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I had a book token…

As book-buying excuses go, that one is pretty good. I don’t understand how people can have a book token for more than about a week – it’s a free book, how can I withstand that temptation? Luckily I found a book I really wanted (always tricky… ahem) and so bought Uncommon Arrangements : Seven portraits of married life in London literary circles 1910-1939 by Katie Roiphe. With a title like that, how could I not? It’s the right period for me, it’s domestic, and it is about these couples:

Katherine Mansfield & John Middleton Murray
Vanessa & Clive Bell
Elizabeth von Arnim & John Francis Russell
Ottoline & Philip Morrell
H.G. & Jane Wells
Vera Brittain & George Gordon Catlin
Radclyffe Hall & Una Troubridge

I’ve arranged those in order of my own interest – but I was pleased to say I’d heard of most of them, including at least one of every pairing. In many ways, this book seems catered just for me – I long to know more about so many of these couples. When a book is that obviously Simon, it would be churlish to leave it on the shelf. And I had a book token (did I mention that?)

‘Each chapter is structured around a crisis in a marriage and how it is resolved or not resolved. In some cases the crisis is as large as life-threatening illness, and in others it is as small as a slightly drunken conversation over dinner that threatens the balance of carefully submerged emotions.’ So Katie Roiphe writes in the introduction, which is the only bit I’ve read so far. The introduction does seem a little too touchy-feely, and lots of rhetorical questions (I was reminded of the stereotypical first-year undergraduate essay) but hopefully this will lessen as the main section of the book emerges. Anyway, it would be hard for Roiphe to write about these people without being interesting to me… at the same time, I want her to do them justice.

I’ll report back when I’m done…

Today’s question kind of answers itself, if you read through this week’s entries. At least part of it is answered, anyway…

Have you ever been a member of a book club? How did your group choose (or, if you haven’t been, what do you think is the best way to choose) the next book and who would lead discussion? Do you feel more or less likely to appreciate books if you are obliged to read them for book groups rather than choosing them of your own free will? Does knowing they are going to be read as part of a group affect the reading experience?
So, YES, I am a member of a book group! Two, in fact, which both met this week. I love book groups; they’re such a wonderful way of talking about literature without being scholarly (I also love academic English, but enjoy the divide between studying and reading groups.) One choose the books by compiling a shortlist of about four, and having an online poll (I’m currently rooting for My Cousin Rachel) while the other just decides six months at a time, from whatever people throw into the circle. My latest suggestion there was Edward Carey’s Alva & Irva, which I haven’t read, but looks fascinating.

To go onto the second part of the question, I don’t think it really alters how I read a book (except that I’ll probably be reading it very quickly, at the last minute!) – but it will affect the ways in which I reflect upon it. Except for writing about them on here, most books I read aren’t dwelt upon – I don’t forget them immediately, but I certainly don’t spend much time considering my opinion. To have an evening spent discussing it is invaluable, and has sometimes changed my mind about a book.

I heartily recommend Jenny Hartley’s book on the subject, Reading Groups, which was written up from questionnaires sent out to lots of book groups. Fascinating, and very well written. I wrote more about it here…

As always – over to you! Same questions as above.

Thought I’d keep you updated as to my movements around the Bodleian. Those of you who have been following my sporadic library updates will by now have a fairly comprehensive understanding of the various departments – in fact, if you’ve been attentive, you’ll know more than most of the students in Oxford. More than I did, certainly.

Today I moved to Special Collections, which is awfully special – it more or less means manuscripts and rare books and nice old and exciting things. Back when I started in the Bodleian, I spent a week working underground in the stacks, and could peruse all sorts of interesting and odd things (a letter written by Jane Austen; Hitler’s marriage certificate; a copy of Wind in the Willows handwritten by Kenneth Grahame) – now I get to see some more! It went rather from the sublime to the ridiculous today. First I saw a Shakespeare First Folio (with some amusing marginalia from an early owner – ‘Beatrice and Benedict have much wit’ by the opening of Much Ado About Nothing for instance, and a rather fanciful handwritten list of plays which the owner considered Shakespeare to have penned). After that I spent quite a lot of time with a few hundred copies of Buffalo Bill Novels, from the 1910s onwards. Hilarious stuff, looks like a comic but novel-length prose, more or less. Classic.

