"And if Eve had had a spade in Paradise and known what to do with it, we should not have had all that business of the apple." Lively's wisdom and satiric humor delights and allows refuge from the concerns of the day. I loved this beautifully written commentary with its equally lovely cover. She shares the commonalities among gardeners, how they view the garden as "a place of escape, of release from demands, requirements, obligations, simply the engagement with an impervious world". Lastly, the author shares her experiences gardening, from a childhood garden in Cairo to a large garden in the country and her present city garden in London. (Although most wealthy women today would hire help for both jobs.) I found this observation particularly interesting and amusing. Now, Lively points out, the reverse is more often true. In past centuries it was acceptable for the woman of the estate to garden housecleaning would be for the hired help. From the palatial manor to the allotment garden, better known as a community garden in the U.S., gardens have been changed by culture, fashion, wealth, and now the media. The history of gardens being representative of social position and wealth is a fascinating section of this book. Lively makes the case that all these authors and artists were also gardeners. Monet, Matisse, Manet, and Renoir also found gardens to be important in their work. Examples from authors such as Frances Hodgson Burnett, Virginia Woolf, Elizabeth Bowen, Jane Austen, and others are given. Penelope Lively reflects with insight and wit the essence of both gardens and gardeners, as well as the importance gardens have had on literature, art, and history. "To garden is to elide past, present, and future it is a defiance of time." I guess my husband could write that book. She never talked about the value of worms 🐛 in the garden. Lively’s passion for gardening and gardens comes through loud and clear. Interesting history of various gardens in England. Many years ago - early 70’s when I was in Cambridge, England, I walked into a family‘s garden…lovely as can be and said, “oh my gosh your backyard is gorgeous”.Īfter several funny looking faces I learned the term ‘backyard’ was consider their garbage area. The prose lavishly engages us with its architecture, veggies, flowers, other authors and their relationships with Mother Earth and gardens.Īmerican’s call ‘their’ garden a backyard.
Lively shares about many garden sanctuaries, and the inspiration they are for writers and vice versa.
(life energy, plant energy, reading & writing energy). My audiobook/memoir-listening these past few days are all blending together. The relationship between writing and gardening is a beautiful marriage. This would make a nice gift book for anyone who values the connection between gardening reading, and writing. Helen’s voice was perfect for Lively’s words.ĭani’s voice was perfect for her own words.( still haven’t finished hers, yet, though). I noticed Dani Shapiro’s book was the perfect bookend with Penelope Lively’s book.īoth ladies mentioned Virginia Woolf so much as their inspiration that I swear - I need to read more Virginia Woolf books myself. I always find Shapiro engaging, intimate, and comforting to be with her. I picked a Dani Shapiro book, “Still Writing”, as my next ‘soothing’ companion buddy while I hiked on. I ‘still’ felt a need for another ‘soother’. I’m turning into a blissful mellow-marshmallow.Īfter finishing this audio-book- “Life in The Garden” - thirty minutes into my two hour hike. Today.has been another day of being read to with soothing voices. Yesterday I listened to Alice Hoffman read a 57 minute novella and found Alice’s voice to be very comforting and uplifting This was another ‘soothing’ audio-experience. She was married to Jack Lively, who died in 1998. She was appointed CBE in the 2001 New Year’s Honours List, and DBE in 2012. She is a popular writer for children and has won both the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Award. Her other books include Going Back Judgement Day Next to Nature, Art Perfect Happiness Passing On City of the Mind Cleopatra’s Sister Heat Wave Beyond the Blue Mountains, a collection of short stories Oleander, Jacaranda, a memoir of her childhood days in Egypt Spiderweb her autobiographical work, A House Unlocked The Photograph Making It Up Consequences Family Album, which was shortlisted for the 2009 Costa Novel Award, and How It All Began. She later won the 1987 Booker Prize for her highly acclaimed novel Moon Tiger. She has twice been shortlisted for the Booker Prize: once in 1977 for her first novel, The Road to Lichfield, and again in 1984 for According to Mark. Penelope Lively is the author of many prize-winning novels and short-story collections for both adults and children.
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