The love of books

 My love of books started when I was very young.  I remember loving and collecting all the Ladybird books, when I could go to the library on my own I discovered the Nancy Drew books, I absolutely loved those stories, I think that's where my love of mystery and crime novels comes from.  Later I remember my mum buying me The Old Curiosity Shop, A Tale of Two Cities and Little Women.  I haven't read those books in years but would like to again at some time.

There was a time when I kept every book I read, I'm a little more selective nowadays and only keep certain books now, (I might show you those another time, if anyone is interested).  

 I'd been thinking about starting a collection of the Penguin Clothbound Classics but kept seeing reports of the print rubbing off on the cover and in some cases even the print on the pages smudging, although they are lovely It put me off, so when I saw this collection a few months ago I fell in love with them, they are so beautiful.

From what I can see this collection from Timeless Classics was part of a monthly subscription a few years back, although I can't recall seeing it advertised anywhere.  There were forty or so books to collect, I'm not sure I would have wanted some of the titles so at least now I can just buy the ones I want, and at £8.99, they are reasonably priced too.

So far I have seven titles, the covers are just stunning and the paper is good quality.  The covers are much more vibrant than my phone camera can pick up.

These sent me down a rabbit hole of searching out some of the books I loved as a child and I discovered the Puffin Clothbound Collection.  There doesn't seem to be an issue with the print on these as far as I can see, and the covers are beautiful.  So far I have only three of these.

I must admit that I have never read Charlotte's Webb, but I will at some point, isn't the cover lovely?  

I loved Stig of the Dump

I think Black Beauty was my most favourite book as a child, I will definitely be re-reading this soon.

There are more titles I want to collect but these are a bit more pricy at £14.99.

Do you collect any special edition books and what were your favourite books growing up?

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Book choices

Last months book club read was Middle England by Jonathan Coe, I managed to read about four chapters before giving up through boredom.  The group was split on opinions with three of us not enjoying, four really enjoying it and two thinking it was ok.   As a side note the gentleman in our group went to the same school as the Author and did say that his books aren't always very well researched.

This months book is The Stationery shop of Tehran.  As soon as these were given out we all commented that we had already read this as a book club previously.  The librarian looked very sheepish, hung her head but didn't comment.  We've seen the list of book club books and there are lots of titles on there so why have we ended up with a book we've already read!  Three of us said that we wouldn't be reading it again so that will make for an interesting discussion next month, (not).  So far this year I've only read two of the book choices, In one case I didn't have time but the others I just didn't get on with, and there are too many good books out there to waste time reading something you're not enjoying.

While I was there today I picked up my reserved copy of The Fury.  I've been on waiting list for this since January.  I read The Silent Patient by the same author last year and that was really good so I hope this one is worth the wait.

Have you read any of these? do you belong to a book club and how do you choose your books?  I must admit that I've considered quitting book club but I do enjoy talking about the books I've read and hearing about what the others are reading and I'd miss that.  I know you can't please everyone all the time, we all have our own opinions on what is a good read, but In the group I'm not on my own in thinking that the book choices are not always very good.

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Highly recommended these two

 A few years ago I belonged to a Book Club at one of the local libraries, I used to really enjoy it but sadly the number dwindled and it finally folded.  The same library also ran monthly groups on Wednesdays and Thursdays, they were very popular and there were waiting lists to join both.  As a result of lockdowns over the last two years many people chose not to go back once things were open again, which meant that I finally got to join the Thursday group.  The group is still quite small, about six at the moment, but that's ok.  Last Thursday was our date to meet and discuss January's book.  

Catherine Isaac is a new author to me and someone I will look out for again.

1990. Harriet is a journalist. Her job takes her to dangerous places, where she asks questions and tries to make a difference. But when she is sent to Romania, to the state orphanages the world is only just learning about, she is forced to rethink her most important rule.

