Men at work in Helsinki

I looked out my window. Not sure what I was seeing. A truck. Some men.

It opens!

So does the top.

What could go wrong?

Phew!

Now for the brown blob, but what is it? It is looking at me.

On the top.

Now what? Ah, the poster is changing.

Ice cream.

Men are gone. Photo from the ground. Vanilja, yum.

The doors

I am fascinated by doors and I know that I am not alone. Here are a few from my recent travels in Northern Europe. I am a good tourist but a poor historian and you will have to wonder where they are.

I like the unusual design above the door, sort of two symbolic fish tail to tail.

Everything looks ancient here except the doors, presumably renewed from time to time. I also liked the tunnel and wonder if it was a later addition being so close to the door.

Again a mixture of old and new, electric night light, electric cable up the wall and letter slot.

Rather grand entry statement, except for the cafe sign!

There is a decided lopsideness to these doors.

And in this last one it is very much the doors that attracted my attention. I'm a sucker for lions and engraved figures in general.

And it is of course not actually the doors but the arch and walls and the pieces that go together to make a statement about what is on the other side. These are not just convenient entrances but expressions of what some person wanted.

From large to small

I like to stop for a moment when I am in a new place and focus on the small. There is usually too much large to take in but a detail can stick in the mind and put the overwhelming large into perspective. An example is when I walked through the Binnenhof, a large historic courtyard in The Hague (http://www.denhaag.nl/en/residents/culture-and-arts/to/The-Binnenhof.htm).

This is one of the entrances.

This is the vista of the courtyard with interior chapel and lots of interesting detail.

And this is a gilt fountain that caught my eye.

And finally one detail from the fountain.

The unfortunate golden dog sticks in my mind and brings the whole scene to life.

A little more bike

As I mentioned in my previous post I was rather taken by the cycle culture in The Netherlands.

At the main train station in The Hague bikes were stacked two deep, row after row.

And they were inventive in their accessories.

Enjoy.

The cycle of life

I discovered last week, during my first visit to the Netherlands, that it is true - their streets are cycle friendly, and they cycle in huge numbers.

A few observations.

They have clearly separated cyclists from pedestrians from trams and from cars. In that order of priority. 

They reduce the barriers to cycling, not just by having cycle paths but by having lots of bike storage at your destination.

The locals don't have fancy bikes, don't dress for cycling and largely don't wear helmets. In many cases their bikes are without gears (it is very flat) and rather ratty. They have custom baskets or designs for carrying children and shopping. 

I'd be interested in their overall health statistics given the lack of helmets, but I suspect there may be fewer per capita accidents given the urban design.

In the rain they just grimace or raise a brolly (I saw this first hand!).

My anecdotal observations was of a very fit people and one in which good design facilitated good manners.

Tintin and the Picaros - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-thirty-seventh in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

In this last of the published adventures of Tintin Herge is a little derivative, reminiscent of his earliest work and lacking the spark of the previous dozen or more excellent books. A nice read but not much more. For the observant, Tintin has finally modernised his trousers!

Flight 714 - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-thirty-sixth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

In this book we have some memorable moments; touching down down under, return of very familiar villains (who get their dues), a little UFOlogy and stunning images. Another master work by Herge.

The Castafiore Emerald - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-thirty-fifth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

Another adventure without a villain. However amusing and entertaining. A worthy addition to the canon.

Tintin in Tibet - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-thirty-fourth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

This is my favourite Tintin adventure. Unusually it doesn't feature a conspiracy or blaggards but does have some familiar faces including a character from a much earlier adventure. I'm not entirely sure why this story works so well, perhaps the costume and scenery, perhaps the relentless faithfulness of Tintin, but whatever I suspect I am not alone in finding it deeply satisfying. I also have to repress the odd shout of 'Chang'.

The Red Sea Sharks - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-thirty-third in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

We return to old villains and old friends, but there is an engaging familiarity in their presence and once again I found myself caught up in the tension of the story (and the comedy) as I skimmed the book! Herge was really comfortable at sea and it shows.

The Calculus Affair - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-thirty-second in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

We return to earth and to familiar territory, chasing the in-demand Professor Calculus in cars and planes, revisiting old friends and old enemies. There are lots of great visual gags in this delightful book (sticking plaster).

