January 2013 – Quaerentia

A fresh (medium rare) perspective on horsemeat

Post author:quaesitor
Post published:28th January 2013
Post comments:5 Comments

While the world out there is contorting itself into ever more yogic twists about horsemeat being found in burgers, I thought a little contribution from Graham Greene might be valid. I’m rereading his rather wonderful (dare I say it, quixotic) Monsignor Quixote and encountered this little gem in chapter 1.

After coming to the aid of an out of town bishop, the uber-parochial Father Quixote invites him to lunch in his humble abode. Having to deal with this unexpected guest provokes this conversation with Teresa, his housekeeper. (more…)

The Gulag Shawshank: Lev & Sveta Mishchenko in ‘Just Send Me Word’

Post author:quaesitor
Post published:22nd January 2013
Post comments:1 Comment

The proverbial ‘out of the fryingpan into thefire’ could have been minted especially for Lev Mishchenko, one half of the extraordinary couple at the heart of Orlando Figes’ Just Send Me Word. Before completing his science studies in Moscow, he was whisked away to the Nazi front. Soon after, he was captured and spent considerable time as a German POW. As a German-speaker, he was able to make himself useful – though he resolutely refused to become a German spy. That wasn’t enough to prevent him from being convicted as one on his release – for which his sentence was death, commuted to 10 years hard labour in Siberia. (more…)

Monarchy’s last hurrah? Edward VII’s funeral in 1910

Post author:quaesitor
Post published:16th January 2013
Post comments:2 Comments

It could have been at a rather upmarket fancy-dress party. The dress was certainly fancy; the guests well-to-do; the event evidently unusual. But as well as being a deeply solemn occasion, and even a family occasion, it was an era-defining moment. (more…)

Some thoughts on Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing

Post author:quaesitor
Post published:15th January 2013
Post comments:5 Comments

Having spent the last four posts talking about childhood reading in general, it seems appropriate to move onto this. Those familiar with the Jesus Storybook Bible will know (and no doubt love) the style. That is easily the best of its kind for young children. Sally Lloyd-Jones and artist Jago have followed up with Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing. It’s ostensibly for children – though it mustn’t be reserved only for children. I found it thrilling – having expected just to dip and out, I found myself reading cover to cover.

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Francis Spufford on Childhood books 4: Why Narnia matters

Post author:quaesitor
Post published:15th January 2013
Post comments:3 Comments

For me, though, the standout of Francis Spufford’s reading memoir The Child That Books Built is the chapter entitled The Island. For it is here that he waxes lyrical about Narnia. It is not just because he chimes with the countless numbers who loved C S Lewis’ books (despite the likes of Philip Pullman and Polly Toynbee). It is the fact that he grasps something of their theological wonder (which will come as no surprise perhaps to those who have enjoyed his Unapologetic). (more…)

Francis Spufford on Childhood books 3: Why libraries matter

Post author:quaesitor
Post published:14th January 2013
Post comments:1 Comment

One of the most poignant aspects of Francis Spufford’s reading memoir The Child That Books Built is his having to come to terms with his younger (by 3 years) sister’s desperate, chronic illness. She eventually died at 22, as a result of some well-timed medical breakthroughs – but it inevitably took its toll on the whole family. It drove the young Francis even further into books. And to very regular bus journeys to the local public library. (more…)

Francis Spufford on Childhood books 2: Why fairy tales matter

Post author:quaesitor
Post published:13th January 2013
Post comments:3 Comments

Having considered the importance of stories and fiction in general, Spufford in The Child That Books Built now works through the different stages of growing up, moving from the simplest picture books onto fairy tales. Much psychologising about their significance has been indulged in over the last century or so, and Spufford weaves a careful threat through it all. The crucial thing is to understand why stories resonate:

‘Only those voices from without are effective,’ wrote the critic Kenneth Burke in 1950, ‘which speak in the language of a voice within.’ (p52)

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Francis Spufford on Childhood books 1: Why fiction matters

Post author:quaesitor
Post published:12th January 2013
Post comments:2 Comments

Francis Spufford has gained a bit of a following for his recent Unapologetic – a quirky defence of Christianity which various bloggers have picked up on (I’ve only dipped into it but will read it fully soon and perhaps blog). But he has one of the most surprising and unique literary voices around. I was fascinated by his Red Plenty last year (an extraordinary account, part fiction/part history, of the heyday of Soviet Optimism in the 1950s) and have now just finished his simply sublime The Child that Books Built (Faber, 2002).

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MORE Family Games to avoid the Screen: a 2013 update

Post author:quaesitor
Post published:9th January 2013
Post comments:5 Comments

Yes, I realise this is rather too late for helping with your Christmas shopping. But think of it as an aid to early preparations for the next one. Following up Q’s astronomically popular board games review back in July 2011, we’ve taken on board (geddit?) a number of other TV alternatives in our repertoire and felt that an update was definitely required. So here it is: 11 games of varying degrees of difficulty, intensity and delight. Trying to grade them has caused not a little debate around the kitchen table, but it was clear that three games in particular came out on top in chez Meynell: FORBIDDEN ISLAND, PUERTO RICO and TICKET TO RIDE (Asia Maps edition).

But there are definitely other options for those who don’t like their games so overly complex or involved. Have fun. (more…)

Some epic SABBATICAL reading POLL: your opinion matters (honest)

Post author:quaesitor
Post published:8th January 2013
Post comments:15 Comments

Well, at last. I’m on sabbatical. There are various plans of course. Some may become clear on Q in the weeks to come. But the main thing is that it gives the chance to stop, reflect, breathe, and do some things I’ve not yet had the chance to do. One of which is to do a serious reading catch-up.

I’m rather embarrassed to admit that I’ve not read any of these books. But such is life: you can’t do everything.

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A Cryptic Review of 2012: SOLUTION

Post author:quaesitor
Post published:1st January 2013
Post comments:0 Comments

So here it is at last – the solution to last week’s puzzler. I realise that few have been able to contain themselves in the excitement. So in the kindness of my heart, I honestly do want to put you out of your misery (because of course this was SO hard that it would take a total GENIUS to have completed it).

As I said before, you’ve no doubt discovered all kinds of terrible errors and cryptic heresies. But it was fun while it lasted.

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