TILL WE SEE THE FACES. C.S.Lewis

Wow. Psyche. Eros. YEH Greek Gods but who is who? I just finished reading this book. I am not famiiar with the history of the Greek Gods and so was quite confused over who was who. I knew of the beauty of Psyche. However dear reader here is a tip. Go to the notes at the conclusion of this very clever, rather convoluted story and lo, the author explains. I wish I had read this first. I needed Lewis's explanation of the characters, those superstars in ancient history. I now understand the story line, and can finally enjoy the tale of beauty, jealousy, vengeance.

A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY. J. Carr and a GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW. Amor Towles. August 2024

Which book is next? I am waiting for online delivery of Amos Towle’s currently popular book A Gentlemam in Moscow. As I found I was 146 in kine, I started to read his book The Lincoln Highway, yet instead somehow I didn’t. I read A Momth in the Country by J. Carr mainly because a film was made of it. Colin Firth was the main character in the film. This forties English book, small in its length and with a quiet matter of fact style introduces an ex army taking employment for one month. He had a specific job in a local church in a small country town. This job was to clear away plaster which covered a mural, unseen for a very long time. HIs task was to reveal the religious mural, on this large wall in a chapel. We don’t find much about this chap who is conscientious with the work given him. He is also given a month’s breather, fresh air, a chance to recover from the traums of war. So this rural holiday became a satisfying tale hardly an adventure. by coincidence chance I had coffee with a friend who had a new unread copy which I could have. I took it home there and then pleased to have a hard print copy of a Gentleman in Moscow. Amor Towles knows his history and cleverly he saves Coint Rostov from obscurity. THis book gives overview of Russian post aristocratic history y. It is a history of an era, told with factual characters in the birth of socialism  so the main character is count Rostov stoked from war and peace. He lives on in this book. He has his fine home taken off him and is ordered to live in hotel Metropol attc type rooms as aristocrats must forego a luxurious life. So Rostov has a story to tell. CHeck out Tolstoys character before reading this book by Towles as it helps.

Moon Star

APEIROGON. Colum McCann.

Above Palestine, Israel.  Millions of birds, flying within their own biological formation. Description of bird families and human families with children on both sides of a struggle for survival.  A continuing war where many die and everyone mourns. Rami rides his motorcycle.  Bassam loses his daughter as had Rami. Meeting of men from competitive cultures. Kids throw stones. Modern day or recent times stories that parallel deaths of creatures, other than human, biblical texts and stone throwing tales. Very confusing. How to make gunpowder. What a mix. what is the purpose. Countless birds flying south, migrating, resting and recorded on their pilgrimage. They are surely an analogy.

I

MOVIES, TV. BABYLON BERLIN, ROCKY. Peeps at old films and new streaming successes.

 Peeps at the past. 

Movies.  TV.  Let’s go.  

BABYLON BERLIN.

Current tv/streaming.  2024

On SBS on demand and Netflix.  Why are both on concurrently? Because, well, it is so good.  Tough  life of cops, Russians in Berlin, there is secret gold on a train loaded with poison gas.  Where is the gold.! In between multiple factions jostling for power there is corruption and sex and drugs shown in some long sequences with an amazing trans type singer, with everyone there having a wonderful wild time.  Through the other characters - the common folk - we see the desperate poverty and hard times.  Concentration required but certainly a well produced nightmare between the wars.

————————————-

ROCKY. 

Not always books.

Films are nothing without a good writer.  Movies often come from books.  Or inspiration.  Writers prepare the stories for a visual experience.  So let us go, to ROCKY.  Stallone wrote, directed and acted in it - superstar.

1976.  And that is when I would have first seen it.  Recently in  2024, I realised hubby never saw Rocky.  And other popular films of that era, think Jaws. He was developing his scientific career. 

Now on a Saturday arvo, after a morning making apple pies - would you believe it - and ready for a  relaxing time, by the tv, Rocky on offer.  I made Apple pies from our two trees, I was becoming rather homespun.  

So I suggesred we fly to USA on the silver screen.

My beloved has the tv hand control,  the film was beginning and I decided to stay with it.   As it was   advertised on that lay back Saturday afternoon. I knew he had never seen it.  Now the family film expert, I said it won Oscars, so then we click clicked.  Off we went and the wonderful emotional soundtrack made an entrance into my movie memory. 

