There is nothing like refitting a library to make one appreciate how extensive a reading-backlog has somehow established itself as an almost living being. It makes me think fondly of the Joanna Walsh short story. Her story rests on the irresistible premise that all your unread books might step from your shelves in the shape of a polyphonous reader to share with you some conversation and a glass of wine. (I recently contributed a personal selection of short stories, which included Walsh’s story, to Jonathan Gibbs’ terrific A Personal Anthology.)
I am trying to buy fewer books, but these are forthcoming over the next twelve months and will escape any such caution:
T. J. Clark, Heaven on Earth: Painting and the Life to Come
Christophe Bident, Maurice Blanchot: A Critical Biography
Michelle Bailat-Jones, Unfurled
Maria Gabriela Llansol, Geography Rebels trilogy
Karl Ole Knausgaard, Inadvertent (Why I Write)
Uwe Johnson, Anniversaries
Dan Gretton, I You We Them
Joshua Sperling, A Writer of Our Time: The Life and Writings of John Berger
Simon Critchley, Tragedy, the Greeks and Us
Rachel Cusk, Coventry: Essays
Yiyun Li, Where Reasons End
Kate Zambreno, Appendix Project: Talks and Essays
Marguerite Duras, The Garden Square
Annie Ernaux, Happening
Mathias Enard, Tell Them of Battles, Kings, and Elephants
Clarice Lispector, The Besieged City
Daša Drndic, E. E. G. and Doppelgänger
Agustín Fernández Mallo, Nocilla Lab
Time's Flow Stemmed 
I’ve read TJ Clark’s Heaven on Earth and, rather than writing a review here, I’ll say it’s worth reading.
Thanks. I look forward to it.
I look forward to hearing what you think of the Joshua Sperling. I do like John Berger.
Me too. I had the pleasure last year of seeing my daughter play in The Three Lives of Lucie Cabrol.
Very pleased to see that Michelle’s book makes the list – she is a personal, very dear friend of mine, as well as a wonderful writer and thoughtful reader and translator! And darn, you are severely testing my resolution to stop buying so many books…
I read Michelle’s last book in Tokyo and very much associate that trip with her wonderful book, so very much looking forward to this next one.
Me too! It was in Tokyo during a typhoon and then an earthquake (small one). Very appropriate.
Oh, and I should state a partial disclaimer that Michelle is a good friend too!
Feeling very blushy with all the good thoughts here. And lucky to count you both as such good friends.
Looking forward to the Berger too – his writing is something very special. Even though we’re all trying not to buy too many books (!) some just have to make their way into our personal libraries…
These are mostly those writers I buy regardless of how careful I am trying to be adding over-consumption.
This is such a great list. I ordered the Clark, Critchley, Cusk, Duras, and Drndic books. I do look forward to your posts about your forthcoming reading plans/purchases. You have written several before, and I always get ideas. Thanks for sharing this list!
My pleasure, I am so pleased you enjoy them!
I have the Drndic, Enard, and Ernaux on my list as well – and have loved everything by Yiyun Li that I’ve read so far, so will look for this one as well.
It will my first Daša Drndić. I must read one of the others while awaiting publication of this latest translation.
There are two by Daša Drndić being published shortly, the other is Doppelgänger.
I have her Belladonna, and had hoped to read it over the summer but did not get the chance. I keep kicking myself but had a lot of reading for work. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on her.