I have read two Christopher Gortner books about Spain recently. The Last Queen and The Queen's Vow. The author spent some of his childhood in Spain, and has written about two Queens of Castille. Neither was expected to inherit the crown, but both did and fought for their country. Spain is a country whose history I know little of before knowing of the uncle of Katherine of Aragon, and nephew of Katherine of Aragon fighting for her diplomatically on the world stage, and then the marriage between Philip and Mary I.
I found both books interesting, i had not realised how the south of Spain had had such a Muslim influence till I was an older adult. IN my childhood I did not know of Andalusia, and the university cities where Jews, Christians and Muslim scholars got together.
It is a shame that the inquisition was introduced during Isabelle of Castilles time.
I am now reading a book by Ruth Park that is fascinating. I had read Poor Man's Orange and Harp in the South a long time ago, but never had I met Swords and Crowns and Rings. I am thoroughly enjoying her writing style, and admiring her vocabulary. She paints the picture of difficulty in life really clearly and empathetically and shows ugly sides of Australian history.
The funny thing is that at the same time I am listening in the car to Carpentaria by Alexia Wright, and that is talking about the aboriginal community and the difficulties there, and is so similar in the disfunction, but so different because it is a worse existance in many ways.
I meant to do this regularly but I have not been doing so.
Friday, August 2, 2013
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Irregular writing and a time of fun ahead.
Well I started this with the intention to write often and much, but that just has not happened. Life has got in the way, my brother was suddenly hospitalised at the start of May, which made us quite tired for a while and upset normal routines,creating new ones. This was interesting, for it changed the way that I completed my work day, and altered the times I could complete work at home, you know some employment requires extra to be completed after hours.
It also changed some of my reading, but I have found that this was when having books on a mobile device was good. Changing moods meant I could swap between books if I wanted to. This was such a good thing, I could read serious books on my way to visit and funny ones on the way home.
If you have not read The Reluctant Fundamentalist, please do so. It is a thought provoking book, and I think it does a good job of letting you see the difference in mindset between the western hemisphere and the eastern hemisphere. Having read it a few years ago, I went to the film. During the film I realised changes had been made to put it into cinematic presentation. There was something that I found I could not remember from the book, and another that I thought had a different setting, and a factory that I thought was making different things, and when I re-read the book I was right. It was wonderful re-reading the book and finding how wonderfully the narration of the one man's story was covered. So please if you have not read it, do.
There is a BBC World Bookclub mp3 of an interview with Mohsin Hamid, the author. It was wonderful to listen to, and had two very interesting questions asked. It was made years before the film, so the questions all relate to the book.
My fun ahead is going to be the Annual General Meeting of the Sharon Kay Penman Australian Fan Club. We gather and talk for many hours, about the writings of this author. She has written many medieval history books, and some medieval mysteries. Those who gather come from various walks of life, but thoroughly enjoy reading her books, and find much to talk about. One of the highlights of the weekend is a Skype interview with the author, in which we get to ask questions or make comments on common interests - dogs and books. This is the side of the internet that has so widened my horizons, being able to be in touch with people who write books that I have enjoyed. It has not been done in the past, I would not have written a letter to the publisher for them to pass on, because my mother did not think it was a good idea. So when I joined a social networking site, and found that there were interest groups, and that I could communicate with authors who wirte books I like, I got excited. Unfortunately I do not find all those I would like to communicate with, but those who do find me buying both electronic and hard copies of their books now. (Not that they know, but they get the royalties from two purchases.)
It also changed some of my reading, but I have found that this was when having books on a mobile device was good. Changing moods meant I could swap between books if I wanted to. This was such a good thing, I could read serious books on my way to visit and funny ones on the way home.
If you have not read The Reluctant Fundamentalist, please do so. It is a thought provoking book, and I think it does a good job of letting you see the difference in mindset between the western hemisphere and the eastern hemisphere. Having read it a few years ago, I went to the film. During the film I realised changes had been made to put it into cinematic presentation. There was something that I found I could not remember from the book, and another that I thought had a different setting, and a factory that I thought was making different things, and when I re-read the book I was right. It was wonderful re-reading the book and finding how wonderfully the narration of the one man's story was covered. So please if you have not read it, do.
