I think for the rest of the year I’ll return to my Sunday Bulletins if you don’t mind. It will guarantee that I post every week and helps me to focus. My mind is wandering these days and I am dreaming of new opportunities, goals and plans for my career and my life. Most of this year has been frustrating and disappointing for me, but England put sparkle and vibrancy back into my soul and I am straining to keep it there.
I’ll also post more pictures of my trip in between Sundays.
This week my book club held our October meeting and we discussed We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. We had a good talk about unreliable narrators, stifling small towns and belief in superstition. Next month we’ll discuss Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.
I recently finished reading a book I bought in London – Good Evening, Mrs. Craven: the Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes. I loved these short glimpses (some just a few pages) into the lives of normal, middle-class people as they stumble along through their days while the shadow of war taints everything around them. The frank, realistic and honest tone of the stories felt so authentic and believable to me. Yet they’re not bleak; they are reassuringly human and often quite funny. It is one of my favorite books of 2014.
It might be a bit early to start thinking about Christmas music, but I’m already pondering what albums to purchase this year. I think this one might make the list.
I hope you have a great Sunday!
A Certain Fondness 
I bought Good Evening, Mrs. Craven: the Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes at Persephone on my last trip to London, but haven’t read it yet. Thank you for the reminder to pull it down from the shelf!
LikeLike
It’s so good, JoAnn! I’m glad it caught my eye while I was at the shop.
LikeLike
Look forward to more pictures from your England visit. Lovely autumnal Persphone picture on your sidebar. Hope next year will bring you good things!
LikeLike
Thanks, Nicola – I hope so too! This year hasn’t been awful just sort of blah. Except for my England visit. That redeemed the whole year.
LikeLike
I read Good Evening, Mrs Craven a few years ago and I enjoyed it too. I don’t often read short story collections but I loved that one!
LikeLike
Isn’t it wonderful? I do like short stories and this collection was superb – far above any that I’ve read lately.
LikeLike
Please do whatever you need to, to keep that sparkle!
I’ve not read the Mollie Panter-Downes short stories – yet – but I have read her journalism from the same period and it’s sublime.
LikeLike
I’m going to, Jane! I don’t want to lose it.
I am so looking forward to the Persephone reprint of her journalism next year – Claire from The Captive Reader told me about it, bless her.
LikeLike
I am looking forward to more pictures – but not to the envy that follows! I loved the MPD short stories, and I am also looking forward to the reissue of the journalism that Fleur mentions. I will have my pre-order in!
LikeLike
I’m envious of myself when I look at my photos – can’t believe I actually experienced it all. I also plan to have my pre-order in – I’m so glad Persephone is reprinting her journalism!
LikeLike
It never EVER is too early to be thinking about Christmas music! I am SO excited for it to be Christmas music time.
LikeLike
So glad to find a kindred spirit in the Christmas music department!
LikeLike
I adore Christmas music and when my daughter was in a choir in San Francisco we would always go to her Christmas concert. It was a magical experience. May the sparkle you felt in England continue to inspire you.
LikeLike
I’m glad to find another person who adores Christmas music. How lovely that your daughter was in a choir and that you got to see her perform at Christmas. I am trying my best to maintain the sparkle. 🙂
LikeLike