Eyes and Ears - 04/07/2008

Yeah, yeah, it's back. Take it easy.

Reading:
You know, travel is all very well but I reckon that the nicest way to spend a holiday is doodling around at home. When the weather's good, as it has been, you can tool around outside, taking photos, going for long walks, watching your cats rolling around on the warm driveway; and when the weather turns a trifle inclement, as it has done today, you can adjourn to the couch for some reading.

And I've been reading up a storm, my peeps! When prac started I found I couldn't cope with anything heavier than a little PD James and Reginald Hill for my bed time reading. All very well but a little the same after a while, if you see where I'm coming from. Fortunately, as time wore on and the pressure eased off, my brain felt ready to tackle something different.

So I've read:

- Borrowed Finery by Paula Fox. I've never read anything else by Paula Fox but now I want to. This is a memoir of her childhood, essentially abandoned by her glamorous parents, seeing them only intermittently, and being raised by a variety of kind and not-so-kind people. The restraint of the writing throughout this book is astounding. She could teach her granddaughter a thing or two about reeling it in from time to time. (Not that I'd ever want to see Courtney Love reel it in even slightly - I think she's FAB!)
- Naked by David Sedaris. I loved this book. There were times when I had tears of silent laughter rolling down my cheeks and I wasn't sure when I was going to be able to draw breath. Like Bill Bryson, David Sedaris has a fabulous talent for building up the most ridiculous and hilarious scenes, and also like Bryson he can write with extraordinary and unexpected tenderness and compassion that never even comes close to veering into the sentimental.
- The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler. I don't know why I bought this book because I didn't expect to like it and when I started reading it I felt as though it was a bit of a plod. Then one evening I was making dinner and I glanced over at the coffee table, saw the book and realised I couldn't wait to get back to it. A sweet story well told. How would you describe the voice? First person omniscient? I liked that touch. When I got to the end I told myself it was a little weak, but I think that was because I didn't want the book to end: I wanted to keep reading about the lovely, gentle adventures of this group of people. I haven't felt like that about a book in a long time. It was such a pleasure.
- and something else that I've forgotten.

I can't quote from any of these because New Girl came over to my place and nicked them all.

Because it's a cool, rainy day my blanket awaits me on the couch and perched on the blanket is a pen, a cryptic crossword and Agatha's Murder on the Orient Express. A while ago The Antiquer delivered to me a bundle of Agatha's Crime Collection books - each containing three stories and covered in what he called "granny grime". MotOE is one I haven't yet read so once I'm finished here I'm off for a good curling up with it.

Top 5 Songs:
Love Resurrection ("I want you to grow in my hand" - what THE?) - Alison Moyet
Girls, Girls, Girls - Sailor
Crosscut Saw - Hindu Love Gods
Welfare Mothers - Neil Young
Gaskrankinstation - Headless Chickens