Travellin' Penguin

I finished the 500 page book, Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty. It’s pretty much a beach read. I enjoyed it but the ending was different than what I expected . It might be a good book to travel with but the book itself is very heavy.

Now the random reading book is to be selected. I have decided to do what Karen at Booker Talk does and randomly select three books then choose the one to read. I had a trial run with the Book Buddy random selector on the app and it chose a couple of reference books that you wouldn’t read as a novel. So I decided to choose three and then pick one.

Here are the picks:

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway’s memories of his life as an unknown writer living in Paris in the twenties are deeply personal, warmly affectionate and full of wit. Looking back not only at his own much younger self, but also at the other writers who shared Paris with him – James Joyce, Wyndham Lewis, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald – he recalls the time when, poor, happy and writing in cafes, he discovered his vocation. Written during the last years of Hemingway’s life, his memoir is a lively and powerful reflection of his genius that scintillates with the romance of the city.

Femme Fatale by Guy de Maupassant

Madame Berthe d’Avancelles had rejected the advances of her admirer Baron Joseph de Croissard to such an extent that he was now in despair. He had pursued her relentlessly throughout the winter in Paris, and now at his château at Carville in Normandy he was holding a series of hunting parties in her honour.

The husband, Monsieur d’Avancelles, turned a blind eye to all this. It was rumoured that they lived separate lives on account of a physical shortcoming of his which Madame could not overlook. He was a fat little man with short arms, short legs, a short neck, short nose, short everything in fact. Madame d’Avancelles, in contrast, was a tall, chestnut-haired, determined-looking young woman. She laughed openly at old Pipe and Slippers as she called him to his face but looked with tender indulgence on her admirer, the titled Baron Joseph de Croissard, with his broad shoulders, his sturdy neck and his fair, drooping moustache.

The Outlaw Bible of American Literature

The Outlaw Bible of American Literature will serve as a primer for generational revolt and an enduring document of the visionary tradition of authenticity and nonconformity in literature. This exuberant manifesto includes lives of the writers, on-the-scene testimony, seminal underground articles never before collected, photographs, cartoons, drawings, interviews, and, above all, the writings. Beat, Punk, Noir, Prison, Porn, Cyber, Queer, Anarchist, Blue Collar, Pulp, Sci-Fi, Utopian, Mobster, Political—all are represented. The Bible includes fiction, essays, letters, memoirs, journalism, lyrics, diaries, manifestoes, and selections from seminal film scripts, including Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now, and Taxi Driver. The editors have brought together an extravagant, eclectic, searing, and unforgettable body of work, showcasing Hustlers, Mavericks, Contrarians, Rockers, Barbarians, Gangsters, Hedonists, Provocateurs, Hipsters, and Revolutionaries—all in one raucous cauldron of rebellion and otherness. This prose companion to the best-selling award-winning Outlaw Bible of American Poetry features selections from Hunter S. Thompson, Exene Cervenka, Patti Smith, Dennis Cooper, Malcolm X, Sonny Barger, Maggie Estep, Lenny Bruce, Henry Miller, R. Crumb, Philip K. Dick, Iceberg Slim, Gil Scott-Heron, Kathy Acker, Jim Carroll, Charles Mingus, Norman Mailer, and many others.

As you can see this a reference book. I have dipped into this many times over the course of years I have owned it. I was going to choose again but thought if you weren’t familiar with this book you might enjoy seeing what it is about. Published in 2004.

DRUM ROLL-

The book I will begin reading today is Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast. I like his writing and no matter what one thinks of the man, his books have stood the test of time. People seem to either love him or hate him but I think that has a lot to do with the kind of man he was. I am inly interested in the book.

LIFE EVENTS OF THE WEEK

It has been a quiet week as I pulled a muscle in my lower back and have had to do exercises so I can get in and out of chairs, then walk. Pilates classes are in hold as I slowly move again. I did swim yesterday and sat in a very hot Jacuzzi which did wonders. Today I took the bus into town , had a good walk, looked at a dress I saw in a newsletter I receive that I loved, but the photo is much better than the real thing. Not that I was going to buy it. After all we all need to cut back on fashion now because of the serious overflow in landfill and let’s face it, clothes just aren’t made as well as they used to be.

Met up with a couple of friends who were having lunch and beginning their Wednesday Scrabble game at Mathers House in Hobart. Used to be called the 50’s and Over where people drop in for lunch, catch ups and scrabble. Had a quick chat then got the bus home. It was quite humid today until the temperature broke and we got a drizzle of rain. I sat outdoors and had a milkshake for sustenance 😉😉😉 then got the bus home. Although no formal exercise, I got my walk in and my back is feeling better. Just muscle woes.