First, I must say, I hate boxing.  I had seen de Niro in Raging Bull. (Also The Godfather and, oops, Taxi Driver). Seventies movies were good fun.  Great music helped  

Were they real, were the people really like that? Wow, doesn’t matter. 

Rocky written and performed by Sylvester Stallone whose diction was hard on the ears.  The city was Philadelphia and the accent difficult for some of us.  Soft bit slurry. 

 Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky was real, i.e. believable.   Almost a thug, with a kind heart.  The tough guy was a warm, daggy, character, talented, useless, dirty.  But once the story line had him training for a fight with a real world champion, he stopped being a sloth and started training with that inspiring music background.  I really found the background music appropriate and exciting, we had an underdog ready to be sacrificed to the world champ.  He went for it.

Cinema is wonderful. It can tell us anything. In skilful boxing scenes blood spattered as the combatants smacked and thumped each other for fifteen rounds until the final bell.  A memorable but violent film experience.   Rocky won the hearts of the audience who clung to their chairs as the depleted boxers hung into to each other, still standing.

Rocky in 15 rounds.  He did it, not win, made history for lasting fifteen rounds.  The world would scream for him.   He lost but took his chance at the world title and won movie goers for generations.  I was glad to revisit this film and I must say that my hubby never changed the channel but sat engrossed.  Thump thump.

The brilliant music score won awards. Come on home, the music rose in crescendo, as our hero ran and trained himself.   I didn’t want to be just someone from the suburbs who no one knows. Said Rocky.

It had  wonderful casting and acting annd won awards.   It was unforgettable. Tough guy from the slums, hopeless, really, but he wanted to box and got one chance at the big time.  All l he wanted was to be on his feet at the end, which he did so just watch it and enjoy it .  It is such an American thing.

NICCI FRENCH. THE DAY OF THE DEAD.

 A person who is classified by police and psychiatrists as a serial killer does not blink. He will kill anyone who disrupts his obsessive plan to kill one woman.  She knows he is his target.

There are many diverse characters in this thriller, and it is important for me to remember their roles. 

TWENTY FIRST CENTURY TOLKIEN. Nick Groom.

Middle Earth. A good read, even for those not familiar with Hobbits, Rings, Elves and fairy tales.  Tolkien writes about non human creatures. He creates these creatures,  invents their languages and captivates us with their searches and tells us of the wars, adventures of these fanciful colourful characters.

If reading is believing, then prepare to enjoy this book which will provide an introduction to Tolkien.

A master creator, inventor, writer, artist, academic who wrote and published during the first half of the 19th century. 

SAM NEILL. DID I EVER TELL YOU THIS. June 2023.

 Sam Neill, popular New Zealand/Australian actor, writes his memoir. I settle down to listen to my library audiobook soothed by Neil’s leisurely narration.  He said he was a slow kid.  I am somewhat amazed how he could write much less narrate this very readable book so quickly - of course, because maybe as any actor must, he knew his subject.

In late years, facing an uncertain health future, and honest with the big C threat, he has lots of memories readers will like sharing. Even if you aren’t familiar with the magical movie world.  The book’s subject (his personal journey) is the sort of book that many people could write.  Or think they could, if only. 😌

Growing up, school bullies, shy kid comes good and makes films, hero roles include dinosaurs.  🦕. 

But he is about people and his beloved country New Zealand.  He admits personal faults as he wanders on through a life with memories of the only thing he admits he was good at, being an actor.  Thence becoming somewhat famous, he recalls with deep affection the friends who died young, his family, really truly great actors, and in later years his love of wine making.

Watch one of his films (perhaps Hunt for the Wilder People), and enjoy the humour and experiences of a thoughtful man who claims to be no great thinker.  He made good.  He can also write (narrate) so raise a glass of Pinot and turn on the audiobook.

NICCI FRENCH. THE RED ROOM.

 A totally red room is a strong image. We discover this early as we meet the heroine Kit Quinn as she  reads a story to her friends’ children. The kids want a made up story.  Not from a book.  They don’t mind a scary story. As is her wont Kitquin doesn’t like to disappoint.  I love this characters name Kitquinn. I cannot resist writing it like that. 

Kitquinn, a psychologist, works with police. She has a scar on her face from a work place incident but now has energy to burn after a long rest.  An adventurous friend Julie arrives and begs a bed.  Not just a night, a few weeks it seems.  She has lots of travel adventures to share.