2018. Ellie is a gardener. Her garden is her sanctuary, her pride and joy. But, though she spends long days outdoors, she hasn’t set foot beyond her gate for far too long. Now someone enters her life who could finally be the reason she needs to overcome her fears.

From post-revolution Romania to the idyllic English countryside, The World at My Feet is the story of two women, two worlds, and a journey of self-discovery that spans a lifetime. 

My audio book for February was one I came across via a new podcast I've been watching, Penelope's Chinwag.  Pene's podcast was recommended on another one I subscribe to, so I thought I'd pop over and take a look, and I'm so glad I did, she has a lovely way about her and she shows her amazing patchwork, knitting and sewing as well as some chats with her 96 year old mum.  I love listening to those chats, it makes me wish I'd done something similar with my mum.  Her podcast is well worth checking out if you haven't already.

In one episode she mentioned that her aunty in Ireland had written a book, when she said that it was on audible I went in search and downloaded it.

Open Hearted by Anne Ingle is a very candid memoir, narrated by Ann herself.  I found it absolutely fascinating listening to her and can highly recommend.   I've checked on Amazon where it's also available in hardback and on Kindle too.

At 20 Londoner Ann Ingle fell madly in love with an Irish fellow she met on holiday in Cornwall. At the church to arrange their shotgun wedding she discovered that he hadn't even told her his real name.

Sixty-odd years later Ann looks back on that first glorious fall and in a series of essays considers what she has learned from the life that followed - bringing eight children into the world, their father's years of mental illness and tragic death at 40, being a cash-strapped single mother in 1980s Dublin, coming into her own in her middle years - going to college, working and writing, and continuing to evolve and learn into her ninth decade, even as she accepts the realities of being 'old'.

These two books bring my reading total to 10 so far this year, you can find the link to my Goodreads page in the right hand side bar if you're interested in what else I've been reading.

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Books read in 2021 - reading challenge

 I've mentioned before how I keep a reading record on Goodreads and I set my reading challenge every year on New Years Day.  I've set my challenge at 50 books again for 2022, it seems like a good round number to aim for, although I don't always reach it.

Last year I managed to read 42 books which, according to Goodreads, equates to 12,760 pages.  I usually only read when I go to bed, so I'm happy with that number.

My shortest book was Lockdown by Peter May, (246 pages), my longest book was Stone Cold Heart by Caz Frear, (480 pages)

Two books stand out from last year for me, The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig and The Four Winds, By Kristen Hannah, both very different books but brilliant in their own right.

The Midnight Library was a popular choice on goodreads with 1,875,26 people shelving it

My last book for 2021 was Times Echo by Pamela Hartshown, I'd put this near the top of my list too, thoroughly enjoyed this time slip novel, not a fast read but, one of those books, similar to the other two that you actually don't mind reading every word because it's all relevant and not just padding out the story. 

I've recently joined a book club again.  I used to belong to one at my local library but due to dwindling numbers that one closed some time ago  The one I've joined is at the same library but this particular group has been going for a number of years and before the pandemic was always full, but because of the situation over the last two years and the various lockdowns some members decided to drop out altogether, which is how I was able to join.  I've been to one meeting so far and everyone seems very nice and I'm really looking forward to reading what books are on offer, our first meeting of the year is at the end of January.

Are you a reader? what books stand out as your favourites last year? and have you set yourself a reading challenge for this year?

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July in books

 I've been enjoying some good books this year and discovered some new to me authors, so I thought I would mention a few of them here in case they appeal to any of you.  I like to get book recommendations, sometimes you discover something you might have otherwise passed by, and it's always good to find new authors. 

I do love a good crime story and when this one popped up on audible I thought I'd give it a go, so glad I did.

Sweet Little Lies is the first book in the Detective Cat Kinsella series, followed by  Stone Cold Heart and finally Shed No Tears. 

I listened to all three via Audible and they were all narrated by Jane Collingwood.  I love that the same person narrated all three books, and Jane did an excellent job.  

