Wonderful Ruby at  A Piece of Peace  has tagged me to do a meme about books.  Since when I’m not writing a novel or a post for my blog, I’ve usually got my head stuck in a book – it would seem churlish not to join in. Plus it sounds fun!

The rules are:

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

Here goes:

First of all I have to admit that I was sitting with my back to a bookcase when I read my invite to join in this meme. So in keeping within the rules I reached for the nearest book (the books on this bookcase are my “waiting to be read” books!) The one I randomly selected is “Author, Author” a novel by David Lodge. I purchased it recently from a charity shop for a few pence but don’t think that lessens the importance of this book to me. You see the author in question, David Lodge was my personal tutor and mentor at university (a man I really admire) and he writes extremely good fiction (as well as excellent academic non fiction) and I have read just about everything he has written. When I saw the novel in the charity shop window the title reached out to me (being an author myself) and then I noticed who’d written it – the sale that then followed was inevitable (I often buy my books secondhand because I read so much it can get expensive!)

Anyway:

1. He mooned around the stage for a some time fiddling with the props for the first scene, A Parisian Parlour by the dim illumination of a single gaslight, and adjusting the placing of the chairs by an inch or two.
2. The curtain was down for some reason.
3. On an impulse he parted the two flaps, stepped out in front of the curtain, and looked into the enormous maw of the  dark empty auditorium.

Synopsis: The protagonist of this book is the novelist Henry James (so although it is a work of fiction the protagonist was a real live novelist himself) who, seriously worried by the failure of his books to sell, decides to achieve fame and fortune by becoming a playwright – at the same time that George Du Maurier (a playwright) diversifies into writing novels. The consequences for both men are ironic, comic and tragic by turn.

Interestingly (in case you haven’t noticed) this novel (written by an author) about a real live author, and a playwright who becomes an author, is waiting to be read by another author (me !  Not that I flatter myself I’m in the same category as David Lodge or Henry James!) So perhaps I should have entitled this post: Author, Author, Author, Author! LOL!

Tagged:

1. Tina at Sky Windows  (since she’s just bound to be reading something deliciously racy!!!)
2. Lou at blahblahblog  – because I’m intrigued to know what she’s reading!
3. Marla at My Semi Charmed Kind of Life .. because I’m sure she’ll be willing to join in!
4. Stephen at Juggling Cats  (although he probably can’t be arsed to join in! So I won’t be offended if he doesn’t bother! But if he does join in, his choice will be interesting, even if x-rated!)
5. DKM at Diva kitty because it may be something interesting about cats! And I adore cats.

Anyone else who wants to join in is very welcome – and I wont be offended by anyone named above, who doesn’t want to bother! OK?

PS: I’m away for a few days this week (starting tomorrow) without access to my blog – so don’t be surprised if your comments don’t appear instantly! But do please still leave them – as I love to hear from you all.