Anticipating April…

It begins with the Steiff duckling of my youth looking in shocked amazement, mimicking my own joyous face I'm sure, at the bag of Chanel treats given me by my mother. New Rouge Coco lipsticks vie for the attention of Coco Noir and Mademoiselle fragrance samples, and it is an Easter basket beyond compare for this girl.

I have before me seven whole days of freedom. Days in which to indulge myself reading as many of the books for the IFFP as I can. Waiting for me still to complete, and I'm trying not to become compulsive, are: By Night The Mountain Burns, The Ravens, The Dead Lake, Look Who's Back, and the rest of While The Gods Were Sleeping. If I am able to read those five, I may have time to squeeze in one or two more before the official short list is announced on April 9.

And with the advent of April comes not only the short list, but the next Dewey's Read-a-thon on April 25. Reader sign up's are here if you wish to participate.

It promises to be a beautiful Spring in so many ways. Hope to see you as I continue to review books for the IFFP, and put together what I want to read for the read-a-thon.

At one point last summer, Tom and I were discussing reading Little, Bi g by John Crowley, which won the World Fantasy Award in 1982, and celebrated its 25th anniversary this February. What do you say, Tom, are you still interested? Is anyone else interested in a read-along of this book? If so, I'll put together an official announcement. Optimally, the end of April, or early May, would be a good time to begin...