Explorers on the Moon - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-thirty-first in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

The exploration of the moon has been a dream for mankind for an age, and was still a dream when Herge wrote this book. This adventure is one of exploration of the unknown which cannot be disentangled from the more mundane treachery of humanity and in this case redemptive sacrifice. Great read.

Destination Moon - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-thirtieth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

This is a pearler of a story, all the more impressive for being written nearly two decades before the first actual trip to the moon. Herge has shown a fine eye for people and places but he also shows his real interest in the detail of science. This was an inspirational book for me and the frisson from the first time I read it, when I realised that I needed to find the next book At ONCE, has stayed with me. I particularly like the way Professor Calculus dominates this story in a manner not seen in earlier books.

Land of Black Gold - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-twenty-ninth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

As a child I never owned a Tintin book. They were a treasure borrowed from the local public library. However their collection of otherwise excellent hardcover editions didn't contain Land of Black Gold. It was mentioned in other books in footnotes, as something that happened was related to an incident from the aforementioned book. I spent many years keeping an eye out for this book. I'm sure you have had a similar experience. It was many many years later that I first read it and it's elusiveness will always give it a certain mystique in my mind.

Prisoners of the Sun - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-twenty-eighth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

The Seven Crystal Balls ended with Captain Haddock and Tintin flying to Peru in search of the unfortunate Professor Calculus. I particularly loved this book as a child, perhaps because of the stunning Peruvian drawings and the sense of being drawn into an ancient culture but also the classic solar eclipse theme, all handled beautifully.

The Seven Crystal Balls - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-twenty-seventh in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

Herge draws on a popular theme, misfortune to the grave robbers, combines it with a South American theme and the usual cast of characters including the newly gentrified Captain Haddock (remember the monocle?). A simple story that leads us, and Tintin, across the world.

Red Rackham's Treasure - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-twenty-sixth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

This story picks up where The Secret of the Unicorn finishes and the hunt for lost treasure is (literally) full steam ahead. As well as the detectives and Sir Francis Haddock's descendant Tintin is joined by the persistent and irrepressible Cuthbert Calculus, whose mad (or slightly eccentric) scientist provides humour but also the critical tools that enable Tintin to succeed. The surprising and upbeat conclusion rounds out the story but also provides the underpinning of the remainder of the Tintin catalogue.

The Secret of the Unicorn - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-twenty-fifth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

For me the Tintin adventure really gets going with this book and its companion, Red Rackham's Treasure. The Haddock character gets a depth beyond expectation and beyond what had been glimpsed in the two previous books in which he featured. His engaging and colourful back story provides the grist for a mysterious mystery that Tintin pursues with typical tenacity, aided in the usual manner by the bumbling detectives. I'm not surprised that Spielberg chose this story line for his (in my opinion) successful translation of Tintin to the big screen. It is a ripper.

Cigars of the Pharaoh - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-twenty-fourth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

There are misunderstanding with the detectives from Scotland Yard, clues and red herrings and a trail of drug running, a mysterious eastern Fakir and a Prince. All ingredients for another adventure.

Tintin in America - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-twenty-third in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

Without doubt my least favourite book in the canon. The caricatures are too over-played and the plot is repetitive and lacks engagement. However it does have the elements that define Tintin, just not so well constructed.

The Blue Lotus - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-twenty-second in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

Early Tintin, not as well rounded as later book and with a tendency for the plot to be a little thin.However we are introduced to Chang, a young friend who plays a pivotal role in a much loved book later in the sequence.

The Shooting Star - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-twenty-first in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

This has always been one of my favourite books. Tintin reunites with Captain Haddock, whose character is still developing, and Herge for the first time dabbles in science fiction. There is a lunatic predicting the end of the world and a giant spider! And very large toadstools. Excellent.

The Crab with the Golden Claws - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-twentieth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

We see some familiar themes in this book, the scourge of opiates and the lure of alcohol. Tintin finds and 'saves' Captain Haddock who is to become the foil for Tintin's faultless character, a companion who's vices threaten to sink him but whose courage and faithfulness comes through in the end. There are also some great dream sequences in this book, another defining feature of Herge's work.

