Reading Emma Donoghue

As I have said before I seem to have a thing for Irish (female) writers. One I have just finished is by Emma Donoghue. I read her first book Room a few years ago and it was amazing. Room was shortlisted for the Man Booker 2010 and Orange prize (Donoghue, 2010). It was so clever as it is narrated from the point of view of a five year old boy and at that time having a young nephew it really made sense language wise (another reason I loved it.) Room is a psychological setting of imprisonment. It is quite chilling and really scares at times but these things really do happen and that is what Emma captures in her writing.

Anyway back to the book in discussion. I finished The Sealed Letter  which was recommended by my library. I rushed it as I have been struggling with reading time; due to my studying deadlines (two assessments in one month)... Good luck by the way to any fellow 'A215'ers' reading this : D. It is due back to the library today; so writing this post while fresh in the memory!

Emma Donoghue is a very talented clever writer. She has a PhD in English (Donoghue, 2011,p.477). The Sealed Letter  discusses the issue of marriage in Victorian times, particularly regarding a specific divorce case of 'The Codrington's'; which was in all the papers in 1864. It focuses on a character Emily Faithful aka Fido, who was one of the first women's rights advocates and ran a newspaper/ magazine press. I studied the later Suffrage Movement in another previous course with the OU and also A150 just now regarding Victorian England and Dickens so I found this book even more educational.

At the back of her book Emma is interviewed by Chris Roulston about 'The M Word' (marriage that is) and reflects throughout on historical evidence and how fiction can be made from such writings (Roulston in Donoghue, 2011, pp. 477-482).  I found the discussion very conductive to the demise of modern day marriage and how things have changed so much since Victorian times under English law. Well worth a read if you like Dickens/ Victorian era and also enjoy the psychology of love and how it can ruin life. This story is told at times in a feminist view and at the time of the setting that was a dangerous thing to do - controversial and awful how the women's lives were decided and they lost more than just face. We have so much freedom nowadays as the law has dramatically changed on divorce. Not sure if that is a good or a bad thing? Anyway that's enough philosophising for one day...

You can see more about these books from Amazon here and view more about Emma on her website here.

Bibliography:

Donoghue, E. Room, 2010, London, Picador.
Donoghue, E. The Sealed Letter, 2011, London, Picador.

Beach-comber

Last Friday we visited Worthing on the South Coast. We love it there and go there quite a few times a year. It is not busy like Brighton and we got a parking space on the coast road amazingly easily (well, we did get there at 9.30am - a mean feat with a fourteen year old I can tell you !) It was free parking too being a Bank Holiday - it was lucky all round!

The sea was quite calm and it had the same effect on us too. There is something magical about the seaside to me. Maybe it is because of my love for holidays there as a child or just a place to escape to in my mind. I picked up many character observations on my travels that day. Maybe to use for writing; maybe not. I am yet undecided. Perhaps I should try 'beach-combing' my mind as I cannot focus this week; cannot decide to leave something out of a piece or add it in... I dislike editing sometimes. It's knowing when to 'let it go'...

I took this picture. The husband sees it as just a load of dead seaweed. I think it is beautiful for some strong reason as I spy shells, white chalky pebbles and sponges all mixed up. I love the colours of the stones and the glistening shells opened up to the sky.

I have been reading Iris Murdoch books after being enthralled by her husband's biography as noted in my previous post in March (My Current Reading). She too loved stones and the sea. I love her use of language. When I first started A Fairly Honourable Defeat, I was confused but the story unravels to a surprising ending. It is a story of various aspects of love and how it can mess up so many lives. That's how I read it anyhow.


I am about to start her book the sea, the sea (Murdoch,1999,[1978]). I've been finding these Vintage Series books in excellent quality too at my local Oxfam Bookshop; another of my regular favourite places. There must be another person who likes her work too. I have returned the said other for the shop to make some more cash from it. See my Life Poetry page for my poem on my 'book' philosophy.  I must finish my library book too and MUST get on with my assessments...next week; next week... ;D

References:
A Fairly Honourable Defeat, (Murdoch, I., (1975 [1999]), London,Vintage (Random House).
the sea, the sea, (Murdoch, I., (1978 [1999]), London, Vintage (Random House).


