Although there in nothing much to report on the book front I can announce that I have caught the first sun of the year. If you put a traffic cone on my head and gave me a green skirt to wear I could probably help stop traffic. I did spend some time wandering around outside today. I went to see a friend of mine for a bit of a BBQ. However, I did not spend that much time in the sun. Just walking out and about for about 50 minutes in all. The rest of the day was spent sitting on a comfortable chair in the shade. Maybe they had some special kind of sun over where I was? It has been a good day today. Nice little BBQ, nice catch up and nice bus trip there and back. I like going on the bus. It was a double decker so I sat on the top level and just feasted my eyes on the gorgeous English countryside.... nice!
The not-book buying phase has still not come to an end.... might have to see if I can break the dry spell somehow. I just cannot get over how much new books cost in the shops nowadays. Normally I tend to pick up second hand ones and they are all just a couple of pounds, if that. Sometimes a new book even of just about 150 pages will cost £7.99...... I want at least 200 to 250 pages for that kind of money. I might have to resort to buying on line but have not really decided what has priority yet... soooooo many books to choose from.
The book of Graham Greene's letters is progressing well. You can actually recognise the writing from the books in the letters he writes. His sense of humor comes through as well. Still quite a bit to go on them so once I complete this post I will delve into some more of it.
Sunday 26 June 2011
Saturday 18 June 2011
Goods to Declare
I may not seem to be able to buy any books but I have managed to acquire another one none the less. A friend I used to work with has been clearing out his garage and found a few that he thought I might find interesting. I ended up saying "no thank you" to the No1 Ladies Detective Agency but said "yes please" to Robert Harris' Fatherland. The scores on the doors are now:
Books given: 1
Books to be read: 70
At the moment I am reading a book with letters from Graham Greene. Very interesting to get an insight into his private thoughts and correspondence.
Books given: 1
Books to be read: 70
At the moment I am reading a book with letters from Graham Greene. Very interesting to get an insight into his private thoughts and correspondence.
Sunday 12 June 2011
Mind over matter
I am sorry to report that I seem to be losing my touch when it comes to finding books to buy. Well, actually.. let me rephrase that. I seem to be losing my touch hen it comes to finding cheap books to buy. I went into the Age Concern Bookshop in Wolverton yesterday and had a good rummage through all the book shelves and could not find one single book that took my fancy. I feared that perhaps I had trained my mind so well in the not buying books mentality that I had subconsciously raised a book buying barrier in my brain that would not let me part with any money in a book store. So I decided to put the theory to the test by going into another 2 bookshops today. A Waterstones in MK was my first port of call. I went in and immediately spotted a couple of books that I would not mind having but then my conscience kicked and as I looked at the price I thought... You know, I could probably get these cheaper online?! Yeah.. let's do that. I have yet to order them. Then I went into WH Smith where the signs of buy-one-get-one-half-price screamed at me from the minute I got into the store. Again, I noticed a few books that I was tempted by but then again my conscience kicked in and told me... You know. Buy one get one half price is not that good a deal. Buy one get one FREE would be a better deal. Also, if you bought them online you might be able to get more for your money. So, once again I let out a sigh and went out of the store.
Now, if I am honest I do have plenty of books that I still have to read. But it is always so nice to have something to read that you can look forward to. To have that book that you have been looking for for so long or have become intrigued by because you heard about it or have wanted to read since you were a child or that you heard someone else talk about and are sure that you will like too. So for now reason and my conscience reign victorious in the (non) book buying sector of my brain but I am sure I will catch them out..... eventually.
#### SPOILER ALERT ####
Ghosts over Britain - Peter Moss
I notice from the first page that I have had this one lying around since June 2008. I fear there may be more like this on my stack of books to be read. I bought this one on a little expedition to the bookshop in Wolverton. I remember buying it and going for a Full English in the Agora afterwards. I am not sure which I enjoyed more? Finding the book or eating the breakfast.
The books is in essence a collection of factual ghost stories, sightings and strange goings on in Britain. It does exactly what it says on the tin. The events retold are all noted down from the people who experienced them and collected in several (sort of random) categories. The events portrayed range from ghost pigs, to eyes in floor boards, animals going beserk and malevolent spirits wandering in and out of houses. As you might expect a number of the stories feature old mansions and churches but it seems that the regular two up two down is not stranger to haunting presences either.
One of the tales that struck a chord with me is one of the earlier ones. It tells about a young woman going to stay with some friends and being awoken by some female presence only to find out the next day that the person that used to live in the room committed suicide there. I am not sure what amazed me more about this one. the fact that she saw the ghost of the suicide victim or the fact that the people who let her stay in the room had not even bothered to change the bed or mattress since the event took place. There is also the one about the headless cyclist. Being a cyclist myself I can tell you that we are kind of attached to our heads in more ways than one. A man spots a cyclist plodding through the snow towards a car and only afterwards realises that it seemed as if the guy was headless. The car does not slow down but the inevitable crash does not materialise. The landlord of a pub close by obliges in revealing the origins of the story. Someone was knocked of their bike there.. about 25 years ago.
