Living inside a book

    I remember when Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall won last year's Man Booker prize, Adèle said it would have the consequence of boosting sales of large handbags as you'd certainly need something capacious to carry it around!

    I'm in Mantel mode again now, having just finished Fludd (which is absolutely marvellous) and then - unusually for me - going immediately to buy another of her books to follow on with. As the Wolf Hall sequel is still some time off, I chose the enormous, 880-page A Place of Greater Safety. No large handbag required for this one, though, as I've got it on the Kindle and can carry it anywhere without walking lopsidedly and straining my shoulder.

    In the introduction to this epic of the French Revolution, Hilary Mantel says "I have tried to write a novel that gives the reader scope to change opinions, change sympathies: a book that one can think and live inside". As the little progress bar at the bottom of the screen tells me that after one evening I have read a mere 5% of the text, it looks as though I shall be living in it for quite some time - and that's a cheering thought, don't you think? I mean, if the book suits the reader, it's a pleasure prolonged to stay with it for a lengthy period.

Comments

[Coffee and a Book Chick]

I'm thinking about starting Wolf Hall soon -- I have heard such mixed reviews about it, and I've just gotten the book from a giveaway win...so I'm thinking about it!

[adele geras]

Those sorts of books are one good reason to buy a Kindle I guess but still, the heft of the thing is part of the fun of a paper edition! A stay -at- home read rather than a carry- around- in- the- handbag read it would have to be for me....can't wait to hear what you think.

[Claire]

After loving Wolf Hall I've been thinking of reading this. Will be very interested in what you think. May have to put if off though as I've embarked on DGR's War and Peace challenge!

[Jodie]

Is a Plae of Greater Safety the one where she said there would be a sequel then decided she wouldn't write one? If it is I would love to know if it needs a sequel and is disappointing because it doesn't have one when you get to the end of it.

[Lyn]

I felt the same way about Pepys's Diary when I read it last year. Sam came everywhere with me for weeks & I loved that feeling of knowing I was going to be settling down with him again after dinner, at lunch time, just before going to sleep. And I only read the Shorter Pepys, although that's still 1000pp long. I loved Wolf Hall so I'm tempted by APOGS.