Now I can sit and type on.my Kindle Fire anywhere I have no excuse for not blogging regularly.I am blogging about books mainly on gussiebetty.wordpress.com and here about anything else,.I know you'd love to hear about my loo read.It's 'Daughter of Time Josephine Try.It is years since I first read this book but I followed up with many History books and concluded then that Richard was maligned and framed.Now I am going to read the most modern histories to see if anything had changed.,,In future it will make a difference that Richard 's bones have been found under a Leicester car park.The question of reburial how and where seems to have gone quiet.
I am really looking forward to the first Felixstowe Book Festival which my friend Random Nothings has helped organise.I'm just off now to book some tickets.Tomorrow I have a brilliant afternoon under the auspices of Birkbeck.This is Alumni week and one of the activities I'd a guided walk round the squares with Dr McNeile.We start in Bloomsbury Square and finish in Gordon Square with afternoon tea.As my health is,as you know a bit of a pain I have been resting so as to ensure I can go tomorrow.I'll report back.
Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Friday, 10 May 2013
Friday witterings
Really delighted because Random press allow me to review their books via netgalley.Several have turned edown.OUPclearlydoesnt like my profile yet I read alot of nonfiction.I wanted to readthe new translation of The IlliadIlliad which I have read in Latin and in at least three translations.
Have been catching up with Endeavour.Marvellous music played.
Have been catching up with Endeavour.Marvellous music played.
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Kindle Fire
Have just discovered that I can blog via my Kindle-ThiThis means that I can blog at any time so this time my bloggery won't fail.
I return Again
I have another blog called gussiebetty at wordpress.com but that didnt work well so I am back here again. I am being given a laptop too so will be able to post in bed. I must see if if I can post via a Kindle Fire. I can certainly listen to books and watch films. this modern technology is wonderful. I am now 72 so must up date profile. I have read a wonderful book courtesy of Netgalley. Called Letters from Skye Jessica Brockmole. It is an epistolary novel and quite superb.
I also want to mention the first felixstowe book Festival June 15th and 16th which has some amazinfgspeakers and the talks are not over expensive,It would be great to have the festival packed out. Helen Rappaport one of my best loved history writers will be speaking about The Romanovs. She has just finished writing a book about the four sisters.
shall try to write every day
I also want to mention the first felixstowe book Festival June 15th and 16th which has some amazinfgspeakers and the talks are not over expensive,It would be great to have the festival packed out. Helen Rappaport one of my best loved history writers will be speaking about The Romanovs. She has just finished writing a book about the four sisters.
shall try to write every day
Sunday, 26 February 2012
Hi Here I am as promised on a lovely Sunday afternoo with an Anna Trebenko concert playing on the TV which I recorded from Sky arts. Last evening I heard an opera I had never heard before Verdi's Ernani from the Met. It was wonderful. I only wish that I could have afforded to go to our local cinema in Crawley to see it. They are having several operas on screen and I hope to see Manon. I believe that's next month.
At 6.ooam I was listening to the omnibus edition on 4extra of 'Nicholas Nickleby' My favourite Dickens and I was struck by hao brilliant Dickens was at 'dopey' women. Dora Copperfield being one such and Nicholas's mother surpassing them all. She is so vacuous one has to laugh. Although the results of her vacuity for her daughter are not so clever.
As a result of 'Stuck in a book' I read Henry Green's 'Blind' which I ordered from the library stacks so it came free. I really enjoyed the beginning part of the book which is John Hayes journal at Noat public school. Can't help thinking was really Eton.Then in part 2 John is blinded whilst on a train looking out of a window. When he realises he's blind his reaction seemed too calm to me. There are no suggestions of blind school like St Dunstan's which was around in those days where he could have learned skills not least of which would have been braille.
The writing of the whole book is beautiful even if I struggled after part 2.The epilogue is a letter from John to his friend seymour asking him to visit afterall as he writes I can still talk.
Also read 'How it all Began' Penelope Lively. This was from the library but I own several of her
books.Really the whole book is an illustration of John Donne's 'No man is an Island entire of himself'. Charlotte an older lady is knocked down in the process of being mugged and breaks her hip. This leads to the entrance of all the other protagonists. Eventually we see howall arer linked'The delinquent, fourteen years old,male, as it happens despite equal opps' was himself set upon by a hostile gang and relieed of the £67.27..........Beyond him unknown of no9 interest. he had left Charlotte on her crutches.the embattled Daltons,Henry in his humiliation. Marion, Rose, Anton demonstrating that no0 man is an island not even a 14 year old with behavioural problems.
So well written and what I really like in 'Literary' novels so full of all sorts of intertextuality, which make one think or even reach for a source.
Lastly two relaxy novels set in 1837 just as Victoria came to the throne, Death at Dawn and Death of a Dancer by Caro Peacock are so well written. The heroine is 26 year old Liberty Laine who by the end of the second book is a kind of early private eye who sometimes works for Disraeli.I believe Caro also writes as Gillian Lipscott I might have the surname wrong but I have enjoyed those books too.I found Liberty via an audio book. I always have one of these on the go in the kitchen. What I listened to was book 3 in the series. These books are so worth listening to and reading. They have also sent me back to a biog' of Dizzy and his own novels.
Do hope the coming week is a good one. The weather for the last two days has been lovely. I have so much more energy when there is even a little bit of sunshine and warnmth although me and heat don't get on so I'd never go anywhere really hot although I go to Honk Kong at my son's expense but in its cooler seasons and it's not so bad there because everywhere is air conned almost to the point of madness.Only place where this falls down is the church St Josephs where I worshio every Sunday I'm in HK. That can become a trifle warm.
Hope to see The Artist on Thursday afternoon and Wed I'm meeting a friend and we are going to9 the Haj exhibition at the Brit. Mus. Monday I have 2 pupils a 19 year old and a new little girl starting who is 7. Her mum is my accupuncturist so we are swapping skills which is brilliant because ACCup. is so expensive but for me so effective. the cold has left my shoulders and hands in pain but a couple of hours will fix that.Tuesday, I'm visiting a friend who is a hypnotherapist. I try to look after her and the family like her mother my friend would were she not in a home where she has been along time with early onset Alzheimers. She has forgotten who we are and how to talk. Really sad.
At 6.ooam I was listening to the omnibus edition on 4extra of 'Nicholas Nickleby' My favourite Dickens and I was struck by hao brilliant Dickens was at 'dopey' women. Dora Copperfield being one such and Nicholas's mother surpassing them all. She is so vacuous one has to laugh. Although the results of her vacuity for her daughter are not so clever.
