I have been suffering from computer burnout. I just couldn't gather enthusiasm to either blog or do my emails. Think that has passed now.I hope so.Yesterday I finished reading or rather bro wsing Lisa Appignanesi's'Mad,bad and Sad' about mental illness and the female.I found it a book to browse rather than read straight through. It is also very long.On balance I prefer Elaine Showalter's 'The Female Malady', which also deals with 'Hysteria' and how women were regarded as mentally delicate.Just another way for men to try and control us methinks.
Light reading has been Martin Edwards. I have read as many of his thrillers as I could find in the library. He has two series, one with Harry Devlin and another with Hannah. a DCI in a cold case department.I found the Harry D's to be the most exciting.I do hope he's planning to write more.
Mary. I'm really enjoying 'Triumph' and shall blog about it later.I'm also reading 381 AD Charles freeman's latest, which the publishers kindly sent me. This has some controversial thinking so I must think carefully before I blog.
The weather is ghastly but ,as usual on Tuesdays I went to Brighton. It was wet a first but then the sun came out. The sight and feel of sun makes so much difference to one's morale. The sea was really rough. A rough sea is a magnificent sight, preferably from the shore and not a boat.
Thursday, 1 May 2008
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
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.
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.
Sunday, 20 April 2008
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.
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.
Sunday, 30 March 2008
oh weh
Long time since the 19th but I'm in a complete blue funk about HongKong on Thursday and can't concentrate. It has been made worse because I'm going from terminal 5.!!!!!Luckily my daughter is meeting me at Victoria and going with me to the terminal and I'm signed in for help because I'm not strong enough to manage. IT's not the flying but the getting on to plane and worry about luggage at other end.I do clearly label so should be OK.
Dear Stuck, I think your book group will enjoy 'Cold Comfort'. Almost the last thing I heard before Oneword closed was 'C.C being read and acted.That way was hilarious.
Have read one and skimmed the other and feel like the last person in UK to have read them.'We need to talk about Kevin' was one. I didn't like it and thought it was too long.Probably excellent for a book group because big themes to discuss.The other was '1000 yellow suns', a good book but the attitude to women just made my blood boil and having lived in that society in the Gulf I know that's how it can be. Although I have to say my ex isn't like that and all the girls in his second family are educated and not forced to marry. The younger two are in school and the elder has graduated in electronic engineering and works for BP in Abu Dhabi. Next one is studying architecture at the American Uni which is also where Fatima the eldest went. Fatima has opted to be Sunna although dad and the family are Shia but that is allowed. My 2 are Christians one RC like me, one High Anglican.
Read 'A certain Compass' lettice Cooper. This again is different and very moving. Incidently Stuck when you read Black B you will have a feel for my first years. This book did bring back memories.
Also read 'Daphne' and enjoyed it. I like books with intertextuality that make one want to go back and read other writers.Another light hearted read which did that was 'Edmund Bertram's diary' Amanda grange.This is the whole of 'Mansfield Park from Edmund's perspective. Now I must reread the original.
I was sorry to see that Dr Joanna Richardson has died. I've read all her books and own one or two. Her biographies and her translations were/are superb.
If you drop by for a read let me know. I'd love to greet you.
Dear Stuck, I think your book group will enjoy 'Cold Comfort'. Almost the last thing I heard before Oneword closed was 'C.C being read and acted.That way was hilarious.
Have read one and skimmed the other and feel like the last person in UK to have read them.'We need to talk about Kevin' was one. I didn't like it and thought it was too long.Probably excellent for a book group because big themes to discuss.The other was '1000 yellow suns', a good book but the attitude to women just made my blood boil and having lived in that society in the Gulf I know that's how it can be. Although I have to say my ex isn't like that and all the girls in his second family are educated and not forced to marry. The younger two are in school and the elder has graduated in electronic engineering and works for BP in Abu Dhabi. Next one is studying architecture at the American Uni which is also where Fatima the eldest went. Fatima has opted to be Sunna although dad and the family are Shia but that is allowed. My 2 are Christians one RC like me, one High Anglican.
