Wise Words...

Второе рождество

(1915)


Белый праздник - рождается предвечное Слово,
белый праздник идет, и снова -
вместо елочной восковой свечи,
бродят белые прожекторов лучи,
мерцают сизые стальные мечи,
вместо елочной восковой свечи.
Вместо ангельского обещанья,
пропеллера вражьего жужжанья,
подземное страданье ожиданья,
вместо ангельского обещанья.

     Но вихрям, огню и мечу
     покориться навсегда не могу,
     я храню восковую свечу,
     я снова ее зажгу
     и буду молиться снова:
     родись, предвечное Слово!
     затепли тишину земную,
     обними землю родную...

- З.Н.Гиппиус

Thanks to Katharina Tiwald for sharing this with me! 

You always find the perfect words, even if they're not your own...

On the Bookshelf...

 [ via PanMacmillan ]

I finished another one. In just a moment, as it seems. I knew I would love it when I bought it already because the author's one of my favourites. I already discovered the secrets of The House at Riverton and The Forgotten Garden and now I was strolling along with the characters through Milderhurst Castle, revealing the past within the ancient walls that sing the distant hours... I, too, was s drawn to Milderhurst Castle and the eccentric Sisters Blythe. And I couldn't wait to learn what really happened. It's so beautifully written, rich in colour, so thrilling and emotional. I practically devoured it. The hardest part was to stop and put the book aside, after a look to my watch saying it was far to late to continue. I love the indication, thoroughly woven into the storyline, leaving me and my imagination running wild... It's a thriller and mystery novel, a love story and a window into the past, of England during World War II. [ Read the synopsis or a short abstract]

And now that I'm finished, I feel a bit abandoned - longing for more...

On the Bookshelf...

I suddenly realized that in those times of my life when I can hardly bear the stress anymore that goes with my daily routines, extra duties and emotional tensile tests, I start reading books like my life depends on them. I've been a bookworm ever since I could read. The fascination of the written word, the "cinema in your head", the way a story gives wings to your imagination... I could not and don't want to imagine a world - or my life in particular - without books. But as it turned out, the usual lack of (free) time which prevents me from swallowing all those fantastic tales and stories, seems to vanish when I'm emotionally and physically drained like right now... It's not that I actually have more time, it just happens to force itself into my life and into my mind... There's nothing like a good book that captivates you in such a way you just have to stay up until 4AM because you don't want to put it aside... even if your eyes are burning and your body is aching for sleep! Here's one such story...

The Solitude of Prime Numbers 

(La Solitudine dei Numeri Primi)

[ via amazon.com ]

It's amazing how Paolo Giordano makes you feel that deep connection between his characters due to their personal tragedies and their own shortcomings. The plain, sometimes almost cold and austere style, the simple words and terms, only hints of what has happend and might be happening, makes it alle the more "real" and tangible. It makes you feel their pain, physically and emotionally. It makes you wince because of the wrong decisions and their egoism. Their not understanding, or their inability to understand themselves and each other. It's a sad but beautiful story. No kitschy happy endings, no forced deceleration.It's about life, just like it is...

Le Bibliothèque...

My latest additions to the bookshelf... Have to read them both for an exam about Russian Literature. I've read "Dr. Zhivago" once already, some years ago. I love the story but the book can be quite long-wided sometimes...

Nikolai Gogol - Die toten Seelen / Dead Souls
Николай Васильевич Гоголь - Мёртвые души

Boris Pasternak - Doktor Schiwago / Doctor Zhivago
Борис Пастернак - Доктор Живаго

Le Bibliothèque...

Thrill & Chill Vienna

One of my favourite bookstores. Small but very well sorted. I buy almost all my cookbooks here. I just love it when the shop owner knows immediately where to find the book and has personally read it. I love her suggestions on the cooking matter... And you'll always get a cup of coffee or tea while wandering around - and believe me, it usually takes me about 30 minutes at least. If you ever come to Vienna, check it out.

 

Le Bibliothèque...

Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights
I've been to my favourite book store today and simply couldn't leave without at least one (cook)book!  One look inside and a quick flick through 2 or 3 recipes - and I know I had to have it! My latest acquisition to the bookshelf...

[ via amazon.com ]