As a result of 'Stuck in a book' I read Henry Green's 'Blind' which I ordered from the library stacks so it came free. I really enjoyed the beginning part of the book which is John Hayes journal at Noat public school. Can't help thinking was really Eton.Then in part 2 John is blinded whilst on a train looking out of a window. When he realises he's blind his reaction seemed too calm to me. There are no suggestions of blind school like St Dunstan's which was around in those days where he could have learned skills not least of which would have been braille.
The writing of the whole book is beautiful even if I struggled after part 2.The epilogue is a letter from John to his friend seymour asking him to visit afterall as he writes I can still talk.
Also read 'How it all Began' Penelope Lively. This was from the library but I own several of her
books.Really the whole book is an illustration of John Donne's 'No man is an Island entire of himself'. Charlotte an older lady is knocked down in the process of being mugged and breaks her hip. This leads to the entrance of all the other protagonists. Eventually we see howall arer linked'The delinquent, fourteen years old,male, as it happens despite equal opps' was himself set upon by a hostile gang and relieed of the £67.27..........Beyond him unknown of no9 interest. he had left Charlotte on her crutches.the embattled Daltons,Henry in his humiliation. Marion, Rose, Anton demonstrating that no0 man is an island not even a 14 year old with behavioural problems.
So well written and what I really like in 'Literary' novels so full of all sorts of intertextuality, which make one think or even reach for a source.
Lastly two relaxy novels set in 1837 just as Victoria came to the throne, Death at Dawn and Death of a Dancer by Caro Peacock are so well written. The heroine is 26 year old Liberty Laine who by the end of the second book is a kind of early private eye who sometimes works for Disraeli.I believe Caro also writes as Gillian Lipscott I might have the surname wrong but I have enjoyed those books too.I found Liberty via an audio book. I always have one of these on the go in the kitchen. What I listened to was book 3 in the series. These books are so worth listening to and reading. They have also sent me back to a biog' of Dizzy and his own novels.
Do hope the coming week is a good one. The weather for the last two days has been lovely. I have so much more energy when there is even a little bit of sunshine and warnmth although me and heat don't get on so I'd never go anywhere really hot although I go to Honk Kong at my son's expense but in its cooler seasons and it's not so bad there because everywhere is air conned almost to the point of madness.Only place where this falls down is the church St Josephs where I worshio every Sunday I'm in HK. That can become a trifle warm.
Hope to see The Artist on Thursday afternoon and Wed I'm meeting a friend and we are going to9 the Haj exhibition at the Brit. Mus. Monday I have 2 pupils a 19 year old and a new little girl starting who is 7. Her mum is my accupuncturist so we are swapping skills which is brilliant because ACCup. is so expensive but for me so effective. the cold has left my shoulders and hands in pain but a couple of hours will fix that.Tuesday, I'm visiting a friend who is a hypnotherapist. I try to look after her and the family like her mother my friend would were she not in a home where she has been along time with early onset Alzheimers. She has forgotten who we are and how to talk. Really sad.
Friday, 24 February 2012
Return of the wanderer
Wow I didn't realise that it was two years since I last appeared. Deepak you wrote to me and I accidentally deleted your comment then realised that it was from this year. I'd love to review your book for you. As I write this I'm listening to a Boulez concert which I recorded from Sky Arts. I'm one of those perverse people who cannot think in silence.If I have alittle noise I block it out and really concentrate. Sometimes when i was teaching we'd have classical music playing quietly whilst they did exam practce or wrote essays etc always ready to switch off and hide if any other teacher walked in.It was the same with drinking water. My classroom was 3 sides window and was hot even in winter so I used to allow a drink and in the summer ties at half mast providing drink was hidden and ties shoved up as the class stood. I was old fashioned and my classes always stood for another adult.
Anyway having had a rocky two years with both mental and physical health all seems well now except for tiredness but that can be managed so I shall be here on sundays and at least twice a week. I don't promose every day because I need to read and I am making my this blog majorly non fiction.
First uo is 'As Good as God as clever as the Devil:Life of Mary Benson' Rodney Bolt
Mary Benson was mother to A C, E F and Hugh Benson all writers. Her husband became Archbishop of Canterbury although I couldn't fathom why she didn't feed him arsenic long before then. He was an odious man. He actually decided to marry Mary when she was 11.He was in his twenties. Interestingly none of the boys married but given the law in those times their sexuality was well hidden.Bolt backs up all his ideas with quotations from the novels. A most interesting read.
Last for today is 'The Queen's Agent' John Cooper
This is about Francis Walsingham. I'd always thought of him as a spymaster but boy was he a rabid Protestant. Since I am R C myself some of his comments made my hair stand on end and he was always in pursuit of hidden priests who were very often Jesuits who came to England via Holland or France. He thought torturing them was what one did.I also learnt a great deal about Ireland in Tudor times.We always seemed to be attacking them and really treated them so badly and there was hunger even then.One can see why movements like the IRA grew.Above all this book is so interestingly written. It could have been a big yawn.
Well must go and read so I have something to say on Sunday. I hope to discover how to make this blog look good and how to link because I read some really interesting blogs which anyone who chances here might like to read.
Anyway having had a rocky two years with both mental and physical health all seems well now except for tiredness but that can be managed so I shall be here on sundays and at least twice a week. I don't promose every day because I need to read and I am making my this blog majorly non fiction.
First uo is 'As Good as God as clever as the Devil:Life of Mary Benson' Rodney Bolt
Mary Benson was mother to A C, E F and Hugh Benson all writers. Her husband became Archbishop of Canterbury although I couldn't fathom why she didn't feed him arsenic long before then. He was an odious man. He actually decided to marry Mary when she was 11.He was in his twenties. Interestingly none of the boys married but given the law in those times their sexuality was well hidden.Bolt backs up all his ideas with quotations from the novels. A most interesting read.
Last for today is 'The Queen's Agent' John Cooper
This is about Francis Walsingham. I'd always thought of him as a spymaster but boy was he a rabid Protestant. Since I am R C myself some of his comments made my hair stand on end and he was always in pursuit of hidden priests who were very often Jesuits who came to England via Holland or France. He thought torturing them was what one did.I also learnt a great deal about Ireland in Tudor times.We always seemed to be attacking them and really treated them so badly and there was hunger even then.One can see why movements like the IRA grew.Above all this book is so interestingly written. It could have been a big yawn.
Well must go and read so I have something to say on Sunday. I hope to discover how to make this blog look good and how to link because I read some really interesting blogs which anyone who chances here might like to read.
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Pushkin Journey
well Iwrote along post and clicked publish and it's vanished. There's just the beginning of a post. I don't know where it's gone so I'll rewrite it.The book Pushkin sent me was 'The Inheritance'. I spent so long contemplating the outward appearance of the book I almost forgot to read it.Pushkin books are beautifully produced. They are like a work of art.
