Thank you for this list, Barrie. I have chosen four that pique my curiosity: Small Things Like These, When God was a Rabbit, More Than This, and Ice Breaker.
I also read 'Landlines' this year. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first two - I don't think she enjoyed Scotland much as the writing felt quite flat for that section. It went up a notch or two when they crossed the border.
I read Kerri na Dochartaigh's 'Thin Places' - a tough subject but lovely writing.
Can't beat a bit of Rebus (and other crime fiction 🙂)
I've managed to read 32 books, although it includes 5 audio books.
I do love a good list, especially about books. I wished I'd sent you an early Auster book to dive into and save you the disappointment of the later one. Much as I admire his writing and love so many of his early books, his later ones were a case of diminishing and ever more difficult returns for me. Must try Mary Oliver in collection form, rather than picking up the odd wonderful poem here and there. I'm just coming to the end of Brian Dillon's 'Affinities'.
Oh many titles I’ve never heard of here! I’m currently also on the wolf hall train ✨ on the side I’m trying to read my way through my huge unread pile - it’s kinda of exciting discovering what is on my own shelves
Hey Gabby, so sorry, just catching up after our trip to UK to see my Mum and to catch up on squishes with the grandkids. I love that we'll never have enough time to read all the amazing books on our own lists and the to be read piles of others. Happy Shelf Exploring!
I will never get through all the books I want to read ... I might take a leaf out of your book (see what I did there) and make a list for myself. Right now I'm slow reading Book 2 of War and Peace; from your list, I've read Wolf Hall (and the other books in the trilogy), loved A Year of Marvellous Ways, want to read Mary Oliver's works and I've made a note of a couple of others to read.
Along with the slow read, I'm reading Wintering by Katherine May (wow) and The Way of the Fearless Writer by Beth Kempton. I'm listening to ... and this might sound weird, the audio book of my book Wildflower, because I wanted to hear the audio for myself. The narrator has done a wonderful job and I'm thrilled with it.
Sorry for the slow reply, Monique ... lots to catch up on after our trip to UK.
LOVE the thought of listening to your audio book. Wow, what a buzz. I have the Beth Kempton in a basket somewhere and we're lining up her new book on Japan too. 'Wintering' is amazing, though (whisper it quietly), neither of us have managed to get into 'Enchanted' yet. Sarah Winman is such a favourite (eek, we know her too and her lovely wife, Patricia Niven - amazing photographer) and 'Still Life' will be re-read on the train to Florence next year. Happy reading. B
"When I think of all the books still left for me to read, I am certain of further happiness"
I love this quote. As someone who has been buying books much faster than I'm able to read them, it makes me giddy looking at all of the unread books on my shelf that are waiting for me in 2024.
Thanks, Dan. I always think it is essential to have more books than we can cope with. I never know what I might be in the mood to read next - having choices across the full range of my curiosity works best (though I am always up for a re-read of a favourite). Have you got any particular titles calling out to you - I'd love to hear your recommendations. Barrie
Ah, thanks so much for the note, Niall. We have all the chairs in our lounge space pointing towards our showpiece bookcase. THE best reminder! Happy reading ... have you got a book on the go.
I just switched onto a double hander. Books to dip in and out of. Rick Rubin and Mary Oliver. Enjoying both. And the slow read of ‘Wolf Hall’ continues. I’ll check out Elkhart Tolle, thank you. Love a new title.
Can I ask, are the values for work, a side project or life generally, Niall. I’m always curious. When I scribbled ours, it was an afterthought, maybe a reflection is better. I was interested in what attracted folk to our little coffee shop (apart from Mrs F’s muffins!) ... it’s an interesting exercise. And then it’s easy to find the folk who align with them who tend to be the people you want to hang out with. That’s so much for the recommendation. Thrilled that we get a chance to speak about our values at this year’s Love Trails festival.
I've recently been led onto Rick Rubin and I'm curious to learn more. He seems like an inspirational character.
For me, values are woven into everything. Work, relationships, goals. Everything. If you know what truly matters to you, it will attract the right people into your life or business. This is what my work is all about. I help individuals and communities identify and implement their core values.
Would love to connect on the topic in more depth with you :) Good luck at Love Trails.
Love the way you embed values at the heart of everything. I think I always lived them but I wish I had captured them earlier so I could have intentionally applied them in my world of work. I'll be opening up some Encouragement Sessions in February. It would be great to swap notes, Niall.
That's it, we are always living them either consciously or subconsciously. Once we become aware, then we can question if that's how we want to live and take action. It would be great to connect. I'll reach out to you and see what works for us both!
As another avowed ‘non-joiner-in’ I’m enjoying the War & Peace and #WolfCrawl slow reads, and seem to have also acquired a Beowulf along the way. Thanks for the 2024 reading list - I’ll be shamelessly stealing some of these.
I just love the way it is structured. Beautiful words I expected. The brilliantly conceived white spaces, thoughtful pauses, are a delightful surprise. I think I am going to love it.
Thank you for this list, Barrie. I have chosen four that pique my curiosity: Small Things Like These, When God was a Rabbit, More Than This, and Ice Breaker.
Two Lopez-Barrantes bangers on this list - we love to see it, The Requisitions is a must read in my humble opinion…
I also read 'Landlines' this year. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first two - I don't think she enjoyed Scotland much as the writing felt quite flat for that section. It went up a notch or two when they crossed the border.
I read Kerri na Dochartaigh's 'Thin Places' - a tough subject but lovely writing.
