Field Notes, vol 1

I love reading other bloggers’ journal-like notes on what they’ve been reading, and I’ve long wanted to do something similar, a bit looser than my one-book posts or my old Sunday Salon format. Since a new year seems like a good time for new beginnings, I’ll be doing just that! Sundays will now be a day for me to step back and reflect on the larger picture of what I’ve been reading, both book-wise and blog-wise. And rather than participating in TSS, I’ll now be doing my own little feature, which I’ve entitled Field Notes to indulge my secret wish to be a gentleman naturalist when I grow up. I expect to play with the format for a bit before settling into what works best.

Books
The new year has definitely started off on the right foot: every book I’ve read so far as been quite enjoyable, and several I’ve adored. I doubt it’s a coincidence that I’ve also been exploring the back lists of authors I’ve read in the past. There’s something so delicious about reconnecting with a writer and seeing new sides to her. I’m a bit tempted to put together a mini theme of winter books. We’ve been having unusually chilly weather, which for my cold-loving self has felt like a gift from the gods. So now is the time for me to indulge in winter settings without becoming hopelessly envious! At the same time, I’m feeling the call towards older books. When I went to choose a new novel to start yesterday, I was shocked to discover that almost all of the ones I had out from the library had been published in the twenty-first century. The tyranny of the new I suppose. Good thing I’ve put my books up on my new bookcases (part of my fit of activity on New Year’s Eve), so I have access to older works as well! And luckily I had Isak Dinesen’s Winter Tales stored away, the perfect combination of winter and older writing. It’s a short story collection, so I’ve been pausing more than during a novel, and as I type I have only one story left. Each has been a jewel so far, enough that I wish the collection was twice as large. Ah well: perhaps I’ll reread her Gothic Tales for consolation.

I went on my first library catalogue frolic of the year and now have all kinds of lovely books making their way towards my library branch. I usually go to the library on Monday, so I hope most of them arrive by tomorrow. You’ll meet them on Friday when I dust off my vlogging skills, but let’s just say I definitely indulged in more of authors I’ve read in the past with a few new-to-me ones for spice.

Blogging
Marilyn’s has begun a new project: Global Women of Color. It’s both a resource blog and challenge for 2013, and I hope it has widespread success. Look for a list from me soon of books I might read for it and books I definitely recommend to other participants, but for now I urge you to visit and sign up. Marilyn has provided three different levels, one of which is simply to follow the blog and comment, so you can broaden your awareness even if you can’t read any books.

On a related note, it’s my turn to host the discussion at A Year of Feminist Classics. We’re reading Feminism Without Borders by Chandra Talpade Mohanty this month. I’m not going to start the discussion until mid January, so you’ve got time to get your hands on a copy and join us (I’ll be picking it up from the library tomorrow)!

Finally, I’ve decided to do a blog makeover in the next couple of months. It’s been years, literally, and though I’m content to be a creature of habit I’ve got a few new ideas I’d like to try out. If you have any thoughts on the matter, do share, although if you’re like me most of your blog reading is through a feed reader anyway.