Sunday, January 4, 2015

New Year

New year new beginnings and all that sort of thing. I'm at the end of 10 days off work which has been wonderful. The last couple of months of 2014 really got on top of me, some particular combination of work and personal circumstances suddenly felt like to much altogether. Happily a bit of time off feels like it's done the trick, and even when I go back to work the demands of January are not so overwhelming as December's. A few days in the Scottish Borders (very large sofa, log burning stove, beautiful countryside to look at from the sofa, affectionate dogs, great food, even better company, and plenty of reading time) provided a wonderful end and beginning to 2014 and 15 respectively.
 
The Scottish Borders - an idyllic haven for moles as well as readers...

Meanwhile I finally rescued some wooden wine boxes from work to make some makeshift bookshelves with - I could wish they were smarter but they're extremely practical. They're easy to fit into odd corners, easy to move around, and whilst I still have more books than shelf (lots more books than shelf) a happy evening moving a few things around has bought me closer to some sort of order.

Most of my fairy tale related books (though not fiction with a specifically fairy tale theme -that's a dream which will have to wait) are now together. A couple more boxes and mythology can join them which will be extremely satisfying. Crime fiction has been better divided into golden age and noir as well which will make matching book to mood a far quicker task (nothing to gritty or modern here) and a few books are off to Oxfam. The best bit of rearranging - even on such a minor scale - is finding things I'd forgotten I had.
 

As for bookish resolutions for the new year, I have a few. As this is Trollope's bicentenary I will at the very least finish the Palliser books (2 left). I read 3 Zola's last year which feels about right, another 3 this year will see me just over a quarter of the way through the Rougon - Macquart cycle which is manageable. I also mean to be rather better at letting go of books I don't want/won't read again, that's not many of them but when space is precious I have to question if I'll ever really read my way through a yard of letters from assorted Mitford sisters.

So all that remains is to wish us all a happy new year

6 comments:

  1. Happy New Year! I agree with you about bookshelf rearranging. I did some of that on my break too & it's very satisfying to put all the unread books away & start the year with a clear desk & lots of good intentions!

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    1. Good intentions galore here Lyn, though not sure how long they'll last!

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  2. So glad you had a good rest and feel up to getting on with the new year. I think the wine boxes look really stylish, and I admire yo for sorting out the books, something I'm afraid I never do. Have a great 2015!

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    1. Thank you, Harriet. I can't say it was a lot f sorting more a bit of a meander along the shelves with a bit of shuffling involved. Time spent with hooks is always enjoyable and as it was almost housework too I have a lovely virtuous glow about the whole thing.

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  3. Happy New Year Hayley. Great idea with the wine boxes. I've been doing some serious playing with my books too - and sorted out several bags for the charity shop. You've made me think that I've read enough about the Mitfords vicariously now without having to read the yards of their letters etc I still have on my shelves too ...

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  4. I haven't got rid of them yet but they'll probably go in the next charity shop clear out. I need to have a final leaf through just to be sure, but honestly can't imagine ever reading them at the moment, and space is to precious to be wasted in my little flat

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