You have found my dusty little corner of the Web. Feel free to poke around. This is a place where I share my personal thoughts about the things that I care most about: books, typewriters, fountain pens, films, and all things retro. This is my reading sanctuary.
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“Life’s too short for bad literature.”
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My niece, Isabella recommended me to read this book. If you’re not familiar with the subject of economics, or capitalism, for that matter, it can be a hard start but I recommend reading it slowly, and sticking with it, as there are concepts, examples, and ideas thrown about in the start to help you better understand. It’s much more enjoyable the farther chapters you reach. The author takes the premise of writing to his daughter that gives the work an energetic flow whereas contemporary books might seem dry. There are matters and workings of the banking system that leave you at moments flabbergasted and you don’t believe it could be so. In all, I learned a lot, and found Yanis Varoufakis’s book an excellent read worth revisiting in the future as an introduction to capitalism and the world around us.
Excellent. ★★★★
“Oscar Wilde wrote that a cynical person is someone who knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing” — p.31
“Oikonomia comprises two words: oikos (household) and nomoi (laws, rules, constraints). This is the etymology of economy, which literally means something like the “laws of running, or managing, a household” — p.35
First published in 2013 in Greek. English translated edition in 2017. The Sunday Times Best Seller.▪️
Yesterday, I travelled to Cambridge to see David Suchet’s Poirot and More – A Retrospective at the Cambridge Arts Theatre. It’s something I’ve been looking forward to ever since the tour was announced and I had in haste ordered my ticket. I am big fan of Agatha Christie’s books as well as the famed ITV television series Poirot, that ran from 1989 to 2013 starring David Suchet, of course – a character that’s become a household name. The whole 13 series and 70 episodes are available on Britbox.
Well, what can I say? It was amazing! What a wonderful and enlightening, unmissable experience it was. I was entirely overwhelmed by David Suchet’s performance and personal stories of his childhood and career leading up to Poirot. David Suchet in conversation was an informal setting, two couches with him and Geoffrey Wansell but it was wonderful to see him in person and experience his real accent as well as how he developed Hercule Poirot’s. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and had much fun in Cambridge. It was my first visit to the Cambridge Arts Theatre and I loved it. It’s brand new, modern, clean, and I liked the glass, the architecture and design of the inside (I’m a sucker for buildings and architecture) as well as the layout and seating of the theatre, you were more closer to the stage. unlike some of the theatres and venues in central London that can be dated (understandably, listed buildings) but more worrisome less maintained and unclean. I have a thing about hygiene, and public restrooms are a thing. Patrons visiting London theatres will know what I’m referring too. Not so at the Cambridge Arts Theatre. Spotless. High marks and a lovely theatre that I am sure to visit again.
I highly recommend that you don’t miss this performance. A Must See.
Link: David Suchet on Stage: https://davidsuchetonstage.com
The Letters of John F. Kennedy is a good collection of personal letters and official correspondence between known and celebrated individuals and world leaders. You receive a brief overview into the Cuban missile crisis and the exchange of letters from Chairman Khrushchev, but also Kennedy’s view on the civil rights movement and the on-going every day issues that his Administration dealt with.
I was quite astounded as to how close and real nuclear war was and how that affected ordinary Americans in their day-to-day lives. The letter of September 7, 1961 to the nation comes to mind.
I would have liked to have seen more letters by European leaders and by the Queen, Elizabeth II, but I assume as this book has been targeted towards the US market rather than the U.K. that would not include such. You are left with a want for more images/scans of the original letters and a further back story of the aftermath would have been wonderful if included. Nevertheless, you see another side of JFK in these letters that is quite inspiring to see. His quick wit, intelligence, and charm makes me want to learn more about him and it’s admirable to see that he had achieved so much in less than three years in office.
In all, I quite enjoyed reading this collection, though as mentioned above, I did feel left with a want, an emptiness for more information as you conclude reading the letters, and ask yourself: ‘what then?’▪️
Contact by Carl Sagan (1985). Click cover to go to Amazon. Source: Amazon
Click to buy from 
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Download the PDF: Review #17 – Contact: A Novel by Carl Sagan (1985)
TEXT:
ASIN / ISBN: B01NGT5T6A / 978-1857235807
READING DATES: 8 October 2017 to 18 February 2018.