Read 'A certain Compass' lettice Cooper. This again is different and very moving. Incidently Stuck when you read Black B you will have a feel for my first years. This book did bring back memories.
Also read 'Daphne' and enjoyed it. I like books with intertextuality that make one want to go back and read other writers.Another light hearted read which did that was 'Edmund Bertram's diary' Amanda grange.This is the whole of 'Mansfield Park from Edmund's perspective. Now I must reread the original.
I was sorry to see that Dr Joanna Richardson has died. I've read all her books and own one or two. Her biographies and her translations were/are superb.
If you drop by for a read let me know. I'd love to greet you.
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
once Again
As I write this I'm listening to 'Mr Standfast part 2'. radio 4's classic serial. I do like John Buchan.Had a good week for comments.Stuck asked about Storm Jameson. read any you can find. I think most of them are out of print.I believe she was afounder member of 'Pen'.Harriet, thank you for being so encouraging. I was also thrilled to hear from Viola. Now I just need to find out how to reply underneath the comment.
I have a marvellous gadget called a ' book pillow'. Dovegrey told me about them some time ago but hers came from USA, then Jottings found a site in UK so I ordered a chocolate coloured pillow on Sunday and it arrived yesterday. It's such a load off my hands and the newspaper fits nicely over it so my hands are free.
have had a good haul from Oxfam. three Elizabeth Peters in her Vicki Bliss series. £1 each,then 4 Heyers which I didn't have. There was a 4th but when the pennies were there book wasn't.The Heyers are the latest manifestation. Most of the ones i already possess are as they were first produced.Also had 2 books from the lovely ELLie, which will go with the Russian Challenge.Never imagined i'd have a pile to review.Also bought 2 Steven Saylor at the library for 10p each.I'm supposed to be diminishing my piles .
What have I read?'Child of Nations' Irmgard Keun. I didn't enjoy it at all. i suppose I just didn't know what this book was trying to say. I go to Switzerland in May so will see if I can find it in German because that might be easier to grasp.In the meditation room, I finished 'Cold Comfort Farm' Stella Gibbons. On the whole I didn't find it funny and Flora Poste irritated me immensely. that does show good writing because she seemed very real.What did Aunt ada Doom see in the woodpile? We're never told.I shan't read it again.Another character, who drove me mad was the father in 'Over' Margaret Forster. He wrecks the family, recovers after three years then expects his wife to fall in with his wishes when she has built a new life. this book is written in beautiful English.
Then I read two more Lettice Cooper's. 'Black bethlehem' is London in war time and brought back memories. It was only when i had finished this book that I could make sense of it. totally different is 'Fenny' about a girl who goes to Italy as a governess and spends her life there. Fenny knows love but she never married. I have 2 more Coopers to read then I've read all that I can lay hands on. I think there will only be 1 or 2 to find.
Light reading was 'Death on Holy Mountain' David Dickinson. this is a Lord Powerscourt dtective novel set at the beginning of the 20c. I learned a lot about Irish history as well as having a relaxing read. Lord P made me laugh when he talked about 'industrial Quantities of Hail Marys'. As this was a clash between Catholic and Anglo Irish Protestant Ireland i can see how this idea arose.
Imagine having spent 3-4 years on research,getting one's book to the publisher then discovering that 4 other people had the same idea and one would be published before yours. This is what happened to David Lodge and in 'The year of Henry James' he tells the story. He recalls that two of the other authors were at Lamb's House in Rye at the same time as he was.Coim Toibin was his rival. One of the others still has managed to have his book published. the other 2 james books were by Emma Tennant and Alan Hollinghurst. to make matters worse Toibin and Lodge began their books after James had written a play. This is no sad tale though because Lodge is a wonderful writer. There are some of his essays at the end of the book so I'll write about them separately.
If it's Tuesday it's Brighton. My friend and I go every Tuesday. the company that runs a local school bus had the brainwave of one day a week going to Brighton cheaply.We leave Horley at 9.30 and Brighton at 13.30. we have about 3 hours, which is long enough to walk along the front. school Hols we have an extra 3 hours.We are a very jolly crowd of old dears. The weather in Brighton is never the same as here. It seems to have its own ecosystem.
