A beautifully written book about a girl, Fiona, growing up in a tenement in Glasgow. She is bright, and despite her impoverished background (or maybe because of it), she achieves academic success, firstly in attaining highers, and then in obtaining a place at Art School.
She harbours a love of all things Emily Bronte, which helps her cope with the ups and downs and tragedies she and her family travel through. It also helps to have read Wuthering Heights and a bit about Emily, to appreciate some of the allusions and references in this story.
This took me a while to become attached to it, mainly due to the fact that it was written in the first person narrative (by Fiona), and in Glaswegian vernacular throughout (which I initially found annoying). However, with persistence, I found Fiona and her family (her father and her three siblings) engaging and sympathetic. The Glaswegian vernacular added to the gentle humour of the book.
The conclusion is neat, but not trite, and I welcomed it, although some readers may find it slightly too convenient.
BabyBarista is a fictional account of a pupil barrister undergoing the trials of pupillage at the English Bar.
This is a hilarious account of the underhand and machiavellian attempts by pupil barristers to undermine each other, so that they attain the prized tenancy at the end of their training.
Babybarista is now qualified, and at the start of the second year, but it is worth going back to the beginning and starting there.
Even if you know nothing about law (let alone British lawyers), you should find this hilarious.
What sources do you count on for national news coverage? How about international and local news?
Good question.
My main source of both national and international news sources has to be the BBC, and in particular, BBC Radio 4 at various times of the day.
I also check out the BBC Website at some point in the day.
For newspapers, I prefer the Independent, sometimes in hard copy, sometimes the website. As newspapers go in the UK, it is pretty good, and the least partial (politically) of all the broadsheets (IMHO).
I also look at the Times from time to time! This would tend to be the website, rather than the hard copy, and I visit regularly to view one particular blog, as well as specific news items.
That reminds me - I think I need to comment on the exploits of Babybarista, here on Vox!
I am only half way through the first series of Heroes, here in the UK.
However, I just couldn't resist watching this trailer, so thank goodness it didn't give too much away!
I recently read "The Rival Queens" by Fidelis Morgan (it was the subject of a discussion at my bookgroup), and I loved it. I must have read it in about 3 days (whilst on holiday). The story revolves around an amateur sleuth with a difference, as the book is set in 1699 London, and our sleuth is a former mistress of Charles II (now a little past her sell-by-date). Wonderfully comedic and horrific by turns. If you enjoyed the anachronisms in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, then you'll enjoy much of the humour in this book.
I shall be reading more of this series.
Morgan's website is informative, and has some interesting diversions, but I thought the look of it could have been leaner and less fussy.
From the website (extract from "The Rival Queens"): "Taking a great puff as Alpiew raced ahead, Anastasia, Lady Ashby de la Zouche, Countess of Clapham, Baroness Penge, reduced her stride to a very gentle trot. How had it come to this? At her age and station she should be sitting at home being served hot chocolate and biscuits while reading some juicy scandalous broadsheet. Instead she was near penury, forced into working for a living, chasing after scandal all over London to provide the tittle-tattle for other ladies to read while lounging in their cosy homes, gulping down buckets of best bohea tea.
With a sigh she trotted across the meadow of Tower Hill. High above her, on top of the slope, loomed the awful spectre of the scaffold and gallows. Luckily today was not an execution day, or she'd not be able to move for the crowds. The day before, however, had been one, so the place was still spattered with litter. The Countess side-stepped a pile of oyster shells crawling with maggots before joining the queue for the Tower of London."
A strangely beautiful video using Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" and a drumming gorilla to advertise Cadbury's chocolate (I still prefer my dark Fair Trade choc, any day!)
Innocent Drinks are asking people to knit little hats for their smoothie bottles.
This looks like a good idea, and can be done with a few friends. A lot less strenuous than running for charity (to my shame, I have only managed the Race for Life, which nearly floored me - only 5km).
A great way to use up all the bits of old wool you might have lying around (and a way to recycle old jumpers!).
The serious bit is the charitable purpose behind it:
"Almost 25,000 older people died of cold related illnesses last winter, so it’s important for us to do our bit. Age Concern will use the money raised to provide support to older people in winter including hot meals, blankets and advice on how to keep their houses warm."
Scandalous that this is happening in one of the developed countries of the world.
Ooh! My second post - this is getting ambitious!
:D
I am now experimenting with a "widget" from Libarything, which enables you to display random books from your library, within your blog.
I think this is one of those things you are supposed to display in your sidebar - but let's not run before we can walk!
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