Jane's Pocket Change: The Mystery of a New Year
I love lists. I read the strangest ones on Twitter, top 10's, top 5's and so on, as I am sure many of you do.
I love lists. I read the strangest ones on Twitter, top 10's, top 5's and so on, as I am sure many of you do.
Right now my obsession is “Best movies of 2014” or "Movies that will make the Oscars." Best novels, or best non-fiction lists come close in my own list of obsessions.
The lists of writers or actors, or simply famous people who died in 2014 are good ones. Mike Nichols, Joe Sample, Joe Cocker, Joan Crawford, Robin Williams, Maya Angelou, Nadine Gordimer, Tommy Ramone, Ruby Dee and Jerry Vali to name 10. And a mystery writer I adore: P.D. James (11). Her death prompted me to indulge in a P.D. James binge over winter break, reading four of her mysteries one after the other. I was actually surprised how formulaic they were. Usually the murder victim was not well liked, the suspects all seemed to be part of a small cultural unit of some kind (office, island, religious retreat), living near each other or working in close quarters. All the books I read also had the brilliant, yet understated poet: police commander, Adam Dagliesh.
And since this Pocket Change is rather stream-of-consciousness in form, I will add that I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that the fictional Dalgliesh actually wrote P.D. James’ obituary in The Economist, entitled “Murder Most Intricate.” It ends with following lines:
‘Their conversation passed so quickly, in a gale of shared experience and enjoyment, that Dalgliesh did not notice the darkness falling. He saw it only when his hostess, drawing on the phrases of the 1662 Prayer Book deeply stored in her head, mentioned the “perils and dangers of this night”, and briskly drew the damask curtains. The pages of his notebook were empty, save for a dusting of sugar from the shortbread. He had had no need to write anything, since they inhabited each other’s minds; and as much as she had created him he had also, perhaps, created her.’
Quite beautiful. It’s amazing where a list can take you. Happy New Year!
__________________________________________________________
Pocket Change is a web diary written by Jane Moulding, head of school.
Right now my obsession is “Best movies of 2014” or "Movies that will make the Oscars." Best novels, or best non-fiction lists come close in my own list of obsessions.
The lists of writers or actors, or simply famous people who died in 2014 are good ones. Mike Nichols, Joe Sample, Joe Cocker, Joan Crawford, Robin Williams, Maya Angelou, Nadine Gordimer, Tommy Ramone, Ruby Dee and Jerry Vali to name 10. And a mystery writer I adore: P.D. James (11). Her death prompted me to indulge in a P.D. James binge over winter break, reading four of her mysteries one after the other. I was actually surprised how formulaic they were. Usually the murder victim was not well liked, the suspects all seemed to be part of a small cultural unit of some kind (office, island, religious retreat), living near each other or working in close quarters. All the books I read also had the brilliant, yet understated poet: police commander, Adam Dagliesh.
And since this Pocket Change is rather stream-of-consciousness in form, I will add that I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that the fictional Dalgliesh actually wrote P.D. James’ obituary in The Economist, entitled “Murder Most Intricate.” It ends with following lines:
‘Their conversation passed so quickly, in a gale of shared experience and enjoyment, that Dalgliesh did not notice the darkness falling. He saw it only when his hostess, drawing on the phrases of the 1662 Prayer Book deeply stored in her head, mentioned the “perils and dangers of this night”, and briskly drew the damask curtains. The pages of his notebook were empty, save for a dusting of sugar from the shortbread. He had had no need to write anything, since they inhabited each other’s minds; and as much as she had created him he had also, perhaps, created her.’
Quite beautiful. It’s amazing where a list can take you. Happy New Year!
__________________________________________________________
Pocket Change is a web diary written by Jane Moulding, head of school.
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The Cambridge School of Weston is a progressive high school for day and boarding students in grades 9–12 and PG. CSW's mission is to provide a progressive education that emphasizes deep learning, meaningful relationships, and a dynamic program that inspires students to discover who they are and what their contribution is to their school, their community and the world.