Saturday 20 June 2009

It's my birthday...


... and in previous years, I have celebrated midsummer's eve on wild and windy beaches (the one above was in west Wales). This year, however, after the most turbulent of times, I shall be at home, eating cake and drinking champagne. But what should I be reading in bed tonight?

32 comments:

Mobeena Khan said...

Not that original a thought, but Austen. P & P, obviously, but I do love Persuasion. not very birthday though, is it?

Knitting Out Loud said...

Happy Birthday! The right book will leap into your hands. Thank you for this always interesting and thought provoking blog.

Anonymous said...

happy birthday xx

dovegreyreader said...

Happy Birthday from me and Devon x

Cornflower said...

Happy birthday, Justine.

Tricia said...

Happy Birthday - read something that makes you happy.

wednesday said...

Happy Birthday. Read something that makes you hopeful.

Anonymous said...

Something unputdownable and easy - get thee to a bookshop and browse a while, something will turn up. I've just finished 'My Blue Heaven' by Joe Keenan, a scriptwriter on 'Frasier' - very New York, gay, funny - I bought it a Muswell Hill Books after a lovely rummage. I agree with Knitting Out Loud - a book will find you.

Happy Birthday! And many thanks for all the good reading you provide here all year long.

litlove said...

Happy birthday! I'm currently reading Justine and loving it - I'll review it shortly on my own blog. As for bedtime reading, how about The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis, by Jose Saramango, which is another novel about an author who was a puzzle in so many ways (he wrote under scores of different pseudonyms, although there were four main ones, of which Fernando Pessoa is the best known). It's not quite the book for bedtime comfort reading, but it's good.

enid said...

Hope your birthday is all you wish it to be- have a very happy birthday. Get into bed with chocolates and mounds of mindless magazines. ( yes even a Hello )Have you read The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennet- it's such fun. Thanks for always writing the best blog. Happy birthday !

Rob Hardy said...

Happy Birthday! My younger son celebrated his fifteenth birthday yesterday. Today I'll eat a piece of leftover ice cream cake for you!

I have no inspired reading suggestions to make. I myself am in the midst of a "summer of love." I just finished Nancy Mitford's The Pursuit of Love and now I'm reading Victoria Clayton's Out of Love. We'll see if I'm all loved out before I get to Christina Stead's For Love Alone.

Francesca said...

Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one
hand waving free,
silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands,
with all memory and fate,
driven deep beneath the waves,
Let me forget about today until tomorrow.

Or something like that. What to read? I'm not sure. But not something that makes you cry, unless in a good way.

Happy Birthday.

I just love those Pembrokeshire beaches.

kairu said...

I forgot to mention how much I love that photograph. That beach reminds me of the Pacific Northwest beaches of my childhood (only mine were rockier) and my present time. I prefer them to the sunny-white-sand-palm-tree type.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Justine...
Thich Naht Hanh 'Peace is Every Step' is something I re-read every summer holiday...
or
Plant Dreaming Deep by May Sarton is another favourite...
or for more laughs, how about oh dear, I can't think of any thing funny! The Morville Hours by Katharine Swift is thought-provoking and beautifully written. Or else just go for the latest copy of Vogue (July) - surprisingly good...
Love and good wishes,
x Elspeth

Lou said...

Happy Birthday ,Justine.Hope the year brings for you some well deserved peace and happiness...I agree with Elspeth.Something with a Buddhist slant might be good if you are that way inclined!I have just finished "Buddhism for Mothers with Lingering Questions".Inspiring and comforting.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Justine, I hope your personal new year is giving the glimmers of a wonderful year ahead. Hope you didn't end up reading in bed, but fell delightfully into it, after all the cake and champagne and hopefully laughter with dear friends.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Justine!

Justine Picardie said...

Thank you everyone for your comments, suggestions, and greetings. They were a lovely birthday present, all of them, and that's what I ended up reading late last night, after my friends had gone home. Sometimes, a blog is the best reading...
Happy midsummer's day to all of you, Justine xxx

GlassCurls said...

Happy belated Birthday Justine!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Justine... sorry its belated!

BrontëBlog Adm. said...

Happy belated birthday, Justine!

Hope you had a good evening and a good read to begin your new year with :)

Cristina.

Unknown said...

Very belated birthday greetings, Justine! Try Norah Lofts. I've just discovered her wonderful historical novels, written at the same time as du Maurier's. They are intelligent escapism, thought provoking and satisfying. Will put a couple in the post.
Kate xx

Justine Picardie said...

That sounds very promising. Thank you!

GlassCurls said...

I agree about Norah Lofts, read 'Eleanor the Queen' on Saturday and loved it. Especially the occaisional nods to the future.

Kim said...

Ok, I know it's very late, but Happy Birthday, Justine - anyway, why not make this a birthweek instead!
What to read? Ten Thousand Miles Without a Cloud by Sun Shuyun. A book about self discovery and finding lost faith.
Many Happy Returns!

Justine Picardie said...

Thank you. I'm all for late birthday wishes -- it extends the celebrations.

carole said...

Rather late in the day, but may this year bring your healing and happiness. I hope you found a good read.

Anonymous said...

happy belated birthday... reading in bed on your birthday?? that sounds boring you know..

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