Reading chair

    This is where I did my reading yesterday, in a 'fishing garden' by a Hampshire chalk stream,

and it's hard to think of a lovelier or more peaceful spot.

    I saw deer, heard the cuckoo, and sat in perfect stillness in that meadow full of wild flowers alive with butterflies, bees and damselflies.

    I did read! I got far on with the quite excellent J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter, which was relevant reading, in fact, as on Sunday I'd been in Oxford where Tolkien spent so much of his life.

    A highlight of that bit of my brief trip was meeting Simon for tea at the Ashmolean. It's always a great pleasure to see Simon, and we had a good old bookish chat over some very welcome refreshments before I had to be on my way again, but I had a minute to pop into Blackwells on my walk back through town and - with Tolkien in mind, as I'd just started the biography - noticed this book which has now gone on my wish list.

    If I had another day or two in that chair by the river, think of the reading I'd do ...

Comments

[Simon T]

What a beautiful place to read! How lovely.

And how lovely, as always, it was to see you on Sunday - it was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

[Dark Puss]

I'm both envious and jealous! I spent quite a lot of my Sunday working on grant applications and my talk for the conference at MIT that I flew out to on Monday.

Do tell me (both of you and others) if you feel Blackwells is not what it was, or is that just the science section? I don't find it as interesting as I did when I went 20 or even 10 years ago. Actually I'll include the music department too in that observation.

Peter

[Cornflower]

Super to see you, Simon, and that Ashmolean tea and cake was most welcome!

[Joan Kyler]

I don't know how you managed to read in such a gorgeous place! I would have been constantly distracted.

[Cornflower]

I can't really comment on Blackwells as I visit so seldom that I can't judge. All I had time for on this occasion was a quick 'in and out' and a look at what was nearest the door, and of that stock there were much the same books as you'd see in any other similar shop plus a few with Oxford connections.

[Cornflower]

I did have regular breaks for just wandering round with my camera and taking it all in - it is a very beautiful place.

[Harriet]

How lovely. And so sorry I was not there myself -- glad you had such a good time, though.

[Rosie]

Do, do read The Inklings. Whilst it is 32 years (where did they go?) since I read it, I remember being so immersed in it that I failed to go to the pub with my flatmates (an unheard-of phenomenon).

[Simon T]

I've never been very impressed with Blackwells, but my area of interest is the secondhand section. Absurdly overpriced, and not a very special selection. More literary theory etc. then you'd find elsewhere, but not the same level of interesting older novels which your average secondhand bookshop has.

[Dark Puss]

Simon, thank you for commenting. You confirm (sadly) my view of Blackwells. I go in quite often but I always come away feeling somewhat disappointed. A real shame that such a flagship bookshop in Oxford isn't more inspiring.

[Cornflower]

Another time perhaps, Harriet.

[Cornflower]

I'm so enjoying the Tolkien book that I'd love to go on to more of 'the same'!

[Susie Vereker]

Sorry to have missed you on your visit to Hampshire.

[Cornflower]

It was so short, Susie, barely 24 hours, but the weather was lovely and I was very happy to be back in that delightful spot.