It seems that I have had a little bit of Christmas in each month of 2009 whether it is something as small as my White Christmas ring tone or something as wonderful as Howards End is on the Landing. When my husband told me I had a package from The Book Depository, I couldn't help grinning and saying 'it's like Christmas in October'. That was before I started reading it, I was so sure it would be my kind of book, and it turned out to be so.
From the beginning, Hill's account of her year reading from the shelves of her farmhouse took on a conversational quality as I agreed, argued, tried to persuade and meditated upon my own reading history.
Agreed on issue-led children's books: "Realism comes home soon enough and many children have too much anguish to cope with in their everyday lives as it is. Their books can be one corner of life that remains untainted by the troubles brought upon their heads by unthinking, unloving adults."
Argued about the effects of the internet: "The internet can also have a pernicious influence on reading because it is full of book-related gossip and chatter on which it is fatally easy to waste time that should be spent actually paying close, careful attention to the books themselves, whether writing them or reading them." (This sentence is qualified by the word 'can' but I wanted to argue for the opposite effect it can have...from finding new books and authors, and since I started blogging about the books I read I find that I pay closer attention to what I am reading because I plan to write about it at some point. I have found the internet, and book blogging in particular, to be more beneficial than detrimental to my reading.)
Tried to persuade: "Here are two collections of short stories by P.G. Wodehouse, that comic genius. But they don't work, or not for me, because Wodehouse thrived on the leisurely approach, ambling up to a novel, taking the scenic route, and the short story form does not work like that." (They so work for me...Rodney Has a Relapse, Uncle Fred Flits By, the whole of Young Men in Spats...so many have I loved just as much as his best novels.)
Meditated upon: I found the discussion on disapproval of Roald Dahl's books fascinating because when I was growing up Dahl was read in classrooms and his books were given as gifts by our parents. Her trips to libraries on Saturdays and Wednesdays reminded me of my own happy hours spent among the stacks. Although I dared myself to be inspired by Hill to write my impressions in her book, I just couldn't, and don't think I ever will write in books again. And, finally, I couldn't agree more...the book ain't broke.
Of course my tbr list grew: Trollope, Greene, Wodehouse, Sayers, Sebald and Dickens along with Hill's own titles which brings me to The Woman in Black. read_warbler suggested I start here with Hill's fictional work on the strength of it being "very atmospheric and genuinely scary". This ghostly tale is both of these and I was surprised to find that such a story could have me so on edge one moment and completely devastated another. Arthur Kipp is sent by his firm to settle the affairs of the deceased Mrs. Drablow. Eel Marsh House and its grounds (which include a graveyard) are perfectly suited for a haunting as it is unreachable when the tide is in and subject to sudden fogs and mists. No one in town wants to discuss the house or Mrs. Drablow in depth but he is warned off, in not too many words, staying at the house for an extended period of time. But just like those horror films, Kipp decides to stay for a couple of nights in order to complete his work, even after prior unpleasant experiences at the house and in the marsh. What happens during and after his stay makes this another perfect read for October.
From the beginning, Hill's account of her year reading from the shelves of her farmhouse took on a conversational quality as I agreed, argued, tried to persuade and meditated upon my own reading history.
Agreed on issue-led children's books: "Realism comes home soon enough and many children have too much anguish to cope with in their everyday lives as it is. Their books can be one corner of life that remains untainted by the troubles brought upon their heads by unthinking, unloving adults."
Argued about the effects of the internet: "The internet can also have a pernicious influence on reading because it is full of book-related gossip and chatter on which it is fatally easy to waste time that should be spent actually paying close, careful attention to the books themselves, whether writing them or reading them." (This sentence is qualified by the word 'can' but I wanted to argue for the opposite effect it can have...from finding new books and authors, and since I started blogging about the books I read I find that I pay closer attention to what I am reading because I plan to write about it at some point. I have found the internet, and book blogging in particular, to be more beneficial than detrimental to my reading.)
Tried to persuade: "Here are two collections of short stories by P.G. Wodehouse, that comic genius. But they don't work, or not for me, because Wodehouse thrived on the leisurely approach, ambling up to a novel, taking the scenic route, and the short story form does not work like that." (They so work for me...Rodney Has a Relapse, Uncle Fred Flits By, the whole of Young Men in Spats...so many have I loved just as much as his best novels.)
Meditated upon: I found the discussion on disapproval of Roald Dahl's books fascinating because when I was growing up Dahl was read in classrooms and his books were given as gifts by our parents. Her trips to libraries on Saturdays and Wednesdays reminded me of my own happy hours spent among the stacks. Although I dared myself to be inspired by Hill to write my impressions in her book, I just couldn't, and don't think I ever will write in books again. And, finally, I couldn't agree more...the book ain't broke.
