2023 reading plans and goals

[John]

2022 was such a disjointed reading year for me due to family and work commitments and stresses, found it difficult to settle into my reading. I did though get through a good few of the Booker listed novels and others. A highlight for me is always keeping an eye on this group and the various works its various members are finding and discussing.

2023 my aim really is to get back into that reading habit and make more time for it. I will focus if time permits on Women's Prize, Booker and I would like to read more works in translation, so likely International Booker.

I would also like to revisit some of my old favourite classics so have in mind Tolstoy (War and Peace), Eliot's Middlemarch and perhaps some Anthony Trollope. On my list is also a rerun through Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time series.

Over the summer holidays month here in Australia (Jan) I'm catching up on a few books I missed through 2022 (Diaz's Trust, Serpell's The Furrows, McEwan's Lessons and Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead are all in the pile).

[WndyJW]

I liked Fagles’ better than Alexander’s translation of The Iliad, but Wilson’s better than Fagles’ trans of The Odyssey and I love The Iliad more than The Odyssey so I’m super excited about Wilson translating The Iliad.

[WndyJW]

I hope you find time for reading in 2023, John, and that your life is less stressful in general!

[Shuva]

I want to read more Indian writing this year, Indian writers writing in English as well as translated works. Special thanks going out here to Aabha Muralidharan for all the recommendations. I also want to read, in the original, certain Bengali writers, since that's the only Indian language in which I am fluent.
I hope to get to more translations from other languages too; last year I only managed to read Cursed Bunny, which I loved.

[WndyJW]

Hi Shuva! Happy New Year!

I plan on focusing on Indian/ South Asian translations this year. I’m addition to the JCB shortlist that I need to finish, I also have River of Fire, Stories of the True : Translated from the Tamil by Priyamvada, An End to Suffering: The Buddha in the World (not a translation and more for personal interest,) and the Sri Lankan The Birth Lottery and Other Surprises, and a shelf of other Indian novels I haven’t read yet.

[Alwynne]

Happy New Year everyone, going to carry on as usual lots of East Asian fiction - I hope - and classic work by women, as well as indie fiction. Going to try to be more discerning about ARCs and can really relate to Lark's issues about racing through stuff to get to the next thing on my list. I'd also like to make time for longer projects, have had copies of Anthony Powell's Dance to the Music of Time series for ages and I'd like to get around to that. Also want to reread more of my Virago collection particular Antonia White's Frost in May series.

[WndyJW]

The Virago women authors were what I missed the most the last year or two.

[Sonia]

Alwynne wrote: "Happy New Year everyone, going to carry on as usual lots of East Asian fiction - I hope - and classic work by women, as well as indie fiction. Going to try to be more discerning about ARCs and can ..."

Coincidentally at the beginning of 22 I had 22 unread VMCs, so began in 22 in 22 project. In the end I read 24. Am going for 23 in 23, and have 16 so far. I love secondhand book shopping and hunting out the old green spines. Husband has given up asking why we are going places on day trips.

[WndyJW]

There are way more Virago books than I thought, you can be busy for the rest of your life!

[David]

WndyJW wrote: "Thanks, David, but I spend 8 hours a day trying to help people struggling in the plight of the American Urban experience. I have a front row seat to the lives of those hit hardest by political decisions, economic crisis, and environmental dangers. I want dragons, magic, castles, moors, ancient curses, and wise crones!"

Wendy, here's a fantasy book that should be right up your alley, courtesy of The Onion: https://www.theonion.com/underwhelmin...

[David]

Shuva wrote: "I want to read more Indian writing this year, Indian writers writing in English as well as translated works. Special thanks going out here to Aabha Muralidharan for all the recommendations. I also want to read, in the original, certain Bengali writers, since that's the only Indian language in which I am fluent."

Welcome, Shuva. Do you have any favorite Bengali writers? I am hoping to pick up Khwabnama again at the end of January, which I started last year and set aside for a bit. Despite the short break, I'm loving it.

[Arun]

Shuva wrote: "I want to read more Indian writing this year, Indian writers writing in English as well as translated works. Special thanks going out here to Aabha Muralidharan for all the recommendations. I also ..."

Hi Shuva,
Happy New Year! If you haven’t read anything by the Tamil language author Ambai, I’d strongly recommend checking out her collections of short stories such as A Red-necked Green Bird. I also really enjoyed Hangwoman which happens to be set in Kolkata although it was written in Malayalam originally. But I’ve always noted an affinity between West Bengal and Kerala both politically and culturally.
Arun

[WndyJW]

David wrote: "WndyJW wrote: "Thanks, David, but I spend 8 hours a day trying to help people struggling in the plight of the American Urban experience. I have a front row seat to the lives of those hit hardest by..."

Ha! I see at least my unremarkable suburb, Mentor, made it onto the map!

[WndyJW]

Arun wrote: "Shuva wrote: "I want to read more Indian writing this year, Indian writers writing in English as well as translated works. Special thanks going out here to Aabha Muralidharan for all the recommenda..."

Hangwoman sounds wild!