Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Friday 20 September 2013

Into the Lucky Dip

I have been reading.  For a change.  And, as is also usual, I have been reading an eclectic assortment of things.

I will start with a gem from a chain email (which I usually loathe) that the smaller portion's sister sent me.



'...remember this motto to live by: Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, totally worn out and screaming 'WOOO HOOOOO what a ride!'
There is not the remotest chance of me arriving at that final destination in a well preserved attractive body - so I appreciated the sentiment.  And I am a consumer of both chocolate and wine.
And then onto books proper.
You might remember I got a bit greedy recently and ordered rather a lot of books.  Some of them have arrived and, largely neglecting my unread towers, I have dived in.
And they have been wonderful.



librarygirl first introduced me to Ben Aaronovitch, and I am beyond grateful.  I have a weakness for murder mysteries/detective novels.  And magic.  And am fascinated by mythology.  This series combines them all.  Cleverly.  The plots are new - and a delight.  There are now four in the series and I have, and will keep, them all.  The blurb on an earlier book in the series talks about a blend of CSI and Harry Potter - which is a serious underestimate of the charm.  Not only did I buy the last in the series in my recent binge I discovered that I had somehow missed the third.  So I had to have them both. 
 Onto the next treat.


 This gem comes from the clever brain of Susan Flett Swiderski.  I enjoy each and every one of her posts and loved her book.  I guzzled it.  I laughed - which is always a good thing, and I wept - which is often not a bad thing either.  This book took me (at a gallop) between the minefields of family, menopause, illness, grief and loss.   Minefields which the leading lady survived - developing intestinal fortitude far beyond what she believed possible.   And reinforcing my own philosophy that there is nothing so serious that it can't be funny.  And that laughter (unless malicious) is never inappropriate.


On election day we went past our local polling booth.  I had already voted, and the skinny one doesn't so we had no need to stop in.  But there was a book fair.   Oh dear.

'My name is Elephant's Child and I am a bookoholic.  It is not very long since I bought my last book and I am unable to stop at one...'

And this next book was one of those I acquired at the book fair.

  
Some of you will remember the BBC program Two Fat Ladies.   The fat ladies in question, Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Dickson Wright travelled the UK in a motorcycle (and sidecar) cooking gargantuan meals using local fresh ingredients.  I had no urge to try the recipes but enjoyed the interaction between them.  Of the two of them I much preferred Jennifer Paterson.  

Just the same, when I saw this volume of Clarissa's memoirs I snaffled it up with glee.   A mistake.  A big mistake.  She is avidly in favour of hunting.  I am not.  She is not a vegetarian.  I am.  She doesn't understand how anyone can be a vegetarian - and neither do quite a lot of my family.

For an educated woman she is an offensive bigot.  One of the things which caused my hackles to rise in this book is her insistence (and I am too angry to find the exact quote so will paraphrase) that everyone NEEDS animal protein to be healthy.  Based on this premise she asserts that the many people in India who are vegetarian are healthy because their rice and lentils are contaminated by rodent and insect faeces.  When these people come to the UK the ingredients for their accustomed diet are presented to them in a more hygienic way - without the droppings, and consequently they become sick.  Hiss and bloody spit. 

She is equally against conservationists.  And a number of other principles I hold dear.

This book has gone to my recycle pile.  I did finish it, but I said rather a lot of bad words before I was through.  And have nearly finished a collection of crime stories edited by Elizabeth George to take the bad taste of Clarissa's little effort from out of my mouth.

 

60 comments:

  1. Oh dear - Clarissa Dickson Wright - a friend lent me this and the earlier one, Spilling the Beans, with the assurance that I'd "love them". What a bigoted old cow she is!
    I've been googling the Aaronovitch books - they sound good :)

    PS I thought voting was compulsory in Oz?

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    1. Alexia: Bigotted old cow sums up my feelings too. I am very glad that I haven't read the first - and that it wasn't at the book fair because I would have bought it. And regretted it.
      The Aaronovitch books are good. Very good.
      Voting is compulsory. He hasn't voted in so long that they removed him from the electoral roll - which suits him just fine. I don't approve.

