Caroline's Quiet Corner 2019: Chapter 2

Campfire by Thom Thomson

I've never really done camping, though as a kid my parents put a canvas tent up in the back garden for us to play in, and I'd take my book, my sandwiches and a cushion and sit reading with the dog for hours.

This tent looks very enticing...

Read in 2019

The Red Notebook (Antoine Laurain) (01/01/19) (France) ****
Rooms of their Own (Nino Stratchey) (06/01/19) ****1/2
My Name is Asher Lev (Chaim Potok) (09/01/19) (AAC) (US)ROOT *****
The Gift of Asher Lev (Chaim Potok) (17/01/19) (AAC) (US) ****1/2
The Plot Against America (Philip Roth) (reread) (25/01/19) (US) ROOT (Book group)***
Thinking Like a Mountain (Robert Bateman) (25/01/19) (US) ****
Mr Darwin's Gardener (Kristina Carlson) (27/01/19) (Finland) *****
The Chosen (Chaim Potok) (01/02/19) (US) ****1/2
Quiet Girl in a Noisy World (Debbie Tung) (02/02/19) ****
Some Tame Gazelle (Barbara Pym) (LL) (03/02/19) ***1/2
The Library Book (Susan Orlean) (06/02/19) (US) ****
Book Love (Debbie Tung) (07/02/19) ****
Across the China Sea (Gaute Heivoll) (11/02/19) (Norway) ****1/2
Ghost Wall (Sarah Moss) (14/02/19) ****
A Beautiful Young Wife (Tommy Wieringa) (Holland) ****
The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde) (21/02/18) (ROOT) (Reread) ****1/2
Mothlight (Adam Scovell) (23/02/19) ***1/2
A Moveable Feast (Ernest Hemingway) (US) (reread) (01/03/19) ROOT *****
On Balance (Sinéad Morrissey) (Poetry) (Northern Ireland) (02/03/19) ****
Lord of the Butterflies (Andrea Gibson) (03/03/19) (US)(poetry) *****
The River (Jane Clarke) (22/03/19) (poetry) ROOT ***1/2
Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) (AAC) (23/03/19) ROOT ****1/2
Morality Play (Barry Unsworth) (29/03/19) ROOT ***1/2
Memories of the Future (Siri Hustvedt) (11/02/19) ****1/2
The Samurai's Garden (Gail Tsukiyama) (13/04/19) ****1/2
The Glass Woman (Caroline Lea) (19/04/19) ***1/2
The Trauma Cleaner (Sarah Krasnostein) (21/04/19) ****
Hag-Seed (Margaret Atwood) (25/04/19) ***1/2
From a Low and Quiet Sea (Donal Ryan) ****
Transcription (Kate Atkinson) (02/05/19) ****

Total: 30

Fiction:22
Non-Fiction: 5
Poetry: 3
Female: 16
Male: 13
Gender Fluid: 1
GN: 2
ROOT: 5
London Library (LL): 1
Other loan: 2

Challenges 2019

AAC (American Author Challenge)

January: Chaim Potok - My Name is Asher Lev/The Gift of Asher Lev/ The Chosen
February: Louisa May Alcott - Little Women Re-read
March: Jon Clinch Finn
April: Jesmyn Ward
May: Jay Parini
June: Pearl Buck
July: Founding Fathers (and Mothers)
August: Ernest J. Gaines
September: Leslie Marmon Silko
October: DRAMA
November: W. E. B. DuBois
December: Marilynne Robinson

Non-Fiction Challenge

January: Prizewinning books, and runners up. - The Seabird's Cry (Adam Nicholson)
February: Science and Technology: Innovations and Innovators. Life 3.0 (Max Tegmark)
March: True Crime, Misdemeanors and Justice, Past and Present Day Eve Was Shamed: How British Justice is Failing Women (Helena Kennedy)
April: Comfort Reads: Whatever topic makes you feel warm & fuzzy inside.
May: History. In this case, my cutoff date is 1950.
June: The Pictures Have It! Any book that relies on pictures to tell the story, from an illustrated graphic text, to a book of photographs, to an art catalog.
July: Biography & First Person Yarns
*August: Raw Materials: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral
So, read a book that starts with animals, vegetables or minerals at its heart.
*September: Books by Journalists. On ANY topic -- just check to be sure that the author is a journalist -- employed by a paper, writing freelance, past or present.
*October: Other Worlds: From Spiritual to Fantastical
November: Creators and Creativity
December: I’ve Always Been Curious About…

* stands for a new topic for this challenge.

Real book group

25 Jan 2019 – The Plot against America by Philip Roth
22 Feb – The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
29 Mar – Morality Play by Barry Unsworth
26 Apr – Hag-seed by Margaret Atwood
31 May – The Rattle Bag by Ted Hughes and Seamus Heaney
28 Jun – Walking with the Wind by John Lewis
26 Jul – Memento Mori by Muriel Spark

So I don't lose it :List of biographies of impressive women:

https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=19181&fbclid=IwAR0QZdD0VnH7ruYQDC_Mw4kKRN...

Posted by Mary (mdoris) on her thread.

Currently Reading

All the Lives we Ever Lived (Kathrarine Smyth)



Across the China Sea (Gaute Heivoll)



Imaginary Cities (Darren Anderson)

Welcome to Chapter 2...

Vincent Van Gogh's Kingfisher

I've dreamt of kingfishers, but so far have yet to see one.

So many pretty things on your thread, Caroline. Happy new one. I just got a copy of Across the China Sea; it looks like a good one.

I just started Where the Crawdads Sing and am loving the first 50 pages.

Happy new thread, Caroline. I love your Tom Thomson topper! And I have seen kingfishers here. They are brilliant, though smaller than I had imagined.

>7 BLBera: >8 jessibud2: Hi Beth and Shelley, lovely to see you peek round the new door.

>7 BLBera: After Ellen's enthusiasm, Where Crawdads Sing is likely to be in my early March reading, Beth. I'M glad it is hitting the spot for you.

>8 jessibud2: seeing Kingfishers is in my future too Shelley, I'm sure.

Happy new one!! I love your topper. I want ot go sit out there and read by flashlight. : ) Good luck seeing a Kingfisher and enjoy your current reads!

Book Ownership

I guess I keep 60% of what I've read of my own books (I'm better at letting go of fiction rather than non-fiction), but would only, maybe, buy a copy of one in seven books from the library. I have to own a book I love. But I'm not as good at using the library as I should be, you have to rush to read newer books, so I use it mostly for out of print books. I probably only read 5% of books on Kindle.

(Bringing this over from Shelley's thread so I don't lose it, interested if anyone else wants to declare their behaviour.)

>10 Berly: Ha, I imagine like most LTers, I lost count how many pocket torches were confiscated for reading under the blankets after lights out Kim!

I am trying to do better at passing books on after I read them if I know I will never read them again or if I would never use them for a class. In January, I read 14 books, 9 from my shelves and 5 library books. I gave away 3. So the percentage of those I kept is similar to yours, Caroline. But about one third of my reads were from the library. I think I read 2 books on my e-reader. I use it at the gym. I prefer paper books, though.

That is a wonderful thread topper Caroline. Happy new thread! I have never seen that Tom Thomson painting before. I went to a summer camp on Canoe Lake as a kid where he mysteriously died. His paintings have always been special for me.

Happy new thread. I always try to give away books that I know I won't read again. I always think I am giving away more than I really am. *sigh*

Happy New Thread, Caroline. Something about Across the China Sea caught my eye -- just the cover -- so I did a bit of looking into it. It looks really interesting. Are you enjoying it?

I've never seen Vincent Van Gogh's "Kingfisher." I love it. They are pretty special birds -- and very recognizable once you see them. They have such a distinctive way of flying above and around water.

>11 Caroline_McElwee: I almost never downsize books. Even books that I do not love are things that I am loathe to give up.

I do get a fair amount of books from the library (both physical and audio books). The library books that I truly love I typically acquire myself - Between the World and Me being a recent example.

The only books that leave are lent to friends and even then I track who it was lent to.

I do not use an e-reader which seperate smells from the other readers in the family.

Once I got an ereader I was hooked and now do most of my reading on it. I love the convenience of it - never be without a selection of books again! - and nowadays I find my hands and wrists ache very quickly when I'm using a paper book. I have given away many of my paper books once I get an ebook copy but there are definitely certain paper books that I will never get rid of, even if I don't actually need them. We shall be moving into a smaller house when my husband retires in a few years time, and I already have a mental list of paper books that I will be able to let go if necessary. I use the library for audiobooks and ebooks but get my own copy for books that I will re-read.

