What I've been reading...

I've always been an avid reader. Not necessarily an intellectual reader, let's be truthful, I'm in it for the entertainment. But whether you want intellectual improvement or purely vacuous entertainment, books are the answer.

Reading is a wonderful refuge. I've been shaped by the books I've read just as much as my real-life experiences. You can read my previous post on why I love to read here.

I can almost review my life according to its literary trends. There was the 'young-girl-finds-her-power phase thanks to Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew. The unfortunate, but on reflection, probably necessary Barbara Cartland years. Georgette Heyer taught me about history and linguistics. Then along came Maeve Binchy, who reconnected me to my Irish roots and is a master of characterization. Then came university and the text book years. Anatomy and physiology won-out over fiction. These I refer to as the Literary Lean Years. Fortunately for my soul, they did not endure long.

So many good books, so many stories and ideas, so much inspiration.

So how do you find a good book? I've found great reads through magazine reviews, library noticeboards, even by eavesdropping on other's book conversations. I cold-browse library shelves and I adore second-hand book shops. I love new book shops too. But second-hand adds something special, almost romantic to a book. And, importantly, it keeps dollars in my pocket for even more books. Occasionally I might even buy a book for its aesthetic appeal alone. It looks amazing, or is so old I can feel the history seeping from its pages.

I thought I'd share with you some of my latest enjoyments.

I recently visited a book shop in St Kevin's Arcade, Auckland. I love visiting this arcade. It's Art Deco era architecture is worth the trip alone. Lead-light glass fills the atrium with sunlight and the view over Meyer's park and the city is breathtaking. The arcade is filled with a mix of cafes, and tiny barista shops alongside vintage and retro-inspired shops, including The Green Dolphin. The Green Dolphin is the wardrobe-sized variety of book shop (if you didn't read the link above on why I love second hand books and my favourite type of bookshop you can read it here,). Three people and the shop is crowded, five people and we're falling over each other. cash only. I bought two books for the sum of $25. Far more expense than my usual charity shop finds but far cheaper than a new-book shop.

Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss.

Its about punctuation essentially. I bought it because I love to write almost as much as I love to read. Writing is a skill and it's one in need of constant improvement (particularly for me as I can't spell worth a damn and my punctuation could be described as ...developing). I expected a dry book of instruction that I'd have to force myself to endure. Instead I received an entertaining book by someone with an infectious passion for punctuation. The chapter on the apostrophe had me crying with laughter. Who would have thought a book such as this would be so entertaining? That's the beauty of a great, yet unexpected book find.







Vita & Harold; the Letters of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson 1910 - 1962, edited by Nigel Nicolson.

I am very fond of volumes of letters. I mourn the passing of proper letter-writing. I don't think, in the future, volumes of emails will have the same feel as a proper handwritten letter. Volumes of letters are an amazing insight into our past, how people lived and how they thought. This volume was no exception. If you don't know these people (and I admit I had never heard of either before this book), they are English and wealthy. Both were writers, and you can still buy Vita's books on Amazon today. Harold was also a diplomat and many of his letters are set during WWI. His description of visiting the front (the main line of fighting) is savage in its imagery. I can barely read his description of the noise and the chaos, and the wounded arriving, and the flowering cherry tree under which sat buckets of body parts cut from soldiers, without crying. It lends new appreciate to why we celebrate ANZAC day. Not only is the historical content fascinating, Vita and Harold's relationship is riveting. They were married in 1913 and over the course of their relationship wrote over 10,000 letters to each other. That's 192 letters a year! They really loved each other, despite each having multiple affairs, Vita famously with Virginia Woolf. Some of the letters are a little over the top, but if nothing else, you'll be inspired to write a love letter of your own.


Let me know in the comments below what you've been reading. I love recommendations.



As always, have a great week.

Grace