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The Longest Night
It’s the solstice – so here’s a poem. Light a candle, bring your loved ones close, and hold fast against the longest night.Peace & love, Book Barmy
*****************************************************************And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us – listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.Susan Cooper
Courtesy of Stephanie HERE
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Soon — Very Soon
I’m on the home stretch of Christmas preparations. Knitting projects whittled down to a final few. Presents wrapped, boxed and shipped – mostly. Christmas cards mailed (yes I still send some real cards). Cookies are made and boxed to distribute. The tree is up and decorated. Just a few last minute decorations and gifts to sort out.
So it’s beginning to look like ~~~ Ho Ho Ho ~~~ holiday reading time Soon — very soon I keep telling myself.
Here’s my pile of carefully chosen Christmas books, standing at the ready next to my reading chair.
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Every December an envelope bearing a stamp from the North Pole would arrive for J.R.R. Tolkien’s children. Inside would be a letter in a strange, spidery handwriting and a hand-colored drawing. This book contains all the letters J.R.R. Tolkien wrote to his children in the guise of Father Christmas from the first to his eldest son in 1920 right through to the last one he wrote to his only daughter in 1943. Each letter purports to be an account of various adventures that happen to Father Christmas and elves. I’ve briefly dipped into this lovely book. It’s filled with reproductions of the actual hand calligraphy and drawings Tolkien created –and I couldn’t resist — this beautiful book had to belong in my Christmas book collection. Here’s just a sample.
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This is the first in a mystery series featuring the Armenian dective Gregor Demarkian. I’ve never read any of these so grabbed this for $2 at the big book sale. Here’s the summary:The Hannaford who made the family fortune called himself a tycoon. The newspapers called him a robber baron. Since the days of Robert Hannaford I, the family has infested Philadelphia society like a disease. The current Hannafords are a clan of embezzlers, gamblers, and fantasy novelists. This Christmas, they have money in their bank accounts, crime in their blood, and murder on their minds.
Gregor Demarkian is their reluctant guest. A former FBI agent who quit the agency after his wife’s death, he is invited by the Hannaford patriarch to come for dinner at the family mansion. Demarkain arrives just in time to find his host bludgeoned to death in his study and his investigation will lead him to the Hannafords, a family of cold-blooded killers.
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This book came into our young adult section at the bookstore. It’s part of a series called “Dear America” which tell historical events through fictional characters.In April of 1917, Simone Spencer’s world changes. Her beloved brother Will goes off to war, and Simone seeks a way to help. The passionate daughter of a feisty French mother and a rebellious upper-class father, Simone is not cut out for the society life she is meant to lead.
So, when General Pershing calls for French-speaking American girls to operate the switchboards on the Western Front, Simone becomes one of the first to sign up and keeps a diary of her life as a brave “Hello Girl” whose courage helped lead the Allies to victory.
I borrowed this little book and after reading it will determine if it’s worthy of purchase for my collection.
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This looks like fun. From the back: It’s three days until Christmas and Junior Bender, Hollywood’s fast-talking fixer for the felonious, is up to his ears in shopping mall Santas, Russian mobsters, desperate holiday shoppers, and (’tis the season) murder.
Junior Bender, divorced father of one and burglar extraordinaire, finds himself stuck inside the Edgerton Mall, and not just as a last-minute shopper (though he is that too). Edgerton isn’t exactly the epicenter of holiday cheer, despite its two Santas, canned Christmas music, chintzy bows, and festive lights. The mall is a fossil of an industry in decline; many of its stores are closed, and to make matters worse, there is a rampant shoplifting problem.
The murderous Russian mobster who owns the place has decided it takes a thief to catch a thief and hires Junior—under threat—to solve the shoplifting problem for him. But Junior’s surveillance operation doesn’t go well: as Christmas Eve approaches, two people are dead and it’s obvious that shoplifting is the least of the mall’s problems. To prevent further deaths, possibly including his own, Junior must confront his dread of Christmas—both present and past.***************************************************************
I’m on the looooong library wait list for this treat from the late P.D. James. Trust me, I can hardly wait, and will drop all the others when my turn comes.Here’s the blurb from the library catalog:
Four previously unpublished stories from one of the great mystery writers of our time—swift, cunning murder mysteries (two of which feature a young Adam Dalgliesh) that together, to borrow the author’s own word, add up to a delightful “entertainment.”
