Love is in the air...


(A St Valentine’s day flight of fancy…Plus some thoughts on hedgehogs…)

It’s that time of year again, dear readers, when birds are twittering amorously, the first fecund green shoots of spring are peeping timidly out, young lovers flutter their eyelashes at one another, Cupid draws back his bow, and TWANG! the thoughts of lusty librarians turn to…why, of course, researching the historical origins of St Valentine.

Wearing fluffy fairy wings and garlands of fragrant roses, here’s what the Blogbrarian’s team of dedicated researches has come up with:

“St Valentine was a third century martyr of obscure origins, probably linked to a priest of Ancient Rome and the feast of Lupercalia (a festival of fertility, fun and frolics, still much enjoyed in library staff-rooms throughout the Borough).
It’s also the day when, as medieval legend has it, birds traditionally choose their mates - `For On St Valentine, do all the birds of the air in couples do so join` -
In Merrie England, the choosing of a Valentine sweetheart was a light-hearted game, often accompanied by the presentation of a small gift – (Samuel Pepys, typically, grumbled about the expenses incurred).
Victorian times saw the development of the Valentine’s card, some coyly romantic, others boldly saucy, but all usually accompanied by gushing prose and luscious verse…”

Meanwhile, another colleague – always eager to be of service – has alerted me to the fact that she believes that hedgehogs become more romantically inclined around d this time of year, and – in their post hibernatory ardour – make extremely odd noises. Is anyone able to confirm this?

So there we have it, dear readers; this year as a Valentine’s treat, the Blogbrary brings you the gift of love AND learning, with a bit of wildlife thrown in. A bit like libraries, in fact…
In return, if you’d care to send fellow readers a romantic message, a lovingly selected book choice, thoughts on what’s the greatest ever love story ever written, musings on the prickly rustling of the hedgehog, or the words from a favoured love poem, well...that’d be just lovely. Just use the pretty little comments box below.

TTFN

The Sultan of Zanzibar…

(Plus a quick dabble on the DNB...)

What ho, Blogfollowers!

I was browsing among Bexley’s excellent `Quick Choice` reading matter recently, when I saw this book and was struck as if by lightning.
“By Jove!” I gasped, “what an absolute corker!”…
How could anyone fail to be impressed by a book jacket such as this?...
And how many of us must have longed to dress up in such exotic finery at some stage?...I know I have… I must ask the name of his tailor.

Here, dear readers, lies the story of one Horace de Vere Cole – “the greatest practical joker who ever drew breath”.

“Perhaps his greatest triumphs were simplicities like donning corduroy, providing a few poles for red lamps, and pulling up a stretch of Piccadilly, while policemen diverted traffic; or challenging conceited athletes to midnight races in the streets, and shouting ‘stop thief’ when they were well ahead” …
Contemporaries particularly admired his amusing jape involving a cow’s udder, but the Blogbrary is reluctant to repeat this anecdote in polite company…

However, dear reader, should you be in possession of a Bexley Library card, you can discover more about our hero on the excellent Dictionary of National Biography…Just type your ticket number into the appropriate thingummy where it says `Library card login’ and you’re away!
But why just stop there?...You will, I am certain, be keen to read his life story in full.
What more could you want of a chap?...
And what more could you possibly want from a book?...The Sultan of Zanzibar: the bizarre world & spectacular hoaxes of Horace de Vere Cole.

One can merely speculate…If only he’d have devoted his talents to the arcane world of librarianship?...

TTFN

Is Zen Master?...No…
Andrea’s the man for me!

The current/recent BBC series featuring Aurelio Zen has got us talking about Italian crime…I’ve always been a big fan of Donna Leon, who writes superb detective novels set in Venice, and I was recommending these to a (male) crime reader in one of our libraries…
“I never read books by women” he gruffly replied, “they don’t think the same as we do”…
Hmmm - `controversial`, I mused, but it did set me thinking:… Do other readers agree? Can ladies write books for gentlemen to enjoy?
Would `Bravo Two Zero` be as popular if it was written by Mandy McNab?...Or `Persuasion` by Jamie Austen?...
Even unknowingly, I wonder if some readers do prefer books written by a member of their own gender…Or exclude some books if written by someone from the other?...What do you think?

Anyway, dear readers, I`m rambling! To return to the point; Italian crime …Well, Andrea’s certainly the man for me!
I’d always liked the look of these books on the library shelves whenever I’d seen them, but didn’t know much about the writer. Now let me tell you, Andrea Camilleri is the author of half a dozen of the crispest, driest, most quirkily perfect crime novels you could wish to find…And yes, you’ve guessed – Andrea Camilleri IS a man! (A 90 year-old Sicilian chappie, in fact). Not that it matters either way, because these books are fantastic! I give you my word, as a gentleman…And as a Librarian…And this is an offer you can’t refuse.

So…any Zen thoughts? (One library user – let’s call her “Audrey” to protect her identity - told me “I simply ADORE that detective Zen on TV…he has cheek bones to die for”).
Bookwise, any criminal leanings you’d like to tell us about?
Any more Camilleri fans out there?...

And what about the great gender divide?...Do chaps only read books by other fellows? And what of the ladies?...Are you so set in your ways?...

Join the debate, just add your thoughts on the `comments` box below.

TTFN

On the buses? With books from Bexley Libraries, the world’s your oyster…

On the buses?
With books from Bexley Libraries, the world’s your oyster…

QUOTE:
“People who want to understand democracy should spend less time in the library with Aristotle and more time on the buses…”

Simeon Strunsky

I saw this well known quotation just lately, and it set me thinking about books & buses and all manner of other things…Well, obviously I wouldn’t want any of you to spend less time in libraries, (nor cease your tireless research into the intricacies of Aristotelian philosophy), but perhaps you may be able to help?...

During the recent spell of inclement weather, many of you may have been experiencing bus travel, possibly for the first time in quite a while…

Now, being of an inquisitive bent, and constantly striving to discover more about the charabanc-based reading habits of Bexley’s citizens, your Blogbrarian is regularly to be found peeking at other peoples’ onboard books. I know that’s annoying, but – trust me – I`m a Librarian, and am embarked upon a vital quest: to discover exactly what are people reading on Bexley’s buses.

And what is Bexley’s most `bookish` bus route?... I`m reliably (?) informed that the B12 is where you’ll find the most interesting book choices, the most glamorous jackets, the most raffish readers…
What do you reckon?
Any offers elsewhere?
What’s the best route for reading?
The strangely alluring romance of the 132?...
The brooding, Brontean borrowers on the 401?...
Or the exuberant literary chatter aboard the 229?...

The plucky little B11?
The occasionally lively 89?
The tightly run 269?

(I`m usually a `96’ chap myself, dabbling occasionally with the odd 492 or sometimes to be found lurking on a 428…But that’s more than enough detail, as the Blogbrarian needs to keep his identity secret as Bexley’s “Mystery Man of Travel & Adventure”…)

So, your spying mission, dear readers – should you choose to accept it:
* Please help our research team on this Bexley bus bibliography~ take a sly glimpse, then let us know what your fellow passengers are reading (within reason)…
* Tell us which bus route is best for books…
* What can you recommend to fellow travellers?...

* Let me know if you see anyone reading Aristotle…
* And can anyone think of any more books about buses?...

Post your ideas & observations in the usual way, using the `comments` box below…

All aboard, hold very tight now!

TTFN