reading it up, writing it down

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A Book by Edgar Guest

“Now” - said a good book unto me -
“Open my pages and you shall see
Jewels of wisdom and treasures fine,
Gold and silver in every line,
And you may claim them if you but will
Open my pages and take your fill.

“Open my pages and run them o’er,
Take what you choose of my golden store.
Be you greedy, I shall not care -
All that you seize I shall gladly spare;
There is never a lock on my treasure doors,
Come - here are my jewels, make them yours!

“I am just a book on your mantel shelf,
But I can be part of your living self;
If only you’ll travel my pages through,
Then I will travel the world with you.
As two wines blended make better wine,
Blend your mind with these truths of mine.

“I’ll make you fitter to talk with men,
I’ll touch with silver the lines you pen,
I’ll lead you nearer the truth you seek,
I’ll strengthen you when your faith grows weak -
This place on your shelf is a prison cell,
Let me come into your mind to dwell!”

The weather seems to be making its way rather rapidly toward autumn here in the 'berra, which means lots of rain and time spent indoors. What a perfect time to pick a book!! (Although for some of us a waking moment is a perfect time to pick up a book :)

I am still ploughing through Homer's Odyssey but I've also acquired a few new books which I'm making my way through at the moment. They are Buddhism for Mothers by Sarah Naphtali, a beautiful book which is helping me deal with my anger and frustration in regards to the kids. I wish I was a gentle parent and this book is helping me get there :) I love it's very practical suggestions and Napthali's words speak right to my heart.

Patriarchs of Time by Samuel L. Macey is a book that I got for Christmas. I am only up to the third chapter but it has already impacted on Orpheus and every page I read continues to inspire and delight me. I also love his research, especially into the 16th and 17th century emblematic depictions of Father Time. In other research I have also been browsing through some Petrarch, the Bible (as much as one can browse through the Bible) and Orpheus' Hymns.

Sherlock Holmes: A Scandal in Bohemia by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I have a wonderful app of Sherlock Holmes stories on my iphone so that no matter where I am I can tap into this amazing character and share his magnificent adventures. (And as an aside, as a Holmes fan I am also appreciative of the new tv show Elementary. I like the new take on an old classic :) It's good when I need to sit in with the kids as they go to sleep because being on my phone I don't need a lamp on to read.

And with the impending release (well, US Autumn/Fall 2013) of Diana Gabaldon's new book Written in My Own Heart's Blood I am seriously considering going back to re-read An Echo in the Bone. The one I had autographed :) I've only read it the once so I think it's time I went back over it again. 

What are you reading? Share below - I'm always on the look out for something good.

spanish lessons

For nine painstaking years I learned Spanish. Through primary, high school and then finally university I never gave up on learning the language that I loved so much. It was hard work and I still wasn't even fluent. My high school Spanish teacher, a short, beautiful, inspiring Chilean woman said to me once that if I ever wanted to be fluent in Spanish I needed a Spanish boyfriend.

So I married a Spanish speaking man. The Captain's family comes from Uruguay and the learning of Spanish in his childhood was a very important thing. Thankfully he agrees with me that the kids should learn Spanish in our home, instead of laboring over it like I did for years with textbooks and tapes (or podcasts, or whatever the crazy kids are listening to these days!!)

So since our son was born in 2008 it has been the Captain's role to speak only in Spanish to our kids. Now that baby number three has arrived and that first child is almost five, he has done a wonderful job and they have a good grounding in their comprehension of Castellana. Since my mother-in-law took over babysitting duties last year while I worked their Spanish has improved even more.

My parents-in-law recently returned from a holiday in Spain. And here a couple of books that they brought with them to continue our children's Spanish lessons. 

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This one came with a CD Rom which we have yet to look at.  The book itself talks about the history of the Spanish language, where it originated and its development over the centuries.  The pictures are gorgeous; colourful and very child-friendly. The story is told from the point of view of a young girl Lena and her brother Lito. 

The story is quite in-depth and may be a bit over the heads of my four and two year olds. I would suggest that it is more relevant for 8-10 year olds.

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After a visit to the Alhambra in Granada, they brought this back for the kids. Like the previous book it has great pictures and a very comprehensive history that may be a bit advanced for my littlies. But any history of Spain is going to be encouraged in this house, regardless!!

