Friday, February 17, 2017

Reading and Other Adventures


"Either write something worth reading, Or do something worth writing."
-- Benjamin Franklin

Hello! Happy February. I hope your holidays were good and you've been enjoying the new year. You may have been wondering where I have been! Well, I have been trying my hand at writing some fiction and it has been challenging, satisfying, and completely absorbing. I have enjoyed stretching myself and, if you are at all inclined, I highly recommend it. Finding a creative outlet has to be one of the most enriching of human experiences. As Jean-Jacques Rousseau said, "The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless."

Fortunately I have been able to keep up with some fabulous books that I am currently reading and wanted to share with you.

Nutshell by Ian McEwan:

I loved this book. Just as he did in "The Children Act," Ian McEwan manages to pack a powerful punch in a small number of pages, just under 200 here. The concept of the book sounds a bit crazy, but if you are willing to "suspend disbelief," it works. The narrator is an unborn baby who can hear everything that is happening around his mother, including the conversation between her and her lover to kill the baby's father. Her lover is the father's brother. Sound familiar? Yes, echoes of Hamlet here. The book is a bit of a sly comedy and I laughed out loud many times. The mother drinks prodigious amounts of wine (which is an awful reality that McEwan mines for some dark humor) during her pregnancy and there is quite a bit of humor as the baby-to-be becomes a wine connoisseur, commenting throughout the book on the quality of the wine as well as enjoying a contact high. The baby has learned about world events through the mother's habit of listening to podcasts and offers observations on the state of the world. He is full of disdain for his mother's lover who is crass and unintelligent. He also ponders the fact that his father is about to be murdered. What will happen to him after he is born, the baby uneasily wonders, since his mother and her lover never seem to consider this about-to-be-born human when plotting the murder. It is a very clever novel written by one of the best writers working today. I highly recommend it!

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles:

A friend of mine remarked that this book reminded her of the film The Hotel Budapest. I agree. There is a whimsical and light-hearted quality to it. I am only halfway through, but suffice it to say that I am completely entranced by the voice of its central character, the charming and witty Count Rostov. It is 1922 in Russia and, as you can imagine, not a good time to be a Count. His crime was writing a poem. However, the Count's imprisonment will not be Siberia, but rather house arrest in the Metropol Hotel, the nicest hotel in Moscow. The hotel becomes a world unto itself for the Count and the events of the outside world enter only when his friends come to tell him what is going in revolutionary Russia. He shares their dismay. At one point he considers suicide, but decides to move on and manages to live a full and rich life within the confines of the hotel. The key to his contentment seems to be meaningful relationships with hotel guests and staff, an interest in everything around him, reading great books, and a determination to choose optimism over despair. The book is written with all the wit and charm of "Rules of Civility," Amor Towles first book, which I loved. I'm anxious to finish this one and see what ultimately happens to Count Rostov, an unforgettable character who is easy to love.

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins:

A big, sprawling Victorian mystery that I have read before, this is a book I love. T.S. Eliot called it "the first and greatest of English detective novels." As soon as you open the first page you will be pulled into the tale of the moonstone, a famous diamond that originated in India and continues to be stolen from whomever is its unlucky owner. The mystery begins two years after the diamond was stolen from Rachel Verinder, who received it as a gift from her uncle on the occasion of her 18th-birthday. There are multiple narrators including the Robinson Crusoe-loving butler Gabriel Betteridge, Rachel's dashing cousin Franklin Blake, and the detective Sergeant Cuff. They all tell their story of the missing gem and its eventual recovery. Just like a Dickens novel, the book is filled with memorable characters and evocative Victorian atmosphere. This is one of those books that will take you to a cozy place.


It's raining cats and dogs this weekend in Los Angeles and it will be the perfect time to curl up with a classic novel like "The Moonstone." I'm also reading up on the Brontes as I plan my next trip to England. This time I will visit Haworth in Yorkshire and finally make the pilgrimage to the Bronte Parsonage where the Bronte family lived. Did you know that every night the Bronte sisters would walk around the table in their dining room discussing their writing? After Emily and Anne died, Charlotte continued this tradition to honor her sisters.

