This was a difficult task.i read 264 books last year. As I'm not in the best of health I have to pace myself so read alot but I also knit and embroider.Anyway to task:
1) Fire in the Blood-Irene Nemirovski.
2)In My father's House -Miranda seymour.
3)13th Tale-Diane satterwaite.
4)The web of Belonging- Stevie davies.
5)the Taste of Dreams:An obsession with russia-Vanora Bennett.
6)Cliffs of fall-Shirley hazzard.
7)salmon fishing in the Yeman-Paul torday.
8)The Last Templar-Tom Harper.
9)Still Life-Louise Penny.
10)The Snake Stones-Steven Goodwin.
These are all different genres and I didn't include any Classics here.The Nemirovski doesn't really have a plot but it is beautifully written although I should say translated. I must try to get it in French. I'm going to buy my own copy when it's out in paperback.
I've reviewed 2 books for Ellie at Hesperus press. I do love their books. They are like little art works. The covers reflect the contents. I love the print type and the paper is such good quality. I can't imagine them foxing or going totally brown. Some of my books begin to discolour really fast.it's a pity the Publishers here do not use the quality of paper that American Paperbacks do.
i'm enjoying blogging so shall keep this blog going. It would be nice if more people visited it.
Dovegrey reply; So glad you found the music. Do you listen to composer of the week?Radio 3 am and pm.
Thursday 28 February 2008
Saturday 23 February 2008
saturday catch up
here we are again. dovegreyreader left a comment for me so I'll reply here as I still have things about blogs to learn. Ilike Classic FM too particularly from 21.oo - 23.00 when they broadcast whole pieces rather than just a snippet.
this week's composer has been Verdi. It has been an interesting experience hearing excerpts from all his operas.they alos managed to use a variety of singers too. I don't always like Alagna and Georgieu but they sang a superb duet on Monday night.
Also finished listening to a 'downstair's tape' 'The Queen of Subtleties' Susannah Dunn. It's narrated alternately by Anne Bolegn and Lucy Cornwallis, her maker of confectionery.So we have Anne's views of everything. She has started her narration the night before her execution and meditates on her life. Lucy gives us the outsider's opinion on events.I thought 'subtlety' was a comment on her nature but in fact it's a creation in sugar. Lucy had to make something nearly every day. What struck me most was the constant moving around of the entire court and wherever they stayed so much building etc went on. it must have cost the owners of castles etc a fortune and it is evident that the king never gave this aspect of his affairs a thought.I tend to choose audio books which I wouldn't normally read this widens my experience of books.
Finished a book which has really unnerved me'the crystal Skull' by Manda Scott. This is very different from her previous thrillers and from her Boudicca tetrology. It is based on Mayan prophecies and researches into prediction by numbers It seems the Mayans thought that on 21st December 2012 the earth would either come to an end or be saved. I'd have dismissed it all as a good story were it not that there is a bibliography and it's not a device.The one review I've seen of this book was very scathing and I feel unjust. It is a good story and it is well written but Had I known it would worry me, I wouldn't have read it.
I am perverse though because I tried to read a book with brilliant comments 'Imperium' Ryzard kapuscinski butwas so bored i gave up. I used to always persevere to the end of a book but time is too precious now to do that so I do just give up.
Apparently music can cause improvement in 60% of stroke cases whereas reading a book only improves 18% of people.I hope I never find out for myself which works best.
My New Books Mag arrived this week. It's a complete treat.Interviews with writers and extracts from books. This are good because one has a better idea of what the books are like. sometimes I reserve a book from the library and then buy it when it is out in paperback especially if it's an expensive book.
The Russian Challenge goes apiece. I've broadened it to include anything Russian rather than just Russian authors. My 'upstairs' audiotape is about some seemstresses being summoned to russia by the Empress Catherine.I haven't got very far but how travel was in those days is fascinating.They travelled by horse-drawn coaches.Often other people joined them so that they would have a safe journey. even little braziers were put on board to keep warm. But it must have been really hard. They'd all read the books they brought ages before they reached ST Petersburg.
I don't own anything by Bulgakov but I do want my own copy of the 'White Guard'. it is the one I've enjoyed most. I didn't finish it so that I'd have something left to read when I get my copy. Hopefully I can find a second hand copy.
this week's composer has been Verdi. It has been an interesting experience hearing excerpts from all his operas.they alos managed to use a variety of singers too. I don't always like Alagna and Georgieu but they sang a superb duet on Monday night.
