We’ve just spent a very pleasant “minimoon” in the Lake District, having a lovely, relaxing time with lots of reading. I managed to read two and two bits (a third of Thomas Hardy’s “The Well-Beloved”, which turns out to be a rather odd choice for the newlywed to read, and part of “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao”, which didn’t really grab me and I’m not going to finish. I did also manage to buy FIVE books – how did that happen? More info on those after the reviews …
Charlie Hill – “The Space Between Us”
(21 November 2013 Oxfam Bookshop)
Charlie Hill was taught by the husband of one of my friends, is a friend of another and in a writing group with yet another, who is mentioned in his acknowledgements, so clearly it was time to read and review this one (his new one, “Books”, is on my wishlist). It’s also set in early-1990s Moseley, which is where I was when it was, if you see what I mean, so even more apt. It was also set up to disappoint of course – luckily it didn’t!
It’s set among the unemployed and artistic community of a more bohemian and raggle-taggle Moseley than perhaps exists today, underpinned by ageing hippies and unthreatened by general culture or the Establishment, with a different vibe from that of Kings Heath down the road (where I’m writing this review). It gets the atmosphere completely right (although I was a student at the time, not a group particularly mentioned or celebrated in the book), and is full of endearingly odd characters, including the narrator, who you shouldn’t really warm to, given that he spends his life drifting along doing what he fancies and not being exactly faithful to the woman he’s involved with. There’s a touching love story which lurches to a start and looks set to drift to a stop at any minute, and the whole is set against the growing community protest movement against bypasses and the Criminal Justice Act.
It’s a good story, if episodic and sometimes vague (echoing the protagonists’ lives to an extent). Linguistically it’s very inventive and playful, mixing slang and poetic devices to extremely good effect, enhancing the dreamy yet absorbing nature of the reading experience. It’s also funny and very interesting on the background to the ‘DIY culture’ of the early to mid-90s (which I’ve just been reading about in the protest songs book I’ll be reviewing next time, fortuitously enough). A good read and highly recommended, to locals and ex-locals but also to anyone interested in inventive new writing and writing about this time period.
Laura Kriska – “The Accidental Office Lady”
(BookCrossing 07 April 2014)
I was shocked to receive an email about a BookCrossing BookRing (a book that’s passed from person to person on an organised list) as I haven’t joined any for years – it looks like I joined this one in 2007! As BookRings are supposed to be read and sent on within a month, I thought the minimooon would be an ideal time to whizz through this one, and so it was. I read about half of it on the train journey home.
The author was born in Japan and studied Japanese, with a year in a Japanese university, so she obviously jumped at the chance of a two-year stint working for Honda in Japan before returning to her new job in its US operations. This is the story of how she carved out her own role and individuality – in society and the company – amidst the culture clash and environment of self-enforced conformity, learning to negotiate in the Japanese way and to make friends along the way.
I liked the details about exactly how she lived her life, her housing situation and arrangements, and enjoyed the honesty about the culture clash and its frustrations but also her appreciation of Japanese culture and attempts to fit in. I would love to find out what happened next, as this is a few years old now.
In terms of book acquisitions, on Wednesday we took a day trip to Kendal where there is one of those outlet malls – didn’t buy anything else there but I did find a Works shop (of course I did) where I picked up the above two new Georgette Heyers (not new to me, of course, but they seem to be drip-feeding them into the stores and I definitely haven’t re-read these recently) and Tracey Thorn’s autobiography, about which I’ve heard good reports.
I also remembered as we walked down the hill from the railway station that there was an excellent bookshop at the top end of Windermere, Fireside Bookshop, and that’s where I gleefully pounced upon the copy of “The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists”. I was very happy to find this because I have for a while now had it planned for the 1914 entry in my Century of Books project (it’s one of the only decent books published that year), but I’m making an effort not to push the acquiring for the project, as such – as I happened upon this one, that was fine.
I also spotted “Penguin Portrait” there on the first visit, but wasn’t sure whether it was a duplicate of a book I already have in hardback. So I went back to the hotel and checked, and then picked that one up on the way back up the hill to the station on Thursday (it was handy that Matthew bought a new rucksack in Kendal, so we could fit in the extra books and Mint Cake).
Oh, and the picture to the right? This records the first time I’ve written my new name in one of my books (although the first book acquisition of our married life was Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Americanah” from our friend Bridget: I seem not to have written in that one yet). I also include in that picture the web address and email address of the Fireside Bookshop – a lovely bookshop that does mail order too – I was very glad to find it still going.
