Month: November 2007

Pile o’ Books

StuckinaBook All 11 Comments

Have been feeling a little guilty of late, the number of books which have been flooding into Regent Street with my name on the package. True, quite a few of these have been review books, but most have not… In an attempt to assuage said guilt, I’m going to share the books with you all. Sort of. Yes, a picture isn’t quite a substitute for the real thing, but if it makes me feel better…


There they are, in all their glory. That’s not even the lot, actually, but enough for one post. Let me talk you through the books I’ve bought recently – then you can tell me what you think!

Starting at the bottom…
Charlotte : The True Story of Scandal and Spectacle in Georgian London by Kathryn Shevelow
Couldn’t resist this in Blackwells, as it was on offer – a nice, chunky hardback all about an actress who masqueraded as a man to get into the Georgian theatre scene. Flicked through and saw the name Eliza Haywood, which sold it to me.

Family Life 1939-1945 by Katharine Moore
I really enjoyed her letters with Joyce Grenfell, ‘An Invisible Friendship’, and consequently bought her book about Maiden Aunts in literature. This was another one which intrigued, and might well offer an interesting perspective on wartime. Appears to be a sort of diary format.

The Closed Door and other stories by Dorothy Whipple
One of the latest Persephone Books, and short stories by a favourite Persephone author – shall be reading and reviewing this one as soon as I can.

The Juniper Tree by Barbara Comyns
After loving the surreal talents of Ms. Comyns in ‘Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead’ enough to get it into my 50 Books…, got this one through ebay. Looks great – a sort of fantasy about the effects of a tree on those around it, and how good turns to bad… more surrealism, please!

Fanny Hill by John Cleland
Probably not suitable fare for my bookshelves, but there’s a television adaptation on soon, and I thought I might end up watching it, and so should read the book first. Plus I’ve read far too much 21st Century literature this year; I need to dive back into the past. Perhaps at the end of the year I’ll see how much I’ve read from different periods… something for you all to look forward to.

The Lady in the Van – Alan Bennett
Tiny, but sounds amusing – and after ‘The Uncommon Reader’ I’m hungry for more of Bennett’s inimitable musings and wit.

The Rape of the Lock – Alexander Pope
Sometimes I impress myself with my sophistication… (!) A Hesperus book, so I couldn’t resist, and one I definitely *should* have read during my degree. The world is filled with books I *should* have read during my degree…

Kenilworth by Walter Scott
Look, there’s another! Not read any Scott, which is shameful. Must find out what the fuss is about.

Sun City by Tove Jansson
Fast becoming one of my favourite authors! Have finished ‘Fair Play’ and will talk about it soon. This translation doesn’t appear to be available anywhere in England, so was shipped from US (thanks OVW for your credit card…) and it’s got a beautiful cover. Set in America rather than Scandanavia, which does remove one of the things I liked best about Jansson – the descriptions of her exquisite surroundings – but I daresay it’ll still be wonderful! Plus, I’ve only read on translator’s translations of Jansson, so shall have to discover whether or not her appeal is the same through the pen of another scribe.

But a lifetime burning in every moment

StuckinaBook All , 11 Comments

Every now and then a book comes along which makes you think “wow”, and prevents the normal day-to-day activities taking place without a constant desire to be reading said book. It leads one to read whilst walking to work, often quite perilously, and sneak a copy under the desk in the library. This week such a book reared its head.

Back in one of my earliest posts, I asked people to suggest novels or plays with twins in – as a twin myself, it’s something I find endlessly interesting. Partly because the topic is fascinating, partly because I like discovering how accurate authors are in portraying twinship. Twinhood? Twinicity? Of course I can only compare to my own experience, so it’s not the most objective test. But it keeps me off the streets.

