Apologies to any authors, publishers and publicists who have written to me recently offering books; I've got a large email backlog (and a spam problem) so I'm being terribly slow in replying. I've also gone way beyond tipping point as far as the books in/books read balance is concerned as I'm managing to get through a mere 40% of what I'm sent, so because of sheer volume (no pun intended), good books will inevitably be overlooked, and I'm hesitating over inviting more in to join the mountains already here.
I fret endlessly about this, and I know I've raised it here before, but I wish I could come up with a solution that was workable and fair to everyone. If I say yes to the offer of a book (and I certainly don't accept everything, either because a title doesn't look as though it would sit well with the site or because I occasionally try to stem the flow for a while) I am genuinely interested in reading it and hope that I shall get to it soon, so my heart's in the right place, even if my head isn't - I delude myself by imagining that I can somehow fit more reading hours into the day. A lot of books arrive out of the blue, with no prefatory "would you like ...?" message; some will be of great interest, others less so, but while still welcome, they all just have to join the waiting piles and take their chance in the queue, being opened if they happen to fit my mood and inclination.
Although this is a situation which I'd like to be handling better, I do realise how fortunate I am - it's a nice problem to have - but to get back to my original point, I may have to tweak my system somehow, especially as I rarely manage to get to read anything I buy for myself (apart from the CBG titles), being driven by my perceived obligation to the publishers and authors who have sent me books to always read theirs as soon as possible.
I know this is all a bit of a self-indulgent, 'thinking aloud' post, but please allow me that as sometimes these things have to be aired.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Related to the above, I am reluctantly going to have to postpone the CBG discussion on The Good Soldier as I haven't read the book yet and a recent bout of nasty eye-strain headaches (caused by reading too much) means I must give myself a bit longer to do so. I hope this won't inconvenience anyone, but let's move the date to Saturday, 30th. July, and if you're not around that day, the comments do of course remain open so that you can contribute your thoughts and impressions at any time. Meanwhile, I'll choose our August book, and if you've any suggestions for that - it must be something that's easily obtainable everywhere, in shops, libraries and online - please do leave a comment here. I was wondering about E.M. Forster, in the light of this post, but what do you think? Perhaps after the Ford Madox Ford we should have a marked change of period, country, genre, even?
Can I suggest that you pick something from the list of books that you feel you should be reading. I know this will mean trying to find one that is available widely, while probably still being quite recently published.
I hope in this way, the monthly book will not add to your 'to do' list, but actually help lighten the load.
Posted by: Sandy | 20 July 2011 at 01:32 PM
20C or 21C Japanese literature in translation? How about 18C European? Voltaire, Swift and Schiller are three that spring to mind.
Posted by: Dark Puss | 20 July 2011 at 01:56 PM
Dark Puss is being highbrow as usual but what about Candide? It does really make me chuckle and it's short. I've only read it in French but I expect it's just as amusing in English.
Cornflower, I think it absolutely ridiculous that you should feel pressurised by what should be a leisure time pleasure for anyone who's not a professional, paid critic. Next thing we know, you'll be 'regretting that you have to give up blogging for a while' and we'd all be sorry. If you haven't asked for a book, I don't see that you are obliged to write it up.
Posted by: Barbara | 20 July 2011 at 02:43 PM
I haven't read The Good Soldier yet so I'm glad you are postponing it for a week. It's too hot even to read here. It was 97 degrees F in Bismarck yesterday, with a heat index of 110.
I wouldn't mind EMF as long as it was "A Room With A View", as I already have a copy. Please, no Voltaire, Swift, Schiller or even Candide.
Posted by: Julie Fredericksen | 20 July 2011 at 02:54 PM
Dark Puss's knowledge of C18 is very limited is much closer to the truth!
Re your second comment, I've been saying that in many different ways to Karen for a long time! My recomendation is to start charging a proper rate for the job (as you know I'd pay ~ £15 per hour for this type of activity).
