I received a lovely and unexpected email from Open Road Integrated Media, an epublishing company who seem to have been keenly re-establishing sometimes neglected authors fallen out of attention in a world where the often badly written latest hypery, in bookie terms, is drowned in sticky saccharine puffery
(I had to get that off my chest again)
But, as this post is meant as a thanks and a celebration of discerning publishers, discerning and dedicated bloggers who champion the neglected splendours from earlier decades, lesser trodden paths, hidden byways from other lands and the like, I will put on my best smile, fill the best champagne glass and shout ‘Huzzah’ ‘for she’s a jolly good…..blogger’, applauding ferociously in specific directions…
Open Road Media emailed to thank me for my review of Margery Sharp’s out of print Cluny Brown, and to tell me that they were releasing 10 Margerys on April 12th and would I like advance copies of Cluny and The Nutmeg Tree to download and review (or in Cluny’s case, mention again) Yes, I would, I certainly would. What a treat. Thank you Open Road
And I do believe that it is the sterling work on Margery’s behalf done by passionate reader bloggers who have created a buzz which a responsive publisher ‘in the niche’ has responded to
And so the biggest cheer goes to Jane at beyondedenrock. I had never heard of Margery Sharp before Jane ran her MargerySharp day LAST year, which I missed, but her periodic Margery including posts, and my appreciation of her discernment about half forgotten writers made me take notice, and track down a rare battered copy of Cluny from a marketplace seller. Most of her titles are now only available, battered, at eye-watering prices, so it was a jolly find. Except that I was left with a taste for more. And more was unobtainable outside eye water.
Until now
And then Jane also introduced me to another Margery champion, The Margery Sharp blog. I’ve become aware of a wonderful little community championing the rarer, the ones who should not have been forgotten…..and of course the lovely small publishers (Persephone, Pushkin and others) who are also tenderly re-planting books, and sending their cuttings out all over (okay, the metaphor might not quite work)
So, as well as Jane, I also want (nervously) to thank another little clutch of bloggers who have rather grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and thrust new reads, not to mention re-reads into my path. They are all making me aware of ‘so many WONDERFUL books, so little time’ And I am buying, buying, buying, not to mention desperately scouring the shelves of second hand shops, for lists and lists of treasures
So, my new Nemeses (it sounds better than Nemesises, and, what do you know, the spell checker slumbered at Nemeses, but spat at the snakey version with the extra hissing consonants), are found below, in no particular order – they are equally dangerous to the diminishing of bank balances and the cluttering of space, as I earnestly search for second hand copies of rarities. Who knows, perhaps their fierce and championing work may yet yield re-releases of any gone out of print (as in the Sharpists’ successes)
Let’s nervously, gratefully hear it for
HeavenAli (responsible for my happiest re-read of the year thus far, To The Lighthouse)
JacquiWine’s Journal (I will be heading towards Jean Rhys re-reads)
Kaggsysbookishramblings (I expect her to be responsible for another glorious re-read as part of her 1938 Challenge (Homage to Catalonia)
Shoshi’s Book Blog (all things Russian, and much much more – re-reads of Dostoievsky are well overdue)
Of course, thanks to these (and other) bloggers my own self challenge (Reading the 20th) is woefully foundering, as book after book which I intended to read at some point in a glitteringly beckoning future year gets bumped into the present urgent read, due to a splendid and seductive heads up, generally as one of their irresistible challenge. I keep telling myself – ‘I will continue the sequential Reading the Twentieth next week’ At this rate, it will be next decade. Shame on you and your blandishments, ladies!
Meanwhile have some of Margery’s champagne. I’m sure she won’t mind
🙂 Always glad to be of service! I suffer from the same thing too – I’m always off chasing new books thanks to recommendations (I had one arrive today I just *had* to buy because someone dropped it into a conversation on Twitter). I intend to revisit Catalonia as well – really looking forward to it! 🙂
See you in Catalonia. Bring olives and bread. I’ll get the rough red.
