NaNoWriMo

I am gonna give this a go - 50,000 words in a month - it has got to be worth a try.

BR - The Outcast By Sadie Jones

I picked up this novel from a car boot sale this summer - working on my new method of choosing anything that had been nominated for a prize or selected for a reading group, this fitted the bill.

I absolutely loved it - it is definitely a keeper. It is the kind of story that I love. A story about an outsider (an outcast). It shows how the young man got to be outside his life, outside his family and friends by the tragedy of his mother drowning. I just couldn't put this book down. I will read it again (probably soon) and if she produces another book will look out for it. It really stirred up some emotions in me, the whole loosing his mother, his father remarrying and how he felt about it.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. (well nearly anyone).

Dix

Study in Grey By Various

I recently found this little book in a second hand book shop and thought I would give it a go. On the whole I found it a little disappointing although there were little 'gems' that I enjoyed. Not a keeper, I think, but glad to have explored it.

There was one piece I particularly enjoyed - in fact the first piece that I thought I would share with you.

Study in Grey by Heidi Green

depression wears an old coat
gravy-stained and frayed at the cuffs
its pockets have long since rotted through
empty holes to hang your hands in
nothing to put in there anyway

it is a grey thing
thick as yesterday's porridge gone cold
handle of the spoon poking out to one side
bowl stuck to the kitchen table
in a ring of sugary milk

in case you wondered there is no punctuation in the original.

Book Review - Spike Milligan The Biography

Now I understand that like many people who suffer mental health illness that there must have been times that he was pretty awful to live with but he had achieved so much and created such wonderful work I just can't believe that this 'author' felt that his illness was the main 'thing' of him. It said in the 'blurb' that this book would use Spike's own writing, particularly poetry to understand the man. It didn't. He does mention his writing, he does say what a prolific writer Spike is but mainly he goes on, and on, and on.... about his illness. So What? We know he was probably a manic depressive, we know that this illness can create amazingly creative people - we also know that sometimes it just doesn't. But what we don't know from this book is enough about his creativity, about his wonderful poetry and humour (and yes I know sometimes he gets it wrong - doesn't everyone).

I did enjoy reading this book - even though it made me angry - and I did learn more about Spike that I didn't know but I am glad I got it second hand cheaply and that I didn't invest too much hope in it. I admit that I have yet to read many biographies that really satisfy me as a reader. I fell they are so often sensationalist or shallow and don't let us really know about the subject.

What did I learn - that Spike suffered terrible 'shell shock' injuries twice during the war and this may be why he struggled in later life and also this may have helped him be more creative and funny and also write wonderful life poetry. He loved his children and women! Do I like his work any less - absolutely not - has it enhanced my understanding of his work - no, not very much.

Not a book I will keep but I guess I am kinda glad I read it.

Daily

Laughter is an instant vacation.

You willnever find time for anything. If you want time you must make it.

There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval.

Dix