Friday Poetry: Margaret Wise Brown

Happy Friday!

I hope everyone has exciting plans for the weekend. My chosen poem this Friday is by an American author Margaret Wise Brown (May 23, 1910 – November 13, 1952). Brown wrote children’s books and poetry.

The Secret Song

Who saw the petals

drop from the rose?

I, said the spider,

But nobody knows.

Who saw the sunset

flash on a bird?

I, said the fish,

But nobody heard.

Who saw the fog

come over the sea?

I, said the sea pigeon,

Only me.

Who saw the first

green light of the sun?

I, said the night owl,

The only one.

Who saw the moss

creep over the stone?

I, said the grey fox,

All alone.

Margaret Wise Brown

Happy reading.

Mid Week Quote: Pliny (the younger)

Today’s quote is one I have read several times whilst doing my Masters work and I rather love it so I thought I would share it with you all. I must admit I always do try to see some good in books even if they are not my cup of tea.

“[Pliny the Elder] used to say that “no book was so bad but some good might be got out of it.”

Pliny the Younger

Happy Reading

Weekend Adventures

Hello everyone!

So on Saturday I celebrated my friend’s 30th in style! Yes, we went to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London. Now I will be honest I have been quite a few times but I have not seen the Forbidden Forest or Gringotts bank so I was very pleased to visit and see the new scenes.

I will be honest I am terrified of spiders so the Forbidden Forest was a bit of trial for me but I absolutely loved Gringotts bank and it is possibly my second favourite part because of course the ultimate favourite is the castle at the end which is always rather emotional to behold.

What is everyone’s favourite part of the tour?

Here are a few photos from the day!

Classics: A Very Short Introduction by Mary Beard and John Henderson (Review)

Classics: A Very Short Introduction by Mary Beard and John Henderson

About the authors

Mary Beard and John Henderson both teach Classics at the University of Cambridge. Mary Beard is a fellow of Newnham College, and John Henderson is a fellow of King’s College, Cambridge.

Blurb

This Very Short Introduction to Classics links a haunting temple on a lonely mountainside to the glory of ancient Greece and the grandeur of Rome, and to Classics within modern culture – from Jefferson and Byron to Asterix and Ben-Our.

Review

This is not the first A Very Short Introduction book that I have read as I had to read and review the Music one for one of my modules in my Music Degree about ten years ago and I must admit I did enjoy it and found it interesting and I am pleased to say the Classics one did not disappoint.

I read this book as part of the set preparatory reading before my Masters started and I found it to be a great introduction into the field of Classics. The first thing I enjoyed was that the book was all linked to the Temple at Bassae and the frieze panels that are now found at the British Museum. I must admit it left me desperate to visit the British Museum and view the frieze. However I would have liked a little bit more knowledge of other classical elements.

The other element that I really enjoyed was the travelling through time of famous peoples’ encounters with the classics and the Temple of Bassae. I really enjoyed this little book and thought it was an excellent introduction to the classics.

The only reason I gave this book 4 Dragons instead of 5 was that I would have liked a bit more about Classics in general than just a focus on one element which was the temple. I highly recommend this little book to anyone who is intrigued and wanting to learn a little about classics.

Purchase links

Waterstones

Book Depository

Mid Week Quote: Paine

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

First of all a very big HELLO to all my new followers recently! Thank you for following my blog and I hope you enjoy reading it.

The quote this week is by Thomas Paine who wrote a series essays titled The American Crisis in 1776. He was also called ‘Father of the American Revolution’ because of his pamphlet Common Sense which was in defence of American independence from England.

“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.”

Thomas Paine 1776

Happy reading!

Friday Poetry: Eve Merriam

Happy Friday!

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend planned.

Today’s poem is by a new poet for me, Eve Merriam. Eve Merriam was an American poet and writer.

Thumbprint

On the pad of my thumb

are whorls, whirls, wheels

in a unique design:

mine alone.

