December 16, 2018 Just finished my second listen of this earlier this evening and really enjoyed it. I have no idea what it's like EYE-reading RumpoleDecember 16, 2018 Just finished my second listen of this earlier this evening and really enjoyed it. I have no idea what it's like EYE-reading Rumpole, having only taken him in via audiobooks so far with narrators I've dearly enjoyed previously who make the experience a big part of the fun. Another part of the fun is that I only became aware of Rumpole via a book friend on another bookish platform called LibraryThing. Paul is originally from England but lives in Malaysia with his Malay wife and always mentions her as "SWMBO" and when asked, is happy to say it's an acronym meaning "She Who Must Be Obeyed" taken from this Rumpole series, which made me of course curious to discover the hapless barrister who talks of his wife thusly, and as I'm listening to these humorous short stories about court proceedings which always seem headed for disaster, and a marriage based on mere politeness at best, I always think of Paul fondly because he clearly loves his wife very much and has a wonderful dry British sense of humour of the kind I've always enjoyed. And as I'm not in touch with Paul very often, Rumpole is my way of wishing Paul well, even though he might not know it. All quite warm and fuzzy feelings centred around a rather grumpy but after all kind old geezer of an English barrister at the Old Bailey's court. Perhaps not to everyone's taste, but I'm definitely fond of the old codger and as I don't celebrate Christmas and this is a very sad season for me which too vividly reminds me of the distance I've had to put between family and myself, it's nice to have a tradition of sorts I can return to thanks to John Mortimer and his plonk drinking fat old boy. Paul was a good one to share a heartbreaking personal story or two with here and there too... which reminds me I should probably send him a note, as it's been a while.
This review is from December 2015, with a few recent edits. I'll be picking up this audiobook again this month to celebrate the seasonal spirit (snerk!).A Rumpole Christmas is quite short and very much bittersweet with an emphasis on the bitterness and very little sweetness please, just as I like it. lol
I'm a recent fan of "GRumpole", having just discovered him for myself a week ago, with the first book in the series, Rumpole of the Bailey, with Patrick Tull narrating on the version I listened to. I thought no one else could possibly do Rumpole quite as briliantly as Tull did, with his rumbly old mariner who'se possibly tippled heavily all his life kinda voice, but must say I enjoyed Bill Wallis's performance as the hapless yet sympathetic barrister tremendously as well.
Rumpole is no great fan of the Christmas season, which every year brings him a new tie from She Who Must Be Obeyed (aka his wife Hilda) and a yet another bottle of lavender water to said unbending and unappreciative wife, who drags him from one Christmas engagement he can little look forward to to yet another worse engagement, with the finale being a stay at a "health farm" where the best he can hope for finally takes place: a murder suspect to defend and to finally take him away from insipid health food and miserable company. A very entertaining holiday read that I'll be sure to return to regularly during the Christmas season, to take me away from all that tediously fake good cheer while I'm inevitably going through seasonal depression, just like most people who have health issues and or/no small children and/or no sane or welcoming families to celebrate with.
GRumpole to the rescue! 😁
Merged review:
December 16, 2018 Just finished my second listen of this earlier this evening and really enjoyed it. I have no idea what it's like EYE-reading Rumpole, having only taken him in via audiobooks so far with narrators I've dearly enjoyed previously who make the experience a big part of the fun. Another part of the fun is that I only became aware of Rumpole via a book friend on another bookish platform called LibraryThing. Paul is originally from England but lives in Malaysia with his Malay wife and always mentions her as "SWMBO" and when asked, is happy to say it's an acronym meaning "She Who Must Be Obeyed" taken from this Rumpole series, which made me of course curious to discover the hapless barrister who talks of his wife thusly, and as I'm listening to these humorous short stories about court proceedings which always seem headed for disaster, and a marriage based on mere politeness at best, I always think of Paul fondly because he clearly loves his wife very much and has a wonderful dry British sense of humour of the kind I've always enjoyed. And as I'm not in touch with Paul very often, Rumpole is my way of wishing Paul well, even though he might not know it. All quite warm and fuzzy feelings centred around a rather grumpy but after all kind old geezer of an English barrister at the Old Bailey's court. Perhaps not to everyone's taste, but I'm definitely fond of the old codger and as I don't celebrate Christmas and this is a very sad season for me which too vividly reminds me of the distance I've had to put between family and myself, it's nice to have a tradition of sorts I can return to thanks to John Mortimer and his plonk drinking fat old boy. Paul was a good one to share a heartbreaking personal story or two with here and there too... which reminds me I should probably send him a note, as it's been a while.
