Live Simply Simply Live
  • Blog
  • Studio
  • Home
  • Cards
  • Coronation Wood

You simply can't tell a book by it's cover....

12/1/2015

19 Comments

 


..but it's often the cover that makes you pick it up in the first place.

I loved the picture on the cover of Tisson's Consolations of the Forest and after glancing at a few pages (and enjoying the feel of the soft finish of the cover paper) I decided I wanted to read it.

Picture
Little light shining out in the taiga..

Tesson is a writer, traveller, journalist, and something of a philosopher....the list of books he took with him to his forest cabin in Siberia makes interesting reading on it's own. It's a book to read in short bursts and I'm enjoying it thoroughly, as I look out at a slight flurry of snowflakes and the temperature hovers around zero...

There is a 5 minute video here, and a one hour film, in French, here, about Tesson's sojourn, if like me, you are a bit of an armchair adventurer..

Do you have books you like to read in rough weather?

Do you have rough weather?

And do you sometimes choose a book by its cover?
Picture
Here are my little lights shining out in the Scottish forest
If it snows tomorrow as they say it will, I shall try to get this shot in the snow.
19 Comments
julia
12/1/2015 07:10:14 am

oh freda, this is gorgeous!...your little cabin in the forest is so inviting! i hope you are having a wonderful evening with your book....yes, there is nothing quite a wonderful as curling up with a good book on a cold winter day....
i have ordered the book from our library...it sounds fascinating....

Reply
Freda
12/1/2015 08:30:02 am

This is one leisure activity I have learned to do - and they are saying it will snow tomorrow - lovely!

Reply
Alison
12/1/2015 09:53:45 am

Freda, The picture of your home is beautiful. It's relaxing just to look at it.

I love curling up with a good book. There are any number of reasons I choose a particular book - the cover art, recommendations, and sometimes even the typeface and the feel of the paper,...it's funny how much rough feeling paper can put me off even a good read.

As for weather, well, Canada isn't known for great weather and we definitely do have stormy weather at times. This winter hasn't been too bad so far -- cold in spots, but not bad for storms. Last winter was terrible with a bad ice storm at Christmas that brought down something like one in five big trees in parts of the city.

Reply
Freda
12/1/2015 10:51:22 pm

It is gently snowing now and my plan is to curl up with a book. I hope you don't get a repeat of last winter.

Reply
Alison link
13/1/2015 02:18:38 am

It occurred to me this morning when I saw the sun rise over newly fallen snow that the book "Dreams of My Russian Summers" came to mind. I think it was published in the UK as "Le Testament Francais".

Anyway, it is gracefully written and the English version is translated really well from the French. In some ways the story itself is a bit surreal, and the writing reflects that -- which feels very Russian, and for some reason, I associate the nostalgia it evokes with wintertime.

Freda
13/1/2015 04:56:34 am

Thanks for that recommendation. I shall seek it out! Alison - do you have a blog? I am trying to link to it but the link isn't working...

Alison
14/1/2015 03:33:47 am

Hi Freda - I don't have a blog at the moment, but may set one up later this year. I'll let you know the address if I do. Thanks, Alison

Leah
12/1/2015 11:23:13 am

Every time winter rolls around, I want to break out a childhood favorite -Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising series, particularly the first, which is basically a mounting crescendo of winter weather and chaos. (The second has a summer seaside setting, so I then get a pleasant break!) very well written children's books that weave coming of age of ordinary young people into an Arthurian backdrop.

Reply
Freda
12/1/2015 10:53:47 pm

I tried to buy that in our local bookshop this morning, but they didn't have it sadly. I shall order it - thanks for the recommendation leah. It is gently snowing now and, apart from taking some photgraphs later, I plan to read by the fire.

Reply
elaine link
12/1/2015 04:26:26 pm

It sounds fascinating - not sure I would be able to do it for all that time - or maybe I would - I like that he talks about the luxury of silence - it really is back to basics living. Living where you do you have different consolations of the forest. Your home looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Reply
Freda
12/1/2015 10:56:21 pm

I do have a rather romantic view of it myself!

Reply
Swissrose link
12/1/2015 06:20:31 pm

What beauty and peace, a very enjoyable hour, thankyou!

