I Have a Bad Habit

My bad habit is that I start reading a book and only rarely finish it without starting another book first. Just looking at my bedhead bookshelf alone, I can see five books that have been started but not finished, their bookmarks waving at me, like flags reminding me that I can never finish anything I start.

I'm still half-way through Robert Shearman's Love Songs for the Shy and Cynical and still have an essay to write, but after kendo training last night I was feeling sore and miserable, so I had a hot bath with Mr. Stephen Fry. Well, with his latest autobiography, The Fry Chronicles.

Words cannot describe how much I love Stephen Fry. I've only got to half-way through the second chapter of The Fry Chronicles but Mr. Fry's gorgeous language shines through even just the introduction. His talent of organising words into the most poetic, colourful, amazing narrative is mind-blowing, and I can only wish that I could write half as well as he can.

Hopefully in the next weeks I'll have more time for baths and actually finish reading this book. I don't think I'll be able to stay away from it long.

-Elimonster

It's Not Quite Holidays Yet But...

Hello! Welcome to Monty's Summer Reading Blog. I have decided that, after a year of reading stuff for my thesis, I will spend the Christmas holidays reading whatever the hell I want!

So I began a bit early, reading Robert Shearman's Tiny Deaths before my thesis was due. This collection of short stories is AMAZING. I cried at nearly every story (which is a good thing). Shearman creates slightly odd worlds that are so subtle and smooth that I had no trouble believing when Hitler's dog starts talking, and the like. He manages to capture human emotions through simple yet beautiful narrative. Also I love the cover art, 'Black Holes' by Rachel Goodyear.

My favourite story in the collection is 'Static,' a story about a man who wakes one morning to find that his TV is bleeding. It's a heartbreakingly beautiful story.

Tiny Deaths is a collection that I will most definitely re-read, to the point that the pages are so dog-eared and smeared with tears and tea that I'll have to buy another copy.

My holidays still haven't started yet, as I still have an essay due, but I have the second collection of Shearman's short stories, Love Songs for the Shy and Cynical. And yeah, I couldn't resist starting to read it. I'm seven stories in, and loving it. I'll post a proper review when I've finished the book, and also my essay.

I hope you all will join me on this reading adventure, and maybe some of you can read and blog along with me.

Happy readings!

-Elimonster