The story as the title indicates is about an inheritance. Daniel Loew is apoet living in London. His uncle aho lives in Caracas has always promised him all his money when he dies.This happens but Daniel discovers that nothing is simple. Uncle appointed (or did he) an executor from Caracas-a close friend of the uncle.The book is about the struggles to obtain the inheritance.
Daniel made a frien there called Otto.Otto sums up the situation ' You need to set priorities in life,my dear fellow.Your uncle has left you nothing but trouble". Read the book and see if it is true. It is written by Peter Stephan Jungk.Originally 'Die Erbschaft' It is a translation from German and I do wonder if the less interesting, more pedantic writng is as a result of translation.I musttry and find it in german and see. Now I hope this will publish and not vanish.
The story as the title indicates is about an inheritance. Daniel Loew is apoet living in London. His uncle aho lives in Caracas has always promised him all his money when he dies.This happens but Daniel discovers that nothing is simple. Uncle appointed (or did he) an executor from Caracas-a close friend of the uncle.The book is about the struggles to obtain the inheritance.
Daniel made a frien there called Otto.Otto sums up the situation ' You need to set priorities in life,my dear fellow.Your uncle has left you nothing but trouble". Read the book and see if it is true. It is written by Peter Stephan Jungk.Originally 'Die Erbschaft' It is a translation from German and I do wonder if the less interesting, more pedantic writng is as a result of translation.I musttry and find it in german and see. Now I hope this will publish and not vanish.
Pushkin journey
I didn't expect to be away from my blog for over a year. then Pushkin press contacted me and I thought yes I'd like to redtart
I didn't expect to be away from my blog for over a year. Just one of life's little jokes.Then Puskin Press wrote to me asking if I'd like to review a book and it seemed a good chance to me to begin again.The book I was sent is called 'The Inheritance' by Peter Stephan Jungk. I spent some time contemplating the appearance of the book. Pushkin books are beautiful. they have smooth paper and very clear fonts.I almost forgot to read it I was so enthralled with the outward look.As the title suggests the story is about an inheritance. Daniel Loew is apoet working in London and he has always been told that when his uncle who lives in Caracas dies he will inherit.Uncle duly dies but matters of the inheritance were not so easy.A South American has been chosen to execute the Will and the rest of the book concerns tracking down the money and seeing what could be done about the executor.A Daniel has made called Otto Johannes sums up the book nicely when he said"You need to set priorities in your life,My dear fellow,Your Uncle has left you nothing but trouble."
The writing style is exciting at times at others very pedantic but I wondered how much of the latter was due to it being a translation.I'd love to read it in German and see.I do recommend it to those who like well produced books.Also anyone who has had to do with wills will recognize some of the problems and how money can alter character.
I didn't expect to be away from my blog for over a year. Just one of life's little jokes.Then Puskin Press wrote to me asking if I'd like to review a book and it seemed a good chance to me to begin again.The book I was sent is called 'The Inheritance' by Peter Stephan Jungk. I spent some time contemplating the appearance of the book. Pushkin books are beautiful. they have smooth paper and very clear fonts.I almost forgot to read it I was so enthralled with the outward look.As the title suggests the story is about an inheritance. Daniel Loew is apoet working in London and he has always been told that when his uncle who lives in Caracas dies he will inherit.Uncle duly dies but matters of the inheritance were not so easy.A South American has been chosen to execute the Will and the rest of the book concerns tracking down the money and seeing what could be done about the executor.A Daniel has made called Otto Johannes sums up the book nicely when he said"You need to set priorities in your life,My dear fellow,Your Uncle has left you nothing but trouble."
The writing style is exciting at times at others very pedantic but I wondered how much of the latter was due to it being a translation.I'd love to read it in German and see.I do recommend it to those who like well produced books.Also anyone who has had to do with wills will recognize some of the problems and how money can alter character.
Sunday, 16 November 2008
sunday
here we are again. I haven't done much reading this week. Have had really bad arthritis which always is worse with changeable weather. It means that using fingers hurts both them and my shoulders.
However, I've heard some lovely music. when Virgin took over Telewest, Branson fell out with Sky and we lost all those programmes but from Thursday it's back but with the added joy of the two Sky Arts progs. One is modern and the other classical so I've heard some Wagner, Verdi and Mozart in the last few days.On Thursdays there is a new BOokk prog. led by Mariella Frostrupp. This week's guests were Martina Cole, Michael Dobbs and Sandy Tostvig.At the end there was a slot where they had to say which character from Literature they'd like to be.Most enjoyable.
christmas is nearly on us which also leaves less time to read but I hope to be able to read more this week and report back next Sunday.
However, I've heard some lovely music. when Virgin took over Telewest, Branson fell out with Sky and we lost all those programmes but from Thursday it's back but with the added joy of the two Sky Arts progs. One is modern and the other classical so I've heard some Wagner, Verdi and Mozart in the last few days.On Thursdays there is a new BOokk prog. led by Mariella Frostrupp. This week's guests were Martina Cole, Michael Dobbs and Sandy Tostvig.At the end there was a slot where they had to say which character from Literature they'd like to be.Most enjoyable.
christmas is nearly on us which also leaves less time to read but I hope to be able to read more this week and report back next Sunday.
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Sunday
Well here we are again as promised. it is a very cold and dark day here.the newspapers seem to have nothing except Obama to write about although I'm very glad he won. It would be nice to find less emphasis on his colour. I think he's a clever young man. time will tell.
Since the 26th Oct I've read a few books worth blogging about. My 'little room' reading was to catch up on two books by Chaim Potok. For anyone interested in Judaism especially Hassism, these novels are a must.I began with 'In the Beginning',where a very clever young Hassid upsets his whole family when he find studying only Hassidic views of the Torah too confining. The book is how he reaches this point. the other book was 'The Gift of Asher Lev'. This a title with 2 layers. Asher's first gift is his ability as an artist and again we learn the Hassidic position on art. Lev has a son and this is the other gift that he leaves his son to be educated in New York whilst he, Asher retuns to the south of France to paint. We gather he'll return every few months to see his family. why does he do this ? So that his father can be the next Ladover rebbe, followed by his grandson. Hassidic attitudes to women incidently are very clear in both books and as the women portrayed are clever one wonders why the suffeed being second class citizens.
Then I also read 'Ekaterinnburg' ( Hans, you'd like this)byHelen Rappaport. this is about the last few weeks of the czar's life. fanaticism of any kind seems to make people brutal and this a sad example of that. I was also so cross that our royal family didn't rescue their cousins. To me that makes them complicit in what happened next.