The newly appointed Sgt. Dalgliesh is drawn into a case that is “pure Agatha Christie.” . . . A “pedantic, respectable, censorious” clerk’s secret taste for pornography is only the first reason he finds for not coming forward as a witness to a murder . . . A best-selling crime novelist describes the crime she herself was involved in fifty years earlier . . . Dalgliesh’s godfather implores him to reinvestigate a notorious murder that might ease the godfather’s mind about an inheritance, but which will reveal a truth that even the supremely upstanding Adam Dalgliesh will keep to himself. Each of these stories is as playful as it is ingeniously plotted, the author’s sly humor as evident as her hallmark narrative elegance and shrewd understanding of some of the most complex—not to say the most damning—aspects of human nature. A treat for P. D. James’s legions of fans and anyone who enjoys the pleasures of a masterfully wrought whodunit.************************************************************
For now I have a few more Christmas preparations, there are some fun events to attend, and not forgetting our annual dinner downtown combined with visiting the holiday window light displays.
But soon I’ll be in my happy place, Christmas tea mug in hand, carols softly playing and reading ~~ there’s even more rain predicted in a few days. We need more rain and, as I’m sure you’ll agree — it’s the perfect reading weather.
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and then there’s this…
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Christmas Ads
Years ago, back when the dinosaurs still roamed the earth, I was fortunate to work in advertising. I still hold a special fondness for any really good advertising – but especially Christmas ads. It’s when advertisers and their agencies pull out all the stops to either make us laugh or tug at our heartstrings.
Here’s a few of my favorites for 2016 …
So take a break from your Christmas shopping, get yourself a warm drink, perhaps a cookie (or as in the British ads below – a nice mince pie) — and be sure to have the tissues handy…
Several of these are British ads and if you find the accents difficult to understand, click on the CC (in lower right of video) to get subtitles…
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Knitting, not reading.
I know you’ve been asking yourselves, what’s going on, where are the book reviews? Isn’t this crazy little blog called Book Barmy? Emphasis on book, if you please. What the heck is going on?
Well my friends, I am deeply into my Christmas knitting projects. Within my circle of dear friends there are three little ones on my knitting list (ages two, one, and not quite born yet). I also have family in the frigid northeast who need, appreciate and wear out woolen hand knits.
And so, I am happily knitting away…
And while audio books are an option, I prefer to take advantage of my knitting obligations to persuade my husband to relinquish our television (and his Walking Dead shows ~~ shudder) to me and my knitting evenings — after all, dearest, Christmas is coming and I have to finish these knitted presents…Okay? Nighty night…
Thought I’d pass on a few of my screen time favorites.
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First, to tag on to my most recent POST – a very decent (s0 far) time travel show on a major network.
Timeless on NBC
A scientist, a soldier and a history professor travel back in time to critical historical events. They’ve go back through a rickety time machine, (okay I know, just go with it) to various key points in history, such as the Hindenburg and Lincoln’s assignation. And while they must not change the events of the past themselves, their mission is to find a rouge time machine traveler, who stole the more modern version of the time machine and is intent on dastardly time crimes. (I just love writing that phrase — “dastardly time crimes”).It’s pure fun–the costumes and historical references are great…and while it’s not Masterpiece Theater, Timeless is very well scripted — and worthy escape television.
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The Crown on Netflix
This is a lavish, Netflix-original drama which chronicles the life of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s to modern times. I’m only a few episodes into the series which begins with an inside look at the early reign of the queen. It portrays, with great empathy, what this remarkable young woman had to take on when she ascended the throne at age 25 after the death of her father, King George VI. The costumes and scenery are jaw-dropping, and as an added bonus, John Lithgow plays Churchill. Mesmerizing TV for any Anglophile. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Vera on PBS
Based on the novels by crime writer Ann Cleeves, these are a distinctly different sort of crime series.Based in Yorkshire, DCI Vera Stanhope is obsessive about her work and driven by her own demons. She plods along in a constantly disheveled state, but has a calculating mind, and despite her prickly personality, she cares deeply about her work and comrades (she calls everyone “pet”).
