A Note from the Bard

My library was Dukedom large enough. Willian Shakespeare I agree with WS on this one. I rule by library as a benign dictator. I am a well contented man within the walls of my library.

Reading Quote Four

A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counselor, a multitude of counselors.

Charles Baudelaire

Writing Quote One

There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are

W. Somerset Maugham

So there you go, make up your own rules and stop procrastinating...

Half the month has gone

I can't believe that I have not posted for 2 weeks. Must be post Xmas langour or laziness. I'm reading two interesting biographies at the moment, one on Josef Stalin and the other on Mao Tse Tung. Both dictators and murderers exceeding Hitler. The banality of evil comes out in both books as does the overarching theory of Communism and the party line. Makes for sobering reading in a new century. DK

Happy New Reading Year

We are now in 2009. A time to read more books. Last year was a bit of a downer on my reading for a number of reasons. I only read 72 books, well below average for me. Still it is now a new year with new opportunities. I'm sure that 2009 will bring me further enlightenment from my pursuit of reading. Happy New Year.

Reading Quote Number 3 - Benjamin Franklin

"If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write something worth reading or do things worth the writing". Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) And of course he took hos own advice and did both... DK

Reading Quote 2

"I am eternally grateful..for my knack of finding in great books, some of them very funny books, reason enough to feel honored to be alive, no matter what else might be going on" Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007) I also find reading to be a life affirming occupation. I like to spend some of my life out there doing things and the rest contemplating distilled life contained in the books I read. Keep well and may the force be with you. DK