King Ottokar's Sceptre - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-nineteenth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

I realised as I reflected on this adventure that Tintin is the accidental detective. He is a deliberate tourist and calculated taker of risks but he is a detective driven by other's needs and his own insatiable curiosity. His drive and success is underscored by the comic antics of the real detectives Thomson and Thompson.

The colouful, iconic cultural wallpaper of the 'mythical' Syldavia is one of the trademarks of Herge and it wasn't until I was an adult and had travelled a little that I realised Herge didn't stray far from what he saw in his own travels. 

This is one of my early favourites and is Herge at his best.

The Black Island - Herge

This is the Hundred-and-eighteenth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

I first discovered The Adventures of Tintin at my local library at an early age. I don't exactly know when but I suspect it was before my teenage years. I notice that this story can be traced back to the 1930's but this 1960's English edition is my canonical version. 

Firstly let me admire the artwork. I could happily look just at the pictures, especially when Herge got to work on a larger canvas such as the cover art.

Secondly let me admire the characters that leap off the page.

Thirdly I should comment on the humour, all pervasive but counter balanced by the serious and compelling story line and the earnestness of our hero. 

Lastly the dialogue, which I can only assume works as well in the original French, but I suspect some credit must go to the translators Leslie Lonsdale-Cooper and Michael Turner for capturing the humour, characters and that indefinable something that is just the Tintin magic.

I've chosen to start with this story, rather than go chronologically, partly because there isn't a strict reading order and I'm sure everyone discovers Tintin in a unique way but also because I think this is the first Tintin I read. There is a scene involving Tintin, a train, Snowy, a cooked chicken and Loch Lomond whisky and I am taken back many, many years when I reread it. As I have just done. Happy.

The eloquence of story with pictures

As I return to blogging my essential books there is a series that caught my eye, The Adventures of Tintin.

I can't imagine not having these books on my bookshelf. My better half and I bought them at a time when we couldn't really afford the expense, but these are just paperbacks and really they are a necessity rather than an indulgence and we got a discount on many of them from the very nice people at Westbooks because we were librarians. I notice that they are looking a little shabby in the spine and perhaps one day a new set might be required. In the meantime it will give me great pleasure to work through them and add them to my bookshelf.

The Ogre Downstairs - Diana Wynne Jones

This is the Hundred-and-seventeenth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

This is a just a story about a blended family coming to grips with their lot - and a little bit of magic thrown in for good measure. Diana Wynne Jones really is a delight. I never know what to expect when I open one of books, except that I am never disappointed.

Gormenghast - Mervyn Peake

This is the Hundred-and-sixteenth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

I was undecided about including this book in my bookshelf posts as it is a trilogy of which I have only read the first book [confession]. However recent conversation about The Silmarillion being read or unread, but still residing on people's shelves inspired me to include it anyway.

I read the first book, Titus Groan, many years ago and was blown away by the rich visual imagery and the incarnation of characters. I can't for the life of me recall the plot but I can recall the impact of the vivid language. This is unusual for me as I nearly always read a book for the story and the fate of the characters. I think I was overwhelmed by the richness, like a blue cheese, and have not felt strong enough for another taste. However Mervyn Peake was a genius and I fully intend to go back and read all of this trilogy. Bucket list. Until then it stays on my bookshelf.

The Silmarillion - J.R.R. Tolkien

This is the Hundred-and-fifteenth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

The Silmarillion is a jewel of a book (a pun for those in the know), prepared for publication after Tolkien's death by his son Christopher it is a collection of works, of which the title work is the most important providing as it does the dense kernel from which the more popular and accessible Third Age works derive. And it is dense and difficult going. This is not for fans of Lord of the Rings but for fans of Tolkien's Middle Earth in all of its rich landscape and history and language.

I bought this copy when it was published and I have treasured it and struggled with it over the years. When my kids ask me questions about Gandalf (was he always old? where did he come from? is he human?) or Elrond (is he an elf? where are they going over the sea?) or Dwarfs (what is their history?) I  refer them to The Silmarillion (or the appendices) where answers to such questions can be found. And there are answers to these questions and more, a solid and rich foundation on which Tolkien built his other stories.