There is a BBC World Bookclub mp3 of an interview with Mohsin Hamid, the author. It was wonderful to listen to, and had two very interesting questions asked. It was made years before the film, so the questions all relate to the book.
My fun ahead is going to be the Annual General Meeting of the Sharon Kay Penman Australian Fan Club. We gather and talk for many hours, about the writings of this author. She has written many medieval history books, and some medieval mysteries. Those who gather come from various walks of life, but thoroughly enjoy reading her books, and find much to talk about. One of the highlights of the weekend is a Skype interview with the author, in which we get to ask questions or make comments on common interests - dogs and books. This is the side of the internet that has so widened my horizons, being able to be in touch with people who write books that I have enjoyed. It has not been done in the past, I would not have written a letter to the publisher for them to pass on, because my mother did not think it was a good idea. So when I joined a social networking site, and found that there were interest groups, and that I could communicate with authors who wirte books I like, I got excited. Unfortunately I do not find all those I would like to communicate with, but those who do find me buying both electronic and hard copies of their books now. (Not that they know, but they get the royalties from two purchases.)
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Books that keep you thinking of them over and over
I read a book about a month and a half ago, that I really really enjoyed. It was called "The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared" Jonas Jonasson is the author, and the book is so funny. It has many farcical situations, but they add to the fun of the two stories. There are two stories running through the book, the one of the one hundred year old man's life and the story of his escape and where he went after it. The escapades showed what fun you can have if you take life as it comes.
Other books that have stayed with me that I have read in the last two years, are The Kindly Ones by Johnathan Littell, a novel imagining the life of a German officer through the war, and gives insight into a different way of seeing. There are some scenes that I could not read, the sex scenes, so I just found the end of that part and left them, it did not change the story. The disintegration of the person and the strain from the experiences of life in war were shown.
The third book is called New Finnish Grammar by Diego Marani. This is an interesting study of what gives us identity - and the effect of our language on our identity. Good intentions can go wrong if the wrong information is considered. The way this story runs is really interesting.
Other books that have stayed with me that I have read in the last two years, are The Kindly Ones by Johnathan Littell, a novel imagining the life of a German officer through the war, and gives insight into a different way of seeing. There are some scenes that I could not read, the sex scenes, so I just found the end of that part and left them, it did not change the story. The disintegration of the person and the strain from the experiences of life in war were shown.
The third book is called New Finnish Grammar by Diego Marani. This is an interesting study of what gives us identity - and the effect of our language on our identity. Good intentions can go wrong if the wrong information is considered. The way this story runs is really interesting.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Easter is upon us and the dates coincide
My mother died in 2002 on Maudy Thursday. I did not get to see her before she died, being busy with work and making a decision based on the information I was given, for it was the last day of term, and with that came consequences for taking it off. I have over the years had times of feeling guilt and times of regret, alongside the times of grief. Yet, when we make these decisions we make them with the best information we know at the time, and have to accept them.
My brother is the one who confirmed for me what I had felt, that the days of Easter this year coincided with the days that Easter when Mum died. So Easter Saturday was the day of her funeral, we had the blessing of a friend of mine carrying out the service, and a friend of my brother in law being an undertaker. As she had died in hospital there was no need for a coroners court hearing and so no delay required. A private ceremony, with some moments of inadvertent humour was had, she wanted a private ceremony. Some of her friends were hurt by the fact that she had not wanted them to farewell her, but when her ashes were put in the ground at the memorial garden at the church she was attending, they got to join us there. It was lovely to see how they wanted to say farewell.
Who then are the funerals for - the person who has died or the living? I think they are for the living to give them time to say farewell and to comfort each other. Many different stories of the person can come out during the time spent talking outside the funeral, because each persons experience of another if different.
What has it been like, 11 years later to have the dates come around. Interesting. Time has moved on, and my memory of my mother has faded a bit. I remember a woman who loved to laugh, and who was talented in cooking and sewing, but would never or rarely finish a knitting project. I remember a woman who loved reading and who could budget really well. An elegant woman who provided me with love, and who was proud that all three of her children went to uni, and glad that one followed her interest in science. A woman who had back problems, but whose vivacity added to the life of parties, and to the group of friends she had.