I just heard the yellow tailed black cockatoos in the neighbourhood. They have come down from the mountain as the weather has changed and we are expecting rain later today. I love them. They are such beautiful, large birds.

There you have it. Now, I’ll leave you all in peace and go find Mr Hemingway on the shelf.

Until next time…

We are finally getting some summer temperatures here but now I’m hoping the predicted rain comes through for the garden.

When the temperatures go up it is noticeable how quiet it seems. I don’t get wakened by the combination of the magpies, the cockatoos and the kookaburras all calling out at once. Only a few little cheeps here and there. The yellow-tailed black cockatoos have been in the neighbourhood lately too. They only come down from the mountain when the weather is about to change. They are great weather predictors.

This past week I have finished one book and am in the middle of another. The Green Indian Problem by Jade Leaf Willetts is an interesting little book published by Reynard Press. I received it last year when I had a subscription to their books.

The blurb-

“The Green Indian Problem” is a novel by Jade Leaf Willetts that delves into themes of identity, friendship, and personal struggle. Set in South Wales during the late 1980s, the story follows Green, a seven-year-old boy who is perceived by others as a girl. Green embarks on a journey to understand his identity, confronting challenges such as societal expectations, family dynamics, and the disappearance of his best friend, which deeply affects their close-knit community.

The novel addresses complex issues including child abuse, grief, and the search for self amidst adversity. Green’s narrative offers a poignant exploration of a young boy’s quest to comprehend why he differs from his peers.

“The Green Indian Problem” has been recognized for its impactful storytelling, being longlisted for the Bridport Prize in the Peggy Chapman-Andrews category.

The book has received praise for its authentic portrayal of a child’s perspective and the challenges of growing up with a misunderstood identity. Reviewers have highlighted its combination of humor, warmth, and tragedy, noting its ability to leave a lasting impression on readers.”

I enjoyed it very much and I will remember Jade, known more as Green as he dislikesm his name, for a long time.

It was a quick read, two sittings and then I moved on to Liane Moriarty’s latest, Here One Moment.

I can’t put this 500 page turner one down. On a flight from Hobart to Sydney, an elderly woman leaves her seat, walking up and down the aisle telling each passenger when they will die and how it will happen. Now the flight is finished I am learning more about the passengers and their lives. It is great fun and I am interested how this story will progress.

Other interesting things going on this week.

Monday was a gym day so off I went to get back into it from the holidays. It was HARD!

Tuesday had my body feeling much older than it is. Not that it can get much older than it is. I bought 10 sessions in a local small pool that is part of a spa near the bus stop. It is a lovely, quiet place to swim and do exercises in the pool. I made a 30 minute friend with a lovely Jamaican/Australian pool as we chatted in the Jacuzzi that loved my muscles.

Wednesday, I was back at the gym just doing my 45 minute walk on the treadmill as the weather heated up outdoors.

Thursday I went to my GP to get a new spot on my face checked. It has come up rather recently and was changing a bit. Melanoma? Had to get a couple of scripts. The doctor checked the spot and gave me the medical name for it. When I asked what that means he said, “age wart” . We both had a laugh as I mentioned to him, yet another thing to be encountered on this old age trip I’m on. I can get it removed but it isn’t noticeable enough and is easily hidden with one drop of concealer. I was just glad it wasn’t a skin cancer. Tasmania doesn’t have much Ozone over it and melanomas are rampant here if sun protection isn’t used. (As is much of Australia)

Friday, I was back at the gym with Teresa, my trainer rolling out the kinks in my muscles and back on the floor mat and with the hard foam roller. My doctor once asked me how much I pay for 30 min of a personal trainer. I told her and she thought that was a bit pricey. I told her it is cheaper than going to her and she had to agree.

Then Teresa and I go for a coffee and discuss the world’s ills or whatever is going on that week.

Then that night, three of us enjoyed seeing Little Women at the Playhouse theatre in town. I have loved that story for years and it didn’t disappoint. The actors did a wonderful job and it was a happy evening out for the audience. I think the next play they are performing there is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. That is something to look forward to.

This weekend we set up a new vacuum Mr P brought home as he is the one who does the vacuuming here. We started it up and had a laugh as the dogs had to see what on earth was happening in their space.