I've seen a kingfisher once, over thirty years ago, but never forgotten.

Happy new thread, Caroline!

>2 Caroline_McElwee: Lovely vase on the left.
>3 Caroline_McElwee: It is fun to try and read the titles of the books on the shelves :-)
>4 Caroline_McElwee: I have been lucky, both here in Lelystad as in Rotterdam (in The Park) I have spotted a kingfisher once in a while. They always brighten my day when I see one.

Checking in on the new thread, Caroline!

>13 BLBera: Generally I know by half way through a book whether I will want to reread it Beth. Although I was enthusiastic about the idea of a library in your pocket, ultimately I love paper books far too much. Maybe if I were young now, it would mostly be e-books, with a very few special editions, but I think it is hard to switch.

>14 mdoris: I only came to his work last year, and am loving exploring it, along with that of the Group of Seven Mary.

Coming upon unknown work by favourite artists is always a treat.

>15 figsfromthistle: me too Anita. Some I pass to my sister, who then passes to friends, some go to charity shops, some to a local free library, the trouble is there are always some coming in at the same time..

>16 EBT1002: I'm enjoying Across the China Sea so far Ellen.

The VVG Kingfisher is in his wonderful museum in Amsterdam.

>17 Oberon: I'd love to never have to part with a book Erik. I do let those that don't come up to expectations go, but 2/3rd of my library are books I've yet to read, something I know would be stressful for some folk.

>18 CDVicarage: I expected to use my e-reader more than I do Kerry. And when I do pick it up and use it, I don't have too much of a problem, but there are things that are lacking for me. In a paper book you often can remember where something you read and want to quickly check back on is (left or right page/what part of the page etc) which you can't do on the e-reader. I forget titles and author names, as you are not seeing the cover every time you pick it up. On the tube you can't see what other people are reading aggrr.. to name but a few things.

>19 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita. Yes, I enjoy shelfies too.

How lovely to see Kingfishers from time to time. It's cormorants and herons I associate with Holland.

>21 Caroline_McElwee: In a paper book you often can remember where something you read and want to quickly check back on is (left or right page/what part of the page etc) which you can't do on the e-reader. I forget titles and author names, as you are not seeing the cover every time you pick it up.

These things bother me too. I had never realised how much I flip back and forth in a book while reading until I got a kindle and couldn't do so any more! I do like being pleasantly surprised when I see that a book I've wanted is available on a kindle deal and being able to download it at once though - not that I read it straight away, of course!

>21 Caroline_McElwee:, >22 Sakerfalcon: - I am the same way. I doubt I will ever convert to an e-reader. I have also kept track of authors and titles in small notebooks, just authors and titles, no reviews. I love those blank books of handmade papers and have always collected them. I use those for this purpose and have done so since 1992. The older I get, the more handy they are when I am in conversation and need to look back to remember a title or author that I KNOW but can't remember! :-)

Also, if I own the book, I always mark passages that speak to me. I would never do so in a library or borrowed book, which may be one (of many) reasons I prefer to own books!

>23 jessibud2: I keep a notebook for authors and titles of books I've read about that intrigue me. I get great satisfaction when I read or acquire one and can cross it off the list! Doing it on a computer would not be the same.

Happy New Thread, Caroline!

I'm another one who loved Where the Crawdads Sing.

For a quiet corner, your thread sure gets a lot of posts!

>2 Caroline_McElwee: Happy New Thread, Caroline! Love the vase in your thread topper.

>23 jessibud2: >24 Sakerfalcon: I too used to keep little notebooks with a list of books read, Shelley and Claire. I've been lazy recently as I keep the list up top. I need to pull all the lists into one place though, as I lose track of them.

>24 Sakerfalcon: I do, like you, make a note of interesting prospects. It's funny how many I find I have acquired when I look back at it Claire.

>25 jnwelch: it has its moments Joe :-)

>19 FAMeulstee: >26 SandDune: The vase is Poole pottery, Anita and Rhian. A treat to myself a few years back. I'm a bit of a pottery/ceramics fan.

James Baldwin's novels always have love, pain, rawness and tenderness in them, and the film of his novel If Beale Street Could Talk captures all those things.

.

Fine performances too.

I must have read this when I was a teenager, it will get a reread soon, I'm slowly rereading all his work.

>21 Caroline_McElwee: "And when I do pick (an E-reader) up and use it, I don't have too much of a problem, but there are things that are lacking for me. In a paper book you often can remember where something you read and want to quickly check back on is (left or right page/what part of the page etc) which you can't do on the e-reader. I forget titles and author names, as you are not seeing the cover every time you pick it up. On the tube you can't see what other people are reading aggrr.. to name but a few things."

Exactly my problems with e-reading!! But since I can read it on my phone and I always have that, I do wind up reading books this way. I find that if I click out to my main library of downloads each time I finish reading, at least I get to see the cover each time I come back. Small win. : )

>28 Caroline_McElwee: I will have to look for that!

Happy Sunday, Caroline! Happy New Thread! Love the Thomson topper & the Van Gogh "Kingfisher". I have a copy of the film If Beale Street Could Talk and hope to see it soon. It sounds terrific.

>29 Berly: >30 msf59: it's a fine film Kim and Mark. I think they tweaked the end, but otherwise kept to the book.

>30 msf59: Glad you enjoyed the art Mark.

>29 Berly: I just bought the book, Caroline, because it was on offer (20% discount) due to it's film release.
Have read Another Country and Go Tell it on the Mountain and was deeply impressed by both.

Great to see you so active this year with your thread zipping along so splendidly.

>32 PaulCranswick: yes, it's lovely to have more visitors peaking round the door Paul.

I'm trying to think which of Baldwin's novels I haven't read. I think it was one of the late ones, probably Just Above My Head. So nice to have one new-to-me Baldwin still to read, even if it might be a weaker one (because it is rarely mentioned). I haven't read all the short stories, but I have read all the essays (except the volume published a couple of years ago of previously uncollected essays), be it a long time ago. Last year I bought what is probably the near complete Baldwin in the three Library of America volumes, though I don't think they have his poetry in, he only published one volume. Of course I won't part with the editions I originally read.

13. Across the China Sea (Gaute Heivoll) (11/02/19) (Norway) ****1/2



A fascinating story set in 1940s Norway, narrated by the son of a family who take on the responsibility for five 'mentally disabled' children, as well as three adult men, acting in what was called the'Christlike Spirit of Love'. The unnamed narrator reflects back over the life of his family as he empties the house on his mother's death.

Each of the cared for have distinct personalities, and embed themselves into the house in the wood.

A quiet novel with some volatile moments.

>34 Caroline_McElwee: Sounds like a book I would like, Caroline, added to my library wishlist.

>34 Caroline_McElwee: This sounds excellent, Caroline.

I have If Beale Street Could Talk on my Feb. pile. We'll see.

How's the cough? I have a pretty spectacular one right now. I'm hoping it goes away soon.

>35 FAMeulstee: it was a good novel Anita. I shall probably hunt down the other one that is in English.

>36 BLBera: Sorry to hear about the cough Beth. Mine is much better, if not totally gone *sigh*.

14. Ghost Wall (Sarah Moss) (14/02/19) ****

The themes of this short novel are woven, like the ghost wall, and Silvie's crown of bog myrtle woven for her friend Molly. In many respects it is quite an unpalatable read. An Iron Age experiential enactment led by a professor for a few of his students, with the addition of a family who's patriarch is a self-educated historian, obsessed with the ancient and wild.

As the teenagers are introduced to the living conditions of the Iron Age it becomes apparent that for the most part it is an exploit enjoyed by the men. The students go off piste whenever they can, where as Sylvie is at the mercy of her father Bill's dominance, as is her mother. Fear dictating what she feels she can do.

Is Bill's passion for the Iron Age because it is a time he associates with the masculine patriarchy that would support the treatment he imposes on the women in his family? Or is that treatment the presentation of the frustration that he is not the man, or professor, of his dreams, permitted to become that fantasy specialist, only during the holidays?

The dark undercurrent is present throughout, balanced, but also enhanced, by the observation of the woodland environment, beauty, and death, and change.

The obsession and single mindedness of Bill's intention leads to an extreme finale. If there was one area that didn't totally convince me, it was that the Professor lets it happen, he seemed more rational and responsible.

Excellent review, Caro. I like the way you captured the issues with masculinity in the novel, especially what might have been going on in Bill's head.

>39 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura.

