The Spinning Wheel- revised, revised, revised…

I love spinning the wheel of ten books listed and reading the chosen book for one hour. However I ran into a problem that I hoped wouldn’t be a problem. I had some older books on my shelf, Muriel Spark or Anita Brookner, an older Australian author of the past….I really wanted to read those books. When the wheel chose them, and I sat down for my lovely hour’s read my eyes just can’t read that tiny print in those old Penguin novellas anymore. I looked them up to see if there were Kindle copies but sadly no. 

So unless the print is a bit larger on very white paper, such as modern books are printed, in bigger formats these days or on a kindle or Libby with adjustable font I just can’t stay focused on the lines of text. Such is the life of living with Glaucoma. 

On the bright side though, I do have a large collection of Kindle books. Some of you know how that goes. And Libby covers many books. Then there are audio books but I only listen to them for certain books. Non fiction and first person narrative mainly, though I am still enjoying listening to the Count of Monte Cristo for 30 minutes each night. 

I have kept some of the books from the old wheel to the new wheel. However I have dismissed about five of them and put five new Kindle books onto it. So this is the new wheel:

Heresies by Richard Flanagan: Kept it as I have read two chapters (they aren’t short and the subject matter is deep”. I have enjoyed both so far so want to read more.

Tasmaniology: This is a literary magazine and the articles are as long as what you’d see in the New Yorker, but the photographs are beautiful. The last section I read was all about a scientist (the only one in Tassie) who studies bats. As much as people say they are afraid of bats- I remember my mother thought they get in your hair as did my grandmother- I find them to be fascinating creatures. The article was SO GOOD.

John Broadley’s Books- a graphic novel the wheel has not yet chosen. 

Walking the Gobi  by Helen Thayer- I was able to download a Kindle version of this so it stays on the wheel. 

Wreck by Riley James The wheel has picked this book twice and it is an easier read. I have the copy of the book but the font is big enough to see as it’s just been published. It is the story of the pilot who disappeared over Bass Strait in weird circumstances and the author then fictionalises what happened to it. I am really liking this book and look forward to seeing the mystery on the island they are now exploring. Very Tasmanian. 

Now for the five new Kindle titles I added. I’ve wanted to get into them for awhile.

Strangers by Anita Brookner- Her 24th novel. It’s about Paul Sturgis who is a retired banker manager who lives alone in a dark little flat and dines alone. He walks alone and seeks out strangers, taking pleasure in conversations with them.  This one sounds right up my alley as I like walking and talking to strangers and I often photograph them. 

Our Trip Around the World by Renate Belczyk- a 1950’s travelogue that takes the women around the world during a time when two independent young women travelling alone was considered almost revolutionary. German – can’t see if it was translated or not. 

Driftwood by Shauna Bickley- The last person Juliet expects to meet on a work trip is Luke. She has changed her name and worked hard to ensure he wouldn’t find her, but now he is back in her life again. Is it chance, or something more sinister?  Hmmm this book has been living in my Kindle for 9 years. I have no memory of ordering it so had better read it.

Kitchen Continental by Anthony Bourdain– After 25 years of sex, drugs, bad behaviour and haute cuisine, chef and novelist Anthony Bourdain decided to tell all.  I have wanted to read this book for some time, now it’s on the wheel. 

Greatest Short Stories by Australian Writers  Stories that are based on the subject of relationships paint a picture of Australia and Australians. These short stories have been written by a number of Australian authors, mainly from the past. Mary Fortune, A.B. Paterson, Henry Lawson, Steele Rudd, George Lewis Becke and Edward Dyson. 

So- fresh start, here we continue…. 

Hope your week goes well.