The Year In Books ~ January

I've finished my first book for the on-line book club organised by Karen at A Quiet Corner, linking with Laura at A Circle of Pine Trees. You are invited to just choose a book each month and do a post about it. 

 I've been reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. This book has been ten years in the making, and at over 700 pages long you can see why. There's been a lot of hype about it in the press, with claims that it is like a modern day Dickens classic.

Thirteen year old Theo takes a painting from a gallery after the explosion that kills his mother, and the rest of the book deals with the impact of that decision on his life in the ensuing years. I won't go in to any more details  .... in case you might want to read it too.

At first, I was enthralled by the writing. The descriptions are so detailed and vivid, I couldn't put it down. Theo's grief at the loss of his mother is painfully raw, and as his life spirals into a giddy maelstrom you can feel his hopelessness at the lack of control he has over where he lives and who is supposed to be caring for him.

As the novel progressed though, I realised that I didn't like the adult Theo had become, and I was just plain annoyed as the book descended into a study of addiction and crime. At  about two thirds of the way through I was just longing for it all to finish, and I know I was skimming the final chapters,  just so I could find out what happened in the end.

So, would I recommend The Goldfinch? Yes, if you've got plenty of time on your hands, and you don't mind reading a book where the main characters are quite unpleasant.

Hand on heart I couldn't honestly say I enjoyed it, but it has had many more favourable reviews than mine!


For February, I'm re-reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

I read this ages ago, but the film is coming out at the end of the month and I want to read the book again before I go to the cinema. I remember being blown away by this book, and I've had the same reaction from friends who have read it too.

The Year in Books

One of my 'should do"s for 2014 was to improve the quality of my reading choices.

I love to read. All my life I have had my head stuck in a book.

As a child I had a small treasured collection of books including some classics passed down from my Mum and Auntie..... Little Women, What Katy Did, The Railway Children and so on.

But books were expensive to buy so I voraciously read everything in my local library... counting the days till the next Saturday when I could go and choose some more.

As an adult one of life's greatest pleasures has been reading .... although when my children were small it was The Hungry Caterpillar and Frog and Toad, Where's Spot and The Walker Book of Bedtime Tales! As a busy working mum I could only really indulge in mammoth reading sessions on holiday, and I used to love browsing in bookshops and stashing away a collection to take away in our caravan each summer.

Reading kept me calm at numerous hospital appointments in the last few years, and I never went anywhere without a book in my handbag. But, I've sort of slipped into the habit or reading light weight   nonsense ... nothing too taxing or hard hitting. Nothing sad and miserable. Lots of cupcake shops and romance in Paris. You know the sort of thing. Perfectly pleasant stuff!

Now, I have much more time available to enjoy reading but I find I'm still stuck in that place. A friend in work passes on everything she reads to me. .... and I take them home not to hurt her feelings. But as she says "Oh it's just the sort of book that you don't need to use your brain to read it!" She reckons that after a day teaching Year Four that's all she can cope with during term time.

Well, no more!!! I'm ready to start using at least some of some of my brain in 2014.

I've found a sort of on-line book club through Karen at A Quiet Corner, linking with Laura at A Circle of Pine Trees. You are invited to just choose a book each month and do a post about it. I thought I'd give it a go.

Starting as I mean to go on, right now I'm reading The Goldfinch which is a massive book. There's been a lot of hype about this, and the fact it's taken ten years to write. I'm more than half way through so I'll let you know how I get on.

Then out of the blue this week, a colleague in work was talking about a book club she belongs to. Joining a book club has long been on my 'list' of things to do so I've asked if I can join in too, and will be going to my first meeting at the beginning of February. Again it's one book a month, and the choices are already set. There's a few genres on the list that I would never normally select, so it will get me out of my comfort zone!

I'll have to do a lot less faffing around in blog land and get reading!

Recent Treats...

I thought I'd show you some of the things that have been cheering me up recently ...

Number One on my list is my lovely girl. She has been driving home most weekends from the North East, where she works, to spend time with me. We've treated ourselves to lots of little outings around the Paradise Peninsula, and ever more coffee and cakes. Her bubbly, enthusiastic approach to life brings joy to my heart!

 A good bargain  cheers me up ... and this cakestand was a very good bargain indeed, as it cost me nothing at all ... thanks to a big supermarket and a bundle of clubcard vouchers.

At the moment it is displaying my small collection of ceramic cupcakes. It may not be vintage, but it's very pretty all the same.

Now, this glass cakestand is vintage and wasn't a bargain, but I've been looking out for one for a while now, and was delighted to find it tucked away in a vintage shop in Ruthin last weekend.

I've got quite a pile of books to read now, always a treat, courtesy of my readitswapit  This is a good bargain - a recycled book in good condition for the price of the postage.