'careless in Red' Elizabeth George came next.This is set in Cornwall and there are some descriptions which really evoke the area.It is Lynly trying to engage with his wife's death but also getting involved with a local murder. I found this a really good book much better than the previous 2 or 3.
Lastly, I read the sixth of Christopher Fowler's Bryant and May series. These two very ancient detectives run the Peculiar Crimes Unit and everything they do is peculiar.I have learnt so much about different aspects of London. One is about all the rivers in London, which haven't dried up but which run underground. The latest and I think posibly the last in the series is 'The Victoria Vanishes'. From this book I have learnt about all the unusual pubs in London and how they got their names. It is also a good story with some very funny dialogue.
I have read other things but to relax and they don't all warrant a blog. So I might be back in the week but if not I'll be here next Sunday.
Since the 26th Oct I've read a few books worth blogging about. My 'little room' reading was to catch up on two books by Chaim Potok. For anyone interested in Judaism especially Hassism, these novels are a must.I began with 'In the Beginning',where a very clever young Hassid upsets his whole family when he find studying only Hassidic views of the Torah too confining. The book is how he reaches this point. the other book was 'The Gift of Asher Lev'. This a title with 2 layers. Asher's first gift is his ability as an artist and again we learn the Hassidic position on art. Lev has a son and this is the other gift that he leaves his son to be educated in New York whilst he, Asher retuns to the south of France to paint. We gather he'll return every few months to see his family. why does he do this ? So that his father can be the next Ladover rebbe, followed by his grandson. Hassidic attitudes to women incidently are very clear in both books and as the women portrayed are clever one wonders why the suffeed being second class citizens.
Then I also read 'Ekaterinnburg' ( Hans, you'd like this)byHelen Rappaport. this is about the last few weeks of the czar's life. fanaticism of any kind seems to make people brutal and this a sad example of that. I was also so cross that our royal family didn't rescue their cousins. To me that makes them complicit in what happened next.
'careless in Red' Elizabeth George came next.This is set in Cornwall and there are some descriptions which really evoke the area.It is Lynly trying to engage with his wife's death but also getting involved with a local murder. I found this a really good book much better than the previous 2 or 3.
Lastly, I read the sixth of Christopher Fowler's Bryant and May series. These two very ancient detectives run the Peculiar Crimes Unit and everything they do is peculiar.I have learnt so much about different aspects of London. One is about all the rivers in London, which haven't dried up but which run underground. The latest and I think posibly the last in the series is 'The Victoria Vanishes'. From this book I have learnt about all the unusual pubs in London and how they got their names. It is also a good story with some very funny dialogue.
I have read other things but to relax and they don't all warrant a blog. So I might be back in the week but if not I'll be here next Sunday.
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
at last
what a disaster the last few weeks have been since I last posted. First a main ISP provider and backup went down and it took about 10 days to sort. Then just as I was hoping to post and say that it's very sad when a blog one likes to read hasn't been written and I would from now always post on a Sunday and sometimes in the week, when virgin Media vanished for two days and the internet was unavailable so I couldn't blog.fingers crossed all is now well.Ihave so much mail to catch up with that I won't write much today but on Sunday I'll blog about several books I have read over the past few weeks.
went to Brighton as usual on Tuesday and inhaled fresh air. It's such a treat. the sea was very calm but there was a mist over the horizon so that neither Rottingdean in one direction nor Hove in the other could be seen.
Now well embroiled in Xmas presents. I can't do it all at once so begin early. I've been lucky this year and found some nice gifts which aren't expensive, cash being a big consideration. However, the advantage to that is the amount of thought put in to each gift.Welloff I go to e-mail. Back on sunday Insha'allah.
went to Brighton as usual on Tuesday and inhaled fresh air. It's such a treat. the sea was very calm but there was a mist over the horizon so that neither Rottingdean in one direction nor Hove in the other could be seen.
Now well embroiled in Xmas presents. I can't do it all at once so begin early. I've been lucky this year and found some nice gifts which aren't expensive, cash being a big consideration. However, the advantage to that is the amount of thought put in to each gift.Welloff I go to e-mail. Back on sunday Insha'allah.
Sunday, 12 October 2008
sunday salon
What a glorious day yesterday. It was the kind Keats was referring to in his poem 'Autumn'.This has always been my favouite season espeecially if the summer has been hot because heat makes me ill.I'm still catching up with books I wanted to blog about so I haven't read all in one week although I deliberately had a quieter week this week. I have observed that getting too tired activates depression.
'The Glass Blower of Murano' Marina Fiorato is an interesting book. It goes from modern times to the Renaissance in Venice. I really enjoy books with time switches.Apart from it being an exciting plot one learns so much about venice and especially the making of Murano glass.the glass blower in 14c is male but the modern glass blower is female and a direct descendant. I was silly that I didn't write down the protagonist's names as it was a library book. I was relying on memory. booboo!!However the early glass blower was so gifted that:
The testament to his genius was in every palazzo in Venice,every church, every grand eating house. It was in every shining chalice he made, every mirror smooth as the lagoon in summer...
Normally so much repetition of every would be irksome but its use here creates the impression of how prolific and sought after the glass blower was.
Two lovely evocative mysteries are by Anne Zeroudi.I read these in reverse order her second book 'The taint of Midas' first and then her first 'The Messenger of Athens'. the messenger in both books is an unlikely hero who is referred to as 'the fat man'. his name is Hermes Diaktoros. In the first book he arrives to sort out Lust and in the second greed. The first book begins with a death which was tidied up as suicide but when Hermes arrives that is in doubt. there is a corrupt police chief Zepherides who 'phones Athens to find out about this man who claims to be an investigator from Athens. there is no sign of him in the Athenian police force and Hermes says that he comes from a much higher power. i'll leave you to read the books and decide what this means.The Greek islands are also characters in these books and Zeroudi's descriptions make one long to be there too.
it was an islandwith no beauty of its own,but arou
nd its shores where the sea ran the gamut of all blues-torquoise and lapis lazuli,sapphire, ultramarine and cobalt-the water and sunlight changed it.Grey rockson the beach shone silver;there was gold in the dull soil on the mountain slopes.Fool's gold. tricks of the light.
I have seen the Med'. look like this but not the English Channel that is shades of green and grey.Now I must look at my mail. I have left it because Friday was a nightmare, taking ages to reveal each letter or to delete. I assume it was my ISP provider and not my computer. Sometimes I wish I knew lots more about computing.so hope the day is going well and I'll be back.
