grow your own....

[smartie]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

If you want tricky then you need to try James Joyce's later works ..... Ulysses needs to be taken with a glass (or two) of something over long sittings in an old Parisian cafe or Dublin pub. Finnegans Wake probably needs something stronger, and possibly a brain transplant

I think Ulysses tops the list of books people feel they ought to have read but haven't. I struggled though it because you can't call yourself an English specialist if you haven't, but if I'm honest I think it's self-indulgent twaddle. And yes, I know it is generally regarded as a work of great literature, but I don't have to agree. BTW, for pithy literary criticism, I think "Dickens isn't bad" is the quote of the decade

Maybe we should start a WAB book club.....

[badgerwatcher]

I've never read James Joyce, bit daunted!
I had to read Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge at school, for O levels, and then read Far from the Madding Crowd for fun, and loved them both. Had to read Silas Marner too, and thought it was brilliant.
I am vowing to grow lots of sunflowers this year, as we catch the whole day's sunlight at the front of the house. If I plant them in a group, hopefully the wind won't destroy them. Are particular varieties favoured by birds?

[Garden Carpet]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Dickens isn't bad - indeed a very good writer and social commentator but most of his work was written for serialisation in magazines so each chapter had to last a week .... and it seems like it! I'm not in favour of abridging books &c but I think that, for Dickens and others of his ilk, chopping half the ramble would be a good thing!
If you thought Tess was bad, you should think yourself lucky you didn't do Jude ....
Someone mentioned George Elliot - she was a very good, clear writer with very convoluted plots - so if Silas was tricky it's in the same way as a modern thriller, I think!
With Shakespeare you have the difficulty of a different vocabulary, rhyme &c: it's a different kettle of fish from modern fiction so needs 'learning' - not in the sense of learning by rote but of looking up some of the words, getting used to the form and sinking into it: not difficult after the first two or three plays!
If you want tricky then you need to try James Joyce's later works ..... Ulysses needs to be taken with a glass (or two) of something over long sittings in an old Parisian cafe or Dublin pub. Finnegans Wake probably needs something stronger, and possibly a brain transplant

Getting back to the topic. Henry, I don't think I could grow enough sunflowers for my hangers-on, not if I wasnted to grow anything else. On the other hand, my original point I recall , I see no reason why it shouldn't be grown by UK farmers ....

Dickens is unreadable as far as I am concerned. I adore Hardy but never found much pleasure in Joyce. Liked Henry James, Shakespeare is great... Brontes etc wonderful.

Henrya, can you not use your coal ashes to dry out parts of your drive or garden? I used mine for that and now have lovely green grass growing over it.
jaki

[Paul mabbott]

My, you've changed!
James Joyce - read them in chronological order from the short stories, Dubliners through Portrait of the Artist to Ulysses and Finnegan - pop the poems in between the big books. That's all there is to it. Unless it hits you straight away, I'd leave two years for Ulysses and twenty for Finnegan ... which reminds me ...

I don't set sunflowers - the birds do it themselves ......

Originally Posted by badgerwatcher

I've never read James Joyce, bit daunted!
I had to read Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge at school, for O levels, and then read Far from the Madding Crowd for fun, and loved them both. Had to read Silas Marner too, and thought it was brilliant.
I am vowing to grow lots of sunflowers this year, as we catch the whole day's sunlight at the front of the house. If I plant them in a group, hopefully the wind won't destroy them. Are particular varieties favoured by birds?

[wildone]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Getting back to the topic. Henry, I don't think I could grow enough sunflowers for my hangers-on, not if I wasnted to grow anything else. On the other hand, my original point I recall , I see no reason why it shouldn't be grown by UK farmers ....

I know there is at least one farmer who grows Black Sunflower seed along with other types of seed for wildbirds. Try
Untitled Document

wildone

[badgerwatcher]

Thanks for the link, Wildone.
Sorry if I scared you, Paul!

[Garden Carpet]

Always had the feeling your avatar was close to the real you BW. Nice pic. ... does it match the jacket?

[badgerwatcher]

I would refer you to the photo in my profile, Jaki. I dress like an explosion at the Notting Hill Carnival!
P.S. The fluffy dog puppet I'm holding is Raymond, my road manager!

[Garden Carpet]

Originally Posted by badgerwatcher

I would refer you to the photo in my profile, Jaki. I dress like an explosion at the Notting Hill Carnival!
P.S. The fluffy dog puppet I'm holding is Raymond, my road manager!

I read about Raymond.. clever dog!

The avatar you had prior to this one BW. Since getting to know you a bit I realise how YOU it is.
jaki

[badgerwatcher]

That was a bt messenger 'do your own avatar' kit, chose hair style, hair and eye colour, glasses, jewellry, etc! Great fun for people like me who take months to work out how to do their own!
Thought it was about time I 'acted my age' now!