#reading books

Cloud Atlas. A book well worth reading. And a trio of choice places that makes reading enjoyable.

27 Comments

Back in 2018 I wrote a blog about a book by David Mitchell called Cloud Atlas. One of the books I have read and reread a fair few times. The blog write up also takes a look at the film made from the book too.

Books and relaxation go hand in hand. We have had terrible rainy, damp, blustery and cold weather for months now. So I am so thankful that reading books and writing music has been a much needed pastime. There is no real ability to focus when reading in public places. Noise disturbs the reading enjoyment. It is difficult to focus.

Being alone, during the long days from morning to early evening, for weeks on end at times means that the books and guitars have been life savers. Alone? Lonely? No. Flying Solo is a positive term. Being on your own for long periods and finding spirit to self motivate is essential. Especially when living in a rural situation. Easy to jump on a public bus and go to town. But somehow, you don’t want to. Routine is currently one of simply biding time…..at times. Especially when retirement is now the normality of life. You want to process life’s questions more slowly. A much needed rest from past havoc? Maybe.

It’s good to have a choice of places to sit and enjoy those focused times on great books. To be able to sit and read and feel comfortable is precious. The Den, the Living Room and The VeeDub Bus are perfection in having these three choices. Albeit the VeeDub Bus now awaits repair to get out again alongside weather bringing warmer times.
Feet up on the desk and a bourbon or coffee accompaniment.
Winter night reading with the fire crackling. Bliss.
VeeDub Bus where past reading also involved medical research for Nurse training and ongoing clinical knowledge. Aromatherapy reading too. Rarely a fictional novel read in those past times.

So back to Cloud Atlas. Such a wonderful book and a treasure. I have waited for a number of weeks for the 20th Anniversary print of this amazing read to arrive in the post. Photographs below. It arrived end of last week. It is a very beautifully presented printed edition. I will not read this copy. I have my original paperback and subsequent hard cover too. But this 20th Anniversary print is simply a must have edition.

David Mitchell? I feel the need to look again at reading his books from the first (Ghostwritten) to the last (Utopia Avenue) again. Although, recently I have read this last book, Utopia Avenue, and enjoyed it immensely. As said…..I now also need to re-read all the others in between again.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ THE CLOUD ATLAS BLOG:

Link below to my updated blog from last year regarding the first blog written in 2018.

https://graysummerstwo.com/2023/08/19/cloud-atlas-iconic-book-film/

PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE 20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION BELOW.

27 thoughts on “Cloud Atlas. A book well worth reading. And a trio of choice places that makes reading enjoyable.”

    1. Hi Sheila. Thanks for the feedback. The film is a different format from the book in that it jumps to and fro over the time lines. It does need a few watches to get at the story. The book is more Russian Doll structure. The blog explains it. And it is far more comfortable with understanding the stories unique presentation. But both are fantastic the book and film are fantastic. Ghostwritten, his first book, is a very similar style with many stories intertwined.

      I must say I like your inclusions musically of the older Richard songs at given times in your blog uploads. I do believe this is Richard’s band and not using the session musicians. Sorry if I am mistaken. All the best.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Yes, Gray, the books are usually always better than the movies, right? So many books/movies like that. But we still love movies. Haha!
        I hear you about our song, High on Toad. Yes, that’s a live garage recording of The Righteous Buds, Richard’s band from 15-20 years ago. I hoped you might like the authenticity of it.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Singing your own lyrics and tunes gives a delivery drenched in ‘experiencing and understanding’. They are sung differently to what others’ interpret definitely. Whether emotionally or simply an observation or a reaction to the everyday things you witness you know your song inside out. Writing lyrics and melody? They are your stories to tell. So you using the word ‘authenticity’ is spot on.

        Films and books can be strange for myself. Because I can’t ‘picture’ the characters or scenes through words read, and films bring everything to life. I remember watching the first Harry Potter film and feeling so mesmerised. Any book read followed by a film watch is always a fascinating experience. Sometimes I am truly disappointed though. I didn’t twig about Aphantasia until a few years back. Like many people with this condition have said, we thought it is the ‘norm’ for everyone until it was shown not to be. It was only around 2015 that they termed the word Aphantasia and it dribbled into public consciousness. When you realise it isn’t the norm, then it is a bit of a bombshell. Suddenly you realise many things regarding what it has brought to your life. So there are rare authors who somehow bring words to life in unfathomable ways. They provide something beautiful. Atmosphere! I can read books again and again though with no memory of the whole story. It’s great. I get to enjoy them all over again. Films too. Cheers Sheila.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. I sooo agree on self sung lyrics, Gray. And that’s why we love certain singers over others that have either written their own lyrics or have such a strong belief in them that they can pour their soul out through their singing (for me, rare few do that).
        I wonder if Aphantasia can come upon us as we age? I remember reading certain books when I was young that would bring imagery to my mind, but those I have read in the last few years do not. Which is why I prefer the movies. Great point you have there, Gray.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. There are information sites that explain Aphantasia well. And I have read it can just happen. I know I have had this all my life. Well…from being really young. Ther are different stages of what you can ‘see’ in the mind. Mine? Complete darkness. No shapes or colours exist at all. Books by authors like Conan Doyle, Dickens, Arthur Miller, Murakami, JKRowling, Agatha Christie and David Mitchell are works that are extremely popular and well loved for a reason. There are many others. They have that certain word structure and storytelling ability that leaves you aghast with their artistry.