Best to find Vera on-demand, so you can rewind to catch the accents -but after awhile you’ll get the hang of that unique Yorkshire accent, and well worth the effort.
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Graham Norton on BBC America
A British “chat” show hosted by the affable Graham Norton.Mr. Norton, an Irish comedian, cultivates a relaxed atmosphere on his show, not just because guests are allowed to have a drink, but also because he interviews the guests all at once, on a couch. This creates a warm repartee that often is uncontrolled and extremely funny. Mr. Norton is attentive, witty, flattering without being insincere, and is genuinely interested in his guests. He also knows when to keep quiet and stays out of the way of some fascinating and hysterical dialogue. Even though sometimes the inside British references are lost on me, I find this the funniest talk show on television. Look for the clip with Bill Murry, Matt Damon and Hugh Bonneville on YouTube. (I can’t seem to link it here.)
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Anne of Green Gables on PBS
I haven’t watched this brand-new adaption, which just aired on Thanksgiving night.The production is gorgeously filmed in Canada and features Martin Sheen as Matthew Cuthbert. I have it recorded and am looking forward to seeing it with a cup of tea and, yes my knitting.
If you missed it, do not despair, it is supposed to air again during the Christmas holidays.
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In the meantime, fear not, I’m still here and will do some sparse reading when I’m able. I know you’ll understand
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Take me away…
I’m guessing you may be in the mood to escape and, as it just so happens, I have some reading recommendations to take you away for a bit (you’re quite welcome).
Taking you away to one of my favorite guilty reading pleasures – Time Travel.
Now don’t scoff, this genre is tricky – one false move and the novel is relegated to those dusty bookstore shelves of either fantasy or science fiction.
Accomplished authors convince the reader that time travel is not only credible, but enticingly possible. Like watching a magician perform or a classic Disney movie — the reader is happily ensconced between reality and make believe. Bring it on, I say — bring it on.
And so, without further ado, my favorite time travel tales…
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, by Mark Twain (Samuel L. Clemens)
Near, and dear to my heart, this was my introduction to time travel, aged 12, sitting on the floor of my grandfather’s library, this book spread open in front of me.In 1889, a practical Yankee is hit on the head and wakes up in England — in the year 528. He fools the inhabitants of the time into thinking that he is a magician and becomes Sir Boss of the Round Table. The Yankee believes that he is the saving grace for the people of Camelot, using capitalism as his means to set them free. The societal commentary and satire was above my head during that first reading. But upon adult re-reading, the lampooning of social class institutions and of inherited rank is pure Twain — witty (but sobering) sarcasm.
Here’s my cherished original copy from my grandfather’s library.
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A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’EngleI also read this as a young girl and have re-read it several times since. A Wrinkle in Time is written for young adults but can be enjoyed at any age. Winner of the 1963 Newbery award, it spins a captivating tale, which opens (wait for it) on a dark and stormy night. Meg Murray, her little brother Charles Wallace, and their mother are having a midnight snack when an unearthly stranger appears at their door. He claims to have been blown off course, and goes on to tell them that there is such a thing as a ‘tesseract’, or a wrinkle in time. Meg’s father had been experimenting with time-travel when he suddenly disappeared. Meg, Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin venture to outwit the forces of evil as they search through space for their father. Pure fantasy, pure delight.
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Time and Again by Jack FinneyWhen asked about my all time favorite books — Time and Again has a permanent place on that list. I have bought and given away many copies of this book over the years.
In 1970, Simon Morley, an advertising sketch artist, is approached by U.S. Army to participate in a secret government project, which involves — in case you haven’t been paying attention here — yes, time travel.
Simon or ‘Si’, as he’s called, jumps at the chance to leave his twentieth-century existence and step into 1882 New York City. Aside from his thirst for experience, he has good reason to return to the past—his girlfriend Kate has a curious, half-burned letter dated from that year, which holds a mystery about her lineage. But when Si begins to fall in love with a woman he meets in the past, he will be forced to choose between two worlds—forever.
What sets this classic time travel novel apart from any other is the detail, the exquisite illustrations and curated photographs. Mr. Finney’s highly detailed descriptions bring the period to life – from the interior of the Dakota residence to the often pock-marked faces of the people, unprotected (as they were then) from small pox.
