...from a BookLover

Thursday 2 July 2015

An introduction by Neil Gaiman to C. Anthony Martignetti's book "Beloved Demons"


An excerpt from the introduction Neil Gaiman wrote for "Beloved Demons" by C. Anthony Martignetti:

"Do not give either of us gifts: give us the tale that accompanies the gift. That is what makes the gift worth having."
Neil Gaiman in this post



Memoirs



I love the idea of giving stories.
The collected items in my house each have their own story, their own tale.
Some are short; some are long - some found, inherited or given.
I treasure them all.
The stories are the reason I travel the world as much as I can.
Them, and the people you meet along the way.
They have tales to tell, too.





Sunday 28 June 2015

Patience

When it comes to bird watching, you have to have patience. You have to be able to move slowly in the shadows, to stand perfectly still, to hold your position for the longest of time. It is a test of wills. You against the silence of the woods. And sometimes you get lucky. Sometimes you get to see a glimpse of the magic which birds of prey adds to the world. Moments like that will haunt you forever. A moment like that can be the beginning of the strangest of journeys, or simply change your life.


"They were above a stand of pines, right there. And then they were gone. One minute my pair of goshawks was describing lines from physics textbooks in the sky, and then nothing at all. I don't remember looking down, or away. Perhaps I blinked. Perhaps it was as simple as that. And in that tiny black gap which the brain disguises they'd dived into the wood."
"H is for Hawk" by Helen Macdonald, p. 9


This book is the story of how Helen Macdonald became the owner of a hawk. Of her struggle to train it. In between the pages you will find beautiful descriptions of the nature surrounding her, and she will enlighten you about falcons and hawks. Her words will make you long to get out there, to see the wildness for yourself and, perhaps, to be a part of it all.


Sticky toffee pudding and my book - loving quiet days at work.


Monday 22 June 2015

Existing in the pause

Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer are perhaps two of the most amazing writers I know. They have a way with words that borders on magical - words that burrow deep into your heart and stay there for the longest of time. I wish I could do something to help them through the difficult days they are facing just now. I wish I could do more than simply send my love.


"my god there's so much hate.
 but there's so much love."
Amanda Palmer in her journal

"It doesn't feel like real time. Normally, we breathe in and we breathe out, and we never notice the beat between the breath. Right now we are living in the place between the inhalation and the exhalation, existing in the pause."
Neil Gaiman in his journal




Saturday 13 June 2015

A new day - a new place - a new book

Girl: reading. 

Boys: fishing.

A girl needs to be prepared for the wait, and what better than a book and some binoculars? I was all set for hours.

"H is for Hawk" b Helen Macdonald


Sunday 24 May 2015

Old glass and curios

A mirror is a strange thing. Somehow this picture is showing my living room, and somehow it is not. All the elements are there, true, but the mirror makes the end result so striking I got completely baffled after taking the picture! I am finding it very hard to believe my living room could ever look this good.

I do love the old glass I have inherited or found in antique shops and my curio collection, though. This might be just a small part of everything I have collected, but at last I have found a way of displaying them. Happy days. An added bonus is I have better space in my library now, too!

Old glass and curios 

Wednesday 13 May 2015

"A year of doing good" by Judith O'Reilly


...each one a small miracle...

365 good deeds. Can you even imagine it? It sounds so easy, just doing one good deed a day for a year, but after reading of O'Reilly's attempt (and success), I am in more doubt. Perhaps the odd good deed, without the pressure involved, is more suited for me. Or perhaps I am a chicken for not giving it a proper try. The world could very much need more people doing good - however small the act of kindness is. Even picking up litter on the ground can save a life - and that makes all the difference.

"A year of doing good" by Judith O'Reilly


Saturday 2 May 2015

Reading together

Some mornings you just want to keep in a bubble. You do not want the world to move on and out of that little piece of heaven you have managed to create. And for a while...that might actually work.

Tea, coffee, breakfast, books and company 


Wednesday 29 April 2015

The Fae Queen

Ever dreamt of the Fae? Ever seen or felt a vague glimpse of the Vale and the mysteries lying beyond? Sometimes some of the Fae leaves the Vale. Sometimes humans get entry. And sometimes, shadows are made.