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  2. Thanks for the recommendations. I have been trying to get a hold of Hot Flashes & Cold Lemonade for months but my library doesn't have it. I have been trying to not buy as many books and use the library instead but it is really hard!

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    1. Birdie: My library doesn't have it either. Which is why I weakened (and I am so glad I did). It would have been considerably cheaper to buy the e-version but dinosaur that I am, I prefer books.

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  3. Oops! Just as well I read this before recommending Dickson-Wright's very good book on what we eat and how we cook it (I'll go to the kitchen later and check the title)
    I also bought Rifling Through My Drawers to read on my latest long flight. Didn't care much for it, though I did love their cooking show and this book is a rather loose history of various foods.
    I looked and it's "Food.What we eat and how we eat."

    You sound so set against her now, perhaps you'd best not read it. I'll copy some of the better passages for you!

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    1. dinahmow: On food, which is her area of expertise, I have no difficulties with her. It is when she lays down the law in other areas (claiming expertise with no supporting evidence) that I become unhappy. I look forward to those passages.

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  4. Thank you for these, that first series looks really interesting. I wonder if my library has any of them?

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    1. Dorothy Krajewski: I hope so. Good luck in tracking them down.

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  5. an interesting post. thanks for your recommendations in books and those NOT to buy!!

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    1. Margaret Adamson: See Alexia's comment - some people love her work. I didn't like this one at all. But wouldn't go so far as to say don't buy it. Buyer beware perhaps?

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  6. Lot interesting story, Indeed! thanks for sharing with us...
    Regards
    MastHoliday.

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  7. Yes, Clarissa is an unpleasant woman. I feel she was born after her time, she would have been wonderful driving ambulances during WW1, or organising the Resistance during WW2, but lacking those outlets she became an alcoholic and a bigot. A true British battleaxe, who will no doubt be turned into a saint by the media when she finally releases her bullying grasp on life.

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    1. lynners: Sadly I think you are right. And Saint Clarissa doesn't sit at all well with me.

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  8. I'll look up Ben Aaronovitch, but I'll skip the Clarissa Dickson Wright. Sadly, I'm one of the people who do need animal protein, I try to not eat meat often, but now and again my body says "I must have meat!" I feed it the smallest steak I can find and I do notice the difference in the way I feel. Most of my protein is from eggs and canned tuna. I'm sure there must be vegetable sources of protein but I can't find references in my health book, not without reading the whole thing through again. I'll ask google and you, for help. Vegetable sources of protein?

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    1. River: A surprising number of vegetables have protein - the legumes, asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, corn... And cheese of course if you are not a vegan.

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    2. Thank you. I googled a bit, then this morning had a more thorough read of my book. I already eat most of the vegetables listed and eat nuts too although my dentist doesn't like me to (breaking teeth), but it seems to be not enough, so I top up with meat once a week. That seems to do the trick.

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    3. River: Whatever works for you. I don't think the smaller portion goes a day without meat (or not willingly) and it is hard to get him to eat vegetables too (except for potato and tomato which have honorary meat status).

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  9. Hi, I think I'll try the hot flashes and lemonade, I could do with a laugh!
    Yes, CDW is one of many Brits who seem to think that speakjng loud and posh makes them right! yuk.
    Sending love to you both and hugs x x

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    1. bugerlugs63: How nice to see you. I hope your life is going a little more smoothly. Hot flashes and lemonade is fun. Get it if you can...

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  10. Hey, I know Susan!
    I'm also a book-a-holic and just can't stop downloading them...

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    1. Alex J Cavanaugh: Lots of us know and love her don't we? A twelve step program for bookaholics? Except that I probably wouldn't attend the meetings (without a book in my bag anyway).