15. A Beautiful Young Wife (Tommy Wieringa) (Holland) ****

Edward, in his 40s meets and settles with Ruth, 14 years his junior. Life seems sweet. After six years together they marry and conceive a child, but somehow he knows there can never be a happy ending.

The last third of the novel is like a runaway train in slow motion, you know what is going to happen, but you can't put the breaks on.

Up next

A Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde) reread for my RL bookgroup

Girl With Dove (Sally Bayley) memoir

Lovely reading as always, Caroline. I hope you enjoy the re-read of Dorian Gray made me guffaw a-plenty years ago.

Have a splendid weekend.

>41 Caroline_McElwee: I have it unread at the shelves, you make it sound like an interesting read.

>38 Caroline_McElwee: I've never got anywhere with this author, keep hoping that I will pick one up and it will finally click with me, as she has so many fans of taste here. Your review makes this one sound fascinating.

>44 FAMeulstee: A friend leant it to me a while ago Anita, and I'm seeing him Wednesday, so read it in a day.

>45 charl08: it wasn't quite what I was expecting Charlotte, but it is powerful.

I am just starting, Ghost Wall, Caroline, so I'll come back and review your comments later.

>41 Caroline_McElwee: This sounds good, as does the Bayley memoir. I like the cover.

>38 Caroline_McElwee: I just finished Ghost Wall and returned to look at your comments, Caroline. I think you got it right with Bill's motivations - also there's that underlying thread of racism. He talks about purity and real Britain. I thought the ending was more believable than you did, especially since the night before they'd all gotten into the chanting and drumming. What a creepy little book!

Have you read others by Moss? I will definitely look at her other books.

>47 BLBera: The Bayley memoir is unusual Beth, I'm enjoying it. Yes, the cover is nice, not, of course, that we judge books by said.... :-) Sometimes I do, it has to be said.

>48 BLBera: I have a couple of her other books, but as yet unread.

I went to see the Burne-Jones exhibition at the Tate last Friday, which I enjoyed. I'm very familiar with his work, I've loved the Pre-Raphaelite colours since I was a teenager.

I particularly liked studying some of the drawings this time, he was a fine draftsman.

https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/edward-burne-jones

The little trailer in the above link brings some of the paintings to life.

I love Burnets-Jones' painting, but have never really looked at his drawings. What a great exhibit.

>51 BLBera: There are quite a few of his drawings online Beth, though I can't find the earliest.

I looked at the little trailer and they did have some drawings. They were lovely.

>50 Caroline_McElwee: Thank for sharing the link, some beautiful paintings.

16. The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde) (21/02/18) (ROOT) (Reread) ****1/2

What an extraordinary gothic morality tale. Dorian Gray, encouraged in his vanity by Lord Henry Wooton, 10 years his senior, makes a wish, standing in front of a portrait proclaiming his beauty, that he himself will remain young, whilst the aging process will sunder only the portrait.

After breaking the heart of a young show girl, he returns home to find that the portrait has somehow acquired a cruel mouth. He thinks he is seeing things, but when he returns to it in the morning, the change is confirmed. He realises that somehow, his wish has been granted.

Does Dorian become the man he becomes because he wants to see how far he can go, and how the evil presents itself on the painting, or would he have been the same man, without the granted wish? Gray is incapable of stepping away, he is unable to walk away from self-destruction.

I have always found this novel very prescient. It was published the year before Wilde met Lord Alfred Douglas, the man who had much to do with his own downfall, being himself unable to walk away from self-destruction, on several occasions when he might have done so: three trials, 2 years of prison with hard labour, and exile, dying 10 years after the book’s publication, at less than 50 years of age.

Rereading this Gothic novel for the fourth time for my reading group I am a little more critical this time round, the first third has SO MUCH wit in it that it’s hard to absorb it all. Much goes unappreciated I think. And too thirds through the novel there is a chunk of showing off, much of which IS beautifully written, but could have been edited – what is it they say about killing your darlings?

>55 Caroline_McElwee: - I read this one eons ago, probably when I was a teenager. I should probably revisit it now as I think I would understand it on a totally different level.

>56 jessibud2: I always encourage rereading Shelley.

I really enjoyed 'Green Book'. I didn't know of the existence of the green book, a listing of motels, hotels and restaurants permitting black custom. Learn something new every day.

Just downloaded some Don Shirley.

>58 Caroline_McElwee: I saw that in the cinema last week. Really enjoyed it.

>55 Caroline_McElwee: Interesting stuff, Caroline. I don't think I've read anything by Wilde, but do find his biography fascinating (and couldn't avoid The Importance of Being Earnest, with the amazing Patricia Routledge).

I hope your Tate visit is as good as it sounds - I was just on their shop page looking at a book they've published, advertised in the TLS - The Art of Feminism. Rather tempting.

>59 VivienneR: Hi Vivienne, good to see you peeking round the door. Glad you enjoyed 'Green Book'. I'm recommending it to everyone.

>60 charl08: The Bookshop at Tate Britain is VERY DANGEROUS! I didn't buy the BJ catalogue this time, as I have one that might have most of the work in, but I'd forgotten to look at it before I went, will do that this weekend.

Yes, Wilde's life is fascinating. I quite liked the film portraying the last few years of his like, directed by and staring Rupert Everett, 'The Happy Prince', though because I know so much about Wilde, I can be a bit piccy about it. Have you seen the sculpture of him behind St Martin's in the Fields?

>55 Caroline_McElwee: Pretty much encapsulated my thoughts on that wonderful novel. Mordant wit but such an augury of what was to come.

>58 Caroline_McElwee: We saw 'Green Book' at the weekend as well. I thought Vigo Mortensen, in particular, was excellent in it.

>62 PaulCranswick: my book group had mixed feelings about the novel Paul, but all seemed to like something. It was agreed that it was old fashioned in parts, and modern in others, but the main complaint was there was too much of everything, which is pretty much what I sad above.

>63 SandDune: I thought they were both great, but Mortensen had more room to grow Rhian. There are some fine movies out at the moment.

17. Mothlight (Adam Scovell) (23/02/19) ***1/2



As a child, the narrator comes into the life of two middle aged sisters, and over time, becomes obsessed with Phyllis and her passion for moths (and walking). After her sister's death, Phyllis moves to London and the narrator loses contact with her, but reconnects by chance when he moves to London himself, now a lepidopterist. Over time their memories blur in his head and and when she dies of old age, and he is left her house, the memories overwhelm him as he tries to unravel her secrets.

I wanted to like this more than I did, and I can't put my finger on why I don't. Perhaps it is the coolness of Phyllis herself. This character was based on a family friend of the author, and her photographs are scattered throughout the novel.

Currently Reading

Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) for the AAC



Girl With Dove (Sally Bayley) memoir



And Letters to the Lady Upstairs (Marcel Proust)

>66 Caroline_McElwee: Wow, that's a beautiful LW edition, Caroline.

>66 Caroline_McElwee: Charlotte took the words out of my mouth, Charlotte. That is a very pretty book. I'm due for a reread of Little Women this summer.

>67 charl08: >68 BLBera: I know, despite already having a nice copy, I had to have this one Charlotte and Beth. It is quite heavy though, so no toting it around.

I still have the original one that I received for my tenth birthday -- so it's a few years old. :)

>70 BLBera: :-) you mean you aren't 21 anymore? My early one would probably have been abridged.

I liked 'On the Basis of Sex'. It still staggers me that most of this occurred on my lifetime. And that there is STILL so much to do.

Caroline, I also saw this one and thought it well done. Have you seen the documentary of Ginsburg, called RBG. I saw it last week for the second time and wow, she was/is quite a woman! And yes, it is discouraging that while some things have changed, there is truly way too much left to change, still so far to go.

I'll see if I can find that documentary Shelley. I just ordered her book My Own Words.

Happy Sunday, Caroline. I also liked Green Book. Ali just won supporting actor for the film. Are you enjoying Little Women? I finished it, recently. I liked it but did not love it.

>75 msf59: it's a reread for me Mark, and I'm enjoying it, like you. I guess I remember how much I enjoyed it, and the film adaptions of it when I was a kid.

I've seen most of the nominated Oscar films (a rare achievement), except 'The Favourite', and was happy with the winners. Will catch up with the clips of it later. Heading out.

Girl with dove looks excellent. I look forward to seeing what you think of it.

Hit yet again by several book bullets, Caroline! Your threads are dangerous.

I’m glad the cough is (fingers crossed) mostly gone by now. It’s so very exhausting.