"She dreams of two shooting stars, dancing across heaven. They spin, twirling and circling each other.
[...] Caderyn runs with her bare feet skimming the dewy grass, as she tries to keep up with the stars. With her face lifted to the heavens above, she smiles watching them as they break through." 
loc 150, "Fae Queen" by Lynn Landes


"Fae Queen" by Lynn Landes


Monday 20 April 2015

Svalbard

 - the land of ice, polar bears, snow mobiles, views and friends - 

Me being me, I even found books to collect up here...!
A polar bear mum and her two tiny cubs left paw prints in my heart

A grand midnight sun 


Tuesday 14 April 2015

Libraries can be most poetic, too.



"The smell of the library always lifted my spirits - that peculiar combination of old stone, dust, woodworm, and paper made properly from rags. Sun streamed through the windows on the staircase landings, illuminating the dust motes flying through the air and shining bars of light on the ancient walls."
from "A discovery of witches" by Deborah Harkness




 



Thursday 2 April 2015

Sora's Quest

When a young noble Lady finds a necklace after her mother, a journey begins.

A journey that all but erases all the earlier traces of nobility in the young girl, and instead leads her to discover a magical world where dangers and death hide around corners, love can be found in a cold stranger and the clue to survival is friendship.

Sora used to dream of adventures and travels - and now she is smack in the middle of it. This is the first book in the series about Sora and her friends, and I enjoyed it immensely. Even the covers of the books draw you in - the first one is simply stunning.

"Sora's Quest" by T. L. Shreffler

"She immediately reveled in the warmth that flooded her senses, and looked around the room in wonder. Cheery lanters graced the walls on either side of the shop. She had never seen anything quite like this, not even in Lord Fallcrest's library, which was one of her favorite places. The small circular room was jammed full of bookshelves, whch were crammed with all sorts of books. She could see the twinkle of a thousand stars through the large domed roof. Tables set up like a maze throughout the tiny shop were stacked with piles of dusty scrolls, yellowed books and wrinkled parchments. The air was heavy with the scent of paper. Sora had the sudden, intense urge to curl up in an armchair with an old book and maybe a nice cup of tea."
p. 160, "Sora's Quest" by T. L. Shreffler



Monday 23 March 2015

Monday 16 March 2015

Saturday 28 February 2015

A glimpse of my library wall

At last I have gotten some of my acquired art up on the wall, although I am far from done. I love how the pictures have transformed the feeling of the room already.

The reading corner in my library

Wednesday 11 February 2015

The Star Thief


""Might as well make it look convincing," she said, picking it up and testing the weight in her hand.
  At least knocking herself out would stop the pounding in her head for a while."
p. 384, "The Star Thief" by Jamie Grey


"The Star Thief" by Jamie Grey


Wednesday 4 February 2015

Another volunteering experience!

This time with an old dream of mine...dolphins! At the west coast of Australia you can find Shark Bay and Monkey Mia. This is a great place for learning about and meeting dolphins, doing research, swimming, sunbathing, reading books, having conversations, meeting new people...and to simply watch the dolphins play and hunt along the shore. These creatures are mysterious, fun and magical - all at once.

Two of the lovely dolphins I was so lucky to meet 

Diaries, statistics and keeping tabs is important down here as well


Wednesday 21 January 2015

Some general store!

This is how every general store should look! Go Australia!

Books, surfing boards, food...


Tuesday 20 January 2015

Books come in many shapes...


My poor diary is falling apart, but to be fair that is to be expected when travelling the world its fifth (and sadly last) year in a row...


Blind date with a book, anyone?

I really loved this idea. I often judge a book by its cover, so this would be a new way of approaching and reading books for me. I wonder of the success rate, though...surely the very subjective descriptions on the books must give some misgivings or mishaps when it comes to purchases? Worth a try anyhow - even only for the fun of it.

Found this in front of a bookstore in Perth


Thursday 1 January 2015

Passing on the love

I absolutely love this picture - the amazing tree and serenity gives a sense of peace.
Source
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