The main thrust of the book is the unconventional Potter family: Bill, schoolmaster, patriarch and terror of almost everyone who crosses his path, Winifred the seemingly quiet housewife, and their three children, Stephanie, Frederica and Marcus.
The backdrop to their story is the production of a play written by a fellow master at the school where Bill teaches - the heartthrob Alexander Wedderburn, who has inspired lust in both Potter girls and the wife of another colleague.
Alexander's play is part pastiche, part homage to Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth I and a host of other writers I'm sadly not as familiar with as I should be. Frederica wins the part of the young Elizabeth, and finds herself in all sorts of sexual scrapes as she tries to grow up fast enough to attract Alexander.
Frederica is 17, physically awkward and unpopular but with a belief in herself nurtured by Bill. In an attempt to be more mature, she has an unfortunate experience with a travelling dolls salesman on the moors of Goathland, and more than one seedy encounter with the patron of the play, Crowe, whose house is used for much of the rehearsing. Byatt writes these scenes beautifully, making the reader feel both sympathy and squeamishness for Frederica. It's hard to say whether she learns much from these experiences, but as this is the first book of the quartet,it will be interesting to watch her develop.
Elder sister Stephanie has returned from Cambridge to teach at her former school (where Frederica is about to sit her A-levels). Her father had hoped for more for her, and it is mostly out of spite to him that she has taken up this post. She soon becomes entangled with the local curate, which sits at odds with her own atheist beliefs and inspires fury in her father. Stephanie appears considerably less in the second half of the book. although I have read synopses of the other three books and get the impression she is deliberately relegated to the lowly position of housewife, mother and frustrated scholar.
The third Potter child, Marcus, was the one who I struggled with the most. He is 16 and not only socially inept but withdrawn, silent and brooding. Marcus has an unusual flair with mathematics, but suffers from what is probably some form of obsessive compulsive disorder, and as the story progresses becomes increasingly disturbed - he is constantly seeking patterns in nature and worrying about shifts in light. Marcus confides in (yet another) school master, the science teacher Lucas Simmonds, who sees Marcus' behaviour as an ability to sense 'other' elements in the world - spirits, God, or something darker. The parts where Lucas and Marcus conduct experiments were interesting, but I really struggled with some of the concepts and what Marcus was thinking.
A brief word on Alexander Wedderburn seems appropriate, although he was less of a character and more of an idea, in that much of what we learned about him was through other people - how he excited the females and impressed the men. He was not entirely likeable but he was interesting and his sexual exploits also made for fun reading.
I'm not going straight into the sequel, but it is the next book in my pile after a one-novel break, as I'm interested to see how the Potter family grow (or fall apart, depending on your view). I did find some of it heavy going, and the frequent literary references (as in Possession) made me feel a bit dim and inadequate, although it also encouraged me to broaden my reading matter.
It would be entirely wrong to compare AS Byatt's work to that of her sister, Margaret Drabble, who I absolutely love, but it did cross my mind that the story of Stephanie and Frederica was in some way influenced by their relationship - according to accounts, the two writers fell out quite badly some years ago and haven't spoken since. Margaret Drabble's stories are much shorter and are more concerned with day to day life - what I like about her is that she writes women who are the same age as her when she creates, so you really get a sense of her life at the time.
Anyway, I'm sure greater minds than mine have considered this, and the most important thing is that Byatt is an author I am really starting to enjoy.
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Pineapple Chicken Stirfry
I came across a recipe for pineapple stirfry quite some time ago but didn't copy it down properly, and only noted that the main ingredients were pineapple and ginger! So I did a search on Allrecipes, which is exactly what is says on the tin. I found a couple of recipes which I modified slightly and came up with a stirfry.
Mark actually cooked it, but I helped to gather the ingredients, which is just as important! We combined water, cornflour, soy sauce with a small amount of the tinned juice and added the chicken. I used the veg we had on hand as well as what the recipe called for, so we were easily over our five a day! We chucked in mangetout (not something we have in very often!), onions, spring onion, mushrooms, carrot, peppers, pineapple and beansprouts. I've just discovered that you can freeze beansprouts, which is great, because I've never been able to use a whole bag before they go brown and rot.
The stirfry came out looking rather grey, which was probably down the mushrooms, but tasted great. The ginger gave it a kick and the veg made it nice and crunchy. It's better for you to make your own rather than using the sugary sauce from a jar, so we'll definitely be doing this again.
Mark actually cooked it, but I helped to gather the ingredients, which is just as important! We combined water, cornflour, soy sauce with a small amount of the tinned juice and added the chicken. I used the veg we had on hand as well as what the recipe called for, so we were easily over our five a day! We chucked in mangetout (not something we have in very often!), onions, spring onion, mushrooms, carrot, peppers, pineapple and beansprouts. I've just discovered that you can freeze beansprouts, which is great, because I've never been able to use a whole bag before they go brown and rot.
The stirfry came out looking rather grey, which was probably down the mushrooms, but tasted great. The ginger gave it a kick and the veg made it nice and crunchy. It's better for you to make your own rather than using the sugary sauce from a jar, so we'll definitely be doing this again.