This review is from December 2015, with a few recent edits. I'll be picking up this audiobook again this month to celebrate the seasonal spirit (snerk!).A Rumpole Christmas is quite short and very much bittersweet with an emphasis on the bitterness and very little sweetness please, just as I like it. lol
I'm a recent fan of "GRumpole", having just discovered him for myself a week ago, with the first book in the series, Rumpole of the Bailey, with Patrick Tull narrating on the version I listened to. I thought no one else could possibly do Rumpole quite as briliantly as Tull did, with his rumbly old mariner who'se possibly tippled heavily all his life kinda voice, but must say I enjoyed Bill Wallis's performance as the hapless yet sympathetic barrister tremendously as well.
Rumpole is no great fan of the Christmas season, which every year brings him a new tie from She Who Must Be Obeyed (aka his wife Hilda) and a yet another bottle of lavender water to said unbending and unappreciative wife, who drags him from one Christmas engagement he can little look forward to to yet another worse engagement, with the finale being a stay at a "health farm" where the best he can hope for finally takes place: a murder suspect to defend and to finally take him away from insipid health food and miserable company. A very entertaining holiday read that I'll be sure to return to regularly during the Christmas season, to take me away from all that tediously fake good cheer while I'm inevitably going through seasonal depression, just like most people who have health issues and or/no small children and/or no sane or welcoming families to celebrate with.
Amazing that a book in which the main character is studying fads, published in 1997 can still feel relevant. Where did the fad for bobbed hair come frAmazing that a book in which the main character is studying fads, published in 1997 can still feel relevant. Where did the fad for bobbed hair come from is what Sandra Fosters research centres around, but it was fun to get a smattering of information about fads throughout the ages. One thing Connie Willis got dead wrong is that aversion to smoking was a fad� lol. ...more
Read in 1978, age 9. I hadn't read Anne of Green Gables then. Another reviewer I follow read this to her daughter & they couldn't help comparing the tRead in 1978, age 9. I hadn't read Anne of Green Gables then. Another reviewer I follow read this to her daughter & they couldn't help comparing the two, as this book was released after AoGG. I remember recognising a lot about myself in Pollyanna at that age. I was raised by hippyish parents and my father has always been an optimist despite everything. He was a dedicated yogi at the time, and it's safe to say my tendency to find silver linings in everything was probably encouraged by him.
Trigger warning: abuse
I'm due for a reread because age 9 was a charmed time for me, before I was faced with the brutality of men who take children for their own pleasures and lost many of my naive illusions and trust in people, and men especially. I am finding ways to cope with trauma and revisiting early "coding" as I think of it, is proving helpful, as is "reclaiming" the young girl I was, who was... overall a really good kid and much less cynical about life and this world, albeit already all too clear-sighted....more
I loved the first four books in this series but it’s been a while since I read the previous instalment, and 20% into the audiobook, simply lost the thI loved the first four books in this series but it’s been a while since I read the previous instalment, and 20% into the audiobook, simply lost the thread and it’s failing to hold my interest, so I will regretfully stop here and forget about completing the series. Too bad, but then again there’s no lack of options for other reads. ...more
From March 2021: Mostly found the whole thing completely ridiculous. I’m told the movie is amazing. I avoided watching anything about serial murderersFrom March 2021: Mostly found the whole thing completely ridiculous. I’m told the movie is amazing. I avoided watching anything about serial murderers but this is surely meant as a joke? Gave it 3 stars, demoting to 2. It was entertaining though my head hurts from rolling my eyes so far back my head so often. Sorry not sorry if you’re a fan. To each their own....more
To Build a Fire was absolutely gripping. In fact, I was completely absorbed with most of these stories in the collection. London’s love of nature & unTo Build a Fire was absolutely gripping. In fact, I was completely absorbed with most of these stories in the collection. London’s love of nature & understanding about animal nature, which by the way, is another way to say human nature, speaks to me. Humans like to separate themselves from the animal realm and claim greater knowledge and wisdom but that is a limited and small-minded way of seeing the world. We are so much more. And so much less. I can see why London would appeal to children with these life & death adventures in the wild.
One story pits and aging boxer whose body is showing the wear & tear of life as a prize fighter. He’s hungering for a piece of steak to give him stamina in a contest against a younger version of himself.
I only don’t give the full 5 stars because those help me locate my all time favourites for rereading. a couple of stories were variations on the similar theme, and while interesting as cues into London’s process, failed to grab me.
An excellent collection overall with a title story that stands on its own....more
Ilana (illi69)
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