Hello again everyone
Well this blog will be quite the test as I am hoping the Jetpack email gets to everyone who has signed up. Thank you so much for subscribing – I truly appreciate your commitment to this new blog! Anyway, fingers crossed! And fingers crossed also, that you can comment because we have found that a small number of you have had problems with the browser Firefox. My IT manager, Bill, is in correspondence with Jetpack as to why there is a problem but for the moment we would advise that you don’t use Firefox.
Anyway, books! And gosh, we’re half way through February and here I am talking about books read in January!
I’ve got an awful habit of reading book reviews about non-fiction books, buying them, reading a couple of chapters and then putting them down to read ‘later’. Two books have suffered that fate this January: the first is Frostquake. How the Frozen Winter of 1962 Changed Britain Forever by Juliet Nicolson. The author has an interesting background as she was brought up at Sissinghurst and is the granddaughter of Vita Sackville West and Nigel Nicolson, both elite members of the English establishment and high up in the literati circles of the early 20th Century.
I thought, well, I went to school in 1962 and remember that last stage of my journey and the long walk from the train station to school (a mile at least) with frozen snow piled up either side of the pavement lasting into the month of April – and don’t forget the chilblains! Surely it must be interesting, I thought, as I ordered it, and, honestly, it is. Nicolson traces events from that incredibly hard winter to the beginnings of our awakening and unfreezing, so to speak, from the austerity of the 50s to a new age of the ‘swinging sixties’. But I haven’t touched it for at least 3 weeks now. I will keep it though as a reference book.
Another non-fiction book I’ve read and put down (and picked up again – see below) is exactly the sort of book I should be reading. And it is, I really like it, but I haven’t touched it for a couple of weeks now! This is Live Forever? A Curious Scientist’s Guide to Wellness, Ageing and Death by Prof John S. Tregoning. It’s beautifully written and funny in parts, but quite technical. I think my nursing background helps to understand much of the medical stuff. Chapters include Let Us End at the Beginning: Ageing and Death; and (ha-ha, says me) What a Drag It is: Frailty and Getting Old! Yay, my kind of book! Actually, it is fascinating, and I shall keep it for reference and dip into it now and again.
And now fiction. At the beginning of January I finished Robert Harris’ latest book, Precipice (that is the 3rdHarris book I’ve read). Look – he’s very popular. He’s brilliant at embellishing history and turning this ‘history’ into a novel. He’s more famous, I believe, for his Cicero Trilogy, which I haven’t read, but I have read Conclave (because of the excellent film) and that was fine, and then soon after, I came across his novel of a future dystopian world, Second Sleep (which was not good, imho) and now Precipice. This is the story of Prime Minister Asquith’s infatuation with Venetia Stanley in the run-up to the First World War. Yes, quite the infatuation, as over not many years he wrote over 500 letters to this young woman, and in those letters were telegrams and numerous state secrets, which would have led anyone down the path to a trial for treason and imprisonment, but not of course for the PM and a young woman from the aristocracy. Look, says me again, it’s a ‘good’ book but I cannot warm to Harris and it is the last of his books I will read. They are very well written, but very male and workmanlike. Because here’s the story laid out for you, and there you are. There’s no subtlety or lightness of touch. Not for me.
And now I am going to tell you about a series of books that I think contains the most beautiful, subtle and loveliest insights you could ever wish for, into just living life. I’m speaking of the Elizabeth Strout books that tell the story over many years of Olive Kitteridge and Lucy Barton.
Strout has written nine novels about a particular interconnected set of characters, all based within a certain geographical area – Maine. There is no need to read them in an absolute sequential order, but if you don’t know the order, here it is:
Amy and Isabelle
Abide with Me
Olive Kitteridge – got that one
The Burgess Boys
My Name is Lucy Barton
Anything is Possible
Olive Again – got that one too
Oh William
Lucy By the Sea – ditto
Tell Me Everything – ditto again
I’m sure I’ve read more of these especially My Name is Lucy Barton, but I don’t see it on my bookshelf. My recent buy is Strout’s latest, Tell Me Everything, which is just wonderful, as at last Olive Kitteridge and Lucy Barton meet and tell each other – everything!