I loved Caz Frear's writing style, she keeps you engaged all the way through with twists and turns that keep you guessing all the way to the end.  I would highly recommend these to anyone who enjoys a good Police procedural and I recommend reading them in order, although each book is a stand alone case Detective Cat Kinsella has a back story that you learn more about in the first book and the other books will then make more sense.

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I must have really wanted to read this next book because I bought it twice, one new copy and one from a charity shop! (not the first time I've done that).

Away with the Penguins is in the same genre as The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessey.

I loved this book and by the end of it loved Veronica McCreedy too.

Veronica McCreedy lives in a mansion by the sea.  She loves a nice cup of Darjeeling tea whilst watching a good wildlife documentary.  And she's never seen without her ruby-red lipstick.  Although these days Veronica is rarely seen by anyone because, at 85, her days are spent mostly at home, alone.  She can be found eithere collecting litter from the beach ('people who litter the countryside should be shot'), trying to locate her glasses ('someone must have moved them') or shouting instructions to her assistant, Eileen ('Eileen, door!').  Veronica doesn't have family or friends nearby.  Not that she knows about, anyway, and she has no idea where she's going to leave her considerable wealth when she dies.  But today, today Veronica is going to make a decision that will change all of this.

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Apparently  Peter May wrote Lockdown over fifteen years ago, in 2005, but it was rejected by publishers as being to unrealistic.  Fast forward to 2020, the Covid 19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns and the book was finally published.

The story is not about the flu epidemic as such but a whodunit with the pandemic as a backdrop.  We would have thought it was all a bit far fetched pre 2020 but he has got so many things spot on, including it being manmade, it's uncanny.

If anyone would like to read either Lockdown or Away With The Penguins please mention it in the comments, if more than one person expresses an interest I will do a draw.  Due to postage costs I can unfortunately only post to UK.

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April is a cutie

 The Start of another month and another Calendar Girl to display.

  I think this one is my favourite so far :-)

I found a cute little wooden flower button in my button box which I think goes really well :-)

Well, we've managed to get through the first week of lock-down without doing each other any harm, lol.

To be honest It's been ok, we get jobs out of the way when we get up, Mark will help around the house, (although to be honest, I would rather do things myself) but he has been helping, neither of us are untidy people so there is not a lot to do anyway.  Later we just sit together, he will read the paper and I have been either knitting or stitching.  I've been going for a walk late afternoon, Mark isn't one for walking just for the sake of it, so I've been striding out on my own and listening to my audio book.

Talking of books, I've read quite a few this month.  I decided that I would pick 'real' books from my shelves for a while, I just got a bit fed-up with reading on my Kindle.

I've also listened to two audio books, The Perfect Wife by JP Delaney and The Giver of Stars by Jo Jo Moyes.  Both of which I really enjoyed.

On Monday, I made us a quiche with butternut squash, peppers, and caramelised onions and used some cottage cheese, cheddar and feta in there too.  It was lovely, if I do say so myself, lol

I had mine with salad but there some mash and veg left over from the day before so I made Mark some potato cakes to go with his, he was sceptical when I said what I was going to do, but he said they were lovely :-)

I made myself a Weetabix cake for snacking on too - sounds weird but is really nice, a bit like bread pudding, but without the stodge.

Being at home has given me the time to get another couple of finishes, which I will save for another post, one of them is so cute and is for a little boy who will be two in a couple of weeks :-)

Stay safe, see you soon

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Busy, but not with crafting

I haven't got a lot of spare time for crafting at the moment.  I only work part time but in addition to that I do look after two of the three grandchildren at least three afternoons a week and also take Oliver to his swimming lesson on a Monday evening to help Jenny out.   On the afternoons I have them, by the time I get home and have tea and a shower and sort the cats out I'm ready for bed If I'm honest!

