2020 Virago Salon

We seem to have slipped into a new year and a new decade without quite noticing it here in the Virago Group - so welcome to 2020 and here's a little reading nook which is quite appealing now that the festive season is over and reality (and work!) has returned!

Here is a thread for us to exchange general chit chat about reading, Viragos and updates of interest. We also don't seem to have come up with any kind of reading challenge for 2020. Does anyone fancy one of these, or are we all aiming simply to read from our stacks as our mood takes us? :DDD

(I'm sorry the image is so big - not quite sure how to resize at the moment, but I will try....)

ETA: I managed... 🤣

Happy 2020 to everyone! I just used my Christmas money to order some more green Viragos on eBay, so happily awaiting their arrival.
I like challenges but am happy with whatever!

Thank you, Karen, for opening the Virago winter salon - and what a lovely nook to spend the afternoon cosied up in!

I'm hoping this year to read through the stacks and stacks of books I've acquired over the last year. This won't prevent me from buying more so I've just given in to the fact that I'll always be behind in my reading - and I'm okay with that!

Happy New Year everyone and happy reading!

Liking that nook! I've got quite a Virago-y year coming up as I have far more green and grey spines than I'll manage in August. Hooray!

Love the nook, Karen. What a peaceful little corner in which to sit with a 'green spine' and a lovely cup of Earl Grey.
I am finding it ever more difficult to commit to challenges on a monthly basis but will continue to try. I too, am attempting to whittle my book shelves down but like Jayne I am happy with whatever.
Thank you for setting the salon up.

Hi Belva!

Yes - Earl Grey, a comfy chair and a book - perfect! Just covered a new variant called French Earl Grey and it's gorgeous!

There are so many bookish distractions, aren't there? I think everyone needs a more laid-back approach this year so perhaps we'll just go for All Virago/All August in 2020! :D

K x

>7 kaggsy: I love French Earl Grey!
As a newbie here, does that mean we try and read lots of Viragos for the month of August? Of any type? Perfect for me as that is winter here so lots of fireside reading to be done!

Hi Jayne,

Yes, traditionally we’ve done an All Virago/All August where we read and post about Viragos, Persephone and like minded books. Those of us who have blogs often post there too. Not everyone does only those kind of books for the month but it’s great fun and helps focus our minds on our lovely greens and greys! 😁

>9 kaggsy: Sounds great - thanks for the info!

Love the picture. I am aiming to complete my first 100 VMCs. I've managed to get the collection into alphabetical order now down to checking & rechecking before I buy anymore!!

I realise I have been a bit AWOL recently. Long story short I have been struggling with my RA and a bout of chronic sciatica. I had enough trouble keeping up with the blog. I have been reading some interesting things.

Some VMC Including E M Delafield, Zora Neale Hurston and Molly Keane (to be reviewed still) some lovely Dean street press titles, a few really interesting novels in translation and a few collections of short stories.
Currently reading Gilead by Marilynne Robinson on my kindle. Never read her before somehow.

I have just started a phased return to work, which I am finding exhausting and enjoyable after 3 very difficult months.

Hope every one is well and reading some good things.

>12 Heaven-Ali: It's good to see you back here Ali! I have been enjoying your reviews on your blog and am glad that you can keep reading even though you had to scale back on other activities. Wishing you a full return to health.

Hope you continue to be well Ali. I've read most of Marilynne Robinson and love her.

Hi all,

Just a quick check in from the UK. Hope everyone around the world is coping with the current madness and surviving ok. It is a little scary for all, and personally in our country I don't feel we're necessarily getting the guidance we could.... Heigh ho - at least if we do have to self-isolate, we should all have enough reading matter saved up!

On the subject of books, I don't know if they've been mentioned in our group yet, but the British Library are bringing out a new range of reissued classics by women writers and here are the first four which will appear:

https://shop.bl.uk/collections/british-library-women-writers

As you'll see they're all Virago authors, and the collection has been curated by our very own Simon Stuck in a Book who's also provided introductions. So exciting news on the classic women author front and a nice distraction from the horrors of modern life!

Stay safe, all!

xxx

Yes to the above by Kaggsy!

Posted this earlier on What Else R U Reading

Peggy McLean recommended that I read Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway books. No doubt others on here have also recommended them but I missed it. I am halfway through book one and have ordered the second from the library. Hopefully it will arrive before the world closes down for the duration.

Of course I have plenty to read in this house so I will be fine, including about 20 unread novels in French, which I have to read with a dictionary close at hand. I always used to say I would love 6 weeks in bed to catch up on all my unread books, but when I had Hep A (when I was 21) I was so ill I just lay there in a miserable funk and read nothing.
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>15 kaggsy: I am looking forward to these! Thanks for the update.