I see that your book group is reading Hag Seed in April. I loved it last year. I’d recommend a quick read of The Tempest or a You Tube version before you tackle it, though, just to refresh your memory. I think it helped me to understand and enjoy Atwood’s book much more than I would have otherwise.

Wishing you a good week!

>71 Caroline_McElwee: Not quite, Caroline. :)

My book group is reading My Own Words later this year. I would like to see all the films about her. She is remarkable.

Did you see Olivia Colman’s charming acceptance speech, Caroline? I’ve got a link over on my thread. Actually, here it is: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=13&ved=2ahUKEwiM7OD9mN...

I was happy with most of the wins, too. I would’ve taken Blackkklansman over Green Book, but the latter is a wonderful movie. You’ll love The Favourite when you get to it. Colman, Weisz and Emma Stone are all terrific.

>74 Caroline_McElwee: - Oo, I did not know about that book. Just requested it in audiobook from my library!

>77 Sakerfalcon: I need to get back to it Claire, I got sidetracked, trying to read my book group read in time.

>78 Matke: Thanks for the tip Gail. I saw The Tempest years ago, and remember bits of it, but I'm not sure I ever read it.

I do like to be responsible for a B.B. or two!

Have very occasional coughing bouts, but am pretty much recovered. Thanks.

>79 BLBera: I agree Beth, quite a woman. I'm looking forward to learning more about her.

>80 jnwelch: thanks for the link Joe, I'd seen a cut version, it was good to see the whole thing. She's a fine actress.

>81 jessibud2: Glad to be of service Shelley. I'm looking forward to my copy landing.

I went to the wonderful Two Temple place today https://twotempleplace.org

to see John Ruskin: The Power of Seeing



This house holds one exhibition a year, between Feb-April and creates exhibitions loaning exhibits from the national collections.

The exhibition had some beautiful pieces, but only about 50% was Ruskin's work. There were a few of his possessions, which I always like to see. I loved the poster and cover painting, and they had my favourite feather too. It's so exquisitely delicate:



It was a little more crowded than I like for such a small venue, but I'll probably revisit after I've read the little catalogue.

I went with my bro, and then we had lunch at a vegetarian Indian restaurant in Covent Garden.

That must have been an awesome show. How nice to go with your brother and make a day of it. : )

Two Temple Place is such a lovely venue but you're right, it does get crowded even on weekdays. I still love going there though. I'll have to try and get to the Ruskin exhibition before it closes.

Did you eat at Sagar?

>85 Sakerfalcon: Yes, we did. Very nice Claire. My first visit there.

You've got a bit of time, it's on til 22nd April. There are fewer Ruskin pieces downstairs, but quite a few upstairs.

I try and go every year, but missed last year for some reason. It was the busiest we've experienced, but I think the Ruskin has got more publicity than usual. It is one of London's secret corners. They hadn't opened the other rooms to extend the cafe, so with only 3 tables, you couldn't have a leisurely tea and cake (we didn't).

>84 Berly: it was Beth. We try and do something like that a few times each year, both living in London. And we get together with our sister once a month.

Hi, Caroline. Thanks for all your visits to my thread and sharing your Shepard love with me. I was alerted to this story collection by another astute LTer and I am glad I checked it out. I have also taken note of all your other suggestions.

On the poetry front, see if you can track down, Lord of the Butterflies. An excellent collection, that Joe turned me on to. Gibson is a force.

18. A Moveable Feast (Ernest Hemingway) (reread) (01/03/19) *****



I enjoyed my revisit with Hemingway's short autobiographical essays.

Hemingway finished the collection the year before he died managing to recapture the young man he had been in 1920s Paris.

I've always thought I'd have liked the young man he was then, more than the mature Hem, but to see that young man with such clarity, suggests he was still buried inside the old walrus to the end.

>88 msf59: I'm always happy to encourage others in my literary passions Mark.

Off to take a look at that poetry volume.

ETA: oops, tripped on click, your fault Mark.

Currently Reading

As well as rereading Little Women for Feb's AAC, I've just started:

Eve Was Shamed by Helena Kennedy, for March's Non-Fiction challenge (True Crime, and Justice).



The follow-up to Eve Was Framed published and read 25 years ago. How time flies...

I also plan to read some poetry over the weekend, I have volumes by Luke Wright, Jane Clarke and Sinéad Morrissey by my reading chair at the moment, as well as Mary Oliver.

>83 Caroline_McElwee: this sounds lovely, Caroline.

I loved A Moveable Feast and have been meaning to reread it, wondering if I will still feel the same.

19. On Balance (Sinéad Morrissey) (Poetry) (Northern Ireland) (02/03/19) ****



I especially enjoyed two poem cycles: 'Collier' and 'Whitelessness'.

And the thread about balance that runs throughout the collection. There are domestic poems interspersed by the odd exotic story.

20. Lord of the Butterflies (Andrea Gibson) (03/03/19) (US) (poetry) *****



WOW. What an exceptional collection. There wasn't a poem that didn't move, inspire, take me into someone else's perspective so deeply. Thank you Mark for bringing it to my attention >88 msf59:.

I shall definitely be dipping into these again over the next few days.

Currently Reading

As well as >91 Caroline_McElwee:

I've just started:

My Own Words (Ruth Bader Ginsburg)



I like the cover painting too.

>94 Caroline_McElwee: You sold me on this one, Caroline. Onto the WL it goes.

>95 Caroline_McElwee: I'll be reading this in the summer with my book club. I'll watch for your comments.

>95 Caroline_McElwee: - I requested this one from my library as an audiobook and was notified that it arrived yesterday. I have 7 days to pick it up so I will wait to the last possible minute to do so as I want to finish my current audiobook (Longbourn) first, and I have another on my kitchen table that I haven't started yet and would at least like to begin (Where the Crawdads Sing). I should be able to renew this last one which could buy me some time if I don't get it done on time before it comes due. Looking for to the Ginsburg and to your impressions, too, Caroline.

>93 Caroline_McElwee: That clock came up in my Arabic class - I'd forgotten I'd read a poem about it! Such a gorgeous object.

>97 jessibud2: I'm enjoying it Shelley, it is mostly my travelling book, as it is the physically lighter of those I'm reading, though I've dipped in at other times, there are biographical snippets before each of RBG's pieces, so you can contextualise.

>98 charl08: I love Arabic artifacts Charlotte. There were some wonderful pieces at the Arabic/Islamic museum in Paris, when I was there a few years back. The Institute du monde Arabe https://www.imarabe.org/en/museum/the-museum-s-collections

>89 Caroline_McElwee: I also liked A movable feast when I read it last month.
Paris in the 1920s must have been a good place, especially if you could afford it.

>100 FAMeulstee: I got the sense that in that era it was affordable even for those on a tight budget. No longer me thinks Anita, but I love it all the same.

>94 Caroline_McElwee: Hooray for Lord of the Butterflies, Caroline. Glad my warbling paid off, but all the credit goes to Joe, for not only turning her onto me, but sharing his copy with me. I will now have to get my own "Keeper" copy. What an incredible voice.

>95 Caroline_McElwee: I am also interested in this bio. I will be watching for your thoughts.

>102 msf59: our LT friends are doing a great job at expanding our horizons Mark.

The RBG is a little dry, because these are lecturers, articles and brief's, but very informative too.

I'm now also reading The Creativity Code: How AI is learning to write, paint and think by Marcus du Sautoy. I ordered it after reading this fascinating article:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/mar/05/could-robots-make-us-better-h...

Not familiar with Ruth Bader Ginsberg to be honest, Caroline, and the portrait is certainly austere. Look forward to seeing your views.

>99 Caroline_McElwee: I'm thinking with Brexit I'm going to deliberately try and get to some places in Europe I've not been to. One (embarrassingly) is Paris. But I'd also like to "do" some of Italy and the Baltic states.

Hi Caroline, it was fun getting caught up with you. I am so behind on reading my starred threads.

I see I’m not the only one who enjoys rereading books. I revisited both The Picture of Dorian Gray and A Moveable Feast in recent years. They remain in my permanent collection in case I want to pay yet another visit, although I haven’t read many books more than two times.

Yay for Lord of the Butterflies! I’m happy that you enjoyed it so much, Caroline. Me, too. Hopefully word will spread.

She’s wonderful in performance, too, if she ever makes it to London.

>104 PaulCranswick: hi Paul, good to see you out and about. I've stalled on most of the books I'm reading at the moment, mood thing.

>105 charl08: I'm sure you will love Paris Charlotte. I've been quite often over the years. Steeped in literary and artistic history too.