There are some unconnected killings of two young women plus an assault to explore.   A serial killer?  Kit becomes involved and is somewhat fascinated by Wil- a social worker of sorts, described as grim, plus a working relationship with police boss Oban. Is there a serial killer and is this creepy, weird guy named Doll a suspect. Who is the victim in a really bloody red room?   The Nicci French writing team are good at placing interesting characters in the mix.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

ANZAC DAY 25.4. 2023. JULIE ANKERS. ANNE TISCHLINGER.

 On this Remberance Day, this is for those who can remember playing marbles.  

We laugh and say we still have our marbles, referring to our memories, which I liken to pieces of smooth rock, even crystals.  They don’t break easily, though our memories can get a bit faded over time.  

They keep better than our legs and if these precious limbs aren’t working well for you, just play with your mind.  This is what my friend Anne now uses, to great effect. 

Here are stories re-discovered  through an online book source.  Amazon.

 JULIE ANKERS (Sydney author) wrote 

            BOLD BRAVE and bloody BRILLIANT. 

            FEISTY FABULOUS and FIFTY plus.

My long time friend currently (still) in Vienna contributed her stories in these anthologies.  Her name is ANNE TISCHLINGER.  I read them a few years ago and recommend them to those who appreciate small Australian women’s histories.

Published in 2020 they resurfaced through an online book source.

MARCH 2023. IRISH WRITERS. ARDAL O’HANLON. FINTAN O’TOOLE. CLAIRE KEEGAN.

FEBRUARY 2023 

Ardal O’Hanlon wrote  BROUHAHA which I figure means something about nothing - lot of fuss etc. 

O’Hanlon is known for his comic talents, Brother Ted and Death in Paradise. As is often the case,  many comedians write well whilst being hailed for acting the fool.  This well known actor gives us a local crime story. Local Cops investigate the long time mystery of the disappearance of a young woman.  Who knows what! Who will say anything. Someone must know what happened, so we have a modest adventure of sorts as we track down the baddies 

—————————————

FINTAN O’TOOLE relates the ongoing history which is the mystery of Brexit. 

THREE YEARS IN HELL are less enjoyable. Speak up.  Tells us what will happen.   What is the future of The island of Ireland. Briefly United.  The Problem of the Irish is actually the Problem of the English.  Hard Brexit borders.  

O’Toole is a skilled observer of Irish/British (should we say English) politics.  Leaders too silly for words or just inept.  He finds the words to describe them, 

The identity of a country is under serious and sharp inspection with this experienced and clever writer. Leaders have to lead, hopefully with intelligence and thoughtfulness.  

Brexit.  A can of worms.  A pie full of porkies.  Take me to your leader. 

HEROIC FAILURE. Whilst on the Brexit subject I booked another Fintan O’Toole from Libby.

 I had discovered the author is now in Adelaide for the writers week during our fringe festival. 

——————————————-

CLAIRE KEEGAN wrote a very small but highly praised book SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE.

This is just family life, getting on with life. Small things matter and Father has a significant moment, one of compassion which results in him inviting a young woman to dine with them.  She was lost and he found her, a young woman in trouble and the convent background story is one that today we are sadly familiar with.  She just comes to tea.  Generosity is enough.

——————————————. 

FEBRUARY 2023. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

 ERICH MARIA REMARQUE.  AUTHOR.

FIRST PUBLISHED AS A NOVEL IN 1929.

I borrowed a BBC radio version online through Libby.  There were several versions available of this surprisingly small novel.  I likened the audiobook to a radio play with listening time 1 hour 49 minutes.  English actors didn’t disguise their local dialects, and I adjusted to the background noise which was the clutter of camplife and explosions of war.

This heartbreaking re-enactment of young lads sent to the front in one of the bloodiest wars in recent history is something of a diary written by one young soldier.  He records his companions and includes good food, home leave, and final silence.  This book was banned by several European countries for some time.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

In 2023 a German film production was one of ten nominees competing for a best Film Oscar which encouraged me to get the book and read it straight through.  I am glad I did read it and not live through the reality.  

JANUARY 2023. * MICHAEL RICHARDS. A MAKER OF BOOKS. * NICCI FRENCH. THE LYING ROOM.

Michael Richards.  A Maker of Books.

