I see my mind as a tapestry woven through with memories, dreams and thoughts.

Thursday 26 July 2012

Beginning at the Latest ...

Beginning at the latest (and 'late' is the word for it) - thank you 'Fashion, Art and Other Fancies' and 'Paulita' for your comments on 'Snippets' (12th July).

The snippet that you both chose is the opening paragraph of  'I Capture the Castle' by Dodie Smith who was primarily a playwright. She wrote this book 'in a fit of nostalgia for England' when she and her pacifist husband moved to California just before the outbreak of  the Second World War. She wrote film scripts for Hollywood movies but felt that California was 'meaningless' and scriptwriting a 'prostitution of her skills'. She went on to write other books, including 'The Hundred and One Dalmatians'.

I find it interesting that she wrote herself out of her misery and admire her spirit in so doing. Writing is often like that - therapeutic in its challenges. Here I am back writing a post and I can already feel the adrenalin; I had distanced myself from blogland, allowing more practical matters to prevail ... but it was rather like missing a limb.

Myself aside; when I began to read, I realised that I had seen the film and had enjoyed it. I could not quite recall the exact plot and wondered whether the film echoed the book or launched into a direction of its own. It was good to read the actual words for my own perspective of the story - and I enjoyed it. The main protagonist, in the view if a friend, changes character and becomes a different person. My view is that she is suffering as she heads into adolescence, coming out of poor and reclusive circumstances into a world of privilege. If you read it, you can decide for yourself, or perhaps you have read 'I Capture the Castle' and have a different opinion???

It is a well written book and the style appeals to me, so I became engrossed in Cassandra's world; her world as the story is written in the first person.

                                                         -----------------------------------

To those of you who commented on 'Monday Musings (11th June) and to whose comments I did not respond - Melissa, Linda Adelaide, Spangle, Agus, Style, Dancing Branflake and Dulce - many thanks! I shall dig out some more Irish delights for you. Everyone deserves to treat themselves to a visit to Ireland, whether it be in actuality or a virtual visit. And Dulce, you have probably been to Gogarty's as it is famous for its music - and its food.






 County Wicklow
and ...






... Grafton Street and Stephen's Green

In conclusion - thank you, Deborah for your comments on 'Thoughts' (23rd May) put so succinctly. 'Oh! Yes!' I must reread The great Gatsby .... and I have not yet read Lawrence Durrell's 'Prospero's Cell' nor Colette's 'Break of Day'

Mmmm! More to read - exciting ... and I am beginning to run down towards the finale of ''Discovering Jasmine T' ( the last book in the 'Violet Jelly Trilogy').

And now to read your latest posts!

11 comments:

Paulita said...

I'm not sure why, but yesterday I received an email with flight prices and I found a roundtrip for $580. It's almost too cheap not to go... Great photos and nice to have you back.

Paulita said...

Okay, originally, that said roundtrip from Chicago to Dublin for $580.

aguja said...

Sounds good to me, Paulita! Go for it!!

K said...

Great photos. I would love to visit Ireland one day, it seems to have a great mix of city life and beautiful landscapes.

aguja said...

It does. It does, Spangle.

Angela said...

I may not comment upon my many visits (I really should as you are so generous to do so) but I am a loyal reader who has missed you!

Olga said...

What a wonderful, informative, summertime post. I really liked the photos.

That Chelsea Girl™ said...

You're always so right--reading & writing are both therapeutic.

Thank you for sharing your little tidbits of lit history. I find it interesting that the author of The Hundred and One Dalmatians first came to CA to be a screenwriter.

Take care!

Deborah Lawrenson said...

Love "I Capture the Castle" - the opening where she is sitting in the kitchen sink! And your "Discovering Jasmine T" is a great title.

Style, She Wrote said...

Gorgeous pictures of the country! xo style, she wrote

aguja said...

Thanks a million for your comments! I really appreciate them ... this time especially as they are so uplifting.