I hope all is well with you and your family in these uncertain times. And yes, I for one have ample reading supplies piled up around my flat, should it come to that!

I have also checked my reading stockpile and concluded that I should be fine. Even have two unread Viragos from my VSS left, so that's good. Otherwise Norway is weird now. Wednesday everything was still working mostly as normal, but by now schools, kindergartens, universities, most restaurants etc. have closed and all who can work from home do.

>17 Sakerfalcon: Yes, hanging in there - though a wish a decision would be made about closing the schools or not, it's most unsettling. But I am well prepared to batten down the hatches with copious amounts of books for company.

Hope all's well with you! :)

>18 alvaret: Our fairly useless government have yet to make a decision about schools and universities, which is unsettling. I wish I felt more confidence in them...

>20 kaggsy: To be honest I'm not sure if the Norwegian government reacted to health advise or popular demand. Due to a lack of clear political instructions all universities and some individual schools etc. decided to close down earlier this week, and from that point it would have been very difficult for the politicians not to close things. Of course it my still have been the right decision, I guess we'll see. Until then I'm getting a lot of practice in online teaching...

>21 alvaret: I think the same thing may happen here. Some universities have already gone to remote teaching and if enough unis and schools close I guess the government will finally take action. Useless lot that they are.. 😕

Same in Australia. Our PM announced tonight that schools and unis would not be closed and there was a huge public backlash. People are basically saying that they want to be shut down. Some private schools have chosen to close themselves and I wouldn't be surprised if our schools do that too. But public schools are under government direction so unless the government mandate closure, they cannot close. I'm sure it will come soon though. My son says he doesn't want to go to school. I try not to turn the news on for too long when the kids are around as it is just too much for them to take in, but they see it anyway and their friends talk about it.

>21 alvaret: I think the same thing may happen here. Some universities are already closing and private schools. The pressure will come soon on the politicians to be seen to be doing something.

It's really hard to know what to do in NJ. We're all waiting for unambiguous instructions. Schools closed on Friday I think. I went to Home Depot yesterday and joined the long line of people who plan to paint their way through a two week lockdown. I got enough to refresh the hall and the den. I probably should go over to the library right now and get some audio books to listen to while I work.

Nice to see everyone here having a chat. The situation is similar here on the Central coast of California. Our schools closed down on Friday through April 13th but the libraries are still open. From that stand point - I work at my local branch and it's a bit disconcerting. While we've cancelled all programs, removed games/puzzles, etc from the Kid's section, there's still close contact with people at the Reference Desk - and amazingly, some people just don't get it and come in coughing! This is day 4 under the 'California State of Emergency' and I'm sure we'll see some more closures in the coming week. Needless to say, the grocery stores/Target/Lowe's have all been depleted of toilet paper and sanitizing solutions. Oh, and tuna fish/beans/soup! As for books, well, that has never been a problem! I've got stacks and stacks everywhere!

>22 kaggsy: On the other hand I believe that there is a great temptation for politicians to take large but not necessarily efficient measures just to be seen doing something (like Denmark which closed their borders contrary to the advise from their public health authority) and what the best measures are will probably depend on the exact situation in each country. Of course I can see why your current PM would make it hard to trust that they are waiting for the right response rather than hiding in the sand...

>27 alvaret: That's a good point. I think frankly that no-one is really sure what to do next. And certainly the current UK PM inspires no confidence at all...

>26 bleuroses: Hi Cate, sounds like things are uncertain all over the world. We are just trying to carry on as normal here, but the depletion of supplies *is* unsettling. Ah well - plenty of books to hand so we will soldier on!

Yesterday my library sent me an email saying they were open for the duration. Now they just sent me an e-mail saying all branches are closed indefinitely. I am currently washing paintwork in the downstairs hallway, prepping to paint, and listening to an audio book as I work. Onwards and upwards!

Barbara, we're painting too! Perfect time to work on those unfinished projects. No news whether our branches will be closing, but I suspect it's being considered.

I started working from home today. It's odd. I wish I had a cat to keep me company. Of course, there wouldn't be much work happening then!

>32 Sakerfalcon: LOL! I'm rather longing for a dog...

I've reorganized my kitchen, started a 24 episode lecture series on the Early Middle Ages, am rewatching Game of Thrones (into fifth season and waiting for Cersi's walk of shame), and about to start the new Mantel.

I've cancelled a planned trip to Stratford to celebrate Shakespeare's birthday and attend the Stratford Literary Festival the following week. I hadn't booked airline yet so no problem there and the President Hotel on Russell Square did not hesitate to refund my room. I am shocked that Stratford closed the Shakespeare sites and the RSC cancelelled performances just yesterday! Geez...the trustees must share a gene pool with the governor of Florida.

