Lily Fairbairn
Gondolin
Thu, 3:20pm
Post #1 of 1
(125 views)
Shortcut
|
|
It's the occasional reading thread!
|
Can't Post
|
|
Ooh, it's autumn! More or less, anyway.
I've spent most of my in-print reading time this last month on the thick but worthwhile Fabric: The Hidden History of the Material World, by Victoria Finlay. This is indeed a history of cloth (cotton, wool, silk, and so on) and weaving and also Ms. Finlay's research into them. I thoroughly enjoyed it but it's obviously not for everyone.
I also read the e-version of Retirement Plans, by Sue Hincenbergs. This is a darkly funny novel about a group of middle-aged women who plan to murder their husbands while their husbands have agendas of their own. It's very nicely plotted, and there's a dog, but I've said before how this sort of cynicism wears on me....
...which is why I waited awhile to begin another ebook, The Retired Assassin's Guide to Country Living, by Naomi Kuttner. This is also darkly humorous but seems to me to be a bit less cynical. An ex-assassin tries to overcome his training and settle quietly into retirement in a small town in New Zealand---but then finds himself involved in a murder. There's a cat.
I listened to The Postscript Murders, by Elly Griffith. I've given up on Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway books but the Harbinder Kaur books are still worthwhile, IMHO. In this one, Harbinder works with a group of people all connected to an old woman whose death only appears to be natural. The scenes at the book festival are particularly enjoyable. Been there! Done that!
I also listened to Odyssey, Stephen Fry's version of, well, The Odyssey. His humor and erudition and wonderful voice make it all seem fresh.
I've read the print versions of the eighth, ninth, and tenth books in the Rivers of London series and am now enjoying listening to them. I just finished the eighth, False Value, and am admiring once again the skills of author Ben Aaronovitch and actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. Great stories, great characters, great reading.
I'm now listening to The Botany of Desire, A Plant's-Eye View of the World, written and read by Michael Pollan. He considers the histories and significances of four specific plants, apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes. Well-written, informative, thought-provoking, and entertaining.
I can say the same for my post-lunch/naptime audio, My Garden World, The Natural Year, written and read by gardener and BBC presenter Monty Don. Here, in his gentle, affable, way, he considers not just the plants in his gardens but the animals as well. Lovely book.
So what have you been reading?
Where now the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing?
Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing?
Where is the hand on the harpstring, and the red fire glowing?
Where is the spring and the harvest and the tall corn growing?
They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow;
The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow....
|
