Back to life, back to reality

So, I’m just back from a fabulously relaxing holiday in Tenerife. I knew it was time for a break when at the airport I could see monitors displaying “Paris CDG” and found myself wondering how our French Division was doing and whether I should be asking them for their 2008 Divisional Plan. Nuff said.

No truly household names were harmed during our stay, thus demonstrating the fantasy principle that naming something is an inherently powerful act.

Book reviews from my week away:

• Jane Smiley - Ten Days in the Hills: I love Jane Smiley and her books are all really quite different. This one is definitely at her trashy end! A bunch of folks (longlost offspring, ex-partners, business associates, random gurus) spend 10 days together in the Hollywood area immediately after the 2003 Academy Awards. They chat about Iraq, argue, wacth and chat about movies, reminisce and have really quite a lot of graphic sex (unusual for Smiley’s novels). For reading by the pool in 25 degree heat, it was just fine.
• Isabel Allende - The House of the Spirits: finally I got round to reading this absolutely wonderful novel! Epic saga of several generations, each more quirky than the last, a social history of South America but with a light and personal touch. Moving, passionate, funny and tragic by turns. You can keep Marquez - this for me is the real deal - realism and magical but with a plot. I sponsored myself to read this as part of our Passport to Latin America. What shall I read next? Suggestions?
• Khaled Hosseini - The Kite Runner: yes, yes, another one long overdue. Only halfway through but what a captivating story. See above - moving, passionate, tragic and compelling.

So it’s back to the mountain of emails and post and undone tasks… information overload still alive and kicking… but the cats are pleased to have me home and there are signs that the garden is coming back to life. Loads to catch up on with CDG, great stuff happening all over the place!