MAKER means creator, printer, paper selector, the person responsible for the overall presentation, style, quality and suitability to the subject.  Richards lifelong interest in quality print production is revealed to us in this history of Alec Bolton and his Brindabella press which will be appreciated by those who like this book.

The book has many technical details as this is where Bolton excelled.  He wanted to print books of quality and would pursue excellence.  Paper would be selected to complement the writing.  Ink was in his heart and on his hands.  

Nicci French.  The Lying Room.

I admit to prejudice when I noted the author name. I presumed this book’s author was female.    We know that many women writers provide thrilling mysteries, as I somehow had expected this book to be. So I did a rethink and I discovered  NICCI is the female writer’s first name which when combined with her husband’s surname FRENCH, gives us a very bright team.  Nicci French  

With only tv tennis to offer distraction, I plugged in my earphones and listened to my audiobook version, much of the  day. Perhaps until eight when tv tennis provided a champion to watch I had been lying around all day reading about everyone telling lies.

THE PLOT as the title suggests, is about that familiar web of  lies.  One lie leads to another.  Diverse friends and family and lovers are entangled. Add a probable murder into that web, interwoven with many suspects it becomes a puzzle to ponder. The main character is swallowed up in who said what, when and why?  Great detective work required.  An enjoyable Whodunnit.  

Without giving it all away there is a gory murder, an attempt by the first witness to the scene, who gets caught up in a tantalising cover up.  She is a popular and perfect woman caught in the mayhem of her lies.  The theme has fidelity at it’s core.  Who do you trust? We feel, the trust, betrayal, anger, which is quite the usual stuff.  A good read.

DECEMBER. HOLIDAY READING.

 I haven’t found myself a holiday book yet.

 I was considering the possibilities when he handed me his red Xmas shirt.  His favourite festive shirt, he said, with a big stain on it.

I asked, what did you spill on it.  The laundry door loomed open so I took the shirt and flung it expertly through the door where it landed onto a growing pile of linen on the bench. I said I will fix it. Later.  He raised an eyebrow, at my tone perhaps, collected the paper and wandered off outside to read, until the cricket started on tv. After festive occasions the men often head for the lawn or the cricket.  I closed the laundry door and left the porthole of the washing machine yawning in anticipation.  It can wait. 

Finally I had cleared away the several days clutter of Xmas dishes, bowls and cutlery. Stuff.  I attacked paper serviettes and topped up the bin with many unused. Actually that quite annoyed me because I had found them abandoned, crumpled, under a chair, anywhere. Who wanted them anyway? 

The Xmas wrapping papers. Hmm. These can also wait. I stroked and flattened some. A daughter always gives beautiful paper.  I may want to keep them.

Next I called out loudly to ask the son if he had walked the dog. He obviously couldn’t hear.  Try again later perhaps. A teenage princess in frayed blue shorts and headphones strolled in and patted my shoulder.  Easy mum. She wafted sweetly by. To the fridge probably.

I and the messy shirt bloke, had received a book voucher to share. For both of us.  Aha yet another example of a daughter with taste.  As he seems to have time to spare he had promptly selected his book and tells me he will use $32 of the $80 so I can use the rest.  

Later with all the deathly domestic duties done, I too checked my book options.

Hmm I note one at $20 ($19.99).   His book is $32. These would work out so we negotiated this, and should I select another at at $30 we will just pay the extra.  This gives me my two books. Yea.  These online vouchers are fun.

Well that is the clean up done as we wind up the year.  We are content, we have books, a lovely purple potted hydrangea, home grown boysenberries from another daughter and champers from the son. Kids with taste, don’t you love ‘em.  

 I will have time to read. He has time to check the score. Don’t pretend you don’t know what I mean. 

 I will close with my party piece which is my impersonation of Mansplaining. 

Many a man walks into any room, and says Who Is Out?  Or What’s The Score?

Lucky us, biggish family, biggish pleasure.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Ring in the new year  2023.

Welcome to all LIBBY library lovers, bloggers, readers, writers.

Borrow a book and share your story.

DECEMBER 2022. OPEN / HUNGER TOWN

Often the books I am reading are chosen on impulse.  Sometimes I find a way to link them when I write my book blog.  Humans often have common endeavour.  Mine is to recall which books I read.