I read Strout’s books and am immediately catapulted into their lives, and I mourn the day I finish the book, which I did with this one. I think Strout is brilliant in just indicating all the stuff around these people. I have no idea what their houses look like or how they are decorated, but I can guess. It’s her characterisation, I know everything about their lives – Strout’s a genius, end of.
I get passions for authors (Helen Dunmore, Maggie O’Farrell, Claire Chambers, Sally Vickers etc) and seek out their books. I’m currently seeking out more of Strout’s – and will keep these on the bookshelf. I’m in the middle of a pash right now!
Other books that I have read are: Claire Chambers Shy Creatures. I found this book fascinating as it is set in a 1960s psychiatric hospital and centres around two protagonists who find a reclusive young man who had lived with 3 aunts for many years never venturing out into the wider world. There’s a hint of it being a rom-com (a genre I detest – sorry!) but it is more about unravelling the mystery as why this man became a recluse. The interest to me is the description of this old-fashioned psychiatric hospital with its inmates, and the old-fashioned attitudes therein. I was a psychiatric nurse at the beginning of the 1970s and there were still remnants of the old way of treating people with mental health issues (not that this term was used then!). Now of course there is Care in the Community……… and that’s another subject altogether! Anyway, it’s well written and quite the why-did-it-happen type book but, for me, not a keeper.
And then there was Nickel Boys by Colston Whitehead (author of The Underground Railroad). I’m reading it partly as I’ve seen the film and I like to check up on any differences (you’ve seen the review of the film in a post on the Frugal blog). But what a book. Phew! And I feel so sad as I read it because I know how this ends. It’s a story of a nice black boy and his incarceration into a ‘school’ for kids who had broken the law in some form or other. It is brilliant, so don’t let my feelings of sadness stand in your way of reading it. You need to know. You should know. What I do is, if I feel a bit deflated after reading a chapter or two, I pick up the book I reviewed above, the Live Forever? A Curious Scientist’s Guide to Wellness, Ageing and Death one. And dear readers, this book makes me laugh. It’s true! This book on ageing and death is laugh out loud funny – and what’s more I finished it!
So that’s the books I’ve read from Christmas to the end of January. Next week, look out for blogs on Style and my take on politics and the state of the world.
With love, Penny
P.S. I have alerted people who read Frugal posts and who haven’t signed up as yet. If that is you – I’d be so delighted if you joined me in this new venture. Just pop your email into the Subscribe box and then look at the link in your in-box asking you whether you want to follow Conversations with an older woman. Thank you again 😀 and of course, let us know if you encounter any IT issues.
This arrived in my inbox, no problems! I was so pleased to see it as I signed up last week. Thanks for the recommendations. I must say I tried Elizabeth Strout but didn’t warm to her – I’ll try again now.
I’ve read several Robert Harris. I’m not into the Roman ones, but I did read Act of Oblivion which I thought was excellent. It follows the pursuit of two of the signatories to Kung Charles 1st’s death warrant. So I was immediately on their side, being a republican at heart. It’s gripping and well written, and ….the ending is great.. female heroine… I’ll say no more in case you want to try it.
As far as my current obsession goes – Jane Harper – have you read any of hers? They are set in Australia and are fantastic, some feature a police detective, but all have a plot that needs resolving and this is always brilliant. Her characterisation is very good as well as the descriptions of the Australian environment. I recommend her, especially her latest ‘Exiles’
Best wishes for the new blog. I’m following 😊
Oh I like a book set in Australia and will definitely look out for Jane Harper’s books. Actually just looked her up and I am sure I’ve read The Dry. And a good one by Robert Harris – he writes well, so I might try that too. Thanks so much for the recommendations which I will follow up and in addition I am so glad you got the email without a problem – and commented! 😀
Let’s see if commenting works today for me!! I subscribed so I would know when your posts come out. I should read more non fiction books but haven’t in quite a while. Excited for your new blog!
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Yay – your comment arrived and is fine. All is well. Ah yes non-fiction books. I always think I want to read them but hardly ever finish reading them!!! But some of these unread and unfinished non-fiction books I keep as reference and that’s OK. I bet you have very little time anyway. Thanks so much Mireille – really appreciate you coming over from the Frugal blog 😀
Hi Penny, Subscribed to your new blog, glad to see you returning. That’s some reading list. I’ve just had a kindle, so much to go at.