Didn't look at my email for 2 days because I had a migraine so must dash off and do that.
I have a marvellous gadget called a ' book pillow'. Dovegrey told me about them some time ago but hers came from USA, then Jottings found a site in UK so I ordered a chocolate coloured pillow on Sunday and it arrived yesterday. It's such a load off my hands and the newspaper fits nicely over it so my hands are free.
have had a good haul from Oxfam. three Elizabeth Peters in her Vicki Bliss series. £1 each,then 4 Heyers which I didn't have. There was a 4th but when the pennies were there book wasn't.The Heyers are the latest manifestation. Most of the ones i already possess are as they were first produced.Also had 2 books from the lovely ELLie, which will go with the Russian Challenge.Never imagined i'd have a pile to review.Also bought 2 Steven Saylor at the library for 10p each.I'm supposed to be diminishing my piles .
What have I read?'Child of Nations' Irmgard Keun. I didn't enjoy it at all. i suppose I just didn't know what this book was trying to say. I go to Switzerland in May so will see if I can find it in German because that might be easier to grasp.In the meditation room, I finished 'Cold Comfort Farm' Stella Gibbons. On the whole I didn't find it funny and Flora Poste irritated me immensely. that does show good writing because she seemed very real.What did Aunt ada Doom see in the woodpile? We're never told.I shan't read it again.Another character, who drove me mad was the father in 'Over' Margaret Forster. He wrecks the family, recovers after three years then expects his wife to fall in with his wishes when she has built a new life. this book is written in beautiful English.
Then I read two more Lettice Cooper's. 'Black bethlehem' is London in war time and brought back memories. It was only when i had finished this book that I could make sense of it. totally different is 'Fenny' about a girl who goes to Italy as a governess and spends her life there. Fenny knows love but she never married. I have 2 more Coopers to read then I've read all that I can lay hands on. I think there will only be 1 or 2 to find.
Light reading was 'Death on Holy Mountain' David Dickinson. this is a Lord Powerscourt dtective novel set at the beginning of the 20c. I learned a lot about Irish history as well as having a relaxing read. Lord P made me laugh when he talked about 'industrial Quantities of Hail Marys'. As this was a clash between Catholic and Anglo Irish Protestant Ireland i can see how this idea arose.
Imagine having spent 3-4 years on research,getting one's book to the publisher then discovering that 4 other people had the same idea and one would be published before yours. This is what happened to David Lodge and in 'The year of Henry James' he tells the story. He recalls that two of the other authors were at Lamb's House in Rye at the same time as he was.Coim Toibin was his rival. One of the others still has managed to have his book published. the other 2 james books were by Emma Tennant and Alan Hollinghurst. to make matters worse Toibin and Lodge began their books after James had written a play. This is no sad tale though because Lodge is a wonderful writer. There are some of his essays at the end of the book so I'll write about them separately.
If it's Tuesday it's Brighton. My friend and I go every Tuesday. the company that runs a local school bus had the brainwave of one day a week going to Brighton cheaply.We leave Horley at 9.30 and Brighton at 13.30. we have about 3 hours, which is long enough to walk along the front. school Hols we have an extra 3 hours.We are a very jolly crowd of old dears. The weather in Brighton is never the same as here. It seems to have its own ecosystem.
Didn't look at my email for 2 days because I had a migraine so must dash off and do that.
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
wednesday
Received a lovely book from Guy at Newbooks and also 2 from Hesperus. I have been having one of my 'bad ' days so they lifted my spirits. i've written to Cambridge Press to see if they will send me some Academic books to review. Lots of us review fiction but few Non fiction. have a brilliant book from Pimlico by charles freeman one of my favourite Historians. More later.
If you like an intellectual thriller then do read 'The Shakespeare Secret' J E Carrell. She a professor of Shakespearian studies in the US and this book pursues most excitingly two secrets. A new play and who was Shakespeare. Both quests are interesting and the book is very well written. So folks do go and read it if you can.
