I should be calling this something like "More Books from my Bedside Table" except for the fact that, right now, I don't have a bedside table.
This is a little annoying in practice but no sympathy is needed as it is for a delightful reason. Our bedroom is being decorated so we - and all our belongings - are crammed tightly into the spare room. The squidge will be worth it as soon the tasteful beige bedroom will have gone and all will be full of brightness and energy and inspiration and so on.
So - on to my fictitious bedside table.
Please note these are not book reviews but thoughts about aspects some of the books I've read. There's a difference.
BECOMING by Michelle Obama.
Now I mentioned this title when I last wrote about books. It was there , big and bulky (nd a loan for returning soon), but I was uncertain about it, being a crabbit creature agin all highly promoted tomes. However, Pippa Goodhart, a person whose views I value, said it was worth the read, and indeed it is.
The determination to make something of yourself - the be the best you can - the valuing of education, the balancingof two differing personialites, the support of family and friends, the effort of always "being other" in largely white social settings, the sacrifice of private family life, the complexity and remoteness of that life, all well and evenly told.
One feels hopeful after reading this autobiography which matters a lot right now.
Books that offer hope are much needed,imo. Yes, Pippa, it was worth it. Listening to wise words is a good thing to do.
THE COST OF LIVING by Rachel Ward. An Ant and Bea Mystery.
I collected this title on my kindle, mainly because it was
by Rachel Ward whose photography and artwork I've seen on social media.
The novel is a light crime story with a host of characters who could be suspects, an increasing amount of tension and a satisfying ending. What, however is my point about this story is that the plot is set in an urban working class community, and the more of the story I read, the more I realised how rare that seems to be in the book world, at least in my usually reads. The crimes are all linked to an small supermarket that serves a fairly small urban estate. Bea of the false eyelashes and red lipstick is the generous heroine, not only of the till but of the book, while young Ant - a troubled, hot-tempered nineteen-year-old youth - is her likeable accomplice. A second title - DEAD STOCK - is out now, so I shall have to look for that too. (Morning correction. Have that on my kindle too, now.)
Movingly, the author's note at the back suggests that this Ant & Bea title was written almost as an amusement for Rachel to share with her father, who was ill in hospital at the time. This bit of information, along with Sophie's ABBA post yesterday, were powerful reminders.
They have certainly dampened my own personal writing-whinge potential , which some people at the imminent Scattered Author's Charney Manor Retreat may be very glad about!
THE CARDTURNER by Louis Sachar. I found this third title for 50p at my local Children's Library Book Sale:
I had never heard of this book before. Had you? I really want to crow about this glorious oddity of a novel,- and of the chutzpah of an author who, having written the hit that was Holes, decides to make his next novel - are you sitting down? - about his own personal passion: the art of playing bridge, and then to persuade the publishers to back it too.
Sachar creates a quirky, slightly gothic atmosphere: an unworldly seventeen year old boy becomes the person who turns cards at bridge games for his blind, taciturn uncle. As with Holes, a lot of complicated family history is woven into the plot as well.
Cleverly, the "boring bits" - ie the information about bridge - are indicated by the symbol of a white whale. This clue is used, the narrator explains, because in Moby Dick, there's a lot of information you have to read while you'd rather be going on with the story. His whale symbol makes it easier to read for plot alone, and it is possible. (I was also reading it see how this sort of information could be handled. Explicitly, in this case.)
But bridge? How ridiculous, I thought, wondering what kind of sales figure a YA novel like The Cardturner might achieve. It is of limited use as a class reader to follow Holes, because the card symbols make the text an essentially private experience. But then I thought: if there really are so many bridge fanatics in America nd elsewhere, and they all buy a copy for their beloved grandchild/children, there maybe a surer market than I'd imagined? I haven't studied any sales information to discover the truth: I prefer the idea ofthat untapped market for now.
(nb.The book's bridge game is played in an American version. I don't know if this matters. And I am still not likely to play bridge.)
And finally, above, chosen from the wonderful picture books on display at TateBritain:
Mo Willem's THIS PIGEON NEEDS A BATH. One for use in my Library Storytimes - and, it seems, one of the titles in a her very successful "Pigeon" series.
Right, Off to find my non-existent bedside table and bedside. Night all.
Have a great July, despite all the despites.
Penny Dolan
@pennydolan1
11 comments:
Very nice selection.
Oh help! Those spelling mistakes! My current specs are in for repair and clearly the previous lens are less powerful than I imagined. If I can pop back in and edit, I will. Till then, apologies
Interesting choices! Must admit, I have the same response to heavily hyped books - but am looking forward to Michelle Obama's book! Am definitely in need of some new reading ideas at the moment...
Thanks for the Ant and Bea tip. This sounds like fun.
My bedtime reading is leisurely or calming rather than learned,Sue. The Obama book was a loan, too, so it had to be read rather than rested.
Interestingly eclectic stuff - thanks for this, Penny!
Glad (relieved!) you liked 'Becoming'. As you say, a book to give us hope.
I read the Louis Sacher book when it first came out, having so loved Holes. I'm afraid I did skip all the Bridge gaming stuff. I've just at long last read Watership Down, and soon didn't bother with the learned quotes at the start of each chapter. I want story without distracting clever bits!
Enjoy your refreshed bedroom, Penny!
Not sure if this post should be re-titled THESE BOOKS MADE ME THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS perhaps? Hmmm. Don't think so.
But a book need not be perfect to have a value to the reader.
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I thought Mo Willems, of The Pigeon fame, was a man?
Hi Abbeybuffo! Thank you. You are totally right. I have now seen a pic of him with a bird - a pigeon? - on his head. Really glad you put me wise. I've only known Mo as a short form of Maureen, so jumped to the female conclusion.
No worries - I follow the Carle Museum Facebook posts and I was sure I'd seen a picture of him a few months ago with his pigeon and elephant characters. I agree that - at least in UK - Mo is commonly a short for Maureen, though these days with footballer Mo Salah in such prominence, it's just as likely to be Mohammed.
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