All Consuming : Pippa

Why I want to consume "Captain Corelli's Mandolin"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Wed, 09 May 2007 11:59:45 GMT

by Louis de Bernieres

I recently read The War Of Don Emmanuel’s Nether Parts by Louis de Bernieres and I loved it. I borrowed Captain Corelli’s Mandolin from the library and probably have accrued ridiculous overdue fees as it’s taking a while to involve myself in the book. Slowly, but surely I’m entering the island of Cephallonia.

A review of "Cloud Atlas"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 01:21:05 GMT

Cloud Atlas

by David Mitchell

[From now on, I’ll be recording and blogging my reading history using All Consuming.]

One of the books recommended before I left Australia earlier this year was David Mitchell’s first novel, Ghostwritten. The narratives making up the story traveled through Japan, China, Mongolia, Russia and paralleled the places I was visiting. I would have loved the book anyway, but it felt even more special to be reading about a place having just seen it, smelt it and felt it.

Whilst in Amsterdam last week, I took advantage of an amazing bookstore there and bought Cloud Atlas, Mitchell’s third novel. As with Ghostwritten, it took a while to get used to the different textures used in the novel, but once my reading adjusted, the different pieces of the book fitted together quite cleverly.

I connected most with the story An Orison of Sonmi~451 a dystopia of genetically engineered slaves, forced consumerism and widespread environmental devastation. There’s nothing quite like a well written tale of a bleak future to make me feel quite hopeless about what’s going on in the present, so maybe that explains why I’m currently feeling a bit gloomy.

Anxiety about the future and things I can’t control aside, Cloud Atlas was an amazing book.

A story about "dailysonic podcasts"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 14:42:26 GMT

dailysonic podcasts

www.dailysonic.com

A story about "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 14:41:31 GMT

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values

by Robert M. Pirsig

I’ve been reading this in stops and starts since I was in Vietnam at the start of the year. I’m enjoying it, but obviously it’s taking me a while to read!

A story about "Harry Potter à l'ecole des sorciers"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 14:39:59 GMT

Harry Potter à l'ecole des sorciers

I’m going very slowly and I’m not understanding every word, but I’m much better at reading French now!

It’s taken me about a week to get through the first 100 pages, but because I’m having to read so much slower to understand the French, I am enjoying the reading process.

A story about "The Art of Travel"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Mon, 30 May 2005 13:22:30 GMT

The Art of Travel

by Alain De Botton

I’m not sure what it would be like reading Alain de Botton’s The Art of Travel before travelling, but reading it after returning I can say that it would be useful to read before.

Does that make sense? I hope so.

It’s just that there’s a lot of explanation to why one travels, how one travels and how one can get the most out the experience. And looking back at my travelling experience I know that I would have a gained a lot more if I had read this prior to travelling.

I’ve been encouraged to consider why I travelled and why I still want to travel. I now think more about the places I want to travel to and how I would get the most from visiting them. I think about how I can approach my hometown as if I am a visitor. I’ve even read about a man who took a tour of his bedroom!

A story about "The Art of Travel"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Mon, 30 May 2005 13:22:01 GMT

The Art of Travel

by Alain De Botton

I’m not sure what it would be like reading Alain de Botton’s The Art of Travel before travelling, but reading it after returning I can say that it would be useful to read before.

Does that make sense? I hope so.

A story about "Labyrinths: Selected Stories and Other Writings (New Directions Paperbook, 186)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Thu, 26 May 2005 05:20:19 GMT

Labyrinths: Selected Stories and Other Writings (New Directions Paperbook, 186)

by Jorge Luis Borges

In return for a loan of Mysteries of Pittsburgh, my friend James lent me Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges. A review I read somewhere described Umberto Eco as the only contemporary author to come anywhere near Borges writing style.

Let’s just say that way back when I first read Foucault’s Pendulum (in first year university) I ended up carrying around a list of words to look up definitions for. Thankfully, my vocabulary increased as a result and I can get through Eco and Borges without much trouble.