Most of my stitching is done at the weekends when I can sit down for a longer period of time, I hate getting my stitching out if all I can spare is an hour, I like a good chunk of time if i'm going to stitch.  I suppose I could pick up some knitting but I haven't been feeling the knitting lately, although I have got a Wool Warehouse order coming this week to start a jumper which I'm hoping to cast on this weekend.

So not really a lot to show, except this project bag I made a few weeks ago.  

I used a pattern by Ellie of Crafthouse Magic, she has it for sale in her etsy shop, it was fairly easy to follow, even for someone like me with limited sewing skills, lol.  

I used a couple of fat quarters that have been waiting to be made into something useful for a few years and, I'm quite happy with it :-)  The drawstring cording has to be changed when I can get some more, (it started to unravel when I was threading it through) and the wadding is a little bit thick but that was all I had to work with at the time.   I will definitely make some more using Ellie's pattern when I have the time.

My reading has slowed down too of late, but I took Bonnie to the Library last week and went for a browse myself, this was on the 'quick reads' section.

I had seen it doing the rounds but I tend not to read books when it seems like everyone is reading the same book, don't ask me why,  I't's just one of my weird traits, lol.  

I haven't read this author before and I'm really enjoying it.  I like his writing style and it's good to be reading a British crime novel for a change.  As it's a quick read I only get it on loan for a week so I'ts got to be returned tomorrow,  I'm already well over half way through so i'm sure I will be able to finish it by then.

I don't often read biographies but this one caught my eye while I was there

How could I resist :-)  I have this one on loan for longer but I think it will be the next book on my list.

I've been enjoying watching some podcasters doing Vlogtober this month, love watching Gaynor of  Tales From Cuckoo Land podcast and Alli from Little Drops of Wonderful, I've recently been watching Sherri from Olli and Bella too, I don't know how they manage to fit in recording bits of their lives throughout the day, edit and upload  but I'm so glad they do, it's nice to share other peoples everyday things rather than a staged podcast sometimes.   It seems that if you are a true podcaster you make granola, lol.  I would never have thought of making granola myself until I saw Gaynor and Rachel, (from Sew Ray me podcast) showing how they made theirs, I had a go and now i'm hooked! 

This is about the forth time I've made it now and it is truly much better than shop bought.

I do like a good selection of nuts and seeds in mine, this time it's hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, poppy seeds, sunflower seeds, I use good quality oats, some maple syrup, a sprinkling of salt and a good sprinkling of cinnamon over the top and a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil.   Once it's cooked I add the raisins and dried cranberries.  I've been having it with Greek yogurt and fruit for breakfast, even Mark, who is definitely not normally a granola eating man has said how nice it is :-)

This tray made up a large and a small jar.

This weekend is our annual Halloween stitching meet-up at the Nimble Thimble, I'm staying over Friday to Monday and really looking forward to a day of stitching, chatting and eating yummy cake :-)  I will also be enjoying some much needed 'me' time :-)

I will try and post some photos while I'm away over those few days and share what I've been up to.

Have a lovely week, see you soon.

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On this last day of February

I'm so happy to share another stitching finish for February.

  It seems that sorting out my stash over Christmas and kitting some of my charts up has done wonders to get me motivated :-)

This is Pumpkin Spice Farm by Hands on Design

I absolutely love this one and thoroughly enjoyed every stitch :-)

I will be making it into a pillow later in the year, after I have found the right backing fabric.

The chenille trim will be edging for the pillow.

It's been another good month for reading too with five books finished, three on my Kindle, one physical book and one audio.

Really enjoyed these three from Teresa Driscoll.

The Wife Between us was full of twists and I didn't guess the ending!

The Six Tudor Queens was my audio book, although Jane is not my favourite Queen and there wasn't really anything new in this book, but I love anything to do with the Tudors so I enjoyed it.

We have also had record temperatures for February, beautiful blue skies and no need for coats.

Of course, it's still Winter so it couldn't last, but It did make a lovely change.

