This and that

     As I have almost no reading time this week (gasp!) and precious little computer time (apologies if you've emailed and haven't had a reply yet), I'm not in a good position from which to write a book blog; however, I can manage a bit of bookish chat and news - that's with one hand on the keyboard and the other on the hoover with crevice attachment.

   I was very pleased to see that Rosie Alison's novel The Very Thought of You is on the Orange Prize longlist. I read it last summer and loved it (my impressions are here), and it narrowly missed inclusion in the Cornflower Blues top ten so I wish it well. The Orange list includes three books I have waiting to be read, Laila Lalami's Secret Son, Amanda Craig's Hearts and Minds and Sarah Waters' The Little Stranger - I'm looking forward to all of them - and of course, Wolf Hall takes its rightful place as a strong contender (it was a highlight of last year for me).

   Thanks to everyone for your comments on I Capture the Castle; there was not a dissenting voice, and everything you said shows that it is a really special book. I must read it!

   Wonderful comments, also, on books which feature housework; what a marvellous resource the Cornflower readers are.

   Lastly for now, I'm a long way from Oxford, but were I closer I'd be very tempted to go to some of the events taking place there next week as part of The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival (full programme there). Neil MacGregor will be talking on Saturday about his History of the World in 100 Objects which I've been following (and am now missing very much as it's on a short break), John le Carré will be in conversation on Wednesday, and on Sunday the 28th., Hilary Mantel will be interviewed by P.D. James. All that and our own Adèle Geras talking to* Victoria Hislop and Anita Mason about history and family and fiction. Go!

*NB See Adèle's comment.

Comments

[adele geras]

Tiny weeny correction....I'm not talking TO Victoria Hislop and Anita Mason. Rather, Nicolette Jones is talking to all three of us about Family and History in all our books!

And also delighted with the Orange longlist and specially pleased to see Hearts and Minds up there. I'm sure you'll like it, Cornflower.

[Cornflower]

Thankyou, Adele!

[Simon (Savidge Reads)]

Oh I so wish that I could go to the Oxford events they all sound equally desirable and that makes me a little frustrated.