An Update of Random Bits.

February.

My favourite month of the year, for the simple reason that it has my birthday in it.

Not that anything particularly exciting ever happens though. :p

I have been wanting to put something up in this space ever since the last post, but never seem to have enough substance or content, nor the inspiration to make up for a post-worthy piece.

So I thought I will just go ahead and share some of the random bits (bookish and otherwise) that might (or might not) be of interest to anyone visiting these pages. 

This post was supposed to be up last Friday, as I didn’t want the month to go by without leaving some footprint here. But then one of my cats went missing and I was derailed for a bit. 

I am happy to report that all is (almost) well now (hence the appearance of this post), and my cat is safely back, recovering from its wounds after being found on Saturday night, bloodied and traumatized – aftermath from a vicious catfight. 

Speaking of cats, here’s a useful tip I came across on Instagram recently, which might be of interest to some:

 

Random bits on reading.

Some of the books I’ve got going, of which some do not seem to be going anywhere at all. :p

 

And here are some of the ones that have been most recently added to the never-ending list of want-to-reads. I will not attempt to share the list that I have also managed to amass in Scribd. 

 

• I read a really funny short story by W. Somerset Maugham titled ‘The Luncheon’ and am encouraged to want to read more.
• I also read some Saki and am reminded of his deliciously wicked wit.
• Read the first essay in Julian Barnes’ “The Pedant in the Kitchen” and hope to continue soon.
• Finishing up Ali Smith’s “Public Library & other stories”, and am reminded again of what it was that made me fell for her all those years ago when I first read her slim Pocket Penguin edition of “Ali Smith’s Supersonic 70s”. 

 

Hope to finally finish this Geert Mak soon. At least the marker has moved down progressively in the past weeks.

 

Random bits on listening.

• One reason I am so in love with Scribd is because of their huge selection of audiobooks.
• Managed to finish Anthony Horowitz’s Magpie Murders and Barbara Pym’s Jane & Prudence in the last month.
• Currently making my way through Rachel Cusk’s essays in Coventry and Sinead Gleeson’s anthology of Irish Women Writers in The Long Gaze Back.
• Most impressive recent discovery is Norah Hoult. Loved her piece in the Irish anthology – ‘When Miss Cole Made the Tea’. Makes me want to track down everything by her now.

Book Arrivals.

Book gifts that were meant for two Christmases and two birthdays. Well, better late than never! :p

 

Some bookmarks came along as well. 🙂

 

Part of the above book parcel, though it was left out from the group photo.

 

This photo does not do the actual physical book justice. It truly is a beauty in the flesh. Texture of the pages and the font are a joy to hold and behold.

 

As with this one too, which was recently pulled out from my stacks. I think it will go very well together with the Italian shorts.

 

Last (but definitely not least!) book gift that just came in last week. Love the cover. In fact, I love all the covers in these VMC editions. Must really start to READ my first Thirkell soon! :p

 

Birthday Cake.

Had this for my birthday, and it was yummy! The description had everything I love – coffee, cheese, chocolate, jelly, biscuit…. The rum was a little too strong in the jelly bits though, and I might have had my first hangover from eating cake! :p

 

Last random bit.

I now weigh exactly the same as my age.