I think it's really important that my kids not only know how to speak Spanish but understand the history behind it. Although their family is not from Spain it doesn't matter. They will in time, also learn about the history of their ancestors in Uruguay.

This is a cute little book about dinosaurs that was brought for my son. It includes colouring in, vocabulary, stickers and writing activities. A big hit!! I think it is the activity book that accompanies the That's not my...series of children's book. Lots of fun.

So, although my own brain is a bit baby-adled the kids' language lessons are well in hand and for that I am very glad.

The Scottish Prisoner

It's been a while since I've done a review and I actually finished this book last month - I'm just getting around to reviewing it now!

For those of you who know, I am a big Diana Gabaldon fan and any of the Outlander books are a delight for me to read. I wasn't sure how I would go with The Scottish Prisoner though, because technically it is a Lord John book and although I love Lord John I wasn't expecting what I got in The Scottish Prisoner.

Gabaldon has, for the first time that I am aware, incorporated a fair amount of magic and superstition in this book. Of course magic exists in the other books, what with Claire travelling back in time and all, but the way in which she dealt with it in this book was really very nice.

Based on the premise that the Stuart cause could make yet another comeback, this time in Ireland, Lord John and Jamie Fraser head there to find out what is going on. This coincides happily with a military case that Lord John and his brother Hal (the quintessential officer and gentleman) are investigating. The two cases turn out to be linked and Gabaldon, as always, weaves a story that is believable yet is also a joy to read.

The Druid cup is said to contain powers that will help reunite all those wishing to rebel from the English monarchy (in this book that is predominantly the Irish as the Scottish are still suffering greatly from their failed rebellion) and Jamie Fraser has some rather mystical experiences with the cup. But knowing, as he does, the future he knows there is no hope for the Stuart cause.

It was really nice to have Jamie back and although I missed Claire it was a nice book that explored the complex and intricate relationship between Jamie and Lord John. It was definitely worth the read, and even better, was a nice thick size more akin to the other Outlander books than the Lord John series.

If you're interested in Outlander then you'll enjoy this book, and even if you have no experience with that series this book would stand alone rather well regardless. Read it if you love historical fiction, dabbles in magic, great humour and 18th century England.

Coastliners

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I just finished reading Coastliners by Joanne Harris. I'm a fan of some of her other books (including Five Quarters of the Orange but more so Blackberry Wine) and when I read the blurb for this one online I was intrigued. The story reminded me a bit of Pepper Ridge Lane (which, by the way, still lives :) and I wanted to see how Harris dealt with some of the same issues.

On reading the book however I found that it was actually quite different to Pepper Ridge. And I was glad for it. Normally I tend to stay away from books similar to my own ideas, but I really loved Blackberry Wine so much I wanted to give this a try.

I suppose the main difference between Pepper Ridge and Coastliners is the simple fact that Coastliners is set on a small, isolated island. The community there are generations-old, their history is complex and intertwined and their issues are very locale relevant. With Pepper Ridge the township of Mount Houser is much newer as are its occupants. Yet I suppose there are some overlapping themes in that there is both a girl returning home, with little idea of what to expect and finding herself faced with a changing community and the threat of encroaching development. So, yeah in that respect, similar. But otherwise the characters, themes and setting are all quite different.

I enjoyed this book, though I found it quite long. There were however some excellent twists and turns that made me both cringe and sigh in relief! I like that :)

The sad thing about this book is the common theme that it holds to many disappearing villages all around the world. Globalisation has brought many good things, yet the loss of these small places as their young people leave to find jobs in big cities may not be one of them.

If you like stories of personal accomplish, communities coming together in the face of a common enemy and some good humour thrown in then I'm sure you'd enjoy Coastliners.

Reviews-Day Tuesday

Miranda

If you haven't seen this hilarious British show written by and starring Miranda Hart, then please drop everything you are doing and go and watch it right now. I don't care if you're taking your frail, elderly Grandma grocery shopping, or if your baby needs to be changed, you need to watch this show. For your own sanity.

Every Monday night at 8.00 on ABC2 this show saves my sanity. I have never watched a show that consistently makes me laugh like Miranda does.

