Book 46 - Anita Brookner "Soundings"

Anita Brookner “Soundings” (Harvill Press)




I completed this book on my journey to Tunbridge Wells yesterday. I have been dipping into it over the past five months as it is a collection of essays and literary criticisms.

This collection of essays and literature begins with a focus on the life and work of the 19th-century French painters Gericault, Ingres and Delacroix. By examining their achievements and differences, stylistically, psychologically and in terms of their philosophical approaches, the author brings herself to an analysis of the complex clashes between the Romantic and the Classical movements themselves. Subjects ranging from Rousseau's "Social Contract" to Doris Lessing's "The Golden Notebook", from "The Book of Job" to Corot are explored and the loves and lives of women such as Rosa Bonheur and Louise Colet, who arrived at a certain greatness but have been less remembered.

A book I thoroughly enjoyed dipping into.

Tunbridge Wells Visit

Yesterday I took a bus journey down to Tunbridge Wells to do a couple of visits. Whilst in the town I had time to peruse the shops and picked up a book from a well established second hand bookshop going back to the 19th century, and is. known as Halls Book Shop in the Pantiles area of the town.



The books is “The Philosophy of Modern Art” by Herbert Read (Faber) which I remember was one recommended as further reading on the second level Open University arts course I did back in the eighties. A snip at a quid.



I also picked up a Folio Society hardback complete with slipcase for £2 from Sense -

“The Spanish Bawd” by Fernando de Rojas (Folio Society 1979)



Despite darkening skies at one point it stayed a really good sunny day.

With August looming upon us, and the dreaded Olympic Games, I have decided to do this years CSC, or in full, the Charity Shop Challenge 2012. This is where you try to seek out quality vinyl form a charity shop run and spend no more than a tenner. Part of the fun of it is the form of transport you take (specifically bus or train for me) and what food you eat on the way. As it is an Olympic year the theme of the vinyl should be Olympian. That could mean sport related or finding a rare slab of vinyl going cheap which would normally be a Herculean task. The CSC started on the VG+ website and I shall endeavour to carry on with the challenge in August.

One geezer up north found a Michael Garrick Sextet LP on the old Argo label for 99p. That to me is a terrific find. Classic contemporary jazz from the sixties and much sought after.