DATE: Saturday, 2 November 2019.
TITLE: Contact: A novel by Carl Sagan (1985)
PUBLICATION: Simon & Schuster; Reprint edition (20 Dec. 2016), 450 pages, Kindle Edition. £5.99
FIRST SENTENCE: “By human standards it could not possibly have been artificial: It was the size of a world.”
REVIEW (1 SENTENCE): Lost girl finds a way to contact dead father, but no one believes her.
QUOTES: “The great radio telescopes of the world are constructed in remote locations for the same reason Paul Gauguin sailed to Tahiti: For them to work well, they must be far from civilization.”
“The universe is a pretty big place. If it’s just us, seems like an awful waste of space.”
“She had studied the universe all her life, but had overlooked its clearest message: For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love.”
“You’re an interesting species. An interesting mix. You’re capable of such beautiful dreams, and such horrible nightmares. You feel so lost, so cut off, so alone, only you’re not. See, in all our searching, the only thing we’ve found that makes the emptiness bearable, is each other.”
RATING: Excellent 4 stars. ★★★★
GOODREADS: 4.13 ★★★★
This post contains affiliates links to Amazon UK.
t was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It seems quite fitting to borrow the above sentence from A Tale of Two Cities (1859) by Charles Dickens to describe the city of Copenhagen. For most of my life I lived in the capital. All my friends and family lived in Copenhagen. All events, precious memories, adventures, dares, lies, and 4am nights were either experienced or spent there. I knew every road, every street, every corner, and even every crevice.
What’s not to love about Copenhagen? It’s renowned for its Scandinavian design, has a high standard of living, and is a favourite tourist attraction. People are beautiful and there’s an emphasis on eating healthy foods, such as choosing organic. There’s lovely restaurants and bars, providing cosy social sanctuaries filled with wonderful candelit atmosphere. And you can experience the city on your own. It’s safe to do so. It was also voted the happiest place in the world. With all that going, I experienced the best and the worst that Copenhagen had to offer, yet I always felt a void. A void so deep that it felt like falling in a sink hole that just opened in the earth and devoured me.
Life in Copenhagen was easy, less stressful than the hustle-and-bustle that’s characteristic of London. I mean London is a fantastic city. That’s a fact. It’s filled with culture, intellectualism, and fine dining experiences and maybe anything one desires. I’ve been in London for over three years now, and working in City has made me think more about my purpose and way of life that I’m living. I’m definitely working a lot more longer hours, earning a lot more, but also spending more time commuting on trains and the Underground. I’m getting home very late. I feel more like a robot – day in, day out. The City takes so much out of you that there’s not much left.
In Copenhagen, I spent more time outside and with friends, had numerous cups of coffee, and laughed my heart out. Maybe I’m feeling biased, or one-side with regards to Copenhagen, but I’m sure that once you’ve grown up in one place it’s hard to imagine another as your foundation will always be the place you came from. That’s why many who move abroad always return.
Copenhagen taught me many things. It was where I bought my first Royal Copenhagen dinner set that I still have and use for my morning coffee. It reminds of it. Just to name a few, it was in Copenhagen where I learned about Danish design icons, such as, Verner Panton, Arne Jacobsen, and George Jensen, and the beautiful Bang & Olufsen.
Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted Mega
In the end it’s the little things that you remember. Like when I first ate a Soft Ice Twist ice cream from Frellsen Chokolade on Købmagergade 31C, on Strøget (the Walking Street) that blew my tastebuds. It’s only ice cream you might say, but this is a strawberry and vanilla mix, dipped in rough-cut dark chocolate-bits. I can’t tell you how delicious this tastes. There’s nothing better on a warm summer day.
One of the best Soft Ice Creams, Frellsen Chokolade, Købmagergade 31C
And what about a flødebolle with coconut drizzled on top. This is a chocolate-coated marshmallow treats that’s usually shared on birthdays and special occasions.
Flødebolle – a savoury treat
And I do miss those little Danish flags on tables, the audible birthday songs, and the warm-baked Danish pastries, and fresh pressed orange juice on Sunday mornings after a morning run on the lake. This is Scandic Living to the fullest.