        Singers who can use voice with emotion are ones that have a certain type of voice too. You can have Lee Marvin sing Wandering Star or Rufus Wainwright singing anything at all. Nilsson too. Neil Young is also a fascinating insightful singer. So many that have certain tone that crosses the emotional barriers.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Glad to see the list of authors that create the best imagery for you, Gray. I have read works by Dickens and Agatha Christie enough to understand what you mean. When I was young I was drawn to Edgar Alan Poe and Stephen King. Leo Tolstoy too! I could see the words in my minds eye but not anymore. Maybe too many years of TV? It is an interesting thing to consider—the why.
        I love Neil Young and think you are spot on about ’tone.’ Adele and Sade are the two lady singers that do it for Richard and me. We are not Swifties. Ha!

        Liked by 1 person

      6. I have the Sade vinyl album from way back. Your love is King, the single, is on it. Haven’t played it in decades. I’ll have to revisit. Books are either very instant or dropped quickly to my experience of reading. If it doesn’t hook in the first three or four chapters, it goes. I don’t like to struggle. I can read those chapters and not recall what has been read! Nothing to hang onto. But others swim along in a fascinating way and every page entertains. I re-read Utopia Avenue recently, about a 1960’s imaginary band. Written by David Mitchell. One of my blogging friends read it, said he didn’t think he would like it after the first few chapters and then Bam! Couldn’t put it down. You would possibly love this one. All about the music from that decade included. With a bit of artistic licence thrown in for humour. Cheers Sheila.

        Liked by 1 person

      7. I will check it out (the book Utopia Avenue). I still have so many to read. Your Love is King is such a seductive song! Ha! Hubby says all of Sade’s songs are seductive though. We have her Live on DVD and watch it a couple of times a year. She’s amazing! I love her when she sings bare footed, same as when Sinead O’Conner. Now, if Adele ever sings in bare feet, I might never sing again!! LOL

        Liked by 1 person

      8. Sandy Shaw sang bare footed in the 1960s too. The Utopia Avenue book is a very hefty read. But as a musician I found it fascinating. Read it twice now. Some of David Mitchell’s characters have threads involved from other books. The guitarist in the band has a very involved condition that links to his ancestors from the book The Bone Clocks and A thousand autumns of Jacob de Zoet. As a reader of all his collective books it becomes a process of spotting links to other books too. A cult author. The DJ in UA is in his first book Ghostwritten. As are other ‘Easter Egg’ drops. Amazing author. Sade is very charismatic and has massive stage presence. Richard has good taste. Cheers Sheila.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. No, the central heating is on today. Frost this morning, but no rain. So cold. Clouds currently exist in carpet form, but are behaving themselves. 😊 Hope you yourself are seeing an end to winter type weather further north. The sun has been a bit shy for a while hasn’t it. Gardening has been on the back burner for months now too. Still, there are always those coffee shops worth visiting. Even ones with keen nature, community spirit and still stay open, albeit in cosier format, despite updating the decorating. 😉 Cheers Brenda.

        Like

    1. The book is very ‘Marmite’. Vegemite in Australia. Not sure of the name in the USA. You either like or dislike it. Great advertising campaign that Marmite one though.

      Danny is brilliant on fountain pen knowledge concerning air travel. They do not do well at high altitudes. They leak. So I believe they should be empty when travelling. I have a travel ink pot metal cover too. An old Stephen’s make. Some great internet information on this altitude problem. In general vehicle travel I have small leather cases. I use spectacle cases that are slim. I own some lovely vintage ones with a flap over the top. They are often used and can carry four or five pens. I don’t carry a pen ‘out in the open’ in my pocket usually. Although I do sometimes wear a jacket and for ease of availability carry one in my chest front pocket. A Musette army bag is always carried around on holiday, and elsewhere too, so the little glasses leather cases are in there. Alongside travel ink bottle and notebook. Ink cartridges are in an old metal photographic film spool holder. Stored with nibs upright always.

      Oh! I have a vintage Churchill cigar hard leather case too. That holds eight pens. Long answer, but all in all, it is protection, quick access to both pens and ink and no leaking which are always considered. Even altitude/height on hills/mountains I have found ink leaked into the pen cap. All the best Steven.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. I can’t read books in comfort ‘mentally’ Pascal. This due to not creating mental imagery whilst reading the stories. So the immediate ambient surroundings are the comfort need I suppose. Reading books, for myself, is either a decent few all at once for a few weeks and then none at all for very long periods. Cheers Pascal.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment