I hope everyone has had a good week so far. It’s the weekend tomorrow woo!
The poem I have chosen today is about a shark and the reason I have chosen it is because I am obsessed with films about sharks. I love a good shark film and I am throughly excited about going to see Meg 2 next week at our local cinema.
The Maldive Shark
About the Shark, phlegmatical one,
Pale sot of the Maldive sea,
The sleek little pilot-fish, azure and slim,
How alert in attendance be.
From his saw-pit of mouth, from his charnel of maw
They have nothing of harm to dread,
But liquidly glide on his ghastly flank
Or before his Gorgonian head;
Or lurk in the port of serrated teeth
In white triple tiers of glittering gates,
And there find a haven when peril's abroad,
An asylum in jaws of the Fates!
They are friends; and friendly they guide him to prey,
Yet never partake of the treat -
Eyes and brains to the dotard lethargic and dull,
Pale ravener of horrible meat.
Herman Melville
I hope everyone had a good July. I did a lot better with my reading in July. I suspect my holiday helped with this but I’m hoping to have a better August as well because I don’t currently have any school teaching.
My chosen quote today is by the poet Robert Frost who was one of the United States’ best loved poets and playwrights. He had four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry and a Congressional Gold Medal.
“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.”
Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club. All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.
Happy Monday!
How is it the end of July already? This month seems to have flown by and it is scary.
I have been going through my vast Goodreads TBR and there are so many books on there that I added years and years ago that I still want to read so I think it is time to bring them to the front of the list again. So here is a book that I added way back in 2018.
Nefertiti and her younger sister, Mutnodjmet, have been raised in a powerful family that has provided wives to the rulers of Egypt for centuries. Ambitious, charismatic, and beautiful, Nefertiti is destined to marry Amunhotep, an unstable young pharaoh. It is hoped by all that her strong personality will temper the young Amunhotep’s heretical desire to forsake Egypt’s ancient gods, overthrow the priests of Amun, and introduce a new sun god for all to worship.
From the moment of her arrival in Thebes, Nefertiti is beloved by the people. Her charisma is matched only by her husband’s perceived generosity: Amunhotep showers his subjects with lofty promises. The love of the commoners will not be enough, however, if the royal couple is not able to conceive an heir, and as Nefertiti turns her attention to producing a son, she fails to see that the powerful priests, along with the military, are plotting against her husband’s rule. The only person wise enough to recognize the shift in political winds–and brave enough to tell the queen–is her younger sister, Mutnodjmet.
Observant and contemplative, Mutnodjmet has never shared her sister’s desire for power. She yearns for a quiet existence away from family duty and the intrigues of court. Her greatest hope is to share her life with the general who has won her heart. But as Nefertiti learns of the precariousness of her reign, she declares that her sister must remain at court and marry for political gain, not love. To achieve her independence, Mutnodjmet must defy her sister, the most powerful woman in Egypt, while also remaining loyal to the needs of her family.
Love, betrayal, political unrest, plague, and religious conflict, Nefertiti brings ancient Egypt to life in vivid detail. Fast-paced and historically accurate, it is the dramatic story of two unforgettable women living through a remarkable period in history.
I’m so pleased I have rediscovered this book as I really want to read this book soon.
Please drop me a link with your Goodreads Monday and I will head over for a visit.
I took a break from Babel whilst on holiday as I didn’t take any physical books with me but now I am back I am back to reading it and I am really enjoying it so far.
I hope everyone has had a good week so far and has some good plans for the weekend.
My chosen poem this week is by one of my favourite authors Emily Bronte (1818-1848).
Past, Present, Future
Tell me, tell me, smiling child,
What the past is like to thee?
'An Autumn evening soft and mild
With a wind that sighs mournfully.'
Tell me, what is the present hour?
'A green and flowery spray
Where a young bird sits gathering its power
To mount and fly away.'
And what is the future, happy one?
'A sea beneath a cloudless sun;
A mighty, glorious, dazzling sea
Stretching into infinity.'
Emily Bronte
As soon as I finished school we went on holiday to Kos for a week and I absolutely loved it. We spent a lot of time relaxing by the pool or the sea but we also went to see some of the sights and spent a day on the island of Nisyros. You can’t beat going to visit a volcano on a really hot day! It was so nice to get away and just relax for a week. Coming back to cold England was a bit of a shock though.
Harvington Hall History Festival
This week we also went to one of the talks that was happening as part of Harvington Hall’s History Festival. The talk we had booked for was Alison Weir giving her talk on The Six Tudor Queens. I have never listened to a talk by Weir before but absolutely love her books both factual and historical fiction. She did not disappoint. Weir’s talk was fantastic and she is a very good speaker. She also did a book signing at the end which I was very happy about as I had taken her latest book to get signed. I was one very hyper Book Dragon when this happened.
This week I have been busy with my Etsy. I have made some new Bee and Flower bookmarks and have started putting some Christmas items on my Etsy. I know it seems crazily early but Christmas is already appearing in the shops!
I have also been doing some usual chores as well. We are hoping to do some more adventures during the summer holidays but for now I have a lot of washing to catch up with!
My chosen quote today is by the English musician, singer and songwriter George Harrison (1943-2001). George Harrison achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of The Beatles.
“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road’ll take you there”
The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you will read next?
Hello!
I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I have had a busy day playing for a wedding and teaching but the rest of the week should be a little calmer. Anyway, here is how the reading is going.
What I am Currently Reading
I started this when I was on holiday and I am thoroughly enjoying it so far.
What I have Recently Finished Reading
I finished these books whilst on holiday and they were all excellent. I fully intend on reading more Mandy Baggot books.
What I Think I will Read Next
I am still trying to do my 20 Books of Summer Challenge but I keep going off track and reading other books. Hopefully, I get back on track soon.
Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.
Lady Book Dragon 