@alonso Aaah Tolkien and his great attempt at giving the British and European people a common mythology is wonderful reading. We read them 'as a family' when one of the kids brought them home from High School - literally snatching the books from each other - great fun - even my husband joined in, but he was a reader. I no longer have the books. Years later, when the movies came out, I saw them all with my grandchildren and then searched second-hand bookshops for the best editions and I have given them to one of my granddaughters - the illustrations alone were worth hunting down the best versions. The most interesting thing about the books is the sense of 'reality' to a genuine mythology one gets and also that there isn't a single 'sexy' scene in the books - love is ethereal in Tolkien's world - the only ones allowed some worldly pleasures are the 'Hobbits' the 'little people', which are depicted as jolly village dwellers, enjoying food and drink, living in the typical heath and meadows of rural England, in cosy homes dug into the hillside . . . I remember seeing all the movies with my grandchildren, who were just the right age at the time - now very grown up and a great-grandchild is 'in the making' - will see them tomorrow . . . Thanks for the reminder.
The last great book I read was recommended by a HotCopperite and it is called 'The Leopard' - apparently a book which was in vogue about 30 years ago - (a European friend informed me yesterday - snob, she is; 'so passee'!! she said) . . . . but it is beautifully written and it is now available as a Netflix movie, also lavish and beautifully staged.
Are you saying you are alone? So very sorry to hear that - I recently had reason to regret deeply that I am alone - was ill for 6 weeks and didn't let my daughter know until I was absolutely desperate - need to sort out my medical 'go-to' persons. Take care Taurisk