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  11. The absolutely best thing to do with a book that riles you is recycle it, and then relish the thought of it being turned into recycled toilet paper. I've done it once and it still makes me smile.
    I've been vegetarian since my teens and can't imagine how people could eat meat, eating kindly is good in so many ways. Good on you EC!
    I don't know if River is likely to read this comment but tofu is the protein I turn to if ever I need a protein fix.

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    1. Kim: How could I forget tofu - I love it (though the smaller portion calls it bean turd). And chickpeas. Yummo. I think my recycling will take the form of sending it to the next Lifeline book fair - but toilet paper has charm too.

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    2. Kim; I've tried Tofu and can't stand the stuff. My mouth rebels just like when I try asparagus...into the mouth and straight out again. It just "feels" wrong.

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  12. Thanks for the warning....how could she be so funny and charming on TV and such a pig on paper?

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    1. Delores: As I said to dinahmow I have no trouble with her on the subject of food. I wasn't interested in many of the dishes she made, but she was knowledgeable and funny. Her wider attitudes? Not for me - and yes I did think she was piggy. And feel I should apologise to the pigs (and the cows for an earlier comment).

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  13. Thanks so much for the shout-out on my book! I really appreciate it, and am REALLY glad you enjoyed it. (I shudder to think of it being recycled into toilet paper used to wipe some fat old bigoted battleaxe's bum.)

    I'm a bookoholic, too. Always have been, and always hope to me. (No rehab for me! Just leave me my chocolate, a bottle of wine, and a big stack of books, and I'll be just dandy.)

    Very cool that we both used that same quote today.

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    1. Susan: I loved your book. And a corner with wine, chocolate and books sounds pretty blissful to me.

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    2. I'll take the corner with coffee instead of wine and a big stack of pillows.

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    3. River: That corner could be a heap of fun.

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  14. Oh, this is just great! Some new books to read, and one to avoid. Thank you for warning me about that one. My sister enjoys mysteries, and I'll pass them on to her, and I might even try one myself! :-)

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    1. DJan: And I am still working through my new piles... And there is still the pre-existing pile...

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  15. I love history and biographies and memoirs, but I guess Clarissa and I won't be crossing paths.

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    1. Joanne Noragon: I love biographies and memoirs too. And I don't have to share a view point with the subject - it was her bigotry and know it all attitude which made me hiss and spit. I believe she was wrong, but I know she was offensive about her views too (while condemning others for being offensive).

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  16. Great book reviews. Glad I won't be even slightly tempted to read that last book. I'm vegetarian too, def believe in the need for conservation. Thanks for your visits to my blog.

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  17. Like you, I love a good mystery and if magic can twist fate in a way that I prefer ... have at it. I will have to try your Ben Aaronovich books. They sound enticing.

    As for bigots, I don't know if you realize it, but we are slowly losing our democracy to white rich people and bigots. I can't for the life of me understand how the millions who are being disinfranchised can sit back and let it happen, but when the rich control your media, it is hard to get the truth out to the masses. So on every level, I despise bigotry including your Clarissa and I have been know to utter some of those same choice words when talking about them. You are a wondrful, bright human being and you give me hope that we all haven't become stupid :) Thanks EC

    Andrea @ From the Sol

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    1. Andrea: You are always so nice to me. Sadly I agree about the power of the rich and the bigotted - but I think it has been here for a loooong time.

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  18. Thanks for the heads up about Ben Aaronovitch!I've never heard of him, but if he's as good as Jim Butcher I'll get the whole set! I've been looking for a new read. First paycheck I'll get the first book!

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    1. Betty: Let me know what you think about Ben Aaronovitch. I like him - lots.

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  19. I always like to see what you read - thanks for that. I saw you read the Kathy Reichs. I read my first Temperance Brennan book recently - pretty darn good.

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    1. Lynn: Kathy Reichs can be fun - but Temperance doesn't develop in the series. She changes partners, but not herself. So it isn't a 'must read' series for me, but a temporary diversion.

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  20. HOT FLASHES & LEMONADE is now on my list!