The book shows ghosts in their many different guises. Some are helpful and try to prevent bad things from happening to those they appear to. Others seem hell bent on taunting and torturing the ones they visit. There is also a fair few stories in which animals seem to be the ones who are more aware of something being here. Dogs or cats that refuse to go into certain rooms. One story mentions a dog that goes crazy when a family moves into their new home. It gets so bad that they have to re-home the dog and as soon as that happens it becomes its usual cheery self again. There is even one about Bletchley where there is a ghost nurse that wanders round the wards of the RAF sick quarters. She and her trolley of surgical equipment seem to vanish through a wall of the ward.
All in all, this is a nice little collection of factual ghost stories of all over Britain. Nothing spectacular but worth the reading.
Title: Ghosts over Britain
Author: Peter Moss
173 pages
Book Club Associates
no ISBN nr
Books to be read: 69
Now, if I am honest I do have plenty of books that I still have to read. But it is always so nice to have something to read that you can look forward to. To have that book that you have been looking for for so long or have become intrigued by because you heard about it or have wanted to read since you were a child or that you heard someone else talk about and are sure that you will like too. So for now reason and my conscience reign victorious in the (non) book buying sector of my brain but I am sure I will catch them out..... eventually.
#### SPOILER ALERT ####
Ghosts over Britain - Peter Moss
I notice from the first page that I have had this one lying around since June 2008. I fear there may be more like this on my stack of books to be read. I bought this one on a little expedition to the bookshop in Wolverton. I remember buying it and going for a Full English in the Agora afterwards. I am not sure which I enjoyed more? Finding the book or eating the breakfast.
The books is in essence a collection of factual ghost stories, sightings and strange goings on in Britain. It does exactly what it says on the tin. The events retold are all noted down from the people who experienced them and collected in several (sort of random) categories. The events portrayed range from ghost pigs, to eyes in floor boards, animals going beserk and malevolent spirits wandering in and out of houses. As you might expect a number of the stories feature old mansions and churches but it seems that the regular two up two down is not stranger to haunting presences either.
One of the tales that struck a chord with me is one of the earlier ones. It tells about a young woman going to stay with some friends and being awoken by some female presence only to find out the next day that the person that used to live in the room committed suicide there. I am not sure what amazed me more about this one. the fact that she saw the ghost of the suicide victim or the fact that the people who let her stay in the room had not even bothered to change the bed or mattress since the event took place. There is also the one about the headless cyclist. Being a cyclist myself I can tell you that we are kind of attached to our heads in more ways than one. A man spots a cyclist plodding through the snow towards a car and only afterwards realises that it seemed as if the guy was headless. The car does not slow down but the inevitable crash does not materialise. The landlord of a pub close by obliges in revealing the origins of the story. Someone was knocked of their bike there.. about 25 years ago.
The book shows ghosts in their many different guises. Some are helpful and try to prevent bad things from happening to those they appear to. Others seem hell bent on taunting and torturing the ones they visit. There is also a fair few stories in which animals seem to be the ones who are more aware of something being here. Dogs or cats that refuse to go into certain rooms. One story mentions a dog that goes crazy when a family moves into their new home. It gets so bad that they have to re-home the dog and as soon as that happens it becomes its usual cheery self again. There is even one about Bletchley where there is a ghost nurse that wanders round the wards of the RAF sick quarters. She and her trolley of surgical equipment seem to vanish through a wall of the ward.
All in all, this is a nice little collection of factual ghost stories of all over Britain. Nothing spectacular but worth the reading.
Title: Ghosts over Britain
Author: Peter Moss
173 pages
Book Club Associates
no ISBN nr
Books to be read: 69
Monday 6 June 2011
Way to go
This is not a "another day another book finished"-post. I am still reading my way through a ghost story one and have about half the book to go... perhaps finish it next weekend, depending on how much reading I get done this week.
However, I do have something else I have been meaning to get off my chest. It has to do with some little blue creatures called Smurfs. Apparently they are not as innocent as I always presumed them to be. Let me explain how I found this out.
