I'm quite tired after coordinating cooking for an Alpha course my church is running, and all sorts of other busy activities over the past week, so shall sideline worthier posts and instead do a little this-book-that-book-this-book-that-book sort of post that I hope you'll copy on your own blogs. A quick bit of fun...
1.) The book I'm currently reading:
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters - and it is absolutely, stunningly brilliant. I just hope it doesn't let me down at the end, as The Little Stranger did. So far (about halfway) I am blown away by how clever it is.
2.) The last book I finished:
How Can You Bear to be Human? by Nicolas Bentley - as you might have guessed, I bought this because of the title. Amusing glances at how people behave, with witty (and occasionally relevant) sketches.
3.) The next book I want to read:
Wise Children by Angela Carter - in an email discussion with Claire (aka Paperback Reader) today, I realised how much I want to read this, and how shameful it is that I've not read anything by Carter yet.
4.) The last book I bought:
The Sundial by Shirley Jackson - I've wanted to read this for a while, but finding Jenny's review from last November pushed me over the edge, and I paid a nastily high amount to get this shipped across the Atlantic.
5.) The last book I was given:
The Diary of a Provincial Lady by E.M. Delafield - lovely Thomas (My Porch) knows I collect different editions of this wonderful book, and so very kindly gave me this beautiful edition - which makes it my sixth!
Let me know if you decide to post your five! Hope you do...
Fingersmith is turning out one of my favourite books of the year. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Hope it holds up for you.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to do this but I'll need to take some pictures...
ReplyDeleteNice post, Simon.
ReplyDeleteI've done one too.
I want to play. :) Here you are, and thanks!
ReplyDeleteI LOVED The Sundial, and I can't wait to hear your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteGood post
ReplyDeleteI have had a go on my blog as well.
I loved, loved, loved “Fingersmith”. I read “The Little Stranger” as well, and while I thought it was effective (it totally creeped me out), it does not compare to how fantastic and clever and engrossing “Fingersmith is. I hope you are not disappointed, but I have a feeling you won’t be
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, Simon. Here's my post.
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/3kvk5et
Love it. Just posted mine: http://harrietdevine.typepad.com/harriet_devines_blog/2011/05/one-book-two-book-three-book-fourand-five.html
ReplyDeleteWhere you lead, Simon ...!
ReplyDeleteMy lot is here - http://bit.ly/jhC3LM
I love Wise Children. It's the only Angela Carter I've read, and considering how much I enjoyed it, I don't know why I haven't read more.
ReplyDeleteThis was fun! (and your books are more interesting than mine). Thanks, Simon.
ReplyDeletehttp://booksasfood.blogspot.com/2011/05/one-book-two-books.html
Here's my list: Current - The Thirteen Gun Salute by Patrick O'Brian; Most Recent - This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti (a reread with my dds); Up next - My Reading Life by Pat Conroy; Last bought - A Bloody Field by Shrewsbury by Edith Pargeter; Last gift - The Lost Traveller by Antonia White (from a drawing on Thomas of My Porch's blog).
ReplyDeleteSo fun to read everyone's posts on this! Thanks for starting the ball rolling, Simon.
This is a wonderful idea! And such fun :-) Your selection of books are quite varied and intriguing. I've never come across the Bentley book but I love the title and want to read it now.
ReplyDeleteHere are my responses: http://rochester-reader.blogspot.com/2011/05/one-book-two-book-three-book-four-and.html
I really enjoyed Fingersmith, glad that you are enjoying it too :-)
ReplyDeleteA lovely selection of books, and I've posted mine too.
ReplyDeleteJust posted my version of the list on my blog :-)
ReplyDeleteI remember really enjoying Fingersmith and being entranced by the plot twists.
ReplyDeleteHere is my list of books. I've had a lot of fun pulling this together and reading the responses from other bloggers!
Had to join in the fun! Plus, it's nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteMy answers are here.
I just read my first Sarah Waters this autumn, The Little Stranger, and I'm looking forward to Fingersmith. Also want to read more by Shirley Jackson, but again, she seems autumnal to me. :)
I thought 'Fingersmith' was excellent when I read it a few years ago, so I hope it doesn't let you down. I studied 'Wise Children' at university and remember it being good fun though rather bizarre, although I've since come to expect that from Angela Carter!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea I've had to join in: http://oldenglishrose.dmi.me.uk/2011/05/08/one-book-two-book-three-book-four-and-five/
Currently reading - Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks. Excellent.
ReplyDeleteLast read - At School with the Stanhopes by Gwendoline Courtney.
Next book - Louisa May Alcott by Harriet Reisen. Looking forward to this.
Last bought - The Fair Miss Fortune by D E Stevenson. A newly discovered story by one of my favourite writers.
Last given - The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver.
I've just posted on my blog and don't have the energy to write a full post again, but I love lists so:
ReplyDeleteReading at the moment: Oystercatchers by Susan Fletcher - I've read this before and am reading it again just for fun, it's a bit overwritten and melodramatic but quite immersive!
Last book I read: Great House by Nicole Krauss, which I've commented on briefly on my blog.
Book I'll read next: Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch, because Amazon gave it me for free...
Last book I bought: The Prime Minister by Anthony Trollope. I'm trying to read my way through the Palliser series...
Last book given to me: No-one ever dares to give me books, so it was ages ago and I think it was The Diary of a Madman, The Government Inspector and Selected Stories by Gogol, which I found generally hilarious, especially 'The Nose'.
(I'm really enjoying reading everyone else's!)
