Priorities

I'm really enjoying listening to Invitation to the Waltz, yet it has been slow progress.

Why?

1. I keep watching crap on YouTube.
2. During my traditional Sunday night baking burden (I make muffins) I used to listen to a story tape but I have recently started watching Escape to the Country instead. I just can't get enough of wet English people being shown houses with everything they asked for, and yet still vacillating. It's so relaxing.

But I think I will give it up. I don't watch much commercial TV and tonight I've seen quite a few things that disturbed me.

1. An advertisement for Today Tonight promoted an hysterical piece on people smugglers and the evil people they smuggle, AND an equally hard hitting piece on the REVOLUTIONARY new swimwear that is guaranteed to suit every shape and size.
2. The host of Escape to the Country was wearing a pink polo shirt with the collar popped.

Music

I'm listening to Invitation to the Waltz by Rosamond Lehmann read by Joanna Lumley (sounds like Patsy from AbFab, but posh like in the hormone replacement therapy episode).

This is a Chivers audio book. One thing I like about Chivers audio books is that there's no extra crap. It's just the book read out loud. Whereas Bolinda audio books always have a snippet that plays at the start and end of each CD. It sounds like a nice idea, but after a couple of CDs it drives me mad. Also, sometimes the music is a bit weird and creepy.

So I say, stop trying to add value and atmosphere, just read the book. Anyway, this one is pretty good. At the start I thought the description might be a bit over blown but the family scenes and dialogue are great.

50 Years of Silence

I'm listening to 50 Years of Silence by Jan Ruff-O'Herne read by Beverley Dunn (if I had to describe her voice I'd say that it's rounded, deep, careful, with just a hint of a quiver that provides gravitas. Sample here). It's a true story about the author who lived in Dutch Colonial Indonesia when Japan invaded. She was interned in a prison camp and then forced to work as a prostitute.

My eye was drawn to this after listening to The Plantation, which touched on some similar experiences in Malaysia.

I've listened to CD one of four. The first part of the book describes her terrific childhood and much fun it was. But when I left off the Japanese had just arrived - major bummer, and just when she'd got that lovely taffeta party frock. I listened to the first CD about five days ago and I haven't gone on to the next disk. I guess I'm a little aprehensive about how horrible it's going to be.

So what have I been listening to instead? Toddlers and Tiaras. I hate myself.