Somehow I have managed to carve out five days at the end of this week when I have to answer to no one but myself. From Thursday through to Monday I can, if I so desire, close the door, build up the fire and simply sit and read. The anticipation is almost as blissful as I hope the experience will be.
In truth I probably won’t just read. I expect I shall vary my activities by doing things like frequenting bookshops or taking a trip to the library. And I shall probably vary the places in which I read as well, by visiting numerous tea shops and buying large pots of tea and plates of sticky cakes to accompany whatever happens to be the book of the moment.
And that, of course, is the other source of anticipatory delight. What am I going to read? I have three recent publications sitting on the shelf just crying out for my attention. I shall start with Helen Dunmore’s Exposure and then toss a coin to see which is to come next, David Mitchell’s Slade House or the new Julian Barnes, The Noise of Time. I’ve also got Graham Swift’s most recent offering, Mothering Sunday on reserve, but it may not turn up from the library in time. Oh well, I shall need something tasty to condole me for having to turn some of my attention back to the real world. And, just in case all that should be too literary for me, I have a couple of new crime novels from NetGalley on my e-reader to relax with. Those for the evenings, perhaps, when my brain is not functioning quite as well as it was during the daytime hours.
If I feel so inclined then I might stop by here and make a few notes along the way, but otherwise see you the other side of the weekend.
Thinking in Fragments 
Have a lovely time, Alex. You’ve a treat in store with Exposure.
I hope you enjoy the next book. What to read next can be a bit maddening but also such a delight!
That sounds like a wonderful plan; and I do hope that you will have a lovely time.
Enjoy the break – and I hope you get to sink into a book! I find crime reading very relaxing…
My envy knows no bounds. That sounds GORGEOUS.
That sounds lovely! So much unstructured time! I have an early appointment on Saturday, & I am already grinching about the loss of my leisurely morning.
Well that certainly sounds blissful! Enjoy.
Ah, bliss – enjoy!
Enjoy your time off, Alex. I’m hoping to read Exposure soon too.
Weee! Enjoy your time off!
There are few things better than having the time to escape from all of the demands of life (both positive and negative) and figuratively shut the door and indulge yourself! Enjoy!
What a treat – five days to read – or whatever else you want to do! And as I’ve been struggling to decide which book to read next I’m taken with your idea of tossing a coin – Slade House is one of the ones I’ve got lined up to read too.
Enjoy the break! Sounds amazing!If I haven’t had a similar one just last weekend I would be jealous 🙂
I love days like this, when you can lounge around with a good book and relax. Sounds like a nice pile of books, too. I enjoyed Slade House, and love everything Helen Dunmore ever wrote (though Exposure isn’t out in the U.S. yet).
How wonderful! Have the best time, and read and do everything you feel like!
How lovely – enjoy! I’m having the whole weekend off work and some reading has already figured, with more to come …
That sounds blissful. I can’t remember the last time I was able just to read for any length of time during the day.
Thanks for the recommendation of Bone Clocks. Wonderful book. Now I’ll have to try his others.