Books on the Agenda 23/4/08

I can’t remember ever reading so many books so rapidly. I’m going at the rate of around a novel a day at the moment, which is due to the fact that I am on school holidays until next Monday. (I’m a teacher in case you’re wondering). I’ve read about 5 books in the past 5 days! In the next few days, before school starts again, I plan to read and review the following:

The World Waiting to be Made - Simone Lazaroo - in fact I am half way through this already. I got sidetracked by the arrival of “Stick Out Your Tongue.” So far, it’s the best of the four Hungerford winners I’ve read.

The Day of the Locust - Nathaniel West - I got this yesterday from Serendipity Books in West Leederville for $1! I’ve always meant to read this. It’s a short book and I’m half-way through it.

Hal Spacejock: Just Desserts - Simon Haynes - book 3 in the Spacejock series. Number 4 is out soon.

The Chelsea Manifesto - Bruce Russell - this is Bruce’s second novel, and the only one I’m yet to read and review.

That will probably be the end of my reading for the holidays. I’m still waiting for the arrival of Xinran’s “Sky Burial” and Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road.” And then “Beijing Coma” will be out soon…Oh, and my plan to read all the Hungerford winners has encountered a small snag: lack of funds. I went to the State Library Bookstore in the Alexandar Library Building yesterday. Turns out they have all 3 of the published Hungerford winners I am missing, but I can’t afford them at the moment. The books are Gail Jones’ “The House of Breathing” ($17), Christopher Murray’s “A Whispering of Fish” ($18 ) and Donna Mazza’s “The Albanian” ($30 for a trade paperback).

One last thing. If you are a writer and want someone to read and review your novel, I will write a 1000-2000 word review of your novel free of charge. The only catch is you’ll have to furnish me with a copy of your book. If that sounds fair, then leave a comment hereabouts.