A Christmas present book that I read while waiting for the library van day last week. I've read a couple of his other books and 'Deep Country' about his 5 years in a remote Welsh cottage is a favourite. I've reserved it to re-read.
Neil has been gradually losing his hearing for many years and this book is about his attempt to listen to all the birds in this country that he's never heard, before his hearing goes completely. It's fascinating how he has to plan to be in the right place at the right time and his travels to many remote places.
This is a podcast where Neil talks about the book.
It was sad to hear that he had Lyme Disease which triggered Rheumatoid Arthritus and was unwell when this recording was made.
Completely different was this little book by Rumer Godden published in 1969.
Grizel Dane, a servicewoman in the US army arrives during the war to stay with her elderly Great Uncle, Sir Rollo Dane, but that doesn't happen until the last part of the book. Through Rollo's memories and voices of the others who lived there we hear the history of the Dane family and Lark Ingoldsby. Lark was adopted after being orphaned in a train crash and finds herself in the middle of sibling rivalry, loved by Rollo and his older brother Pelham but hated by sister Selina.
It only a small book and was read in an evening, once I'd got used to the way it is written in different voices and times, often overlapping and going backwards and forwards.
Maybe the earliest written book I've read for a while is this - originally published in 1898. Another very small book quickly read.
Back Tomorrow
Thanks for the info about Neil Ansell, I will look for 'Deep Country'. Lyme disease can be so nasty, a friend of mine wasn't correctly diagnosed for ages and became very poorly.
ReplyDeletePenny
Elizabeth and her German Garden is a beautiful read and as you say it is not at all dated, I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was passed to various family and friends who also loved it. Jan
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your reads-I like the sound of the Rumer Godden one best. I’m at the knitting group in the library today so shall see if they have it. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI have been reading books by Clare Marchant books lately after my first ever delve into some Harry Potter…at my age too!
ReplyDeleteThree very unusual books and they sound very good. I remember reading Deep Country many years ago and not being able to really get into it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting books. I am reading The Correspondent where the main character is going blind -the story is told in a series of letter. It made me think of what it must have been like when there were less vision options like cataract surgery. Sound and vision add so much to the quality of life. I like Enchanted April by Von Arnim a book that got made into a movie. Jean in Winnipeg
ReplyDeleteThe selection of books sounds interesting, TQ
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
None of those available at my library. I have some other books to read, though, so I'm good.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, Sue. I had Elizabeth and her German Garden! It was a book from a time when I was married to my own man of wrath. Those were tough years and I read the book many times, wondering about the author. I loved that book. I lent it to the woman downstairs as she recuperated from surgery. I never got it back. How funny to see it mentioned
ReplyDeleteI haven't thought of it for 40 years.
The "Man of Wrath"? Yikes! I hope she hired a divorce lawyer. So sad about the guy losing his hearing -- it's my nightmare to lose hearing or vision, but I suppose a certain amount of that is virtually inevitable.
ReplyDeleteI went looking for the Rumer Godden book with no success. Sounds very much like something I'd like. BTW I finished The Eights that you recommended. Just had a thought maybe I can buy a used copy of the Godden book. Must look.
ReplyDeleteThe first book looks really interesting. I was able to pick up a few non-fiction nature books really cheap while visiting daughter and I'm looking forward to looking through them!
ReplyDeleteThose books do look very interesting. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
All these books seem like outstanding reads. Thank you for sharing.
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