Posted by: Dark Puss | 20 July 2011 at 04:11 PM
OK, I didn't think my suggestions would go down very well (though I do like Voltaire). George Simenon is very well known for his crime fiction that have Inspector Maigret as the protagonist and my father and I enjoyed many of them, but I've always been intrigued by one of his rare novels in a very different style The Stain on the Snow. How about that?
Posted by: Dark Puss | 20 July 2011 at 04:19 PM
I'll vote for
Miroslav Penkov's East of the West
Posted by: Dark Puss | 20 July 2011 at 04:32 PM
I'm behind on my reading, too, so I'm delighted to have another week for reading The Good Soldier. Thank you!
Posted by: Susan E | 20 July 2011 at 04:49 PM
Reading your post makes me hesitantly offer what struck me in it (please excuse my not perfect English).I don't agree when you say 'it is a nice problem to have'. To me it feels like a real burden. Publishers by now must be well aware of: the quality of your bookblog, the respectful way you do your reviewing and the free publicity they get.
Why not sent a automated reply to publishers that come to you with books without a message or a question, making it clear you won't be able to review them?
The real problem however for me is that something that started out joyful and fulfilling - reading a self-chosen book - seems to be out of reach for you, not to mention getting eye-strain headaches. To me it seems the tension you experience has passed the point of being creative. Please do take care and forgive me if I made this all too personal.
Posted by: catharina | 20 July 2011 at 05:28 PM
How about a break for August? It would be one fewer book to be read. Failing that, I'd suggest A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin - different, quite short and a good read.
Posted by: B R Wombat | 20 July 2011 at 06:00 PM
You have absolutely no obligation to anyone who sends you a book - they're serving their own interest, not yours, by doing so - no professional reviewer reads, let alone comments on, everything he or she is sent, so much less do you have to.
Reading is clearly ceasing to be entirely a pleasure for you, and that's ridiculous - you might as well feel you have an obligation to clean the streets of Edinburgh. Read only what you want, when you want - the sky will not fall in!
Posted by: Lindsay | 20 July 2011 at 06:19 PM
I second that - I am a fan of Ursula le Guin - apart from her SF, the short book 'A very long way from anywhere else' is a favourite. So I'll read your suggestion anyway BR Wombat - thanks!
Posted by: Sandy | 20 July 2011 at 06:49 PM
I agree with the other commenters - you have no obligation to review any of the titles. I used to be a newspaper reporter and we had a whole stack of unread, unreviewed books in the office. Publishers and authors understand, or at least should understand, that review copies are sent out on a hope, not a promise. Maybe you could run giveaways of some of the books you don't think you'll get to, so that other book bloggers can review them - that way the publishers will at least get a review, and you'll feel less overwhelmed!
Posted by: Andrew Blackman | 20 July 2011 at 08:08 PM
What you have here is SPAM!!
Pulishers will send out unsolicited copies to a number of people, some will read it, some will take to charity shop/give away/use for fuel. Generally those of you who regularly review books are reluctant to post on a book they did not like so the posts (if there are any) will be biassed in favour of the book.
As far as I can see this is exactly the issue you are rightly complaining about on your othre site, except that for unsolicited emails you are happy to delete without hesitation. Apply the same principle to those unasked for books and I think you have a solution.
Posted by: Dark Puss | 20 July 2011 at 09:23 PM
No giveaways please! That just turns Cornflower into a bookwrapping & postal service for the rest of us. Even less rewarding (and more costly) than dealing with the books at a later date.
Posted by: Dark Puss | 20 July 2011 at 09:25 PM
I notice under current reading "How To Do Everything And Be Happy"! Any help??
I'm not going to suggest a Book Club choice. I would support giving yourself a month off from hosting that. Read what you want to read for a month. Allow yourself a rest.
Posted by: Claire | 20 July 2011 at 10:44 PM
It's a fantastically busy time of year for everyone with children about to be off and holidays to fit in around work and life. I agree with the suggestions to take a break.
