A beautifully written book about a girl, Fiona, growing up in a tenement in Glasgow. She is bright, and despite her impoverished background (or maybe because of it), she achieves academic success, firstly in attaining highers, and then in obtaining a place at Art School.
She harbours a love of all things Emily Bronte, which helps her cope with the ups and downs and tragedies she and her family travel through. It also helps to have read Wuthering Heights and a bit about Emily, to appreciate some of the allusions and references in this story.
This took me a while to become attached to it, mainly due to the fact that it was written in the first person narrative (by Fiona), and in Glaswegian vernacular throughout (which I initially found annoying). However, with persistence, I found Fiona and her family (her father and her three siblings) engaging and sympathetic. The Glaswegian vernacular added to the gentle humour of the book.
The conclusion is neat, but not trite, and I welcomed it, although some readers may find it slightly too convenient.
BabyBarista is a fictional account of a pupil barrister undergoing the trials of pupillage at the English Bar.
This is a hilarious account of the underhand and machiavellian attempts by pupil barristers to undermine each other, so that they attain the prized tenancy at the end of their training.
Babybarista is now qualified, and at the start of the second year, but it is worth going back to the beginning and starting there.
Even if you know nothing about law (let alone British lawyers), you should find this hilarious.
What sources do you count on for national news coverage? How about international and local news?
Good question.
My main source of both national and international news sources has to be the BBC, and in particular, BBC Radio 4 at various times of the day.
I also check out the BBC Website at some point in the day.
For newspapers, I prefer the Independent, sometimes in hard copy, sometimes the website. As newspapers go in the UK, it is pretty good, and the least partial (politically) of all the broadsheets (IMHO).
I also look at the Times from time to time! This would tend to be the website, rather than the hard copy, and I visit regularly to view one particular blog, as well as specific news items.
That reminds me - I think I need to comment on the exploits of Babybarista, here on Vox!
I am only half way through the first series of Heroes, here in the UK.
However, I just couldn't resist watching this trailer, so thank goodness it didn't give too much away!
I recently read "The Rival Queens" by Fidelis Morgan (it was the subject of a discussion at my bookgroup), and I loved it. I must have read it in about 3 days (whilst on holiday). The story revolves around an amateur sleuth with a difference, as the book is set in 1699 London, and our sleuth is a former mistress of Charles II (now a little past her sell-by-date). Wonderfully comedic and horrific by turns. If you enjoyed the anachronisms in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, then you'll enjoy much of the humour in this book.
I shall be reading more of this series.
Morgan's website is informative, and has some interesting diversions, but I thought the look of it could have been leaner and less fussy.
From the website (extract from "The Rival Queens"): "Taking a great puff as Alpiew raced ahead, Anastasia, Lady Ashby de la Zouche, Countess of Clapham, Baroness Penge, reduced her stride to a very gentle trot. How had it come to this? At her age and station she should be sitting at home being served hot chocolate and biscuits while reading some juicy scandalous broadsheet. Instead she was near penury, forced into working for a living, chasing after scandal all over London to provide the tittle-tattle for other ladies to read while lounging in their cosy homes, gulping down buckets of best bohea tea.
With a sigh she trotted across the meadow of Tower Hill. High above her, on top of the slope, loomed the awful spectre of the scaffold and gallows. Luckily today was not an execution day, or she'd not be able to move for the crowds. The day before, however, had been one, so the place was still spattered with litter. The Countess side-stepped a pile of oyster shells crawling with maggots before joining the queue for the Tower of London."
A strangely beautiful video using Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" and a drumming gorilla to advertise Cadbury's chocolate (I still prefer my dark Fair Trade choc, any day!)
Innocent Drinks are asking people to knit little hats for their smoothie bottles.
This looks like a good idea, and can be done with a few friends. A lot less strenuous than running for charity (to my shame, I have only managed the Race for Life, which nearly floored me - only 5km).
A great way to use up all the bits of old wool you might have lying around (and a way to recycle old jumpers!).
The serious bit is the charitable purpose behind it:
"Almost 25,000 older people died of cold related illnesses last winter, so it’s important for us to do our bit. Age Concern will use the money raised to provide support to older people in winter including hot meals, blankets and advice on how to keep their houses warm."
Scandalous that this is happening in one of the developed countries of the world.
Ooh! My second post - this is getting ambitious!
:D
I am now experimenting with a "widget" from Libarything, which enables you to display random books from your library, within your blog.
I think this is one of those things you are supposed to display in your sidebar - but let's not run before we can walk!
Bush Eyes Blair For Mideast Peace Role
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WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush has talked with British Prime Minister Tony Blair about taking a role as a Middle East
peace envoy after he leaves office next week. Assistant Secretary of
State David Welch, the State Department's top diplomat for the Middle
East, talked with Blair in London on Wednesday, while the White House
and State Department spoke glowingly about the prime minister's
credentials but said there was nothing to announce yet. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also expressed support for Blair playing a role in the Middle East. "Officials in the prime minister's office are aware of this idea and Prime Minister Olmert is very supportive of Prime Minister Blair and of his continuing involvement in the Middle East and the peace process," Israeli government spokeswoman Miri Eisin said. Blair steps down next Wednesday. "Obviously Prime Minister Blair has been very active and deeply involved in Middle East peace issues throughout his prime ministership," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said. She said Blair and Bush speak often. "It would not surprise me if they have talked about what Prime Minister Blair would like to do following the end of his term ... but we don't have anything to announce today," Perino said. James Wolfensohn, a former president of the World Bank, stepped down in April as international Mideast envoy for the Quartet of peacemakers—the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia. The position envisioned for Blair was said to be an enhanced version of that role. Members of the Quartet may meet in Paris next week, although Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has a scheduling conflict and the meeting could be postponed. At the State Department, spokesman Sean McCormack would not say whether the United States wants Blair to take the job, but indicated there is a need for a new Mideast envoy. That person would work to help the Palestinians strengthen their political and economic systems and institutions in preparation for an eventual independent Palestinian state, McCormack said. "So there is this idea out there of, 'can we identify a person that could fulfill those functions?'" McCormack said. "I think that the idea has some merit. ... But as for particular individuals, at this point I'm certainly not going to get into it."
Separately, a senior State Department official said that although U.S.
officials have explored the job possibility with Blair, those
discussions are not yet at the point of a job offer. That could come
after further discussions among the four Quartet members, said the
official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private
discussions. Oh no. Haven't this pair done enough damage? Bush must be salivating at the thought of having his puppet poodle step into Wolfenson's shoes. He knows that old Tone will bark any tune he tells him to, while jumping through Bush-arranged hoops. Thanks to my evil twin for making my heart sink.
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Badda Bing Updated: Jul 6, 2007
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