>106 Donna828: lovely to see you peeking round the door Donna. I'm a big retreaded.

>107 jnwelch: I hear I also have you to thank for Lord of the Butterflies as you recommended it to the warbler, Joe. Certainly a very fine volume. I ordered a couple more of their books, and watched some YouTube performances. Inspiring work.

As I said to Paul, above, I've stalled on good books I'm interested in. I need a book I love right now, not sure if that will be a reread, or something else in the tbr mountain.

Good luck finding a book that calls to you, Caroline.

21. The River (Jane Clarke) ***1/2



Some thoughtful evocative poems by this Irish poet.

Daily Bread

A white mist rises as she sifts a pound of flour
into the worn, tin basin, wide as Lough Corrib.

Blue veins lie like rivers on the map of her hands.
She measures one teaspoon of bread soda,

two teaspoons of salt. The plait at the nape
of her neck: a fisherman's rope coiled at the quay.

She scoops a hollow, pours a pint of buttermilk,
splashing and spluttering into the well.

With the rhythm of a rower she kneads rough dough
on the flour-dusted table, pushing it away,

pulling it back, pushing it away again.
With her wrist she flicks a lock, silver-grey frost

in December, from her high cheek bones. Readying
the bread for its hot harbour, she cuts a deep cross.

JANE CLARKE

I can't believe >111 Caroline_McElwee: is only the second book I've finished this month. I've got a lot on the go, there should be a small flurry over the weekend.

>110 BLBera: Getting there Beth.

New Acquisition

I love collecting ceramics, and bought this piece by Matt Horne today.



This is about six inches tall. I'd love a bigger piece, but that would be just too fragile in my book chaos.

https://www.matthornepottery.co.uk

>111 Caroline_McElwee: Poem="Like!" What a beautiful cover, too.

>111 Caroline_McElwee: I like that poem a lot---I can visualize every image so sharply, and it put me right into my grandmother's farm kitchen. I'm not familiar with Jane Clarke, so will have to make that right!

>113 Caroline_McElwee: Your new ceramic is gorgeous. I am such a fan of blue!

>114 jnwelch: >115 laytonwoman3rd: Glad I found a hit for you both, Linda and Joe. I think she may have thre slim collections.

>115 laytonwoman3rd: I felt the poem was like a perfect mindfulness experience, you were so in the moment. Lovely it brought good memories for you too Linda.

>116 mdoris: thank you Mary. Yes, blues, aqua, teens are very much my thing, along with orange and purples and emerald greens.

I do love beautiful ceramics too.

>113 Caroline_McElwee: Very beautiful, Caroline!
Thanks for sharing the link, saw some more beauties there.

>111 Caroline_McElwee: What a lovely poem. Onto the WL for this collection.

>113 Caroline_McElwee: How lovely. I also love ceramics. The problem is when I travel, it's so hard to bring them home in one piece.

>113 Caroline_McElwee: I love the colors in that piece, Caroline.

>119 BLBera: >120 NanaCC: Thanks Beth and Colleen. I do find it hard to resist beautiful ceramics, but as you say Beth, getting them home can be a challenge.

>119 BLBera: it's a quiet volume Beth, but I liked it.

22. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) ****1/2



I reread this for the AAC, and both volumes (though in one for this edition, Linda Laytonwoman3rd explained why this edition was longer than the one I'd previously read). I think I'd assumed the additional stuff in the films, was a sequel, as opposed to a volume two.

Anyhows, of course I enjoyed my revisit with Jo, Meg, Beth, Amy, Laurie, Marmee, Mr Laurence and Professor Bhaer. Though I suspect I remember them more from the films.

I have to say I always had a soft spot for the Professor, made even more soft when Gabriel Byrne took the role:



I did find the second half a bit more of a slog, and can see why children probably only read volume one, but mostly I was slow as I only read it at night and weekends.

Currently Reading

Memories of the Future (Siri Hustvedt)


The American cover has her clothed!

Interview here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/03/siri-hustvedt-i-am-writing-for-my-...

Also still reading some of the other current reading above.

>91 Caroline_McElwee: Goodness, 25 years! I remember buying that when it was brand new. I'll have to look for this one too.

>123 Caroline_McElwee: How funny about the different covers! I saw this one in Charlotte's Guardian round-up and it sounded very good.

You've been to some great exhibitions lately, Caroline.

>123 Caroline_McElwee: I just picked up this one from the library and am tempted to start it right away. I have loved all of the Hustvedt novels that I've read. I find her essays on art also very good.

>124 susanj67: I know Susan, I could barely believe it either. And I remember so much of it too, so when I get back to the new one, I shall fly through it I'm sure.

I do love a good exhibition.

>125 BLBera: I too love both the fiction and the essays Beth. I have her most recent volume of essays near the top of the tbr mountain.

I've taken a nice bite out of Memories of the Future today, and am enjoying it.

I read this interesting nterview with her:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/03/siri-hustvedt-i-am-writing-for-my-...

Chuckling about the different covers. I wonder how that conversation went with the designer?

I read all of the LW sequels as a(n older) kid but I think liked Amy's lifestyle a bit more than I was supposed to...

Oh, a new Siri Hustvedt book! I hadn't heard. I loved The Blazing World and What I Loved. I'll definitely read it.

>126 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks for the link, Caroline. What a great interview. Some of what she says about men reminds me of The Wife, which I just finished.

Went to see Pinter's 'Betrayal' tonight.



Excellent production, impeccable timing, a requirement of Pinter plays. A very spare set, and use of light.

I think this is the second live production I've seen, and I've seen about 3-4 tv dramatisations. My favourite of those was the one with John Markovitch and Kate Nelligan.

An aside, the first time ever, a tall man who sat in front of me turned round and asked me which way I needed him to lean, to avoid spoiling my view. I told him he was ok as he was, as long as he didn't start smooching with his lady. They liked that.

>127 charl08: for some reason I've always been least interested in Amy, Charlotte. Although I wasn't a tomboy, I tended to find more in common with Jo.

>128 japaul22: I'm really enjoying it. Although I sometimes find some kink that irritates, I've really enjoyed her work.

>129 BLBera: I like The Guardian interviews Beth, they don't just stick to the formula.

Caroline, you might be interested in Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women. Rioux talks about its historical context, why it still matters, use in the classroom, etc. I found it very readable.

Thanks Beth, I'll add it to the WL.

>127 charl08: >131 Caroline_McElwee: I think I still wanted to be Jo, just without the scrimping of her adult life. Beth has reminded me I have a copy of Eden's Outcasts on the shelf.

The play looked amazing from the publicity: great cast.

>134 charl08: I'm a Pinter fan, and we've been so lucky to have had some fine performances of his work, often at the Harold Pinter theatre Charlotte. I saw him a number of times at the theatre, in the audience too.

>130 Caroline_McElwee: Oh, how great, Caroline, that you got to see Betrayal. How was Tom Hiddleston? He's impressive, for a guy hampered by good looks (ha!). A year and a half ago we saw Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen in Pinter's No Man's Land. The play was okay, but they were, no surprise, terrific. Many years ago we did see Betrayal at Chicago's Steppenwolf, and that's a great play. It was a good cast, with Tracy Letts and Amy Morton.

Very cool that you've gotten to see Pinter himself a number of times. I love your "smooching" comment to the tall man and his lady. :-)

>136 jnwelch: Hi Joe, I thought Hiddleston very good. He had great timing and stillness. The character of a Robert leaves you with unanswered questions, more than the other characters, and he carried that off well.

Yes, Darryl and I were at the same performance as you for No Man's Land, I remember Debbi's pash for Patrick Stewart. I'm sorry to tell you this my friend, but if it were a Debbi and PS sitting in the row in front, I'm not sure they'd have held to the no smooching request!

>136 jnwelch:, >137 Caroline_McElwee: That was a great performance of No Man's Land that the four of us saw in 2016. I won't forget looking down at Debbi from the balcony during the intermission and seeing her full fledged swoon over Patrick Stewart!

>137 Caroline_McElwee:, >138 kidzdoc: LOL! I take heart that PS is also follicle-challenged, so maybe I can stay in the running with Debbi. If Debbi gets to smooch PS, then I'm asking Helen Mirren on a date!