Warning, these descriptions may slow you down, but that’s fine, as this is a book to be read slowly and richly savored.
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Kindred by Octavia E. ButlerEqual parts time travel and slave narrative, this novel is still as popular as it was when it was first published in 1979.
Often studied as high school required reading, Kindred is the first-person account of a young African-American writer, Dana, who finds herself shuttled between her California home in 1976 and a pre-Civil War Maryland plantation. There she meets her ancestors: a spoiled, self-destructive white slave owner and the proud black freewoman he has forced into slavery and concubinage (I checked, yes, that’s a word…). As her journeys into the past become longer, Dana becomes intimately entangled with the plantation community, making difficult compromises to survive slavery and to ensure her existence in her own time.
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The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey NiffeneggerA highly imaginative novel in which the author has combined time travel with the intricacies of love, marriage, children, sickness, loss, joy and sorrow.
Henry is a time traveler, although not by choice. A genetic mutation causes him to spontaneously travel through time without warning and he finds himself in the past or future, usually at a time or place of importance in his life. Clare, his wife has been with him through most all his time travels, and his various life stages. She waits for each of his visits throughout the years until they can meet in real time. Together they hold fast to their love and attempt to have some semblance of a normal life.
This is a complex story, and even with Henry shuttling back and forth in every chapter, the author deftly keeps the plot clear, compelling and, at times heartbreaking. But, as the Washington Post said, this is
“ a love that works despite all travails and impediments.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Murder in Time by Julie McElwainI just finished my most recent time travel read the other night. Kendra is a tough FBI agent who goes rouge in order to assassinate the killer who brought down half her FBI team mates. She pursues the killer to Aldrich Castle in England and hides in a stair well only to emerge still in the same castle — but in regency-era 1815.
Mistaken for a lady’s maid hired to help with weekend guests, Kendra is forced to quickly adapt to the time period until she can figure out how she got there; and, more importantly, how to get back home. However, after the body of a young girl is found on the grounds of the county estate, she starts to feel there’s some purpose to her bizarre circumstances. Stripped of her twenty-first century FBI tools, Kendra must use her wits alone in order to unmask a cunning serial killer.
Pure entertainment with enough action and adventure to keep the reader entertained. Kendra, and her bad-ass self, turn the 19th century on its ear.
A digital review copy was provided by Pegasus Books via NetGalley
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So, dear Book Barmy readers, choose any of these books to take you away — away from your worries to these wonderful tales of other times — and other places.
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Book Barmy Birthday!
Given the last week or so, I forgot it was Book Barmy’s birthday.
It’s been four years (more or less) since the birth of this tiny little blog.
It all started with my scribbled book notebooks and Connie, my artistic and talented web designer, and now — well, shut the door — there’s all of you.
While I could plan a celebration…
I know you’ll understand, if instead, I celebrate this way…
I especially appreciate (and acknowledge) you turning a blind eye to my run-on sentences and errant punctuation — not to mention my often overwrought writing style. Not forgetting the often curmudgeonly rants and raves.
I love when you come by to visit Book Barmy and make a comment — I cherish every one.
Because of you, my loyal readers, this blog is now one of my favorite things in a wonderfully full, yet admittedly, barmy life.
HERE’s my very first post.
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Just not for me…
I recently read two books , well one I read and the other I abandoned, but neither were for me. I’ve decided that’s OK, as Simon, one of my favorite book bloggers says — someone else may love these novels.
This is Your Life, Harriet Chance!by Jonathan Evison
I was initially drawn to this novel, because of its unique premise, which mirrors the 1950’s television series “This is your life”. In the show, a famous person’s life was re-told with flashbacks to life changing moments, the places they lived, the important people who played a vital part in said lives. See a sample of the show HERE.
The cover gives the appearance of a light-hearted novel (there I go again judging a book by its cover). Harriet is 78, her husband has recently died and she decides to go on an Alaskan cruise he planned before he got Alzheimer’s.
Ahh, a cheery-new-lease-on-life story you would think…but we are being led terribly astray. There is nothing cheery about Harriet Chance’s life.
Like the television show, we go back and forth in time to experience Harriet Chance’s life. But her life is littered with bitter heartbreak. There are betrayals at every turn. And the litany of tragedy goes on and on — there’s child molestation, rape, unwanted pregnancy, unfaithful marriage, alcoholism, drug addiction and as a final blow, bitter adult children trying to get her money. After awhile, I stopped keeping count of the awful events in hapless Harriet’s life.