A story about "Accommodating Molly"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Thu, 26 May 2005 00:18:45 GMT

Accommodating Molly

by Candida Crewe

Could be categorised under “chick lit” but on the less frothy end of the scale.
The story is set in a book shop and it made me want to give up geeking and start selling books.
A nice story.

A story about "Anna Karenina (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) (Barnes & Noble Classics)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Thu, 26 May 2005 00:18:45 GMT

Anna Karenina (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) (Barnes & Noble Classics)

by Leo Tolstoy

Anna Karenina is absolutely my favourite book ever. The love affair between Count Vronsky and Anna is tragic and beautiful, but the standout element of the story is the relationship between Levin and Kitty.

A story about "My Brother Jack"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Thu, 26 May 2005 00:18:44 GMT

My Brother Jack

by George Johnston

An excellent book.

Set in 1930s-40s Melbourne.

A story about "Elvis, Jesus and Coca-Cola (Kinky Friedman Novels (Paperback))"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Thu, 26 May 2005 00:18:44 GMT

Elvis, Jesus and Coca-Cola (Kinky Friedman Novels (Paperback))

by Kinky Friedman

I’ll definitely be reading more Kinky Friedman.

A story about "Kingfisher's Catch Fire"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Thu, 26 May 2005 00:18:43 GMT

Kingfisher's Catch Fire

by Rumer Godden

I love all of Godden’s India books.

Kingfisher’s… is set in Kashmir and I desparately want to go there… It’s such a pity that people are always fighting!

A story about "and the rain my drink"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Thu, 26 May 2005 00:18:43 GMT

and the rain my drink

by Suyin Han

Han Suyin wrote the autobiographical novel A Many Splendoured Thing, set in 50s Hong Kong.

In ...and the rain my drink the scene changes to Malaysia.

Beautiful descriptions so far. I can just feel the humidity.

A story about "The Blessing"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Thu, 26 May 2005 00:18:41 GMT

The Blessing

by Nancy Mitford

this was a funny book indeed. : )

A story about "The Collected Dorothy Parker (Penguin Twentieth-century Classics)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Thu, 26 May 2005 00:18:41 GMT

The Collected Dorothy Parker (Penguin Twentieth-century Classics)

by Dorothy Parker

damn dorothy parker was cool. but she didn’t like a.a. milne very much.

A story about "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World: A Novel (Vintage International)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Thu, 26 May 2005 00:18:40 GMT

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World: A Novel (Vintage International)

by Haruki Murakami

rarely does a book directly influence my dreams, but the other day i had weird dreams about unicorns and stuff which is confusing and i lay blame at hard-boiled wonderland.

A story about "Gentian Hill"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Thu, 26 May 2005 00:18:39 GMT

Gentian Hill

by Elizabeth Goudge

I have absolutely loved every Elizabeth Goudge book that I’ve read. They’re old fashioned books which leave you with the warm fuzzies.

A story about "Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Thu, 26 May 2005 00:18:38 GMT

Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life

by C.S. Lewis

a good (early years) biography of c.s. lewis

i’ve got a huge pile of books to read and i picked this one up yesterday.

the narnia books are some of my alltime favourites so it will be interesting reading about c.s. lewis’ early life.

A story about "A Suitable Boy : Novel, A"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Thu, 26 May 2005 00:18:35 GMT

A Suitable Boy : Novel, A

by Vikram Seth

i think that this book is absolutely lovely. often i read books too quickly, so it’s good to slow down with this one.

it took me a month to read this and when i finished I felt like I’d farewelled old friends.

A story about "Peter Duck: A Treasure Hunt in the Caribbees (Godine Storyteller)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Pippa) — Thu, 26 May 2005 00:18:34 GMT

Peter Duck: A Treasure Hunt in the Caribbees (Godine Storyteller)

by Arthur Ransome

This book leaves a huge grin on my face.

pirates! treasure! boats! stowaways! Nancy
Blackett!

Swallows and Amazons For Ever!