I had a nice treat at the beginning of September when I met up with Heather from The Patchwork Heart . We had a long chat over coffee and cakes in West Kirby. Heather gave me this lovely handmade heart, which is now proudly displayed in my little craft room.

Now, I'm not one for fashion, but I have noticed this lovely bag in the glossy magazines all year, and I rather fancied it. I've always liked satchels. But as it costs a mere £695 it will never be on my shoulder....

I found this one at a twentieth of the price and I was more than happy with it. I know it's not real leather, but I couldn't care less.... it's the right size and was the colour I was looking for, so I'm very pleased.

The other day I got a surprise package from the postman, and when I opened it up it was from Bellaboo. I had been chosen for her Pay It Forward gift ... wasn't that a nice surprise!

Thank you Bellaboo!

And finally, and the treat that made my eyes brim with tears ...

lovely, lovely flowers from my lovely Mr. B. because he thought I was feeling a bit low this week!

You have to understand that  he doesn't 'do' flowers ... in all our years together I can count exactly the number of bouquets he's felt compelled to buy ... two in fact .... one for each child!

So I was completely taken surprise ... and the tears fell again!

Poor man, every time he's really nice to me I cry all over him!

Clinging on to summer ...

After moaning about the sad demise of summer in yesterday's post, today, here on the Paradise Peninsula, we had the brightest, warmest, blue sky sort of day you could imagine. It was just perfect.

Summer flowers are clinging on ....

Across our field the apples are just about clinging on to the branches too, after the recent windy weather

We've got more apples than we know what to do with, and I'm hunting out recipes for apple jelly and the like.

Inca spent the whole day in the garden, playing with her favourite pig, and just enjoying the sunshine.

It was so nice, I got my sun lounger out, and joined her for an hour.... finishing off my latest book in the warmth. 

I'm getting used to relaxing and pleasing myself.... so more days like this please! What are the chances?

My Favourite Book

Radiotherapy ~ Day 4 (11:50)

My Favourite Book

I love reading ....

our house is full of books ....

one of my greatest indulgences is seeking out and storing up

a great pile of new books to read over the summer holidays.

But, I also love to return to old favourites ...

like this:

This book is everywhere at the moment,

even back in the top 20 list at WH Smith,

It has just celebrated its 50th anniversary in print.

It is such a powerful story that it remains with you long

after you have finished reading....

as all the best books do.

If you are not moved by its themes of racism and injustice

you are not human!

My lovely girl is also a fan and recently wrote about her take on the book here at Recent Treats.

I've had a lot of spare time on my hands of late,

and I've spent many a happy hour reading....

Some books are just easy reads ...

a pleasant way to pass some time ...

or a distraction at the hospital

while waiting for appointments.

 However, I would really recommend:

I'm sure I've come to this very late,

and most of you will have already read it.

I found this an incredibly moving book, written in a most unusual style.

The narrator is Death ....

I think it will be one I may return to over and over again.

World Book Day

We've been celebrating World Book Day in school today and it's good to know that most of our youngsters still love books and can easily choose a favourite to discuss in class. Horrid Henry is very popular with my 7 year olds.
It made me think about my favourite books:

Throughout my life I have loved to read. My bookshelves are over flowing and our loft is full of my children's books that we couldn't bear to give away. I've loved lots of books, and could easily write lists of those I have enjoyed, but on reflection I think these books are dearest to my heart.

I just loved this book ... I read it over and over again and to this day I can remember everything about it.

When I had my own little girl I tracked it down, and while I loved it all over again, I was disappointed to discover it held no magic for her whatsoever.

A little older, I inherited some well loved books from my auntie ... What Katy Did, Little Women, all the classics which I really enjoyed  ... but the one that stood out for me was The Railway Children. I so wanted to be Bobbie! The only thing that puzzled me was that when they became poor they managed to live in a massive house compared to mine. We must have been very, very poor!

At school we read Pride and Prejudice and as a fifteen year old, I didn't really appreciate it at all. Over the years I have grown to love this book. Jane Austen's wise words and witty characters are wonderful and still hold true today.

I didn't know about this when I was a child myself, but I stumbled upon it as a young teacher. Narnia  holds a very special place in our hearts as both my children were enchanted by the tales of Aslan. I think my daughter 'grew' up in Narnia as she could quote the dialogue word perfect when watching the superb BBC series.

Oh, another enchanting read ... I came upon this as a teenager, after seeing the film starring Julie Christie and Terence Stamp and I had to read the book. Again every scene is stamped upon my heart as I have read it so much. I went on to read all the works of Thomas Hardy ... but this is my favourite.

I have returned to this book many times. I generally enjoy historical novels, but I love the way this depicts Richard III as a sensitive and loving character. Who knows ... it may be true!

What can I say about this book .... British librarians have recently said that it it should be read by every adult before they die.... who am I to disagree?

What are your favourite books?