I won't pretend that The Silmarillion is a book for everyone, or that it doesn't lie unread on many shelves, but I treasure the insight it gives into Tolkien's world and I can't imagine not having it on my bookshelf.

Return of the King - J.R.R. Tolkien

This is the Hundred-and-fourteenth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

There is a great tragedy and an unexpected victory, a home coming and a home leaving. And when you have read the story you can wander through the appendices and linger over some of the detail and glean snippets that round out the story. A bit like looking through the fridge on the day after a dinner party.

One of my biggest disappointments with Peter Jackson's film version is that he didn't include the Scouring of the Shire. This has always been one of my great delights in reading the book, a second climax to the greater story, an unexpected, closer to home battle to be fought. In many ways more meaningful, certainly for the folk of Hobbiton, than the matter of the Ring.

The Two Towers - J.R.R. Tolkien

This is the Hundred-and-thirteenth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

This middle volume of the three book set is neatly divided into the story of two journeys (with some further separate journeys in the first that come together at the end). I've always particularly anticipated the first journey that ends up at the foot of Orthanc and dragged my heels at the thought of starting the dreary journey across the marshlands. Yet I always find when I read that second story that the dreary section isn't as long or as dire as memory would have it. Perhaps that says something about the impact of the writing that memory accords more size to something that actually isn't that over whelming in the story. If you asked me how I felt about the book as a whole, at the time I've just read it, I would say - excellent.

If none of that makes sense to you then perhaps you need another (or first) read of Tolkien's work.

The Fellowship of the Ring - J.R.R. Tolkien

This is the Hundred-and-twelfth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

It has taken me over a hundred books to get to one of the jewels in my collection. This is not because I suddenly discovered it or had forgotten it. In my must-have collection this will be one of the very first.

Part of my dilemma and part of my delay was that I suspect many, many people will include this book (and its fellows) in their own essential reading list and it seemed a bit obvious and a little trite to have led with this.

I had read The Hobbit at an earlyish age, too young at the time for access to the adult section of my public library, yet I braved the raised eye brow of the stern library staff and found the 1970's hardcover edition of The Lord of the Rings and was enthralled. The large pull out maps, the yellowish paper and the quality of the publication - better than anything I've since owned - all combined into one of those defining moments in time.

And what I loved, and still do, isn't the extensive back story and the elvish and other languages or the detailed appendixes (though I love them all) but what enthralled me was the story. And it is the story that keeps bringing me back to The Lord of the Rings.

This first book is a journey from the comfortable and comic into the dark and the deep. It provides the linkage from the 'written for children' to the 'written for adults'. It starts a journey that took Tolkien a long time to complete and which sets the stage for one of the great tales of modern times. Enough said.

How much Tolkien is too much?

On my bookshelf there is one author who is not only well represented but over represented.

I refer of course to Tolkien and in particular to the Lord of the Rings.

I have the three book, boxed, paperback set that I purchased in 1978 (along with the first edition of The Silmarillion and a biography by Humphrey Carpenter) and which I like but which has faded and in which the binding is failing. Read too often I am afraid.

My better half brought to our relationship a single volume paperback (far too cumbersome for my tastes) and a boxed, Alan Lee illustrated, hardcover set (too nice for actual reading).

In recent times I found a boxed, paperback set of all the actual 'books' with Tolkien's titles (such as 'The Ring Goes South') and these are my preferred version for reading. I find the volumes easier to handle and the text is a nice size (meaning it is suitably large).

I don't have a Kindle version but I think that is inevitable.

And I have on the shelf the already mentioned The Hobbit, Farmer Giles of Ham, and Tree and Leaf.

I think it is time I added a little more Tolkien to my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

Footnote: You may notice a boxed set of the special extended edition of the Peter Jackson films and I am happy to have them on the shelf - though the books would get preference any day - and they have been watched with pleasure on more than occasion. The extended version is quite a bit longer than the cinema release and good value. I recently saw the second film in The Hobbit set, twice, and if there is eventually an extended version then it will find me a willing buyer.