Also finished listening to a 'downstair's tape' 'The Queen of Subtleties' Susannah Dunn. It's narrated alternately by Anne Bolegn and Lucy Cornwallis, her maker of confectionery.So we have Anne's views of everything. She has started her narration the night before her execution and meditates on her life. Lucy gives us the outsider's opinion on events.I thought 'subtlety' was a comment on her nature but in fact it's a creation in sugar. Lucy had to make something nearly every day. What struck me most was the constant moving around of the entire court and wherever they stayed so much building etc went on. it must have cost the owners of castles etc a fortune and it is evident that the king never gave this aspect of his affairs a thought.I tend to choose audio books which I wouldn't normally read this widens my experience of books.
Finished a book which has really unnerved me'the crystal Skull' by Manda Scott. This is very different from her previous thrillers and from her Boudicca tetrology. It is based on Mayan prophecies and researches into prediction by numbers It seems the Mayans thought that on 21st December 2012 the earth would either come to an end or be saved. I'd have dismissed it all as a good story were it not that there is a bibliography and it's not a device.The one review I've seen of this book was very scathing and I feel unjust. It is a good story and it is well written but Had I known it would worry me, I wouldn't have read it.
I am perverse though because I tried to read a book with brilliant comments 'Imperium' Ryzard kapuscinski butwas so bored i gave up. I used to always persevere to the end of a book but time is too precious now to do that so I do just give up.
Apparently music can cause improvement in 60% of stroke cases whereas reading a book only improves 18% of people.I hope I never find out for myself which works best.
My New Books Mag arrived this week. It's a complete treat.Interviews with writers and extracts from books. This are good because one has a better idea of what the books are like. sometimes I reserve a book from the library and then buy it when it is out in paperback especially if it's an expensive book.
The Russian Challenge goes apiece. I've broadened it to include anything Russian rather than just Russian authors. My 'upstairs' audiotape is about some seemstresses being summoned to russia by the Empress Catherine.I haven't got very far but how travel was in those days is fascinating.They travelled by horse-drawn coaches.Often other people joined them so that they would have a safe journey. even little braziers were put on board to keep warm. But it must have been really hard. They'd all read the books they brought ages before they reached ST Petersburg.
I don't own anything by Bulgakov but I do want my own copy of the 'White Guard'. it is the one I've enjoyed most. I didn't finish it so that I'd have something left to read when I get my copy. Hopefully I can find a second hand copy.
Monday 18 February 2008
Monday
what aweekend.Very bad cold so didn't blog but mostly because the wound on my back really hurt and I couldn't sit at my desk. I think it was the cold. Although beautiful yet freezing.I said in a previous blog I didn't know who Michael Hadyn was, I do now. He was Franz- Josef's brother and wrote a beautiful Requiem for FJ's funeral. It is curious how one sibling can be well known and the other hardly at all like Mendelesohn and his sister fanny, Yet she composed some lovely pieces.last week's composer was a modern one Herbert Howells.I didn't mind his work but wasn't 'begeistert' as they say.
Meanwhile been reading for the Russian Challenge.Jay Parini's 'The Last Station' is about the last year of Tolstoy's life and was fascinating for it's revelations about the great man and his wife and family. Now I need to find the biography and see how true Parini was. Tolstoy was so scared of his wife he ran away and she was worried someone else would have copyright. Not nice at all.
Also read 'The People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. I loved this book. It begins in the present with a conservitor working on the sarajevo Haggadah, a book used at Pesach to tell the passover story.We then go back furthet and further in time to the creation of the book. each episode in the past comes after one in the present. Brooks has written 3 novels and not one is the same.I think this is her best yet but Have seen no other reviews to know what the 'pundits' think.
Also read 'Shoot the damn Dog', which Hilary Mantel reviewed and slated. I learned things from it but did find it quite repetitious and muddled. Also not sure how much someone who has no aquaintance with depression would enjoy it.
Now going to get myself some lunch.after which I shall write some snail mail.
Meanwhile been reading for the Russian Challenge.Jay Parini's 'The Last Station' is about the last year of Tolstoy's life and was fascinating for it's revelations about the great man and his wife and family. Now I need to find the biography and see how true Parini was. Tolstoy was so scared of his wife he ran away and she was worried someone else would have copyright. Not nice at all.