What a treasure to own!

My own flesh, my own feelings.

No other, however grand or base,

can ever contain the same.

My signature,

thumbing the pages of my time.

My universe key,

my singularity.

Impress, implant,

I am myself,

of all my atom parts I am the sum.

And out of my blood and my brain

I make my own interior weather,

my own sun and rain.

Imprint my mark upon the world

whatever I shall become.

Eve Merriam

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (Review)

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

About the author

Margaret Atwood born 18th November 1939 is a Canadian author, poet, essayist and literary critic. She has written numerous fiction and non-fiction books, books of poetry and children’s books. She has won the Giller Prize in Canada, Premio Mondello in Italy and the 2000 Booker Prize. She was also awarded the Asturias Prize for Literature in 2008.

Blurb

The Republic of Gilead offers Offred only one function: to breed. If she deviates, she will, like dissenters, be hanged at the wall or sent out to die slowly of radiation sickness. But even a repressive state cannot obliterate desire – neither Offred’s nor that of the two men on which her future hangs.

Review

This has been on my TBR pile for a very long time and this summer I put it on my reading challenge to make sure I read it. Now please bare with me on this review because I think it might prove controversial.

I did enjoy the book and found the idea of it rather terrifying at times but I must admit for me it did not have the WOW factor. The main reason for this I think is the way it was written, at times I found it frustrating how it kept flitting from past to present all the time. I would have much rather had more of the present rather than the past because I found the bits from the past broke the narrative up for me. I understand why Atwood did this but for me it really did not work.

I enjoyed the story and the concept was good and well thought out but I just can not understand what all the hype is about. I was left underwhelmed and wondering if I had read the same book as everyone else. However I was left wanting to know more at the end of the book so I am very pleased that I have purchased the sequel and will be starting to read it now, I just hope it will be a better read.

I liked the characters but I would have liked more from them, I just could not connect with them and I just felt frustrated and wanting more. I must admit this book took me a long time to read because some days I just could not be bothered with it and for me that is never a good sign and why I only gave the book 3 out of 5 Dragons. The reason it did not get lower was because I was left wanting more. However I do not think I will be reading this book again.

Purchase Links

Waterstones

Book Depository

WWW Wednesday 2/10/2019

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

The rules are answer the questions below and a 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?

What I am currently reading:-

Girl in Trouble by Stacy Claflin

On Monday I made the mistake of going to work without my book for my lunch break but thankfully I remembered I had a few books on my phone from Apple Books and started reading this. So far it is really good but I do wish it didn’t have so many chapters.

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

I really can not put this book down, I am really enjoying it and at this rate should be finished soon.

What I recently finished reading:-

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Just finished this and review will follow soon. I will be honest I did not enjoy it as much as I am enjoying The Testaments.

Classics: A Very Short Introduction by Mary Beard and John Henderson

Read as part of the preparatory work for my course, was an excellent introduction.

What I plan on reading next:-

I have a feeling a lot of my future reading will be course related but I am hoping to go for some fun stuff as well. I might read a Victorian classic next but I am not entirely sure.

Please drop me a link if you are also taking part in WWW Wednesday or want to chat about any of the books I have listed.

Happy reading.

Mid Week Quote: Rosenbach

Happy Wednesday!

So far I have been getting quite a bit of reading done and it is only the 2nd October. Fingers crossed it continues.

The quote today is by Abraham Rosenbach who was a scholar and book seller based in Philadelphia.

“After love, book collecting is the most exhilarating sport of all.”

Abraham Rosenbach 1936.

Happy Reading

September Wrap Up

Ok everyone, I admit September for me was a complete and utter right off. I only reviewed one book and hardly blogged at all. Going back to work and trying to finish my final assignment for my diploma all became too overwhelming and I hardly read anything at all. This probably added to my stress because reading helps me unwind but sadly my brain just could not take in the words I was reading. October I am hoping for much better.

Books or should I say book that I read.

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare