Abandoned books

Shelfari tells me I've read 32 books this year, and that I'm currently reading another 7. This is exactly the kind of thing I use Shelfari for. There are lots of book-related social networking sites. Too many, in fact, because there isn't yet a standard- the site that 'everyone' uses. (Monopolies aren't nice, but for social networking they're kind of necessary. Who wants to use a social networking site unless their friends are using it too?) I joined Shelfari for two reasons: it's an easy way to keep track of what I've read and am reading, and it allows me to put a lovely bookshelf on my blog.

The fact that I've read 32 books this year is good. I have a vague goal this year to read an average of a book a week, so 32 means I'm on track. (I'm slightly behind if you count the number of weeks exactly, but don't forget I have a thesis due at the end of October and will have lots of time for reading in November and December!)

The fact that I'm 'currently reading' 7 books is not so good. I've never been the kind of reader who worries about abandoning a book halfway through. If it's not interesting enough to keep me reading, then I'm quite happy to move on to something else and forget I ever started it. What's concerning is that these 7 books don't fit that description. They're all good books, and I intended to finish them.

Here they are:

• Magician by Raymond Feist- I. will. read. this. I've been meaning to get round to it for years. I've only just started, so there's hope yet.
• Would You Eat Your Cat by Jeremy Stangroom- a great intro to philosophy ethics. This one I'm reading section by section.
• 36 Arguments for the Existence of God: A Work of Fiction by Rebecca Goldstein- an engaging novel involving the world of academia I hope to get myself into. It just doesn't have the "What happens next??" factor.
• The Golem's Eye by Jonathan Stroud- I loved the first book in the series, The Amulet of Samarkand, but I should have taken the hint when it took me over a year to get onto the second book. I'm just not interested enough.
• Politically Correct Bedtime Stories by James Finn Garner- I adore this book! Why on Earth haven't I finished it!?
• Do Travel Writers Go To Hell? by Thomas B. Khonstamm- the premise of the book is engaging, but the prose is about as sparkling as you might expect from a travel writer (i.e. not at all), so I may give up on this one.
• The History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell- This book is brilliant! I will get on to 20th Century philosophy one day, I swear!

So, the boiled-down analysis of what makes me stop reading a book? Either it's divided into sections, in which case I've read whole sections and simply failed to read others, or the plot simply hasn't captured enough interest. I just don't feel the need to discover what is on the next page.

On writing a thesis

At the risk of sounding like an (albeit extremely intermittent) broken record, I still don’t have internet. It is on its way though, so for blogging purposes, I’M BACK.

I’ll be honest with you. I haven’t read much in the last few months. A copy of Raymond Feist’s Magician has moved about in my home (bedside table, coffee table, desk) for the past two months, trying desperately to get my attention, and so far I’ve only read ten pages or so. I have read enough to appreciate Feist’s language and to know I’ll enjoy the book once I finally find the time to read it.

The reason I haven’t been reading is that I’ve been busy writing a minor thesis. The topic is truth in fiction. Which is not as grandiose as it sounds. The question is this: how do we know what is true within the world of a story? I’ve been focusing on two wonderful texts- William Goldman’s The Princess Bride and Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber.

I wrote about The Princess Bride here. I once promised to tell you about The Bloody Chamber, so I suppose it’s time to make good on that promise. The Bloody Chamber is a collection of short stories, most of which are re-imaginings of fairytales. Reading it takes a bit of effort. The language is incredibly rich- you won’t find any light-hearted entertainment here. What you will find instead: gothic themes, breathtaking imagery, magic, strong women, violence, sex, otherworldliness. Every story has a different pace and tone. It’s a beautiful book, and Carter’s storytelling is masterful.

Writing the thesis has been a lot of work, but I can’t help feeling I’m incredibly lucky. I get to write about the nature of fiction and Inigo Montoya and fairytales full-time. I love it, I truly do. This is how it came about: roughly a year ago, I walked into the office of an academic at my university and ventured my ideas for an Honours thesis. She asked if I had any texts in mind and I cautiously- very cautiously- said: “Well, I’m thinking I’d like to use The Princess Bride.” She actually took me seriously, and here I am.

This week, the same academic wrote on her blog:

‘I love working with fairy tales. So even on days when I'm tired and grouchy because I've been ploughing through marking and paperwork, there is a little voice in the back of my head, saying over and over again: "You have a career where you spend your time thinking about cats in boots, glass slippers, magic blue boxes, prince charming and falling stars."’

Those outside academia rarely think of academics as people who live and breathe their passion, who do what they do because they love it. Yet these are the traits I observe in the academics I see every day. And these are exactly the reasons I’ve decided to continue with philosophy. I adore it so much I couldn’t possibly give it up.

So, in summary, I’m sorry I don’t have any book reviews for you, I’ve been too busy revelling in my full-time occupation.

There really is joy in pursuing what one loves.