The dark unbottomed infinite abyss
John Milton’s Paradise Lost may not be everyone’s cup of tea…for a start it’s long, very, very long, and written over 350 years ago it’s in a style not easy to read. But Milton, a polemic ahead of his time, and controversially a republican and proponent of free speech on the cusp of a resurgent monarchy, used much from the bible. In particular he used the book of Genesis and the goings-on in the Garden of Eden to relate to a world as he understood it – the creation of man, Adam & Eve and their attempts to resist the evils of Satan – and building brave new worlds. It is a poem which avoids rhyme, struggle to get under the skin of it (as I do) and it can be a bit like munching through a bowl of muesli without the milk. But this building brave new worlds is very much of this moment – our world is ripe for change: progress and optimism are in short supply, we need to have as big a dollop of both as we can, with a large cherry of hope on top.
In the meantime, I’m reading Olivia Laing’s ‘The Garden Against Time’. Another polemic, this one is gentle, but it too seeks to build brave new worlds, and in Olivia’s case it is a garden to be restored and reinvigorated, her own version of Eden. As the days start to shorten and the shadows grow, this is a book of balm, it really is beautifully written. Some quiet resolve, a bit of effort, and paradise need not be lost.
An extract from Paradise Lost by John Milton
But first whom shall we send
In search of this new world, whom shall we find
Sufficient? Who shall tempt, with wand’ring feet
The dark unbottomed infinite abyss
And through the palpable obscure find out
His uncouth way, or spread his aery flight
Upborne with indefatigable wings
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
The happy isle?
September is just around the corner and with it can come change, so this week’s top fiction book is all about the chaos of change. Nell Frizzell writes about challenging topics with humour and spark, and in Cuckoo, Nancy is going through a lot: the death of her father, the discovery of an illegitimate half-brother, and she’s about to have a baby with a man who won’t commit. Can Nancy push herself into an uncertain future? Our non-fiction pick leapt out from the shelves: Peter Forshaw’s Occult is a historical analysis of the eclectic visuals of the occult. Forshaw journeys through time and cultures to explore the meaning behind magical artefacts and their connections to aspects of the occult like divination and astrology.
In fiction, David McCloskey’s Moscow X is a gripping espionage thriller dripping with opulence and secrecy; when a former CIA officer calls it “the most authentic depiction of CIA deep cover operations you’ll find in print,” you know it must be great. The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki is a tender story based on the Japanese myth that cats return kindness to good people. A cafe run by talking cats appears for those who feel lost in the world and they are offered the perfect advice based on their astrological chart; as the down-on-their-luck visitors find their purpose, their paths intertwine. And for a sprinkle of love in your literature, Hannah Grace, author of popular book Icebreaker, is back with Daydream, and Saara El-Arifi’s Faebound is a romantasy that twists and turns through a passionate land of mystical creatures.
In non-fiction, The Monday Pasta Club has the perfect pasta dish for every occasion; Ferris Jabr’s compelling narrative of Earth as a living organism will help us understand how we can shape our planet for the future; the team at History Hit unravel the tapestry of England’s rich history, including tales about the landscape, industries, laws, and religions; and in Formula One Circuits from Above, HD satellite photography shows off the challenges of the world’s race tracks. On the TV, these circuits can appear undemanding, but the bird’s-eye view tells another story, one of unforgettable moments and highly-skilled drivers.
For children 8+, Stan has found himself playing the part of a brainy superhero; convinced of an inevitable embarrassment and worried about his school friends putting on a play without him, can he use his newfound fame for good? And in picture books, Somewhere for Little Bear is a thoughtful story about belonging and the power of friendship, as Little Bear searches for a new home.
As always, if there’s something you need help with, or a book you need ordering, please call or email us!
From Sophie
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