And who can forget the beautiful Ny Carlsberg Glyptoteket that was built around the personal collection of Carl Jacobsen (1842–1914), the son of the founder of the Carlsberg Breweries, where I enjoyed numerous delicious luncheons with friends and experienced vivid classical performances.
Wonderful place to have lunch, Ny Carlsbjerg Glyptotek. Source: Wikipedia
And I miss a stroll through the magical Tivoli Gardens, during a warm evening just for tea or to enjoy the Summer, Halloween, and/or Christmas themes with its many stalls and entertainment programmes.
Tivoli Gardens, entrance. Source: Radisson Blu Blog
And not to talk about how much I walked. I walked all the time. It’s such a small city that you’re always mobile either walking on foot, taking the highly efficient Metro or simply cycling. The freedom that comes with this is priceless compared to other larger cities, where it’s just not plausible or safe. I still refuse to cycle in London.
Woman on a red cycle. Source: Verlobes
But with all that niceties and wonderful things about Copenhagen it was not to be. It was sadly not my fit. Even after how hard I tried. English, not Danish was in my heart.
I love lists. Lists are cool. List are relevant, and there is no better way to experience this in reading other peoples’ lists. So when I found Guardian’s Robert McCrum’s 100 best novels written in English (2015) I was quite excited in having a go.
So, drumroll please, my first novel that I’m going to read is going to be The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (1678). This is going to be the Penguin Classics paperback edition published in 2008, with an introduction and notes by Roger Pooley. So do look out for the review soon.
After two years of careful consideration, Robert McCrum has reached a verdict on his selection of the 100 greatest novels written in English. Take a look at his full list
The Guardian, 2015
This post contains affiliate links to Amazon UK.
From the Episode Notes:
In Episode 3: Stet, Gail, Hazel and Anna discuss the art of editing with author and creative writing teacher Sue Gee, and Helen Bourne delves into the dark side of Beatrix Potter.
Books Mentioned
- Our series of historical novels by Ronald Welch can be found here
- Issue 60 of Slightly Foxed
- Our series of Rosemary Sutcliff’s books will be published in September, starting with The Eagle of the Ninth
- Sue Gee’s novels include Spring Will Be Ours (1988), Reading in Bed (2007) and Trio (2016). The Mysteries of Glass (2004) was longlisted for the Orange prize (now the Women’s Prize for Fiction)
- Raymond Carver’s What We Talk About When We Talk About Love was edited by Gordon Lish and is available here
- Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Mr Tod is available here
- Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
- Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Jeremy Fisher
- Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Pigling Bland
- Beatrix Potter, The Tailor of Gloucester
- Kate Atkinson’s novels include Transcription, Human Croquet, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, Emotionally Weird
- James Hamilton-Paterson, Gerontius
- Stet by Diana Athill is out of print, but we may be able to get hold of second hand copies. Please get in touch for details
- Jean Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea
- Ronald Blythe’s Word from Wormingford: A Parish Year is out of print, but we may be able to get hold of second hand copies. Please get in touch for details
- Related Slightly Foxed Articles & Illustrations
- The cover artist for the Summer issue of Slightly Foxed will be Chloe Cheese
- Sue Gee’s articles have appeared in Issues 1, 5, 8, 14, 17, 18, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 42, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56, 58 and 60 of Slightly Foxed
– Sue’s article on The Tale of Mr Tod, Potter’s Dark Materials, was published in Issue 1 of Slightly Foxed
Other Links
– A full list of Slightly Foxed stockists can be found here
– Our partners include Gladstone’s Library, the London Library and many more. A full list of our partnerships can be found here
– Sue Gee co-founded the creative writing course at Middlesex University with Carl Miller, and now teaches at the Faber Academy
– Stet is an editorial term which means ‘let it stand’
– Ronald was a friend of painter John Nash
Music and sound effects:
– Tawny owl hoot sound effects thanks to freesfx.co.– Eerie forest by Greg Swinford thanks to FreeSound
– Woodland birdsong by Mike Stranks thanks to FreeSound
The Slightly Foxed Podcast is hosted by Philippa Lamb and produced by Podcastable.
