Five Go Off In A Caravan - Enid Blyton

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

The premise is far fetched. Parents allowing children to go off on a holiday in two horse drawn caravans. Sending postcards each day to say all is well. Nothing to keep them safe except moral decency and a very loyal Timmy. Engrossing!

Five Go To Smuggler's Top - Enid Blyton

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

One of the curiosities of memory is that I recognise the cover of this particular edition from my childhood. It has a familiarity that invokes a sense of the book and the long ago time when I first read it. Checking the publication date confirms my memory. Paperbacks were such a great invention!

While secret passages are to be expected this book takes them to a new, inspirational level! There is also a darker side to the villains in this book that moves it a notch beyond the previous books in the series.

Five Run Away Together - Enid Blyton

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

I like the way the characters have developed over the first three books, not dramatically but they are not static or one dimensional either. Which is just as well as all is not smooth sailing in the household and drastic action is required.

Five Go Adventuring Again - Enid Blyton

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

All good children's books involve a school and this adventure starts at a school, but soon the story returns to the Cornish home of Georgina George and involves secret ways and spies and I can't really give away any more of the story. Needless to say there is adventuring and heroics by one particular member of the famous five, a hairy hero!

Five on a Treasure Island - Enid Blyton

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

I've started reading the Famous Five again and the first thing that struck me was how easily Enid Blyton creates characters, builds tension and draws the reader along - even for an adult reader such as myself. I do have a remnant memory of the story, as this series was one of my favourites as a child but I hadn't expected the story to work so well for me as an adult.

I am also struck by some of the underlying cultural themes that are really strong but oblivious to me when I read them many years ago. For instance the prickly character of Georgina and her desire to do boy things.  I wonder how she resonated with head strong girls at the time of writing? The role her mother plays in the family dominated by the scientist husband. Their attitude towards the domestic staff. Interesting.

And of course the descriptions of the Cornish coast and countryside, intrinsic to the story and which informed my view of England. When I visited Cornwall a couple of years ago I was not disappointed.

There are so many elements that go into what appears on the surface to be just another book about children having adventures. I can't imaging not having this and the rest of the series on my bookshelf.

Long shelf life - by popular acclaim

There are over 50 books on my bookshelf by a single author - Enid Blyton.

What surprises me about this vast collection is that none of them are remnants from my own childhood or from my latter collection of children's books - though I read them all in the day. They are all the product of my own children, voracious and early readers, discovering them and being addicted to them and wanting to have them on the shelf ready for another read. Many are accessible from a young age while some still appeal to the older reader. However they all have something in common, they are gripping and reward multiple readings.

I know Enid Blyton is sometimes out of favour with critics and educators, but she had a gift for writing and the evidence is on my shelf. Her books persist in publication because they are popular and that popularity hasn't waned, at least in my house.

The Ring of Solomon - Jonathan Stroud

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

As with all good characters the author gets attached and can't let go. In this case a late addition to the Bartimaeus 'trilogy' is a prequel. Worthy effort and finds a place on the shelf.

Ptolemy's Gate - Jonathan Stroud

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

This conclusion to the trilogy (but not the end of the sequence) draws the main protagonists towards an inevitable but ultimately surprising climax. These books have a real sense of movement over the life of the series as the characters grow and develop. Nice.

The Golem's Eye - Jonathan Stroud

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

When I started reading this book for the first time I found a point, early on, where I was losing interest. You might know that feeling - the story has promised enough to get you into it but then seems to flag and you know if you put it down somewhere you might never come back to it. I got that feeling but persisted another chapter and suddenly it took off! I think this is a good example of the decline of editorship, that expert guidance that demands an author go back and rewrite until the novel meets the exacting standard of the editor. However that takes time as well as expertise and time is money. In any case this is an excellent second novel in the sequence.

The Amulet of Samarkand - Jonathan Stroud

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

It must be difficult to craft an original story using the makings of ancient literature and mythology. Often attempted and in this case with some success. One of the measures of success for such writings is the degree to which the reader finds the treatment 'fresh' despite the familiar making. Rather like cooking a stew that is notable despite being restricted to much the same ingredients as any other stew. Perhaps a new spice or a different texture or some variation in the cooking method. Familiar to the palette but not bland.

However it is achieved, this is rather good stew.

Rushing towards the cliff

I find that the year at work, like the seasons, has a certain rhythm.

At this time of the year I am looking back and looking forward. This is the time of the year when the current planning cycle is heading into its endgame, but not yet concluded, while planning for the coming year is going full steam ahead. I can be so preoccupied in looking forward that I raise my eyes from the 2014 calendar and realise with some surprise and a little relief that it is still December of 2013.

It is also a time of the year where external deadlines - financial, holiday and planning - tend to create a narrowing of the funnel, a pinch point in the garden hose of life. You know intellectually that at some point the pressure will lift as the deadlines pass. In some ways this time of the year has the sense of rushing towards a cliff over which we will all fall and we just need to be as prepared as we can before the final inevitable unavoidable exhilarating descent. A bit like life, except that we pick ourselves up at the foot of the cliff and slowly gather speed towards the next cliff and do it all again.

Gosh I look forward to the Christmas break at this time of the year.

Reflections on Canberra

I was in Canberra for a few days in late November. I was interested to see the city for the first time and visit some of the political and cultural institutions.