'The Glass Blower of Murano' Marina Fiorato is an interesting book. It goes from modern times to the Renaissance in Venice. I really enjoy books with time switches.Apart from it being an exciting plot one learns so much about venice and especially the making of Murano glass.the glass blower in 14c is male but the modern glass blower is female and a direct descendant. I was silly that I didn't write down the protagonist's names as it was a library book. I was relying on memory. booboo!!However the early glass blower was so gifted that:
The testament to his genius was in every palazzo in Venice,every church, every grand eating house. It was in every shining chalice he made, every mirror smooth as the lagoon in summer...
Normally so much repetition of every would be irksome but its use here creates the impression of how prolific and sought after the glass blower was.
Two lovely evocative mysteries are by Anne Zeroudi.I read these in reverse order her second book 'The taint of Midas' first and then her first 'The Messenger of Athens'. the messenger in both books is an unlikely hero who is referred to as 'the fat man'. his name is Hermes Diaktoros. In the first book he arrives to sort out Lust and in the second greed. The first book begins with a death which was tidied up as suicide but when Hermes arrives that is in doubt. there is a corrupt police chief Zepherides who 'phones Athens to find out about this man who claims to be an investigator from Athens. there is no sign of him in the Athenian police force and Hermes says that he comes from a much higher power. i'll leave you to read the books and decide what this means.The Greek islands are also characters in these books and Zeroudi's descriptions make one long to be there too.
it was an islandwith no beauty of its own,but arou
nd its shores where the sea ran the gamut of all blues-torquoise and lapis lazuli,sapphire, ultramarine and cobalt-the water and sunlight changed it.Grey rockson the beach shone silver;there was gold in the dull soil on the mountain slopes.Fool's gold. tricks of the light.
I have seen the Med'. look like this but not the English Channel that is shades of green and grey.Now I must look at my mail. I have left it because Friday was a nightmare, taking ages to reveal each letter or to delete. I assume it was my ISP provider and not my computer. Sometimes I wish I knew lots more about computing.so hope the day is going well and I'll be back.
Thursday, 9 October 2008
thursday
this will be a brief blog because I'm feeling the efects of my 'flu' vacc.Don't like previous font too big.I have just read 'The Great arasb Conquests' Hugh Kennedy. the first half of the book is very interesting although the succession to Mohhamed is dismissed in few words and no account is given of the Sunna/Shia split, which is odd considering Iran is Shiite and therefore they must have spread Islam to Persia. Much of the Gulf is too but that is because so many people from the Iranina mainland settled there including my ex pa in law and even earlier my ma-in-law's grandparents.They still distinguish themselves from arabs and refer to themselves as Persian.All the people I met were bi-lingual Arabic/Farsi as well.I think the rise of the Ayatollah's shifted the ideas of the young. My step daughter sees herself as a citizen of Sharjah
In the little room I am reading Dornford Yates. Iwas lucky enough to complete my collection in the second hand bookshop in Holt. Reading these in instalments is a delight. I've finished 'Berry and CO'. Berry and his cousin and various relatives all libve together at Whiteladies and from here they go to france or travel to London. We are never told where the money comes from.his book had many letters from Berry on a variety of subjects each one wittier or odder than the last. I cannot imagine why noone has made a TV program of these books. the plots are exciting and the characters rounde and the dialogue witty.
After this I began my annual read of Helen Hanff and began with 'Q's Legacy'.I have a few of his books and it was reading him made me brush up my Latin and begin to learn Classical Greek. I can translate some of his quotes. Learning Classical Greek is like a long crossword and one can feel it building neural pathways but I love it. I now learn by myself because I'm not strong enough to go to the City Lit, where I began every week nor can I now afford it.So I have independent learners resources, could be known as cribs lol
In the little room I am reading Dornford Yates. Iwas lucky enough to complete my collection in the second hand bookshop in Holt. Reading these in instalments is a delight. I've finished 'Berry and CO'. Berry and his cousin and various relatives all libve together at Whiteladies and from here they go to france or travel to London. We are never told where the money comes from.his book had many letters from Berry on a variety of subjects each one wittier or odder than the last. I cannot imagine why noone has made a TV program of these books. the plots are exciting and the characters rounde and the dialogue witty.
After this I began my annual read of Helen Hanff and began with 'Q's Legacy'.I have a few of his books and it was reading him made me brush up my Latin and begin to learn Classical Greek. I can translate some of his quotes. Learning Classical Greek is like a long crossword and one can feel it building neural pathways but I love it. I now learn by myself because I'm not strong enough to go to the City Lit, where I began every week nor can I now afford it.So I have independent learners resources, could be known as cribs lol
Monday, 6 October 2008
Monday again
Yesterday was rather wet and I got stuck into my reading and forgot to blog or read my e-mails.A book which will vie for number one position this year is 'Stargazer' Linda Gillard> This is the story of a blind girl, who one day drops her keys in the snow and can't find them. A young man helps her and they become friends.His main home is on Skye and he invites Marianne to his home because he wants her to 'see' the stars.how is she going to do that ?He relates sights to music. Marianne is a keen music lover. This enables her to' see'.This is a also a romance so naturally there have to be difficulties which are resolved by the end.My favourite description is of Moonlight.
Moonlight?It's eerie like cold,still water....You know when there's a mist in Edinburgh and the air is full of vapour? You feel like you're breathing water.The air's clammy and it seeps into your clothes, into your bones. That's a bit like moonlight. cold And mysterious..It can look very beautiful or sinister.
Paper back version p 80-81
Today it isn't raining but it's cold and damp. I think autumn is becoming winter quite quickly this year. I've just had my 'flu' jab always a sign of winter precautions. Also have begun putting summer clothes into their winter home. Now I begin to buy for Xmas. If I start early I manage to buy nice things. Later and the money runs out if there is too much at once.
Bought a book on Saturday. It's the only paper back version I've seen of Dumas 'The Last Cavalier'. It is a late find apparently.
Today did a little trawl of the charity shops.I bought 'The Tower' Manfredi 99p. I really like his books. Then I went to Oxfam and they were 'doing buy one get one free on their hardbacks. So I bought 'hemingways Chair Michael Palin.Deafening Frances Itani,The Money Box. Margaret Forster and Triumph of the sun Wilbur Smith.SO 4 BOOKS FOR £2.00. How good is that!!!
The next rainy day the great book sorting out will begin- a daunting task.
Moonlight?It's eerie like cold,still water....You know when there's a mist in Edinburgh and the air is full of vapour? You feel like you're breathing water.The air's clammy and it seeps into your clothes, into your bones. That's a bit like moonlight. cold And mysterious..It can look very beautiful or sinister.
