Going Home

I've been trying to find a copy of Amazon Beaming which I wrote about in my last posting but without success. Morningside library do not have a copy and tell me that it's not held by any Edinburgh libraries, though it might be in the National Library. It's on Amazon but cheapest one is £62 for a second hand copy and from there the price jumps to  £670. The price on eBay is similar,  so doesn't look as if I'm going to get a copy. If you should happen to have a copy or know where I could lay my hands on one please let me know. Failing that I will read it in the National Library sometime soon.

Last night Emer and I went to the Traverse Theatre to see A Girl is a Half-formed Thing which is based on the award winning book of the same name by Eimear McBride, "an instant classic" according to the Guardian. Emer and I were both hugely impressed by the performance, which was harrowing from start to finish, I was thoroughly exhausted and quite glad when it was all over. I can recommend it but be prepared for some hard hitting drama and not for the faint hearted or children.

Tonight I'm going to the Book Festival with my good friend Anne to see Tracey Thorn talk about her books. She used to be in a band called Everything But The Girl who some of you may remember from the nineties, I think, or thereabouts. She's had two books published in past few years so am looking forward to hear her speak about Dennis Potter and Dusty Springfield amongst other things. Will let you know how it goes. Oh, and I think she also speaks about her singing career. I'm looking forward to it.

Right now I'm packing my bags and getting ready to go home tomorrow. Home being the Isle of Lewis for those of you who don't know. This will be my first trip up there since 2012 and I'm trying hard not to think of it as possibly my last trip there. Whatever way I view it, it's going to be an emotional experience, I think tears are likely when I leave, but will try not to make an idiot of myself crying in the streets. I don't want to let the side down, now, do I?

I'm trying to decide on me reading materials for Lewis. I recently finished Ali Smith's book How to be both and loved it. Great writer, huge imagination, made me want to go to Italy to see the places she set the second (or first) part of the book in. I also just read Colm Toibin's book Nora Webster. Quite brilliant. He's now my favourite living author, since my old pal Roth decided he'd written enough. I think I've just about read all of Colm's books and everyone of them is a great read, definitely recommended.

I'm currently reading Chronicle of a Death Foretold by  Gabriel García Márquez which I saw being performed in La Plaza Isil Theatre in Lima, a few years ago, in Spanish of course. I've not read the novel until now,  even though I always meant to, having enjoyed the performance in Lima but not fully understood it. I'm glad I've remembered now to read it. I shall quote the first line which I'm sure will make you want to read it too:

" On the day they were going to kill him, Santiago Nasar got up at five-thirty in the morning to wait for the boat the bishop was coming on."