Anyway. A novel nobody mentioned back then was Linda Gillard’s A Lifetime Burning, but it is probably the most convincing portrayal of being a twin that I have ever read. Even more so than The Comedy of Errors. Then again, Topsy and Tim presented rather more verisimilitude than old Billybob. I don’t want to tell you too much about the plot of Gillard’s novel, for three reasons. Firstly, it will ruin genuine shocks and surprises which enhance the reading no end and add richness to the writing; secondly, Linda has said that she doesn’t really do plots – more characters to whom things happen; thirdly, it would sound ridiculous. I don’t mean that as a criticism at all – but a synopsis of the novel would make you think “wow, what a crazy amount of things happen to this family”, whereas reading the novel makes you think “Wow!”

So, not revealing the main plot points – but suffice it to say that the Dunbar family do not live uneventful lives. The novel focuses on Flora, whose funeral is witnessed in the opening pages, and flits between first and third persons, and many different times throughout her life. She is forceful, hopeful and often quite selfish, but with a disarming self-awareness – and great closeness with twin brother Rory. They are not identical personalities, nor are they wholly disparate (the two usual paths taken with twins in fiction) but rather complementing characters; individuals but intertwined.

Though the novel jumps all over the place, I never found it confusing – rather a path towards illumination and comprehension of the characters, understanding (rather than sanctioning) the way they act. Linda Gillard writes with lyrical intensity, beautiful prose which is powerful without being overly ‘flowery.’ I enjoyed her previous novel Emotional Geology, but this is leagues ahead of it – can’t recommend it enough. The subject matter isn’t uncontroversial, but nothing in A Lifetime Burning is gratuitous – and almost every other modern novelist I’ve read could take a leaf out of Gillard’s book.

Working 9 to 5, What A Way To Make A Livin’…

StuckinaBook All 6 Comments

If you’re not singing Dolly Parton in your head right now, then either a)you’re too young, b)you’re too sophisticated, or c)you’re too sane. Take your pick, otherwise hum along with me…

I’ll confess – yes, I am currently at work. And potentially abusing my internet privileges, though it was positively encouraged by the very nice lady in charge of Circulation, where I am at the moment. Before you get images of cocktail shakers and black tie outfits, this is Circulation firmly without air kisses. Well, I could try to introduce them, but might find myself unemployed. I’m busy checkin’ in and checkin’ out all those books which Science students hoard in their rooms and flick through whilst their test tubes or igneous rocks are busy. It’s quite nice – I get to try out my Happy Smiley Big Fat Beam on everyone, blinding them with joviality – but it turns out I’m the world’s worst person for collecting fines. No careers test ever brought up ‘bailiff’ as a proposed suitable employment option, and there’s a reason. The faintest sign of reluctance to pay, and I’m practically flinging money at them. Oddly enough, it’s the ones with 20p to pay who kick up a fuss – those who owe over £10 are happy to cough up. Strange. Personally, I’d always rather pay a fine – even if I knew I didn’t owe it – than make a scene. How British am I?? See this for more, of course.

What was the point of today’s post… well, just realised I hadn’t posted yesterday, and thought I’d amble through a catch-up of my library activities. Although my first tea-break of the day is coming up soon (since we’re not supposed to drink at our desks – for obvious reasons – we get two half-hour breaks and an hour at lunch. Luxury! And nice reading time) so this may be an abridged version of a catch-up. As I mentioned, I’m now working in Circulation as well as Everything Else – so my days are spent re-shelving, fetching books, checking in and out, dealing with enquiries, a tiny bit of cataloguing (usually editing current holdings info)… so a little bit of everything, nice and eclectic. The thing I do miss most is the opportunity to be creative. It’s that artistic blood in me (thanks Mum…) which can’t quite be content with a 9-5 where I can’t make creative difference to proceedings. So, in long-term plans, do I find a job where creativity in some form or other is at the centre, or one which will allow be enough time to be creative outside of it?? Quandary. Either way I’ll be penniless, so at least I can factor that out of the equation!

Should include something about books to keep you going til next time… Just finished a brilliant, though very uneasy, book – have just started what might well be quite a dull one. Well, dull to me because of my ignorance and apathy in certain areas… but I shall certainly persevere. Will let you into these mysteries sooooon…