Summer reading


The bliss of summer reading.  A comfortable chair under the apple tree, white clouds sailing in a blue sky, and new worlds to get lost in.  And wonderfully, all these diverse titles are from the city library.

First in the pile, and last to be read, 'I May Be Some Time', by Francis Spufford.  I love the same author's 'The Child That Books Built', and have been wanting to read more of his writing.  With a subtitle of 'Ice and the English Imagination', it's obviously towards the literary end of the spectrum, and so I've saved it for when I have time to appreciate its abstract concepts. 
 

Next, an attempt to understand something of bio-dynamic growing principles.  I'm not much the wiser after reading this book.  I am pretty much already on the organic wavelength, but I struggled with the more mystical aspects such as burying powdered quartz in a cow horn over the winter to make a 'preparation' for use as a plant spray.  Although I might try sowing and harvesting according to the phases of the moon (if I make a huge effort to get organised), I don't see myself stirring bio-dynamic preparations in a bucket of water for an hour, while creating vortices in opposite directions.
 

More Francis Spufford!  This time an account of the Soviet planned economy cast as fictionalised documentary.  Absolutely fascinating.
 

And from one Communist state to another, this account of life inside North Korea.  Extremes of famine, disastrous central economic planning (again), and the god-like worship of the leader.
 

And finally, a book I borrow from time to time so that I can savour Monty Don's account of the passing seasons in his garden.
 

It always amazes me in home and lifestyle magazines that so many homes are featured which have no bookcases.  Not a single book.  No books in the bedrooms, dining room, living room, bathroom, hall...Thinking of a blogging friend at Writing from Scotland who is moving house very soon - I hope you get your books moved safely, Christine.

Comments

  1. I tend to be on a mystery kick right now - probably escapism on my part!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Escapism is good! I also have my escapist moments.

      Delete
  2. That book on North Korea sounds very interesting (my wife is from South Korea). I've been reading on my Nook this summer, including a book written by an Englishman in the early 1800s about traveling in America, holding nothing back about the brutality of slavery, and a book written by a preacher about his trip to San Francisco in 1901 to attend a religious convention. And some science fiction too...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have another North Korean title on order from the library, written by a British diplomat.
      Your summer reading sounds good - there is just so much to explore. One of my favourite parts about the holidays we've had in the US is browsing in bookshops and discovering the different title we never hear of in the UK.

      Delete
  3. Your book stack looks like the one I'll put out when I want to impress someone!!! Good for you for reading challenging material!!! I have to admit that I've been pretty much stuck on the suspense/mystery merry-go-round!!! Occasionally I break out one of the more challenging reads...but not just yet!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am going VERY slowly with the first one! I can't actually manage suspense/mystery books - they are too suspenseful for me! You must be made of stronger stuff.

      Delete
    2. I avoid mysteries, too. ;-)

      Delete
  4. I share your wonder at homes with no bookcases (or stacks of books bed-side, sofa-side, or overflowing into happy piles beside bookcases that cannot fit another volume). Almost as disturbing? Homes in magazines that do have books...organized by spine colour. How on earth would you ever find anything?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You could almost suspect that the books were bought to have the complete rainbow of colours rather than for reading.

      Delete
  5. I'm adding that book on North Korea to my list of books to read.

    I used to be surprised when visiting people's homes if there were no bookshelves in evidence. However, I find that I get rid of more books every year. In some ways I kept shelf after shelf just to prove to myself (and others, if I am truthful) that I am a person who reads. Here in the desert, those shelves of books just attracted dust. And more dust. I have a very few books now, ones that I refer to again and again--reference books and a few dear old out-of-print fiction friends.

    I read stacks of my books from the library (let them do the dusting!) and some on my Nook.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The e-reader has been a big surprise for me - I got a Kindle for a work trip, and really love it. It can be a bit of a financial trap tho - so easy just to click 'buy' and 2 seconds later you have the book without noticing that money has flowed out of your account.

      Delete
  6. I was somewhat snobbish about the mystery genre until persuaded by a friend to try just one, by Giles Blunt. Now I'm completely hooked, always have one on the go. For beauty of language I prefer British gardening books over American. We are bookcase people, I'm thinking of built ins on a long wall in the new house.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't read many American gardening books, perhaps because the climate zones confuse me.
      Wonderful to be planning book storage from scratch.

      Delete
  7. Books are such tangible joy, I am looking forward to hear more about your summer reading!
    Enjoy,
    Merisi

    P.S.: My books do leave a little house, just enough to move around. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 'Tangible joy' is such a lovely way of describing books.

      Delete
  8. I suggest "The Lantern" by Deborah Lawrenson. It's super summer reading! Historic houses, French countryside, and a gothic romance with a hint of mystery...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmmm, possibly tempted by the history/French angle...

      Delete
  9. Hello! I'm finally managing to do a bit of blog-reading, and what was my surprise to see your discussion of bookshelves in relation to our house move! You are quite right. The entire timing of the stages of the move has been determined by the slightly delayed arrival of bookcases! (Should be in by the 31st though.)

    Your raspberry jam looks mouthwatering.

    And thank you profoundly (as they say in French) for the Proust quote. Yes indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love books, have a house full of them, love people's book lists etc
    only..there never is enough time
    can not wait to get a hold of Francis Spufford's: you certainly managed to get us all interested
    happy reading!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts