21st Century Literature discussion

We're 6 weeks into the new year---how is your reading going? Have you already come across what might be the best read of the year? Are you behind on your goals/plans? Have you decided to re-arrange all your reading priorities? How is your 2023 reading year going so far?

Pretty good. I’ve already read some great books and from 507 , the TBR pile is down to 479. Hopefully it will go down to 400 by july

The reading is going well, but I am still struggling to find time and motivation to write reviews

Hugh wrote: "The reading is going well, but I am still struggling to find time and motivation to write reviews"

Hugh, I find it sometimes helps to give yourself a "review holiday" or only write reviews for the 5 star reads. (Unless your adoring fans will hunt you down. Mine have not resorted to such extremes... )
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Robert wrote: "I’ve already read some great books and from 507 , the TBR pile is down to 479."
Impressive! My TBR piles have gone up by 5.
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Things have started off decent for me, but I did throw a wrench in the works by suddenly deciding I might try to read longlists for both Republic of Consciousness Prizes (UK and US/Canada)--time and accessibility will likely limit how much of these lists I get through. I still was in the middle of too many books going into this year so until I finish those non-fiction books, it kinda feels like I'm not done with last year yet.

I've read 11 books so far this year, which is a pretty fast start for me, mostly focused on the Tournament of Books.

This week I'm feeling quite frantic about wanting to read EVERYTHING. New books out, 2022 books I never got to, and everything else that's been waiting to be read.

Not a particularly unique feeling, but this week I think I added 10 books that I want to read and they all felt like I HAVE to read this next. :)

I'm feeling that familiar panic where I don't have enough time to read what I want to read so instead of reading I buy another book, which I always have time for.

Things should settle down in a few days but for a while thereafter I'll be doing all the put-off housework and paperwork vs. reading a good book. Ugh. Life!

There is a semi-famous Twilight Zone episode where the protagonist feels like he's reached the happiest life possible when the apocalypse comes and kills everyone--now he'll have all the time in the world to read. A sad ending is in store for him, though. Rod Serling evidently had no sympathy for unrepentant bibliophiles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAxAR...

I am taking a whole new approach this year. I cleared two bookshelves and restacked them with all the books I have been meaning to read for the last two or three years. That is about 75 books, so more than I will read over the year, and subscription books such as Fitzcarraldo and Galley Beggers will arrive, but I'm going to try to catch up with things like Learwife, Hamnet, Sisters, Underland, Osebol, Companion Piece, etc.

As an avid book collector, I loved this local article about a man who collected 20,000 books over 45 years. In particular his quote is priceless “I couldn’t decide where to draw the line, so I decided not to draw a line.”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment...

Marcus I have just made a shelf like that too. I can imagine we have some of the same books on our shelf of shame.

I know I can be an outlier around here. But my goodreads to-read shelf has about 30-odd books, and my paper to-read shelf has 4. I do have unread books around the house that haven't been read in ages.

I'm very picky about what I add to my to-read shelves. It's not that there aren't huge numbers of books that I'm interested in, but they have to be significantly enticing before they get added.

I've been reading quite a few 20th century books recently (Herve Guibert, Unica Zurn, Ithell Colquhoun, the new Jimmy DeSana catalog from the Brooklyn Museum, reread Delany's first Neveryon book). But suddenly a pile of library holds and a special order arrived, so things are ramping up.

I'm not even discussing my GR TBR shelf (there's a lot of stuff on there I don't even remember adding or why). I just talk about the unread books I already have in my possession!

It's going pretty good so far but I'm currently reading 1Q84 by Murakami and so it is taking me a while to get through that one. My review count is down a little so far as a result.

I'm very lax about my TBR - it currently has over 1000 books on it. Instead of paring it down, I added a "Top Shelf" category, which is my "really actually intend to get to this" list, which I keep at under 100.

I've been reading more than usual this year, which I'm hoping to keep up. Lots of group reads I wanted / want to join in, which has kept me more focused.

Out of the six books I've finished, I've read only one translated book so far & I didn't even care for it that much. Mostly the books I have read have been fine but will probably be forgettable over the long run. Shrug.

However, the first book I read this year was fantastic & immediately went onto my list of favorites. It's just so well done: The Assembly of the Severed Head by Hugh Lupton.

The short answer: unevenly.

I started the year with a few books I had set aside in 2022, so it felt like the reading equivalent of holiday leftovers. Then I read The Paradise of Food while trying to simultaneously read Solenoid - two books with deeply misanthropic male narrators. I had to put the latter down, and the former was fortunately saved by a short but vigorous discussion on another thread where we collectively exercised our demons from the book.

Things have picked up from there. Like Marc, I decided to read the inaugural US/Canada iteration of the Republic of Consciousness Prize. My first reaction to the list was trepidation, but as I've gotten into it, I've discovered some real gems. More importantly, I've discovered some new authors to follow - Robin McLean and Arinze Ifeakandu in particular.

David, I'm 3 stories into the McLean (Get ’em Young, Treat ’em Tough, Tell ’em Nothing) and it's my favorite so far from the longlist (with only Pollak's Arm and The Sleeping Car Porter having also been read).

Great to hear you like the McClean too. I've felt like my two favorites - Get 'em Young and Blood Red - have been divisive. Divisive in the sense that I'm the only one who likes them!

I too read the RoC US & Canada long list. I liked Get ‘‘em Young, although it was in my middle 4. My reading this year has been more enjoyable than the last 2 months of 2022. I really want to decrease the unread books on my shelves - if only new books would stop distracting me.

LindaJ^ wrote: "I too read the RoC US & Canada long list. I liked Get ‘‘em Young, although it was in my middle 4. My reading this year has been more enjoyable than the last 2 months of 2022. I really want to decre..."

How do you just fit in 10 extra books like that?!! Did you plan ahead? Do you read one at a time or while you're also reading other books? I continue to marvel at the way some readers will just devour prize long- and short-lists and still participate in other group discussions, take up personal reads, etc.

It stresses me out. :D
(But I'm getting better about just getting to what I get to and not worrying about it.)

It is why I have hundreds of books on my shelves (physical, kindle, and audible) to read! I'd read two of the 10 on the US & Canada RoC and 3 on the UK RoC longlists. I read from a number of prize lists, but the RoC has become a favorite. They bring to my attention books I would not likely have encountered, the books are typically short, and I usually enjoy more than half. I read in both print and audible, so am always reading at least two books at a time. When I'm into competing in biking activities (indoor smart bike), I'll consume audiobooks at a very fast pace. I enjoy the RoC ones better in print but if available on audible I will "buy" with a credit, download the book, and it's ready to go for the next ride! Retirement has been great for reading and exercising! I love that I can do both at the same time.

Agreed on the RoC prize, Linda. It's a great mix of new voices and literary experimentation.

Marc wrote: "I continue to marvel at the way some readers will just devour prize long- and short-lists and still participate in other group discussions, take up personal reads, etc."

I couldn't do one without the other. Reading a longlist of 10 books without being able to discuss sounds like torture. Discussing on GR and elsewhere is what excites me.

I'm rarely a completist - I like jumping in at the longlist stage and reading whatever appeals to me.

I've read two 5-star reads this year so far (Catch-22 and Roadside Picnic) which is a good sign. Both were 20th Century publications, not 21st Century. And I'm on pace to read at least 52 books this year, which is the benchmark I shoot for. I'm pleased with the selection of books I'm reading right now as well. A few years ago I decided I wanted to try to focus on quality reads, but I also decided to focus on finishing series that I started and sometimes those goals don't align well.