Howards End is on the Landing: Susan Hill
I normally think that books about books are cheating, but I picked this one up because I thought the front cover was cool…
…and then I bought it because I thought her mission was cool. Susan Hill decided to give up buying books, and blogging about books, and talking about books, and just read. Now, if you or I did that, it would probably not be that interesting. (And there would be many fewer book bloggers). But Susan Hill is a well known writer and publisher, who has met and known many of the authors she is re-reading. There are anecdotes and asides about everyone from Iris Murdoch to Roald Dahl.
I don’t know any authors well, but I have this impression of them existing on some kind of higher, literary plane, constantly being witty and thoughtful and bohemian. Probably drinking very specific forms of coffee from very small cups. Not brushing their hair because they’ve got more intellectual things on. Coming out with odd yet impressive statements for no reason at all. Susan Hill is both witty and thoughtful, but she is also reassuringly normal. She experiences the same emotions that I’m sure are familiar to many readers - there is a chapter called ‘Never Got Around to It, Don’t Like the Look of It, Couldn’t Get Beyond Page Ten.’ She is opinionated and full of common sense. She is broad minded and finds joy everywhere, neither irritatingly snobbish nor unapologetically low-brow.
More than anything else, she really believes in reading, and in doing it properly: ‘Read parts of a newspaper quickly, or an encyclopedia entry, or a fast food thriller, but do not insult yourself or a book which has been created with its author’s painstakingly acquired skill and effort, by seeing how fast you can dispose of it.’
And any woman who has 113 books by or on Virginia Woolf, reads ‘A Writers Diary’ every day, and plays a game with herself called ‘what dozen books from my Woolf collection will see me through the rest of my life’ is my kind of gal.
Read ‘Howards End is on the Landing’ to be reminded of old favourites and introduced to books that you would otherwise pass by in the second hand shop. And to remember of all the different pleasures associated with reading: of libraries, of the smell of books, of bumping into EM Forster (ok, maybe not that).
As an aside, there is a chapter on learning poetry by heart as a child, including Charles Causley. I would highly recommend downloading Natalie Merchant’s setting of ‘Nursery Rhyme of Innocence and Experience.’ Not just for kids or poetry-lovers (I am neither).
Posted on August 18, 2010, in Uncategorized and tagged book reviews, books, howards end is on the landing, natalie merchant, non-fiction, reading, susan hill. Bookmark the permalink. 6 Comments.
If I stopped blogging for a year, I don’t think anyone would notice.
It would probably take me more than a year to get through all my unread books though. Sounds like an interesting book. I’ll have to look for it.
I loved this book Hills passion for books shines through I admired the way she could take a year out to work through these books don’t thin I could but would of course would love the time to cut the huge tbr pile and some classic to revist with fresh eyes ,the only think I didn’t like was a lot of name dropping but she knows these people so why noy ,all the best stu
There was quite an online discussion about this one a while back. I fell into the camp that didn’t like it. Normally I like this kind of book but for various reasons I thought Hill’s book had serious problems.
At first I thought to myself, “where did I just see this book? I know I added it to my TBR list.” Then I realized it was from YOU. You quoted it the other day in a different review, and I fell in love with it. I must have this book. I have a feeling it will be right up my alley. It reminds me a little bit of Helene Hanff’s Q’s Legacy (only in the way that she talks about books in such a familiar way, while at the same time completely educating the reader). Thanks for telling me about this!
@Chris – more than a year to read all your unread books? how many have you got?!?!?!
@Stu – I didn’t really mind the name dropping because she wasn’t like, oooh, look at how great I am because I know all these people – she was just as in awe of them as ‘normal’ readers would be
@Thomas – I can totally see what you mean in your review http://myporchblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/book-review-smoke-and-mirrors-are-on.html, and you make an excellent point – this is not a journey, these are just random thoughts. I didn’t mind that though.
@Wallace – I was thinking about Helene Hanff yesterday, as I was walking up Charing Cross Road, and thinking, I really must read that book about number 84!
You mean you haven’t read 84, Charing Cross Road yet? You are in for a real treat!