I had a chance to catch up on some reading during my one week off before giving birth (he was two weeks early, so that put a stop to lounging around on the sofa reading the pile of animal related books I'd saved up). And I would recommend them all...
Unlike Watership Down, which I never got into, these tales told by animals had me gripped:
Mrs Chippy's Last Expedition by Caroline Alexander
This is a fictionalised account of the life and times of Mrs Chippy (who was actually a Mr), the cat who travelled on Shackleton's Polar expedition on the Endurance in the early 1900's and who was stranded in the polar ice fields along with the remaining 28 crew members. Although I'm not a particular lover of cats, Mrs Chippy is an entertaining narrator who makes light of the obvious hardships the expedition encountered (these are chronicled in the footnotes) - she/he takes delight in antagonising the dogs and likes to keep a check on the rodent population as part of her daily routine. I don't want to spoil the ending, but you may need a packet of Kleenex... (mind you, I was very hormonal reading this!)
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
This book was recommended to me by lots of people - yes, a childrens' book, but Joey (the farm horse turned eventual war veteran) has a wonderful 'voice' and tells of the horrors of the First World War from a unique vantage point. Also a tear-jerker... (I really WAS hormonal!!)
Finally: Giraffe by J.M. Ledgard
Not strictly a tale told by a giraffe, but Snehurka (meaning 'Snow White' in Czech) begins the story by telling of her capture in Africa and shipment to a Czech zoo in 1971. This true story tells of the fate of Snehurka and 48 others - I won't spoil the tale, but its magical and philosophical too, and sprinkled with facts about giraffes, such as there are three different types of giraffes, how they cope with the heat of an African summer and how they manage to bend down to drink without collapsing - intriguing stuff, and another heart-wrencher...(perhaps there's a theme here: animal narrator = tear-jerker?!)
So, now I have returned to life once again...has anyone got any book suggestions for me?
[I'm back to work (sort of) and have just handed in my manuscript for MILK - a cultural history of this food/drink as part of the EDIBLE series by Reaktion Books. What a controversial substance it is...]
13 comments:
Congratulations Hannah! How life must be changing. I do love Michael Morpurgo - partly because he writes just a handful of miles from where I live - it shouldn't make a difference but oh, it does!
Congratulations! You've certainly been busy!
I'm currently reading Bill Bryson's Shakespeare which is fascinating, not so much for Shakespeare himself but for the insight into Elizabethan life. Lots of lovely (some gruesome) facts and figures.
I bet young Cameron's keeping you on your toes. Thanks for the book recommendations. I keep meaning to read War Horse, but it would have to be in private. I have had some embarrassing experiences with such books and my two daughters in the past! (I howl, they roll their eyes at me.) As for recommendations, I'm currently reading 'What I talk about when I talk about running' by Haruki Murakami, which is about running, but also about writing too. Utterly fascinating and quite profound.
Congratulations on the new addition! You must be run off your feet :)
Welcome back Mootia! Thanks for the book recommendations - I'll have to think of one or two for you. There's still lots of baby nap time for reading.
There are lots of animal stories among Saki's tales: the funniest perhaps being Tobermory. Then there is Salar the Salmon and Tarka the otter by someone whose name escapes me. The Dog Crusoe by RM Ballantyne is about as good a dog and travel book as you will find: a journey from the headwaters of the Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains and back. Anyway, so glad you are back to blogging again and hope Cameron is thriving and sleeping well.
Good to have you back Hannah - Cameron is the very best of excuses.
If you want to wallow in a good howl try 'Thy Servant a Dog' by Rudyard Kipling. I was given it to read as a small child ill in bed. I wept buckets and still feel a bit sniffy at the thought of it.
(The old copy I read, incidently, had belonged to my uncle Peter - given to him aged 13. Not surpringly the sort of book one of today's 13 year olds would thank you for.)
Lovely to have you back blogging and am impressed that you made it here this soon! Good recommendations too.
Cameron is lovely.
Congratulations Hannah.
Sorry, I didn't look at dates so I've left you some recommendations for greek holiday...
I also lived near Falmouth and then married a Cornishman and left..
How wonderful Hannah - enjoy every moment of his smallness. A big hug to you all.
I really don't think you're going to have a moment to read, but if you do...I'm reading The Sorrows of an American by Siri Hustvedt and have just finished Still Alice by Lisa Genova and The Clothes on Their Backs by Linda Grant.
Take care and don't over do it.
Congratulations. Terrific news.
Congratulations! loving the blog , keep up the good work! You may be interested in the work of Send a Cow -http://www.sendacow.org.uk/ourwork - We are based in Bath, work with rural community groups in nine countries in Africa, providing small-scale farmers with the skills and means to feed their families and earn an income. It's all about helping to develop sustainable farming methods!
Hope you're doing ok - Cameron must be quite a big boy now. Looking forward to seeing Milk (loved Cow) - any idea when it might be hitting the shelves?
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