“Have I gone mad?
I’m afraid so, but let me tell you something, the best people usually are.”
Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
So, clearly, because I haven’t set myself a ridiculous enough challenge with my blog as a whole, I have been persuaded to take part in March Madness by the lovely Juliana at Cedar Station! As part of the month-long readathon beginning this Saturday, I have set myself the goal of reading a minimum of 10 books during March. As I am averaging 4 -5 a month at the moment, 10 will be hard work to get through, but the temptation to get the 746 down into the 720s in a matter of weeks is too good to resist!
So here are the books I hope to read, in no particular order:
Tampa by Alissa Nutting
The Seven Days of Peter Crumb by Johnny Glynn
Race by David Mamet
Posh by Laura Wade
The Scattering by Christopher Reid
Run by Ann Patchett
This is Water by David Foster Wallace
The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg
Point Omega by Don DeLillo
Hotel Iris by Yoko Ogawa
If you look closely you’ll see that there are two plays, a volume of poetry and well, a speech in there, so I have been selective in the length of books I’ve chosen. Yet they are all in the 746 and would have to be read at some point, so I’m going to give myself a break! I’ve also made the effort to support the Read Women 2014 initiative so 50% of these books are written by women.
My posts during the month will obviously be much shorter – can’t take up too much precious reading time – but they will be more frequent so it all balances out.
If you are taking part in March Madness, please do link up to your own starter post below, I like to see what other people are reading and I’m going to need all the support I can get!
I really am mad, but let’s do this….
Good luck & happy reading!
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I’m gonna need it Erich, thanks! Think I’ll start with the plays first and get some momentum going…
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Tampa by Alissa Nutting is also on my TBR list for the upcoming couple of months. I look forward to seeing what you think of it!
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I’ve read really opposing opinions on Tampa, that’s probably why it interested me!
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This is an interesting mix of books. Can’t wait to read about them! Run is the only one I’ve read, and I thought it was good, so hopefully you will too. Good luck and have fun!
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Thanks Naomi, I’ve read Bel Canto and have owned Run for years, so it’s about time I read it!
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nice selection. looking forward to your take. a friend saw “Race” on Broadway (with James Spader). Her verdict was that it was “very shouty”. If you’re still in need of some more March Book Madness, head over to Out of Print: http://outofprintclothing.com/book-madness/
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It’s been a while since I’ve read a Mamet play and you know how I am about Mamet, so we’ll see. I love Out of Print so much. I have the Light in August and Wuthering Heights tees.
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and speaking of mamet, they’ve done another version of About Last Night that supposedly is much closer to Sexual Perversity in Chicago than the 1980s flick.
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I saw that recently. I’m not a fan of remakes but I would consider that. About Last Night was a bit shit really…
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and you’re evidently the Queen of Cool Tees
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I am a bit obsessed with tees. My current favourite is my Pretty in Pink one that has a big pic of an 80’s James Spader on. And we come full circle 😃
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🙂 although he’s getting rather pudgy now 🙂
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I don’t care how pudgy he gets. I’m watching The Blacklist and Spader still has it….
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Yay! I’ll link this up on my blog, too. Great choices. That Tampa cover is just, like, all up in your face about it, huh? 😉
So glad you’re joining in!
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I veer between thinking the Tampa cover is utter genius and then thinking it is totally crass. I have a feeling that the book may provoke the same reaction!
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funnily enough, i was in a bookshop looking for that, but i couldn’t find it 🙂
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Ha, I think I could see it being either way! I’ve heard a lot of divided opinions about this one. Can’t wait to see which side you fall in with!
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Nice list. I want to get to Tampa sooner than later. Maybe I should join in…
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Please do Laura, a Tampa read-a-long!
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That would be an impossible target for me since I average about 4 pr 5 like you. The only way I can read more is to go on a long plane journey. Good luck though
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Thanks, I may not make the 10 but I’ll give it a go…
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10 in a month, that’s hardcore, have fun!
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Thanks! I just hope I don’t have to post with my proverbial tail between my legs in April when I’ve only managed 4……
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Haha but it’s the taking part that counts!
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Sometimes I make a little pile (sub-pile?) of the shortest books in my TBR pile. It does help winnow the darn stack down.
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Exactly James, even having a smaller pile of 10 makes it all seem more manageable!
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Hi! Just stopping by to say that This is Water is just unbelievably good. I still have to read it each time I feel like I’m being too complacent about my life. I snap out of it right away 🙂
By the way, there’s the audio of that speech out there. I’m pretty sure it was published in brainpickings.org at some point. Not as good in quality as a real audiobook, but it’s pretty good too.
Good luck!
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Thanks for stopping by Nat, I heard a clip of the speech (possibly on brainpickings) and loved it. Wanted to read it in my own time, so I’m looking forward to it a lot.
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Good luck! I hope you enjoy all the books you mentioned. I’ve note read Yoko Ogawa’s Hotel Iris yet but I’ve read The Diving Pool. I’ve heard of Tampa before and I’ll be interested to know what you think about it. Have a great time reading in March and the rest of the year 🙂
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Thanks so much! I’m looking forward to Hotel Iris and I have The Diving Pool in the 746. I read her book of connected short stories Revenge and really enjoyed it.
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Wow, 746 books. It takes my breath away thinking about owning so many unread books. Staggering. I’ve relieved myself of so many books over the last 2 years. It’s refreshing. I feel like it’s ok to visit the library now. lol. Good luck with your reading. Any little bit can be rewarding.
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Thanks Bree. Small steps. I can’t wait to get into the 600s!!
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Now I know what you mean by March Madness!! This is a mad amount of reading–good luck, and I hope you get some sleep this month 😉
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I know, I started well but have hit a real lull. Gonna have to knuckle down to get to 10 😃
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So how’s it going so far? Wil you make it do you think?
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Hi! I’m at 4.5 books out of the 10. Which is on track but I’ve used up 3 of my short reads so the next couple of weeks could be tough going. I think I’ll make 8, but 10 might be a push!
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well thats still 80% which is good going
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It will still be above average which was the whole point of taking part, so I can’t be bad to that 😉
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Good luck! I thought about doing this but I didn’t think I could commit.
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Thanks! I still think I might get there but no promises….
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Lol, am routing for you 🙂
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You can do it – I have faith! You might want to not have 10 hefty tomes mind you!!
Lynn 😀
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Thanks Lynn, I was sneaky and slipped in some plays and a poetry collection!
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Great reading list! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts about The Ice Princess!
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Thanks Jack! I talk about The Ice Princess in my latest post, I enjoyed it but had a couple of issues with the writing style.
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