The changing texture of flowers that are going to seed fascinates me. I could spend hours photographing them. There’s something noble and majestic about them.
It’s Saturday. Don is out mowing the lawn and I will join him after I write this post. It’s supposed to rain later in the day, so we’re trying to tackle the longest parts of the lawn today and we’ll get to the rest next week, when it promises to be rainless.
I finished The Book of Bones yesterday. And then I moved on to a short novella by Alan Bennett titled, The Uncommon Reader, which I got from the library. Bennett is brilliant and this little gem centers on the Queen of England, with Bennett imagining what would happen if the Queen suddenly discovered the world of books and reading. How would that impact her schedule? How would her equerries and aides handle her newfound passion? What about the Duke of Edinburgh? It’s positively charming and delightful and only 117 pages long, so I read it in its entirely this morning. Bennett wrote it about 10 years ago and I recommend it highly.
Now what? I’m not sure. I’ve got a couple of ideas in mind.
We’re watching a three-part series that originally aired here on PBS, called The Worricker Trilogy. We’re big fans of the actor Bill Nighy and we discovered it while searching on Amazon Prime for anything that featured him. The trilogy is excellent. We’ll watch the third installment tonight. Nighy is such a wonderful actor, honest, real and spare in his performance. I admire this kind of acting more and more, as does Don. It isn’t about “Look at me and all my histrionics, aren’t I talented?” but rather about the role itself and being true to the text. That takes a supremely confident actor who is not caught up in his ego. Nighy is that kind of actor. So is Helena Bonham Carter, who is a costar in the second installment. Too many actors want to show you all they can do and that, my friends, is either ego run amok or simple insecurity. To just live in the role, to simply inhabit it – especially on film – is the best kind of acting.
Ah well. I must go and help my husband mow. Duty calls!
Happy Saturday.
I loved The Uncommon Reader, a pure delight. Will keep the Worricker Trilogy in mind, and must thank you for recommending Trapped; we’ve recently finished both seasons.
Oh, I’m glad you liked it, Margaret. You’ll like the Worricker Trilogy as well. Thank you!
Good Morning Claudia,
I’ve been reading and enjoying your blog for two years (give or take a month or two!). I’ve not commented before but after reading this post I feel compelled to share two other books I think you’d enjoy.
The first is “Mrs. Queen Takes The Train” written by William Kuhn.
The other is “Running For The Hills, Growing Up On My Mother’s Sheep Farm In Wales” written by Horacio Clare.
I live in a rural, high desert area of Southern California and particularly enjoy reading about and seeing photos of your beautiful part of our country.
~Patty
I’ve read Horatio Clare’s newest book, which I got from a bookseller in England, but not the one you mentioned. I’ll be sure to look into your suggestions, Patty, which I so appreciate. Thank you!
Have you seen The Bookshop? Bill Might is also in it. We enjoyed it greatly and the subject matter is right up your alley!
Yes, we’ve seen it. We liked it, especially him, but didn’t like the way they handled the ending. I know it’s based on Penelope Fitzgerald’s book, so I’m assuming that’s the way she wrote it. Thanks, Mary Ellen.
I watched this last night and felt the direction was horrible and all the characters and story were diminished by the slow stilted presentation. I adore Bill Nighy and Patricia Clarkson and they appeared as if they were in slow motion when they spoke and moved. It is a charming story and I wish it was a better production. I liked the ending because it wasn’t the usual!
I like Patricia Clarkson, but her mannerisms were a bit over the top and you’re right – they seemed to be in slow motion. I’m not sure why she was cast in a production cast with Brits. I think Bill Nighy was perfect; a measured, cautious character, who wasn’t at all used to engaging with others, shy and wary.
I, too, didn’t like the direction. But I’m not sure how charming the story is when she ends up losing her dream and a child commits arson!
Thanks, Dorinda!