For some reason, despite my appreciation, I found myself questioning the project to some extent - I wondered who had done much of the filming, why the technology was always so hidden (we almost only see the primitive aspects - towards the end you see his solar panels set up outside the cabin) and why it had to be quite so far away, since he was obviously not as solitary as the impression he gives (foresters came by and brought him the puppies, for instance), but perhaps I am just nit-picking!! The fact that I am presently in self-imposed solitude in the mountains for a few days may contribute - there are so many places that involve less of an expedition in central/northern Europe or north America (for similarity of climate) with equally thoughtful results. Or is he just a tortured soul (since he has already ridden around the world by bike and crossed the HImalaya on foot…)?! Well, it's open to discussion, I wasn't meaning to just be critical! Just the fact that this year (for the first time) there is wifi here is also something that could be criticised, of course - and yes, it impinges on my reading time.

Your house looks so pretty in the woods - and I'm sure your location brings plenty of opportunity for reflection, too… have you heard of Innermost House?

Reply
Freda
12/1/2015 11:03:09 pm

I'm so glad you enjoyed it too, and agree with your reservations. I'd love to know the how of his filming and communications. Also in the book he hardly ever talks of how it all feels - I think he lived/lives. very much in his head. But an interesting head! You might like the book. Enjoy your solitude and thank you for commenting.

Reply
freda waldapfel`
13/1/2015 07:39:45 am

I did come across Innermost House some years ago -so beautiful!

Reply
cath
13/1/2015 12:17:43 am

Last year I dedicated February to 'snow' reading. I read Tesson then. And a favourite of you The Snow Child, and liked that better albeit a very different genre.
Our rough weather finds us after it has visited you. We have storm and rain today. Glad your beautiful house and surroundings survived the very bad weather well, how about Coronation Wood?

Reply
Freda
13/1/2015 01:44:50 am

How kind of you to ask! Coronation Wood is fine other than the deer have stripped a lovely variety of holly planted in memory of my friend Angus, who died last year aged 100. but no storm damage and no flooding, so far.,,

Reply
Sarah link
13/1/2015 05:49:54 am

It looks so cold but beautiful in the video. The weather has been rough here with high winds,but we had some Australian sunshine here yesterday (as you know) to brighten a very wet and grey day. Sarah x

Reply
Freda
13/1/2015 06:03:54 am

That's wonderful! I hope you got the hug!

Reply
Sarah link
14/1/2015 03:17:21 am

We did and also had a wonderful tour around Europe seeing all the highlights on their time away! I have itchy feet now! Sarah x

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Live Simply
    Live Simply
    Simple
    Simply Beautiful
    Simply Bin It
    Simply Chill
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Do A Good Deed
    Simply Draw
    Simply Draw
    Simply Eat
    Simply Fitter
    Simply Fun
    Simply Get Rid
    Simply Grow
    Simply Headspace
    Simply Holiday
    Simply Home
    Simply Home
    Simply Inspirational
    Simply Laugh
    Simply Learn
    Simply Listen
    Simply Live
    Simply Low Maintenance
    Simply Money
    Simply Move
    Simply Move
    Simply Organise
    Simply Paint
    Simply Routine
    Simply Seeing.. Or Not
    Simply Stylish
    Simply Venice
    Simply Write

    Categories

    All
    Live Simply
    Live Simply
    Simple
    Simply Beautiful
    Simply Bin It
    Simply Chill
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Do A Good Deed
    Simply Draw
    Simply Draw
    Simply Eat
    Simply Fitter
    Simply Fun
    Simply Get Rid
    Simply Grow
    Simply Headspace
    Simply Holiday
    Simply Home
    Simply Home
    Simply Inspirational
    Simply Laugh
    Simply Learn
    Simply Listen
    Simply Live
    Simply Low Maintenance
    Simply Money
    Simply Move
    Simply Move
    Simply Organise
    Simply Paint
    Simply Routine
    Simply Seeing.. Or Not
    Simply Stylish
    Simply Venice
    Simply Write

    Categories

    All
    Live Simply
    Live Simply
    Simple
    Simply Beautiful
    Simply Bin It
    Simply Chill
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Do A Good Deed
    Simply Draw
    Simply Draw
    Simply Eat
    Simply Fitter
    Simply Fun
    Simply Get Rid
    Simply Grow
    Simply Headspace
    Simply Holiday
    Simply Home
    Simply Home
    Simply Inspirational
    Simply Laugh
    Simply Learn
    Simply Listen
    Simply Live
    Simply Low Maintenance
    Simply Money
    Simply Move
    Simply Move
    Simply Organise
    Simply Paint
    Simply Routine
    Simply Seeing.. Or Not
    Simply Stylish
    Simply Venice
    Simply Write


    Author

    An artist seeking a simpler life - (but not too simple!)

    All words and images copyright Freda Waldapfel 2010 - 2020

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.