Three for the Weekend

A nice long weekend ahead and I plan on finishing up two library books - Pomfret Towers by Angela Thirkell and Bitter Lemons by Lawrence Durrell. And, I downloaded Zoo Time by Howard Jacobson from the library's ebook collection which I hope to begin reading. 

Pomfret Towers is the name of the rather huge country home of Lord Pomfret and his semi-invalid wife. Here is how Ms. T describes it:

This pile, for no less a name is worthy of this vast medley of steep roofs, turrets, gables and chimney stacks, crowned by a Victorian clock tower, took four years to build and is said to have cost its owner first and last as many hundred thousand pounds.

It was computed, she writes, that an under footman might walk ten miles a day in the course of his duties.

Like I said, Huge.

The action takes place during a weekend house party (of which I am so fond). There are three sets of brothers and sisters in attendance: Alice and Guy Barton; Phoebe and Julian Rivers; and Sally and Roddy Wicklow. 

Also among the twenty or so guests is Mr. Foster who will eventually inherit the estate from Lord Pomfret, his uncle. 

The mothers of the first sets of siblings, Mrs. Barton and Mrs. Rivers, are both authors which gives Ms. Thirkell a chance to take a stab or two at writers and publishers and the economics of the book business. 

Alice Barton (age unknown but perhaps a young teenager) is terribly shy to the point of actually being a bit annoying. She has already fallen instantly in love with Julian Rivers who is an artist with dark hair, brooding eyes, and many affectations. 

Mrs. Rivers is the guest to be avoided as she is always trying to organize games for 'the young people' even though the young people are perfectly capable of entertaining themselves. Lord Pomfret is not exactly a warm and welcoming host and his only reason for having the party is to please his wife who for most of the time lives in Florence. 

With Ms. Thirkell's ability to mete out the telling detail, I feel as if I am at the house party myself with its well-set dining room table 
"stretching away to infinity, covered with what looked to Alice like six thousand shining knives and forks and spoons, and more carnations in more silver vases than she had ever seen in her life."

Or having tea in its smaller drawing-room "decorated with green brocade and hung with pictures bought by the sixth earl (father of the present earl) from contemporary artists. The furniture was in the highest style of pre-Raphaelite discomfort; sofas apparently hewn from solid blocks of wood and armchairs suited to no known human frame, both with thin velvet cushions of extreme hardness." 

I won't even try to guess which romances will blossom and wither and which ones will bloom for all time. I will leave that puzzle in the very capable hands of the author.

And the winners are...

The winners of my Whoopee! 500 Posts Book Giveaway are:

Fiction - Joyce F in KS

and

Non-fiction - Tullik

If you will email me at bellebookandcandle[at]hotmail[dot]com I will give you each a couple of options of books to choose from. 

Congratulations and thanks for participating. I look forward to hearing from you both. 

And the books go on...

I am enjoying reading Bitter Lemons by Lawrence Durrell which tells of his time spent living in Cyprus during the 1950s. He writes of the political goings on between the British, Turks, Greeks, and Cypriots over the governing of the island. He tells the very funny story of the overly dramatic negotiations that took place in the purchasing of his small house in the village of Bellapaix. And, there are many conversations recorded that occurred over wine and black coffee (especially wine) in cafés, in offices, and around kitchen tables.

While living in Cyprus, Durrell taught English literature at a school in the capital, Nicosia, and then worked in the press relations department for the British who governed Cyprus at the time. 

His prose is quite lyrical and descriptive. Even though I get lost in the political machinations of fifty some years ago, the book is still lovely to read.

The Durrell Brothers - Lawrence and Gerald

Gerald Durrell
1925-1995

Lawrence Durrell
1912-1990

Next up for reading this weekend is Lawrence Durrell's Bitter Lemons. It is the story of his life on Cyprus in the 1950s. At one time I do believe I owned a paperback copy of this but it must have been given away (unread) in my Great Paperback Purge a couple of years ago. Anyway, I was reminded of it recently and requested it from the library.

I have not read anything by Lawrence Durrell, but I have read his younger brother Gerald's My Family and Other Animals which is his delightful recounting of the family's move in the 1930s to Corfu to escape the bleak British winters. I was introduced to the book through the 2005 movie.  For a while, Lawrence and his wife lived with the family on the island.

Even at a young age, Gerald was a naturalist and his adventures with the Mediterranean fauna of the island are quite amusing. He eventually wrote another two books about his time on Corfu, Birds, Beasts and Relatives and The Garden of the Gods. He wrote other autobiographical works regaling the reader with tales of life among the animals and his wildlife expeditions. 

In 1958, Gerald founded his own zoo, now known as the Durrell Wildlife Park, on the island of Jersey in the English Channel. He died in 1995 and his ashes are buried at the zoo. A fitting resting place.

Lawrence led quite a different life. He wrote novels, poetry, and books about his travels. He rubbed elbows with other literati of his time including Henry Miller and Anais Nin. He considered himself a man of the world. He was born in British India, lived for a while in England, Argentina, and Egypt, as well as Cyprus and Corfu. He died while living in France in 1990.

I know Lawrence is famous for his Alexandria Quartet which I have not read nor have I been tempted to read it. I am sure the two brothers have very different styles of writing. I know that Gerald has a light touch and will let you know how I get on with Lawrence.