My sister very kindly keeps me posted on interesting Dutch news, on little things she feels I would find interesting or quirky. She has great taste in this department and the articles she sends always make me chuckle or go "mmmm, interesting" or "mmm, weird but interesting". Also, I love getting post the old fashioned way by proper post, not e-mail or Facebook message so it serves a double purpose. Anyhoo... back to the Smurfs. This article sis sent me mentioned that when the Smurfs were first introduced in the 1960s that some Americans had trouble on how to interpret the Smurfs!? This made me go: Really.... how? As far as I can see they are a race of blue cartoon characters that live together and get up to all sorts. That is all there is to it. But apparently the Smurfs and their tendencies to wear their white, tight little trousers and white pointy hats made our American friends think that they are gay and/or members of the Ku Klux Klan (the article does not mention which they would consider to be worse?). I myself do not see the comparison but if you look hard enough you will always find what you seek I guess. Maybe this analysis says more about the person than the actual facts presented? To add to the raw deal for the Smurfs there is also a French writer (Antoine Bueno) who has now written a book presenting "a serious sociological study" of the world of the Smurfs, and it is not good news. According to mr Bueno the Smurfs live in a society that is "the embodiment of a totalitarian utopian society, drenched in Stalinisn and Nazism". Poor Smurfs. I always thought they seemed rather happy go lucky and cheery to be living in their little world.
I do have a few simple words of advice for mr Bueno: GET OVER IT! It is a cartoon and it is only make believe. I cannot honestly believe that mr Peyo (the creator of the Smurfs) set out to give us a true reflection of human society. He probably just wanted to create a cartoon with some funny looking characters that each represent a certain personality trait present in each and every one of us. The fact that they have a society where they all work together to get the job done or the fact that the only female smurf around has blond hair does not mean that they are all going to be flying the Soviet flag and calling eachother comrade or are a portrayal of the Arian race. Geez... really.. if we took all our cartoons so seriously someone should sue Warner Brothers, Hanna Barbara and every other cartoon producing company for representing organised, repetitive homicide on a mass scale (how often does Tom kill Jerry again.. oh that's right EVERY cartoon) and animal abuse (animals dressed up in human clothes.. really)! Let's just keep it real here. The Smurfs are just a cartoon not to be used for a polemic against present day society. Leave them be! The only thing you could probably blame them for is the fact that the theme tune is soooo annoyingly catchy that even after not having watched them for at least 10 years I can still sing along with it.
Keep 'm coming Sis!!
However, I do have something else I have been meaning to get off my chest. It has to do with some little blue creatures called Smurfs. Apparently they are not as innocent as I always presumed them to be. Let me explain how I found this out.
My sister very kindly keeps me posted on interesting Dutch news, on little things she feels I would find interesting or quirky. She has great taste in this department and the articles she sends always make me chuckle or go "mmmm, interesting" or "mmm, weird but interesting". Also, I love getting post the old fashioned way by proper post, not e-mail or Facebook message so it serves a double purpose. Anyhoo... back to the Smurfs. This article sis sent me mentioned that when the Smurfs were first introduced in the 1960s that some Americans had trouble on how to interpret the Smurfs!? This made me go: Really.... how? As far as I can see they are a race of blue cartoon characters that live together and get up to all sorts. That is all there is to it. But apparently the Smurfs and their tendencies to wear their white, tight little trousers and white pointy hats made our American friends think that they are gay and/or members of the Ku Klux Klan (the article does not mention which they would consider to be worse?). I myself do not see the comparison but if you look hard enough you will always find what you seek I guess. Maybe this analysis says more about the person than the actual facts presented? To add to the raw deal for the Smurfs there is also a French writer (Antoine Bueno) who has now written a book presenting "a serious sociological study" of the world of the Smurfs, and it is not good news. According to mr Bueno the Smurfs live in a society that is "the embodiment of a totalitarian utopian society, drenched in Stalinisn and Nazism". Poor Smurfs. I always thought they seemed rather happy go lucky and cheery to be living in their little world.
I do have a few simple words of advice for mr Bueno: GET OVER IT! It is a cartoon and it is only make believe. I cannot honestly believe that mr Peyo (the creator of the Smurfs) set out to give us a true reflection of human society. He probably just wanted to create a cartoon with some funny looking characters that each represent a certain personality trait present in each and every one of us. The fact that they have a society where they all work together to get the job done or the fact that the only female smurf around has blond hair does not mean that they are all going to be flying the Soviet flag and calling eachother comrade or are a portrayal of the Arian race. Geez... really.. if we took all our cartoons so seriously someone should sue Warner Brothers, Hanna Barbara and every other cartoon producing company for representing organised, repetitive homicide on a mass scale (how often does Tom kill Jerry again.. oh that's right EVERY cartoon) and animal abuse (animals dressed up in human clothes.. really)! Let's just keep it real here. The Smurfs are just a cartoon not to be used for a polemic against present day society. Leave them be! The only thing you could probably blame them for is the fact that the theme tune is soooo annoyingly catchy that even after not having watched them for at least 10 years I can still sing along with it.
Keep 'm coming Sis!!
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