My favourite section of the library revealed today, though, was the section hidden away behind a grille. An odd miscellany, which have in common one thing – they simply can’t be on the accessible shelves, for a number of reasons. For example: “page 32 of this book contains a serious libel” – ! That seemed to be the theme. These books allege all sorts of things which might still cause a legal kerfuffle. Since the Bodleian can’t let things leave the library once stamped, they are kept here. What fun.

All in all, I think my time in Special Collections is going to be good fun. I’ve certainly been looking forward to it all year – although I shan’t spend much time with the readers, I’ll be with the most interesting material held in the Bod.

Oh, and “hello!” to anyone from the Bod who was alerted to this post by a Google alert…

Just back from a very nice weekend in Somerset with Our Vicar, Our Vicar’s Wife and The Carbon Copy – enjoyed the sunshine and fields and helping build a Kenyan hut’s roof. It was never a normal upbringing, was it? Whilst at home I collected my new ‘phone, which had been delivered there, and so Albert is my new ear-companion; farewell Orsino. Orsino (whose menu button is broken) was named after the Duke in Twelfth Night, of course, while Albert (who was bought because I wanted something dull and reliable; a Nokia) is after Queen Victoria’s late husband, since dull and reliable were the watchwords of the Victorians.

Stuck-in-a-Book couldn’t be considered the centre of technological advancement in the Western World, but I got an interesting email this week from Litopia, a podcast about writing and all related malarkey. As far as I’m aware, podcasts are like radio, but released over the internet on a regular basis. Actually, what is the difference between radio and podcast? Someone tell me, if they know… All the news they gave is below for your perusal, but I’ll give you my viewpoint for now…

True, I’ve only had time to listen to one podcast – it’s the one from 1st June – and I’m impressed! The discussion was wide-ranging – what started with Dickens’ desk coming up for auction wended into Abe Lincoln’s hair and Britney Spears’ chewing gum… Are writing courses the new mental hospitals? Robert McCrum talks about how the literary world has changed over the past ten years; James Bond and plagiarism… A wonderful mixing pot of popular interest and highbrow topics, some witty commentators, and the amusing phenomenon of ‘ [comma] England’ being added after every place name.

Pop along and have a listen. Nice to see bookishness taking over everywhere…

THE WORLD’S FIRST DAILY PODCAST FOR WRITERS IS HERE

London, UK. LITOPIA DAILY is the world’s first daily podcast for
writers. Employing a combination of leading-edge technology and
old-fashioned showmanship, it aims to become an indispensible part of every
writer’s day. The team behind LITOPIA DAILY are particularly keen to solicit
news and contributions from writers everywhere – especially from
non-traditional sources – and they have an easy and innovative method to
facilitate contributions.

HISTORY

Six months ago, Litopia Writers’ Colony launched the first weekly panel
show for writers – LITOPIA AFTER DARK. Hosted by Peter Cox, the show
quickly attracted rave reviews (winning an unequalled 9.5 marks out of
ten on the review site Podwatch). Every week, thousands of listeners
download LITOPIA AFTER DARK shows – making it one of the fastest-growing
podcasts in the world. Guests have included some of the most exciting
and innovative figures in writing and publishing.

Building on that success, Litopia Writers’ Colony is proud to launch
the world’s first daily podcast for writers – LITOPIA DAILY. Says host
Peter Cox:

“With things changing so quickly in the publishing industry, it makes
sense to produce a short, daily podcast where writers can get their
daily fix of news, comment and – we know what you like – entertainment,
too. LITOPIA DAILY is going to be succinct and to the point – it’ll give
you what you need to know when, or before, you need to know it. Like a
morning coffee, it’ll set you up for the day!”

