In the High Peaks
















Saturday, January 26, 2013

The Mountain: Books at My Feet

A long week of frigid temperatures. It's 6pm and 8 degrees, and we'll dip well below zero tonight as we have every night since last Sunday. Our daytime high is finally higher at 14 degrees, which it's been the last few days, but I'm beginning to be bothered by my face freezing every time I go snowshoeing. Sasha is having a terrible time with her feet freezing on our treks. I'd keep her at home, but, golden retriever that she is, she howls like an unholy bloodhound if not allowed to accompany me. Warming temps are coming, they say.

Thanks to the blog "Stuck in A Book," I've purchased House of Silence by Linda Gillard for the Kindle. The book seems to be available only via Kindle. I was captivated by several key themes and ideas central to the book. 1) It's a gothic; sort of a "Rebecca meets Cold Comfort Farm," supposedly, if you can imagine. This is hype, but it led me to investigate the book further. 2) It's set during Christmas and the winter season. 3) For the rest of my inspiration, please visit Stuck in a Book's description. 4) The download only cost me $3.50. 5) I can't resist gothic romance. It's a weakness I've had since I was age 15.

A library treasure is Ich blieb in Konigsberg, which, miraculously, I was able to borrow on Inter-Library Loan from another New York State college. I have it for less than a month, so this time only gives me the chance to read a dozen entries and realize I must purchase a copy. As it turns out, I must order from Germany. In any case, because I'm relentlessly studying Europe 1945-1948, and because the book is a personal journal of a young woman living in the "former" East Prussia [then Poland] during these years, I'm keen to read it. As I've mentioned before, my German reading knowledge is much better than my speaking, but not by that much. The diary is clearly simple and easy to read, I can see, but I'll still be tied to a dictionary.

And another fiction title that I'll get to as soon as I finish Third Reich by Bolano:
The Life of Objects by Susanna Moore, published last September. Do follow the link to a Studio 360 retrospective and discussion with Moore about the novel. 

7 comments:

  1. How do you stand that cold? Hope your weather gets warmer soon! I was born in Maine, and lived in New England for much of my life, but I've been living in the Southeast for so long, I can barely recall the sensation of cold weather!

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    1. You were born in Maine? So was my husband Ken--in South Portland. He lived in Maine until he attended college in Massachusetts. I grew up in the Boston area, and that's where Ken and I lived until 7+ years ago.

      I'm thankful for the cold. I know cold days are a dying "species," so I treasure them when we have them. There are hardships when it's below zero Fahrenheit, but it's a contrast I appreciate, even though it's uncomfortable at times.

      Thanks for writing!
      Judith

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    2. So we are geographical kinfolk! I was born in Presque Isle, which most people have never heard of. Family is from the Boston area as well...I lived in Boston and thereabouts for 9 years...

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  2. Thanks very much for buying HOUSE OF SILENCE. I'm the author. :-)

    I just wanted to let you know HOS is available as a pb from Amazon.com & Amazon UK. At the moment the pb doesn't seem to be available in Canada.

    I hope HOUSE OF SILENCE doesn't disappoint. I had a lot of fun writing it.

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    1. Hi, Linda--
      House of Silence has been pure enchantment so far! I wish I could curl up all day with it.

      Please keep writing!!

      Judith

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  3. look forward to you Bolano review not got to that one yet ,all the best stu

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    1. Stu,
      I'm really enjoying it--the twists and turns and what seems to be a fascinating unreliable narrator. Tasty!

      Judith

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