Anisha Inkspill > Recent Status Updates

Last couple of chapters was a bit of chore as I was trying to keep up with the war strategies and who’s trying to outwit who. The interesting characters and details are still there, and I could probably just skim through this but I’m thinking I’ll miss something as there are so many characters where the point of view keeps switching as civil strife continues.

Over 40 chapters in and the story is now starting to fall in place. This is disorientating with its multi-story lines but I like books that challenge me. For a first attempt I’m just about keeping up with the action that moves along fast, my favourite parts are the range of characters and their stories that are a mix of comedy, drama and lessons to learn. It’s completely surprised me is how much I have taken to this.

I wasn't sure what to expect but I’m really liking the style of how the story is told. There’s a lot of characters, where the main characters can change from chapter to chapte but so far I am managing to keep up with the story.

I'm just wondering, does anyone here use Onyx Boox as an eReader?

It's like an eReaders with its e-ink tech but runs in an Android environment. Also, unlike the eReaders it lists its RAM and has an sd card slot. You can also run other android apps, along with apps for reading eBooks.

If you do, I'd be interested to know how you're finding it. Thanks.

I’m truly amazed!!! it’s not taken me a longer time to read this. I think a big part of this is the translation, and the second one I kept close by, but I also think all the books I have read before have also helped.

What I'm finding hard to believe is that I have reached this far and it's almost the end of October, I won't be able to finish this at the end of this month but maybe within the next couple of weeks, maybe, and if I do I will be surprised by this.

I had heard of these works referred to as dialogues but never clocked it was literal, and I like reading plays and screenplays and so I'm finding this easier than I thought I would. I’m also surprised by its humour, v unexpected.

The intro essay gives me an overview of what to expect. I never made the connect between the name of this book and its content, I am now intrigued and want to know more.

I also like how Robin Waterfield’s intro essay makes me feel I will be able to keep up with the rest of the book. It’s nice when a book makes me feel this confident but I’m keeping an open mind :)

This has been on my tbr for ages. I’ve picked this translation by Robin Waterfield as it seems the easiest. But we shall see.

leaving me a lot to chew on :)

review coming soon :)

Chapter 21 No Longer Invisible ends with a quote from a newspaper article published on 28th Feb 1850, Bradford Observer:

It is understood that the only daughter of the Rev P Bronté, incumbent of Haworth is the authoress of Jane Eyre and Shirley, two of the most popular novels of the day, which appeared under the name of ‘Curer Bell’.

Volume II, Part 1 – the formative years

This feels different to me from Vol I, in Vol II, having gone through the development of woman through history, Simone de Beauvoir explores the makeup of woman. What’s engaging me is the detail Simone de Beauvoir presents, it’s the kind of detail that takes a lot of thinking and a lot of work to bring together.

I like how Juliet Barker is not just focusing on Charlotte Bronte but all of them – what an amazing family.

reached Vol 1, part 3 (Myths), chapter 1

I'm enjoying how Simone de Beauvoir illustrates what it means to be a woman from many cultural points of view.

quote:

'In Paris Gaugin had admired a still life with  by Vincent and acquired it, probably by way of exchange.  Van Gogh now informed Theo that Gaugin considered the new still lifes with sunflowers he had painted for the Yellow House even finer than a similar work by Claude Monet.'

kindle location: 7493 

I was thrilled to discover the Penguin ed. incl images of the letters with VG's drawings.

read upto 1881 in the Penguin edition and 1880 in Delphi.

in places it’s funny, I didn’t expect that

a different reading experience from Wolf Hall

I’ve reached 1878 and in this Penguin edition read another 2% but so far, roughly, for every year the Delphi edition has a good 70% more letters.

I should have read this before reading Poetic Edda last year. It's making sense now.

the writing is stunning

The book covers letters over 18 years, I'm now on 1877 the sixth year.

The contrast between the 2 editions is interesting.

In tandem with this I'm reading VG's letters in https://www.amazon.com/Delphi-Complet... it has more than this Penguin edition.

covering Elegy next

I stumbled over sonnets and have added Sonnets from the Portuguese to come back to.

I finished the chapters on the French Revolution, I had no idea how it went back and forth between Republic and Monarchy.

Also, I’ve always been confused about Napoleon’s part but this book helps. I never realised there were three Napoleons – now it’s making a touch more sense :)

the next section looks at differnet forms of poetry

blank verse was the first one

I did not know Henry Howard, Earl of Essex (and Anne Boleyn's uncle), was the one who introduced it into English when translating Virgil's Aeneid.

that's so interesting :)