Let me know what you are reading and anything special you may be working on. The new year is the perfect time to follow our dreams!


19 comments:

  1. I'm about to leave for England and my first visit to Cornwall, where I'm going to take a three day workshop at the St. Ives School of Painting, with one of my favorite still life painters - a real dream come true! Reading mostly mysteries right now - nothing very literary. So excited to hear about your book and can't wait to read it! I think it's a great time in our lives to realize some of these dreams and make them happen. I feel a renewed energy for life, as I'm sure you do as well. XO

    ReplyDelete
  2. I know you will have the best time! Yes, I feel that renewed energy for life and love how you put that! Enjoy Cornwall, one of my favorite places in the world. xo

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sunday,

    Congratulations on following your dream! I cannot wait until you let us know when your first book will be published!

    Have a wonderful weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Elizabeth, I so appreciate your kind words. It is very much in its infancy but I continue to plug away and we'll see where it all leads. Wishing you a wonderful weekend as well! xxoo

      Delete
  4. A few years ago, my daughter and I created our own literary tour of England visiting London, Stratford-upon-Avon, Haworth and Bath. Haworth continues to inspire/linger/enervate our thoughts. One of the highlights was The Coffee House number 10 Main St. Everything looked as delicious as it tasted. The strawberry shortcake was spectacular.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for the great tip. I will be sure to go to the Coffee House on Main Street. And I love strawberry shortcake!

      Delete
    2. The BBC aired a programme over Christmas called 'To Walk Invisible'. It is the story of the Bronte sisters, and was very atmospheric. Although there were some comments that the language was too modern, it is still very good. I do hope you get a chance to see it before you visit Haworth, as I am sure it will add to your enjoyment of the visit.

      Delete
    3. Thank you, Michelle! Yes, I know about it and am hope it airs here in the U.S. before my trip. I believe it is supposed to happen in March. Fingers crossed!

      Delete
  5. Good for you and best wishes as you follow your dreams, Sunday. I am sure I will be reading "Nutshell" in the coming days. "The Children Act" has stayed with me for months now, lingering. I am, at long last, reading "All the Light We Cannot See".

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you, Penny. I'm so glad you enjoyed The Children Act. I thought it was one of his best books. Happy reading.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wishing you every success with your writing endevours Sunday xx Anita

    ReplyDelete
  8. So funny that the same books are on my reading list. The Nutshell was fabulous, wasn't it?
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  9. How exciting to delve into the world of writing, Sunday! There's an informal writers' club at one of the branches of my library. They share what they've written and lend support to each other. If something like that appeals, it might be worth looking into in your area. And I've booked another trip to London so travel books and magazines are stacked on the coffee table. Good luck with your planning!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Darlene, yes it's been very exciting. And that's an excellent suggestion. I've just been over to your blog and love the quote you featured regarding London. It sums up exactly how I feel!

      Delete
  10. Sunday, I have followed along on Instagram but have not seen a post here in awhile. I hope all is well. I saw this "Sissinghurst Castle Cheese board and thought of you from Anthropologie.

    https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/sissinghurst-castle-cheese-board?cm_mmc=LS-_-Affiliates-_-J84DHJLQkR4-_-6386927590&color=095&siteID=J84DHJLQkR4-LgFBJcunTgemgQ2L.OnFRg&utm_content=J84DHJLQkR4&utm_medium=J84DHJLQkR4&utm_source=AFFILIATES

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Elizabeth, you are so kind! Yes, it has been a while and I am planning to publish a blog post on Monday. I am happily working on my creative writing and also planning a more regular blogging schedule to begin on Monday. Thanks so much for checking in! Can't wait to see the Sissinghurst cheese board! Hope you are well! xx

      Delete
  11. Oh, I've heard of the Moonstone but never read it. I will put it on my can't wait to read list. Right now I'm in a Dorothy Whipple phase.

    Sandra Sallin

    ReplyDelete