We missed the snow today. We had a little sleet and the erst of the day was taken up with cold rain. They had snow in Mansfield and Derby – about 15 or 20 miles away but we seem to have been on the other side of an imaginary line.
Having finished the first three books in Powell’s A Dance to the Music of Time I have paused. For one thing, I can do with a break. It’s never healthy to read too much of one thing too quickly as it can become too much. The other is that the Kindle version of the next three volumes costs £9.99. I am resistant to paying £10 for what is essentially a non-existent book. It’s just a licence to read a book and I don’t see that as being equivalent in value to owning a book. I can see why some writers price their books at the same level as the print copies – they are trying to earn a living or cover costs, but Powell, has long ceased to need to earn a living and I suspect his costs were covered long ago.
I have moved on to the Mrs Pargeter books of Simon Brett. I bought one a few days ago, as it provides good light relief from Powell and tonight I bought a box set – eight volumes for 99p. I’ve read quite few of his books and he’s a reliable writer of traditional whodunnits. These are much more my level of literature and though I’ve enjoyed Powell, I’m enjoying the break. Eventually I will make myself spend the money, one the next volume of Powell, but I will check in future before embarking on any major reading projects. Prices do have a regrettable habit of rising for the second volume of a set.
Apart from that – sleep in front of TV, vegetable stew, not much else to report.
Header picture is a Gadwall. One of my recent acceptances was a haibun about Gadwall. They are a quiet and unassuming duck, but very pretty in a grey sort of way. Other, flashier, ducks are available.
Mandarin Drake – Arnot Hill Park
