Helena Frith Powell

A flapping good read

Flapping 'eck... I received an email a few days ago I would like to share with you….

Bonjour, I happened to meet your famous book “Two Lipsticks and a Lover”. It gives me great happiness. It was fascinating and made me flap my hands. I had lived in France for over 10 years, from 1990. As a foreigner and mother of French children, your book encourages me to ask your permission. I would like to translate your book in Korean language. Looking forward to having your favourable reply, I extend my best respects.

The thought of Two Lipsticks-reading Koreans flapping their hands is too charming and so of course I am going to give her the go-ahead.

When did you last ”meet” a book that made you want to flap your hands and what was it? For me it was Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky. I am on the look-out for good books to meet and take with me on our Grand Tour, so any suggestions are welcome.

23 May 2008 helena

8 Responses to “A flapping good read”

on 23 May 2008 at 2:36 pm 1Miko

Hi Helena.
If you haven’t read it yet I truly recommend “Shantaram”by Gregory David Roberts. You won’t be able to put it down,promise. This one will make you wiggle your head Bombay style.
Bon Voyage!

on 23 May 2008 at 4:44 pm 2Jacques

Lynne Truss’s book on punctuation “Eats, shoots and leaves” is also a must. It’s funny too and would save me a lot of corrections.
Jacques

on 27 May 2008 at 11:30 am 3cj

“The Time Traveller’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger; “Twins” by Tessa de Loo; and “David Golder” by Irene Nemirovsky (actually, ANYTHING by her). Happy reading! You’ll be flapping like mad. I am off to France soon for my holiday, so I am getting my books ready, as well.

on 27 May 2008 at 11:39 am 4helena

Thanks CJ, I have read David Golder - brilliant, but will try the others. Have a good holiday. I am re-reading The Great Gatsby right now - fantastic.
Hx

on 27 May 2008 at 4:45 pm 5Stephanella

The last book I met that made me flap my hands was Spider-man The Icon, a comprehensive popular culture insight into this most beloved character. I am thrilled with the book; it validates half of my PhD in the making (not that I needed that validation, but it’s somehow nice to know that you’re not alone in considering Spider-man a contemporary icon!). All the best,

Steph

http://www.domestic-miss.blogspot.com

on 28 May 2008 at 3:31 pm 6GHCH

To Jacques.

Lynne Truss may be “funny”, but she won’t teach you how to write. The New Yorker will.
http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/06/28/040628crbo_books1

on 18 Jun 2008 at 7:22 am 7alan

Your stories are so boring.

on 18 Jun 2008 at 7:55 am 8helena

Well then Alan I suggest you stop reading them. In fact, you’re banned from my blog, GO!