Monday, May 31, 2004
I can't persuade myself to finish the Baghdad Blog by Salam Pax. I'm not good at reading blogs (which I'm sure is evident) and couldn't read this online so was quite chuffed when I found it on a second-hand/charity shop raiding trip with Tara that saw me lost the best part of £20 and most the feeling in my left shoulder as I tried to cart it all home. Anyway, I'm half-way through and the bombing has just started. It's scary.
The worst part is that the news about the Abu Ghraib prison torture was breaking at the same time so I was confronted with the reality of what the war has given Iraq - and while I could have agreed with Pax's cynicism beforehand, it's plain depressing to accept the fact that it actually was realism, not pessimism. Still, more to go. And I'm sure it just gets worse.
The worst part is that the news about the Abu Ghraib prison torture was breaking at the same time so I was confronted with the reality of what the war has given Iraq - and while I could have agreed with Pax's cynicism beforehand, it's plain depressing to accept the fact that it actually was realism, not pessimism. Still, more to go. And I'm sure it just gets worse.
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Toast by Nigel Slater
I read this this morning, as what has accidentally become a big of a biography binge lately. It followed quickly on the heels of the Martin Johnson autobiography and the Baghdad blog book, Tracy Kidder's Mountain beyond Mountains, Between Extreme's co-written by John MacCarthy and Brian Keenan, the Christopher Isherwood book I can't finish and a few others I can't start.
Looking at a lonely childhood history through short chapters titled by the central taste and food, I found myself more drawn to the idea of middle England and the traditions that I don't feel part of, being as I am too London, too foreign, and perhaps this realisation that I may love his weekly food writings but why have I assumed that would lead to actually liking the man? (Admittedly all I have to go on is what he's given us in this book: but surely that's a great deal more than we get from some of our closest friends?) Because I don't think I do.
I read this this morning, as what has accidentally become a big of a biography binge lately. It followed quickly on the heels of the Martin Johnson autobiography and the Baghdad blog book, Tracy Kidder's Mountain beyond Mountains, Between Extreme's co-written by John MacCarthy and Brian Keenan, the Christopher Isherwood book I can't finish and a few others I can't start.
Looking at a lonely childhood history through short chapters titled by the central taste and food, I found myself more drawn to the idea of middle England and the traditions that I don't feel part of, being as I am too London, too foreign, and perhaps this realisation that I may love his weekly food writings but why have I assumed that would lead to actually liking the man? (Admittedly all I have to go on is what he's given us in this book: but surely that's a great deal more than we get from some of our closest friends?) Because I don't think I do.
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
I'm not best known for my patience so it was only a matter of time before I got all the remaining Alex Rider (Anthony Horotwitz) books from the library. I've read Skeleton Key, Eagle Strike and Scorpia in the past five days and been thoroughly addicted. While it is basically kiddy version James Bond (who I don't really like) it is a massively enjoyable and cleverly written series. I've been thinking like a spy in the past few weeks, looking over my shoulder and planning escape routes, which has made moving in to a new job that much more exciting!