Also read 'The People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. I loved this book. It begins in the present with a conservitor working on the sarajevo Haggadah, a book used at Pesach to tell the passover story.We then go back furthet and further in time to the creation of the book. each episode in the past comes after one in the present. Brooks has written 3 novels and not one is the same.I think this is her best yet but Have seen no other reviews to know what the 'pundits' think.
Also read 'Shoot the damn Dog', which Hilary Mantel reviewed and slated. I learned things from it but did find it quite repetitious and muddled. Also not sure how much someone who has no aquaintance with depression would enjoy it.
Now going to get myself some lunch.after which I shall write some snail mail.
Monday 11 February 2008
Last week
I was just going to write my blog for Sunday when my 'phone rang. 90 minutes later!!! I was too tired to continue so here we are again.I read a rather fat David Baldacci last week.Some of his books are really exciting whilst I can't get on with others.I've as yet, to find an explanation of that for myself.
I have a novel in the loo and have found this a good way to read even more than usual. these books are always novels and the one I finished on Tuesday was by Barbara Delinski. She writes Romances but has an interesting writing style so, IPersonally am never bored. Similar to these are Susan Lewis's books. They have only one flaw for me; rather explicit and steamy sex, which I find gratuitous and skip. Her plots are so rivetting I'm sure she'd have readers without venturing into near porn.
Wednesday was Ash wednesday and so Lent begins. I decided to do various things so that what I'm giving up is in fact my time.I have two Lent books. 'the life of Jesus' pope Benedict and 'History of the Bible' karen Armstrong. I own quite a few of her books. She is so knowledgeable yet writes so clearly. she is a 'jargon free 'academic.I hate books which are full of such obscurantist phrases that I have no idea what is being said.This style is also unnecessary but so many academics writing fall into the trap. it's as if they feel they won't be taken seriously if their work is easily understood.
It was quite a good week for music too.during a night when sleep eluded me I listened to Two Requiems one was played after the other. the first was by Michael Hadyn, who is unknown to me and so I'll have to google him. He was followed by Mozart's Requiem. they couldn't be more different. The Hadyn is probably the jolliest I've ever heard and because I had never heard it before, very fresh. The Mozart is always a joy.
During Sunday night when there is an early music slot, I listened to the Harpsichordist Maggie Cole talking to Catherine But about Wanda Landowska and Violet gordon Woodhouse, both of whom are harpsichordists.I found the program particularly interesting because my gran was housekeeper to Ruth Dyson, a well known harpsichordist. who let me play (tinkle) her harpsichord and also her spinet and taught me to hear the nuances in music although I never learned to play. My voice is my musical instrument.Music by Scarlatti,Rameau and Mozart was played so a good variety.
Saturday, I began listening to La Traviata from Covent garden on Radio 3 and found I didn't like it.this performance I mean. Since then I've been trying to think why this was. I didn't like nebrenka (sic) and this is most likely heresy as she has had such glowing reviews.this was the second musical disappointment of the week. the other was the composer of the week,Oswaldo Golija. Had never heard of him but willing to give it a go since his music is meant to be influenced by the Tango and all things Latin American as he comes from there.I tried two days running but still found it a cacaphony. I think one really has to have a musical training to appreciate some of these really modern composers.This week is another unknown to me Herbert Howells.I'll have a listen.
Last night I finished reading 'Singled Out' Virginia Nicholson. This is about those women who found themselves surplus in 1918. Many of my teachers were single women,most had lost someone in the two wars.the book is very interesting because Nicholson manages her material so well. She hasn't confined herself to one class either but has written about memoirs as much from Factory Workers as the gentry.What did surprise me was that spinster didn't mean having never had a sexual encounter. The general view of 'dried up old spinsters' is not really true. But the sex was far more clandestine if one can put it like that. Today it is open to the point of tedium.
Art wasn't neglected either. BBC4 is running a series called 'The Art of Spain' led by Andrew graham Nixon. it is a wonderful programme and covers more than just painting. The first programme was based on the South and the Moorish influence. I've never been that far down but have holidayed in Spain for the last 6 years and the Moorish influence is seen in Salamanca and Toledo.Dixon looks at sculpture, architecture and history. A really satisfying series.
Now I've just done what stuck in a book said in his Norm interview was a no no, written a long post . Never mind I like reading long blogs . maybe I'll have solved someone's sleep problem.
I have a novel in the loo and have found this a good way to read even more than usual. these books are always novels and the one I finished on Tuesday was by Barbara Delinski. She writes Romances but has an interesting writing style so, IPersonally am never bored. Similar to these are Susan Lewis's books. They have only one flaw for me; rather explicit and steamy sex, which I find gratuitous and skip. Her plots are so rivetting I'm sure she'd have readers without venturing into near porn.
