Happy New Year and Books!

 

 

 

 

 

I was very happy today to hear on the radio news that in the last year sales of books had increased and sales of e books had decreased for the first time! Yipee! This means that I am not alone in my love for the real thing - a lovely book to hold, to carry around, to cuddle up with at night. New books have the wonderful smell and the sense of anticipation as you wait to be the first person to read it. Old books have character and history and connection. I have no real issue with e books, and I can't really comment on them as I've never actually read one and am not in a hurry to either.

 

This news coincided with my idea to post a photo of all the books that I read last year. This idea is in no way original as I've seen it on other blogs, and I thought it would be a fun exercise to pile them up and reflect on what I've read. After a search through the house I found the 13 books in the photo above - so not a bad start, more than one a month.

 

Then over the next few days I remembered a few other books that I had read but had borrowed:

 

 

                                                            The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

                                                           Questions of Travel by Michelle de Krester

                                                           The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton

                                                           Animal People by Charlotte Wood

 

 

  Then looking back at my blog posts I was reminded of this most amazing and wonderful book. I don't know how I could have forgotten it! I was so moved and inspired by the stories in Far from the Tree. All I can say is read it please.

 

 

   Another post reminded me of these books - a few made it to the big pile. I have to admit to starting The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan and not being able to finish it. This was also the case with Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. I tried, but maybe my head was not in the right space for either of them and I do believe that there are way, way, way too many books waiting to be read, to persist with one that's just not doing it for you.

 

As well as Far from the Tree the stand outs for me included Bonfire of the Vanities which I read after our holiday in New York. It was brilliant and as it was my Dad's copy from 1987 I was treated to his personal addition in the form of an article on Tom Wolfe tucked between the pages, and that feeling of closeness to Dad that I get when I read his old books. I also loved Currawong Manor which was made extra special by my regular meetings with the gorgeous Josephine as I walk to work or the shops. Animal People by another local Charlotte Wood was a great entertaining and clever read and I also found The Blue Zones potentially life changing - I am now aiming to live to 100!

 

 

So there you go, about 20 books in total. I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself and feel inspired to try and read more this year. I started the year with The Hamilton Case  by Michelle de Krester and I am currently in the midst of We are all Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler (fantastic title!).

 

What did you read and love? Do you find enough time to read? I am so thankful that I am able to make time for reading - it truly nourishes me.

 

Vanna xxx

 

Literary surprises!

This weekend after cleaning out one of my bookcases, I left an offering of a pile of books out at the front of my house. I've mentioned before that one of the ways I soften the blow of decluttering books is the hope that someone who loves them as much as I do will stop and pick one up as they walk by my house. I get a little thrill each time I pop my head out the gate to check on them, and notice that one or two have gone. I admit to being a little obsessive about this, and check a little more often than necessary! Within a few hours the pile of books was almost gone, which filled my book-loving heart with happiness.

On one of my walks around the neighbourhood with my big dog Mali, I recently picked up a couple of books that someone had left out in the same way. What goes around comes around doesn't it?

When I opened the book of short stories by Elizabeth Jolley I got a lovely surprise to find a double page from a literary supplement from the Sydney Morning Herald, dated December 31st 1988. The paper is yellowing and nice and big (like the Herald used to be) and contains a short story by Elizabeth Jolley. My Dad's old books, many of which I have inherited, are similar. Slipped inside I often find a newspaper clipping that is relevant in some way; an interview with the author, reviews of other books by the author, or a comment piece that is in some way related to the book's topic. Most of the clippings are adorned with Dad's comments and important parts underlined and marked with asterisks! (By the way I just discovered that the word 'asterisk' comes from the Greek 'asterikos' meaning little star - isn't that beautiful!).When I find one of these treasures I feel like Dad is with me once again sharing his love of books, which is very comforting. Just as I was, I know that he would have been thrilled to know that somewhere, long ago in 1988, someone else was saving newspaper articles for the same purpose!

Reading - the silver lining.

It's been a while between posts as I had a small health hiccup, however am thankfully all recovered and ready for life to return to 'normal'. There is always a sliver lining and  having to take some time off to heal meant that I got to do lots of reading! I finished both books that I posted about previously - Far from the Tree and Currawong Manor.

