Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

the delicate balance required to get it right seems to be acheived by wild extremes

May everyone find pockets of tranquility in the storm
With a good book at hand

Back from Paris--it couldn't have been more wonderful. I felt as though I were in a dream (except for the fact that we walked 10 miles a day!--but Paris is the perfect place to walk in).

These days I'm obsessing over Ann Cleeves mysteries. I love the British tv series, Vera and it got me into reading the books. I'm reading two at the moment--an ebook and a paper book from the library, The Heron's Cry and Silent Voices.

My trip has renewed my interest in the Proust (I loved the exhibit which was the initial reason for going to Paris but it became much more).

It's cold today but pretty and I went to the library--Reduced to Joy, and When You Greet Me I Bow: Notes and Reflections from a Life in Zen.

I'm waiting for spring weather to catch up with the calendar!

How wonderful Ellie. I had a flash image of you on an airplane a few days ago but I had the wrong direction.

Not only is Paris a perfect place for walking, there are so many inviting places to sit.More details Ellie, please!

Since you asked!

We did so much! The Louvre of course but also the Rodin Museum which was as wonderful as I remembered it from 50 years ago (the last time I went)! A cinema museum. The opera Le Cendrillon (the one time I got to get dressed up which was fun); a boat ride on the Seine--and lots of walks along the Seine and the Latin Quarter with its narrow cobble stoned streets--we went to Sylvia Beach's Shakespeare & Co (which unfortunately moved from its original location) where I bought my son some "cool" books (a book about Nina Simone and Nick Cave's--with the author--my son adores Cave--friendship). The Musee d'Orsay (more to see the building itself and its huge clock because it was super-crowded)

To the top of L'Arc de Triomphe and some new giant store with a rooftop from which you can see all of Paris. And mass at the Sacre Coeur--a church I just saw (well, you can't miss it!) from the bottom of Paris last time I went where I bought way more stuff than I intended to.

I was super-nervous about customs and security but all that went smoothly. And no COVID test was needed to go and getting one on the way back was simple.

And my companion knew so much about Paris! We rode the Metro and walked and walked.

Did I say I had the most delicious macarons and crepes? (and oddly enough a terrific Moroccan dinner).

A fabulous time. I'm still floating.

I slept going over but I watched The House of Gucci on the way back which was very entertaining and well-acted.

Last night I watched the the newest version of the Agatha Christie Death on the Nile, directed by and starring (naturally) Kenneth Branagh. Some serious changes from the book which I've read many times as it's one of my favorite Christie's. I had to see it since I love all things Christie but I wouldn't recommend it.

sounds perfect Ellie.
You were especially lucky to have such a knowledgeable and companiable friend to orchestrate your stay.
Where did you stay btw?
Mass at Sacre Coeur must have been something.
I believe that there are some wonderful North African restaurants and I remember a great kiosk near the train station that had great kebabs.

Good to hear that the travel bits went smoothly. No quarantines then. I hear that in Europe there are home testing kits available.

And what's this about Nina Simone and Nick Cave?

ta da! I finally got the first volume of the Transylvanian trilogy.
I have read the preface and intro and it looks like a long road. I am hoping that I find it as gripping as Petra and Ellie have.

I am also excited to finally get Selected Poems
and I am enthralled by another Robert Macfarlane, The Wild Places which I actually started a couple of days ago.

for the record, I am also reading All We Want: Building the Life We Cannot Buy by Michael Harris just to keep me grounded, and have picked up Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King for walking around.

Thats a whole new batch and perhaps a bit ambitious for these dark days but if the world is about to end, it will find me with a book.

what about you?

I hope you like it, too, Magdelanye.

I refuse to see these days as dark. There's sunshine & goodness in every day (fingers crossed). That's my hope, anyway.

I like the full title of "All We Want". Such a good goal.

I finished Empire of Wild and quite enjoyed it. Never having heard of the legend of the Rogarou, I really liked hearing how he is incorporated into our everyday lives. The Rogarou lives in all of our lives.

I've started reading The Haunting of Thores-Cross: A Yorkshire Ghost Story, which is a bit of a disappointment. I keep rolling my eyes. I haven't liked the main character of the Present-time story since the beginning. The main character of the Past-time story is believable (she's 16; so many emotions) but the story seems flimsy in many ways. That all said, I'm continuing to read and hope it comes together in a believable way. At least it's a light, easy read.

Ellie, welcome back! I'm so glad you had a wonderful time. It sounds like you packed a lot into a little time. I'm so glad for you.

I like your attitude Petra but its hard to maintain as I am haunted by the discord that seems to be ramping up everywhere.
Im glad you liked Empire of wild. It continuously surprised me. It will be good to see what she comes up with next.