And I'm talking about snorting, chortling, little-bit-of-pee comes out comedy. From all the characters. There's the main character Miranda. Her desperate-for-her-daughter-to-marry Mother. Her super-cute and possible love Gary. Her sweet friend who is also the manager of her joke shop - why she needs a manager is beyond me...she does nothing all day anyway!!

So, please, take my advice and watch Miranda. Here's a sneak peek from Youtube:

http://youtu.be/GymUCt_MFoY

Enjoy!!

Reviews-Day Tuesday

Okay so technically today is Friday, but "Reviews-Day Friday" just didn't have the same ring to it and I couldn't be bothered waiting til next week to write this post.

It has been a while since I have reviewed or discussed any of the books that I've been reading so this post may get a bit long as I try and cover just what has been passing these eyes over the last few weeks.

Recently I was reading Diana Gabaldon's blog and came across a really great post called How do you Read? In it, Diana addresses the all important issue of reading. And how, where, and when she gets the time to read. And I have to say, I'm pretty darn impressed. I thought I was good sneaking in pages (rarely chapters) when the kids are actually playing nicely together, while I'm cooking breakfast, or feeding the kids their lunch. But Diana...let's just say I haven't progressed to doing it while brushing my teeth!! What a hero!! No wonder her books are so totally excellent!

So, what's been on my agenda lately?

The one that I have been wanting to blog about for a while was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

Not only is this brilliant, talented and funny writer Australia, apparently (according to my friend Jenny) he's also a bit of a cutie. Not that that bares any weight at all on his writing, I just thought I'd mention it. In case you were wondering. Now you know.

Set in Nazi Germany this story is told from the perspective of Death, a sentient and rather compassionate being who has massively strong and caring arms with which to sweep up the millions of souls that die on his watch.

The story deals with a young girl's (Leisel Meminger) experience during the war. She is fostered into a home after her younger brother dies. Her foster parents are the most complex yet sweet-hearted characters I have read in a long time. And I can just picture Hans Hubermann's (her foster father) crinkly silver eyes.

Anyway, as the title indicates Leisel becomes, quite by accident, a book thief. After discovering a book at the grave of her younger brother, The Gravedigger's Handbook, she slowly yet enthusiastically develops a love for the written word. At a time when many books were condemned to the pyre, she, with the help of her touchingly loyal friend Rudy, acquires a variety of books to help fulfill her curious and intelligent mind.

The theme of World War 2 Germany is not a new one, yet I absolutely loved the way Zusak created it in The Book Thief. It was fresh and original and a delightfully inspiring read. This book stayed by my side - in the rumpus room, the kitchen and the bedside table. Couldn't leave it alone. (Much to the poor Captain's dismay.)

Next on my list is a return to an old favourite writer, Italo Calvino. I first met (in the literary sense) Calvino during my studies of Italian at Sydney University, 104 years ago.

To say that I didn't quite get him in Italian would be an understatement but I fell in love with him in English. I have just borrowed Invisible Cities from the library and it blows me away.


This short story is actually a clever collection of descriptions of cities, given by the explorer Marco Polo to the great Kublai Khan. The reader learns, though, that he is actually just describing the one city to the Chinese ruler. The incomparable Venice.


With superlative imagery and adjectives, Calvino is a master at creating the scene, without being repetitive or boring. I look forward to finishing this book, just so I can read it again and discover what I've missed!! This one lives in the rumpus room, because with it's singular page chapters, I'm sure to get a few good chapters in each day!!

La Bella Figura by Beppe Severgnini was originally borrowed as research for my story (which I have yet to detail on here - sorry!) but turned out to be such a funny account of "the Italian mind" that I ended up reading it just for the humour!


If you are planning to travel to Italy or you are interested in the Italian way of life, or the people, or their food, or their art or architecture, please read this book. That's all I'm going to say on that. It beats The Lonely Planet guide by a million. (How's that for an eloquent review?!)

I have also started re-reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon because I actually read this book first (even though it's number 6 in the series!) without realising! So now that I've read the other seven I'm going back to my beginning to discover all the wonderful things I missed out on the first time!!

There are a couple of other books that I'm currently coasting, but I won't go into them just yet.

I hope you're all reading something (even if it just this blog once in a blue moon!!) and please share...

What are you reading now? Or what have you just finished that was really worthwhile??

Ciao xox