry, if you want to go that route.
Posted by: lesbrarian | 05 January 2009 at 02:27 PM
I am ALL OVER that Tamara Drewe item, it sounds awesome. I just requested it from the library so maybe I'll beat you to it!
I think I've tried Hardy's poetry, it was tough going. Anyone else got any poetry ideas?
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 05 January 2009 at 08:28 PM
I will be happy, happy, happy to have you reviewing poetry, which is my first love but I find personally almost excruciating to review (and often do far better browsing for what I like than trying to discover via reviews...)
Tamara Drewe IS awesome.
Please note that your library system's most dedicated selector was trying to purchase it WAY in advance of publication and therefore her orders were cancelled. Hiss. That is why MPL's nine copies are not included in the system catalog.
On the other hand, Posy also wrote a spectacular re-telling of Madame Bovary, entitled "Gemma Bovary" and it is rather a lot like "Tamara Drewe" (more so than MB is like FFtMC) and, alas, nobody reads it and copies are being withdrawn by silly librarians who worry about space and circulation records more than sentimental favorites and good books that nobody reads. So... you read that one too, eh?
Meanwhile, here is a link to a poem by Carol Ann Duffy, spectacularly illustrated by Posy Simmonds (who reminds me much of Raymond Briggs). I was going to post this on my dying blog but never got around to it. Too good not to share though, from The Guardian:
Mrs Scrooge
A new poem written for Review by Carol Ann Duffy. Illustrated by Posy Simmonds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/dec/20/mrs-scrooge-carol-ann-duffy
Posted by: The Laundress | 05 January 2009 at 10:48 PM
Laundress, dearest,
One of these days I will stop over and see what you can suggest in the way of poetry. I'm thinking some Robert Browning to start; kick it old school in the beginning, eh?
I had no doubt you knew also about Tamara Drewe--and thank you for the tip about Gemma Bovary.
As always, you are the best.
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 06 January 2009 at 03:35 PM