On my bookshelf

Aside from My First 100 words and Ralph the Rabbit I am (still) reading Volume Three of The Forsyte Saga. Despite my initial impressions this is a wonderful book, made brilliant by one of the greatest and most compelling female characters ever written. In the vein of Elizabeth Bennett, Dinny (Elizabeth) Charwell (pronounced Cherrel) is a breath of fresh air in the saga and in her society. It is taking me a long time to get through however because I am consistently distracted by the bright and shiny! It's also a big book and doesn't fit in the purses I have been carrying with me of late. Yes I am one of those people who take a book everywhere they go. Even though I now have a nine month old and park benches are no longer for reading and reflection but climbing on and chewing. During my Postgrad year I spent a vacation while the campus was empty sitting in front of Keele Hall reading Middlemarch, see that stone wall? That's where I sat. I studied English here and my department was housed in the attic (servant's quarters) of Keele Hall.

When I moved to Maine I had to find new places to sit and read. Deering Oaks Park when we lived in Portland and Willard Beach when we lived in Cape Elizabeth.This week I read this article and am now carrying To Kill a Mockingbird around with me as it has been years since I was captivated by Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Hopefully the trip to Damariscotta with my in-laws tomorrow will allow me some time for Atticus Finch. You remember Damariscotta? It's where my sister in law moved forcing Toby into daycare ;-) she lives with the Puffins now.