Friday reads

    I have two fine books on the go just now, Jane Rusbridge's second novel Rook (which confirms the talent shown in her first one), and A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander which is just the thing to read if you're fancying going in for Grand Designs.
   
    Firstly the novel, and Rook is "a mesmerising story of family, legacy and turning back the tides, beautifully evoking the shifting Sussex sands, and the rich seam of history lying just beneath them". Jane's narrative is one of layers, each scene revealing a little more of her characters' past or present and what moves and motivates them, and similarly the network of connections - obvious or more deeply hidden - which informs them. More on it soon, but suffice to say for now that I'm loving it.

    I'm not very far into A Pattern Language (which was warmly recommended by a friend), but it's about the elements which go into making a building or room - whether a domestic one or for public use - a successful and harmonious place. For example, the pages shown above are on "entrance transition" - "buildings, and expecially houses, with a graceful transition between the street and the inside, are more tranquil than those which open directly off the street. The experience of entering a building influences the way you feel inside the building. If the transition is too abrupt there is no feeling of arrival, and the inside of the building fails to be an inner sanctum." It goes on to explain in detail why this is and how to achieve the optimum arrangement. It's all quite fascinating.

    Those are my 'Friday reads', what are yours?

Comments

[adele geras]

Just finishing the proof of Andrew Taylor's next novel, THE SCENT OF DEATH which is v.good. And that will be followed by Linda Gillard's HOUSE OF SILENCE which I've just got through the post.

[June Seghni]

I was fortunate enough to win a signed copy of Rook in a blog giveaway..you have just reminded me that I need to get on and read it. I'm reading The Magus by John Fowles at the moment

[Gigi Ann]

This week-end I am planning on curling up in my favorite chair and reading two of my 'vintagte' romance books. The one I am reading today is "The Dream Comes True", by Barbara Delinsky, and the other book I will be reading is "More Than Memory" by Dorothy Garlock. I hope you have a fun-filled week-end. HAPPY READING!!!

[Cornflower]

I've read only one Andrew Taylor so far (but loved it), and I needn't say more about Linda's books!

[Cornflower]

Ah, The Magus! I read it years ago and was completely entranced by it, as I recall. I hope you'll enjoy Rook when you get to it.

[Cornflower]

That sounds like a good weekend!

[Karen (at Curate's egg)]

I do like your book montage.

My last read 'The Soul of Kindness' by Elizabeth Taylor is still lingering in my mind. My next book is a bit of change: Umberto Eco's 'The Prague Cemetery'.

[Dark Puss]

A Pattern Language is a pretty influential book and I'm glad you are enjoying it. The concept of patterns has been taken up in a big way in the last 20 years in the computer programming world. You might (!) be interested in this page at Berkeley. A description (you'll need to know UML to fully appreciate this) of the famous Gang of Four patterns can be found here.

I'm currently reading Ludmila's Broken English by DBC Pierre

[Cornflower]

Variety indeed.

[Cornflower]

Computer programming is another world to me, but thankyou for those links.
I've never read any Pierre - am I missing something?

[Freda]

The principles of A Pattern Language can also be applied to garden/landscape design....

[litlove]

I'm also reading Rook! Ooh girl squeal! I will be looking forward so much to your review, so we can compare notes.

[Erika]

I'm reading Sue cTownsend, "10 Downing Street" Perturbed by the depth of the satire as it matches somewhat my Briitish friends complaints. I hope that it is wildly exaggerated. It is also very funny as are her other books.

I took " John. Saternall's Feast " into hospital with me some weeks ago and found it a wonderful read. Thank you for recommending it.

[Cornflower]

It's a fascinating subject.

[Cornflower]

Yes!

[Cornflower]

I'm so glad you enjoyed John Saturnall's Feast, Erika. Thankyou for letting me know, though I'm sorry to hear you were in hospital and I hope all is well.

[Anji]

I'm reading 'What Alice Forgot' by Liane Moriarty. In the car is 'Swimming to Elba' by Silvia Avallone, translated from Italian and it's proving to be a good listen, worth the wait at the traffic lights at the end of our block!

[Erika]

It was a hip replacement andi am doing well. Thank you for your concern

[Cornflower]

You're welcome, and I'm glad you're on the mend.

[Cornflower]

We should have a dedicated "Friday listens" post too!