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

12/1/2015

..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.

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?

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....

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Freda

12/1/2015 10:56:21 pm

I do have a rather romantic view of it myself!

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?

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.

freda waldapfel`

13/1/2015 07:39:45 am

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

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?

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.,,

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

Freda

13/1/2015 06:03:54 am

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

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

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

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