Paper back version p 80-81
Today it isn't raining but it's cold and damp. I think autumn is becoming winter quite quickly this year. I've just had my 'flu' jab always a sign of winter precautions. Also have begun putting summer clothes into their winter home. Now I begin to buy for Xmas. If I start early I manage to buy nice things. Later and the money runs out if there is too much at once.
Bought a book on Saturday. It's the only paper back version I've seen of Dumas 'The Last Cavalier'. It is a late find apparently.
Today did a little trawl of the charity shops.I bought 'The Tower' Manfredi 99p. I really like his books. Then I went to Oxfam and they were 'doing buy one get one free on their hardbacks. So I bought 'hemingways Chair Michael Palin.Deafening Frances Itani,The Money Box. Margaret Forster and Triumph of the sun Wilbur Smith.SO 4 BOOKS FOR £2.00. How good is that!!!
The next rainy day the great book sorting out will begin- a daunting task.
Saturday, 4 October 2008
here again
we had a wonderful few days in Haworth last weekend. Our guest house was superb. It is called 'Aitches' and is run like a really good hotel by David.The breakfasts were all locally sourced and as much as one could possibly eat. Since I never cook except porridge at breakfast time, I had two fat free slices of bacon and 2 fried eggs for the three breakfasts we had.saturday we explored Haworth and visited the Parsonage. I was very lucky and managed to get the price reduced on a paper back Oxford Companion to the Brontes because the cover was bent.I've been to Haworth before and have always had a strong sense of the girl's presence. this time I was thinking about Their father. How did he manage with all his children dead?Despite his losses he soldiered on.
The weather was so good we were able to have a 'cuppa' sitting outside and ditto with our 'bijou lunchettes'. Noone needed much lunch. Then we explored all the little shops. I was lucky and found the first three Josephine Tey's for 50p each. I think we all found books we liked.In the pm we went to East riddlesdownn Hall and another online friend joined us. it's great to meet people and find they're as nice as one expected. the Hall is one of those places which despite being stately one feels one could live there very cosily.Both sat and Sun evenings we ate in the Black Lion( I think that's its name)where Branwell bronte used to do his drinking. the meals were excellent and the service great . We found whereever we were that people were pleased both to see us and to serve us.Very different from Surrey.
Sunday we went to Bolton Abbey, which is set in lush, green dales with a river running through. We were pleased we were there early because as we left most of the families in that part of Yorks seemed to be arriving. we decided to go on to Skipton, which was buzzing. My friends went to see the castle. I didn't because I've been before and knew I couldn't manage the stairs. I 'reccied the Charity shops. We all did well but none of us bought in the Heart Foundation because they charge far too much. It's much better to sell lots than hardly anything. I find this especially in Brighton that all the charity shops charge too much yet in Norwich and Liverpool there were Oxfam books mainly and they were really fairly priced consequently between my brother and I we spent quite a bit.
As usual when i've been in good company it took me time to adjust to being alone again, hence no posting. Noone wants to read miseries.
I took a very unusual book with me 'The Night Library' Alberto Manguel. Manguel has written widely on books and reading. this is about libraries. he has had the good fortune to be able to build a library in France. In the daytime it is his study and place of work but at night he sits in a comfie chair , thinking about his books and reading.Each chapter is about different aspects of libraries for example 'The Library as Myth'. he discusses ways of ordering a library Dewey Decimal, Library of Congress, by genre etc. His love of books and reading shine through.He quotes from the Aztec Codex from 1524, which is in the Vatican Archives at the end of the book and it sums up how many of us feel about books and reading.
Those who read,those who
tell us what they read,
those who noisily turn
The pages of their books,
Those who have power over
red and black ink
And over pictures,
those are the ones who lead us,
guide us, show us the way.
This is a book I shall buy when it comes out in paper back because each chapter has profound things to say and to think about.
Now I've finished my wanderings until December I shall try to write every day. i have so many books to talk about.
The weather was so good we were able to have a 'cuppa' sitting outside and ditto with our 'bijou lunchettes'. Noone needed much lunch. Then we explored all the little shops. I was lucky and found the first three Josephine Tey's for 50p each. I think we all found books we liked.In the pm we went to East riddlesdownn Hall and another online friend joined us. it's great to meet people and find they're as nice as one expected. the Hall is one of those places which despite being stately one feels one could live there very cosily.Both sat and Sun evenings we ate in the Black Lion( I think that's its name)where Branwell bronte used to do his drinking. the meals were excellent and the service great . We found whereever we were that people were pleased both to see us and to serve us.Very different from Surrey.
Sunday we went to Bolton Abbey, which is set in lush, green dales with a river running through. We were pleased we were there early because as we left most of the families in that part of Yorks seemed to be arriving. we decided to go on to Skipton, which was buzzing. My friends went to see the castle. I didn't because I've been before and knew I couldn't manage the stairs. I 'reccied the Charity shops. We all did well but none of us bought in the Heart Foundation because they charge far too much. It's much better to sell lots than hardly anything. I find this especially in Brighton that all the charity shops charge too much yet in Norwich and Liverpool there were Oxfam books mainly and they were really fairly priced consequently between my brother and I we spent quite a bit.
As usual when i've been in good company it took me time to adjust to being alone again, hence no posting. Noone wants to read miseries.
I took a very unusual book with me 'The Night Library' Alberto Manguel. Manguel has written widely on books and reading. this is about libraries. he has had the good fortune to be able to build a library in France. In the daytime it is his study and place of work but at night he sits in a comfie chair , thinking about his books and reading.Each chapter is about different aspects of libraries for example 'The Library as Myth'. he discusses ways of ordering a library Dewey Decimal, Library of Congress, by genre etc. His love of books and reading shine through.He quotes from the Aztec Codex from 1524, which is in the Vatican Archives at the end of the book and it sums up how many of us feel about books and reading.
Those who read,those who
tell us what they read,
those who noisily turn
The pages of their books,
Those who have power over
red and black ink
And over pictures,
those are the ones who lead us,
guide us, show us the way.
This is a book I shall buy when it comes out in paper back because each chapter has profound things to say and to think about.
Now I've finished my wanderings until December I shall try to write every day. i have so many books to talk about.
Monday, 15 September 2008
Monday musings 3
I just had to blog about Maestro. i only began watching because my Bro and sis in law did and then I was hooked. goldie was amazing but Sue perkins could be a professional conductor. i was disappointed when they were talking about women conductors that no one mentioned Janet canetty-Clark who conducts a choir in Burgess Hill and I believe the brighton festival choir. But she conducted a choir in Vienna long before there were other women. she is also a brilliant lecturer and knows so much about music and can convey it all to the novice as indeed can Pauline greene who lectures at Birkbeck and has worked with Janet.