That was supposed to be Bill Nighy!
xo
I am so glad you found “The Uncommon Reader. ” I just love it. I read it in the London Review of Books, then took the pages and sewed the together on my sewing machine so I could read it over and over. Which I do. He is a great writer. Have you read “The Lady in the Van” by him, which was made into a wonderful movie with Maggie Smith? It’s a true story about Alan Bennet and a neighbor who lived in her van in his driveway. Excellent on so many levels.
I haven’t read it, but I will. I would like my own copy of The Uncommon Reader. It’s worth having on my bookshelf, as you know! I think I’ve read excerpts from The Lady in the Van, as it sounds familiar. I just saw a book by Alan Bennett at the bookstore we visited this week – Keeping On, Keeping On – and I didn’t buy it, but now I am determined to go back and get it. Thanks, Leslie.
I love cone flowers at the end of their cycle. It’s like they are getting ready for Halloween!
Just finished The Tenth Muse by Catherine Chung. Very good. Will be looking for Alan Bennet’s books.
Enjoy the day!
I will. You, too, Betsy!
Two years ago I was in London for the weekend with my friend and we met up with her son who lives in Sweden but was also here for work. He wanted to buy his wife a tote bag from Margaret Howell who designs clothing and homeware.
The shop was long and narrow and as my friend and I were browsing expensive items displayed on a table in the middle, I noticed a rather well dressed gentleman doing the same. It was Bill Nighy !!
He moved over to browse jackets with a shop assistant, all three of us looked at each other and mouthed “It’s Bill Nighy”. Of course we left him to get on with his shopping but he was impeccably polite with the shop workers. He was in front of my friend’s son at the till and asked for them to order him an item of clothing. He said to assistant, I think you have my details but if not this is my mobile (cell) phone number and proceeded to say it out loud!
Obviously famous people go about their daily business like everyone else but I was impressed by his demeanour.
I love Alan Bennett, he’s hilarious and a big supporter of libraries. Last Winter, alongside other libraries throughout the country we held An Evening without Alan Bennett, whereby Alan on film spoke about his latest book and a local amateur dramatist read from it in Alan’s distinctive Yorkshire accent. We served cups of tea and cakes including Yorkshire Parkin which is a traditional one usually eaten in the Autumn.
Happy Saturday
What great stories! Bill Nighy is so elegant and he wears clothes so well. It’s good to hear he was polite and kind. And Alan Bennett. Sign. He’s amazingly talented – the four men who wrote Beyond the Fringe – Bennett, Jonathan Miller, Dudley Moore, and Peter Cook – were brilliant.
Bill Nighy is the best. Period. Anything he’s in, I will love — or at least love him. One of the most versatile of actors. I still have the DVDs of the Worrikers from my PBS days. Masterpiece was wonderful about sending us multiple preview DVDs. I should pull those out again.
The Uncommon Reader sounds just like my kind of book — reading, royals and Alan Bennett. Perfection. And yes, like you, I find a beauty in fading flowers. They are a beauty all their own.
You would love it, Jeanie. It’s a quick read and it’s simply delightful.
We just saw Bill Nighy (again) in The Bookstore….excellent. Love him.
His work is impeccable. Thanks, Lynn!
I highly recommend The Bookshop with Bill Nighy. It’s really wonderful. It’s on Amazon Prime.
Yes, we talked about it earlier in the comments. We’ve seen it. We weren’t crazy about it, the screenplay and direction were spotty. But I loved Bill Nighy, who was, as always, excellent. Thanks, Terri!
So enjoyed our phone visit today. We must not let that much time go by again!!! So loved to hear what is going on in your life.
Talk to you again soon.
Judy
I did, too! Love to you, dear Judy!
I, too, wanted to thank you for recommending Trapped. I finished the two seasons last week. I also finished reading The Beekeeper of Aleppo. That book is going to stay with me for a long time. I am so glad that I read it, but it was also painful to read.
So happy to hear you enjoyed Trapped. I have that book on my list, but I don’t know if I’m ready for ‘painful’ at the moment. Thanks, Linda.