phew

Just had the most enormous trouble logging on thought I'd lost my blog.Happily remained calm and sorted it.
en route to HK I saw three good films.'P.S. I love You' which was very touching, 'The Golden COmpass', which I found disappointing. It is based on Pullman's book and when the philosophy isn't there the heart seems to not be there either. Lastly I watched 'Brick Lane'. This is about a young ,possibly only 12 year old Bangadeshi girl ,who is sent to England to marry a much older man. I never before appreciated how hard this must be. Eventually her much older husband goes back but she stays because her daughters want to.Do go see or get DVD.
Whilst in HK I went to see 'Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day',which I loved it is what I call 'an old fashioned film' and I did enjoy it except when the air raid warning sign went off because I always have bad dreams and so I did. i was less than a year old and knew the difference in the warnings.no wonder my generation and slightly older have nervous problems. There was no councelling in those days. we all got on with it.Coming back I also watched 3 films one of which I can't remember. Isaw a really fun exciting film about treasure under Mount Rushmore called 'National Treasures'. This really made the flight go fast.Prior to that I saw 'Atonement'. Now , largely because of teaching 'Enduring Love' too mant times for A level. I've 'gone off' Mc Ewen but now I must read read this book. The film was brilliant but quite puzzling at the end and very sad.It was not all uncultured I saw Traviata too and on the way listened to all of Beethoven's piano sonatas.When I blog tomorrow I'll blog some more about the books I've read in HK and where we are now. Thanks to some lovely people at varuious publisheras I have a host of non-fictiopn to read because those are the books I want to concentrate on in my blog. There are many lovely blogs about fiction but few or none that I've found about non-fiction.I have a wonderful book called 'Triumph' by Mary Beard, which I bought before this financial crisis rendered book buying a choice between heat and food.I would still eat beans to get a book I want and go cold. I could just be mad.Opinions welcomed.

I'm back

Just couldn't find time to blog whilst visiting my son in HongKong. He paid for me to gom out because on 13th he had a graduation ceremony for his MBA. His sister, who teaches flew out a week ago wed. too. It was so nicwe being the three of us again. It's been a long time since we were all together under one roof.however I won't blog all in one go about HK but daily in small doses.Today, I want to comment on 'Mrs Darcey's Dilemma ' by Diana Birchall.I read this as slowly as poss. to savour every minute. It is a superb novel in that it feels authentically Austen. The only part which jumped at me was when Henryis speaking on page 67 and he uses the word center. No. It would be centre.The characters spring to life in their conversations especially Lydia, who has learned nothing in the 25 years which have elapsed since the end of 'Pride and Prejudice' and her daughter bettina, who takes life one stage further by becoming an actress.
I've just lent this book to a freind but when it's back I shall read it again.
Also as a comparison read @Mr D'Arcy's Diary' Amanda Grange.Here it is a retelling of the book's events (P and P) by MR D'arcy. I did enjoy it and it has given me new ways of looking at the original. I now have a third Mr D's diary to read.I hadn't realised what an industry retelling Jane had become. I wonder why noone does the same for the Brontes or perhaps they do and I don't know. But if there is time for one book only then make it Diana's.