While we’re on the subject of lovely independent shops, here’s one Matthew spotted for me on the approach to Windermere Station – Sew Much Fun. The manager is a lovely lady who grew up locally – so nice to see people staying in their local communities rather than moving away, and it’s a rather nice shop with lots of supplies crammed into a tiny space. They do classes, too (see pic to the right).
So, some good times, some good reading, and some good new books. I’ve had a bit of a hiatus from this blog while working my way through “33 Revolutions Per Minute” – what have you all been up to?
anewlookthrougholdeyes
Apr 18, 2014 @ 15:11:04
Sounds like the perfect mini moon! Am about to start on a re read of Georgette Heyer before granddaughter gets to them! so was glad to see you are still reading her. Didn’t realise Americanah would be the first book of your married life. Hope it lives up to expectations! Anyway, welcome back.
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Liz at Libro
Apr 18, 2014 @ 15:16:04
Thank you! Do a search for Heyer on this blog and you’ll find lots of Heyer suggestions – I love her. And it would have been hard for a book to creep on to the shelves earlier in our married life than yours!
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BookerTalk
Apr 18, 2014 @ 16:28:28
You asked how did it happen that you bought 5 books. Seems like we are going to have to have one of those cosy chats where we unveil to you the facts of book buying. See if you will go into book shops then you will find books on sale and where there are books for sale, there are temptations to buy. Simple really isn’t it?? Just kidding of course…
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Liz at Libro
Apr 18, 2014 @ 18:08:07
Ah – I did wonder! There is a connected process whereby I go to the dentist, stagger across the road and get home with a bag of books and a lighter purse …
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kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 18, 2014 @ 18:11:02
“Minimoon” – what a lovely idea, and what a lovely sounding one you had!! Yay for independent bookshops – and I shall look out for the Tracey Thorn in the Works because I’m keen to read this too. Look forward to hearing what you think of the Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists, as I’ve been eyeing up a copy in the charity shop for weeks!
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Liz at Libro
Apr 18, 2014 @ 18:14:16
Yes – we wanted to go to Iceland but it’s not yet melted in April, but it’s been lovely to have a week off and a trip away – very relaxing and just what we needed. I won’t get to the RT’d Ps for aaaaages but it does look good – grab that copy and read along in about December!
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kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 19, 2014 @ 14:31:45
Infuriatingly enough, “Ragged….” had gone when I returned to the shop. But I *did* snag the Tracey Thorn for £1.99 so thanks for the heads-up!
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Liz at Libro
Apr 19, 2014 @ 14:32:49
Oh no – typical! Sure they haven’t put it out the back because no one bought it? Glad you got Tracey though, you’ll get a heads-up when I start it if you haven’t read it already by the time I get to it!
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Emily Heath
Apr 18, 2014 @ 18:33:35
Congratulations on your wedding and thanks for the book reviews!
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Liz at Libro
Apr 18, 2014 @ 18:35:41
Thank you and glad you’re enjoying the reviews!
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Jan (Holmesfan)
Apr 21, 2014 @ 02:20:59
Does your comment about ice not yet melted in Iceland mean that you have simply postponed your trip or have you had to let it remain a dream? As you know I was and still am intensely interested in your trip to Iceland so do hope the lack of melt does not mean you don’t go at all?
The 2014 BC World Convention in Melbourne was truly excellent.
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Liz at Libro
Apr 21, 2014 @ 06:10:37
Ah – don’t worry, the trip to Iceland is very much happening and will be later in the summer (I don’t like to advertise when I’m going to be away, but I’ll tell everyone about it afterwards!). I’m so glad the Convention went well, I think a few of the UK and Ireland BookCrossers went along.
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Jan (Holmesfan)
Apr 21, 2014 @ 09:27:04
Yes indeed. MissMarkey who is the prime mover for the 2015 Convention in Oxford was there and gave a good presentation about Oxford; Cassiopaeia from Wales, earthcaroleanne from Scotland and Gizmopuddy from Ireland were also present as was Lytteltonwitch ex NZ but currently living in the UK. It was really nice to see them as well as hugbert & Razfaz from Germany, iiwi from the Netherlands and Ghanescha from Austria – as you can see a real world gathering as well as six from New Zealand and over 45 from Australia. The Aussie organisers would have been well pleased.
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Liz at Libro
Apr 21, 2014 @ 10:10:51
Oh, brilliant, a great turnout and a good international contingent!
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