Escapist Reading

I ran across this quote from Neil Gaiman last evening, and had to share. I often try reading more ‘realistic’ current fiction. But inevitably, I come back to my comfort, escapist reading.

Fiction can show you a different world. It can take you somewhere you’ve never been. Once you’ve visited other worlds, like those who ate fairy fruit, you can never be entirely content with the world that you grew up in. Discontent is a good thing: discontented people can modify and improve their worlds, leave them better, leave them different.

And while we’re on the subject, I’d like to say a few words about escapism. I hear the term bandied about as if it’s a bad thing. As if ‘escapist’ fiction is a cheap opiate used by the muddled and the foolish and the deluded, and the only fiction that is worthy, for adults or for children, is mimetic fiction, mirroring the worst of the world the reader finds herself in. If you were trapped in an impossible situation, in an unpleasant place, with people who meant you ill, and someone offered you a temporary escape, why wouldn’t you take it?

And escapist fiction is just that: fiction that opens a door, shows the sunlight outside, gives you a place to go where you are in control, are with people you want to be with (and books are real places, make no mistake about that); and more importantly, during your escape, books can also give you knowledge about the world and your predicament, give you weapons, give you armor: real things you can take back into your prison. Skills and knowledge and tools you can use to escape for real. As J.R.R. Tolkien reminded us, the only people who inveigh against escape are jailers.

Perhaps we have a problem here…

As you know, I am Barmy about books.

But it just became clear to me that I may have specific issues.

Yesterday I was trying to remember a book I’d read about a bookshop — or was it a library?

Hmmmm? I did a search on my kindle and discovered all these titles. Many were given to me by publishers, others I purchased or have on my library list to borrow. Some look good – others cheesy- all are mine — and ready to be read.

Apparently, I have a addiction predilection for books about bookshops and libraries.

Houston, we have issues …

Birthday and a book

As followers of this blog know, every year for my birthday, Husband takes me to the San Francisco Flower Mart where I get to run rampant and buy flowers. Husband gamely follows me to pay for and carry my purchases. This lovely tradition started many years ago and it’s the only present I want from Husband. He likes it too, as there’s no pressure to find or wrap a present that he’s never sure about.

Sadly, Covid shut down the flower mart for my last two birthdays — but now it’s back! I practically skipped through the huge warehouse — lowering my mask to sniff and smell along the way.

With the wholesale prices I am able to select numerous bunches for less than one bouquet from a florist.

They get wrapped in newspaper – nothing fancy.

But the best part is I get to spend the rest of the morning arranging my flowers to my content.

I especially enjoy the tulips – one of my favorite flowers.

I wish you could smell this heaven that is in my house right now on this grey, rainy day.

Now about the book.

I just finished this and having a struggle writing up my thoughts…stay tuned.

I have to go now and smell the flowers.

Another Anniversary

Husband and I had our anniversary a few days ago – 43 years — if that can be possible. We decided to get away, but not far. We went to Point Reyes which is only an hour northwest of us, but seems like further. We can actually see the lighthouse on a clear day from our house…that’s how close it is.

With apologies to readers on the East coast, we had beautiful weather.

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We hiked, ate good food, stayed in a lovely bed and breakfast…

even had a picnic lunch with a heron…

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It felt like we had journeyed far, far away.

And speaking of far, far away — a friend back East found this photo of us – we’d only been married a year.

Check out that beard… still the cutest guy ever.

Happy Anniversary

I finished one book

and am halfway through another

Back to books, reading, and regular programming next time.

Anne With an E

Normally, once Husband goes to bed, I settle into my reading nook with a book — but these days I have lots of knitting projects in progress for gifts. Especially for those friends and family in colder climes. So, this time of year I turn to television and knit instead.

A few weeks ago, starting on my fourth knitting project, I stumbled across a series on Netflix ~~

Anne With an E — based on the Anne of Green Gables books. 

I must admit I never much warmed to the Anne of Green Gables books, even though my mother adored them — I’ve never shared her enthusiasm. I also found the various screen adaptations over the years one-dimensional and often annoying.

However this 2017-2020 Canadian series won me over. This is a broad retelling of a big-hearted orphan girl in a small Canadian town. By broad, I mean there are racial issues, gender inequality, sexual harassment, and even homosexual acceptance. This series aims high and wide, with diversity and acceptance as on-going themes.

Anne With an E remains set in the late 1800s, and perhaps these new story lines are a tad progressive for strict historical accuracy, but they work nevertheless, and serve as reminder that struggles for acceptance and equality are not unique to our times.

Anne survives on her ability to use her imagination as a defense mechanism and she remains generally upbeat despite the abuse in her past and the callousness of many of the grown-ups in her present. Anne’s most delightful pronouncement:

“When you are imagining, you might as well imagine something worthwhile.”

The series cast is absolutely wonderful with spot on performances — Anne is perfectly cast. Other notables include Geraldine James as Marilla

and a witty 90-year old Corinne Conley who steals every scene she’s in. (Think Maggie Smith in Downton Abby)

Anne With an E is beautifully filmed on location on Prince Edward Island — just feast your eyes.

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Sadly, a planned fourth season was cancelled. Fortunately, most of the story lines were sufficiently resolved in the final episode. But others remained unresolved, including the painful one of Ka’kwet, a Mi’kmaq First Nation girl who was stolen from her tribe to be ‘assimilated’ in a strick Catholic run school.

I started watching Anne With an E with trepidation, figuring it was something to distract me while I knitted. I was pleasantly surprised and found it both engaging and absorbing. Not the least bit saccharin or one-dimensional.

Some reviewers have pegged it as a darker retelling but I say it’s richer and more compelling.

Look for Anne With an E on Netflix.

Welcome Back

Our beloved cable cars shut in the spring of last year due to the pandemic and remained out of service ever since. During this down time they worked on the cable system under the streets, as well as the cars themselves.

Now they’re back and for the month of August free to all (normally an astounding $8 each ride). One beautiful sunny day last week, Husband and I donned our masks and rode every cable car line.

First thing we noticed was how empty downtown was – this area is normally wall-to-wall pedestrians and traffic – eerie.

First we reviewed the new cautionary signs on how to ride a cable car. No such rules before — we laughed at how we used to run for the car as it was moving and hang on the outside. A bygone era it seems.

It was fun to play tourist in our own city and we noticed just a few of our actual tourists are back.

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The Buena Vista has opened and serving their famous Irish Coffee – outside under the tent. But we didn’t stop this time.

The cars were relatively empty and everyone wore masks.

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We had lunch at the famous Sears Fine Food – a San Francisco institution since 1938. Normally, it’s packed with a long waiting line out front. Not this day.

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We went up and down the hills of San Francisco – our trusty cable cars pulling us up and gripping us down.

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The fog waited until we were done to start rolling in.

It was one of those great days – wish you were here.