“Spring is the time of plans and projects.” -Leo Tolstoy
I’ve been longing for the past lately. Days when I wrote in my journal with a Bic and a spiral, instead of a fountain pen and Traveler’s Factory Notebook imported from Japan. Days when I began with the Blogger platform, and I discussed things more than books. I’ve been missing simplicity. And, you.
So I wonder, is it too annoying to revert my blog to Blogger? Without importing seventeen years of posts? That would be a fresh beginning, for sure.
Meanwhile, International Booker Prize 2023 Shadow Jury, of which I am a part, has been reading and discussing the long list for this year. While several of my fellow jurists felt that this year’s list was less superior than previous year’s, there were many for which we will advocate when we forge our own list for May 2. I, personally, am a great fan of While We Were Dreaming by Clemens Meyer, translated by Katy Derbyshire. I was also deeply struck by the power of Boulder by Eva Balthasar, translated by Julia Sanches, and the imagination of Whale by Cheon Myeong-Kwan, translated by Chi-Yong Kim.
The redbud tree (pictured above) is in my parents’ front yard. It is a glorious specimen of the Spring trees which still linger in their glory in this part of Illinois. I relish their beauty before Illinois weather turns into the likes of Hell’s front porch.
So, I will link to Readerbuzz’ Sunday Salon and come around to visit you, as I used to do.
That is a very beautiful tree!
ReplyDeleteMy mother has a way of gardening that surpasses any of my skills. She pruned it to grow that way, so thanks for noticing.
Deleteseeing your entirely new or maybe reverted approach to blogging will be quite interesting! New beginnings are very intriguing.
ReplyDeletebest, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
New beginnings are indeed intriguing. Somehow, I just got bogged down on Wordpress, I’m not sure why. Maybe I just “needed” to come back to where I started.
DeleteGlad to see you at Sunday Salon!
ReplyDeleteI've got the Gospodinov in mind because I've liked other books I've read by him. Otherwise I'll probably skip straight to the winner... ;-)
Time Shelter was the first book I ever read by Georgi Gospodinov, but I enjoyed it a lot! May I recommend While We Were Dreaming by Clemens Meyer? I just loved that book, about the young men growing up when the Wall came down in East Germany. I felt I was with them the whole time I read.
DeleteThat does sound like it would be an interesting period. I visited Berlin in 1990. It was a fascinating period.
DeleteThat picture looks so pretty.
ReplyDeleteGave a great week.
It was nice to “meet” you on Sunday Salon. I can see why you didn’t enjoy Ruth Ware, as you said on your post; the best selling authors never seem to please me as much as they do most readers.
DeleteI like fresh starts. Spring is an excellent time to begin again. Good luck with your reapproach to blogging. We are delighted to have you join us here at Sunday Salon.
ReplyDeleteI am always on the lookout for the best books. I shall add While We Were Dreaming to my list. I like the idea of a Shadow Jury. Fun!
Your comment helps to affirm my decision, Deb. Parts of me are thinking, “What?! You’re going to leave all that work behind?” And other parts of me hunger for a fresh start, if you can call returning to something familiar fresh. It’s fresh , in a way, since I have deleted all the reviews I’ve written since 2006.
DeleteWhile I highly recommend While We Were Dreaming, it is not necessarily an easy read in terms of avoiding tough topics like poverty and growing up in rough neighborhoods. But, it was very dear to me. Maybe because I lived in (West) Germany for several years at the same time this book took place.
The tree is lovely, as is your mother's gardening abilities and creativity. My mother had a green thumb and was able to transform our graden and yard into beauty. I am a pale comparison with my attempts but I do try.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the visit and comment. I had a separate book blog but the WP editor changes ran me off a few years ago - what will prompt you to return to blogspot? Look forward to your posts.
Tina, it seems that you and I are the same in terms of being “pale comparisons” to our mothers!
DeleteI began my book blog on Blogger in 2006, switched to Wordpress in 2011, and have just now come back. While there are many things I liked about Wordpress, what I miss on Blogger is not easily defined. Somehow, I am able to write more personally, of my life, whereas on Wordpress there seems a professional level to keep up. That probably doesn’t make much sense, as it’s internal with me. But, I also like how Blogger has the Blogroll option with snippets from people’s blogs. I have never liked Feedly, or any of the other readers; I prefer to simply jump off my blog to visit others, and then wander to new blogs from comments left where I visit. Again, this probably doesn’t make much sense. But, it’s little things like these that have pulled me back. In a nutshell, Blogger seems friendlier.☺️
It makes complete sense! Blogger is friendlier, both user friendly and people friendly. I started my blogspot in 2008 for a family history project so two cousins who can NOT get along could contribute to our research. Then I started my foodie/bookish blog a year later. Finally I separted the book chat with food/life and started Novel Meals on WP
Deletehttps://novelmeals.wordpress.com/
Loved it for awhile but ultimately like the format here better. More info than you wanted, I'm sure :-) My goal this week is change the layout as, like you, would rather ditch Feedly and use a bloglist. Pleasure to meet you!
Not too much information at all, it was interesting to hear your blog’s history. Pleasure to meet you, too!
DeleteWhat a treat to see you here again! I know what you mean about blogger being less formal and, for me, just plain easier. I began a Wordpress test blog a few years after starting at blogger in 2008. Life was too crazy then to commit the time necessary to really learn that platform, so I stayed on blogger. And now it's 2023!! Followers/readers have come and gone, but I've always remembered that you were one of my first.
ReplyDeleteI will see if I can find a copy of While We Were Dreaming. It sounds like a book I'd enjoy.
The redbud is gorgeous! Staying in FL through May, I miss spring! Am I remembering correctly that your parents spent time in Naples?
Happy spring and here's to new beginnings!
JoAnn, you are so sweet! You always make me feel better when my mind is in a swirl over blogging (perhaps there are larger things to think about?😉).
DeleteYou remember so well! My parents have typically Wintered in Naples, but not since 2018 when my father didn’t wish to be away for so long. He likes keeping his physicians in close proximity, especially with his heart condition. But, my husband longs to spend more time in Florida, so quit possibly we will end up spending Winters there ourselves. Like you, though, I would dearly miss the four seasons. I am one of the few who likes snow!
Such a pleasure to blog with you again, JoAnn. Thank you for remembering me.
p.s. This is Bellezza…🙄
DeleteWell that was a surprise!
ReplyDeleteBut I understand the idea of fresh starts and new beginnings - it can be quite cathartic.
I have four other WP blogs behind the scenes that I play with when book blogging isn't working. One is completely private so that it works more like a diary.
Good luck with your spring clean/refresh.
Beautiful tree! Good luck with the International Booker reading. I'd love to read an entire award longlist someday, but I'm a very slow reader. :)
ReplyDelete