Wednesday was Ash wednesday and so Lent begins. I decided to do various things so that what I'm giving up is in fact my time.I have two Lent books. 'the life of Jesus' pope Benedict and 'History of the Bible' karen Armstrong. I own quite a few of her books. She is so knowledgeable yet writes so clearly. she is a 'jargon free 'academic.I hate books which are full of such obscurantist phrases that I have no idea what is being said.This style is also unnecessary but so many academics writing fall into the trap. it's as if they feel they won't be taken seriously if their work is easily understood.
It was quite a good week for music too.during a night when sleep eluded me I listened to Two Requiems one was played after the other. the first was by Michael Hadyn, who is unknown to me and so I'll have to google him. He was followed by Mozart's Requiem. they couldn't be more different. The Hadyn is probably the jolliest I've ever heard and because I had never heard it before, very fresh. The Mozart is always a joy.
During Sunday night when there is an early music slot, I listened to the Harpsichordist Maggie Cole talking to Catherine But about Wanda Landowska and Violet gordon Woodhouse, both of whom are harpsichordists.I found the program particularly interesting because my gran was housekeeper to Ruth Dyson, a well known harpsichordist. who let me play (tinkle) her harpsichord and also her spinet and taught me to hear the nuances in music although I never learned to play. My voice is my musical instrument.Music by Scarlatti,Rameau and Mozart was played so a good variety.
Saturday, I began listening to La Traviata from Covent garden on Radio 3 and found I didn't like it.this performance I mean. Since then I've been trying to think why this was. I didn't like nebrenka (sic) and this is most likely heresy as she has had such glowing reviews.this was the second musical disappointment of the week. the other was the composer of the week,Oswaldo Golija. Had never heard of him but willing to give it a go since his music is meant to be influenced by the Tango and all things Latin American as he comes from there.I tried two days running but still found it a cacaphony. I think one really has to have a musical training to appreciate some of these really modern composers.This week is another unknown to me Herbert Howells.I'll have a listen.
Last night I finished reading 'Singled Out' Virginia Nicholson. This is about those women who found themselves surplus in 1918. Many of my teachers were single women,most had lost someone in the two wars.the book is very interesting because Nicholson manages her material so well. She hasn't confined herself to one class either but has written about memoirs as much from Factory Workers as the gentry.What did surprise me was that spinster didn't mean having never had a sexual encounter. The general view of 'dried up old spinsters' is not really true. But the sex was far more clandestine if one can put it like that. Today it is open to the point of tedium.
Art wasn't neglected either. BBC4 is running a series called 'The Art of Spain' led by Andrew graham Nixon. it is a wonderful programme and covers more than just painting. The first programme was based on the South and the Moorish influence. I've never been that far down but have holidayed in Spain for the last 6 years and the Moorish influence is seen in Salamanca and Toledo.Dixon looks at sculpture, architecture and history. A really satisfying series.
Now I've just done what stuck in a book said in his Norm interview was a no no, written a long post . Never mind I like reading long blogs . maybe I'll have solved someone's sleep problem.
Friday 8 February 2008
a shorty
if it's true that the road to hell is paved with good intentions then I'm a long way down it. I haven't blogged this week. I'm going to make this fairly short and write more tomorrow. I've been chuckling over a joke I heard during a play by Mark Taverner on BBC7.(MT writes really witty plays like in the Red, )'The lord said; Come forth and I came fifth and won a fruit cake.'This really amused me.Now I hope it's not read at Mass because if I get the giggles it's hard to stop.
Last night finished reading 'Grievance' Marguerite Alexander's first novel. She is a lecturer on the Birkbeck extra mural certificate/diploma course. (Anyone who can get to london, all the lecturers with Birkbeck are so good). Her passion is Irish Literature about which I did know very little but now have learned so much more from this campus novel. Apart from the literary eferences this is an interesting tale of a girl growing up in N. Ireland in a vey strange family. The disfunction really begins with the birth of a son who is Downs. Neither parent can accept this and it is left to the sister to look after him.Just before Xmas I had a new little cousin arrive and Vanessa is Downs so I was interested in this aspect of the book. Father is a man,who is always right, mother a cipher.The heroine and stupidly I can't recall her name eventually has had enough and goes to Uni in London.The book tells her life there but every other chapter tells us about her childhood and growing up.This isn't a light read but it is full of nuances and things to ponder.To tell more would spoil the story but do read this particularly if you are interested in Irish Literature.