INTRODUCING THE OPEN INBOX

“LITOPIA DAILY is in the vanguard”, says Peter. “So, as you’d expect
from us, we’re doing something very radical indeed. We call it – the
Open Inbox.”

Litopia’s Open Inbox is a simple web address that allows contributors
to drop anything into the inbox… notes… pictures… faxes… phone messages…
and e-mails, of course. “We go through our Open Inbox several times
every day, looking for great material to include in the next day’s show”
says Peter.

“Not everything will make it”, he adds, “but material that’s witty and
original – and short and sharp -stands a very good chance of getting
included.”

DROP OFF A COMMENT

Eve Harvey, Podcast officer for Litopia Writers’ Colony, explains how
contributors will use it. “You might want to send us a note about your
new book that’s coming out”, she say. “Or send us a press release.
Or, you might want to record a phone message to give a comment on
yesterday’s show. Yes – the Open Inbox will take phone calls, too! Or maybe
you’d like to upload a file of some kind – perhaps, an audio file for
possible inclusion in LITOPIA DAILY.”

Litopia’s Open Inbox uses cutting-edge technology pioneered by Drop.io.
Simple instructions are given on the page here:

http://www.drop.io/litopia

The new show launches its public beta schedule from June 9th. “We’re
feeling our way” says Peter, “just as we did with LITOPIA AFTER DARK,
which took some months to naturally evolve. I don’t think listeners will
mind a work in progress to begin with. We really do want LITOPIA
DAILY to become an important part of writing life on the internet. And we
hope that our listeners will become an active part of this very
exciting new venture! ”

CONTACT DETAILS

• Unlike many forms of old media, we positively want to make it as
easy as possible for you to interact with us. We really do want to hear
from you! Contact us through our Drop.io address:

http://www.drop.io/litopia

• LITOPIA DAILY is constantly looking for interesting special guests
to take part in the show. Publicists looking to book a client or an
author are welcome to send an e-mail to Litopia’s Open Inbox with brief
details of the author concerned. Guest are booked approximately six
weeks ahead, and they are trailed in advance both on the website and also
in RSS feeds.

• Important: Any and all material sent to LITOPIA DAILY may be
broadcast. By sending us material, contribution or communication, the
contributor warrants that they are the legal owner and grants LITIOPIA DAILY an
irrevocable, non-exclusive license to use the material in any way seen
fit.

Booking Through Thursday time again, and a very good question this week which has got me thinking…

Have your book-tastes changed over the years? More fiction? Less? Books that are darker and more serious? Lighter and more frivolous? Challenging? Easy? How-to books over novels? Mysteries over Romance?

Well, there was a definite change in my tastes between 1985 and 1990…

Hmm. I suppose I’d be better qualified to answer this question in a few decades’ time, since I’m only twenty-two, and haven’t really had time to alter my reading patterns since I started reading ‘grown-up books’. Those started to appear on my horizon when I was about thirteen – up unto that point I’d gone from Enid Blyton to Goosebumps to Point Horror, with only some dips into Agatha Christie which could really count as more mature material. That’s an interesting development in my reading, actually – I certainly couldn’t cope with horror now, unless it’s heavily tempered by exaggerated Gothic aspects, such as Shirley Jackson’s novels.

So, interwar domestic literature became my reading choice of choice, and to a large extent it still is. I suppose my reading trends have mostly developed into being more widespread, because of a far-reaching English degree, and latterly all the review books I read. If it were up to me, I probably wouldn’t read so many modern books – but I don’t get sent much by authors writing in the 1930s, funnily enough! I try and dabble in more foreign works now, and more non-fiction (though still almost always connected with literature in some way). So perhaps I’m in the midst of a widening phase, and will settle with some favourites in a few years’ time. I wouldn’t like to spend the rest of my reading life trying out new things all the time – it would be like always trying to find a comfortable chair, and never buying one. By all means, dip toes in lots of pies (to mix metaphors in a rather unhygenic way), but I need a comfort zone to which to retreat. Or, rather, quality guaranteed.