MOstly I'm writing this blog to myself it feels but never mind. Dovegreyreader mailed about my 2007 reading. It was hard to choose although I do read lots of detective novels which go quickly and are more for relaxation.Must go now and engage with Mr D'arcy. I have several to read as well as Diana, which shall be first and the standard by which others are judged.
Would be nice if my son nd daughter read this and left a comment. HaHa
If you like an intellectual thriller then do read 'The Shakespeare Secret' J E Carrell. She a professor of Shakespearian studies in the US and this book pursues most excitingly two secrets. A new play and who was Shakespeare. Both quests are interesting and the book is very well written. So folks do go and read it if you can.
MOstly I'm writing this blog to myself it feels but never mind. Dovegreyreader mailed about my 2007 reading. It was hard to choose although I do read lots of detective novels which go quickly and are more for relaxation.Must go now and engage with Mr D'arcy. I have several to read as well as Diana, which shall be first and the standard by which others are judged.
Would be nice if my son nd daughter read this and left a comment. HaHa
Monday, 10 March 2008
Monday
Monday again and I missed the Sunday salon again too busy reading others'blogs. I'm immensely chuffed because I have two reviews in the Hesperus Magazine. I read them and thought 'I didn't write these' so looked in my notebook and I did. They seem different somehow when published.Shall be doing another one because I ordered Eggs by BUlgakov from the library, took it off the library TBR pile and thought this is beautiful might be Hesperus, looked again and it was. The cover is distinctive and the paper so nice. I can't imagine them going brown. I'm reading an old Pan Storm Jameson and the pages are all brown.
Today's weather is the kind to batten down the hatches and read so that is what I shall do after I've written to the lovely man at Pimlico who sent me Charles Freeman's 381. I have all of Charles books so shall be blogging about them over the course of this year. Also have Diana Birchall's D'arcy to read. How people , who don't read use their time I can't imagine. In my Express today their is a wonderful poem about reading. Here it is:A Book by Emily DIckinson'
He ate and drank the
precious words,
His Spirit grew robust;
He knew no morethat
he was poor,
Nor that his frame
was dust.
He danced along the
dingy days,And this bequest of wings
was but a book.
What liberty
A loosened spirit brings.
Says it all about reading. Whilst typing this I've been listening to yesterday's classic serial on radio 4.'Mr Standfast'. I do so like John Buchan and especially Richard Hannay.
When I can't concentrate I read Susan Lewis, who writes well but not intelectually. Yesterday I read a memoir called 'Just one more day' about her as achild and her mother's death from breast cancer.It made me realise how far cancer treatment has come since the 60's.Her mother just had a mastectomy and massive doses of radium. I can't help but think that today she'd still be alive and there was no such thing as reconstruction. I hope Susan will write about her life after this. I long to know if she passed her 11+ and how she became a writer. I must see if she has a site on line.
Today's weather is the kind to batten down the hatches and read so that is what I shall do after I've written to the lovely man at Pimlico who sent me Charles Freeman's 381. I have all of Charles books so shall be blogging about them over the course of this year. Also have Diana Birchall's D'arcy to read. How people , who don't read use their time I can't imagine. In my Express today their is a wonderful poem about reading. Here it is:A Book by Emily DIckinson'
He ate and drank the
precious words,
His Spirit grew robust;
He knew no morethat
he was poor,
Nor that his frame
was dust.
He danced along the
dingy days,And this bequest of wings
was but a book.
What liberty
A loosened spirit brings.
Says it all about reading. Whilst typing this I've been listening to yesterday's classic serial on radio 4.'Mr Standfast'. I do so like John Buchan and especially Richard Hannay.
When I can't concentrate I read Susan Lewis, who writes well but not intelectually. Yesterday I read a memoir called 'Just one more day' about her as achild and her mother's death from breast cancer.It made me realise how far cancer treatment has come since the 60's.Her mother just had a mastectomy and massive doses of radium. I can't help but think that today she'd still be alive and there was no such thing as reconstruction. I hope Susan will write about her life after this. I long to know if she passed her 11+ and how she became a writer. I must see if she has a site on line.
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