Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts

Friday, August 14, 2009

Creativity




The moon has been visible in the early mornings
but it seems to have vanished in my photo. If you strain
 your eyes horribly, you can see it just above the
 'V' of the buildings.



I have been finishing a project before going away from
 the city for two weeks.
Herewith three city things:

1. A street fair
 23rd Street.



2. A behind the scenes look at the fabrication of a sculpture.
If you blow the picture up you can see all the little pieces of wood
that undulate in the sculpture.
  22nd Street



3. The lighting crew organizing things for a shoot.
20th Street

On a quite different topic, I have just finished reading a book I loved so much I had to ration myself from gobbling it all up at once and neglecting the rest of my life.
The Priory by Dorothy Whipple (Persephone Books) originally published in 1939,
 concerns the fate and fortunes of all the inhabitants of a large, decaying English country house.
Promising already! 

One quote: The electricity plant was old and out of date. It was on its last legs, but it must be made to do, because, as the major frequently pointed out, he could not afford to replace it. It must be spared, he decreed, as much as possible. Since he was very economical in everything that did not directly affect his own comfort, the household had to wait for light until he wanted light himself.

I think many of us have met Major Marwood.
Anyway, it is a terrific read, with wonderful insight into the human heart.

  

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Women Reading/Book Boost


Today I raided Google Images for pictures of women reading - believe me, there are a zillion. Go there and have fun. I'm a day late for my contributions to Sarah's Blogger Book Boost, however,  reading never has a time limit.
 

Here a woman in Iran reads reminding me of the illustrations in  Marjane Satrapi's  astounding Persepholis. This graphic novel -- an account of her life growing up in Iran --is very easy to read but deeply moving. Should make those of us whose youth was spent in Britain and the US very grateful indeed.


This poor woman looks as if reading is giving her a headache and she will shortly  reach for the Advil. She probably hasn't discovered Persephone books yet. I challenge you to fail to find  a perfect book for the reader in the house. (They should pay me for all this boosting........in books please.) Bee agrees with me. My latest favorite: Good Evening Mrs.Craven by Mollie Panter Downe.



This is a picture of me in my negligee and high heeled pointed slippers sitting by my Parisienne window enjoying The Caliph's House by Tahir Shah in which he describes all the dramas, disasters and joys of  refurbishing an old haunted house in Casablanca. Very funny, full of amazing stories. Arm chair travelling at its best. 


On a more serious note, I' m currently reading the gripping and saddening non-fiction Human Smoke by Nicholson Baker. The events leading up to the Second World war - little snippets of diaries, newspaper accounts from all over the world. 
Hope everyone gets at least one super read for the holidays..........