Over to you…

I think it was Becca‘s post about Daphne du Maurier, and my recent purchase of Letters from Menabilly, which got me thinking about authors’ houses, and visiting them. A while ago my friend Barbara-from-Ludlow wrote to me, mentioning a course she was running – the importance of the horse in literature; as an extra character; providing atmosphere etc. etc…. I was bemused until I realised that I had misread ‘horse’ where she had in fact written ‘house’… !

Authors’ own homes are fascinating. I find it really interesting to see where other bloggers are blogging from – and have provided shots of my views in Magdalen and Somerset – but it is even more engaging to seek out the stamping grounds of my favourite writers. Sometimes these are open to the public – like Jane Austen’s lovely home in Hampshire, Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Batemans’, and Thomas Hardy’s in Dorset – others, like AA Milne’s and EM Delafield’s aren’t. In fact, with both of those, I had to use my knowledge from biographies to find the house – the photos are below – and took the photos illicitly by running down the driveways.. It is Milne’s and Delafield’s which felt most special, because, being privately owned, it felt more like I was visiting them rather than a tourist attraction. I suppose seeing the home is a step away from visiting the author; makes them more tangible and almost friendly.

E. M. Delafield’s in Kentisbeare, Devon – I first went there in 2005, and lost the photo when my computer crashed. Our Vicar’s Wife very kindly took this picture for me on a return visit through the village.

AA Milne’s house in East Sussex, hidden away along a rough track – a very special moment for me. Taken in the days before the digital camera, so this is a photo of a photo… it sat on my wall at university, and confused those who thought I lived there (I wish!)

Which authors’ houses have you visited? Open to the public or, like me, hunted out? Do tell…

Some photos I took during my day out yesterday…

The view from the park where I had my ice cream… and later fell asleep on top of my book (no indictment of the book, which was excellent)

A lot of Malvern is an beautiful mixture of maintained and natural – none of the fussiness of some cities’ parks, but still well looked after.

If anyone fancies buying me a house, then I would be willing to accept this one…

I accidentally discovered the world’s smallest theatre! (Shown both above and below) Converted from a Victorian lavatory, it hosts a tiny theatre, which at the moment does shows on request. Sadly, I made no such request, but next time might be tempted. Tis wittily called The Theatre of Small Convenience, and they even have a website. Apparently they were on BBC’s The One Show recently.

On a whim, I took myself off to Malvern today. For those not in the know, it’s a spa town in Worcestershire, not a million miles away from where I grew up. The Malvern Hills surround it, and are favourites for hill-climbers, but Malvern also posts some pretty parks, amazing views, and creditable secondhand bookshops. Thus, I read books, ate ice creams (well, just the one), bought books and fell asleep on a lawn. Beautiful weather, and a great day out – very much enjoyed myself.

AND I bought some books, as I mentioned. One of my favourite bookshops in the world is The Malvern Bookshop – two floors of an old house turned into a bookshop, so that all the rooms retain the feel of homeliness. Not bad prices, and they had AA Milne’s autobiography on the counter. I also had the pleasure, perhaps unkindly, of listening to a lady trying to flog her valueless books to the friendly, but honest, shopowner.

Anyway – here’s my haul.

A Talent To Annoy: Essays, Journalism and Reviews by Nancy Mitford ed. Charlotte Mosley – I saw this mentioned in the Mitford letters, and had a nice response from Mrs. Mosley today to an appreciative letter I sent her, so thought I’d add to my Mitfordmania.

Letters from Menabilly – Daphne du Maurier (ed. Oriel Malet) – letters between du M and Malet, can’t wait.

Jennie – Paul Gallico – a few people have recommended this here. Peter the Flautist, Cornflower? I love cats, I love animorphism… what’s not to love?

Flowers for Mrs. Harris – Paul Gallico – more Gallico for good measure. Anyone read?

The Sense of Humour – Stephen Potter – an anthology of British humour, with intriguing linking sections by Potter, such as ‘Humour of Release’; ‘Criticism by Parody’; ‘Humour of Situation’ etc. etc. – sounds invaluable, and probably very… humorous.