Sue conducted before 30000 in the park as if she always does this and brought new meaning from the Elgar. i also liked the way she conducted Lesley Garrett.
have been running around to day collecting my ticket for thursday. I bought on line but had to go to Redhill to pick up. In Smiths I spotted Mary Beard's latest book 'Pompeii'. I want it but don't know if I shall be able to afford it. i'd like to write about it here because it's so exciting.( You can see I didn't just look!!). I don't know where she finds time, energy or stamina to research, lecture, write and run a family. Then she writes a blog always once a week and sometimes more and they're longer thananything I've yet written.
By the end of next week I shall be able to scan photos in to my blog because random is giving me the means to do this.More technology for my aged brain to master haha.
Sue conducted before 30000 in the park as if she always does this and brought new meaning from the Elgar. i also liked the way she conducted Lesley Garrett.
have been running around to day collecting my ticket for thursday. I bought on line but had to go to Redhill to pick up. In Smiths I spotted Mary Beard's latest book 'Pompeii'. I want it but don't know if I shall be able to afford it. i'd like to write about it here because it's so exciting.( You can see I didn't just look!!). I don't know where she finds time, energy or stamina to research, lecture, write and run a family. Then she writes a blog always once a week and sometimes more and they're longer thananything I've yet written.
By the end of next week I shall be able to scan photos in to my blog because random is giving me the means to do this.More technology for my aged brain to master haha.
Saturday, 13 September 2008
satuday catch up continued
Something went very wrong, my post disappeared and came back as a draft. I didn't know how to publish so cut and pasted now I don't think it's all there. I was talking about my conspiracy theory relating to new computers. Most people seem to have to replace modems and printers too.
Now I'll just write alittle about books and write tomorrow. I'm in a state of shock at my mising post. i think the bit where I thanked treva has vanished too. i'm such a slow typist I can't begin again,
have just read 'Caesar's Triumph' by Stephen saylor.This is about a conspiracy to assassinate him during a triumph. These were several :the one most written about was to celebrate the return from Gaul. a triumph was rather like a huge parade containing soldiers and slaves ie those captured and the material spoils of war.Mary Beard has written a wonderful book about Triumphs which I shall be blogging about soon. If you remember Shakespeare depicts a triumph in 'Julius Caesar' and it is this which makes those who later killed him begin to plot because he was becoming so imperial and they feared the end of the republic.Saylor has his characters discuss this too.
a complete contrast is the reading I have in the meditation room (also known as the loo)Here I've been reading Victoria Holt. Alas I've now read all those I've managed to find. Holt was also Jean Plaidy and Philippa carr. Each alter ego wrote a different type of book. I'd forgotten how well she wrote. They are not literature but they have good plots and strong characters. The one I have just finished called 'The House of the thousand Lanterns' contains many details about late 19thc HongKOng and about Chinese artefacts and Chinese customs.sometimes we need books that just take us away from our own worlds and worries.
Now I'll just write alittle about books and write tomorrow. I'm in a state of shock at my mising post. i think the bit where I thanked treva has vanished too. i'm such a slow typist I can't begin again,
have just read 'Caesar's Triumph' by Stephen saylor.This is about a conspiracy to assassinate him during a triumph. These were several :the one most written about was to celebrate the return from Gaul. a triumph was rather like a huge parade containing soldiers and slaves ie those captured and the material spoils of war.Mary Beard has written a wonderful book about Triumphs which I shall be blogging about soon. If you remember Shakespeare depicts a triumph in 'Julius Caesar' and it is this which makes those who later killed him begin to plot because he was becoming so imperial and they feared the end of the republic.Saylor has his characters discuss this too.
a complete contrast is the reading I have in the meditation room (also known as the loo)Here I've been reading Victoria Holt. Alas I've now read all those I've managed to find. Holt was also Jean Plaidy and Philippa carr. Each alter ego wrote a different type of book. I'd forgotten how well she wrote. They are not literature but they have good plots and strong characters. The one I have just finished called 'The House of the thousand Lanterns' contains many details about late 19thc HongKOng and about Chinese artefacts and Chinese customs.sometimes we need books that just take us away from our own worlds and worries.
saturday catch up
a saturday without rain whee. i didn't blog every day as I hoped. My son and his lady were over from Hong Kong and we had a lovely time together on Monday but then it took the rest of the week to regain my equilibrium.
had a lovely comment from Treva to continue blogging. It's so nice to be encouraged
Thursday, 4 September 2008
rain
More rain again today. I wonder if anyone else finds it hard to motivate themselves in the rain. this morning I was so cold I put my heating on for a while seemed awful to do that in Sept.brighton on tuesday was the wettest in three years so we can't complain. there were only 6 of us on the bus. still we all had a good time. It's really nice to breath fresh air.
I've been having a 'lack of concentration' period so have taken up reading Nora Roberts in her JD Robb incarnation. These books are set in the future around 2056 and are really well written, have interesting plots and over the series the characters develop and we find out snippets of their past in each book.
Monday I trawled the charity shops in Crawley and found a brand new Brideshead for a £1. Mine is very tatty and then a new copy of 'the Post birthday world' Lionel shriver 50p and 'the memory Keepers Daughter' also 50p. Some people when given books as presents seem to just run down to the charity shop without even opening them. In our Oxfam I saw an unopened as in unread and with no creases on the spine'Larks rise' with the inscription mother's day 2008. it did quite horrify me. Hope the daughter doesn't live locally.
Now going to pop over to random and see what she's up to. I love blogs but i find everyone is more interesting than I am. I wonder if \I should continue and then I do if only to practise my typing. i must try to buy a scanner so that I can liven up the appearance of the blog.
I've been having a 'lack of concentration' period so have taken up reading Nora Roberts in her JD Robb incarnation. These books are set in the future around 2056 and are really well written, have interesting plots and over the series the characters develop and we find out snippets of their past in each book.
Monday I trawled the charity shops in Crawley and found a brand new Brideshead for a £1. Mine is very tatty and then a new copy of 'the Post birthday world' Lionel shriver 50p and 'the memory Keepers Daughter' also 50p. Some people when given books as presents seem to just run down to the charity shop without even opening them. In our Oxfam I saw an unopened as in unread and with no creases on the spine'Larks rise' with the inscription mother's day 2008. it did quite horrify me. Hope the daughter doesn't live locally.
Now going to pop over to random and see what she's up to. I love blogs but i find everyone is more interesting than I am. I wonder if \I should continue and then I do if only to practise my typing. i must try to buy a scanner so that I can liven up the appearance of the blog.
