August News 28/08/2020

Well, it looks like I’m posting once a month, not once a week, so whether it’s Tuesday or Wednesday (or, in this case, Friday) doesn’t seem to matter. So I’ve changed the title of the post.

So, what’s new?

The sheer stupidity and lunacy surrounding COVID-19 is still annoying.

WordPress forcing the new Block Editor on everyone is also annoying, but I guess I’ll get used to that one.

My laptop keyboard was giving me trouble (some keys were sometimes working, sometimes not, and with one of those keys being Space, youcanguesswhatthatlookedlike). Yeah. Like that. So, I got a wireless keyboard-mouse combo, Logitech MK220, and I’m loving it so far. The mouse is the heaviest I’ve ever worked with because of two AA batteries, but not too heavy. The keyboard is working properly, so, what’s not to like?

I’ve also got new sandals, because my old ones were starting to fall apart (which is, typically, when I bother to buy new shoes/clothes). Since I’m still avoiding public transport, my choice was somewhat limited, but I did manage to find a very comfy pair. Yesterday they got tested on a longer walk, when I (again, avoiding public transport, so walking instead) went to get my contributor’s copies, and I’m happy to say that they work well and stay super-comfortable even for long(ish) walks. Skechers, if someone is looking for a new pair.

And speaking of contributor’s copies, one of my stories was published in a collection of horror stories (11 authors, 11 stories, and some illustrations, too). It’s the second volume, there’s no saying how many there will be in the future… The title roughly translates to Sleepless 2: Stories for a Sleepless Night.

Of course, with my story being published somewhere, the current mood is:

And other than that?

Still reading, though not having the focus to watch something. Working, when there’s work, trying out new ice creams (and regretting when I eat too much)…

Currently reading: Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi. The second book in the series, and it’s definitely refreshing to read a fantasy series with mythology that’s different from the usual ones.

Recently read: The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden. Finally. Bought the book over a year ago, when the author was in Belgrade (and people were able to travel), but somehow haven’t read it until now. It’s the last book of the Winternight Trilogy, and I’ve loved it. Everything is wrapped up nicely, not everyone made it to the end (but that was expected, if you know a bit of history), but overall, it’s optimistic. And nice. Read the whole trilogy!

Currently watching: nothing. That’s what happens when I try watching too many things at once, and then lack the focus to watch anything at all.

Currently working on: wrote a story recently, have outlines for two more (no promises I’ll actually write them). Work, when there’s any. Reading through the pile of books (I bought new books recently, the one I’m reading now is one of them). Trying to survive the heat.

And that would be it for now.

More Books, More Cats

There I was, taking care of some boring administrative stuff, and then visiting some bookstores. The plan was to finish the boring stuff, then buy one book in one bookstore, and one book in another store.

Boring stuff was made better by a family of kitties I’ve seen at Skadarlija (a vintage street in Belgrade). You can see one on the photo above, and here is another:

This tiny kitten sure demands attention

And here is their mother:

The street is full of restaurants, and the little ones are sunbathing in one of them. Just a coincidence, I’m certain.

You can see the entire series of the feline family photos here.

And the books? Well, of course I didn’t buy just two of them. The owners are promoting one of the bookstores I’ve visited, and some of their books are on sale; you can get five of them for less than $2 per book.

And so, I got back home with seven new books.

The titles on the picture are in Serbian, of course, but only one of them, Kada kažeš da sam tvoj by Goran Skrobonja, is a Serbian book (a nostalgic rock’n’roll novel set in Belgrade in the eighties). The others are: The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante (the second book in The Neapolitan Novels tetralogy), If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor, Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower, La Fascination du pire (The Fascination of Evil) by Florian Zeller, The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides, and NW by Zadie Smith.

See something you like, something you’ve read and loved, or something you’d like me to write about once I read it?

How Do You Deal with Your TBR Pile?

Happy belated World Book and Copyright Day, everyone! I’m using this as an opportunity to talk about books. Again. Because books.

This time, it’s about the impossible TBR piles.

Seriously, how do you deal with yours?

I’m trying not to buy too many books, and to read the majority of the books I’ve already bought before getting new ones. It works to a point. Sort of.

At the last Belgrade Book Fair (October 2016), I bought 49 books. Yes, it’s unreasonable. Between the Book Fair and April 24th (that would be today), I got 15 new books. Out of the 49 bought at the Book Fair, I’ve got 7 left to read. Not bad. As for the 15 new ones, 12 read, 3 to go. Again, not bad. Not bad at all.

But.

One of the books I have bought at the Book Fair was Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. Awesome YA read! And it has a sequel, Crooked Kingdom, so I’ll have to get and read that one, too. Fortunately, there are only two books in the series.

Then, there’s one of the books I recently got, My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. A beautiful novel about the friendship of two women (and a lot more). The book ends with a cliffhanger, there are 4 in the series, the second one was recently published in Serbia, so…

And there are some books by new Serbian authors that I want to read.

And some books by non-Serbian authors, too.

And…

You get the picture.

No matter how fast I go through my TBR pile (and sometimes it’s really fast, 12 books read in April, and counting), there are always more books to read, and buy, and add to the pile. And that’s just paperbacks and hardcovers; I’m trying to get through them first, because they’re taking up physical space (hey, it’s as good excuse as any).

It’s not that I’m getting nowhere, but sometimes it feels that way. So many books, never enough time…

How do you deal with it? Do you have a system for your TBR pile that actually works for you?