@alonso I'll check out Trollope because of your recommendation! I was recently ill in bed for almost 6 weeks, part of it in hospital - so plenty of time to read and my daughter brought me two books by a former ABC? music presenter, then known as Emma Ayres, now Eddie Ayres.
The first book, called 'Cadence' - was about her epic journey by bicycle with viola on her back from England all the way through Europe and Asia down to Hong Kong. There was a lot of adventure, as well as music analysis in it, so I will buy it for myself; it was a thoroughly enjoyable read, especially for me, as i had enjoyed her morning music program on ABC some years ago now. The second book - this time by 'Eddie Ayres' - is called "Danger Music" and is perhaps the more emotional one of the two, where Emma goes back to Asia, in particular to Afghanistan where she took up the post of a music tutor (Cello in particular) at a local 'private' school run by a dedicated Afghan head master and similar dedicated teachers. One gets an insight into what the Afghani people went through during the transition to the strict rules of a Muslim- and male-dominated society - above all, the poverty experienced by all. There is very little about the personal agony of 'Emma-Eddie' (who is by now in his 50s) but enough hints how she feels about gender, the role of men/women etc. particularly in such a lop-sided society as she encounters there. Above all her skilful teaching and love of music comes through. I found myself crying during bits of the story, particularly when the fate of young , keen to lear and progress was decided by their relatives to lock them away in arranged marriages. Emma-Eddie 'comes out' on the last pages of that book in a touching way. The book has opened my eyes in so many ways, and I thought I was old enough 'to know it all'. It is a moving book and I look forward to Eddie Ayres further literary efforts. He is a brilliant writer and compassionate human being. Now back to Trollope - which book would you recommend most? Go well Taurisk