Monday, 1 September 2008
return of the wanderer
here we are again. I've been away at my bro's since I last wrote on the 10th. No more missing my blog as i only have a jaunt to Hawarth with random on Sept.19th and a visit to my cousin on the 3rd dec. until these dates I shall try and blog every day.i hope I haven't lost those who read me by not being here.
N.Norfolk was wonderful. i beat all my previous bird totals and saw 120 species. My highspot was a little owl just sitting on a branch looking at me. I have a passion for owls. I have over a 100 of all kinds including a broach and earrings.Also surpassed my second hand book total. My bro has stopped smoking and gave me £20 to spend on books. I found 35. Most of them are still in Norfolk but They'll be here by 19th since my sis in law's sister is going up with a car and will bring them back. I broought a few back with me.
1) Reader, I married him-Patricia Beer
2)The Medieval Papacy-Geoffrey Barraclough
3)Emily Bronte -Winifred Guerin
4) House of a thousand Lanterns-Victoria Holt
5)teach Yourself New Testament greek
6)Homer's the Illiad and the Odyssey-Alberto Manguel:This is a beautiful ,like new hardback, which no library had in stock so i was really pleased and with 1-3 which I('ve wanted for ages.
7)The Cat who went Underground-Lillian Braun Jackson
8)The Sand Reckoner-Gillian Bradshaw. This is brand new and cost £2.00
So you see how well I did.My greatest find were for my daughter's Xmas pressie (part thereof)
ADorita Fairlie Bruce stand alone and a Dimsie book. Charlie read these as a teenager from the London Library and has always wanted them herself. They are very scarce and most often too expensive so to find one for £15.00 was super even though It's the last in the series so we're starting back to front.
In Norwich, which is the first time I've used my bus pass out county,we found an Oxfam the bigger part of which was books. They were reasonably priced so quite a few came from there. Some Oxfams are becoming greedy and charging too much. Then they wonder why their books are not selliing.we also visited the Cathedral,which is fairly interesting but still leaves Winchester as my personal favourite.We stuck with 'old' Norwich and explored the little lanes, which was where we found areally nice used bookshop with an owner who wanted to talk books.
went to several art exhibitions too. Most were amateur but excellent quality and two were professional. One in Holt and one in Salthouse Church. the artist there was Elizabeth Humphries,who does these really big unusual works in vivd colours.Many of her works would be unsuitable for ordinary houses.
Also managed some reading but I'll blog daily about them rather than make this too long.I read 'Ballad of Dorothy Wordsworth'- Frances Wilson.this is really interestingly written. As DW didn't live a rackety life a book about her could be very tedious but this isn't. There was quite a lot new to me too.I hadn't realised that William gave her Mary's wedding ring to wear the night before the marriage. D was too overcome to go to the nuptials and waited at the cottage until the bridal party returned.wilson reads the Lucy Poems' as potentially celebrating an incestuous relationship between W and D. Their relationship was certainly intense.'D often describes herself as a half. She is afterall Someone who quarrels with herself. But this( just as W is going to marry) is the only occasion in her journal where she can be heard referring to herself as possessing any poetic talent at all'
This inspite of it being obvious that she played a large part in the 'Lyrical Ballads'.This small quotation shows the clarity of Wilson's writing style.
I collect books on the Romantics so would like to own this one when it comes out in paperback. Another aspect of Mary which is discussed is her relationship with the coleridges. She really didn't like Sarah C. and actively encouraged C in his approaches to Sara Hutchinson.I was so surprised to read this since I'd have thought she'd be more conventional than this.
N.Norfolk was wonderful. i beat all my previous bird totals and saw 120 species. My highspot was a little owl just sitting on a branch looking at me. I have a passion for owls. I have over a 100 of all kinds including a broach and earrings.Also surpassed my second hand book total. My bro has stopped smoking and gave me £20 to spend on books. I found 35. Most of them are still in Norfolk but They'll be here by 19th since my sis in law's sister is going up with a car and will bring them back. I broought a few back with me.
1) Reader, I married him-Patricia Beer
2)The Medieval Papacy-Geoffrey Barraclough
3)Emily Bronte -Winifred Guerin
4) House of a thousand Lanterns-Victoria Holt
5)teach Yourself New Testament greek
6)Homer's the Illiad and the Odyssey-Alberto Manguel:This is a beautiful ,like new hardback, which no library had in stock so i was really pleased and with 1-3 which I('ve wanted for ages.
7)The Cat who went Underground-Lillian Braun Jackson
8)The Sand Reckoner-Gillian Bradshaw. This is brand new and cost £2.00
So you see how well I did.My greatest find were for my daughter's Xmas pressie (part thereof)
ADorita Fairlie Bruce stand alone and a Dimsie book. Charlie read these as a teenager from the London Library and has always wanted them herself. They are very scarce and most often too expensive so to find one for £15.00 was super even though It's the last in the series so we're starting back to front.
In Norwich, which is the first time I've used my bus pass out county,we found an Oxfam the bigger part of which was books. They were reasonably priced so quite a few came from there. Some Oxfams are becoming greedy and charging too much. Then they wonder why their books are not selliing.we also visited the Cathedral,which is fairly interesting but still leaves Winchester as my personal favourite.We stuck with 'old' Norwich and explored the little lanes, which was where we found areally nice used bookshop with an owner who wanted to talk books.
went to several art exhibitions too. Most were amateur but excellent quality and two were professional. One in Holt and one in Salthouse Church. the artist there was Elizabeth Humphries,who does these really big unusual works in vivd colours.Many of her works would be unsuitable for ordinary houses.
Also managed some reading but I'll blog daily about them rather than make this too long.I read 'Ballad of Dorothy Wordsworth'- Frances Wilson.this is really interestingly written. As DW didn't live a rackety life a book about her could be very tedious but this isn't. There was quite a lot new to me too.I hadn't realised that William gave her Mary's wedding ring to wear the night before the marriage. D was too overcome to go to the nuptials and waited at the cottage until the bridal party returned.wilson reads the Lucy Poems' as potentially celebrating an incestuous relationship between W and D. Their relationship was certainly intense.'D often describes herself as a half. She is afterall Someone who quarrels with herself. But this( just as W is going to marry) is the only occasion in her journal where she can be heard referring to herself as possessing any poetic talent at all'
This inspite of it being obvious that she played a large part in the 'Lyrical Ballads'.This small quotation shows the clarity of Wilson's writing style.
I collect books on the Romantics so would like to own this one when it comes out in paperback. Another aspect of Mary which is discussed is her relationship with the coleridges. She really didn't like Sarah C. and actively encouraged C in his approaches to Sara Hutchinson.I was so surprised to read this since I'd have thought she'd be more conventional than this.
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