Today, I’m sharing my plans for my #20BOS26. I shall go for the full 20 books. (Find the details and sign up for the challenge HERE)
As always, I refuse to pick a pile of twenty books in advance – I know some of you do do that, and anyone who can (mostly) stick to their piles deserves a medal! However, I find it impossible to do that – I get distracted, and don’t enjoy reading to order for pleasure.
Instead, I shall as always just pick books from my TBR. Previously, I’ve said they should be ones I’ve owned before the start of this year, but I’m going to bring that forward to any books I’ve acquired before the end of May so I can accommodate some more recent purchases. The only exception to this will be book group picks which will count. Blog tours and new review copies won’t. That said, I do want to build two authors into my 20 books.
I love Nicola Barker’s novels, (reviews here, here, and here), and the picture shows the ones I still have on my shelves to read (there are a couple more still to acquire). I hope to read at least two of them… They’re stacked in publication order, earliest to latest, top to bottom. Five Miles from Outer Hope is short stories. (Not pictured, Behindlings which would have come between Darkmans and The Yips if I’d found it in time!)
But which to pick first? I’m drawn to The Cauliflower. Any recommendations? I guess Darkmans, which was Booker shortlisted in 2012, ought to be one, but it’s very long indeed at nearly 850 pages! But when better to read it than the long summer hols eh? And maybe one of the early ones.
I have also invested in the first three books in the On the Calculation of Volume series by Solvej Balle, translated from the Danish by Barbara J Haveland, which will be seven books once all are published (IV is just out), pictured here with Harry looking on slightly puzzledly.
The whole series is predicated on a Groundhog Day basis, but the author had the idea before the film came out. I can’t wait to get stuck into these, I’m told each volume ends on a cliffhanger!
BUY at Waterstones via my affiliate links: Nicola Barker books, Solvej Balle books.
Love Nicola Barker and want to read more of her work.
She’s so innovative and there’s always humour behind her writing. I just love it.
I read Darkmans back in December and would say its format belies its size – many paragraphs are single lines of thought or dialogue, so it reads faster than it looks like it would. Exciting!
I must go back to your thoughts on it – OK – that’ll be my first Barker read – sold.
Woohooooo!
I have never read anything by Nicola Barker – will have to try!
She’s very quirky and funny, and since she hit her stride, every novel is completely different. (I’ve not read her earliest ones yet though). I hope you get on with her if you do give one a go.
I’ll be reading your thoughts on Nicola Barker with interest, she’s one of those author’s I’m always meaning to get to reading & yet never do.
I hope it inspires you to try her Helen!
I love Nicola Barker and I’ve fallen so far behind with her! So I’m looking forward to your reviews as an impetus to get back to her 🙂
Me too, hence the mini project.
Oh, dear, Harry doesn’t look best pleased, though a tabby rarely does! I AM going to do a pile and try to stick to it, although in my care it’s the oldest books on the TBR and I will do it nearer the end of the month in case I happen to read the oldest one in the meantime. I hope the challenge goes really well for everyone, I’m really looking forward to it.
He’s always perplexed when I surround him with books! Thanks for joining in.
I’m totally the same: ‘assigning’ myself 20 books doesn’t work at all as I tend to lose interest as soon as I’ve set them! So it’ll be any 20 books from my shelves. Though of course I do have some ideas about what to prioritize, and will post them on Monday.
I’m going to ask my library to order the Balle series.
As I remember you often pick a theme or two… Looking forward to your planning post. 😀
Have fun, I need to start my list
I’ve read H(A)PPY and loved it. I’ve got a Nicola Barker list on my library account. Maybe I’ll request one soon.
Excellent news!
I hope you enjoy On the Calculation of Volume as much as I have – so much to ponder!
I’ve only read Clear by Nicola Barker but I loved it and have been meaning to read more of her work.
I loved Clear too.
Listing books to read doesn’t work well for me either so I think I’ll follow your lead and just go for books I already own. I have plenty to choose from.
I’ve read only one Nicola Barker – In the Approaches.I remember absolutely nothing about it which tells me that I clearly didn’t rate it highly. Maybe I just chose the wrong book though
I probably won’t read that one then! Her latest, TonyInterruptor, was brilliant as was I Am Sovereign – the later set over a 20 minute house-viewing with a language barrier between agent and buyer! Hilariously madcap.
I’ve not read her. Another for me to look at closely
I can’t read to order either, so my list is definitely going to change over the summer.
Thank you for hosting this challenge again. I have just put up my post. Due to a busy schedule for the time being I go for 10 books. Anything else will be a bonus.
I have never heard of Nicola Barker, but I presume she must be very good since you have so many books by her. I just have to check her out.