Had a wonderful present yesterday. The penguin classics box full of audio CDs. There's 'Great Expectations,'Crime and Punishment' and several others.I feel so lucky to have this. I listen to books when i can't sleep so always have a story tape upstairs. That one is about Anne Boleyn at the moment. Downstairs while I do chores like ironing I listen to books I probably wouldn't read.At present this is 'Poppyday' by Anne Murray. These audios are very good at stopping my haywire thoughts when I'm unipolar. I'd even say they nip the descent in the bud.
Last night finished reading 'Grievance' Marguerite Alexander's first novel. She is a lecturer on the Birkbeck extra mural certificate/diploma course. (Anyone who can get to london, all the lecturers with Birkbeck are so good). Her passion is Irish Literature about which I did know very little but now have learned so much more from this campus novel. Apart from the literary eferences this is an interesting tale of a girl growing up in N. Ireland in a vey strange family. The disfunction really begins with the birth of a son who is Downs. Neither parent can accept this and it is left to the sister to look after him.Just before Xmas I had a new little cousin arrive and Vanessa is Downs so I was interested in this aspect of the book. Father is a man,who is always right, mother a cipher.The heroine and stupidly I can't recall her name eventually has had enough and goes to Uni in London.The book tells her life there but every other chapter tells us about her childhood and growing up.This isn't a light read but it is full of nuances and things to ponder.To tell more would spoil the story but do read this particularly if you are interested in Irish Literature.
Had a wonderful present yesterday. The penguin classics box full of audio CDs. There's 'Great Expectations,'Crime and Punishment' and several others.I feel so lucky to have this. I listen to books when i can't sleep so always have a story tape upstairs. That one is about Anne Boleyn at the moment. Downstairs while I do chores like ironing I listen to books I probably wouldn't read.At present this is 'Poppyday' by Anne Murray. These audios are very good at stopping my haywire thoughts when I'm unipolar. I'd even say they nip the descent in the bud.
Sunday 3 February 2008
sunday
here we are again. i was so tired yesterday that i didn't blog. My friend has been really ill and I've helping her by walking her dog etc but I've an open wound on my back because I have a psoas abscess and i also have 3 kinds of arthritis so anything out of my routine wears me out.How feeble is that?
I was so pleased to hear from Stuck, Mary and Harriet especially as I know you/they are very busy people. I really must read emails everyday because otherwise there are too many and I don't have time or rather energy to read blogs which I love.
I've had a real treat; Randomdr.has given me a subscription to New Books. I love reading about books too.I also could have put a life in Art and languages as my title because they are also things, which interest me.I'm just trying to learn Mandarin and Modern Greek. I've studied Classical Greek for 6 years. I wanted to take it at school but there were only 3 of us. They would have done it for4. I did Latin to A level because to do a degree in either History or English one had to have A level Latin. There were only 3 of us who took it. Until I got this abscess 3 years ago, I went to City-Lit and did my Greek and also Latin. Alas now I study on my own. It's why I love Mary Beard's blog because I learn so much about the Classical World not just from her but also from the comments.
Have had a silly experience. I ordered a book from the library which was entitled "Short Stories of Bulgakov so I ordered it. the only English in it is the introduction rest is Russian. Ever been had!!!
I shall write more tomorrow. have run out of steam now.
I was so pleased to hear from Stuck, Mary and Harriet especially as I know you/they are very busy people. I really must read emails everyday because otherwise there are too many and I don't have time or rather energy to read blogs which I love.
I've had a real treat; Randomdr.has given me a subscription to New Books. I love reading about books too.I also could have put a life in Art and languages as my title because they are also things, which interest me.I'm just trying to learn Mandarin and Modern Greek. I've studied Classical Greek for 6 years. I wanted to take it at school but there were only 3 of us. They would have done it for4. I did Latin to A level because to do a degree in either History or English one had to have A level Latin. There were only 3 of us who took it. Until I got this abscess 3 years ago, I went to City-Lit and did my Greek and also Latin. Alas now I study on my own. It's why I love Mary Beard's blog because I learn so much about the Classical World not just from her but also from the comments.
Have had a silly experience. I ordered a book from the library which was entitled "Short Stories of Bulgakov so I ordered it. the only English in it is the introduction rest is Russian. Ever been had!!!
I shall write more tomorrow. have run out of steam now.
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