Life According to Literature: 2010

photograph by Herbert List, 1952

This year was the first year I wrote down which books I read and my how they added up!  (Note to self: Must get out more).  I will be posting the list as our year ends, but for the time being Simon, from Stuck In A Book, posted THIS on his blog full of wonderful and interesting treats.  Now I want a whack at it!  

Answer the following questions using titles of books you have read during 2010:

Describe yourself: Twenty-five (Beverley Nichols)

How do you feel: All Passion Spent (Vita Sackville-West)

Describe where you currently live: Dream of Perpetual Motion (Dexter Palmer)

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Down the Garden Path (Beverley Nichols)

Your favorite form of transportation: Free for All (Don Borchert)

Your best friend is: Nancy Mitford (Harold Acton)

You and your friends are: Bright Young People (DJ Taylor)

What's the weather like: West with the Night (Beryl Markham)

You fear: The Little Stranger (Sarah Waters)

What is the best advice you have to give: Ask Alice (DJ Taylor)

Thought for the day: Strait is the Gate (Andre Gide)

How I would like to die: From a Paris Garret (Richard Le Gallienne)

My soul's present condition: Our Lady of the Flowers (Jean Genet)

Love in a Cold Climate

What bliss!  That bridge reminds me of the bridge in Brief Encounter which I saw this weekend for the first time and fell madly in love with.  The tension..egads!

Snake Pass, Derbyshire, England

by Andrew Kearton

via Once was England

Conrad Felixmüller

Bildnis Frau Sophie Isakowitz, 1932

Don't you love when you stumble upon something when you are looking for something else entirely!  Look at these gems, by German Expressionist and mentor of Otto Dix, Conrad Felixmüller, I just found!  One could work as a Persephone cover.

Self-portrait (with his wife), 1930

Zeitungsjunge (Newspaper Boy), 1928

There's a pattern in my preference in art.  Someday, in my dream world, these will be a few of what has become a massive collection.  Now let us head to the third floor gallery, shall we?

Lorna von dem Spiegel, 1933

Shanghai Lil'

From, Footlight Parade, one of the best and my favorite Busby Berkeley skits, stars Ruby Keeler (per usual) and the amazing James Cagney. Their dancing is unbelievable, and the opium den scene is positively shocking!  Hysterically clever lyrics as well.  Unfortunately the clip is only available when you wander HERE, but please do!

Dreams of a Winter Night

‘The dreams of a young girl the night before her coming out party inhabit these empty bedrooms at Belsay Hall. Longing for love and romance, her childhood world dissolves into social connections, potential husbands and family obligations.’

So said Geraldine Pilgrim of her exhibition at Belsay Hall, something I wish I had seen.  For a few more photographs and information: the artist's webpage.

Photographs by Sukesu found at Miss Wallflower

Far From the Maddening World

Just try, just try and not fall in love with this man's photostream over at flickr.  I just found it and am loving his little tidbits of life in the West Village, his books and collections.

Travelling with Persephone

A few weeks back a friend asked: "Where do you have in mind for you next trip?"  and for the first time in my life it took a few minutes to think of something.  I've always been one who's had a roster of 10 or 12 places on my 'To Visit' list, and not that I've been to them all, but I think life has become so hectic and busy, I don't have time to think of where I want to holiday. 



Thankfully I seem to be catching the travel bug, especially after reading several Anglo-leaning blogs, and my next trip MUST be England.  My bosom friend, Saint Katherine, finds herself with similar leanings so hopefully we can plan a trip together.

Upon arriving in London, Lamb's Conduit Street will be first on the list of places to stop.  At Persephone I'll ship everything in stock home, to fill my nonexistent bookshelves, like Thomas.

Then I'll skip over to Heywood Hill, where my best friend, Nancy Mitford, ran the shop for a bit.  While I'm at it, I'll let that little garret on the top floor so I can see London to its full extent.

Now the country is my oyster, and after meeting all of you fellow bloggers, I'll be exploring all the places I've never seen and always wanted to. Hopefully I'll be able to tackle every secondhand bookstore and resale shop in my line of vision as wekk. I remember them being tear-worthy.  Knitting whilst travelling of course.  One needs to make socks for all the nippers I abandoned back home!

On the list, Sissinghurst, Charleston and Chatsworth.  Everytime I read a post about either of these places my mouth starts to water and I start to feel faint.  The salts!  Grab the salts!

Vita's desk at Sissinghurst

The trip just flew by!  Where did that year go?  Might as well end the trip at the place I've been dreaming of since I read Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, all those years ago.  Yorkshire! A castle will do,  there I can stay close to the fire, read and drink tea 'till my chest starts to pound.

All images found at the ever-inspiring, always fascinating, Persephone Post.