She had a kind heart, though that is not of much use when it comes to the matter of self-preservation (Penelope Fitzgerald)

Wie geht's?

Discovering a new favourite author is one of the great joys in life!

Before heading to Brave (a Hastings' wine-bar for an end-of-week drink with colleagues), I waltzed into The Little Red Bookstore and soon spotted a book called The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald.

Everything about the book appealed to me - the setting (a seaside town in Britain), a fascinating cast of characters, the cover, and the heft of the book - light and airy but with a 'short-listed for the Booker prize' tagline on the cover.

The first thing I skipped to at random was a lovely description of the town:

The town itself was an island between sea and river, muttering and drawing into itself as soon as it felt the cold.

And the main character, Florence Green, is perfectly described:

She was in appearance small, wispy, and wiry, somewhat insignificant from the front view, and totally so from the back.

It's the kind of book that rewards repeat looks (I am finding I am skipping back to reread passages because the writing is so good and I've glossed over things).

Penelope Fitzgerald is a new one on me and I'm kind of wondering how I've continued to miss her until now (she passed away in 2000 aged 84). 

She appears to have lived a fascinating life (Hermione Lee has written her biography), and I love the fact that she was still a teacher, aged 70.

She wrote nine novels (The Bookshop was her second, published in 1978) and I'll be tracking them all down, post haste!!

I think it's fair to say that I am smitten!

Love and peace - Wozza