Mine is up now!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! I just posted mine, too.
ReplyDeletehttp://lakesidemusing.blogspot.com/2011/05/tss-one-book-two-book-three-book-four.html
Another brilliant meme from Stuck-In-A-Book! Here's my response:
ReplyDeletehttp://lizzysiddal.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/tss-the-this-book-and-that-meme/
I'm participating, too! Here's mine:
ReplyDeletehttp://agirlwalksintoabookstore.blogspot.com/2011/05/sunday-salon_08.html
I love your idea and had to share mine here:
ReplyDeletehttp://bit.ly/jJBfHi
I loved Fingersmith and hope you enjoy it as well. I have that same exact edition of PL by the way!
I posted today: http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/2011/05/meme-one-book-two-book-three-book-four.html
ReplyDeleteThe Nicolas Bentley book looks very interesting!
ReplyDeleteThanks to raidergirl3 for bringing your new meme to my attention! I've joined in: http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2011/05/new-meme-one-book-two-book-three-book.html
I did it! http://tinyurl.com/4y7a3xy
ReplyDeleteNo one could ever have too many copies of the Provincial Lady. I also adored Fingersmith. My list is up now here. A great idea and worth doing regularly to get us all organized!
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed this post Simon. I've just done my own if you'd like to check it out...
ReplyDeletehttp://ihugmybooks.wordpress.com/2011/05/09/one-book-two-book-three-book-four-and-five/
Wonderful. Have done my own list now here
ReplyDeleteYes! http://northernreader.wordpress.com/
ReplyDeleteNorhternreader has joined the merry throng of five book posts!
Oooh I really like this idea I think I might have to do something very similar in the next couple of days!!
ReplyDeleteEmerging from blog retirement for One Book, Two Book. A fun one, Simon.
ReplyDeleteHistorical / Present
I love how many people have picked this up - and how good it is (a) to see the combos that come up and (b) to add yet more ideas to my TBR wishlist.
ReplyDeleteI've already read Diary of a Provincial Lady (and only picked it up because of the gorgeous VMC30 printed fabric on the hardcover) but all of your other four appeal to me. And the photos are gorgeous too - they really add to the post.
My list is here http://rosesyear.blogspot.com/2011/05/one-book-two-book-three-book-four-and.html
Fingersmith was one of my top favorites last year.
ReplyDeleteNow I have done my part.
My goodness look what you started! This was really fun. Here's mine.
ReplyDeleteI feel just the same, I'm about eighty pages from the end of Fingersmith and I love it, twists!!
ReplyDeleteIt's my current, the book I read previously was The lost salt gift of blood by Alistair MacLeod (Canadian short stories) Next book is purple Hibiscus for a book club, last book bought was Nocturnes by Ishiguro (short stories) which was pants, and last book given to me was an Ian Rankin crime novel and I keep putting it off and putting it off. Great blog.
Just happened across your blog for the first time today. This was too fun an idea to miss. My list is here:
ReplyDeletehttp://yellowpencilstub.wordpress.com/2011/05/11/reading-list/
I just posted my answers in celebration of passing my teacher licensure exams!
ReplyDeletehttp://bookreadingbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/05/celebrate.html
I loved your meme and have also posted mine up!
ReplyDeleteFingersmith and The Little Stranger were both creepy but enjoyable!
I've joined in too. What a great meme.
ReplyDeleteFingersmith is an amazing read. Much more satisfying than The Little Stranger I think. Love the Shirley Jackson. Her books are quite difficult to come across.
Congratulations on a wonderful idea. It has generated a lot of interest from bloggers everywhere. So much that I decided to chip in with my fivepence worth, which I've posted here - http://alister-rutherford.blogspot.com/2011/05/take-five-books.html
ReplyDeleteHere's mine, rather tardy and sent from a waiting room, sorry...
ReplyDeletehttp://savidgereads.wordpress.com/2011/05/12/one-book-two-book-three-book-four-and-five/
Great meme Simon!
Couldn't resist. Have posted mine today:)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on a wonderful idea. It has clearly caught the imagination of many bloggers. So much so that I decided to chip in with my fivepence worth. I have put up my selection here - http://alister-rutherford.blogspot.com/2011/05/take-five-books.html
ReplyDeleteIt's a little belated, but here is my post.
ReplyDeleteI posted my link a few days ago, but then Blogger exploded and my comment disappeared :). Here's my link again. http://bookreadingbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/05/celebrate.html
ReplyDeleteHaving seen so many of these I have finally decided to do my own here.
ReplyDeleteA bit late to the party but here's mine: http://phantomday.blogspot.com/2011/05/one-book-two-book-three-book-four-and.html
ReplyDeleteI also read Fingersmith recently and really enjoyed it! Look forward to seeing your write up.
love this idea, and better late than never.
ReplyDeleteclick for my pictures and words about books.
Very late to the party but I couldn't resist this one.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lovelaughterinsanity.com/2011/05/sunday-salon-45-one-book-two-book-three.html
Hope you're enjoying Fingersmith (probably finished by now). Great book!!
Just posted ours: http://girlsjustwannareadbooks.blogspot.com/2011/05/one-book-two-book-three-book-fourand.html
ReplyDeleteHi Simon. My post is here at http://jiescribano.wordpress.com/2011/10/30/one-book-two-book-three-book-four-and-five/
ReplyDeleteSimon: Here is my contribution -http://mysteriesandmore.blogspot.com/2011/10/one-book-two-book-three-book-four-and.html
ReplyDelete