Sounds good! 🙂
Oh, and happy third birthday too! I’d send a cake if I was allowed to eat them! And thanks for the champagne – very nice to be in such great company!
So sorry you can’t do cake. Double helpings of Margery’s champagne for you, by way of recompense
Many, many happy returns, Lady F. I do so appreciate the hard (though enjoyable) work you do in not only reading such interesting books but also in writing such enticing blogs. You have certainly led me to many great reads this year. Wishing you another wonderfully bookfull year and thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Thank you very much Underrunner. It does of course develop my appreciation of my reads, blogging, so it’s a pleasure to do, even if at times it might feel like climbing up a mountain!
Happy birthday!
I’m so flattered to be included in such illustrious company – there is nothing like the bloggosphere for realising how many great books (and great readers) there are … Happy reading for the coming year, can’t wait to see what joys you discover and share 🙂
Well you are all natural illustrs! And I thoroughly enjoy all your collective and individual posts, even as I tremble at the size of the bedside table book stack.
Happy Birthday! May you have many more great reads in your fourth year!
Thank you so much Cathy. With all you seductive literary bloggers out there, another year of great reading is as certain as sunrise!
Happy third anniversary! And I absolutely love your selection of bloggers (who have often tempted me or should I say ‘led me astray’). Jean Rhys, Virginia Woolf and Homage to Catalonia are on my reread list as well. And I may seek out new translations of Dostoyevsky as well… I’d also recommend revisiting Dorothy Parker’s short stories – much more powerful and subtly written than her ‘witty reputation’ gives her credit for.
Oh thoroughly tempting and naughty MarinaSofia. I think you have just flipped something onto the bedside table TBR.
Talking of translations, I have been re-reading the marvellous Le Grand Meaulnes for a blogging venture with someone else. And so overwhelmed by the pleasure of that re-read, that I have been recommending it. One friend asked me to advise translation, and I was APPALLED by some of the ‘trendier’ ones I found on Kindle look inside. Fortunately, it turns out that the Frank Davison one which I guess may have been the only one till the rash of new ones onto Kindle, had been reissued for the 2013 Centenary edition. I haven’t read it in the original, but the courtly formality of his translation seems to fit the sense of a vanishing world which is so much part of the book. Some of the newer translations seem prosaic and without rhythm and grace
One of my youthful favourites – Le Grand Meaulnes. And yes, completely with you on the trendier translations. Particularly with the Russians – I’ve been hearing mixed reports of the Pevear & Volokhonsky translations of Dostoyevsky, for instance, and am not sure…
It was mine, too, and the re-read has been fantastic. A different perspective this time, I am much more interested by Francois
I’m looking forward to getting my hands on those Margery Sharp books and I will be joining in with the 1938 club. So glad you loved re-reading To the Lighthouse.
Funnily enough, that re-read rather meant that a book I read this month for Cathy746 Reading Ireland, absolutely suffered – there was a kind of stream of consciousness, though a third person one, and | kept unkindly making comparisons to Woolf’s brilliance with this. TTL is one I’m still pleasurably thinking about
My mind returns to it to. A true sign of great writing.
Happy anniversary! And thank you so much for the kind mention – what fine company too. Like you, I am forever chasing after ‘new’ books thanks to other bloggers’ reviews and recommendations. Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle found its way into my selection for the Classics Club after you reviewed it last year. 🙂
You are most welcome, Jacqui
Happy Birthday! Here’s to many more!
Happy Third! May you find all the space you need for all your new treasures!
Thank you Naomi – it is probably called The Downloading To The Kindle option!
Happy Blogoversary! My reading world has expanded so much since I started blogging.
Yes, its a marvellous source for discovering books
Happy Third Birthday Lady Fancifull – long may your blogging adventures continue, I for one always love visiting you and reading your rare finds.
Thank you for those lovely words and thoughts, Cleopatra
Happy Birthday! I enjoy you blog a lot and it makes my TBR longer and longer, Margery Sharp just got added!
Thank you booksceptic. I’m currently reading The Nutmeg Tree with great enjoyment