Sunday, November 11, 2012

Quote du jour/Alexander McCall Smith

It was now late on Sunday afternoon, an emotionally flat time for many people.
From A Conspiracy of Friends by Alexander McCall Smith


20 comments:

  1. Yes, Sunday afternoons are like that, aren't they?

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    1. I was so struck by his words. I have often felt this, but never spoken of it. The wonder of reading.

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  2. How true. I thought, 'I'll sit quietly by the fire and read this afternoon' but when it came to it I fidgetted and fretted and then my husband came in and he was fidgetting too. LOL. I'm reading two books at the moment and one of them is not engaging me at all... 130 pages in. I think it's going the way of plenty of others this past few months. The other, 'In Search of England' by Roy Hattersley is much more interesting and I fancy you might like it too, Nan.

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    1. I will look into the Hattersley. Have you and I talked about his most adorable Buster's Diaries? How I love that book.
      Oh, and have you heard of Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn? I just began it, and it is so sweet.

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    2. I'd never even heard of Buster's Diaries, so I just looked at them on Amazon and lo and behold, there they are. I shall be acquiring those via the library or AM because I'm a bit smitten with Roy and his writings. I'm loving his In Search of England so much, such a light touch with humour and I've been giggling away and loving every bit of it (the Other Book has been abandoned) so any other recs like The Buster Diaries are very welcome. He also seems to have written a few biographies and history books and I rather fancy the Lloyd George one, the one about the founders of the Salvation Army and The Edwardians.

      Mrs Queen Takes the Train is new to me too and it sounds like huge fun, so have added that to the list.

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    3. Oh what a treat you have in store! And I will try and find more of his work.
      Mrs. Q. is so lovely.

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  3. Yes, Sunday afternoons. Before I retired, worries about the upcoming work week added a feeling of minor dread to the ennui. So happy that's gone, but sometimes the melancholy pops in for whatever reason.
    Always think of Simon and Garfunkle's "Dangling Conversation" as a Sunday afternoon song. Your lovely photo also brings this to mind.
    I didn't comment on your last post, but do feel what you're saying. Please, enjoy your reading and don't feel as if you must analyze it for others. And sorry for your loss, although it is such a good thing that your father-in-law didn't have to go into a nursing home. My Dad also avoided it, and we were,are so grateful about that. My dear Mom, though, another story.
    I have gone on, forgive me, but your writings just bring out so much to many of us, I think.
    Best,
    Mary

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    1. Gosh, that's a wonderful connection. I knew I had mentioned a line from the song here, and went searching. Found it here: http://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/2008/01/reading-time.html

      I love 'going on.' Conversations are what make blogging so great.

      Almost as soon as I took the picture, the sun was gone. :<)

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  4. Loving your header photograph.
    Re A Conspiracy of Friends, my daughter lives in Pimlico, not in C. Mansions though!
    Used to hate Sunday afternoons at boarding school too.

    Carole

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    1. I wonder if she reads this series.
      Makes me sad to think of you in boarding school - such a 'homey' (homely in England English) person being in that environment.

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  5. I'll get her one for Christmas, good idea.
    No, boarding school at eight isn't one of the best British traditions!

    Carole

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    1. Oh, eight years old. Still so very young. It breaks my heart.

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  6. Love the late afternoon lighting in your photo. Glad you captured it in time.
    I love to read and while I'm no where near you in the numbers of volumes you read in a year, I do find I'm of the same mind lately, i.e., I haven't enjoyed as many lately. I admire you and Librarian for your book reviews, but I find myself reluctant to recommend many. I hope that will change with the new year. I suspect I've had so much on my mind, with the move after eighteen years in the same house, that I haven't had the reserve energy to spend on reading and find more and more I'm re-reading authors I know will interest/entertain me.

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    1. It came and went so quickly!
      I'm very interested in your move. That is a huge change for you.
      Rereading is like a visit with old, dear friends, don't you think?

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  7. "Rainy days and Sundays....." (?). Although since we're retired I don't notice a lot of difference. I think it was the dread of the weekend being over and Monday approaching.

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    1. I am looking forward to this feeling when Tom retires - but even more than Sundays, it will be August without the pre-school meetings. I can't wait.

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  8. I do so love the light in your photo, Nan. Such a warm glow, which reminds me of "our" book, Evenings at Five.

    Is that a Hummel I spot on one of the shelves?

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    1. I haven't read it in years, and keep thinking I'll pick it up again. I think about it a lot. I went back to our emails about it, and you had said you didn't like it as well as I did. Maybe the sadness? It definitely was a tough subject.

      Good eye! There are two that Tom's mother gave us years ago for the kids - a little boy and girl. Obviously we still have them! I think I love them more than they would. :<)

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