My brother is the one who confirmed for me what I had felt, that the days of Easter this year coincided with the days that Easter when Mum died. So Easter Saturday was the day of her funeral, we had the blessing of a friend of mine carrying out the service, and a friend of my brother in law being an undertaker. As she had died in hospital there was no need for a coroners court hearing and so no delay required. A private ceremony, with some moments of inadvertent humour was had, she wanted a private ceremony. Some of her friends were hurt by the fact that she had not wanted them to farewell her, but when her ashes were put in the ground at the memorial garden at the church she was attending, they got to join us there. It was lovely to see how they wanted to say farewell.
Who then are the funerals for - the person who has died or the living? I think they are for the living to give them time to say farewell and to comfort each other. Many different stories of the person can come out during the time spent talking outside the funeral, because each persons experience of another if different.
What has it been like, 11 years later to have the dates come around. Interesting. Time has moved on, and my memory of my mother has faded a bit. I remember a woman who loved to laugh, and who was talented in cooking and sewing, but would never or rarely finish a knitting project. I remember a woman who loved reading and who could budget really well. An elegant woman who provided me with love, and who was proud that all three of her children went to uni, and glad that one followed her interest in science. A woman who had back problems, but whose vivacity added to the life of parties, and to the group of friends she had.
Friday, March 22, 2013
How can we keep running faster around the hamster wheel?
Workplaces seem to be getting to the days of requiring workers to complete more work than is physically possible. When will we realise that there is a limit to how much work people can actually complete. Also how much consideration goes into the balance of adding in that next task with regards the benefits, and affect on load of the workers.
It would seem that our world is getting more and more driven by profit gains. When will the ethics of cutting staff to increase profits, but hurting the health of the workers left be taken into consideration. More so when will the lack of ethics of the CEO salaries growing disproportionally to those of the workers be taken into consideration? I suspect the answer to that is never - for the world has increased in greed.
I realise that some of what I write comes from being in the position of being a worker, but that in other cases I do not understand the pressure on CEO's. Yet I do believe it would be best if their packages were tied to being a certain multiple of the lowest workers salary/wage, so that when they gave themselves a pay rise via the board, every worker in the company also obtained a pay rise. Perhaps a company could agree to only rising each year by the CPI plus.... or some other indicators, so that the position on the scale of life is maintained instead of decreasing.
Still there is a problem with the obscene salaries that many CEO's are paid, when they can receive bonuses even when the company makes a loss.
It would seem that our world is getting more and more driven by profit gains. When will the ethics of cutting staff to increase profits, but hurting the health of the workers left be taken into consideration. More so when will the lack of ethics of the CEO salaries growing disproportionally to those of the workers be taken into consideration? I suspect the answer to that is never - for the world has increased in greed.
I realise that some of what I write comes from being in the position of being a worker, but that in other cases I do not understand the pressure on CEO's. Yet I do believe it would be best if their packages were tied to being a certain multiple of the lowest workers salary/wage, so that when they gave themselves a pay rise via the board, every worker in the company also obtained a pay rise. Perhaps a company could agree to only rising each year by the CPI plus.... or some other indicators, so that the position on the scale of life is maintained instead of decreasing.
Still there is a problem with the obscene salaries that many CEO's are paid, when they can receive bonuses even when the company makes a loss.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Unforgettable books
I visited the doctor today, and as always we got to talking about the books we have been reading/listening to. There are now two books that I keep on telling people to read, one is The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell. This book I keep on recommending, with the words "It is a most awful book, with horrible scenes in it, but well worth reading." Why would I recommend a book that I use that sentence with? Due to the different perspective it gives, and the explanations of behaviour and understanding of how people can be so horrible, and the effect on them. The book is presented as a memoir of a German officers experiences in the war. He seems to be undergoing a long mental breakdown during the book, but it takes you through various theatres of the war, with the SS, and showing the killing carried out of civilian populations, and Jews. I read it a year and a quarter ago, and it still has me thinking back to it.
