the last books of 2009

once again, only half the book had to be read, as the author retells us somuch, in case we are reading her book as a 'stand alone'. The rest had it's own charm

could not get into this, it was ghastly.

I c

this was too heavy for me given deaths of 2 friends. Maybe later

loved, loved this book. Quirky and charming. Great zing at the end.

loved the TV show, so I bought the book.

Australia knows him as the cravat-wearing critic and hulking soulful judge on TV's crazily successful MasterChef Australia but it's his writing that has had the food world talking for the last ten years.

Here are all his best stories and columns. A collection of Matt's irreverent, intelligent, and amusing adventures in food.

This book will take you from the best restaurants in the world to grungy hole in the walls on the wrong side of town; from the ritual of a traditional pig annual kill to lunch at a Sikh temple in the suburbs; basically wherever the world's best food can be found. more at Random House

* * *

rather than an over indulgent meal I am finding this to be a delightful endless buffet. I can rest between courses, yet return to fresh and delightful fare.

I thought I would try and get this read before I see the film. Might be a tough call...though I have a fair bit of plane travel coming up, so maybe.

Reading Now

I'd have to say the first 2/3 pages annoyed me, but now I am enjoying this. I have read several books about the conflict between the House of York and the House of Lancaster and find the era most fascinating,

Paullina Simons News

As ever Marg over at Reading Adventures has the hot off the press news.

Sadly, I did not enjoy Paullina Simons last work. so I might wait for Marg's review.

I did, however enjoy meeting the author, and also basked in the compliment

she gave me re the bag I carried that night.

my writing.

After a slow grieving life begins anew.

Slowly, but surely, I notice my mind, and heart, turning back to my writing.

My mother was a great supporter of my efforts and I do hope to get back to it soon.

A Book Blogger Appreciation Week Meme

I was not part of BBAW last year. So here I am addressing the questions for newbies.

1. Highlight for me this year while Blogging has been the support as I grieved through the death of my mother. Blogger-Friends have been wonderful.

2. Which Book Blogger has helped me most? That would be Marg from Reading Adventures. Inspiration has come from her and many others. My reader is stuffed full...

3. What one question of the BBAW 08 ers? How do you fit in reading ALL those books?

Good Luck to all who have been nominated.

Middlemarch

This is a somewhat difficult book to read. I am progressing, albeit slowly.

I find the sudden narrator speaking up rather jarring.

I don't mind the Greek Chorus style insights and wisdoms,

however the owner of 'I' is not calrafied.

The characters are drawn nicely, comprehensivly.

now reading

up to page 15 in this so far. And very yummy it is too.

...lost the feeling of it 1/3 through, might be due to severe bout of flu.

'Emma' by Jane Austen

I love the movie of this work, starring Gwyneth Paltrow.

Reading the book was a richer experience, and again, reading the introduction after completing the work. Also the end notes were fascinating.

I found the work bright and delightful comedy of errors.

The contrast with Jane Eyre which I recently read...see below...is marked, however it does not show either lady in a lessor light.

The lessons of life are there to be learned, and learn them they do.

'The real evils indeed of Emma's situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself...'

Perhaps it is more of a challenge to acquire self-lessness etc at Hartfield rather than Thornfield Manor.

Emma & Knightly

I am about 80 pages into this not badly done spin off. The tone and ambience seem to be true to the original work by Jane Austen. So far though, the story line is somewhat lightweight. However after a some, dare I say Google research & reading of Emma analysis, I see this is how it ought to be. For Emma is an over indulged, rich young lady with too much time on her hands and not enough mental stimulation. Everyone seems to be having trouble remembering she is now married, thus is forever greeted as Miss Woodhouse. I don't think this helps her, nor the fact that she and Knightly live in her father's home. Though I understand why.

Hopefully something will occur that will allow Emma to grow up and reveal the mature and wise woman I suspect is inside.

It will be too bad if it does not. Indeed it shall.

(NB Emma reminds me a little of that other spoilt rich daughter, Scarlett)

Darcy's Passions

O-kay this story is good, but as to the the writing...

Yes the story, or rather the concept is good. But the agonies of the writing have to be endured to be believed. Let me save you the struggle.

Just how many times can "flashng eyes" be mentioned before we must inwardly groan. And always in inverted comma's or "speech marks" as they are so often referrred to the theses days. But mostly no one was speaking.

Perhaps the author meant flashing eyes, or even flashing eyes ..when flashing eyes would have done or just plain eyes. Or someting else...I did however also become fed up with the references to the lavender fragrence Lizzy preferred.

How much shorter and more effective this book would have been if Mr Darcy struggled only once - well alright, twice, but not over and over. - to resist the eyes of Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Only to fail and then try again, and again and again. Was not Mr Darcy a man of unusally strong self discipline?

Who amongst you can Ever imagine Mr Darcy saying to Miss Elizabeth (but speaking to his sister)

'I bet Miss Elizabeth has a book with her...'

and

rejocing in the 'fall'?

Hello?

Pride and Prejudice is a quintessential ENGLISH novel. Set in England...so that would be Autumn. Would it not?

Rating: You have been warned: 2**

finally let's not even discuss the book cover: words fail me.

Jane Eyre

I read this and was amazed how much more there is to get from it when (re) reading as an adult.

I was reading for a book group - and the assignment was to not read it as a romance, rather to read with a view to understanding the challenges Jane Eyre faced; and overcame.

To grasp how she did so, and to learn what we could in terms of personal insight, hopefully to acquire wisdom. Thus the text became compelling and even more personalised.

