John Betjeman's England- Chapter 2.

Ok, so I know I said I’d do this yesterday but I honestly don’t know where the time went.......one minute I was at the dinner table eating a chicken pie -handmade by moui- next minute I was being awoken by the annoying "beep, beep......beep, beep..." of my radio that my (ever thoughtful) Mum and Dad brought me last christmas.

I let it "beep" and finally dragged myself out of bed after my –darling- brother barged into my room picked up the radio and chucked it with all his force into the back of my neck.

It was a near miss (as I soon found out). He was originally aiming for my head. Im just glad that the genetical error of “failure to be able to throw" was passed onto all my siblings, and not just me.

So anyway. Told you im a rambler.

Back to the book.

Chapter 2 was a large contrast from chapter 1. It comes across as less chatty. Not formal as such. Just less reference to the reader and less pointing out of different objects in the landscape around "us".

Also it is more factual. I have learnt that "Bilking hall" in Norfolk has "over 25 farms" and "More than enough money to keep it alive".

I've learnt that John Betjeman has a great love of poems. The chapter contains over 15 poems of different authors to help describe his thoughts.

And I know this may sound snotty or almost stereotypical in a way but he almost sounds cold. I don’t know whether it is just me that finds that and im not seeing the whole picture. But that’s what it seems like.

Cold and dead.

Just like the "seaside resorts” that he is describing.

I didn’t enjoy this chapter half as much as i enjoyed the 1st however i still feel the urge to read on.

I hope to post a new blog soon.

After this chapter I feel that Penny Lofas may enjoy the book, simply because of the fact that she is reading Bill Bryson and I feel that the writers have a similar style of writing.

Emma. :)

Im sorry I haven’t done a blog for a while.

My head has been stuck in a cloud of fairy lights, christmas shopping, gingerbread biscuits , and candy canes.

I haven’t managed to read much of John Betjeman’s England in a while so I’ve made a promise to myself to read at least a chapter tonight.
Tomorrow night I will fill you in on the latest details.
Talk soon, and again - sorry for the delay.
Emma :)

John Betjeman's England. Week 1.

So were all new to this blog idea (well at least I think we are some of you may already do this.)In any case I am new to it. So sorry if I babble a bit!

It was my grandpa who first introduced me John Betjeman’s books, as he is always recommending books for me to read. Its handy though, and im not complaining because without him I would probably be reading Twilight for about the 10000 time (Not that im complaining about that either.Twilight is one of the most beautifully written books of all time!) So anyway on to the John Betjeman Novel.

I read the first chapter today and was amazed by John Betjeman’s ability to - quite literally - paint pictures in my head. In his book he is leading us through some of his favourite-and some of his most hated- countries of England and it’s the way in which he does so that is incredible. He tells you about the country as if you are there with him. Holding his hand. He'll apologise for the din that the lorry that "Just went past" made and he'll say things like "you see that blue door just to the left of you". I love this style it really involves you in the text and when someone finally pulls you out from "walking across the hills of Cornwall" you are dazed. As if you have just come back from a faraway world.

John Betjeman uses quite a wide range of vocabulary and a word than was new to me was Consternation. Simply put it means  a feeling of anxiety or dismay.

  



Above: John Betjeman