what do you do?

for some reason i just can’t seem to get into reading lately. i’ve only finished three books this year - and i started one of those in 2007. i know that’s not bad, but it’s way less than usual, and i have piles of started-but-not-finished books that are interesting enough but i haven’t been able to focus on.

maybe it’s because i’m going through a lot of inner changes that are TIRING, and i’m thinking a lot about BIG LIFE STUFF.

or maybe it’s because i’m writing a lot more, including a book.

yes!

not for commission or anything (yet…) just my own fulfillment and eventual publication (*crosses fingers*). i’ve been doodling bits and bobs for a while now but this year i’m committing to spending at least 20 mins a week (baby steps) on it. if you’ve been watching my sidebar like a hawk you’ll see i’m closing in on 17,000 words (of about 80K or so). not bad, but still a lot more to do! (it’s not a novel, if you were wondering…)

anyhoo, i may not have been reading much, but i did read this, and it’s fan-tastic, uplifting, inspiring and reminded me why i love to write [all those rejections, yay! i kid. mostly]. 

i also have a whole pile’o christmas/birthday books to enjoy, and some more to buy with a lovely amazon voucher (thanks jas!)

and i realised i never filled you in on my new york book-buying adventures: what i bought, and why… so buckle up and let’s get going!

at the airport, i picked up picklehead by rohan caldappa, because i thought his autobiography of a one year old was hi-larious. this is more personal and actually autobiographical, but i’m sure will be just as funny. i hope.

my BIG book buying spree was at the strand, a landmark new york store (thanks keris for the top tip!) which i just AD-ORED. the basement is filled with bargains: unwanted, often perfect-condition review copies, many of them hardback (oops). i got:

be happy or i’ll scream! by sheri lynch because i loved the title (and related to the perfectionism therein) . i’ve now subscribed to the bob & sheri radio show as a podcast, and love it.

the used world, because i think haven kimmel is marvellous - and i love the cover.

the ivy briefs by martha kimes - ‘cos it was cheap and has been in my amazon basket for months and months and months. i learnt a lot about law school, including why the ivy league isn’t as great as you might think… interesting.

one mississippi by mark childers - i’ve heard good things and it was so very cheap (about £2).

girl with glasses by marissa walsh, because i am one, and i was hoping to get this cheap in the US, and did. it was a short read, and not that deep, and bought into a few stereotypes. but well-written and engaging and worth reading all the same.

unaccompanied women by jane juska (this one a v thin paperback) because i loved its predecessor, a round-heeled woman. the latter caused a sensation a few years ago because it was the true-story of a sixty-six year old woman who advertised in the new york review of books for a man to have sex with. (!) the book is about what follows but it’s much more about her life, her work, her relationships and her upbringing. sex is just a small part of the book and the whole thing is wonderfully moving and inspiring. so, i’m looking forward to finding out what happened next!

hack by melissa plaut, because it’s a quintessential noo yawk book and one i that’s not yet available here. (lesson learned: i could never be a new york taxi driver; talk about a hard life).

after that, i went upstairs to the new books and bought -

eat, pray, love by elizabeth gilbert because i keep hearing how good it is, and the girl next to me on the staten island ferry was reading it, which i took as a sign. i started it in florida but haven’t got really into it yet for some reason. i feel a bit ‘meh’ about everything lately, books and inspirational stories included.

reading like a writer by francine prose, for obvious reasons i hope…

and

the elements of style cos i’m a big ol’ dork who buys grammar books on holiday and calls it fun. and i’ve been meaning to buy it for yonkers.

finally, in the basement i kept seeing the hardback of money: a memoir by liz perle, which has been on my wish list for a while, but i thought it was one book too many so added it to my trolley briefly then put it right back.

then at the airport i spotted the paperback version, and had just enough cash for it, so hooray! - in it went to my overstuffed rucksack.

i am a bit scared to read it though: she might tell me not to spend all my cash on books…