The second book is translated from Swedish and brings a smile to my face thinking about it. It is the opposite of the first one, a farcical book in some of the events through it, but written with such good humour that I laughed a lot through it. My husband did not laugh as much as he read it, but he also enjoyed it. The title: "The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared." by Jonas Jonasson. It was such a stupid story, but that was what made it so enjoyable, for the way it was constructed kept me reading. In fact I read it over one weekend, which for me is unusual.
So two books that are staying with me, one that was horrid and the other which was enjoyable and lifted my mood.
The second book is translated from Swedish and brings a smile to my face thinking about it. It is the opposite of the first one, a farcical book in some of the events through it, but written with such good humour that I laughed a lot through it. My husband did not laugh as much as he read it, but he also enjoyed it. The title: "The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared." by Jonas Jonasson. It was such a stupid story, but that was what made it so enjoyable, for the way it was constructed kept me reading. In fact I read it over one weekend, which for me is unusual.
So two books that are staying with me, one that was horrid and the other which was enjoyable and lifted my mood.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Jottings from a sore leg
Having been very proud of the fact that I had managed to maintain my balance under circumstances I had seen others fall over with, last Monday I managed to trip up on cords. I went down really really heavily on my right leg. It was not nice at all, and has had two flow on effects. Lots of bruises on my leg, and some more coming out as the week flows forward. The worst side of it was development of cellulitus in part of my lower leg, so a visit to the hospital emergency. Very nice emergency clerk let me know how lucky we were we got there then, as they had had a very hectic early evening.
That led to me not being at school on one of the days I needed to be, but I had the chance to get to be on line and in communication with two students who asked me questions. This is a new development, have sick leave, but be able to have some communication. In my case I did not feel sick, had the leg up as the doctor asked, and so could take the step of making use of the internet to keep in touch with the students.
Now I am thinking about how much this can change requirements for sick leave. Work has already changed so much that we need to have internet access each weekend and week nights so that if we are emailed questions seeking help we can answer them. Once we got our weekends free. This is bad.
This means that the blurring between work and play is greater. Mobile phones give the employer to be in touch with the worker outside work hours. Do we need to specify times of non contact? Or do we accept 24 hour day contact?
That led to me not being at school on one of the days I needed to be, but I had the chance to get to be on line and in communication with two students who asked me questions. This is a new development, have sick leave, but be able to have some communication. In my case I did not feel sick, had the leg up as the doctor asked, and so could take the step of making use of the internet to keep in touch with the students.
Now I am thinking about how much this can change requirements for sick leave. Work has already changed so much that we need to have internet access each weekend and week nights so that if we are emailed questions seeking help we can answer them. Once we got our weekends free. This is bad.
This means that the blurring between work and play is greater. Mobile phones give the employer to be in touch with the worker outside work hours. Do we need to specify times of non contact? Or do we accept 24 hour day contact?
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Sad times and unexpected visits.
How interesting life is, when someone turns up at the front door that you have not seen for twenty years. The wonderful thing is that this man who has turned up looks no different from twenty years ago. He is doing very well. Going on long bush walk at Milford Sound soon, which is really really nice.
The sad news, the sad times, a future has been cut short because of a tragedy. So sad, and those left behind have lost a friend, family member. How much it reminds us to live today for the day it is, and to value our friends and family.
I have read a wonderful book in the recent weeks, a book called The One Hundred Year Old Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. I laughed out loud at it, and found the farcical story so entertaining. I think the ending was a little let down, but up to that moment, it was good fun, and I am still smiling at the memory of it. By Jonas Jonasson, I thoroughly recommend it.
The sad news, the sad times, a future has been cut short because of a tragedy. So sad, and those left behind have lost a friend, family member. How much it reminds us to live today for the day it is, and to value our friends and family.
I have read a wonderful book in the recent weeks, a book called The One Hundred Year Old Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. I laughed out loud at it, and found the farcical story so entertaining. I think the ending was a little let down, but up to that moment, it was good fun, and I am still smiling at the memory of it. By Jonas Jonasson, I thoroughly recommend it.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
The thick of things
Why is it that when I am on holidays I plan to be better organised in the new year of work, but when I get back to work, it disintegrates. Somehow I seem to get to work and then not have time around the house to do all I would like to do. Part of that is getting distracted, and other parts are things that come up unexpectedly.