In this particular edition there is comprehensive analysis of the text. I mostly skpped this until I finished reading the story. At end of the text is printed many of the reviews of the day; they make most interesting reading.

Finally there are pages and peages of end notes. Cross references to other texts and influences in the life of Charlotte Bronte.

I had read with a marker pen in hand and now as I read the end notes I was amazed to find how many of the references I had been able to recognise.

This gave me a great insight to the life of Charlotte Bronte, and to her musings, possible aspirations, and influences. Even empathy.

All and all an amazing experience, one that I could not have fortold.

I plan to re read in 2 years time.

Rating: 5+ *****

just started reading this: the book PM Kevin Rudd gave to President Barack Obama a known Lincolnite. 

part 3 by Bernard Cornwall

almost finished part 4

Currently reading...

Part one of the 'Starbuck: US Civil War Series'

waiting in my TBR Basket

Part 2

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

as we read...the mysterious land of modern India unfolds before our eyes.  

The culture and customs, the beautiful and the not so beauiful. 

For me the first half or so of this book was riveting and unique. 

The 2nd half could have been anywhere in the world. 

Interesting to see the sub continent through another Australian's eyes. 

To have familar points of reference along the way. 

The characters are fascinating. The world of Linbaba foreign and dangerous. 

The insights remarkable. 

The writing, evocative. 

'I clenched my teeth against the stars. I closed my eyes. I surrendered to sleep. One of the reasons why we crave love, and seek it so desperately, is that love is the only cure for loneliness, and shame, and sorow.  But some feelings sink so deep into the heart that only loneliness can help you find them again.  Some truths about yourself are so painful that only shame can help you live with them. And some things are just so sad that only your soul can do the crying for you' (italics added) 

visit the website here 

the movie

forum

Update

About 18 months have passed while I cared for supported, and generally assisted my mother, a labor of love for us both.

Not a labour at all really; it was a priviledge.
We drew very close and spent her last weeks wisely.

This blog needs updating and I will be doing that shortly.

read the exciting post below....

The Big Step

although you may continue to visit this blog direct

if you

CLICK HERE

you will arrive at my new domain,
where you can find all my blogs, and more
in one place.

Ask me how I came to have my own domain...
Who was my designer?

Update

I haven't been here for a while - given the passing of my mother.

I have just finished reading Ken Follet's 'The Pillars of the Earth'.

I didn't really enjoy it - though I was lured to it by hearing the author speak.

The building of the Cathedral was interesting, however the on going battle between
good and evil, represented by various persons, became predictable. Not to mention tedious.

The bad guys were so incredibly dense that they never recognised that they would be out

manoeuvred by Father Phillip every single time.

Im reading agian

December 07 Airport Purchase

I have only read a few pages of this Pulitzer winning book
by Australian Author Geraldine Brooks, who now lives at Martha's Vineyard.

The new year has begun so it will have to go on to my TBR shelf for later.
2008 is a writing year for me.

FINISHED

I have managed to finish reading Paullina Simons 'Road to Paradise'. Not before my midnight but hey it was still 2007 in the northern hemisphere!

Bit let down by the book, not her best, I feel.

I will go to her website to see what others have felt.

Had concerns re political agenda. To me, has no place in literature.

Reading for Christmas

I have 3 easy reads due to be collected from the library and I will finish them before the end of the year, at which time I will cease reading fiction for a year while I continue to work on my WIP again.

In case I don't catch up with all of you before -
Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays...
pick which fits your circumstances.

Thanks for you on going support and great reads on your BLOGS!

Remember:
WE ARE GOING TO BE GREAT IN 2008!

Books I have not finished reading

These have to go back to the Library..I will finish them later...
Above:
'Arthur Boyd A Life' by Darleen Bungey - I am reading this as I wrote to the artist and he wrote back with encourgment and support.
'Vroom By the Sea' by Peter Moore. An Aussie writers adventures in Italy with a Vespa scooter..I was going to the Book signing but ran out of time.
'The Atonement'...by Ian McEwan, now to be released as a movie - I found the premise fascinating.
'The Archivest' by Martha Cooley (who in this instance writes from a mans point of view) - A quirky tale I was referred to in a a discussion group...because I find TS Eliot - the man and his work - elegantly inspiring.

will catch up here soon....

It's Catch Up Day...

stand by for more....

I am now next on the waiting list for 7 books....
will they ALL arrive at once....

10 days to go....

I received this book...from CC - I am delighted.
IN 10 days I am to attend a book signing with the author.

The Faraday Girls is the book that placed me 140th+ on the waiting list...so that's a vast improvement.

waiting waiting

I am in Library Limbo....

Those Faraday girls
AD-PBK MCI McInerney, Monica. Your position in the holds queue: 38

Vroom by the sea
914.5 MOO Moore, Pete, 1962- Your position in the holds queue: 1

Who are they? ONORDER Altham, Katie. Your position in the holds queue: 1

Pillars of the Almighty Follett, Ken, 1949- Your position in the holds queue: 3

Atonement McEwan, Ian. Your position in the holds queue:4

Women & money : owning the power to control your destiny ORM Orman, Suze. Your position in the holds queue: 3

The New Year's quilt : an Elm Creek quilts novel
ONORDER Chiaverini, Jennifer. Your position in the holds queue: 17

The bicycle thief [dvd] = Ladri di biciclette ; Miracle in Milan = Miracolo a Milano ; The roof = Il tetto
DVD De Sica, Vittorio, 1901-1974. Your position in the holds queue: 24

Arthur Boyd : a life
BOY Bungey, Darleen, 1947- Your position in the holds queue: 1

The archivist
AD-PBK COO Cooley, Martha Your position in the holds queue: 1