Sunday, 22 January 2012
A Few Random Thoughts
Last Saturday I turned 29, which seems really old! I celebrated by going for a meal with the parents and then out on the town, which ended in the predictable way - drunk!
I'm now on the wagon; one week so far and feeling pleased with myself! Last week I went running four times and I've been three times this week, so this seems like progress! I've changed my hours at work, with the intention of going for a run first thing, so once I manage to get up at a proper time, I'll do that!
Kitchen-wise, I made to vic sponges for my birthday (one for work, one for friends) which went down well, and this weekend I made two lemon cakes. No photos, cos they were eaten straight away! A bloke at work came in with four different kinds of cake on Friday, including a really impressive-looking Devil's Food Cake. I didn't try it, so I can't say how tasty it was, but I've got baking envy now! My sponge cakes always taste good, but the presentation can be a bit lacking, so I'm inspired to be more adventurous. I don't have a particularly steady hand though, so not sure how the decorating will go!
I'm also experimenting savoury-wise, and have been cooking with couscous. Couscous is not something I used to like, but I've discovered the secret is to use stock to make it tasty. My boyfriend had a hard time understanding that stock is not the same as gravy, but I think he's got it! So far, I've made couscous with feta cheese and sun-dried tomatoes (easy and super-tasty) and prawns in lemon and coriander with cucumber. The other good thing about it is that it's low in calories too.
On the book front, I am wading through The Virgin in the Garden, by AS Byatt. I am a huge fan of her sister, Margaret Drabble, although their styles are completely different. I read Possession at the end of last year, which is also a hefty tome. It takes a while to get into her books, because she's heavy on descriptions and there are a lot of literary references I don't always get, but it's worth persevering with.
Finally, I collected my engagement ring yesterday! It was hand-made for me, as I wanted something quite specific which turned out to be hard to come by! I managed to find a jeweller in town who would make it, so I now have a silver ring with a yellow topaz. Photo to follow!
I'm now on the wagon; one week so far and feeling pleased with myself! Last week I went running four times and I've been three times this week, so this seems like progress! I've changed my hours at work, with the intention of going for a run first thing, so once I manage to get up at a proper time, I'll do that!
Kitchen-wise, I made to vic sponges for my birthday (one for work, one for friends) which went down well, and this weekend I made two lemon cakes. No photos, cos they were eaten straight away! A bloke at work came in with four different kinds of cake on Friday, including a really impressive-looking Devil's Food Cake. I didn't try it, so I can't say how tasty it was, but I've got baking envy now! My sponge cakes always taste good, but the presentation can be a bit lacking, so I'm inspired to be more adventurous. I don't have a particularly steady hand though, so not sure how the decorating will go!
I'm also experimenting savoury-wise, and have been cooking with couscous. Couscous is not something I used to like, but I've discovered the secret is to use stock to make it tasty. My boyfriend had a hard time understanding that stock is not the same as gravy, but I think he's got it! So far, I've made couscous with feta cheese and sun-dried tomatoes (easy and super-tasty) and prawns in lemon and coriander with cucumber. The other good thing about it is that it's low in calories too.
On the book front, I am wading through The Virgin in the Garden, by AS Byatt. I am a huge fan of her sister, Margaret Drabble, although their styles are completely different. I read Possession at the end of last year, which is also a hefty tome. It takes a while to get into her books, because she's heavy on descriptions and there are a lot of literary references I don't always get, but it's worth persevering with.
Finally, I collected my engagement ring yesterday! It was hand-made for me, as I wanted something quite specific which turned out to be hard to come by! I managed to find a jeweller in town who would make it, so I now have a silver ring with a yellow topaz. Photo to follow!
Monday, 9 January 2012
First Book of the New Year
The first book I've read this year is by one of my favourite authors - Margaret Atwood. I was given The Blind Assassin as a Christmas present not long after it came out in 2000 and I've been hooked ever since.
What I love about Atwood is her ability to write in such different genres and yet each has a voice which is unmistakably hers. For instance, The Handmaid's Tale and Oryx and Crake are often considered sci-fi, whereas The Robber Bride is about (on the surface) middle-aged friendships and the spectre of a femme fatale.
This one, Cat's Eye, was totally different again. I read it in two days and was captivated. It tells the story of Elaine, now a successful painter but once the victim of school bullying. Atwood vividly captures the spitefulness of little girls, creating the obvious monster with Cordelia, who torments Elaine for not being like the others. However, Cordelia is enabled by her two cronies (and supposed friends of Elaine), Carol and Grace.
Grace persuades Elaine to come to church with her, and it is her mother, Mrs Smeath, who causes the most damage to the young Elaine.
Alongside these reflections of Elaine's, back in her home-town of Toronto for a retrospective of her work after nearly 30 years away, is a beautiful back-story about her unconventional family life - her father works 'in the field' studying a range of bugs, which her mother assists him with, and her brother Stephen is her ally and friend, who becomes more drawn into the world of science. When they settle in Toronto, Elaine and Stephen spend most of their time in the labs of the Zoology department of the local university, looking at all manner of things under microscopes.
