Setting

I am reading an excellent collection of essays by Siri Hustvedt. A freebie from my kind sister-in-law, the publishing exec. Everyone should have a relative who works in publishing. I digress. Siri Hustvedt is married to Paul Auster whose books I do not like very much but let us not hold that against her.

Almost every sentence she writes makes me think differently about the world. This one made me laugh, though:

“I can’t remember how Paul [Auster] and I started our discussion of place in fiction or how we arrived at his startling comment about Pride and Prejudice. But I clearly remember him saying that Austen’s novel had taken place in his parents’ living room in New Jersey.”

Blogroll celebrating NaBlPoMo – More ex20six

Don’t mention the skiing

Heather was the winner of this year’s Swiss blog award. In fairness to the Swiss, this would appear to show them as open minded as Heather’s blog features, in hilarious detail, her attempts to settle in and learn Swiss German. The woman who found humour in Switzerland. Also, she posts, sometimes, about her family history and those entries are fascinating, inspiring and beautifully written. As, indeed, are the comments on the Swiss. Well, perhaps not inspiring, particularly not, if you’re thinking of moving to Switzerland.

Minkleberry

Minks is a friend of Jojo’s (of whom more anon, be patient) and that’s why I went to look at her blog. There she was doing some exciting foodie job and, it seemed to me, having a great time. But she jacked it all in to stay at home with her two children (both of whom were born online, if you see what I mean). I am lost in admiration. She is inspiring about childrearing and it is extraordinary to see her dealing with all her crises with aplomb (including nearly dying in childbirth). And yes, of course, she’s very funny. I like that.