That sums up another week. This has been a week where I am glad to be tucked away in this part of the world and I am grateful for that. We are feeling very sad about the California fires and our thoughts are with anyone affected.

Stay well, stay safe. Do something this week that makes you happy.

I have two posts worth of things to write so I will share half of that today. . If you read my last post you will see the book that was randomly picked for me to begin 2025 is called Dear Friend, You Must change your Life by Ada Bronowski.

It is comprised of 20 essays beginning with quite philosophical information from before Christ all the way up to Essay 20 that discusses the authors ideas. 

Ada Bronowski 1927 – 2007 was a dancer and choreographer. He is also described as a humanist and a Renaissance man, the author of a novel (Mathilde or Lost Time 1963) about a love triangle between Richard Wagner and a married woman, the poet Mathilde Wesebdock1828-1902. What this has to do with philosophy I am not sure.

I have studied the first five essays and I am going to briefly report on them but then I am moving this book along as I have had enough. I have read a great deal of Buddhism in my younger life and much of the philosophy of the known greats of Greek and Roman times is not that different. 

No 1

EPICURUS TO MENOECEUS 341- 270 BC

The main point here is about being in the present moment. BE PRESENT he says. If it is not happening at the time, let it go. The Dalai Lama always said, “Don’t play those movies in your head.” when worrying about future events.

He also believed good friends were extremely important. He put them at the very top of what he thought and taught. He didn’t believe in an afterlife so people had better stay in the moment, be mindful and spend time with those who matter. 

I could go on and on but you get it.

SENECA’S FIRST LETTER TO LUCILIUS 

Seneca speaks of time being the most important thing. We should not waste it as it is finite.

“Time is our most precious possession as we are the sole masters and commanders. It is of this good that we make the most liberal use; for we waste it without thinking, as if we had an endless supply.”

Seneca and a respected politician of the time, Lucilius, have many discussions. Seneca is also a Stoic and he also believes we forget to pay attention to our own existence.

He goes on to tell Lucilius there are many moments of time that we lose due to work or family that is not ours. We lose it through things we have to do but he believes more is lost just through our carelessness.

I suppose that is a topic we could talk about for a very long time.

MARCUS AURELIUS TO FRONTO

I enjoyed this chapter very much. Marcus Aurelius was a student of Fronto. He was aged 19, Fronto was in his upper 30s. Fronto was a highly respected teacher of rhetoric and an orator. He believed communication of one’s beliefs was imperative. He didn’t dabble in philosophy. Aurelius was a very disengaged student, didn’t complete his assignments, was undisciplined.

Their letters continued over 30 years.

Aurelius was then introduced to Aristos who studied philosophy. Instead of completing his assignments for Fronto he switched over to following Aristos. However, after a period of time and some years, he decided he was not on the right path and returned to Fronto.  Aurelius writes to Fronto:

“ Aristo, his works are undoubtedly doing me good right now, but at the same time, they make me feel bad. For when they teach me about how to be better, they are undoubtedly doing me good, but when they also show me how much my own abilities lag behind compared to these elevated ideas, them your student often blushes so deeply and gets enraged with himself. “

He knew he was letting himself down and returns to Fronto to continue the basic education he feels he is lacking. 

Essay four was about Kronos, a god from a different age, the Golden Age, before the world became dominated by Zeus and the other gods of Olympus.

A great deal of discussion ensued about the differences between the rich and the poor and how unfair life is and why should it be so. A lot of it sounded like communism and is compared positively to it.

Essay Five depicts the letters between Descartes and Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia, 1600s.

“In the end we leave it all behind” There is a discussion about various passions. Descarte talks about passions of the mind and how that can be more long lasting than following those who preach virtue and go against virtue. Physical passions may cause happiness but it is not as long lasting as passions the mind pursues. Freedom of will is important. To be able to follow what we want to do, to pursue our passions but in many instances that is not possible.

I saw a short video of Meryl Streep talking about Afghanistan and the women controlled by the Taliban.

She said squirrels have more rights than women as they can play in a park. Birds can sing in public but women can’t. It is so sad. 

Well this has been long and not the kind of post I generally put up but I thought I had to at least tell you I dived into this book.

Another problem with this book is the print is very tiny and I am struggling to read it. Along with quite a bit of repetitive content, I have skimmed through the rest, this book will now be released into the wild. Yes, a DNF, but I got the meaning out of it. The five essays were enough and I am anxious to randomly select my next book by Book Buddy. 

To summarise- stay present, enjoy friends, practise virtue, don’t waste time, learn new things, go to the park, sing with the birds.