I’m back from my holidays and over the cold so pretty much ready to start the new year which not unexpectedly has already started without me whilst I’m still pondering resolutions. I don’t seem to stick to resolutions terribly well so have been trying to come up with some things I already half do and want to be more whole hearted about...
Last year is the first time I kept something approaching a record of what I read – by which I mean a note in my diary whenever I finished a book and even then it’s quite possible I missed some. A quick count suggests 65 novels read, I think that’s more than last year, I think I also acquired books at 3 to 4 times the rate I managed to read them. On the whole I don’t have a problem with that; now I’ve started on Trollope I know I’m going to read my way through a good chunk of his work so there’s no point in waiting for prices to go up, and the same is true for good second hand finds, but at the same time I want to read more this year. Not necessarily more books but definitely more pages (some of those Trollope’s are doorsteps) so I’m resolving to spend less time watching television I’m not interested in, a lot less time playing solitaire, and a bit less time pointlessly mooching around Waterstones in the vain hope my local branch will ever stock something I want to buy.
So far I’m not doing very well – a whole week away and I only managed to read 2 books, I did however get to spend some time with my family (and even better the dogs without whom no country visit would be complete) in really idyllic surroundings so it was by no means time wasted. We also visited a handful of bookshops – 2 branches of Waterstones in Edinburgh (woeful) and 3 excellent independents in the borders including the superb Main Street Trading Company in Newton St Boswells which I think is possibly my favourite bookshop anywhere for the mix of stock, atmosphere, cafe, helpful staff, and all round loveliness.
Good bookshops are to be cherished, The Main Street Trading Company pretty much sums up my winning the lottery and this is what I do with my life dream. The blonde and I first found it about 2 years ago and I’ve made the pilgrimage back a few times since coming to the firm conclusion that it just gets better; very much worth a visit.
And now I feel myself beginning to ramble so it seems like a good time to put my resolution into action by stepping back from the lap top and picking up a book. Happy New Year.
I've made the same resolution about Waterstone's, too. I'm sick of looking at their celebrity biogs and tacky thrillers. I'll try to use the independents and second-hand shops this year.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! It's never too late to make resolutions & yours sound like good ones. Especially the bit about more Trollope!
ReplyDeleteGlad you're back! I really enjoy reading your blog and look forward to your Trollope Thoughts.
ReplyDelete"...I think I also acquired books at 3 to 4 times the rate I managed to read them." I so know this.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the bookshop front. It will either be second hand, independent (at the moment I'm wondering whether Daunt books still count as independent). Although the second hand book shop buying does lead to a little bit of hoarding due to 'it won't be in their next time' mentality.
ReplyDeleteHoarding is the word for it, but it's second nature to me so I don't think I'm even going to try and break that habit.
ReplyDeleteInterested to see that I'm not the only one fed up with the big chains. It's really good to see how vibrant the independants can be though - hopefully there is a futire for high street bookselling after all.
Happy New Year Hayley - nice to see you back even if it isn't nice to be back!
ReplyDeleteIt's alright being back Verity, I'm just about to set off for work though and I'm not feeling very enthusiastic. Like you quite a chunk of my holiday time was taken up by feeling ill, I want more time to lounge about reading books and admiring the scenery, this having to earn a living thing isn't very relaxing.
ReplyDeleteI quite agree about independent bookshops. There are surprisingly few in New York, which is distressing, though I do all of my book shopping at the Strand anyway. There's no equivalent to Charing Cross Road/Cecil Court here that I can find which is sad, and surely a sign that the big bad wolves of chain store commerce have forced them out.
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