Wednesday Meme time
It's my Pilates class on Wednesdays: when I began doing the class a few years ago we used to lie flat on the floor visualising being on a beautiful beach; now I lie flat on the floor because I can't do a triceps press up. Not sure where the relaxation element of the class went but I still enjoy it, though I'm not sure my muscles do, particularly my non-existent triceps.
On with the book meme
What I Just Finished Reading
The Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones. I've loved Diana Wynne Jones's book for years and this one is no exception. It is in some ways a fictional version of "The Tough Guide to Fantasyland" with Pilgrim Parties coming to a magical world expecting to be entertained by all the familiar tropes of heroic fantasy. The inhabitants of the magical world are forced to give them what they ask for even if this means altering their whole way of life for the duration of the Tour. Many of the usual fantasy scenarios are neatly satirised here and the story is very amusing in places, but there are more serious themes of the evils of exploitation and unusual families that work. It's a very entertaining book with hidden darkness concealed by Diana Wynne Jones's often humorous writing.
What I'm Reading Now
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. The premise of this book is "What if you had the chance to live your life again and again, until you finally got it right?" and the main character is born and dies over and over again, sometimes when she is very young, sometimes when she is older. As the story goes on it becomes a fascinating portrait of both the main character Ursula, her friends and family, and the era of the 20th century through which she's living and reliving. It's incredibly readable and I'm enjoying it enormously even as some very dark things happen. It's a little terrifying to realise on what tiny chances our whole lives can hinge.
What I'm Reading Next
As usual, no clue. I have plenty of ideas but will probably choose something totally different. I think my motto for reading is to borrow from Dorothy L. Sayers and say "As my whimsy takes me".
Finally, this is fantastic. I think I've got that Museum of London app but only on an iPod Touch so I can't use it for photos.
On with the book meme
What I Just Finished Reading
The Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones. I've loved Diana Wynne Jones's book for years and this one is no exception. It is in some ways a fictional version of "The Tough Guide to Fantasyland" with Pilgrim Parties coming to a magical world expecting to be entertained by all the familiar tropes of heroic fantasy. The inhabitants of the magical world are forced to give them what they ask for even if this means altering their whole way of life for the duration of the Tour. Many of the usual fantasy scenarios are neatly satirised here and the story is very amusing in places, but there are more serious themes of the evils of exploitation and unusual families that work. It's a very entertaining book with hidden darkness concealed by Diana Wynne Jones's often humorous writing.
What I'm Reading Now
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. The premise of this book is "What if you had the chance to live your life again and again, until you finally got it right?" and the main character is born and dies over and over again, sometimes when she is very young, sometimes when she is older. As the story goes on it becomes a fascinating portrait of both the main character Ursula, her friends and family, and the era of the 20th century through which she's living and reliving. It's incredibly readable and I'm enjoying it enormously even as some very dark things happen. It's a little terrifying to realise on what tiny chances our whole lives can hinge.
What I'm Reading Next
As usual, no clue. I have plenty of ideas but will probably choose something totally different. I think my motto for reading is to borrow from Dorothy L. Sayers and say "As my whimsy takes me".
Finally, this is fantastic. I think I've got that Museum of London app but only on an iPod Touch so I can't use it for photos.