'this delicious solitude' is a phrase I have borrowed from Andrew Marvell's poem 'The Garden'. I chose it because, for me, it sums up the wonderful feeling of being in another world when you read a great book or watch a great film.
I'm hoping in this space to share some of the books and films that I love and hopefully find other people who love them too. I might also include some ramblings about food, politics, nature and the world in general but will try my best not to become too 'navel-gazy'.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
About Me
- jess
- Reading and writing in Australia
Contact me at:
Currently reading...
- Middlemarch George Eliot
Recently read...
- 'The Happiest Refugee' Anh Do
- 'The Last Werewolf' Glen Duncan
- 'The Lost Art of Sleep' Michael McGirr
- Up to 2009
- 'Pretties' Scott Westerfeld
- 'The White Tiger' Aravind Adiga
- 'Rembrandt's Whore' Sylvie Matton
- 'Christine Falls' Benjamin Black
- 'Every Man for Himself' Beryl Bainbridge
- 'The Crime of the Century' Kingsley Amis
- 'Mister Pip' Lloyd Jones
- 'Maximum Security' Robert Muchamore
- 'Class A' Robert Muchamore
- 'Gentlemen of the Road' Michael Chabon
- 'Wash This Blood Clean From My Hand' Fred Vargas
4 comments:
Navel gazing can be interesting to read ....
I know, i quite like to read (some) other people's personal ramblings but can't help feeling slightly embarrassed about revealing my own. Probably ironic that I have started a blog then...
I love this site. You latest article re: Plath is very interesting. It's always compelling to think about *who* the person is behind the author. Sometimes this understanding brings an extra edge to what you read (Plath) and other times, it kind of turns you off.
As an example, in reading Isabelle Allende's books, I imagined what I felt was a real understanding of who she was. But then I went and heard her talk and it was all turned upside down - she sounded (in that day, at that time) quite conceited, hollow and just a little smug. So I've read many of her novels but...now...? Well I sort of can't be bothered.
If Phillip Pullman was an absolute arsehole or was boring and small minded or mistreated his wife, would we love Northern Lights as much? Would it add the edge or take the sheen?
Thanks! Nice that someone is reading it!
Re: the personality of the author. While it does have some effect, your comments brought to mind Truman Capote who I think was probably a fairly manipulative, petty guy but whose writing I love nevertheless. Maybe he has the kind of personality faults that I can forgive?
Post a Comment