This is not simply a story of children, though. We see Elaine in her adult relationships, at work and at college, and how she views the world. What Cat's Eye does is to show us how even the smallest incidents (Elaine has no recollection as a teenager of a traumatic event which nearly killed her) shape us a people for many years to come.
As an aside, I was startled to find memories coming back from my own childhood, where several girls in my class (ostensibly my friends) decided that I needed 'improving' and at one point dedicated an entire day to just that. I was required to bring a dress from home, and my hair was brushed and make-up was applied. I was 'taught' how to throw and catch a ball, what to say and how to behave. This, and other similar incidences, were deeply humiliating at the time. Unlike Elaine, however, this lasted only a short time, and I don't feel haunted, as she was, by the memories. The girls in my class were about 10, and Elaine and Cordelia were eight, and it demonstrates most of all that the meanness and inventiveness of children being cruel to others cannot be underestimated.
What I love about Atwood is her ability to write in such different genres and yet each has a voice which is unmistakably hers. For instance, The Handmaid's Tale and Oryx and Crake are often considered sci-fi, whereas The Robber Bride is about (on the surface) middle-aged friendships and the spectre of a femme fatale.
This one, Cat's Eye, was totally different again. I read it in two days and was captivated. It tells the story of Elaine, now a successful painter but once the victim of school bullying. Atwood vividly captures the spitefulness of little girls, creating the obvious monster with Cordelia, who torments Elaine for not being like the others. However, Cordelia is enabled by her two cronies (and supposed friends of Elaine), Carol and Grace.
Grace persuades Elaine to come to church with her, and it is her mother, Mrs Smeath, who causes the most damage to the young Elaine.
Alongside these reflections of Elaine's, back in her home-town of Toronto for a retrospective of her work after nearly 30 years away, is a beautiful back-story about her unconventional family life - her father works 'in the field' studying a range of bugs, which her mother assists him with, and her brother Stephen is her ally and friend, who becomes more drawn into the world of science. When they settle in Toronto, Elaine and Stephen spend most of their time in the labs of the Zoology department of the local university, looking at all manner of things under microscopes.
This is not simply a story of children, though. We see Elaine in her adult relationships, at work and at college, and how she views the world. What Cat's Eye does is to show us how even the smallest incidents (Elaine has no recollection as a teenager of a traumatic event which nearly killed her) shape us a people for many years to come.
As an aside, I was startled to find memories coming back from my own childhood, where several girls in my class (ostensibly my friends) decided that I needed 'improving' and at one point dedicated an entire day to just that. I was required to bring a dress from home, and my hair was brushed and make-up was applied. I was 'taught' how to throw and catch a ball, what to say and how to behave. This, and other similar incidences, were deeply humiliating at the time. Unlike Elaine, however, this lasted only a short time, and I don't feel haunted, as she was, by the memories. The girls in my class were about 10, and Elaine and Cordelia were eight, and it demonstrates most of all that the meanness and inventiveness of children being cruel to others cannot be underestimated.
HOW Long has it been?!
I can't believe that I've not blogged for an entire year! My feeble excuse is that the year really got away from me! So a quick recap of 2011 before focusing on the new year:
We are still in Gateshead, which is not great, as the house has been overcrowded and we don't have a living room - we watched DVDs on the laptop for about 10 months and I've seen very little TV! That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I do miss CSI - and Neighbours!
What else? Well, my friend's wedding came and went, and I worked really hard to look reasonable in my 'sausage' (red satin - eek!) dress. However, about three weeks afterwards I ended up in hospital for a week with what turned out to be ulcerative colitis, which was pretty tough and I'm still getting over it.
I'm still into the running, although I've cancelled my gym membership, as once I started working and then got sick I didn't manage to get there much. I've invested in some resistance bands and I'm looking forward to trying them out. I'm also trying to get a cheap exercise bike, but Tesco have sold out of their half-price-for-new-year ones!
For the rest, my 'resolutions' are much as they were last year - more reading, more cooking and more exercise. I'm also getting married in October, so I'll be planning for that! It was a total surprise (I actually thought it was a joke at first - oops!) but it'll be fun to plan and I'm hoping the weather won't be too bad.
We are still in Gateshead, which is not great, as the house has been overcrowded and we don't have a living room - we watched DVDs on the laptop for about 10 months and I've seen very little TV! That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I do miss CSI - and Neighbours!
What else? Well, my friend's wedding came and went, and I worked really hard to look reasonable in my 'sausage' (red satin - eek!) dress. However, about three weeks afterwards I ended up in hospital for a week with what turned out to be ulcerative colitis, which was pretty tough and I'm still getting over it.
I'm still into the running, although I've cancelled my gym membership, as once I started working and then got sick I didn't manage to get there much. I've invested in some resistance bands and I'm looking forward to trying them out. I'm also trying to get a cheap exercise bike, but Tesco have sold out of their half-price-for-new-year ones!
For the rest, my 'resolutions' are much as they were last year - more reading, more cooking and more exercise. I'm also getting married in October, so I'll be planning for that! It was a total surprise (I actually thought it was a joke at first - oops!) but it'll be fun to plan and I'm hoping the weather won't be too bad.
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