2022 DECEMBER. 

A tennis player and a political cartoonist. Opposites. Talented.  Both from the poor side of town, both with dominating fathers, both with a lot to learn.

1928. HUNGER TOWN. WENDY SCARFE. 

🥣

Port Adelaide is the setting.  Wendy writes an important history of depression days in Adelaide. Includes social unrest and protests in Victoria square.The ‘nearly twelve’ girl worked in a dockside cafe called Chew It (Spew It) an actual title perhaps or just the food description.  It was were tough everywhere in HUNGER TOWN time. No money to spare so she was sent to work.  

The young girl, Judith, was raised on a coal hulk, and perchance learned to read. 

No one had time or money to encourage her education. One day she met an older man called Joe in a place called a library.  He became a mentor and she rapidly learned about borrowing books and developed her love of literature. Her first real ambition was to read all this small library’s books via the alphabet, she knew her abcs. 

She could also draw and became a talented political cartoonist. It didn’t just happen.  She had observed the surrounding ongoing mind numbing poverty which made communism seem interesting to some. Her husband Harry was one who found communism an exciting idea, an education indeed.  

Their love and life journey was optimistic and adventurous, closing with a trip to Spain with her multi lingual art teacher friend to find her beloved idealistic Harry.

🎾

1990s. OPEN. ANDRE AGASSI.  

Raised in Las Vegas, Agassi became a mega sports star in tennis, a sport which he claimed to hate.  His journey to stardom would necessitate winning an OPEN. In 1992 after many early teenage contests he won Wimbledon. He was young and his main rebellion was the rock star pink hairstyles he flouted and which the public adored.  The irony of this true tale was that he became bald.  After much anguish he tossed it away, a wig we never realised he wore.  A brave move, iconic. 

The coach who had endlessly told him hit harder, longer and stronger was his motivated determined father who had ruthlessly supervised his development.  In the desert surrounds of Las Vegas he had bountiful flat dry hot space where a poor kid could slam balls for practice.  Endlessly. 

The book bounces with his memories of coaches and gruelling practice routines.  He is a natural writer. Add to that the tough lessons learned in competition with other established tennis superstars, many of whom he defeated. There is a big Pete who features a lot and was for Andre the man to beat. Beat Pete was the goal. These days, love and commitment with Steffi and their children gives personal happiness.

Andre has jumped the net to reach his place in the tennis Hall of Fame. EIGHT OPENS and countless small but significant wins paved the road to success.  Fame is an achievement dependent on facing and overcoming a challenge.  

Life will always toss balls too hard to return.  Slam ‘em back.

Both characters in these books did well. As did the authors. ⭐️⭐️

NOVEMBER 2022. Last night at the REGAL.

 I joined my Burnside swim pal gals for an Author’s talk. 

FIONA McINTOSH. Hello Adelaide.

A bright personality in an emerald green dress over black tights she was greeted by an obviously adoring audience of mostly silver tops.  Women of this generation take reading fairly seriously.  They support the Burnside library, buy books, value, understand and follow characters as they reappear.

This was evident when Fiona announced to an enthusiastic audience that JACK is back.  Applause. 

Yes, she wrote a real thriller starring the handsome somewhat stereotypical detective.  (Lonely i.e.“available”, often arrogant.).  All I had read of her work was Mirror Man wherein Jack may not need the girls’ help but nevertheless he is obliged to share space with two perfectly able policewomen.  

Fiona tells her audience he will also appear on screen.  She suggested two superstar studs who may suit the role.  Applause.  Yes Jack is the treat served toasty and in Mirror Man he lead and solved the investigation into seriously gruesome killings. A serial killer was on the loose. 

Fiona McIntosh does not shy away from shocking her readers.   I initially thought her a brave young writer to open her novel with very graphic descriptions however all is redeemed as she tells a good story.  What will thrill us in Jack’s next appearance?

Her newest book is set in Australia, a first.  She outlined the landscape and characters, and the amount of research to make this believable, whilst not giving away the plot.  An interesting  part of her talk concerned some of the tricks of the trade.  The writers craft requires a title which will attract both publishers and the reader .  The audience enjoyed sharing the creative journey. 

OCTOBER 2022: two books on predator creatures in safe spaces. HENRY HIMSELF. ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES.

HENRY HIMSELF (Stewart O’Nan)

ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES (Charlotte McConaghy)

Predators?  Their den? Our den?

