lunababymoonchild

Richard Baker, newsreader, aged 93. For those who are too young to remember : Richard Baker

Stephen Hawking's last book and it does give brief answers to big questions. The first one is : Is there a God? This is an accessible book fairly easy to read and cogent. Stephen Hawking comes across as a man who has a wicked sense of humour just bubbling from the surface and incapable of keeping it in. He also comes across, unlike other scientists, as a man who understands why non-scientists and ordinary people have trouble understanding what physics is about. He also doesn't seem to have a huge ego, which is refreshing. The book is interesting and entertaining, which in a science book is rare. I'd recommend it.

A Discovery of Witches, Deborah Harkness

I just don't have the patience, Momac. Regarding custard : we can buy already made custard in tins and pouring containers at the supermarket. My father loves it and eats it cold but it can be heated up in the microwave or in a pan. A bar stool sounds like a great idea for the kitchen. I'm getting slower too but I think that it's my vast weight that's keeping me back. Losing weight is easier said than done!

I am rubbish at baking though

I like thunder storms too and now that we don't keep dogs it's easy to enjoy them. I once drove to may grandmother's (around 20 minutes away) to see the chain lightening we were having at the time against a navy blue velvety sky. There was no rain and my grandmother lived 12 stories up in high flats. As soon as I arrived she knew why I was there and led me into the kitchen where she opened a window and let me hang out of it (my mother had made the suggestion but knowing that my gran would let me hang out of the window 12 stories up declined to accompany me because that always made her uncomfortable). I'd had a look at the world out of that window before and knew that there was very little chance of falling out of it. The chain lightening, however, was astonishing and something that I'll always remember.

Clavain, I do hope that your poor lungs can heal themselves

Try this Momac : My Last Duchess

It's an outstanding poem whatever it's meaning and that's all that really matters. Thank you for posting it today it really took me back

I don't want to derail the poetry thread so I'll post here. I first met My Last Duchess as a fourteen year old too, at school. Thought it was wonderful but didn't see the coercive threat, even when pointed out. It may not have been familiar back then either.

I think that it's as much his character that makes him successful as his poems, Madeleine

I shouldn't be the one to write a review of John Cooper Clarke's work because i) I'm not qualified and ii) I'm totally biased. However, since it's been 30 years since the man has published any work I thought that he deserved a mention. There are some 40 pieces here all with their own merit. As is usual with JCC the poetry is never one style - there are haiku in this collection too - but it's always clever, witty and extremely observant. I've only read the poems once so can't really comment on individual rhymes. He is at his best when listened to, of course, he is a performance poet, and there is a CD available of his new work, he is also on tour - best experienced live. This, however, is very entertaining. Naturally beauty is in the eye of the beholder so this is subject to your personal taste. The best way I can think of to describe JCC to someone who is not familiar is : he is to performance poetry what Billy Connolly was to stand up comedy, brilliant, funny, irreverent and he can be profane and offensive (depending on what you consider offensive) Of course I wholly recommend this.

Stephen Hawking, Brief Answers to Big Questions

John Cooper Clarke, The Luckiest Guy Alive

John Cooper Clarke, The Luckiest Guy Alive