Wednesday Book Talk

“Book collecting is an obsession, an occupation, a disease, an addiction, a fascination, an absurdity, a fate.   It is not a hobby.  Those who do it must do it. Those who do not do it, think of it as a cousin of stamp collecting, a sister of the trophy cabinet, bastard of a sound bank account and a weak mind."

                                                                                                                                                          Jeanette Winterson

You had me at the title.  
Add the subtitle... A Novel of Obsession?
Sold!

What would you do if you thought you had possession of the one original work, Robert Greene's pastorial romance Pandosto,  thought to be the material William Shakespeare based  A Winter's Tale?  This is every bibliophile, every antiquarian book collector's  dream.

"Wouldn't it be something, Peter, to discover a page of manuscript written by
 the Stratford Shakespeare?  Or a letter to Anne Hathaway where he complains
 about what trouble the third act of Hamlet is giving him?"

"The Holy Grail", said Peter reverently.  He was surprised 
to hear the words coming from his mouth.  The comparison had been instinctual."

Peter Byerly, an antiquarian bookseller, enters a rare bookshop, opens a book  and out flutters  a watercolor portrait of his deceased wife.   The painting is Victorian and can't possibly be of Amanda, yet the resemblance is haunting.  Grief stricken he slips the picture into another book he later purchases beginning his obsession with finding the portrait's origin.  Navigating a maze of secrets and deception, Peter discovers what he believes to be "the holy grail".  It is possible he has gained possession of the evidence needed to seal Shakespeare's reputation as the great poet and playwright many believe him to be.

To solve the mystery Peter must revisit his and Amanda's relationship and follow the Pandosto's path to being hidden on a shelf  in an obscure English manor house.  

"...Peter felt as if he had entered a Jane Austen novel." 

Charlie Lovett carries us on an ambitious journey where the unraveling of secrets festering for centuries is the only map to finding the truth.  Mystery, murder, and romance.  
And I loved it! 

Does Peter find the mysterious painter of the Victorian watercolor?  Is he able to authenticate the Pandosto?   Was Shakespeare a genius or a fake? And finally, does Peter survive to find the connection of the portrait and the writing?

Being a lover of both books and of Shakespeare this was most definitely a perfect summer discovery. While reading I was sent to research Robert Greene's Pandosto, and to become reacquainted with  A Winter's Tale.  

You understand I share the obsessive behavior.

I love reading books about books, people reading books, finding books...
One of my favorites is People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks.

Do you enjoy reading about other book lovers?

As we approach America's birthday

may you have a fun filled and safe holiday.

Happy Fourth of July!

Shakespeare and September Jam

Here we are in the final week of September.   Amazing how fast it has gone by.   September brings with her the anticipation of a new school year,  moving the linens to the cedar closet and replacing them with sweaters and sturdier clothes, and stirring hearty soups and stews as they simmer on the stove.  It truly is a season for all the senses.

September is also the time when the theaters and concert halls throw open their doors and raise the curtains once again to a new season.  From the time my tickets begin arriving I anxiously await the first show, adding the dates to my calendar and repeatedly checking to make sure I have everything scheduled correctly.

Saturday evening we attended the first production of the season at our local repertory theater, Shakespeare's "Henry V".  We were once again treated to amazing talent, both local and national, artful costumes and imaginative scenery all brought together on stage in an intimate setting.

image via

I have been in love with Williams Shakespeare since the moment I opened a worn and dusty volume of his works found on an obscure shelf in my junior high school Library.  I spent hours sitting on the front steps of my childhood home reading it aloud to my cat.  I am afraid I didn't understand what I was reading anymore than the cat, but I adored the words,  the rhythm and the way the words sounded when spoken out loud.

 A few years later I rushed to the movie theater to see the screen version of Romeo and Juliet (1968) and studied MacBeth in a high school English class, my enthusiasm maybe waning just a bit.    It was in college when my love was once again ignited when a Professor invited me to see a national Shakespeare company's performance of "King Lear".   I still remember the opening scene when Lear is brought on stage, his crown and robes removed and his eyes darkened.  He falls to his knees and the play begins.

I  studied Hamlet one semester feeling somewhat overwhelmed.  And, for many years while living in Texas would attend Shakespeare at Winedale.  Where for a minimum admission we would be treated  to a bowl of stew cooked in a caldron over an open fire and a glass of wine, before retreating to a nearby barn to experience a night of Shakespeare.   Over the years I have had the opportunity to see the stage productions of many many of his plays, yet it is that first performance of King Lear which remains my favorite.  

One could say, I suppose, I have, through the years, immersed myself in Shakespeare, yet truly even now I am not well versed I am afraid.  Though I assure you I continue to be mesmerized by the language, the rhythm and hearing the words spoken aloud. 

*****

When I saw the recipe for September Jam posted by Elizabeth at  Pinecones and Acorns it sounded like something William Shakespeare might mention in a sonnet or it might be something stirred up in one of the dreams he frequently wrote into his plays.  As soon as I saw the picture of the jewel toned liquid I knew I was destined make it.  If the name alone, September Jam, is not inviting enough, it is a mixture of wine grapes, apples and figs.

I gathered all the ingredients, sterilized the jars and began.

I chopped and simmered and strained and simmered again.

You know how excited I am when I hear the popping of lids.

Just a couple more wonderful things I love about Autumn.

If you haven't discovered Pinecones and Acorn yet please check it out.  Elizabeth finds the most divine interiors, interesting articles and delicious recipes to share.  And, she is always reading something wonderful.  Enjoy!

photos are mine unless otherwise noted