From the Episode Notes:
In Episode 2: The Oldest Paper in the World Gail, Hazel and Jennie talk to Frances Wood, librarian, sinologue and former head of the Chinese Collection at the British Library; Andrew Hawkins recounts the story of the oldest paper in the world; and we find out which books our readers are hoping for this Christmas. www.foxedquarterly.com/pod
Books Mentioned
Ernest H. Shepard illustrated Winnie-the-Pooh and Wind in the Willows. His memoirs are Drawn from Memory and Drawn from Life
David Seabrook, All the Devils Are Here
Jonathan Coe, Middle England
Peter Frankopan, The Silk Roads: A New History of the World
Max Hastings, Vietnam
Philip Kerr, Greeks Bearing Gifts
Germain Greer’s White Beech is out of print, but we may be able to get hold of second hand copies. Please get in touchfor details
Michael Palin, Erebus: The Story of a Ship
Sebastian Fauks, Paris Echo
BB’s books are Brendon Chase, The Little Grey Men and Down the Bright Stream
Andrew Roberts, Churchill: Walking with Destiny
Hilary Spurling, Anthony Powell: Dancing to the Music of Time
Carys Davies, West
Sally Rooney, Normal People
Rachel Kushner, The Mars Room
Katie Stewart’s Times Cookery Book is out of print, but we may be able to get hold of second hand copies. Please get in touch for details
Julian Barnes, The Pedant in the Kitchen
Nigel Slater, The Christmas Chronicles
Qiu Xiaolong’s Detective Chen series begins with Death of a Red Heroine
Frances Wood, Hand-grenade Practice in Peking
Related Slightly Foxed Articles & Illustrations
Luna North produced the cover for Issue 59 of Slightly Foxed, Autumn 2018
Frances Wood’s article, The Oldest Paper in the World, appeared in Issue 27of Slightly Foxed, Autumn 2014
Other Links
The Slightly Foxed Readers’ Day 2018 took place…
From the Episode Notes:
In the first episode of The Slightly Foxed Podcast, SF founders Gail Pirkis, Hazel Wood and Steph Allen meet author Jim Ring round the kitchen table at No. 53 to remember how it all began, and Veronika Hyks gives voice to Liz Robinson’s article on Anne Fadiman’s well-loved Ex Libris.
Books Mentioned
Erskine Childers by Jim Ring is available directly from publishers Faber & Faber
Second-hand copies of Anne Fadiman’s Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader are available. Please get in touchfor details
Jean Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea
Jane Smiley, A Thousand Acres
James Lees Milne’s memoirs are out of print, but we may be able to get hold of second hand copies. Please get in touch for details
Related Slightly Foxed Articles & Illustrations
Veronika Hyks reads Liz Robinson’s article Kindred Spirits, which can be read in full here
The article on The British Seagull, The Best Outboard Motor for the World was written by Ben Hopkinson and appeared in Issue 26 of Slightly Foxed
The article on Modesty Blaise was written by Amanda Theunissen and appeared in Issue 11 of Slightly Foxed
The article on Georgette Heyer was written by Julia Keay and appeared in Issue 16 of Slightly Foxed
The article on M. R. James was written by Tim Mackintosh-Smith and appeared in Issue 4 of Slightly Foxed
Other Links
Granta’s Share a Pint campaign with the NHS, promoting Rose George’s book Nine Pints: A Journey Through the Mysterious, Miraculous World of Blood
Podcast available at iTunes Podcast and Audioboom. See more information at The Foxed Quarterly website.
From the Episode Notes:
The independent-minded quarterly that combines good looks, good writing and a personal approach. Slightly Foxed introduces its readers to books that are no longer new and fashionable but have lasting appeal. Good-humoured, unpretentious and a bit eccentric, it’s more like a well-read friend than a literary magazine.
Come behind the scenes with the staff of Slightly Foxed to learn what makes this unusual literary magazine tick, meet some of its varied friends and contributors, and hear their personal recommendations for favourite and often forgotten books that have helped, haunted, informed or entertained them. […]
Gail, Hazel, Steph and SF director Jim Ring meet round the kitchen table at No. 53 to remember how it all began and Veronika Hyks gives voice to Liz Robinson’s article on Anne Fadiman’s well-loved Ex Libris.
Podcast available at iTunes Podcast and Audioboom. See more information at The Foxed Quarterly website.
Faisel's Reading Sanctuary 
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