Thursday, August 27, 2009

A Book Chat at Persephone

A treasured memory of my trip to London last May, was the day Kristina and I visited the Persephone shop for a book chat. As luck would have it, the book being discussed was Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple which I had just recently finished. We were shown into the room at the back where we sat on chairs in a tight circle. Tea was promptly poured and offered around, it was loose leaf, of course. Nicola sliced some Devon Seed Cake, so perfect with a cup of tea. Once the conversation began I think the group would have happily sat there for hours discussing the ins and outs of the book. One of the many topics mulled over was the significance of twin beds and married couples. We all had a laugh when one lady in the group said that her mother thought it was unhygienic for a couple to share a bed! It was terrific to have that kind of insight from someone whose mother would have been a grown woman in the 50's. I think of that visit often and wouldn't hesitate to plan my next trip around another book chat at Persephone. For those of you lucky enough to visit whenever you like, do yourself a favour and attend one. I've baked a few Devon Seed Cakes since May to remember a very special afternoon and laugh when I remember asking Nicola if hers was home baked, to which she replied "yes and presumably by someone in Devon". Wonderful!

7 comments:

  1. How delightful, Darlene! Such a fond memory. Someone at a Distance is a fabulous book and one that would, I imagine, generate great discussion. The separate bed comment made me laugh too :). I must attend one the talks some time...
    Thank you so much for sharing and I will link to this later today.

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  2. I would love to go to one of the talks.

    You may laugh re separate beds, but we still haven't got around to buying a double (due to lack of funds and what to do with the other beds!). Although it's not always hugely cosy, the advantage is that I can have a soft mattress and my boyfriend can sleep on a futon, and that as I have a nasty habit of kicking in my sleep, he ends up less bruised...!

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  3. Paperback Reader, I would have happily met up with that group every week. If you do make it to a book chat I would love to hear all about it:)

    verity, LOL! There are probably many good points to having separate beds.

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  4. He's not looking forward to going away tomorrow; last year I had a dream that I was kicking over a chair in my sleep - it was a really big and heavy chair and I kicked REALLY hard...and woke up to discover a boyfriend screaming in pain!

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  5. verity, He's going to need some ice hockey protective equipment! Poor fellow.

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  6. I had such a super time too! And the more I think about it, the more I think there are advantages to separate beds. I like to sleep diagonally, and that's awfully hard to do with someone else in the bed! K x

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  7. That sounds like such fun. I hope someday to get to one myself. And I must read some Dorothy Whipple--she's on my pile of course!

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