So without planning it, I had selected two books about dens.  Homes for humans and habitat for wolves.

USA.  Henry in his easy well written family history tells us about his home, his retirement, the holiday house.  You would think it was us, in Australia. Henry is keeping busy, sustaining his later years. He easily finds jobs to do and family members to share the load.

In Scotland twin sisters Inti and Aggie visit.  Aggi is studying and Inti’s formal job entails a project to introduce 14 breeding wolves to remote highlands. They have names.  Inti is passionately emotionally committed to animal welfare.  

In a forest, wolves find a safe place for breeding and feeding.  The wolves’ territory adjoins a sheep farm where open farmlands and fences beside a forest does not guarantee a farmer stock security. The good intentions of humans with regard to endangered animals are positive but shared property poses problems.   Both quadrapeds and bipeds need nourishment. 

The interaction among living creatures in this adventure is fraught with danger.  The best of intentions can implode.  Wolves could become extinct somewhat accidentally.  Both sisters surprisingly have entangled romances that could threaten their own survival from trusted lovers.

 BLUE AND WHITE 

2 books

NIGHT BLUE 

By Angela O’Keefe

The painting Blue Poles is the inspiration for this delightful book.  A first novel.

And a poetry book by Lidija Simkute.

WHITE SHADOWS.

These two books are small, gentle, artistic and worth a place on my shelf.   Not all my reading is digital. Sharing a print book has it’s rewards.  I was given these.  I can hand them to others to share the beauty of good paper, design and words.  After all, it is about words.

I will share one of Lidija’s poems.

I WANTED TO PLUCK YOU A SUNBEAM

 But the clouds came

I wanted

To gather raindrops

And send them to you

But they dried up in my hands

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻 

From Angela, we read about an artist at work.

..he dipped the timber in the paint, then lay it sodden against me, over and over.  His movements gained momentum; at one point, he kicked off his boots…

This is the figurative painting Blue Poles talking to us.  As readers we are sharing the story of a creation. How it came to reside in Canberra.  

 

 

THIS LAST WEEK IN SEPTEMBER: - The Corner Shop of Whispers. Sir Elton John. Dirt Music.

10.30 on Monday, have woken fresh but I really am ready for day light saving.

This dreary weather keeps me inside.  

I checked my One Page Story on ipad, (titled Fetch the Bread) and sent it to my family.  One sibling answered promptly on fbook messenger and said it was her and one other who went for the bread, nibbled the crust, and got into trouble with Mumma.  I was wrong.  It was not Doreen, it was Lorraine.  With me.

I won’t redo the drawing, it is one of my One Page efforts using a few Scribbly sketches and minimum words, created from my boredom, but using a childhood memory for inspiration.  My memory proved wrong.

So now I connect the Bluetooth keyboard to my ipad, and dwell on recent readings.

I haven’t been in a settled reading mood, so two unfinished books were returned to the online library.

Currently, I am reading a blousey housewifey story. The Corner Shop of Whispers.  I just need a distraction, and the lightest entertainment.   I have previously read one of Debbie Viggianos’s  books, (The Man You Meet in Heaven) which was quite funny as there is a man in a white suit at a supermarket and the narrator does drool over this unlikely encounter.  A white suit not a white baker’s coat.   So when I noticed Libby had a second  DV book  I clicked, quickly, expecting no more than a similar light hearted romance.

I settled in my chair with this quite silly house wife fantasy. There is an artist narrating stories of her social circle and neighbours, and lots of potential for gossip, affairs and surprises.  There is an unplanned pregnancy, and a strange unsigned letter revealing a hubbys infidelities etc. 

 I shall read on with this happy light story.

What I did not finish, was Sir Elton John by Philip Norman. 

He clearly knew his subject.  It started with the sixties in England with young rock stars and their agents, concerts, money, bad habits, great family. The humble chubby chap could really play the piano and rose to superstardom with the support of his clever songwriter friend who supplied the lyrics which Sir John put to music.

Halfway, I had enough with so many names, songs, concerts etc although this would be really interesting to those more familiar with the music and music management world. A very comprehensive coverage of the rock world.

I also returned Dirt Music by acclaimed Australian author Tim Winton..  An author whose other books I have appreciated.  Not his fault.

So I confess.  I respect these serious authors, but this September my daily life requires light distraction.