It's been a beautiful week here in Oxford - sunny, but not too hot, with unmistakably scents and sounds of spring weaving throughout the city.Some books are calling out to be read in certain places. Tara at Books and Cooks recently wrote about 'Just Right' books - ones which perfectly fit the time and place and mood you're reading them in. For me, that has to include weather and setting. Tove Jansson's A Winter Book turned out to be perfectly fitted to a windy beach in 2007; Jane Austen is wonderful in winter by the fireside. What book is perfect for a meadow in spring? Not too hot, but sunny and breezy and the sense of new life everywhere?
Suggestions, please! I've just started Hallucinating Foucault by Patricia Dunbar, but, good though it is, I don't really think it qualifies.
It does look lovely there! It was sunny and warm here today, too, and I took a nice, long walk. Much more enjoyable when you're not bundled up in a coat, gloves and scarf! As for a book to read in a meadow. For some reason Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle comes to mind. Or maybe something by Barbara Pym (though that may have something to do with the fact I am having an overwhelming desire to read her at the moment).
ReplyDeletewow... it looks really lovely there!
ReplyDeleteI've thought it over some more. You MUST read Elizabeth Von Arnim's The Enchanted April. The perfect spring, sitting in a meadow, sort of book (though the opening chapters are a bit dreary in a cold London--it quickly improves!).
ReplyDeleteSusan Hill's "In the Springtime of the Year" immediately came to mind. It is NOT afat book so it should meet with your approval.
ReplyDeleteWind in the Willows - preferably in my (hopefully) newly refurbished and non-leaking 'canary coloured caraven!
ReplyDeleteI meant caravan!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Danielle - Elizabeth Von Arnim's The Enchanted April is the perfect book - if you haven't read it yet. After you read it, watch the movie. It's lovely too.
ReplyDeleteAll the best from a (still) snow-bound Prince Edward Island.
PS
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm having domain name troubles. I just re-adjusted my profile so that yo don't get a "page not found" link.
and I wanted to add, anything by L M Montgomery is always a pleasant read.I"m sure that you have probably read The Blue Castle - but if not, it's a perfect light spring read.
Oh it looks beautiful. I cant think of something particularily spring like for you to read, I will put my thinking hat on. I was aiming to read on Parliament Hill yesterday which was stunning but we ended up playing outdoor games instead. I was thinking Alexander McCall Smith might be good in spring but then thats very hot. What about a Hardy or Bronte?
ReplyDeleteAnything by Howard spring??
ReplyDeleteI am in wholehearted agreement with OVW - 'Wind in the Willows' would be the book of choice for spring-meadow-reading! Or the 'Winnie the Pooh' books.
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Absolutely Enchanted April. The shift from horrible wet London to lovely Italy is perfect.
ReplyDeleteIt looks so wonderfully green there! It is quite brown and wet here.
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