>139 jnwelch: :-)

Winner of this year's Ted Hughes Award for poetry, a poet who happens to be deaf:

Echo
BY RAYMOND ANTROBUS


My ear amps whistle like they are singing
to Echo, goddess of noise,
the raveled knot of tongues,
of blaring birds, consonant crumbs
of dull doorbells, sounds swamped
in my misty hearing aid tubes.
Gaudí believed in holy sound
and built a cathedral to contain it,
pulling hearing men from their knees
as though atheism is a kind of deafness.
Who would turn down God?
Even though I have not heard
the golden decibels of angels,
I have been living in a noiseless
palace where the doorbell is pulsating
light and I am able to answer.

^Mmm, nice one, Caroline. Great alliteration and hard consonants in the first part, and then a beautiful finish with Gaudi and deafness and spirituality ("pulling deaf men from their knees/as though atheism is a kind of deafness").

23. Morality Play (Barry Unsworth) (29/03/19) ***1/2



An enjoyable medieval mystery, a monk falls in with a raggketaggle group if players, who unravel a local crime as they dramatise it for performance.

>141 Caroline_McElwee: That's amazing and beautiful. Off to check out RAYMOND ANTROBUS...

>143 Caroline_McElwee: I read this one years ago, and really enjoyed it. Thank you for bringing back the memory.

>145 NanaCC: you are welcome Coleen.

This is the one I'd have stolen:


Pollarded Willows

I went to see the Vincent Van Gogh and Britain exhibition:

https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/ey-exhibition-van-gogh-....

Some famous and some lesser known VVGs (I'm a big fan), including a couple from private collections, rarely seen. The exhibition also had paintings by people Van Gogh admired, and some by artists inspired by his work.

That looks like a great exhibit, Caroline. I'd go for sure if it ever came here. It sounds like it was wonderfully curated. I thought the trailer was cleverly done, too.

I have never seen that particular one in >147 Caroline_McElwee:!

>148 jessibud2: I'm loving the little trailers that the Tate are creating Shelley. There was a great one for a Byrne Jones exhibit earlier in the year.

>147 Caroline_McElwee: Nice exhibit, Caroline, always nice when paintings from private collections are displayed.
I completely agree that is a beautiful painting!

Oh boy. Two new poets: >111 Caroline_McElwee: and >141 Caroline_McElwee:. I loved both your choices and will be investigating these soon.

I loved Little Women as a child and read it at least a dozen times. My mother gave me Little Men as a birthday present, and I was so enchanted that I sought out every one of her books and devoured them.

The Unsworth looks intriguing.

>147 Caroline_McElwee: I always do the "which one would you have in your house" when I visit a gallery (I have most recently coveted some Japanese pots in the Lever collection but I like the "stolen" category as an alternative!

>152 charl08: - I don't know if it's still done but a long time ago, one of our museums would rent out pictures to people to hang in their homes. I had never heard of such a thing until one of my friends told me that's where some of the pictures in her house were from! I imagine that the selection is limited to the *less valuable* or lesser known paintings. But it's kind of a cool idea!

I'm also a Van Gogh fan, Caroline. >147 Caroline_McElwee: This is lovely.

Morality Play sounds interesting.

How is the Hustvedt book?

>150 FAMeulstee: if I'm familiar with an artist's work, I do seek out those pieces from private collections we get to see less often Anita.

>151 Matke: I don't think you will be disappointed Gail.

>152 charl08: oooh, don't get me started on pots Charlotte...

>153 jessibud2: I have a vague feeling I've heard about that Charlotte, what a wonderful idea. When I worked at the House of Commons, I once got to go to the vaults where they stored the art collection, to choose a couple of pieces for our office. We didn't get to see the best bits, which are on the walls of the 'top tier's' offices, but we were loaned some nice prints.

>154 BLBera: I'm about sixty pages from the end of the Hustvedt novel Beth. I will need to digest before I review though, she was trying to do so much. Most of it worked for me, with a couple of bits that didn't. But I do like a clever book sometimes, as long as it isn't at the total cost of some literary pleasure.

Adding Lord of the Butterflies and The River to my wish list!

>147 Caroline_McElwee: Oh yes, that is lovely.

Also adding Morality Play to the wish list. It does grow....

>143 Caroline_McElwee: I remember reading Morality Play shortly after it first came out and really enjoying it. Sacred Hunger or its sequel The Quality of Mercy may be better books but I found Morality Play his most enjoyable.

Have a lovely weekend, Caroline.

>156 EBT1002: Hi Ellen, good to see you peeping round the door. You won't be disappointed in any of those.

>157 PaulCranswick: I have Sacred Hunger near the top of the pile Paul, maybe an Autumn/Winter read.

>157 PaulCranswick:, >158 Caroline_McElwee: I thought Sacred Hunger was superb although I agree, Caro, it may not be ideal summer reading. I didn't know there was a sequel.

>155 Caroline_McElwee: Was at the Walker yesterday and saw a beautiful sculpture by Dorothea Clement - small, but beautiful. I can't even find her on Wikipedia. :-(

Caroline, you remind me that I need to read Morality Play. I loved both Sacred Hunger and The Quality of Mercy by Unsworth. I'll have to get out my copy of MP so I can get to it this year. My TBR pile is teetering!

I enjoyed the poetry you shared. I didn't know that Ted Hughes was deaf. How ironic that a poem about sound would win the Ted Hughes Award.

I set this novel aside, to read >143 Caroline_McElwee: for my local book group, which I didn't go to, as I hadn't finished it, and didn't want spoilers. Then didn't get back to this book until the last few days, distractedly grazing hither and thither like a restless lion(ess).

24. Memories of the Future (Siri Hustvedt) (11/02/19) ****1/2



I'm not sure I am going to do this novel justice after only a single reading. It feels like a far longer book, and it has to be said, wavers on being a clever book, over an interesting/intriguing, delightful read; it is the latter, which happens also to be very clever, be it that at least one of its multiple skeins interested me less.

This is a novel about life, about the fallibility of memory, about story, writing, creativity, memoir, semi-autobiography, psychology, philosophy, friendship and more. Layers and layers of patterns. Stories within stories. It will receive at least a second reading.

>159 lauralkeet: >161 Donna828: I'll definitely be reading more Unsworth this year.

>160 charl08: So underground that Wiki can't even place her, impressive Charlotte. She'll suddenly be rediscovered and everywhere. That happened with my reading on Charles Rennie Mackintosh in the early 80s. Books about him were hard to come by, specialist bookshops (pre-Amazon days), now they are everywhere, and everyone recognises his work.

Currently Reading

The Samurai's Garden (Gail Tsukiyama) for which I blame Tui (tiffin), who raved about it on her thread.


My cover isn't as gorgeous as hers.

>164 Caroline_McElwee: - I haven't read this one by Tsukiyama, but I have read her Women of the Silk and its sequel, The Language of Threads, and loved them both. Have you read other books by her, Caroline? Actually, now that I looked it up, I have also read her A Hundred Flowers.

>165 jessibud2: good to hear there are some treats ahead Shelley, I'm enjoying this one, which is my first.

Hi, Caroline. I have not been by in awhile. I lost you in the LT shuffle. Hope all is well and I hope those books are treating you fine. Are you reading anything memorable on the poetry front? Always curious about that.

>161 Donna828: Donna, it is the poet Raymond Antrobus who is deaf. Ted Hughes wasn't deaf at least sensorily as far as I am aware.

I can't wait to get to the Hustvedt, Caroline. It sounds, though, that maybe I should wait until I have uninterrupted time to read.

>167 msf59: Good to see you look in Mark. I've a few poetry volumes near my reading chair, I aim to pick something up at the weekend.

>168 PaulCranswick: >161 Donna828: Paul's right I think, Donna, sorry I meant to get back on that. Antrobus is deaf, I'm sure Hughes probably had problems in later life, but not otherwise.

>169 BLBera: it will certainly benefit from long reading bites Beth, that's why it took me a while to get back to it I think. Definitely worth the effort though.

25. The Samurai's Garden (Gail Tsukiyama) (13/04/19) ****1/2



Young Chinese/Japanese Stephan-san seeks health staying in the family beach house in Japan, where he is tended by the family docent, Matsu, a man in his sixties, who has worked for the family his whole life.

Stephen narrates the stories via his journal, the news and letters telling of life in Hong Kong and the Japanese army in China. His growing friendship with the quiet Matsu, and involvement with his friend Sachi, a leper who lives in a colony on the mountain. His flirtation with the young girl Meiko. And the succour found in two very different Japanese Gardens.

Beautifully told, a story as fragile as petals and as hard as stone.

I had never heard of Tsukiyama, and read this due to Tui's review. I shall definitely be reading more of her. Though I shall certainly replace this shabby, breakfast stained, secondhand copy for a more beautiful one.

