Distant Memories

Thank you, Maria, for adding to the Book List.  How exciting to see mention of some of the books that we have read and which I, at least, had forgotten.  So, for example, The Europeans by Henry James which I loved, but had totally blanked from my memory has appeared on our list.  Of course, there was a good reason to blank out Snow by Orhan Pamuk (I thought it was a ghastly book although I have a vague recollection that Ann was a fan). The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd (which we read in 2007) was an interesting one and a good illustration of why it is worthwhile keeping a record.  I've just looked at the Amazon summary to remind myself; I knew it was set in the Far East but that was about it (is age responsible for this phenomenon?). In fact, I remember it now as a lovely book - set in the early 20th century, it is the story of young woman from Scotland who travels to the Far East to marry a man she barely knows and who all but abandons her, has a scandalous affair with a Japanese warrior, an illegitimate baby and ends up introducing European fashion to Japan.  It was an interesting story of one woman's efforts to be herself and to be independent at a time when women were struggling to be heard.  The Book List is still out there on googledocs to be updated - so do please add to it when you have a moment.