Hi Susan and thanks so much for subscribing – and commenting! Enjoy your Kindle 😀
Whilst I love your blog and reading the comments, is there any way I can stop receiving the comments by email please? Can’t see how I can do it.
Ahh yes, I encounter this ‘getting all the emails’ on other WordPress blogs which I comment on regularly. What I did (and still do) is not click a link which means I don’t get the response from the blogger but neither do I get the constant bombardment of emails. Bill, bless him, thinks there is a Plug-in that might fix this. We will work on this.
Congratulations on your new blog! I subscribed but didn’t receive a mail. So subscribed again!
WE’ve had nightmare IT problems – we think we’ve solved one problem and then another arrives. But I can see your comment – great. Thanks so much Nancy 😀
As you know, Elizabeth Strout is one of my absolute favourites! I prefer Olive to Lucy Barton, who strikes me as a bit flighty. I adore Bob Burgess. I read Shy Creatures and enjoyed it, but like you, it’s not going to be a favourite, unlike Small Pleasures. I haven’t read much non-fiction for a while but was attracted by several titles on the longlist for the Women’s Prize last week
Oh yes, indeed the Strout books are so very good and yes, me too, I love Olive best. Have just ordered two more non-fictions 😌 but I am sure I am going to read them both!!
Thanks Gail – btw we think we’ve finally ironed out the IT issues. The next post will be the big test 😊
Hello, Penny
I’m so glad you’re a fellow bibliophile! I reckon I was born reading a book! My mother despaired of me hurting my eyes because it was always a case of ‘see me, see my book’. And nothing has changed in almost 85 years! Believe me, I have more books in the house to be read than I have years left to live! And still I buy more!
I read the first two Elizabeth Strout books when they were first published but have let the rest slip by. Must remedy that now you’ve reminded me. While, like you, I have lots of non-fiction I am longing to read, a bit broad-church from criminology and Egyptology to sociology and art: a right ‘hopper’ me!, I find myself quite happily these days getting sidetracked by psychological thrillers. I really enjoy them and have an ever-expanding list of ‘must reads’ while also keeping an eye open for Salley Vickers’ books, or any of Penelope Lively’s. Oh boy, I do hope there’s a library in Heaven when/IF I get there!
Happy reading, Penny
Zepherine x
Oh yes indeed Zepherine – I too think I was born reading. My mother used to tell me I read the labels on the jam jars before I went to school! Do try out the rest of the Strout books especially the ones that deal with Olive Kitteridge – the best character ever. And I too love Sally Vickers. Yay to books and more reading 😀
Congratulations on the new blog Penny, I managed to subscribe easily thank you.
That’s great Lynda – thanks so much for subscribing 😀
Elizabeth Strout is one of my favourite authors. I have read all her novels – and all in order, except for Abide with Me which I discovered only recently and immediately devoured!
Another favourite is Ann Patchett – I love all her books. She owns a bookshop too – how wonderful!
Oh Elizabeth Strout – what an author she is with her entire world of interconnected characters. All of whom are fascinating and flawed, but don’t you just love them. I too like Ann Patchett – but I did find Tom Lake a little slow. Did you?
Thanks Helen for subscribing and commenting 😀
I know what you mean, but I did liked Tom Lake once I got into the back and forth rhythms of the story. What made it really sing for me in retrospect though, was watching a performance of ‘Our Town’ (of which I’d never heard before reading the book) on YouTube. The one with Paul Newman as Stage Manager (link below). I highly recommend it – very moving and made me want to read Tom Lake again through different eyes!
https://youtu.be/gc1o9cGQ9_Q?si=if-eihJubPvYK_1E
Ah yes, this book was very much about American culture that I didn’t truly understand. Never heard of Our Town either. Thanks for the link- will look. Always keen to learn more about the US – particularly now.
It’s a film of the play – rather cleverly done we thought.
I can hardly bear to think of America at the moment; it causes such plummeting of the stomach…
Testing from my iPad
Hi Sue, I can see your comment! Thanks 😀
As this one appeared in my inbox it seems I have managed to subscribe .
I must admit to not being much of a fiction reader far preferring biographies or informative books that I return to often.
Glad you have sorted out the tech issues.
