Books are a Joy

I had a very interesting discussion today about eBooks, Kindle devices, iPads and physical books. I am sure that these kind of discussions are going on all over the world. The end result was that we all agreed that reading was life-changing and enjoyable no matter what the delivery mechanism was. I love eBooks when travelling, which I do as part of my profession, as they weigh nothing and are very portable. I remember once when I went to Bangkok on business and had 20 physical books with me, that the Customs official asked me whether I was thinking of starting a library in Thailand. That was before the advent of the eBook where I literally do have a library on my iPhone.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Proust Comment 1

But then, even in the most insignificant details of our daily life, none of us can be said to constitute a material whole, which is identical for everyone and need only be turned up like a page in an account-book or the record of a will; our social personality is a creation of the thoughts of other people" (Vol 1, p23)

In this age of social networking Proust's words here seem prescient. None of us has a single persona especially not to others. This is as true of each of us as it is for Swann, Proust's protagonist here.


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The 2011 Romp Through Proust has Begun

The New Year Challenge is upon me, and you my reader are here to cheer me on. In 2011 my aim is to read through the 6 volumes of In Search Of Lost Time by Marcel Proust. many better people have stumbled at such a task but I am going to give it a try.

I am going to use this blog to keep track of my progress and any observations along the way.

Wish me luck

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Coincidence in Scarborough

Scarborough is a Yorkshire town in the NE of England. not a place that people think of much. I have been there once and liked it. Imagine my surprise when I started reading two books this week and they both have Scarborough connections.

The books are Jacob's Room by Virginia Woolf and The Life of Pi.

I love these quirky things that arise from reading. next time I go to Scarborough it will be a different place to me because of it's literary associations.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

The Origin of English

I loved this quote on the BBC about the origins of English or "Englishes".

“We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.” — James Nicoll

Isn't that the truth.

DK

A New Find

I was listening to the Yale University literature podcast recently and came across a new author, well new to me anyway. Her name is Penelope Lively. The book of hers discussed and that I really enjoyed was Moon Tiger.

As Anne Tyler says, Leaves its traces in the air long after you've put it away. A brief synopsis is as follows: Claudia Hampton, a beautiful, famous writer, lies dying in hospital. But, as the nurses tend to her with quiet condescension, she is plotting her greatest work...

A Five star DK Recommendation

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Book Review - Paintings in Proust

Are you a Proust fan? If you are then this book, Paintings in Proust, A Visual Companion to 'In Search of Lost Time' will be very informative. In Proust's book In Search of Lost Time there are a lot of references to various paintings. The book Paintings in Proust has photo's of the paintings intercalated with the relevant quotes in the book. Worth reading and a fantastic reference book.

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