On such unexpected was the pleasure of having someone whom I had not seen for many years call in. That was a pleasant change. It was really nice to see him, and to be able to find out some of the current interests he has. I hope that he will call in again sometime.
I am also being distracted from my reading of books, but have read a great book that I am recommending to anyone who needs a laugh. The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. I recommend it for a farcical, hilarious take on the twentieth century big events, and the fun of having someone live a life unlikely. Still it did have a lot to it. What is even better is that it is now a week since I finished it and I type this with a smile on my face, thinking camels, elephants, many countries, strange help, and all of the wonderful things that the book contained. The end led itself to you filling in the possibilities, and a frightening potentiality for Australia.
Enough for now, the dishes await, and I must get to them.
Hopefully I will get back to the doing of the Sunday type.
On such unexpected was the pleasure of having someone whom I had not seen for many years call in. That was a pleasant change. It was really nice to see him, and to be able to find out some of the current interests he has. I hope that he will call in again sometime.
I am also being distracted from my reading of books, but have read a great book that I am recommending to anyone who needs a laugh. The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. I recommend it for a farcical, hilarious take on the twentieth century big events, and the fun of having someone live a life unlikely. Still it did have a lot to it. What is even better is that it is now a week since I finished it and I type this with a smile on my face, thinking camels, elephants, many countries, strange help, and all of the wonderful things that the book contained. The end led itself to you filling in the possibilities, and a frightening potentiality for Australia.
Enough for now, the dishes await, and I must get to them.
Hopefully I will get back to the doing of the Sunday type.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Holidays are over work is back
Tomorrow is the day I go back to work, and this is the least prepared I am in going through to a new year. I would like to be able to have more time for my hobbies, and keep control of how much work I have to do outside work. Yes I ahve the kind of job where I have to bring home work. It does get annoying at times.
How do I motivate myself to be organised, and to watch less TV. I enjoy watching TV and knowing what is going on in shows, but really the books I want to read, probably give me more. The only TV shows that are better, are the ones that take me to views in countries that I will not get to travel to.
I love reading books, but some take longer than others to read. I have read the fourth Priscilla Royal book and am really enjoying it.
How do I motivate myself to be organised, and to watch less TV. I enjoy watching TV and knowing what is going on in shows, but really the books I want to read, probably give me more. The only TV shows that are better, are the ones that take me to views in countries that I will not get to travel to.
I love reading books, but some take longer than others to read. I have read the fourth Priscilla Royal book and am really enjoying it.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
A New Year of reading is coming
January has come again, and I started it with plans to read lots during the month. Then I started one of the books that I wanted to read, My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk, and it is taking me a long time to read it.
I find it absolutely amazing how many books Alexander McCall Smith can churn out in a year, but when he produced a new Professor Igelfed book, I had to buy it. The Unusual Uses of Olive Oil is named for the story at the end of the book, but as usual we have this man who does not read social situations as most do, having and adventure by his accident of not being able to say no, or to tell them he is not the one they expect, and getting away with a very funny publicised story. In some ways I felt as though the first part of the book was not up to the usual standard, but the second half grew on me, till at the end I was happy that I had read it for the fun.
If you like Mystery books and you want to learn more of medieval life I would like to recommend the series of books written by Priscilla Royal. I read two in the first week of January, which had very different story lines, but contained much humour. They are a great read.
The tennis open calls, amazing match last night, it will be interesting to see how Djokovic recovers from this.
Enjoy
I find it absolutely amazing how many books Alexander McCall Smith can churn out in a year, but when he produced a new Professor Igelfed book, I had to buy it. The Unusual Uses of Olive Oil is named for the story at the end of the book, but as usual we have this man who does not read social situations as most do, having and adventure by his accident of not being able to say no, or to tell them he is not the one they expect, and getting away with a very funny publicised story. In some ways I felt as though the first part of the book was not up to the usual standard, but the second half grew on me, till at the end I was happy that I had read it for the fun.
If you like Mystery books and you want to learn more of medieval life I would like to recommend the series of books written by Priscilla Royal. I read two in the first week of January, which had very different story lines, but contained much humour. They are a great read.
The tennis open calls, amazing match last night, it will be interesting to see how Djokovic recovers from this.
Enjoy
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