I really sympathise as I find the worry associated with not finishing a book on time (whatever 'on time' is) strangely stressful and it can't help but detract from the book as you pagecount downwards.
Put them all in a cupboard where you can't see them and CBG can be like the whole of France in August and go to the beach for a month.
Posted by: oxslip | 21 July 2011 at 08:56 AM
I am happy to come for discussion on July 30th as I have read the book (which reminds me I must return it to the library!)
What to do about book-overload: I agree with comments above. I always think of Churchill in his bunker... time to re-group. I guess the thing is to decide where you would like to trim. Having down-sized recently (house, work and leisure activities) I can honestly say it is very liberating!
Like the others in the Book Group I follow the blog regularly so putting up a post about a change of date, topic, having a rest period etc is something I can deal with easily.
Posted by: Barbara MacLeod | 21 July 2011 at 09:01 AM
I completely agree with Oxslip's suggestion of putting all unsolicited review copies in a cupboard and taking August off!
If you want to read, and I suspect that like me you can't not, then choose something from your own shelves that you want to read rather than feel you have to read.
Posted by: LizF | 21 July 2011 at 09:18 AM
Thanks for your kind comment, Sandy. A Very Long Way From Anywhere Else is a favourite of mine too. I think Le Guin's a wonderful writer.
Posted by: B R Wombat | 21 July 2011 at 10:28 AM
It sounds to me as though you need a good holiday on Harris. Can I come too?
Posted by: Georgina | 21 July 2011 at 02:26 PM
The Stain on the Snow sounded intriguing so I looked it up. Yes, that would be a good one.
Rare, indeed. Amazon.com has one new copy at $55.00!!!
Posted by: Julie Fredericksen | 21 July 2011 at 02:53 PM
I think it might need to be a rather large cupboard! Liz, How does it solve Cornflower's problem? It just builds up an even larger backlog when she returns.
I strongly suggest stemming at source (I suggested one approach in an earlier comment)or if that fails weekly visits to her favourite charity shop.
Posted by: Dark Puss | 21 July 2011 at 02:54 PM
Or, instead of a break for August, take a break for July and postpone The Good Soldier until August. My book club members occasionally did that, especially if it was a long book.
Then, tell family and friends to leave you alone, lie down in a cool, quiet, dark room and get rid of those headaches for good!
Posted by: Julie Fredericksen | 21 July 2011 at 02:57 PM
I remember you once wrote about Nancy Mitford's Don't Tell Alfred and said how much you loved the character Northey. That's when I fell in love with your blog. My suggestion would be to write about books you love. You have no obligation to be a publicist for anyone!
Posted by: Nicola | 22 July 2011 at 10:11 PM
So sorry to hear you are overwhelmed, Cornflower. Pease, please don't put yourself under any unnecessary pressure (a)we don't have to have an August book. (b) the next book could be one you've read already (c) As somebody said, you are not under any obligation to read anything.Just say no to the publishers and take the books you don't fancy to the charity shop. Or give a heap to another Edinburgh blogger.
(Love the picture of the dogs studying A Brookner.Otto would be impressed.)
Posted by: Susie Vereker | 23 July 2011 at 11:24 AM
Karen,
I very much admire your diligence with review copies - I decided years ago to read primarily what *I* want to read, which is mostly older books already on my shelves. I love the luxury of being able to accept review books which really appeal, but it is getting rarer and rarer now. I mostly wanted my blog to reflect my tastes - and my tastes are for older fiction, by and large. So... I say, even though it's difficult and may feel rude, just read what you want to! (But probably don't try and charge money for it, as Peter suggests... although you're obviously worth it, I think you [like me] probably enjoy keeping blogging fun and not on a professional basis)
Posted by: Simon T | 25 July 2011 at 12:42 AM
Good advice Simon. What I was trying to suggest is become a professional reviewer so that the "blogging" will once again become fun.
Posted by: Dark Puss | 25 July 2011 at 09:02 AM