As added angst, Harriet’s mean, dead husband appears to her in a caught-between-life-and-death role, which never feels fully developed and causes Harriet’s children to harbor suspicions about their mother’s mental stability.
The author is remorseless in his portrayal of seniors and dementia. Harriet herself is characterized as a terrible mother, a distant wife and a bitter old women. Her husband’s Alzheimer’s is portrayed with sneering and unfeeling sarcasm.
I kept reading, hoping for a ray of sunshine in this story, some sort of redeeming act or event that would make Harriet’s life, if not great, then at least OK. But nope, there is nothing — nothing to resurrect poor Harriet’s life
This is Your Life Harriet Chance! (I never really got the use of the exclamation point) is well written, but one of the most depressing books I have ever read.
A digital review copy was provided by Algonquin Books via NetGalley
The Bookshop on the Corner
by Jenny Colgan
The Bookshop on the Corner, came home with me from the library’s new arrivals shelf. I’m a sucker for a book about books or a bookshop and this one is set in Scotland – double points. Took it to bed with me that evening and set it down after five or six chapters and went to sleep somewhat disappointed.In the morning I checked some of the reviews and publicity for this novel and found I was in the distinct minority. Ms. Colgan’s novel has been liked by one and all — just not me.
Nina, a recently laid-off librarian decides to travel to one of Scotland’s remotest areas. She discovers their library is closed and there is no bookmobile. So she decides to move up there with her vast collection of books and buy a van from which to sell her books throughout this remote corner of Scotland. Ah ha, this book is not about a bookshop, it’s about a book van – well I guess that’s OK, I’ll keep reading. After all Parnassus on Wheels was one of my favorite books.
But, turns out this is chick lit – disguised as a book for book lovers. Straining all credibility, there’s a handsome train engineer who leaves Russian poetry books for Nina in tree branches – really?. And just as in The Little Paris Bookshop, Nina feels compelled to recommend books to solve every problem or malady, with trite results.
I finally returned the book to the library, when I got tired of the Scots Nina encounters being uncharitably portrayed as if caricatures — less than bright and seldom clean.
I just couldn’t take any more.
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Normal service will resume shortly
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Colonial Williamsburg
Sorry for the radio silence here at Book Barmy, but we’ve been traveling again, our itchy feet never keep us down on the farm for long.
We’re back from Virginia (very sobering area — the Trump signs were astoundingly prevalent. Please vote folks), where we took a side trip to one of our favorite places ever ~~ Colonial Williamsburg.
We spent our honeymoon there many, many years ago — although even back then, it was still considered Colonial Williamsburg ~~ we’re not that old.
In case you’ve never been to this living museum – it is unlike any other. It doesn’t feel contrived or corny – it really does recreate the eighteenth century, when Williamsburg was, for a time, the center of government, education and culture for the Virginia Colony .
It was here that George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry and others reluctantly maintained the forms of British government and later helped adapt its best bits to the needs of the newly formed United States. Sorry I geeked out there for a moment ~~ end of history lesson. Can you tell I love this place?
The historic area has many original buildings as well as reconstructed ones, including period shops, taverns, the courthouse and Governor’s palace. The interpreters are true re-enactors and speak in period grammar and phrases. They represent period notables, as well as the common residents of Williamsburg – including slaves, gardeners, cooks, etc.
It’s a wonderful experience just to wander and feel like one has traveled back in time. Walking the brick sidewalks and exploring the little gardens behind the buildings.
But best of all, you may choose to stay in a colonial house…so you can sleep like this
With your very own garden view
And for the food (you knew that subject would come up didn’t you?), the four taverns serve period-based fare – candlelight only, if you please, and a minstrel to entertain while you eat.
Afterwards, you slowly wander back to your colonial home with lights twinkling in the windows and you swear you’ve gone back in time.
(Click to make bigger and better see the candlelit windows.)
Have I enticed you to go to Williamsburg? If so, more information HERE.
Books will return to Book Barmy in the coming days. I read a strange, but interesting, book and am halfway through a time travel novel. So that should keep you coming back.
