Author Archives: readingmater

A lyrical Dystopia

Posted on September 23, 2017 by readingmater

This book is haunting me. The End We Start From, by Megan Hunter. Rarely have I read a story so pregnant with meaning. Within the story – a woman fleeing flood in London (a Climate Change inundation, presumably) -are short quotations … Continue reading →

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Being Mortal/ Don’t talk about the War

Posted on July 24, 2016 by readingmater

Atul Gawande has written a book about a topic doctors mostly aren’t taught, and patients don’t want to think about, but the book has been on the NY Times bestseller list for many weeks and has a four and a half … Continue reading →

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Neurotribes

Posted on May 1, 2016 by readingmater

I passed the 11+! I liked doing puzzles (intelligence tests.) I had (note the past tense) a good memory and liked writing essays. All that spelled academic success back in the 50s. I taught in secondary schools in the 60s. … Continue reading →

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Exciting reading!

Posted on April 1, 2016 by readingmater

I’ve been enjoying various novels, but today I read something that excited me enough to blog again. You may not believe this but it is Pliny’s Letter to the Emperor Trajan, which I first read back in Uni. in the … Continue reading →

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The Book of Negroes:

Posted on March 21, 2016 by readingmater

Daughter Marjorie read Lawrence Hill’s Book of Negroes and said it would probably be her Book of the Year, even though we are still in March. And yes, I think it is that good. It covers the story of a single African … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical fiction, historical novels | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Change?

Posted on February 18, 2016 by readingmater

When my youngest child was born, there was no internet. When I was born, hardly anyone we knew had a car. When my mother was born, people were cooking on solid fuel black-leaded ranges. My little grandchildren cannot imagine not … Continue reading →

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Blind date with a book

Posted on February 6, 2016 by readingmater

The local Georgetown library has a program this month to get people reading and talking about books we may not otherwise choose. The librarian put out a selection, wrapped in gift bags, to take without looking. Then there will be … Continue reading →

Posted in history, non-fiction, science | Tagged | 2 Comments

Rest not in peace: 14th century murder

Posted on February 3, 2016 by readingmater

I walk where Hugh Singleton walked on the streets of Oxford and the castle, where he journeyed frequently as bailiff for the manor of Bampton and as 14th century detective, most recently in Rest Not In Peace. I have worn … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical fiction, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Always moving on?

Posted on January 17, 2016 by readingmater

Husband and I, two teenagers, one pre-schooler and one as-yet-unborn. In 1977 we all squeezed into a 1971 VW camper and set off for a coast to coast camping trip from the SF Bay area to New Haven, where we … Continue reading →

Posted in history, memoir, non-fiction | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Visions for the Future

Posted on January 13, 2016 by readingmater

As I am currently in California, which has been in a state of severe drought for several years, 2020:Visions for the Central Valley, edited by Amy Moffatt, interested me. This year is, I thankfully report, wet and snowy (snow means water … Continue reading →

Posted in non-fiction, Novels | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment