posted by Lily on books

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For the mummy …

” Of the things we fashion for them that they might be comforted, dawn is the one that works.  When darkness sifts from the air like fine soft soot and light spreads slowly out the east then all but the most wretched of humankind rally.  It is a spectacle we immortals enjoy.”

And so begins John Banville’s exquisitely written comedy of errors, “Infinities”.  I dream of writing words as evocative as these.  “when darkness sifts from the air like fine soot” – I don’t think Dickens himself could do any better.  A family gathers to witness the death of old Adam Godley – but they are not alone!  The Greek Gods are peeping from above, commenting, laughing and ultimately creating mischief.  Oh it is so very very good.  The language is so beautiful that it almost feels like I am being stroked as I read.  Yum!  I’m definitely looking out for more Mr. Banville – he signs my song.

For the girlie …

“Konnichiwa, my name is Yumi and I am a kokeshi!  A little wooden doll with a round head and pretty clothes.”

Okay – the book Yumi is ridiculously light on story, however, it is ever so pretty.  Very, very pretty.  Created by the French illustrator Annelore Parot, it follows Yumi throughout a “miffy” styled day and has wonderfully detailed illustrations of her clothes, her home, traditional Japanese fish, street scenes.  If you have a girlie who loves the Japanese asthetic, “Yumi” fits the bill.  And there are more … but they have yet to be translated into English and are only available in France … I’ve ordered via amazon.fr, it is amazingly simple to do – it has precisely the same format as the English and American sites so you just hit the right buttons and voila!

also for the girlie …

“”We roll a hazelnut past the penguin, and if the hazelnut glances at the penguin, the hazelnut is an imposter.”  Peter looks at Harold and Harold looks at Peter.  “That can’t be right,” Harold says.  “You mean that if the penguin glances at the hazelnut, the penguin is an imposter.”  “Yes,” I say.  And then I slide on my belly.  Yay!”

I bought Peter Penguin Pioneer at the airport on Monday night when we were waiting to collect Abby.  Sitting in the arrivals lounge, I read out page after page to Julian (the plane was delayed, I’m sure they deliberately delay the planes so that they can charge us horrendous prices for parking) and we were weeping with laughter.  It is wonderfully, absurdly funny.  A right hoot!  Abby read it in a night and was completely charmed.  Now, the words of Punky (the dear little penguin narrating the story), Peter (the boastful and thick-as-a-plank conpenguin) and Harald (the wise and annoyed penguin) are already part of our Bootville narrative.  You could share Daren King’s silly tale with a whimsical soul of any age and they would love it :-)

and just because the girle doesn’t have enough books to read …

“He was deathly pale, with creased, almost dusty skin – his pallor emphasized by his strange close-fitting black garments.  The only colour about him was his eyes.  They glittered green in the sun as he reeled around and strode towards Katie, raising his walking stick as if to strike her.  He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.  Instead, the word “SEEK” formed in the air before him, floating above his head like the message of a sky-writer.  And then he was gone.”

Oooooh – aaaaahhhh!  The Queen Must Die is the first in a new trilogy – the Chronicles of the Tempus – by former Spectator editor, K. A. S. Quinn and it’s a ripper!  The heroine – yup, a time travelling heroine – finds herself in Buckingham Palace during the reign of Queen Victoria, and with the help of Her Majesty’s young daughter Princess Alice and the doctor’s son James, Katie must uncover and put paid to a dark plot of assassination, treachery and war.  The story is humorous, challenging, full of historical detail, and thought provoking situations, customs and expectations.  We are gleefully looking forward to volumes 2 and 3.

For the kitchen …

” … so it is said that the fruits and vegetables of all seasons could be found in the markets of Constantinople (the Ottoman capital) … bringing a melange of tastes, colours and smells.”

Mmmmmmmm …. each night this week, I have trotted off to bed with Silvena Rowe’s new Eastern Mediterranean cookbook, “Purple Citrus and Sweet Perfurme”.  What a charmer!  Enticing reciples, gorgeous photos, and wonderfully new gourmet experiences adorn each and every page.  Pomegranates – ahhhh pomegranates – I wish I was a poet just so that I could write the perfect poem about pomegranates.  Crimson Beetroot Falafel … oh their red sumptuousness … and we have beetroot arriving tomorrow in our new-to-us weekly box of organic seasonal veg.  A-a-a-a-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-y-y-y- we’re having beetroot for dinner!  As for the desserts – I will swoon over Rose and Champagne Jelly with Crystallised Rose Petals, but probably make Orange and Hazelnut Cake with Orange Flower Syrup.  Yup, that will be served after the beetroot falafel, with greek yoghurt.  *sigh*  I love beautiful food. :-)

And for our ears …

Lisa Mitchell’s sweet and sassy Wonder.  “Coin Laundry” is Abby’s and my favourite track.  Check out “Neopolitan Dreams” and “Clean White Love”- they’re delightful too.  (sorry – can’t put in the links but youtube is down – go figure?) Actually, the whole album is luverly.  It’s our favourite breakfast music.  And going to bed music – right now, we two are sitting at the kitchen table, the big bad wolf is outside, dressed up as the wind, howling at our windows, and splattering them with rain.  But we are toasty cosy with hot cocoas, our books and Lisa.  Nice.

And when you’ve finished Lisa and you would like something with a little less sugar – a little more tart – try Po’ Girl’s “Deer in the Night”.  This is my kind of swoon music.  I could listen to this every day for the rest of my life, it pushes all my buttons – accordion, clarinet, social history; that wonderful swaying music that makes me think I could be riding a 19th century carousel in France. Gotta love iTunes – where else would I ever find such wonderful music.