Tuesday 6 April 2021

This and that

 Let's get the book club out of the way first.   After chatting about the 'crawdads' book we were all more or less agreed - not a great work of literature, like the curate's egg, enjoyed more by some than others.   As to next month's choice (The Count of Monte Cristo) a general feeling that almost a thousand pages (of very small print) is really too much (one member of the group apologised but said he would watch the film instead).   So there is another book and reading Monte Cristo is spread over two months.   The choice for next month is 'My father's glory and my mother's castle' by Marcel Pagnol.   And the thousand pages of small print has become optional and spread out.   But interestingly  as regards the Crawdads book,there are two of us in the Book Group who think that the writing, the use of metaphor and simile, the structure of the book take precedence - we both liked the book more because we felt it was very well written even if at times the story was weak and not always believable.   To each his own.

 And the weather today?   A topic of conversation I would say as it is bitterly cold and Priscilla and I dare not venture out in the very strong wind.   Snow showers were forecast and as afternoon has advanced they have arrived but are only slight and pass in a minute.   I wonder how Thelma is faring up on the North York Moors - when the wind is in the North, as it is today, they seem to come off worse than we do here.

So my quota of people to chat to falls short today.   There is nobody about apart from folk - the same ones every day - well wrapped up and scuttling round with their dogs on their daily walks and all looking desperate to get back home into the comfort of central heating.   How lucky we are to be past the days of an open fire when we all sat as near as we could and burnt the fronts of our legs while the backs froze.   I remember those days well.   A couple of phone calls and the same of e mails has been my lot today since J went.

Did you watch last night's University Challenge final?   I have followed since day one and have not missed one episode.   Warwick thoroughly deserved to win - they have been so knowledgeable from day one.   I do think that a good range of differing subjects amongst the four contestants makes a difference - say English, Maths, Physics, Politics/Economics - or maybe Geography.    It is all so good humoured and ''gentlemanly'.   And having Simon Armitage, our Poet Laureate, on to 'present' the prize to the winning team was a nice touch (loved his shirt) (rather looked as though he would be happy when the hairdressers opened next week).   Good to see that our young people are just as clever as the young always were.

Until tomorrow...

 


18 comments:

CharlotteP said...

Following your warning of snow yesterday, I took (dragged!) my potted magnolia into the garage. Just as well as we had snow down here in Kidderminster. Thanks for the reminder, Pat!

Sue said...

Enjoyed last night's University Challenge final, it was a close contest halfway through. I think I managed to get three questions right! Quite heavy snow showers here in Lincs this afternoon.

Debby said...

It is always such a pleasant spot in the day to wander over to your blog and read what you have to say. Thank you. It is warm here, however, I've had to force myself to ignore it and hit my books for class tonight. There is, however, always tomorrow! Hope it warms up for you soon.

JayCee said...

P usually enjoys watching University Challenge, just to see how many he can get right!

Sue in Suffolk said...

I'm just sad to see the end of quizzy Monday nights now that 2 out of the 3 quizzes have finished, wonder whats on next week.

Warwick were very good but the Cambridge team seemed more 'normal'!

Freezing here in Suffolk and now at 20 past 6 it's snowing hard

Derek Faulkner said...

The bitter cold and drying winds and sunshine have certainly reduced the water levels on the reserve this last week, they've been acting like some sort of weather vacuum cleaner. The flower beds in my garden are also drying out far too quick and will be cracking soon. Seems we have basically another couple of weeks of this dry and cold weather to come.

Rachel Phillips said...

A 1000 page, small print book, with multiple characters, is an unreasonable choice for a book club read in my opinion. Surely part of being in a book club is to enjoy oneself, not suffer a penance from month to month. When you have asked me for recommendations, and I have given you a few, I have always kept to books of a reasonable length, not too long and not too short, which will give both pleasure and interest and are well written. I think your new choice for this month will be enjoyable and a fun read. It has been snow showers here all day, very cold, bitter in fact.

Bonnie said...

I'm sorry to hear you and others are still having snow. Hopefully the cold spell won't last very long. Enjoy your day Pat!

Gail, northern California said...

Here in the US Ken Burns' three-part documentary "Hemingway" premiered last night. Like a fine piece of chocolate you cut in pieces "to make it last", I watched only Part I....spellbound. Makes me want to read Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises" and "A Farewell to Arms"...a treat to myself when the library is finally able to reopen.

Chris said...

I watched that last night too, Gail, and look forward to tonight's episodes. He was a remarkable man (but not a great husband!) and so young when he came to fame.

Joanne Noragon said...

And finally I had a day to call spring. Sorry you had snow.

Cro Magnon said...

I have seen the lovely old Pagnol films, but never read the books. The French used to make such atmospheric films... I don't know what happened.

Librarian said...

I'd not be able to read 1000 pages of small print - the sheer idea would put me off completely. At the moment, I am reading Barack Obama's latest book, which is not exactly short either, but has not too small a print and is neatly divided so that I can always read a few pages until my eyes say enough.
It's been snowing here on and off all day yesterday, and the same today. My cherry tree is in bloom - it looks oddly beautiful with the snow, and I hope that the blossoms survive the cold.

Jessica L. Smith said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Debby said...

His documentaries are always beautifully done even if you think you are not interested in the subject matter.

Crafty Green Poet said...

A thousand pages of small print would generally put me off too!

Bitterly cold up in Edinburgh too! A speckle of snow yesterday but mostly sunny and windy

liparifam said...

I read "Count" decades ago - when I was young, I was really into reading all of the classics. Also read "Crawdads" when it first came out. I thought it was ok, not as great as so many reviewers seemed to think. I recall being frustrated by a huge problem with the plot - can't remember exactly, but something to do with the necklace being found, I believe...

liparifam said...

Oh, and I still recommend checking out "The Pull of the Stars", which I enjoyed very much :)