Can't beat a bit of Rebus (and other crime fiction 🙂)
I've managed to read 32 books, although it includes 5 audio books.
I do love a good list, especially about books. I wished I'd sent you an early Auster book to dive into and save you the disappointment of the later one. Much as I admire his writing and love so many of his early books, his later ones were a case of diminishing and ever more difficult returns for me. Must try Mary Oliver in collection form, rather than picking up the odd wonderful poem here and there. I'm just coming to the end of Brian Dillon's 'Affinities'.
Oh many titles I’ve never heard of here! I’m currently also on the wolf hall train ✨ on the side I’m trying to read my way through my huge unread pile - it’s kinda of exciting discovering what is on my own shelves
Hey Gabby, so sorry, just catching up after our trip to UK to see my Mum and to catch up on squishes with the grandkids. I love that we'll never have enough time to read all the amazing books on our own lists and the to be read piles of others. Happy Shelf Exploring!
I will never get through all the books I want to read ... I might take a leaf out of your book (see what I did there) and make a list for myself. Right now I'm slow reading Book 2 of War and Peace; from your list, I've read Wolf Hall (and the other books in the trilogy), loved A Year of Marvellous Ways, want to read Mary Oliver's works and I've made a note of a couple of others to read.
Along with the slow read, I'm reading Wintering by Katherine May (wow) and The Way of the Fearless Writer by Beth Kempton. I'm listening to ... and this might sound weird, the audio book of my book Wildflower, because I wanted to hear the audio for myself. The narrator has done a wonderful job and I'm thrilled with it.
Sorry for the slow reply, Monique ... lots to catch up on after our trip to UK.
LOVE the thought of listening to your audio book. Wow, what a buzz. I have the Beth Kempton in a basket somewhere and we're lining up her new book on Japan too. 'Wintering' is amazing, though (whisper it quietly), neither of us have managed to get into 'Enchanted' yet. Sarah Winman is such a favourite (eek, we know her too and her lovely wife, Patricia Niven - amazing photographer) and 'Still Life' will be re-read on the train to Florence next year. Happy reading. B
"When I think of all the books still left for me to read, I am certain of further happiness"
I love this quote. As someone who has been buying books much faster than I'm able to read them, it makes me giddy looking at all of the unread books on my shelf that are waiting for me in 2024.
Thanks, Dan. I always think it is essential to have more books than we can cope with. I never know what I might be in the mood to read next - having choices across the full range of my curiosity works best (though I am always up for a re-read of a favourite). Have you got any particular titles calling out to you - I'd love to hear your recommendations. Barrie
Thank you for the reminder to read!
Ah, thanks so much for the note, Niall. We have all the chairs in our lounge space pointing towards our showpiece bookcase. THE best reminder! Happy reading ... have you got a book on the go.
Creating a reading environment. Smart move! Many books on the go but the one I'm deep in is "The Joy of Being" by Eckhart Tolle. What about you?
P.S. I just recommended your publication. I love how you've weaved values into what you do. That's my aim also.
I just switched onto a double hander. Books to dip in and out of. Rick Rubin and Mary Oliver. Enjoying both. And the slow read of ‘Wolf Hall’ continues. I’ll check out Elkhart Tolle, thank you. Love a new title.
Can I ask, are the values for work, a side project or life generally, Niall. I’m always curious. When I scribbled ours, it was an afterthought, maybe a reflection is better. I was interested in what attracted folk to our little coffee shop (apart from Mrs F’s muffins!) ... it’s an interesting exercise. And then it’s easy to find the folk who align with them who tend to be the people you want to hang out with. That’s so much for the recommendation. Thrilled that we get a chance to speak about our values at this year’s Love Trails festival.
I've recently been led onto Rick Rubin and I'm curious to learn more. He seems like an inspirational character.
For me, values are woven into everything. Work, relationships, goals. Everything. If you know what truly matters to you, it will attract the right people into your life or business. This is what my work is all about. I help individuals and communities identify and implement their core values.
Would love to connect on the topic in more depth with you :) Good luck at Love Trails.
Love the way you embed values at the heart of everything. I think I always lived them but I wish I had captured them earlier so I could have intentionally applied them in my world of work. I'll be opening up some Encouragement Sessions in February. It would be great to swap notes, Niall.
That's it, we are always living them either consciously or subconsciously. Once we become aware, then we can question if that's how we want to live and take action. It would be great to connect. I'll reach out to you and see what works for us both!
As another avowed ‘non-joiner-in’ I’m enjoying the War & Peace and #WolfCrawl slow reads, and seem to have also acquired a Beowulf along the way. Thanks for the 2024 reading list - I’ll be shamelessly stealing some of these.
We non-joiners seem to be doing a pretty good job of joining in! All change for 2024! Joining in, it's a thing!
I am currently reading Cacophony of Bone too and so far enjoying its quite prose immensely.
I just love the way it is structured. Beautiful words I expected. The brilliantly conceived white spaces, thoughtful pauses, are a delightful surprise. I think I am going to love it.
Thanks Barrie. I can't get my head around how many people are joining us. But I love these books so much, and I hope you will too!
I can’t wait - I can’t start till next week but I’m already looking forward to the catching up!
The first two chapters rattled by for me ... you'll catch up in no time!
oooh I JUST cant wait!!!
I already am loving it ... holding myself in check to relish the intentional slow unfurling. Love that it gives me scope to read other fabulous works.