I hope you too have had a great February, I'd love to hear about it. :-)

-X-

February in books

 I decided at the beginning of the year I would post each month about the books I've been reading.

  

I know like me, lots of you enjoy reading, and I think it's good to get new recommendations of titles or authors we might not have come across.  I'm always on the look out for something new to read and I love to read about the books people have enjoyed, or perhaps not enjoyed as much. 

Perhaps there will be a title from my reading this month that takes your fancy?

February's  genre was Domestic Fiction

600 hours of Edward is about a 39 year old man with aspergers  

There are some funny moments, like when he tries on line dating and his straight talking but it's the very sad relationship he has with his father that really stands out in the book.

It'a a very similar book to The Rosie Project with a more serious story line but with a character that was just as likeable. 

The Food of Love is about a family dealing with anorexia, told from the mothers viewpoint.

Some parts of this book were good and I enjoyed (if that's the right word) but I had problems with other parts.  I really wanted to like this book but for me the writing was just to sugary in parts, (how many teenagers call their mum mummy even when they are upset or unwell) and I especially disliked the the mother, Freya. The choices she made concerning her daughter were just so unbelievable I wanted to shake her!

 Mockingbird was a brilliant read.  Caitlin is a young girl with aspergers trying to come to terms with her brothers death in a school shooting while dealing with her own problems.  When she hears people talking about needing closure she goes in search of it not really knowing what it is.

This book was in the young adult section of the library but don't let that put you off  it's very well written.

Another book for young people, in fact this one was in the children's section of the library but again it was a great book.
Rose is an 11 year old girl with autism, she loves numbers and homophones but has trouble understanding her classmates.  She lives with her dad who isn't the most patient person but does love her in his own way.  He comes back with a stray dog one day which she names Rain, the dog becomes her best friend and when Rain goes missing in a storm Rose won't give up looking for her.

This is only a short read but such a lovely one, well worth reading.

My favourite book this month was Mockingbird, myleast favourite was The Food of Love.

I'll be back soon with a crafty update

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So what was I excited about going to on Friday?

Ever since I read The Other Boleyn Girl I have been obsessed with the Tudors, this was the book that got me interested in finding out more, and the more I found out the more fascinated I became with Tudor and Plantagenet history, and I devoured all of Philippa Gregory's books.

I had always liked History at school so it wasn't a new interest for me, but I can't honestly remember the lessons going beyond the fact that Henry VIII had six wives and that little rhyme to help remember their fate, you know the one, survived beheaded died, survived beheaded alive, the lessons were certainly nothing like these books!  

When it popped up on my FB feed a couple of weeks ago that Philippa Gregory was doing a small UK book tour for her new novel, Three Sisters Three Queeens, and that she was going to be in Birmingham, well it was a no-brainer, I HAD to go!

She was very interesting, and the passion she has for these Tudor women was very obvious, at one point she remarked that she could feel herself beginning to rant, lol

She talked about how there is very little in the archives of the lives of these Tudor women, how they lived, their marriages, what they thought, It was a time dominated by men.  

She researches what she can of them and then the stories come from her imagination, obviously there are the basic facts of history there, but what they thought, how they acted is what she

 imagines.

How wonderful to have such imagination and creativity

She talked for around an hour then invited questions.

Someone asked,  "have you had any thoughts as to who your next book will be about"

The answer was Yes! Jane Grey..... a collective Oooooh went around the room.

I will eagerly await that one :-)

Surprisingly the hall was not full, I can't think why as other venues were sold out.

We did get a seat at the front because of that, although as you can see it was probably

not the best place to sit, but at least we could hear.

 Afterwards she was signing books, so now I have my own autographed copy :-)

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Both me and Mark have a week off work next week, we have a few days out planned, a couple of NT places and hopefully a trip to Windsor Palace.  That one has been on my list for so long that we really need to make the time for it this week.

Until next time

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