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Recents Reads

Weymouth Sands, by John Cowper Powys is a big book in every sense. Set in 1934, it’s a properly interconnected, multi-POV rambling around the town of Weymouth, in Dorset, and discusses the big issues of life, love, death, sexuality, and doesn’t shy away from a spot of philosophy. I couldn’t even begin to summarise the plot in one blog post – kudos to the author for that – but one of the main thrusts is of a brutish man, Jobber Skald, and his intentions to kill the local quarry owner, whilst coming to terms with his affections for newcomer, Perdita Wane. Add to that mix a famous clown and his mad brother (though Powys’s non-judgemental ways of handling the madness were wonderful), a middle-age teacher and his affections for a questionably young lady (whose love is possibly directed elsewhere), a gypsy, a philosopher (Richard Gaul – perhaps a voice of Powy’s himself) and “Hell’s Museum”, a residence / mad-house in which experiments on people and dogs take place… you get the picture. All in all, it’s like Thomas Hardy on acid, and if you can get to grips with the intense exposition – which I loved – and the representation of the local dialect, then it’s worth picking up in order to discover this often-forgotten classic writer.

Perhaps reacting to the horrid smoke and grime experienced during my trip to London, I bought Wildwood, by Roger Deakin. Like any example of nature writing, it’s as much about the author’s relation with the natural world than nature per se, and I couldn’t help at times but feel that it was a kind of rich-boy childhood reminiscence fetish (I know, I said to myself, I’ll just buy a Tudor house with a moat – anyone can do it!). It was good, cleansed me of the Big City, but never really scratched my itch. Instead, I had to pick up Richard Mabey’s fantastic Flora Britannica, which is one of the best books around for understanding how the natural world really is a foundation of British culture, and how plants still play a significant role in our lives.

I shall return to the fantasy genre shortly.

28
May 2010
AUTHOR Mark Newton
CATEGORY

reading pile

COMMENTS 4 Comments
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  • http://slightfoxing.blogspot.com/ Rachel

    I do understand what you mean about Deakin’s Wildwood – I almost stopped reading after the first few pages – but I did love certain parts: the walnut forests, the history of apple trees, the rooks. It is squirmingly twee in places – but honestly so, I think, and so I forgave him.

    Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac is quite lovely. And for a more sciencey look at how awe inspiringly rich the natural world is (and how fundamentally we depend on it), E. O. Wilson’s The Diversity of Life is a good read.

    Flora Britannica sounds like an interesting one. Might be just the introduction I need before my botany modules start next year!

  • http://blog.markcnewton.com Mark Charan Newton

    Yes, I might have sounded harsher than I meant in the post, but I forgave him too.

    I loved E.O. Wilson’s book! That’s a fabulous and important read for anyone with an interest in ecology (or, really, the world).

    Get the concise edition of FB if you can – the main edition is a beast! I think you’ll enjoy it a lot.

  • http://slightfoxing.blogspot.com/ Rachel

    I’ll add it to my shopping basket. I’m treating myself to a big book buying splurge anyway – including yours!

    Have you ever read Stephen Jay Gould? He’s not so much ecology (more evolutionary biology), but he’s a great science writer.

  • http://blog.markcnewton.com Mark Charan Newton

    I have, many years ago, though I can’t for the life of me remember what it was. I don’t often get the chance for science writing as much as I’d like these days.