Well, this has been a rather longer hiatus than I’d ever intended.
What a goofy spring. Weird weather, and an overwhelming continuation of “little things” keeping me from ever feeling quite in control of my very own life.
Sunday, June 19th we had our last plant sale day (we operate a small perennial plant nursery); 48 hours later I was on the operating table undergoing a mite of abdominal surgery, which I’d been supposed to undergo back in April but which I’d postponed till a “better” time – after the spring planting season. Luckily everything held together until now!
All is as well as it could be expected to be. I am rather sore but less so than I could be, and several weeks of “light duty” stretch in front of me. Perhaps an opportunity to take up the blogging habit once again? I do miss it.
So, what have I been reading this strangely subfusc spring? Not a whole lot, I’m sad to say. Too busy and too distracted for anything terribly challenging, though I did recently manage a trio of Gavin Maxwells – Ring of Bright Water, The Rocks Remain, and Raven Seek Thy Brother. (Now there’s a chap with issues!) Maxwell deserves more than I can give him at present, so he’s back on the shelf for now.
Lying on the gurney the other day, waiting for the surgeon, I did manage to immerse myself to a reasonably deep degree in Barbara Pym’s Less Than Angels. “Good book?” asked one of the nurses. “Not particularly,” I replied. And it really isn’t, is it? Not one of her strongest. I insist on reading Pym from time to time, and occasionally sparks are struck, but she’s so darned…I dunno…cynical is too strong a term…not particularly cheering, anyway, to someone in a fragile state of mind.
So it’s been O. Douglas the last few days, as something of a Barbara Pym antidote. Taken by the Hand, and The House That is Our Own. Good old friends, these have become. But I’m ready for something new.
I see that Margaret Kennedy (The Constant Nymph, The Feast, Together and Apart et al) is getting some positive press in book blogger world. Time to order some new-to-me summer reading? But according to CBC News a possible postal strike is looming, so I might want to hold off.
Back to the high shelves here at home it is! (Well, not literally. I’ll send someone else up the stepladder.)
Hope you’ve all been having a lovely spring. Mine has had its magical moments, despite everything. And now it’s truly summer, longest day just past and all. Cheers, book friends!
Leaves & Pages 
Sending you best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Having a lovely winter down here Down Under: also wishing you a speedy recovery – I just bet O. Douglas has helped (one of my all time favourite re-reads).
So, you know how when you love a book so much, you can’t bear the thought that other people are missing out because they don’t know about it? Well, I don’t want to nag. but I do so want you to read the Williamsburg novels (all seven!) by Elswyth Thane. They, too, are oldies but better-than-goodies – just love them. I know I have written about them before but I just can’t help myself. The first novel, Dawn’s Early Light (set around 1770) is good but the weakest (in my opinion)…by the time you’re reading book 7 (set in 1942), you just don’t want to leave! The people in these books are not just characters, they’re my family and friends – and I know that you know just what I mean.
All good wishes; happy reading, Helen
Lovely to see you back in the blogosphere! I hope you recover quickly from your surgery & find some suitably soothing books to help pass the time. As Helen says, it’s a lovely winter in Australia, my favourite time of year. Reading, cats, lots of tea, what more could I ask for? Any Greyladies authors would be perfect for convalescence I think so O Douglas should be perfect.
Ah, there you are! I knew you weren’t too far away. A shame to be stuck with a so-so book when you’re trapped without chance of another. But O. Douglas, definitely warm-hearted reads, and The House that is Our Own is one of my favourites of hers.
Take care.
I’m glad you’re back, I hope everything has gone well for you. O.Douglas books certainly come under the ‘comfort read’ category.
Hepatica plants featured in the Chelsea Flower Show this year, I only saw them on TV though and apparently they aren’t hardy enough for a Scottish winter – such a shame as they are so beautiful.
I’m glad your surgery went well, and I hope you’ve had a good time away and will be around a bit more this summer. That would be lovely! But also: No pressure. Hi!
Welcome back to blogging! I think yours is the first negative comment I’ve ever read about Barbara Pym. I liked Less than Angels, but I agree that it’s not her best. So far, I haven’t been able to get through A Quartet in Autumn, and I didn’t particularly like A Few Green Leaves either.
More best wishes for a speedy recovery – and some good books to read!