Here are some photos of the day at the beach last week.

Seagull posing - close up.

A little collection I made - I left it there for someone else to find...

That seagull again - what a poser!

I love Newlands Corner

Newlands Corner has to be one of the most beautiful places to walk in Surrey.They have a great cafe too. Can recommend their hot dogs and chips!

Thought I'd share my pictures from last Friday - which was another fantastic spring skied day... all taken on my little Nokia phone.

If you like what you see here you can go walking there yourself.
Information from Surrey Wildlife is here at newlands corner.

Beautiful Morning

Here is one of my 'dawn phone photo session' pictures. Enjoy the weather while it lasts.

Halo Rainbow Effect - Sunrise 5.30 a.m.

Morning Beauty Sends Hope

I woke up very early this morning; as sometimes I do. I was so glad. The moon woke me with its strong light. It looks amazing but now it has gone.

From my window at 5.30 (a.m.) I could see the craters the moon was so defined. My photo I took could not do the size justice.

The sunrise has changed the sky from a sapphire to a blue and lilac spectrum within half an hour. What another beautiful morning.

My husband lost a family member yesterday. It was pancreatic cancer. My sister lost a friend to the same disease before he was even thirty. I support Cancer Research and am sending you; my reader, hope and understanding that nature is a good thing. Sometimes though it is hard medicine for us to take. All we can do is hope that one day a cure will be found for this wretched disease.

Take care...

You can support Cancer Research in so many ways. I ran the 5K with my daughter two years ago. It was very emotional but enlightening at the same time. You can find out more about their work here: Cancer Research.




Ironing Bored

I used to love ironing (sad but true). Now however the novelty has gone and I put it off. I have to get angry to do it now. Say no more.

Well I am now fully steamed up and done. My hair looks like I've been in the rain-forest or fully frizzed like a walk in the fog.

I thought I'd share this poem I wrote. It was from the section observing the everyday I think. I love observing and thinking. Sometimes putting things in written form can be quite fun and freeing.

Part-Baked

A cake of ironing

That came out perfect.

Washing baked by the sun.

Left for a week;

To prove

I had done the chore.

Thank You

Those who support me
Encourage and respect me
I thank you dearly.

Bumble Bees Take Over the Tree

Our back garden has a tree. I don't know what type it is but it loves wildlife; or should I say birds and bees.We have loads of wrens nesting in our hedge at the moment, blue tits as well (some are in our roof too by the sounds of it!)

We did the RSPB birdwatching survey http://rspb.org.uk/  again this year and on that day we had hardly any birds (apart from pigeons in the back oak tree fighting for pole position as usual). I think blue tits are so cute. The way they dart around and pick at the branches of the tree; as I watch out of the kitchen window whilst washing up. Birdsong and Spring mornings are beautiful.

Anyhow, the reason I am blogging this one is that bumble bees are taking over the tree. I went out last night to get some washing in and there was such a droning buzz coming from the tree above; I couldn't believe it. I was expecting to find a wasp nest or something but no: just bumbles taking pollen in great delight from our tree. The tree is in bud and will soon leave annoying fluffy clumps all over the grass. I would love to know what type of tree it is. One branch is still hanging after the storms; yet to be pulled down. The pigeons love playing on it. It looks like they are on a see-saw when they land and it goes down. It provides shelter I guess. It is in bud too even though it is only just attached; like a wobbly tooth begging to be pulled.

I think bees are on the increase this year which can only be a very positive thing for the environment. Maybe we will have a bumper crop of honey this year... All good. X

If anyone knows what type of tree this is; would be most grateful...?

Note added May 2014 by author
The tree is a Crack Willow apparently and the branch has now been removed. The pigeons seem a little sad to have lost their sea-saw and since the tree also got a hair-cut; the sparrows are rather bemused...