Of course my tbr list grew: Trollope, Greene, Wodehouse, Sayers, Sebald and Dickens along with Hill's own titles which brings me to The Woman in Black. read_warbler suggested I start here with Hill's fictional work on the strength of it being "very atmospheric and genuinely scary". This ghostly tale is both of these and I was surprised to find that such a story could have me so on edge one moment and completely devastated another. Arthur Kipp is sent by his firm to settle the affairs of the deceased Mrs. Drablow. Eel Marsh House and its grounds (which include a graveyard) are perfectly suited for a haunting as it is unreachable when the tide is in and subject to sudden fogs and mists. No one in town wants to discuss the house or Mrs. Drablow in depth but he is warned off, in not too many words, staying at the house for an extended period of time. But just like those horror films, Kipp decides to stay for a couple of nights in order to complete his work, even after prior unpleasant experiences at the house and in the marsh. What happens during and after his stay makes this another perfect read for October.
11 comments:
This sounds like a fun read. I'll bet you did have trouble with the part about Wodehouse!
Howards End is on the Landing is in my online shopping basket at The Book Depository, but I haven't pushed the 'complete purchase' button yet! You may have just convinced me.
The Woman in Black is the only one of her novels I've read, but it's my favorite 'scary book'.
I'm about two thirds through Howards End is on the Landing (it's my bedtime read so is taking a little while to get through) and am loving every page. Like you I've agreed and disagreed - I like fantasy and historicals and she doesn't, but that's okay... my husband doesn't *get* Terry Pratchett either. :-) But that's been the joy of the book... comparing opinions. And yes! Inspired to read alsorts now... more Dickens, Elizabeth Bowen, Trollope, more Edith Wharton etc. And I jumped for joy when she recommended My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell!
Like you, I also disagreed about the internet. So many books I would not have read had I not been a book blogger. So many people I would not have known. So many differing opinions... for instance I spent ages last night reading Paperback_reader's post on this very book and the resultant comments. Nowhere else can I find that kind of input about books.
And lastly I'm so pleased you've enjoyed The Woman in Black. I love Hill's old-fashioned style with ghost stories. Like you said, perfect for October.
Lisa - I got over it pretty quickly since she included the comic genius part:)
JoAnn - That complete purchase button is dangerous...I pushed it yesterday and now another Wodehouse is on its way...and The Bookshop...and Diary of a Nobody...squirelling away for the winter of the ban. I may be defeating the purpose. You were definitely right when you said Woman in Black was chilling.
Cath - You are smart to take your time...I read it too quickly and it ended all to soon. I had that same little shot of joy when she mentioned Wodehouse:) You are so right about the input found on the internet...something that no blurb or review in the paper has even come close to providing when it comes to getting me to read a book I might not have considered before. And in other cases when I have seen such a great conversation take place about a book like the one on Paperback Reader, it makes me want to read the book even more. Thank you for recommending WIB to me. Did the edition you read include illustrations? I loved that part too.
I'm definitely going to read this book again. I feel I could almost use the book as a sort of reference book for a year of my own reading. I could do a lot, lot worse...
I think I could honestly say that, apart from random library grabs, most of what I read I've seen blogged about and bought or borrowed for that reason. Publishers are quite right, imo, to see bloggers as a huge source of income and influence.
Sadly, my copy of The Woman in Black is a very ordinary one. I had no idea there was an illustrated version. Oooooh.
R and I went to see The Woman in Black in 2007 while in London. People were screaming and jumping in their seats during the second half. I'll never look at a rocking chair the same way again!
Cath - You really could, she mentioned so many different books and authors. Publishers must also realize that not only do blogs influence the purchases of newly written books but also classics because I have seen so many beautiful editions recently released. You have made me want to go back over the list of books I read and see exactly how many were chosen because of book bloggers. I think I will do that this evening. I was so delighted to find the illustrations because I didn't like the cover...it didn't seem to match the book at all. That is interesting that some editions don't have the illustrations. I wonder what Hill would think of them.
Darlene - Don't say that...I have a rocking chair in my bedroom:) Luckily the only associations I have to it are of rocking and feeding my daughters in it...of course, if it starts rocking on its own, I may react like those you mentioned from the second act.
OH this sounds like my kind of book - and in fact I have been thinking of doing the very same thing - reading from my own shelves.
Not that I buy books that often - but I'm an avid library patron.
Too bad our library doesn't have this book yet. I'll put it on their suggested acquisition list.
If I can wait that long! :)
Islandsparrow - If you suggest a book, do you get priority for checking it out first? I have never tried asking my library to procure a book but I am going to ask them if they have a system for that. It is a perfect book for libraries to carry but if you find you can't wait, it is perfect for one's personal library as well:)
I just got my copy in the mail yesterday and dove in so fast I had to force myself to put it down. I don't want it to be over too quickly.
So far I find myself disagreeing with her about 45% of the time. But they are fun disagreements. If all my disagreements in life were about books I would be a happy person.
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