Chicago is pretty much shut down.

Stay stay everyone.

Elaine

Hey - Elaine!

Oh, Elaine, really sad!

I'm working as normal, in fact very hard at work as was distracted by looking at the news (wah) and helping organise our community's support of people in need (hooray). Have husband in the house also working from home now, and trying to deal with that change. We're allowed out at the moment but at social distance; I am running with one or two friends but at a safe distance from one another, mainly for safety's sake in case we fall etc. on a deserted street. Well, and social purposes. Missing my friends, the ones not in the city and the ones I can't see because they're self-isolating as vulnerable.

My only real regret is that I did have a ticket to the Hilary Mantel session......oh, well....maybe next year if I can manage to drag my body on a plane.

>37 Liz1564: Hi Elaine! Such a shame your travels are curtailed - definitely next year! It's such a weird time and I just hope we all stay safe.

>36 LyzzyBee: This working from home thing is a bit strange but I'm sure I will get used to it. Hard to focus at first and having Mr. Kaggsy round is also odd.... Just need to work out some kind of exercise to replace the 40 minutes walking to and from work every day!

Hi, how are you all?
I have a week off from working from home next week so hope to do some 'proper' reading. My attention span has not been great so I will see whether that changes. It could get better but then I'm also concerned that without work distractions I might be even more 'twitchy'!

Hey Dee - I am still painting my house and listening to audio books as I work. I have completed the bottom of the house and am now heading upstairs. Obviously my listening material is very lite and my bedtime reading non-existent as I fall into bed too exhausted to think.

I culled my book collection, but Goodwill is closed for the duration. So all my decluttering is still in the garage.

On days off I am definitely 'twitchy' and twitchy, in my case, leads to depression. LONG experience has taught me how to keep ahead of it, and for me that's activity and airport reads. However, today is going to be sunny so I will be out on my deck reading my bedtime book.

Hi Barbara! I'm sure your house will be looking beautiful after all your hard work. I'm certainly noticing what is and isn't beautiful in mine now I'm spending all my time here.
It's sunny here too. I've just cut my husband's hair in the garden. Strange times!

Hi Dee! Nice to see you again. It's a weird world we're in right now, isn't it? I'm working from home and basically Not Going Out, so taking solace in books. Always a comfort...

I have been staying home here in Birmingham, trying to get some improvement in my mobility and keep myself occupied. Only have small amount of work to do for school and some online training, and virtual meeting. These are strange times indeed, hope everyone is well and safe.

Hope everyone remains well. NJ has been hard hit but so far my little county remains much quieter than those closer to NY. They have re-opened the Jersey Shore and people are already flocking to the beaches and boardwalks. The beach is my idea of hell, but I do miss hanging with my women friends and shopping. Mostly coping well though. I guess this has been a good time to be a book reading introvert.

Hi Elaine, Dee, Barbara, Karen, Ali and everyone else...Just a wave hello and to say that I hope everyone is doing well. I've been working from home for the library adding book and video content to our website. Monday, we'll start curbside pick-ups which will be interesting. California is still in official lockdown although various counties/towns have opened retail and dine-in restaurants. I find it upsetting to see the crowds though. Staying home is our normal anyway, but what I miss the most is going to the movies.

Did anyone participate in the Hay Digital Festival? Ali, I know you did - what did you think? The Hay musical theme hit some teary chords for me - every time! And then Vanessa Redgrave after each program...oh heart! Elaine, were you able to catch Hilary Mantel's program?

Hey back Cate! Curbside pickup? I wish. My library is still closed. And what will you do with all the books coming back? Do you have to isolate them for a time before re-shelving?

>45 bleuroses: Hi Cate! It's lovely to see you here. I have similar feelings to you about crowds at the moment!

I saw a few of the Hey Festival talks - managed to miss a couple I'd registered for though! I really enjoyed Hallie Rubenhold and Lisa Taddeo in Eight Women yesterday.

Barbara, returning books are quarantined for 72 hours before checking-in. Returns have trickled in since lockdown; however, come June 15th - the extended due date - we'll be expecting an avalanche! 😳

Curb-side pickup should be interesting. I'm working from home today and tomorrow so I won't experience it until Wednesday. I'm looking forward to it!

Hey Dee, I missed a few too but you can see most of the talks on Hay Player. I really loved Polly Samson's talk (with her husband, Pink Floyd David Gilmore!) about her book 'Theatre for Dreamers' about Charmian Clift, George Johnston and Leonard Cohen in Hydra, Greece. So fascinating!

>45 bleuroses: I really enjoyed the Hay digital festival. I should probably have taken the opportunity to listen/watch more than I did. What a wonderful distraction it was. I missed a couple of things I wanted to see in the end but hopefully I can watch at a later date.