And Ellie, waiting for elaboration. Hope that you are not too wiped from all the exertion and excitement to read. I still want to know what book you brought with you to read in the parcs de Paris

The Haunting of Thores-Cross: A Yorkshire Ghost Story was a disappointment to the end. What a shallow, silly story. Oh well.

I'm listening to an audio that is even worse: The Lost Village. I'm more than half through and nothing has happened. The film group haven't pulled out a video camera yet to take any film, the story is silly and not scary at all. Not much of a story.

However, I am reading two interesting books, The Bird King and The Book of Fate. Both are promising.

well Petra two duds is disappointing. The lost village (i looked it up) promised so much for those that are interested in that genre
The bird king sounds much better to me and i think i actually have a copy of the book of fate. Heres hoping they will be engaging.

As for engaging, i am quite thrilled with the Banffy and have ordered the next volumes so i won't have to wait too long to carry on.
Thanks for your encouragement that kept me on it

Hi all.

I think I have the Banffy at least the first volume but haven't opened it. I guess that goes up the list!

I continue my obsession with Ann Cleeves. I'm now reading The Seagull. I saw the tv adaptation of it and it's always interesting to me to compare the two versions--the original and the screenplay.

I'm also reading some poetry: Ilya Kaminsky's Dancing in Odessa which is both painful, blunt, but also often lyrical. And I'm just beginning Ross Gay's Be Holding. I loved The Book of Delights.

Otherwise, my life is very quiet--especially after the excitement of Paris. It made me hungry for more travel, more adventure. I'm looking forward to our trip to Greece in July. I've already started buying clothes: dresses because they're cooler and easy to pack. I'm worried about climbing the many steps to the monasteries of Meteora but I think I can do it. Anyway, I'm working on building muscles and endurance!

If anyone knows any good books about Greece, please share. I've read The Magus (John Fowles) which (and I hope I'm right) is set there as well as The Last Temptation of Christ (Nikos Kazantzakis). The last didn't tell me anything about Greece of course but has anybody read anything else by him? Zorba the Greek really doesn't appeal to me but maybe one of his other books would.

I'm "getting in the mood," through books, naturally!

Ellie, not sure how i got the impression that you read it and endorsed Petra's POV, which prompted my efforts to aquire a paper copy.
Now I can't remember Petra what form you took it in, but i don't think it was a real book.
Ive had to refer back so many times to the cast of characters, how does that work with these book machines, can you easily refer back
My other books are a bit neglected as I'm deep in and so glad that Ive got the next two on order

I loved the Last Temptation so much I did read Zorba and it was good, surly worth a read. May I suggest revisting the Greek myths and maybe even a little dip into the Greek Philosophers.



.

Ellie, I was going to recommend Eurydice but I see you've read it already.
I also enjoyed The Penelopiad.
Hmmmm.....I haven't read many books about Greece at all.

Magdelanye, I read the Banffy books in ebook format. I'm so glad that you're enjoying the story.

I'm enjoying The Book of Fate. I feel for Massoumeh and what she's going through.

Petra forgive my ignorance, but does reading in ebook format mean that you are reading it on your computer?
This is a long book! I cant imagine reading it sitting at.
the machine but at least you can refer back.
So I am at that poin with the Banffyt just before finishing where i have to put it down and take a little breather. The last part went much quicker and I'm looking forward to discussing

Im glad your enjoying the Book of Fate, Petra
I am not even sure if I've ever read the Penelopiad or just have read so much about it.
Gerald Durrell writes about Greece and I believe both Laurence Durrell and Henry Miller have books written about sojourns there, and Ccorfu.
Matija Gimbatis has an excellent book on sacred places in the Mediterranean

Magdelanye, an ereader is like a mini-tablet made just for books. I can connect with the library and Kobo (on-line book store with files for the readers). The books are downloaded and I can read them on the screen. It's small and has a book-friendly font and lighting options. It's easier to read on an ereader than on a computer screen.

An ereader is really good for vacations. They hold hundreds of books and are very portable. The battery on mine lasts for weeks.

I can't remember where one book ends and the other begins for the storyline of the Banffy series. I remember it as one whole, not three separate books. LOL.

I'd forgotten about the Corfu books. I haven't read them but did watch the TV series for awhile. It was humorous.

thanks Petra, i think i get it. so a kobo or kindle are e-readers and user friendly means portable so one can read in bed I presume.
I realize the convenience of not having to schlep books when mobile, especially if you are backpacking. Ive just never felt comfortable the format.

so...ugh....I m on p599 and it got quite tense with Laslo there... its really astonishing dont you think how good writing can wind you up. Laszlo in the casino with the money for the pearls....

