Request post - 4

 

 

I had a call last night from "Disgruntled of West London" (who happens to be a close friend, and was only joking really) complaining that Cornflower is relatively bookless just now; several knitting posts in a row mean that Disgruntled - who doesn't know his dpns from his circulars - hasn't had his usual semi-literary diet here. So, as I want to keep the readership happy, let's talk a bit about books today!

 
     A glance at the Current Reading list on the left will show that apart from some non-fiction for browsing and dipping into, I have a couple of novels on the go. Rosalind Belben's Our Horses in Egypt has had to be put down (unfortunate choice of words there) in order to meet deadlines for other books, so I'm not as far on with it as I'd like to be, but it's a really unusual and intriguing piece of work which I'm greatly looking forward to returning to with undivided attention, and I'll talk more about it then.
    I'm very much enjoying Jane Gordon-Cumming's seasonally relevant A Proper Family Christmas. It describes an extended family's Christmas gathering, virtually all of the assorted relations descending uninvited on poor old William who lives contentedly alone in a vast house and who could see most of his kin far enough. Jane's set the scene with a light touch and a deft way with family dynamics, and despite the funny, even farcical situations, there's substance under the froth and frivolity and I'm keen to see how this develops. There are endearing characters for whom we hope things work out well and then some ghastly ones who must, surely, get the fates they deserve!
     And after these, what next? It'll be The Tiger in the Smoke for the Book Group, (up for discussion in a fortnight's time). Disgruntled might turn into Delighted.....   

Comments

[Peter the Flautist]

And what comes after "Tiger in the Smoke"? By the way not one of your knitting experts enlightened me as to what is meant by "stranding"; is just too silly a question i.e. a bit like ancient comedy judge asking "and what is a computer?"?

[Linda from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

I am not a knitter but I am fascinated by it and have a couple of knitting blogs bookmarked. I don't bake too much anymore but I did just pull out your Christmas pudding recipe. I do read and get suggestions from you and others. But ... tell your friend that what is so enjoyable about Cornflower is that there is not just one topic of discussion. I never know what I'm going to find here and that's fine with me.

Here is an amazing spot of knitting for you:
http://unionpurl.blogspot.com/

[Cheryl]

Glad to see there's at least a wee bit of knitting in the book stack!

[rosie]

It must be so frustrating having to put books to on side to meet deadlines for reviews of other books. As a knitaholic I'm delighted to note that a knitting book has sneaked into the picture...

[Jane Gordon-Cumming]

I feel like someone waiting for the result of an exam! I shall reveal one thing: nothing horrible happens to the cat.

[lindsay]

I'm a bit insulted by your comment here - I think everyone knows that dpns stands for Democratic Party for a New Society, one of the leading democratic parties in Burma's struggle for democracy and freedom. I did wonder, briefly, I admit, if you were referring to
Deep pharyngeal neuromuscular stimulation, but that was a bit hard to swallow (ho, ho!)

Yours, Not At All Disgruntled (unless the calves foot jely fails to materialise)of West London

[Danielle]

Rosalind Belben's book is excellent, but for me it really required undivided attention--so best to set it aside until you have more reading time to devote to it. I love your knitting posts--all lovely--I wish I could knit, but I'll just watch. By the way I finally finished Sue Gee's book, which I loved and will have to search out your post on it (since I'm very tardy). I've got the Allingham, so I hope to maybe finish it on time? Am also curious what comes next (from someone so behind in reading I should concentrate on what's at hand, but I can't help looking forward, too).

[Barbara MacLeod]

Want to Get Gruntled? You could do worse than treat yourself to 'Tiger in the Smoke'!