Currawong Manor was a wonderful escape into another world full of interesting and eccentric characters and mystery. The atmosphere that Josephine creates is thick with suspense and her words build such strong and beautiful pictures. The story is set in the Blue Mountains and I always enjoy reading about somewhere that is familiar to me. I'm looking forward to my next visit to the mountains so that I can enjoy the beautiful scenery with the images and characters from Currawong Manor playing in my mind.

Far from the Tree also lived up to expectations. I was overwhelmed by the stories of family, love and resilience that Andrew Solomon presents as he explores identity and difference. My work as a teacher has given me a small amount of understanding of how having a child with a disability or who 'doesn't fit in' can impact on families, and this book explores such a wide range of children and families that I feel I have expanded my knowledge enormously by reading it. He covers so many issues, particularly the significance of identity, without judgement and with love and sensitivity, and highlights the incredible strength that can be gained from tough times and experiences.

I also re-read The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion - such a fun and clever book.

I am so thankful that I enjoy (actually adore and couldn't live without!) reading. Knowing that I can escape into a book helps me to move beyond my own concerns and makes my life bigger and more amazing. 

Long Weekend Reading

It is a long weekend in Sydney and I plan to spend large amounts of it reading!

After a visit to my favourite local book shop- Better read than Dead, I am well prepared.

Currawong Manor is the fabulous Josephine Pennicott's new book. Find out more at josephinepennicot.com

Her previous book Poet's Cottage was beautiful and intriguing, so I am really looking forward to this one.

I first saw Andrew Solomon doing a TED talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_solomon_love_no_matter_what  which just blew me away. I had to wait for this book after it had sold out as a result of his popularity at the Sydney Writers Festival.  

Two very different books - I'm not sure where Ill start. Perhaps I'll swap between the two. At the moment I am enjoying that gorgeous feeling of having brand new books just waiting to be opened.

Time to make a cup of tea and let the long weekend begin!

Beautiful old books

A small library near where I work is closing down and giving away their collection of children's books. After visiting it twice last Monday ( and collecting a box of books for the preschool where I work, as well as a pile for myself) I lay awake that night worrying about the books as I had been told that the remaining ones were going to be pulped. I thought about how I could justify going back to save some more - and I thought of friends who would appreciate the beauty of these books from the 1950's, 60's and 70's and even earlier.

 

 

Old books feel so full of history and as I hold them I wonder about other readers and the different lives they lead years ago. Children's books from the past tell us so much about how childhood, and our beliefs about this time of life have changed, and also remained the same.
 

So I went back for another visit the next day  - there were less books on the shelf, lots of them already packed away in boxes, and I hope that others had been saved by people like me who couldn't bear to think of them being destroyed. (I found out later that many had gone to other collections - thank goodness!)
 

I found some Enid Blyton books for a writer friend, a Maurice Sendak that I had never seen before, a copy of Goodnight Moon that reminds me of my inspiring children's literature lecturer, and beautifully illustrated picture books for my teaching and my artistic friends and my daughter - who I know will use them for inspiration as she draws. 



Trixie - Published in 1978

I was excited when I found a pile of Trixie Belden books and I resisted taking the whole lot, keeping only two. One for me and one for my best school friend - to remind us of the many happy hours spent in the last years of primary school absorbed in Trixie's exciting world.

So now I have a box full of books waiting for me to tie them into little piles with lovely ribbon to give to my friends, and somehow I will manage to find a little bit of space on a bookshelf for the ones that I couldn't bear to let go of. I know that they will be good cup of tea company!

I think this quote from Laura Ingalls Wilder is appropriate:

“As you read my stories of long ago I hope you will remember that the things that are truly worthwhile and that will give you happiness are the same now as they were then. Courage and kindness, loyalty, truth, and helpfulness are always the same and always needed.”



Cinderella - 1972



Published in 1951
A story about 3 boys who work hard to save money
 to buy their mother some red shoes for her birthday.

"Goodnight stars   Goodnight air  Goodnight noises everywhere"