Lee's 2015 Reads

For a while now I've been trying to get some structure to my reading - but I've always been too ambitious with my challenges - so this year I've decided to keep it simple
1 Penguin Classics Title
1 Penguin Modern Classics Title
1 Virago Modern Classics Title
1 from the 1001 books to read before you die list
1 chunk of Charles Dickens
With what ever takes my fancy in between and repeat

The last book I finished was Lolita - V Nabakov- which I read twice in a row. I'm so gad I had the annotated addition as otherwise even more of the allusions and word play would have gone over my head.
I'm currently half way through Dracula - I haven't read it for years and I'm really enjoying it. I'm also reading through Charles Dickens' novels in regular chunks - currently I'm on Oliver Twist.

Welcome! I read Lolita years ago, and then bought the annotated version later. One day I'll get around to re-reading it for the details like that.

Another brilliant way to experience Lolita is through the audiobook narrated by Jeremy Irons. Who knew creepy could sound sexy?

>4 ELiz_M: Jeremy Irons narrated Lolita? Guess it is Lolita reread time (uhm... re-listen)

Ooh Jeremy Irons - I love the 1st film version too with James Mason - another gorgeous man with a gorgeous voice :0)

I've just finished Dracula and oliver twist - Both of which I love. I hadn't read either for years and was rather shocked to realise how much I had missed due to my recently conquered habit of skipping ahead - I always used to think that I went back and read the section properly - but apparently not!
The True Heart my latest Virago Modern Classic is next .
I've had a bit of a mixed experience with Sylvia Townsend Warner - I love Kingdoms of the Elfin and The Corner That Held Them but didn't get on at all well with Mr Fortune's Maggot or Lolley Willows.

Nearly finished The True Heart - a wonderful book - funny, tragic and beautiful.

Finished , with much regret, The True Heart and gobbled up Flatland a biting and very entertaining satire of society written by a victorian clergyman.
This was my Penguin classic so it's time to choose my next
Penguin classic,VMC, Penguin Modern Classic and 1001.
These will be
the narrow road to the deep north,
the ice house
the birds nest
Crime and Punishment

My current Dickens is david copperfield and up next is a random pick from my shelves - solaris

I have a chunk of Charles Dickens on my to-read list this year, too. Haven't started yet.

Which one are you going for?

solaris is an amazing book - made me think a lot and almost made me cry - and I'm not usually a sci- fi fan

Finished and ,of course, loved the first quarter of david copperfield and am now off piste with the Leopard - I just took it off the shelf to read the 1st page and was totally hooked

The Leopard is an amazing book very moving, poetic and melancholy. I'm now just about to start the narrow road to the deep north and the buried giant - I hope I like it - I've read mixed reviews

Absolutely loved the buried giant - a hauntingly beautiful meditation on the legacy of war and brutality.
Reading the new penguin translation of crime and punishment now, so far so engrossing.

Crime and Punishment is an amazing book - full of mad characters and a completely thrilling read. All the way through the police inspector kept reminding me of Columbo - so I googled it and the series creators did indeed base their hero on him!
Next up is Britain BC

Didn't like Britain Bc so am reading (and enjoying) journey by moonlight - which I am loving.

journey by moonlight is an amazing book - haunting, poetic and funny.
Started but didn't like the ice house , reread girl reading which I love and am now about half way through The Birds Nest - an engrossing Shirley Jackson novel about the sudden disintegration of of the mind of a young woman with a personality disorder.

Finished the birds nest and read another chunk of david copperfield.