I have a problem that is causing me a lot of stress. It is related to an impending holiday by the sea. We’re going on holiday on Saturday and I have already selected my holiday reading (purchased at a very good price from Tesco this week). My problem is that I need to be ready to start my holiday reading on Saturday.
Light reading for my holiday
On Monday, I finished the book I was reading (Platform by Michel Houellebecq) and so needed to find a book that would last me exactly four days so that I could start my holiday reading on time. I have a shelf of ‘to read’ books.
My ever-growing ‘to read’ shelf
I scanned this shelf for a suitably short book. I selected a play to read thinking it would be the perfect length. I bought this book about six months ago having always wanted to read it. This was my chance to do so.
Be afraid, very afraid
However, I finished reading this most excellent play on Wednesday evening (a beautifully crafted satire on married life set in 1960s America – not a happy read). So now I had another dilemma. That is, should I start my holiday books, with the risk of actually finishing one of the books before I go on holiday or should I try to find another short-ish book? I didn’t want to pick a ‘normal’ sized book as there would be little chance that I could finish a ‘normal’ book in two days. So I chose a really short book, purchased about a year ago for 50 pence in a charity shop.
A fabulous little book – just a bit too short for my needs
However, I finished reading this fabulous anthology of short stories by Magnus Mills this morning (simple, elegant, poetic and imaginative – he touches so gently and so cleverly on human relationships). So again I was faced with the same dilemma, but this time with a greater intensity. What to read? So after some thought I plumped for this (I’ve read about two pages as I write this blog). I suspect I’ll still be reading this on Saturday but I have a two-hour car journey during which to have a good solid read.
I love a bit of Georges Perec
Oh the stress of it all! I need a holiday.
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