Hi Jill and lovely that you’ve had not problems subscribing or commenting. A small number of people still have issues and as soon as we solve one another pops up!!!!
Interesting that you only read non-fiction. I too love non-fiction but have to have something slightly lighter to read at the end of the day.
Thank you so much Jill for subscribing – I really appreciate this 😀
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Subscribed last week – got the newsletter this morning. Good recommendations. I will look for these authors. Thanks!
Great and many thanks for subscribing 😀
Thanks Bill ❤️
I don’t seem to be able to continue reading – I click on the link to ‘continue reading’ and nothing happens so I only get to see the first few lines of someone’s reply. I expect it’s me doing something wrong! Any ideas?
OMG Lynda – so sorry. We are visiting a friend today and will ask her to subscribe and comment. It’s incredibly difficult for us to imagine what people are seeing on their phones or PCs as we are the admins. So we see everything and it is working for us. But actually we need to know all about these teething problems (there were none whatsoever when we set up My Other Blog so it’s been very challenging!!!).
I will report back – after visiting this friend. Btw, I hope you can read the actual blog when you click Read More???? Just a thought it helps if phones and PCs are up-to-date, but I am sure you are.
Great post, thanks so much for the recommendations!
I hadn’t heard of Elizabeth Strout, but I’m going away for a week and wanted some reading material, so I picked up Oh William from our local library and Olive Kitteridge from the bookshop.
I’ve read and enjoyed quite a few Anne Tyler books. I think she has a new one out – must look it up.
You will love Olive Kitteridge – and I still have Oh William to read. The thing is the entire list of Strout’s books is full of these interconnected characters so both Olive and ‘William’ pop up again to be seen from a slightly different perspective – genius.
And thanks Elsie for coming over to the new blog 😀
Congratulations, Penny! I think it’s important to learn and experiment with new things as we get older, and this blog is a prime example. I subscribed successfully – hooray – but, initially, had difficulties posting comments. Having seen other comments, I’m anticipating success this time! I’m an avid reader and it’s always useful to have recommendations. I have yet to discover Elizabeth Strout but I’m about to start reading Clare Chambers. Looking forward to your next post! June
Congratulations, Penny! I think it’s important to learn and experiment with new things as we get older, and this blog is a prime example. I subscribed successfully – hooray – but, initially, had difficulties posting comments. Having seen other comments, I’m anticipating success this time! I’m an avid reader and it’s always useful to have recommendations. I have yet to discover Elizabeth Strout but I’m about to start reading Clare Chambers. Looking forward to your next post! June
You may have received this twice, in which case – apologies!
Yes, I have had it twice but no worries. Unfortunately there have been some huge IT issues which were unforeseen as setting up My Other Blog was totally easy and we had no problems whatsoever. You are so right it has been a huge learning curve. Now you are ‘approved’ you should able to comment every time without any problem.
Do look out for the Strout books – they are lovely especially as the characters are interconnected and you see them again from a slightly different perspective.
Btw, I have seen your posts and read some but not commented – so sorry as you have made February a very interesting month on your blog. Thanks June 😀
How grand to see your new blog up and running. Congratulations to you and to Mr. IT!! I have the latest Elizabeth Stout book uploaded/downloaded to my Kindle. Will start it very soon. Finishing up a few other books in the next day or two. Very much enjoyed Olive Kitteridge.
Going to try to figure out how to subscribe to your blog via email but if not, know that I am following you with your new blog saved to Feedly. Shall I retire the Frugal Shopper for now?
Big HUGS!! Yay, you!!
Oh yes, those Strout books are wonderful and I just love the entire world they live in and mourn when I have finished one of the books!
To subscribe: if on a PC or Mac the Subscribe slot with its button should be on the side. If reading this on a phone it will be at the very end of the blog. It’s a two action process so you then get an email in your own in-box asking off you want to subscribe – just follow these actions and hey presto you are subscribed.
I will never retire the Frugal blog and it will always be there. For the moment and for some time to come I shall be posting on it to help those who haven’t subscribed aware of a new blog here. I also need it for those who can’t comment here as I am going to ask people who have had problems to describe it on the Frugal blog. I am not sure what Feedly is.
IT, eh!!!!
Thanks so very much Leslie – I so appreciate your coming over to the new blog 😀