>171 Caroline_McElwee: - Lovely review, Caroline. I will put it on my list to seek out. I have enjoyed others of hers I have read, as I mentioned in an earlier post.

Currently Reading

F Scott Fitzgerald: A Biography (André Le Vot)



It's years since I read a biography of Fitzgerald, this was recommended in an interview by Colm Tóibín. I can see why.

And

The Glass Woman (Caroline Lea).



Not that I judged a book by its beautiful cover...

>172 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley, I'm sure you will like it. I dropped another of her novels into my basket.

>174 Caroline_McElwee: This is a beautiful cover, Caroline. I hope what is inside is wonderful as well.

>171 Caroline_McElwee: This has been on my shelf for years. I'll have to move it to my "read soon" pile.

>171 Caroline_McElwee: Sounds amazing! I'll have a look.

And yes, stunning cover.

>171 Caroline_McElwee: Good review, Caroline.
I saw it on Tui's thread, and here high rated again, now added to mount TBR.

>173 Caroline_McElwee: I hope The glass woman lives up to its cover. I wishlisted it for the same reason!

On Monday I went to hear Ian McEwan talk about his writing career, and his new novel Machines Like Me, which I obstained from buying at the moment, I might add.

I remember seeing him tapping away at his typewriter on my way to work, as I passed his house each morning, in the 1980s. I loved his early to middle work, but have not read most of the recent stuff, after being dissatisfied with Saturday, there were things in that that just didn't seem believable to me. But I'm interested in AI, so I will probably get to this, and work backwards maybe. I enjoyed the 'Conversation' and the Festival Hall always leave plenty of time for audience questions, which can often be the most interesting bit.

Then today I went to my favourite Dulwich Picture Gallery to see a Norwegian artist I had never heard of, Harald Sohlberg. Wonderful work.









I love the use of colour, and the evocation of mood.

And here I DID buy the catalogue.

>179 Caroline_McElwee: - I agree. Lovely stuff!

26. The Glass Woman (Caroline Lea) (19/04/19) ***1/2



I'm wavering on whether this is a 3.5 or a 4*. I enjoyed it, it was a page turner, well written, occasionally fine writing, but there was something missing and I can't quite put my finger on what. Lea captures the sense of place and the hardship of the Croft life, in the Iceland of the period, but I felt held at a distance somehow.

Not sure if that answers your questions >175 BLBera: >176 charl08: >178 Sakerfalcon: Beth, Charlotte and Claire.

>177 FAMeulstee: I think you might like The Samurai's Garden Anita, I've just bought another of her novels.

>179 Caroline_McElwee: Those are lovely, Caroline.

>181 Caroline_McElwee: That sounds like a "maybe" for me.

>179 Caroline_McElwee: Oh, I'm glad you liked it too! Such a lovely exhibit.

Those are beautiful paintings. Thanks for sharing!
Hmmm a book about Iceland, i just might have to! Oh dear, it's not available.

>179 Caroline_McElwee: I love those paintings by Harald Sohlberg!!! I'd have bought the catalogue, as well....

27. The Trauma Cleaner (Sarah Krasnostein) (21/04/19) ****



The extraordinary biography of Peter/Sandra an Australian transgender woman. Adopted as a baby, but edged out of the family by a brutal father when they have natural children of their own.

At times I was reminded of the early life of Maya Angelou, and what she had to do as a young person to survive. Like her, Sandra is a survivor, despite all the knocks and knock-backs, she is an optimist.

As a 'trauma cleaner' someone who either supports those whose lives have disintegrated physically, to bring their environment back to health, or who cleans up after murder/suicide cases, Sandra brings her empathy and lack of judgement into the lives of people who need her, or those who are left behind the departed.

Sarah Krasnostein gets to know Sandra over a number of years, and I felt treats her with the respect and lack of judgment Sandra treats her own clients with. The book is both Sandra's story, intercut with the stories of some of the people she has helped as a trauma cleaner.

In many ways bringing harmony to the lives of those who have lost total control of their lives, enables Sandra to sustain harmony in her own life. She has to do everything to perfection. Nothing less will do for her clients or herself.

Currently Reading

Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood. For my local book group.



I will also go to the first office lunchtime book group on Thursday, where they will be discussing Michelle Obama's Becoming, which I read last year.

And continuing with the F Scott Fitzgerald biography.

>182 BLBera: >183 charl08: >184 mdoris: >185 EBT1002: I really loved the exhibit, Beth, Charlotte, Mary and Ellen. And discovering an artist new to me is always a treat.

As a child I lived in Norwood Charlotte, so visited The Dulwich Picture Gallery from an early age. It was apparently the first public picture gallery in the world. Before that art used to be taken on tours or travelling shows.

The Trauma Cleaner sounds intense but quite interesting. Great review.

>188 Caroline_McElwee: That sounds like the basis for a wonderful memoir of childhood, Caroline. With illustrations.

My folks (in common with a lot of parents, I suspect) watched the pennies when we were kids, so my mum was a big fan of the free museums across Cambridge. We went to the Fitzwilliam (until my little brother got us banned/ embarrassed of returning: he was keen on touching things regardless of value), the Scott Polar (a favourite of mum's; they did a nice line in woolly hats) a science one that had a wonderful name - something Sidgwick, and a natural history one that I remember as being very dark and intriguing. So not a lot of art, but then school took us to a "Herstory" day, where one of the curators talked about women in art, and although I was hopeless myself, one of the art teachers talked about always buying a postcard of a piece of art you liked so that you could remember it. I just had a hunt for one of my earliest postcards- Henri Fantan- Latour, apparently! I still like it.

http://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/2658

Lovely afternoon at Chelsea Physic Garden, with a friend.

>189 lauralkeet: yes, very intense Laura, but quite a page turner, until near the end, when I felt it flagged very slightly. I read it in 2 sittings over two days though.

>190 charl08: I love that Vincent Van Gogh visited the gallery two consecutive years at bank holidays, and I saw his signature in the guest book, currently displayed at Tate Britain as part of the 'Van Gogh and Britain' exhibition. I'm sure hundreds of now famous artists also visited.

Yes, like your childhood Charlotte, our parents took us to galleries, museums and occasionally, because you had to pay, Stately Homes, so we were very exposed to art and history at an early age. I was fascinated by the Egyptian mummies at the British Museum. And loved visits to the V&A too, both places still dear to my heart.

>191 Caroline_McElwee: Gorgeous photo.

>192 Caroline_McElwee: Oh, how cool about Vincent van Gogh. I love those archive traces. I caught an exhibit at the British Library a while back that included the record showing Karl Marx signing in with a fake name. It didn't look like much on the page, but the work to find it.

I am hoping to get to the Mackintosh exhibit here in Liverpool soon. Need to justify purchase of the art pass!

I must get to Dulwich to see that exhibition. The images I've seen have all been beautiful and evocative. I'm sure that I too will come home with the catalogue! They always have such interesting exhibitions at Dulwich, although their permanent collection is not my favourite.

>191 Caroline_McElwee: What a lovely photo, Caroline. I loved Hag-Seed. I'll watch for your and your book club's comments.

28. Hag-Seed (Margaret Atwood) (23/04/19) ***1/3

Felix is a disgruntled theatre empresario who is ousted from his job. He spends years festering on what has happened, then takes a low paid job working on a project providing drama classes for Shakespeare plays into a local prison. He makes a success and enjoys the process for three consecutive years, but he is still angry about how his career was curtailed, so he comes up with a plot for revenge, using his prison production of The Tempest.

The novel is a kind of masterclass on how Shakespeare is relevant to all era's, classes, human types. That it can be so universally enjoyed.

I liked the novel, without loving it.

Interestingly, for Atwood, women are scarce. Hard to do anything about in a man's prison I suppose.

Currently Reading

From a Low and Quiet Sea (Donal Ryan)

>193 mdoris: Thanks Mary.

>194 charl08: I have been pondering on getting an Art Pass Charlotte. I'm a bit lucky though, with several friends with subscriptions, so get in as a free guest quite a bit.

Glad you enjoyed the Mackintosh, which I see from your thread.

>195 Sakerfalcon: it's certainly worth seeing Claire. I generally get to at least one exhibition a year there. I'm rarely disappointed.

>196 BLBera: I'm not sure what I wanted from it Beth, but probably didn't love it as much as you (and I think Laura) did.

>179 Caroline_McElwee: Thank for introducing Harald Sohlberg, Caroline, those are some lovely paintings.

>191 Caroline_McElwee: Tulips! :-)

>179 Caroline_McElwee: Love these paintings. I had not heard of this artist until now.

