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kelbi's review against another edition
5.0
I totally totally loved this book. I've always liked her novels (I must read all of them now) but this isn't a novel. It's a musing on being old (she is 80). This book contains so much wisdom and humour. My only criticism is that it wasn't long enough.
wanderaven's review against another edition
4.0
I wondered if I was a fraud of some sort for wanting to read the memoir of a writer for whom I actually haven't read any of her books. I've hovered around her, intrigued by her novels when I worked with them in the bookstore, but failed until now to actually commit to one.
But I'm glad to have read her memoir before exploring her backlist. Although, as she says, "This is not quite a memoir. Rather, it is the view from old age..." Although the structure feels just a bit cobbled together, I mean this in only the most positive way. The sections in my ARC (provided by Penguin/Viking) are labeled Old Age, Life and Times, Memory, Reading and Writing, Six Things. In each section, she skillfully blends social history with her own history and her involvement in and feelings about the events. Old Age, for example, includes her very personal perspectives about both the positive and negative effects of aging, and also the broader context of Britain's (and the world's) aging populations, and how elderly people have been viewed through time by different cultures. I loved her insights into how the elderly are often perceived by the younger generations, saying that while it's easy for an older person to get caught in the loop of commiserating on their own lives and stories, the reality is that they are still here with us, and should strive to be a part of what is actually happening around them, in real time and real life.
Since my copy is an ARC, I can't really quote Lively's insights in my review, which is the first time with an ARC that this restriction has truly frustrated me. I've worked around this before, but her observations are so insightful and so cleverly formed, one wants to quote from her endlessly, to make sure that her brilliance is best imparted.
Lively's writing is intelligent, elegant, affecting. Although I'd hoped that Reading and Writing would relate more of her day-to-day techniques for writing her stories, I was easily mollified by her revelations of books that have inspired, influenced, and shaped her own writing. I am now walking away not only with a list of her novels to check out but also books and authors I'm only vaguely familiar with or haven't even heard of (which is saying a lot for me), that I'd like to explore, based on her illuminating descriptions and patronage.
My favourite section of the book is the final one, Six Things. In this, she presents six seemingly random objects from her home and explains their provenance, their effect on her life, why they're her favourite things. Photographs are included. This is where the title comes from: one object is an ancient Egyptian sherd (yes, sherd - not shard - a broken piece of pottery), on which two small black fish dance. Another is a pebble of blue lias, inset with two spiraled, fossilized ammonites. She balances such ancient treasures with more common objects, like the duck kettle holders from Maine. These lovingly described objects made me think about those items that I personally have chosen to keep around, despite a tendency in the last decade to ruthlessly cull my own possessions to a minimum. Some are also potential treasures in the minds of others, but some are trinkets, valued only by myself because of my emotional history with them.
Deeply enjoyable, witty, and with philosophical insights I'll be considering from some time to come.
But I'm glad to have read her memoir before exploring her backlist. Although, as she says, "This is not quite a memoir. Rather, it is the view from old age..." Although the structure feels just a bit cobbled together, I mean this in only the most positive way. The sections in my ARC (provided by Penguin/Viking) are labeled Old Age, Life and Times, Memory, Reading and Writing, Six Things. In each section, she skillfully blends social history with her own history and her involvement in and feelings about the events. Old Age, for example, includes her very personal perspectives about both the positive and negative effects of aging, and also the broader context of Britain's (and the world's) aging populations, and how elderly people have been viewed through time by different cultures. I loved her insights into how the elderly are often perceived by the younger generations, saying that while it's easy for an older person to get caught in the loop of commiserating on their own lives and stories, the reality is that they are still here with us, and should strive to be a part of what is actually happening around them, in real time and real life.
Since my copy is an ARC, I can't really quote Lively's insights in my review, which is the first time with an ARC that this restriction has truly frustrated me. I've worked around this before, but her observations are so insightful and so cleverly formed, one wants to quote from her endlessly, to make sure that her brilliance is best imparted.
Lively's writing is intelligent, elegant, affecting. Although I'd hoped that Reading and Writing would relate more of her day-to-day techniques for writing her stories, I was easily mollified by her revelations of books that have inspired, influenced, and shaped her own writing. I am now walking away not only with a list of her novels to check out but also books and authors I'm only vaguely familiar with or haven't even heard of (which is saying a lot for me), that I'd like to explore, based on her illuminating descriptions and patronage.
My favourite section of the book is the final one, Six Things. In this, she presents six seemingly random objects from her home and explains their provenance, their effect on her life, why they're her favourite things. Photographs are included. This is where the title comes from: one object is an ancient Egyptian sherd (yes, sherd - not shard - a broken piece of pottery), on which two small black fish dance. Another is a pebble of blue lias, inset with two spiraled, fossilized ammonites. She balances such ancient treasures with more common objects, like the duck kettle holders from Maine. These lovingly described objects made me think about those items that I personally have chosen to keep around, despite a tendency in the last decade to ruthlessly cull my own possessions to a minimum. Some are also potential treasures in the minds of others, but some are trinkets, valued only by myself because of my emotional history with them.
Deeply enjoyable, witty, and with philosophical insights I'll be considering from some time to come.
clarestirz's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Wise and insightful view from aged 80.Â
nicktomjoe's review against another edition
4.0
âWe can make a choice from accessible memories.â The very conversational tone did bring Lively clearly into a âreading conversationâ but perhaps was in need of a bit of pruning: there is a sense, for me, of one of those reconstituted windows of bits of stained glass - a face here, a scroll of text there, a light-filled jumble. However, some interesting insights - the final essay was for me the best, the most engaging.
caroparr's review against another edition
4.0
Read this "not quite a memoir. Rather... the view from old age" especially for the spectacular first essay, which discusses what it feels like to be 80, physically, intellectually and emotionally. Though she no longer wants to travel and can only do a bit of gardening, she can still read (despite macular degeneration which she alludes to but does not dwell on). "Reading in old age is doing for me what it has always done - it frees me from the closet of my own mind." She writes beautifully about memory, a frequent subject in her novels, and her essay on reading and writing makes me wonder if I really should gird my loins for Henry James.
librarian_lisa_22's review against another edition
4.0
What a lovely woman-and what a journey. Old age never looked so fascinating!
andrew61's review against another edition
4.0
This is a memoir by Penelope Lively written as she reached 80 and is a series of reflections upon her life, ageing,memory and the importance of books and objects. If you have enjoyed Moon Tiger as I did, this book would make a perfect companion read as so much of it mirrors themes in the novel and her writing style. Certainly every word feels as though she has carefully crafted them as a sculptor would a piece of clay. I particularly liked the chapter that was simply a series of random memories which is how we often think, how often do we suddenly find unbidden a random memory enters our head. The last chapter picks out 5 objects that have importance to her and had me looking on shelves and bedside table wondering what long forgotten piece of nonsense evokes a sense of time or place. Well worth a read.
alysona's review against another edition
3.0
Some sections interested me more than others. Read this for Book Riot Read Harder Challenge - written by someone over 65.