I’ve just seen this website, and I thought you might find it as interesting as I did.
Newseum allows you to see the front pages of newspapers from around the world, by clicking on cities on the map. I loved seeing pictures of news events from around the world. It’s a great idea!
When Beth from Beth Fish Reads recommeded To Say Nothing of the Dog as one of her top reads in 2008. I decided to add it to my wish list. To Say Nothing of the Dog is a parody of Three Men in a Boat, so I decided I really should read the classic before attempting the time travel version!
Three Men in a Boat is a light read, about a journey along the River Thames during Victorian times. It is full of humor, but most of the time I found myself smiling at them, rather than with them, as the puns are just too obvious:
Then we discussed the food question. George said:
‘Begin with breakfast.’ (George is so practical.) ‘Now for breakfast we shall want a frying pan’ – Harris said it was indigestible; but we merely urged him not to be an ass, and George went on – ‘a teapot and a kettle, and a methylated spirit stove.’
I live just two miles from the River Thames, and know it very well. I loved learning about what it was like over a hundred years ago. It was really nice to see places I visit regularly described in the book:
You pass Oatlands Park on the right bank here. It is a famous old place. Henry VIII stole it from someone or other, I forget whom now, and lived in it. There is a grotto in the park which you can see for a fee, and is supposed to be very wonderful.
I have taken my boys to play in Oatlands Park many times, and have never seen a grotto, so I looked it up on the Internet. I was amazed to find out how beautiful it was. There’s a photo here. Unfortunately it was dynamited in 1948, as people were trespassing on it, and the owners thought this was unsafe. I can’t believe such a special place has been destroyed.
Many other places I recognised were described, and I recommend this book to anyone who knows the Thames well. I can’t see much attraction to other people, as it is just a bit silly. I’m really looking forward to reading To Say Nothing of The Dog, and hope it is a much more rewarding read.
Beth’s review is of Three Men in a Boat is here.
Lexi from Lexacat’s List is the winner of my first book give away!
Congratulations Lexi!
She wins a copy of Random Acts of Heroic Love, by Danny Scheinmann. It is an emotional story about love and loss, which I think is unmissable. See my full review here.
Thank you to everyone who entered. I hope that those of you who didn’t win will manage to read this book at some point in the future, as I think it is amazing!
Weekly Geeks – Social and Political Issues
This week’s challenge is to choose a political or social issue that interests you, and explain a little bit about it.
I’m a member of The National Childbirth Trust (NCT), and I’m a big believer in educating pregnant women as much as possible. They can can then make informed decisions on their birth, and be free from fear.
Childbirth is a natural process, but many women are so fearful of it that they opt for caesareans (major abdominal surgery!) or drug themselves up so much that they’re not really aware of what is happening. I know that there are some medical emergencies where these things are needed, but in the majority of cases intervention is unnecessary.
I was lucky enough to have two natural births, with no medical intervention. I think this is down to the fact that I had read so much on the subject that I knew exactly what was happening to me, and so was not scared.
There are lots of great books out there, but these are two of the best:
So if you’re pregnant, or planning to have a baby please read as much as you can on the subject. Don’t be scared about the birth – it’s a natural process that ends in a beautiful new life!
The Behaviour of Moths is called The Sister in America, and I can see why there are two different titles, as there are two distinctive stories in the book. The first is the story of Ginny, an elderly lady who is reunited with her sister after 47 years apart. They struggle to revive their friendship, as we slowly learn the events which led to their separation all those years ago.
The story of the sisters is woven with Ginny’s fascination with her father’s work as a leading lepidoptorist, studying moth behaviour. I found the descriptions of moths completely fascinating. I never realised there was so much to learn about them. I found this particularly interesting:
“If you cut through a cocoon in mid-winter, a thick creamy liquid would spill out and nothing more. What goes into that cocoon in autumn is a caterpillar and what comes out in spring is entirely different: a moth, complete with papery wings, hair-like legs, and antennae. Yet this same creature spends winter as a grey-green liquid, a primordial soup.”
Poppy Adams clearly loves the natural world, and I hope she writes more about animal life in the future, as I think this is where her talents lie.
It’s not the best story in the world, but it is reasonably entertaining. I recommend you read it for the moth facts alone!
Michelle at 1 More Chapter is hosting the 1% Well-Read Challenge. The aim is to read 10 books from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list in the next 10 months.
My plan (subject to change!) is to read:
Wish me luck!
