Tuesday, March 22, 2011

A lovely thing happened...

I met a woman at our book group this evening. She was a new member, someone I've known for ages but haven't seen for a while. The very first thing she said to me was "I absolutely love your blog. I read it all the time. But I'm too chicken to comment."  And not only does she read the blog, but she could quote me things from it.  The whole thing was so incredibly unexpected and lovely and dear that it changed my mood completely.  So much so that it didn't seem to matter that I hadn't made it through the treacly, dry "Cleopatra" by Stacy Schiff. I managed three chapters.  I was not alone. The book wasn't a rousing success, but mostly, I suspect, because the booklettes aren't keen on academic historical tomes -- in fact, one of our number thought it might be a risque romance set on the upper east side with a dark-haired protagonist who happened to be called Cleopatra, and had agreed to the book as an escape from her intense  course work on her literature degree and thesis.  T told us very politely and very kindly that we were all hoodlums and bumpkins for not appreciating the immaculate research that was done and tried to gently point us towards Schiff's rabid focus on the facts. So don't take my word for it. (Or you can.)



There are so many times, as a blogger, that you feel as if you're hollering into a void, like the Ricola commercial, your voices echoing through valleys, but not being heard, and sometimes, truthfully, it doesn't matter, but sometimes it does.  So, to be told, so sweetly and kindly that I have a reader I didn't know about absolutely Made My Day. ("What's the proper name for a blog fan?" she said. "Blog fan" I said wishing it were called something glamorous like blognoscenti).

Thank you to all the anonymous readers out there, the ones that don't want to comment.  I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

And now, to bed. "Great Expectations" is our April book, if anyone wants to read along. And don't forget to tell me what you'd do with a tardis if you had one, dear reader. Don't leave me alone in crazyland with that one!

Sweet dreams.

Love,

Miss Whistle X

8 comments:

Elisabeth said...

Well Miss Whistle here's another reader who reads but doesn't comment enough. Reading of course is easier than commenting, but the intention is there.

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

I have this book-and I have read a couple of chapters-oddly I have really enjoyed what I've read-however I started it in January(a client gave It me for Christmas) I think you may be right, though now I will pick it up again, and at least get off another chapter! pgt

Miss Whistle said...

Hi Elisabeth! Thank you for saying hello.

little augury -- Academics, professors of ancient history love the book. Let me know how you get on.

-- Miss W x

Anonymous said...

I always try to comment, but for some reason the google account doesn't recognize me and refuses to co-operate!

Anonymous said...

I always try to comment, but for some reason the google account doesn't recognize me and refuses to co-operate! It's June, but I have to comment as anonymous!

Sue said...

I really enjoy your blog especially the dalmatians, the poetry and your observations on life in general.

Thank you for writing such an enjoyable blog.

sue

Anonymous said...

I don't think I have commented before so here I am saying hello.

The Epic Adventurer said...

I am one of your blognoscenti! I totally hear you -- comments mean so much because then you know people are actually interested, and didn't just end up on your page by accident and then leave... I often wonder about my "stats" for readership... did they stay? Did they even read it? Hit the nail on the head, Miss W! -- Julia