Penelope Lively webchat 7 August

I am enjoying reading Ammonites And Leaping Fish enormously.Penelope says the very thing that My Grandma once said rather sadly, passing a mirror and hardly recognising the 'self' that it showed, but that 'it was still her underneath' for Penelope says 'this old age self is just a top dressing, it seems;early selves are still mutinously present, getting a word in now and then.'How right she is! I also like the fact [that she mentions] in that being older, we can choose NOT to do the things we would rather not do any more, be it foreign travel or attend a boring party.There are compensations in being old after all. My children all used to like Ms. Lively's books, and as we were living near Oxford , there was a connection as I think [not totally sure] that she lived there for a while.I hope I will look as good when I reach her age, as well as having her sharp mind [or even half of her sharp mind!]

Thank you for my copy, I have started dipping into it, it seems to be that sort of book; you dont necessarily have to read from the beginning. I am very interested in all the things that were happening when I was in blissfully ignorant childhood; The Suez Crisis, Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis etc. I look forward to continuing the book and to getting involved in the blog. Thank you

Dear Penelope, I find the media's view of getting older so very negative and would love to know the things you have found to be positives in writing your book.

I love the idea of "a view from old age" and have ordered the book. I would like to ask Penelope how she is finding the view and how much it differs from a view from middle age?

seclusion; the John Bishop series was a little gem of a programme, wasn't it.

Apologies to Penelope for not spelling her name correctly. A mistype - I'm good at those.
It is true that one no longer wants to travel - no more chaotic
airports with all the queueing and the waiting about. I prefer
to sit in my armchair and watch John Bishop in Australia.
Younger people can have the adventures - I appreciate the postcards.
I keep rereading the book - always more to make you think.

Have just started Ammonites and Leaping Fish - for which Thank you! I am bowled over already by so much good sense in such a short space- and I am onl y on P 34! The phrase " the dimishment of age particularly resonates as DH has mobility issues which inevitably impact our leisure activities as a couple. How reassuring then to read"perhaps there is some benign mechanism that aligns diminished capacity with diminished desire" and I no longer need to feel guilty becsuse I am not trekking in the Himalayas or climbing Macchu Pichu , nor do I want to. Back to the book! I know what I am doing for the rest of today

Thank you for Penelope Livlely's book. I have enjoyed it and as I am
an old grandmother - in my eighties - many of her experiences have been
mine. She writes so well about how it feels to be old. My greatest
pleasure is reading and one of the few blessings of being old, if you
live alone and have no responsibilities, is being able to read as much as you
like - all night if you want to. As she is a writer she puts into words many
of my thoughts and feelings. I have found that as I have grown older
I have become much more appreciative. I am so grateful for kindnesses
from family and strangers. I have hearing loss and even though I have
hearing aids I find it difficult to understand speech and so conversation
and telephone calls are fraught. Thank goodness for subtitiles.
I am sure I have read some of Penelope's books as her name is so familiar
and I will take pleasure in reading or rereading them. I look forward to
August 7th and will come on to Granset although I am not sure what a
webchat is but will find out.

Thank you for my book, hope to start reading it next week.

Thanks for mine too .I am looking forward to reading it.

My book arrived today. Thank you GN.

I received a copy today. Thank you very much. One of my favourite authors. I'm on eurostar on Tuesday so intend to read it then.

Me too Marelli, have just started it this evening - thank you GN

Thank you for my book, which arrived today. I've read through the preface and am really looking forward to getting into the book.

I've got a feeling it was a collection of short stories [?] anno. The problem is that, in those days I got most of my books from the library and, once read they didn't get to live on my bookshelves and only fragments stayed in my memory. All I know is the author tapped into my feelingsat the time in an uncanny way. Methinks I need to [re]read more of her books.

Tegan, are you perhaps thinking of 'How It All Began'? That was a great favourite of mine as it dealt with a aspect of ageing which concerns me. I can't help imagining what would happen if I had a damaging fall. Did you write this from personal experience, Penelope, or were you thinking through what might happen?

My very welcome copy arrived in today's post - thank you so much. Stopped what I was doing to start reading; no delayed gratification here. Enjoying it as much as Oleander, Jacaranda and A House Unlocked, both of which I use in my creative writing classes and workshops - as examples of the value and power of memory in writing. And simply because they are just such wonderful books . . .

Just got back from a break and book was here. I will start reading it right away!

Thank you for the book which arrived today, I will be reading it over the week-end.

Thank you for sending me another book, I absolutely love reading and it is a great privilege to contact the authors via gransnet

Thank you very much for my copy. I have a long train journey to make on Monday, so I'm saving it until then.

Postman has just been and brought a copy for me too - thank you GN. I will have a read and then contribute to the web chat.

Thank you for my copy, I really look forward to starting it tonight.
I read her book The Ghost of Thomas Kempe some years ago and loved it.

My copy has arrived but I will be away on the day of the web chat. I am going to put it in my suitcase to read on holiday. I love all her books. Sorry I will miss the web chat.

I received a copy today . Can't wait to read it. Hoping it might help me make some sense of the ageing process [which seems to have sneaked up on me and caught me unawares ].