Ellie I sent you a book rec for the Chalice and the Blade by Rianne Eisler elaborating on Marija Gimbatus work.

I felt so bad for Laslo. He's basically a good man, stuck with a sense of chivalry and a weakness that come together badly. So much promise at first.

Thanks for the rec Magdelanye. I'm intrigued.

I was grateful for my e-reader in Paris and on the plane. I used to pack a load of books and it was much easier not to. I did bring one (poetry) and one collection of short stories (The Visiting Privilege: New and Collected Stories by Joy Williams) just in case my e-reader failed. And also, probably, because I can't help myself!

Petra I am longing to get your thoughts on a few things but please remember that i have only read the first 621 pages and havent given up on Laszlo yet. i couldnt bear the scenes where he defeated himself. Chivalry really was a thing once is one of my big takeaways, far more complex and deep than the superficial attention given it today.

LOL today I boight a book soley becuse of the title didn't even check it out, maybe you have heard of it
Petra by Shaena Lambert.
sorry i cant give the link on this fone but i have looked at it now that I'm home and it looks quite interesting, based on "the nearly forgotten revolutionary, Petra Kelly." From the cover, a close up of a womans face, mostly nose and lips and mirrored sunglasses reflecting a vagualy oriented scenei- I had guessed it might be a thriller (and it still might be)

My bad feels pretty good right now contemplating my rash snd foridden pleasure,held in check for so long now:have restrained from even entering but today i thought, as I was there anyway relinquishing the banffy and pickup up my holds-
it woudnt hurt to just check out the poetry. section so i entered the library sale room and, being told for $5 you could fill a bag Well, i was lost. I had just cashed in my bottles and was able to easily get some treasures

Ellie it occured to me that you might like to browse some of those luscious books on Greek cuisine to really get in the mood.
And I am pretty sure you will find Chalice and the Blade intruiging indeed.

Never give up on any of the characters. I just felt sorry for Lazlo in this first volume because his chivalry and good intentions. That's all I meant, Magdelanye. Sorry to imply more. I am keeping to the first volume.

Here's the link to the book, Magdelanye: Petra. That sounds interesting. Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ has it listed as Cultural, Feminism, and Environmental.

I wouldn't be able to resist a $5/bag book sale either. What treasures did you find?

I'm still reading and enjoying The Book of Fate and Bleak House (one chapter a day; so this one will take another month or so to finish).

Yup, that's the cover, very dramatic, don't you think?
I noted, when linking this that there are around 100 books with Petra in the title. And the author has quite a few other books that look worth checking out.
And if Madeleine Thein loves it as much as I love her, I am looking forward to reading it and sending it on Petra.

Petra if I recall didn't you begin Bleak House just after New Years. That's dedication. But I too subscribe to the chapter a day method with most of the books I am reading, not the fiction and for poetry it depends on my mood. I usually will read along in a book of poems until I come to one that stops me in my tracks.
Ellie I finally got Derek Walcott (Santa Lucía) Selected Poems with the beautiful cover painting that he painted himself.

You asked about some of my booty at he library booksale Petra.
I was in such a state of guilty pleasure that I could not even remember until I got home and sorted them out that I also grabbed The Secret Magdalene by Ki Longfellow in hc no less, one of two, the rest being trade paperbacks in excellent condition. I was intrigued by The Dodecahedron: Or a Frame for Frames by Paul Glennonwhich is billed on the cover as a novel of sorts and a statue of Mary Magdalene looking apprehensive
what is she holding?

Some of my other finds
Two Pieces of Cloth: One Family's Story of the Holocaust by Joe Gold
plus
some fiction, both on my tbr by authors I follow
Alix Ohlin Dual Citizens which I was on the verge of checking out earlier but didnt because I was reaching max
and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver which, now that I look at it may not be fiction at all. I may even already own a copy and will be checking that out but I couldnt remember and Ive long wanted to read.

The Science Delusion: Asking the Big Questions in a Culture of Easy Answers Curtis White went in the bag to be placed by Dawkins book of the same title.

The fact that I am currently reading Robert Thurman Anger: The Seven Deadly Sins impelled me to mindfully pick up Inner Revolution: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Real Happiness and the book tucked next to it, The Miracle of Mindfulness this is not the edition I got which has a plainer cover and was first published in 1975, this being the 1987 reprint.

Thats most of them, and I hope to read them all!
And so you can see why I was so excited. That's what a few years of repression will do. The only books Ive bought in years were the 3 that I special ordered.