In a couple of days we visited the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, The National Library of Australia's Mapping our World exhibit, Questacon, Parliament House, Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House), National Archives, National Museum and the inside of the 100 bus. Rather busy. I am not going to chronicle all of that but I do have a few reflections and photos.

The Australian War Memorial was well worth the visit and we spent a couple of hours but it needs repeated visits over many days and seasons - as do all worthwhile cultural places. The view shown above is looking out from the resonating and movingly simple Hall of Memory (resting place of the unknown soldier) across the breadth of the city to Parliament. It is a striking use of landscape in the design.

The red poppies on the Roll of Honour are visually striking; red on slate grey. We found the name of my uncle who had perished in the second world war near Singapore with the intention of placing a poppy. As it turns out the poppies are forced into a gap between the panels, not a feature of the original design! and there was no gap near his name. I took a photo and kept the poppy.

The National Gallery was excellent. I had recently watched Edmond Capon's The Art of Australia series and was well prepared to appreciate the collection. I eavesdropped (as you do) on a tour guide talking about Blue Poles and that was an added bonus. If I lived in Canberra I would visit often. However the unexpected bonus was a Skyspace construction by James Turrell called Within without, 2010. I can't even begin to describe it except to say it used walls and water and light in the most remarkable way. The photo above doesn't even begin to do it justice. This short ABC Art Nation video about it and James Turrell is worth a look. This is a must see if you are Canberra.

The architecture of the National Museum was striking and the photo above shows The Garden of Australian Dreams a visual, tactile interpretation of the Australian landscape.

Parliament House was very interesting, though not surprisingly Old Parliament House is more accessible and has a stronger sense of history. The portraits of past Prime Minsters was as you might expect, except for the Clifton Pugh portrait of Gough Whitlam which was strikingly less traditional but somehow appropriate.

Unlike Old Parliament House the blood of democratic contest still runs through new Parliament House even when the house is not sitting and I captured this Christine Milne press conference happening below on the lawns. I think education funding was the main topic.

My overall impression of Canberra is one of art and culture, buses and bikes and striking public installations. Perhaps another hundred years will see a little more texture and less sense of artificial construction.

Conrad's Fate - Diana Wynne Jones

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

One of the characteristics of Jones' writing is that her villains have a certain beguiling, almost attractive quality but as you dig deeper and deeper you realise that they are really rather unpleasant and despicable persons. Not super villains but normal unpleasant persons whose bad qualities are amplified by circumstance.

Jones always has some naive and gormless characters who grow on you over time and may even turn out to be heroic in the end. Will Conrad be one of those?

And as always there is magic!

Mixed Magics - Diana Wynne Jones

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

Humph. Not a big fan of short stories. Will make exception here :)

The Pinhoe Egg - Diana Wynne Jones

This is the Hundredth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

What a great title for the hundredth book in my one book at a time bookshelf. Enigmatic and puzzling, giving no meaningful clue to the story, enticing cover images on which the imagination can run wild. This is Jones on top form.

The Magicians of Caprona - Diana Wynne Jones

This is the Ninety-ninth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

Foreign setting for this delightful tale of tradition, magic and ancient mischief - and the ever resourceful Christopher Chant (and friends) whose appearance is always welcome when bad has gone to worse.

One of my favourite Diana Wynne Jones books.

Witch Week - Diana Wynne Jones

This is the Ninety-eighth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

The bizarre happenings depicted on the covers of Diana Wynne Jones books are, fortunately, accurate depictions of elements of the story contained within.

There were witches at schools before Hogwarts. True fact. And flying broomsticks.

The renown Chrestomanci does appear in this book, fortunately for everyone concerned.

The Lives of Christopher Chant - Diana Wynne Jones

This is the Ninety-seventh in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

The published order of Jones' Chrestomanci novels is clear but the reading order isn't so clear cut. In my opinion it doesn't matter. They are sufficiently well crafted that it doesn't really matter, especially as one doesn't know what is going on a lot of the time anyway. Read them in whatever order you like and re-read them in whatever order you wish.

This book tells the story of the early years of Christopher Chant and has delightful characters that appear many times. Enjoy.

Charmed Life - Diana Wynne Jones

This is the Ninety-sixth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

I grow weary of adult tales, full of meaning and the sorrow of life. Time to indulge in my real passion, tales for children - uncomfortable but ultimately safe (or largely safe or mostly safe).

I overlooked Diana Wynne Jones for many years and I owe my children for discovering her and growing  my bookshelf with many of her works - though I have become chief financier in recent times as I have become attached to her particular charms.

There is an inherent logic to Jones imagined worlds, including the rather cluttered worlds of the Chrestomanci, but that doesn't mean all is revealed to the reader. In many ways she is reminiscent of Cherryh in that regard though her touch is lighter and accessible to the younger reader.

This is the first of her Chrestomanci books and she writes as if you should know all about what is going on - delightful. Beware of misdirection and expect a cracking finish.

The Goblin Mirror - C.J. Cherryh

This is the Ninety-fifth in my one-book-at-a-time bookshelf.

Cherryh is a bit unusual in that she writes in science fiction and fantasy. In my own mind these are mutually exclusive genre and she treats them that way. However she has an even spread of works across both realms. This is fantasy.

In some novels the protagonist is kept in the dark about what is really going on but in typical Cherryh style we are also kept in the dark! After a few readings one might glimpse the underlying reality of the plot, or not. Cherryh never patronises the reader by spelling out the detail but it might be nice if she dropped a few breadcrumbs - hard work but overall worth while.