Joy’s Comments (group member since Aug 07, 2013)

Joy’s comments from the I Read Therefore I Am group.

I especially like the John Masefield as it reminds me of my mum, who used to recite it on any visit to the sea!

Just readAustenland. Unfunny and badly written chic-lit. Can't hold a candle toBridget Jones's Diary.

I'm reading The Light Years, recommended by a real-life friend. At first I thought the detailed description of objects was going to make it hard going, but after about 50 pages I started to become really engrossed by the characters and now can hardly put it down.

Lee wrote: "Hmmm - don't listen to him Phyllis."

LOL!!

I had a big pile of new books for my birthday a couple of weeks ago. I'm currently reading The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden. I really enjoyed The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared, but this one, although quite funny in places, is really too similar. It's another character who inadvertently affects real historical events. Its similarity makes it feel rather formulaic.

Lee wrote: "The Medusa Frequency, Hangsaman, Thornyhold

I loved the Medusa Frequency it's very funny, very odd and really makes you think. I couldn't explain what it'..."

My mum liked Mary Stewart and I read a few of hers back in my teens. The one that stays in mind is The Crystal Cave which is the story of the young Merlin, from the legend of King Arthur. I don't know if I'd still like it if I read it again.

Just finished Puck of Pook's Hill. This is a children's book, though I can't imagine modern children liking it. However I enjoyed it. It features two children who accidentally come into contact with Puck (fairy from Midsummer's Night's Dream) and he introduces them to characters from historical periods, who tell the children their stories. The characters aren't famous people but those on the edge of famous events; soldiers guarding Hadrian's Wall, nobles from around 1066 etc. Each episode is also preceded by a poem (of Kipling's own) some of which are very good. I was interested to find that a poem I knew from childhood (Smuggler's Song) originated here, and I really liked the poem 'Harp Song of the Dane Women'. I doubt that modern children would know enough history to make this book comprehensible - in fact I had to google for information a number of times, but enjoyed doing this. I also liked the idyllic short scenes of childhood - the children running out to play imaginative games, unrestricted by adults or health and safety concerns - it reminded me a bit of E. Nesbit's fictional children (and indeed my own delightful childhood a bit!)

I'm reading Puck of Pook's Hill Thanks for the suggestion, Lee.

I think I was so lucky in my education. I was at grammar school just post the Plowden report and had a wonderful child- centred time. We read poems like this just for the pleasure they give. I feel sorry for children today who have to analyse everything they read.

Angela wrote: "They sound awesome Joy - what would you put the age group at?"

Difficult to say. The characters get older with each book,as they do in HP, so perhaps from age 10 onwards.

It's beautiful. He's a poet who definitely needs to be read aloud.

Lee wrote: "Have you read Puck of Pooks Hill ? I downloaded it yesterday on a whim and really enjoyed it - it's where I found this poem."

No I haven't. I'll give it a try.

I'm reading a series of children's / YA books by Herbie Brennan, first of which isFaerie Wars. Really imaginative fantasy - as good as Harry Potter in my opinion.

Oh yes, I love it too.

So do I. I learnt this by heart when I was a child - fun to see how much I can still remember.

I'm re-reading some easy old favourites, among them Even Money. I'm trying to economise at the moment so I think I'll have to see what's being offered for free on Kindle!

I saw a video of her reciting this poem on one of the news programmes which was brilliant and I've enjoyed reading it here. Now I'll admit, red-faced, that I hadn't heard of Maya Angelou till now.

I've only read The Portrait of a Lady which I didn't like, but there was a really good programme on radio 4's Great Lives' yesterday about Henry James. I don't usually care for this programme (not a big fan of Matthew Paris) but this edition had Michael Palin as a guest and he was very interesting in the way he talked about Henry James. It's on iplayer:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b044h6nq

I've just read Americanah. This story starts as Ifemelu, who has lived in America for 13 years, prepares to return to Nigeria, where she grew up. We then have flashbacks, revealing Ifemelu’s life so far. I liked the way the flashbacks are handled so that, even though we know certain things about the course of Ifemelu’s life (view spoiler)[ (for example that she will be in a long-term relationship with Blaine) (hide spoiler)] that surprises still occur (view spoiler)[ (I was sure when she first met Blaine on the train that it was the start of their relationship and was shocked when he didn’t return her calls.) (hide spoiler)] The story concerns racism, how our sense of self is moulded, integrity and how we change to fit in. I found the discussion of racist issues interesting and thought-provoking in these early sections, with hair-styling as a metaphor for racial oppression.There is also a romance – before she leaves Nigeria, Ifemelu is in a relationship with Obinze and the story is about why this founders and their continued passion for each other.
I loved Half of a Yellow Sun and I expected to love this book, which I did until Ifemelu had returned to Nigeria, when I gradually lost my absorption in the story. I think this was partly because it becomes more linear in structure, but I also began to feel differently about Ifemelu herself. One of her admirable qualities is her straightforwardness and honesty, but I felt this became selfishness and the grand romantic fervour left me cold, as the two main characters didn’t seem to care who they hurt.

I'm reading Americanah and really enjoying it.