Decisions, decisions, decisions!
How can I plan my life when I don’t even know what book to start reading next? It’s simply crazy: books piled beside my bed, on the hall table, in the sitting room, a couple in the car, one in my bag; they are even reaching the kitchen where my otherwise pristine surfaces are beginning to sprout novels, biographies, proof copies, library books and some that very kind friends have insisted on lending me – "Oh, you have to read this, I simply adored it!"
One such was a neighbour’s "favourite book ever", Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt. It was a grand read, don’t get me wrong, and I did finish it, but I’m not sure I’d rate it among my favourite books ever. And I do have a problem with the term, "non fiction novel". Either it is or it isn’t, fiction or non-fiction, though who determines what is true and what is invention and aren’t they both part of the same thing anyway, the broad human experience and all that. I am now getting my knickers in a literary/literal twist but forgive me, it’s early in the morning, and I’m still in an indecisive mood.
So how does one write a book blog in such an indecisive world? Well, usually, when I have carefully crafted a piece of indefinable quality I email Raven and settle back, another job well done. Of course, just after I've sent the attachment (that is if I remember to attach the attachment) I think of some small thing that would improve it, and another, and another.
It's rather like choosing blinds for my fancy new kitchen: I decided on one thing, plain white or cream, went up to the showroom and was completely taken with another - fancy patterns, swirling flowers, gorgeous designs - but went back to the safe option. Went home and decided that the safe option would make my kitchen look like an office so rang and asked yer man to bring a few samples when he came down to re-measure (men never trust women to measure but having measured for a living in my former life as a picture framer he found nothing to change – ha!). I chose a demure but tasteful Olive green. Drove up to return samples and found a lovely orange - to match my new Le Creuset kettle - which I brought home to show the girls, for hard won approval. Back up and found a blackout orange but not so strong in colour; home again, girls thought I was mad choosing blackout, so rang up (couldn't drive up again), got him to cancel his order for the blackout and went back to the strong orange which I hoped they'd remember. Anything could arrive next week and I'll be happy with whatever does arrive.
And that was only the blinds! Oh for a simpler life where someone else makes all the decisions. Mind you, would they open the doors long enough for me to dash out to the bookshop for a quick fix at least four times a week or would they make me go cold turkey. I shudder to think, but then that’s my problem, thinking.
One such was a neighbour’s "favourite book ever", Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt. It was a grand read, don’t get me wrong, and I did finish it, but I’m not sure I’d rate it among my favourite books ever. And I do have a problem with the term, "non fiction novel". Either it is or it isn’t, fiction or non-fiction, though who determines what is true and what is invention and aren’t they both part of the same thing anyway, the broad human experience and all that. I am now getting my knickers in a literary/literal twist but forgive me, it’s early in the morning, and I’m still in an indecisive mood. So how does one write a book blog in such an indecisive world? Well, usually, when I have carefully crafted a piece of indefinable quality I email Raven and settle back, another job well done. Of course, just after I've sent the attachment (that is if I remember to attach the attachment) I think of some small thing that would improve it, and another, and another.
It's rather like choosing blinds for my fancy new kitchen: I decided on one thing, plain white or cream, went up to the showroom and was completely taken with another - fancy patterns, swirling flowers, gorgeous designs - but went back to the safe option. Went home and decided that the safe option would make my kitchen look like an office so rang and asked yer man to bring a few samples when he came down to re-measure (men never trust women to measure but having measured for a living in my former life as a picture framer he found nothing to change – ha!). I chose a demure but tasteful Olive green. Drove up to return samples and found a lovely orange - to match my new Le Creuset kettle - which I brought home to show the girls, for hard won approval. Back up and found a blackout orange but not so strong in colour; home again, girls thought I was mad choosing blackout, so rang up (couldn't drive up again), got him to cancel his order for the blackout and went back to the strong orange which I hoped they'd remember. Anything could arrive next week and I'll be happy with whatever does arrive.
And that was only the blinds! Oh for a simpler life where someone else makes all the decisions. Mind you, would they open the doors long enough for me to dash out to the bookshop for a quick fix at least four times a week or would they make me go cold turkey. I shudder to think, but then that’s my problem, thinking.
Labels: indecision, John Berendt, what to read next