I really enjoyed Hag-Seed. A bit more than you. I have also had From a Low and Quiet Sea on my TBR list for awhile now. I will watch for your thoughts.

I would like to recommend Deaf Republic: Poems, which I recently finished. A terrific collection by a Russian poet.

>198 Caroline_McElwee: Glad to see you reading that one, Caroline!

I went to see a fine production of Arthur Miller's The Price last night, staring David Suchet and Brendan Coyle.



And the bonus was I saw Oscar Wilde's grandson, writer, historian, keeper of the flame, Merlin Holland, in the theatre bar.



His mother's family made her revert to their family name after Oscar's downfall.

What a wonderful evening! Isn't it odd to see Suchet looking almost scruffy? I've never seen him as himself, or in any character other than Poirot.

>200 FAMeulstee: you can never have too many tulips Anita. Glad you liked the Sohlberg paintings.

>201 msf59: Notng your poetry recommendation Mark, thanks.

>202 laytonwoman3rd: Back later for review of that Linda, finished it last night, digesting.

>204 laytonwoman3rd: he's done a few 'rough around the edges' roles Linda. He was the comedic character, out to make a buck from the furniture sale. Suchet actually lives near a friend of mine.

>203 Caroline_McElwee: Fascinating spot at the theatre, Caroline.

I miss the theatre, the bookshops, the libraries and the museums of the olde country and especially its capital - environmental protestors well intentioned as well as annoying notwithstanding - good job they didn't glue themselves to the stage!

Has there been much disruption, Caroline? What is the attitude towards them in the town?

Have a lovely weekend, and I hope we can get that date poetry shopping in June when we come back for Yasmyne's graduation in Edinburgh.

>206 PaulCranswick: Yes, there was two weeks of intensive disruption, and I got caught a few times. It is one of those complicated conundrums Paul. You are tired at the end of a working day (not 100% on the health front either) and you've had 90 minutes added to your journey home after a cultural outing so it was nearly 1am before I got home one night. It's frustrating. But were I younger, fitter, I'd have been with them, and I'm grateful for what they have done to raise awareness, and hope they will continue to speak truth to power.

The problem is we need to focus on our big behaviours and attitudes. As nations and globally, we have to move away from endless growth, endless material acquisition. Doing everything on mammoth scales for profits.

One of the biggest issues, that isn't sexy to talk about, so most people don't realise, that the erosion of soil, whether from overwork, climate change, the use of pesticides, is going to lead to an incapacity to feed ourselves within 50-70 years.*

The reality is quite simple, if we as consumers reduced our consumption dramatically, government and business would have to change their behaviours. Whenever there has been a boycott on something, you can believe business changes.

Of course, it isn't as straightforward as that, if we consume less, where do all those who work in the processing business find work and earnings to survive. We are wavering on reevaluating systems like the shorter working week, and basic income, but not enough businesses are brave enough to take the leap.

In this country, instead of pushing up the pension age, they should have paid 50% pension from 60 and full pension from 66, allowing people to chose how they worked between those years for example, instead of it only being the wealthier who can afford to retire early.

As long as the decision makers have no skin in the game, because the decisions they impose on us, don't affect them, things are not going to improve for the ordinary Joanna or Joe.

Ha, well that's more than you asked for Paul, and some issue conflation went on there too.

Yes, one day we'll get our poetry crawl in.

(*I had a typo of the erosion of the soul! I suspect there is some of that too).

>207 Caroline_McElwee: - Very well said, Caroline and it applies everywhere. I did smile, though, at what I am guessing is a typo, though perhaps not. You wrote "erosion of soul" and perhaps meant *soil*. Though both fit rather well. And talk of raising pension age is in our news this week, too.

>207 Caroline_McElwee: I wouldn't argue with much of what you've said, Caroline, but I'm not sure that beyond a certain point there will be diminishing returns utilising their methods of peaceful disruption as it will start to grate too much.

The world does need to wake up and especially USA, China, India and Russia whose combined efforts at killing the planet seem set fair to succeed unless their governments act. The quandary is an obvious one as we are asking people and governments to act against their seeming self-interest for the wider common good. Don't see too much sign of this and I am at a loss to see how a middle-aged middle class gentleman or lady from the Home Counties of England, chained to a fence in Oxford Street will prevail upon the faceless leaders in Beijing to change course. Hope I'm as wrong as I am cynical.

>208 jessibud2: Freudian slip if ever there was one Shelley, fixed. Ha.

>209 PaulCranswick: I should have been clearer Paul, they are going forward with less obviously disruptive protest, focusing, I think on working with organisations and scientists to get information before governments to shape policy.

I've always been conflicted about the value of protest, as so often little seems to change, but when I think about it, the reality is something important happens that may be bigger than or different from what you set out to do. For example, young people internationally, going forward, may choose to be scientists or politicians who have the power to make change down the line, because of Greta's original protest, for example. We must not forget our actions will change something. We just don't always know what.

If everyone who saw or were affected by the protests just changes one thing in their lives to benefit the planet, that will change things. I'm going to buy less food in one go, I don't waste a lot, but I do sometimes waste food. And I'm going to buy less generally. It will be planet positive, it may be more healthy for me, and it will be more healthy for my bank balance. What's not to like.

And I'm going to look for other changes to make, and learn more about what we can do going forward.

29. From a Low and Quiet Sea (Donal Ryan) ****



The stories of three men whose lives ultimately interweave: Farouk, Lampy and John. All, in some way at sea in their lives, all at different times in their lives, all just about surviving.

The writing shifts a bit with the telling of each story, but there are stories within stories of these lives, a blending.

>210 Caroline_McElwee: That is an excellent idea, Caroline. If millions of us little people (figuratively) each made a small difference the scale would ultimately be immense.

"Erosion of the soul"… I kind of like that expression which I see happening in my lifetime. And I'm glad to know that Ted Hughes wasn't deaf. I must read closer when visiting other threads. You've been doing some great reading, Caroline. And I loved that little tidbit upthread about your walking by Ian McEwen's house in the 1980's and seeing him working on his typewriter. Did I get that bit right? haha...

Hi, Caroline.

I think I liked Hag-Seed more than you did. It’s the first Shakespeare take-off that I’ve liked from the recent group.

Sounds like a good night of theater with “The Price”.

>207 Caroline_McElwee:, >210 Caroline_McElwee:. Well said.

30. Transcription (Kate Atkinson) (02/05/19) ****



I enjoyed this romp through wartime London with some reservations. A friend of mine suggested Atkinson wore her research on her sleeve, and I agree. I also found the tone too flippant for my taste, and the barrage of, intentional I suspect, cliches was annoying.

That said, there was a lot that felt right, and this is physical stamping ground I know well. And the characters were believable for being so unbelievable sometimes, and generally so ordinary, which needed to be the case.

>213 Donna828: it's so easy to get a bit of information twisted, or conflate it Donna, I've done it myself. Ha, yes, I did used to see McEwan typing away.

>214 jnwelch: Thanks Joe, good to see you peeping around the door.

I doo like a bit of Arthur Miller.

Nice comments on Transcription, Caroline. I love Atkinson, but this wasn't my favorite of hers. Still, there was much I loved about it. I loved Juliet.

>217 BLBera: I loved Behind the Scenes at the Museum when I read it years ago Beth, and Life after Life was excellent too.

I liked the cover, added at >215 Caroline_McElwee:.

Can't wait (will have to, ha!) for the latest Atkinson. Will be fun to see where Jackson Brodie ends up.

>219 charl08: I need to read the Brodie novels Charlotte. I did see the tv series years ago.

>220 Caroline_McElwee: The books are better. :)

I also loved Behind the Scenes at the Museum and Life after Life, Caroline. I still haven't read Emotionally Weird, which I am looking forward to.

I need to read Behind the Scenes at the Museum. Life After Life was great. I just read the two Jackson Brodie mysteries I hadn't, as she's got a new one coming out soon.

>221 BLBera: >222 jnwelch: I remember there was a lot of love in LT for Jackson Brodie. Of course, seeing the series first, he will now be in my head in the guise of Jason Isaacs.

I also loved Life After Life, along with A God in Ruins, but Transcription isn't calling out to me yet.

>223 Caroline_McElwee: I agree with Beth (>221 BLBera:) the books are better, but the Jason Isaacs guise is a good one to have.

>223 Caroline_McElwee: I saw somewhere that Kate Atkinson said that she also now thinks of Jason Isaacs when she writes about Brodie!