    Ordering it now.

    Xxxxxx LOVE flowing to you, S.

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    1. My Inner Chick: Hot Flashes and Cold Lemonade is fun - with some serious issues hidden in it as well. I hope you get as much pleasure from it as I did. It masquerades as chick-lit, and is a great deal more.

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  21. Well that was interesting, I was fan of Two Fat Ladies the show but the rest of the family disliked it and my daughter who was off meat at that time really hated, they did lean on the meat and fat diet.
    I like the quote, I like my chocolate too, not to fond of wine, I have reactions from grapes that are not nice.
    Merle..................

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    1. Merlesworld: I really liked the program. I wasn't tempted by the recipes, but loved the interaction between Jennifer and Clarissa.
      I am sorry that wine treats you badly. I like wine o'clock. And ration it.

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  22. Oh! Dear! Thanks for the warning about Clarissa's book...I shall well clear of it. I never watched the television show, because when it was on here I was working nights...cooking in restaurants!

    The other books you've described sound very enticing. I think a visit to the local second-hand book stores is a must for me next week. :)

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    1. Lee: Second hand book shops are one of my danger zones. I don't think I have ever come out empty handed.

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  23. Clarissa's book doesn't sound like my cup of tea either but your other books do. Thanks for the great reviews.

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  24. Well, you can guess my stance on the vile bigoted fat old bat. So I'll leave it at that lol. I AM keen on the sound of the weirdy murder mysteries, so I'll try one of his after my recent Neil G has been consumed. Which would you recommend as a starter?

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    1. All Consuming: Start with the first - Rivers of London. Very different to Neil Gaiman, but fun...

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  25. I am so going to look up Ben Aaronovitch now. His work sounds right up my alley, as well. And re: laughter being nearly always appropriate- after my brother-in-law died, I was so taken with how much we laughed. It was like the sorrow at time was so hard to bear that we had to laugh instead of cry. Crying takes so much energy, laughing returns that energy. Laughter and tears together are very healing.

    And I couldn't believe that last book-- what on earth? It bothers me sometimes, the things that are allowed to be in print, especially unfounded opinions masquerading as scientific. Recycling it is kind, I'd be tempted to burn it.

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    1. Raquel Somatra: Ben Aaronovitch was a really good find for me - I hope you like him too. I would much rather be remembered with laughter than with tears. I think most of us would. And yes, the mix is good.
      Clarissa is a celebrity of sorts so naturally what she says is important. Not. I think she should stick to cooking.

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  26. Just read this post and have to say, I'm appalled at Clarissa Dickson Wright and what she wrote.
    What a load of BS - or is that in our food as well?
    I remember Two Fat Ladies, and I too preferred Jennifer.

    But, I much preferred their adventures around Britain to their "cuisine".

    For a fellow veggie, watching them prepare meat-laden meals was often too hard to digest - pardon the pun :)

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    1. Faeces of bull no doubt gives us that necessary animal protein as well. Sigh.
      I had no urge to cook their meals - heavy on meat, heavy on fat, but loved travelling with them.

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  27. Love your reviews EC, and have to agree about Clarissa. I thought it was just me losing my sense of humour when I really disliked her in Two Fat Ladies. I've now got the first Aaronson book on my iPad and look forward to reading the series. Thank you for the heads up.

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    1. Carol: I will be interested to hear what you think of Ben Aaronovitch. And am reassured that other people dislike Clarissa.

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  28. You had me at "'WOOO HOOOOO what a ride!'" :)

    Interesting lot of reading, Sue. My gosh, it's been ages since I sat & read a book. Reading blogs is sort of like my reading books. Love how you "guzzled" and wept.

    Re the last one, that theory on why Indians in the UK get sick is.... wow, just so out of this world! You did well to read it through!

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    1. wordsfallfrommyeyes: I read a lot. I cannot imagine life without books. From many genres. And I almost always finish what I start. Clarissa tested my resolve though...

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