I thought I’d start a post with a photo taken with family and friends while on holiday, late 1970’s at Auckland zoo. I’m the tallest one, sporting overalls even then). A few weeks back, with some family staying, Kerry had the great idea of visiting the zoo. And I’m afraid to say, it was my only visit since moving here 25 years ago. I dressed for the visit in my overalls, not the same pair), perhaps hoping to have a photo taken just for fun as a nod to my appearance back in the day.
However, it’s been a month of poor health, with an impending nasal operation, fading energy, and with my usually vigorous brain turned to mush, I sloped around the zoo looking every bit a robot.
Still, there was the Writers’ Festival to look forward to the following week, which I attended, donned with mask, and enjoyed some authors speaking. It was especially good to hear from Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi, a Booker Prize winner in 2002, who was anything but robotic. Earnest, talkative and with a brilliant mind…
Come Monday I was coughing, and Tuesday I was at the doctor’s, to have it pronounced I had acute Bronchitis and that my operation would be postponed about eight weeks. With pills prescribed, I went home and climbed into bed. I was strangely calm, as there was nothing to do except start preparing for renewed good health. So, propped up in bed, a cup of tea beside me, I started in on the Life of Pi, which I’d picked up from my friend’s bookshop. And I am loving it. Yes, I knew of the hype about the book and the film, but never read the story or saw the film back then. I love the creativity and intelligence of Martel’s writing and wish to glean some of that talent for myself.
And for all I haven’t been fully engaged with my Graphic novel production lately, Life of Pi makes my seventh book read this year. So it seems I’ve proved that even in a tortoise-like robot state, the mind can absorb something.
Books read this year: Mother Mary Comes to me, by Arundhati Roy, published 2025; High Adventure, by Sir Edmund Hillary (2013); Travels with Charley: In search of America by John Steinbeck (1962); The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025); Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, by Amy Chua (2011); The Infinite sadness of Small Appliances by Glen Dixon (2026); The Life of Pi, by Jann Martel (2002), plus a small Irish book I forgot the name of.
More about books and writing next time
ARTISTRY 
So sorry to hear of your travails, Vivienne. I hope you feel better soon. I agree re the Life of Pi. I queued to get my copy signed when it came out. Someone asked Yann Martel a question as he was signing my book and he got distracted, so I got a sort of gibberish dedication with a signature and a bit of crossing out. We were both a little flustered. Makes it more special, I think.
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A P.S. I was doing a Code Cracker puzzle today and came across a word I’d never see before, but thought you may actually use it, seeing you are pretty sharp in that area. The word is Hebdomadal and I found it described as an adjective, for weekly. From the Greek, hebdomas, hebdomad.
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Thanks Phil, life is like that, isn’t it? One minute everything’s going smoothly when the body decides to remind you that you shouldn’t take it for granted. Cant wait to get my dancing shoes on once more.
On the subject of Martel, I think he is just a naturally flustered kind of guy. With all that language flying around in his head, it’s no wonder really.
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I am so sorry to hear that you are ill. And how disappointing, though understandable, that your operation has been postponed.How ‘brave’ of you to pull yourself through with reading. I love the photo of you and the kids and do like the giraffe twisting its neck (so uncomfortably) to get some food. Good books help the time pass. Keep reading.and who knows, another visit to the zoo. Don’t forget to take a photo of the giraffe. My love.
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Yvonne, thanks so much for your lovely message. Reading has always been a favourite ‘go to’ place for me, and I am enjoy the mix of reading, partly due to my friend’s second-hand book store. I did buy myself Elizabeth’s Strout’s latest, The Things We Never Know, and now must wait until I’ve finished Life of Pi before I open its pristine cover. Elizabeth Strout is well worth reading. And, I suggest you read The Correspondent I mentioned in post. xx Vivienne
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Hope you’re recovering Vivienne? Rest is often the best medicine! Tea tree oil inhalations are natural allies when it comes to resolving chest infections. Wishing you a timely return to your accustomed creative rhythms and routines ❤️🩹
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Hi Judy, thanks for the advice. I shall give the oil a go.
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Rest up and get better soon.
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Hi. I’ve made note of Pi, and of a couple of other books you mention, adding them to my list of possibilities.
Get well soon!
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I hope you are feeling better Vivienne! For years I taught Life of Pi to senior high school students. There is so much that can be done with this novel. I especially love the twist at the end. One of my more artistic students made clay animals to go along a book review. She convinced me, shortly after the novel was published, that it should be taught in the classroom. While a movie was made of this novel, I much prefer reading the novel and imagining the characters.
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Thanks so much for your message Louise. I can imagine how students would have enjoyed the story of Pi. I agree with you, that it is more interesting to envisage the characters as you read, and a reason I seldom watch films made from favourite books.
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Sorry to hear about your health issues, Vivienne. If you’re not using it, I recommend Vicks VapoRub. That should help manage the symptoms of acute bronchitis. As for books, if you haven’t read it, I recommend the 1962 Yomiuri Prize for literature, Woman In The Dunes by Kobo Abe. It’s a masterpiece!
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Thanks for the health advice and the book recommendation.
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