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Poetry and me

It was World Poetry Day this week. I’ve always had a troubled relationship with poetry. Where does it fit? Do you curl up and read a volume of poems the way you do with a novel? Is it possible to get lost in it, in the characters, the situations, the way you do with a… Continue reading Poetry and me

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Competition time! Win an author’s kit

I’m celebrating. And to have you join in my celebrations I’m giving away everything you need to be a writer. Everything, except the sheer bloody mindedness, which I’m afraid you’ll have to cultivate yourself. Would you like to win: coffee, biscuits, writing maps, notebooks and pen? You would? Great, read on. Your ultimate writer’s kit… Continue reading Competition time! Win an author’s kit

Review: A Life Between Us by Louise Walters

I came to the second novel by Louise Walters with some anticipation, having enjoyed her debut Mrs Sinclair’s Suitcase very much. This second book is being self-published by Walters, an act of independence to be admired. A Life Between Us is set in the present day and features Tina, a lonely housewife, avid reader, compulsive… Continue reading Review: A Life Between Us by Louise Walters

February reading

A short month but not bad for reading. The Good Muslim – Tahmima Anam I read Anam’s debut years ago as part of the judging group for the Guardian First book Award and then had the pleasure of talking to her at a publisher’s dinner a few months later. She was a lovely, very neat… Continue reading February reading

On audiobooks

In a fit of enthusiasm, I told a work colleague last week that I was doing so well with my running that I would be working up to doing regular 10ks. (This is true, though I thought I’d give myself a few more weeks to make sure I’ve really nailed the 5k but still.) Her… Continue reading On audiobooks

January reading

I read eight – eight! – books this month. As a result, I didn’t write much this month. Ah time. But this has been a rich reading month and a pleasure. Here’s what I thought. (The eighth review is the previous blog post) The Ocean at the End of the Lane – Neil Gaiman I’d… Continue reading January reading

Review: How to be a Grown Up

I should start this review with a disclaimer: I am NOT the target demographic for this book. I’m way too old. However, I’m (just) young enough to remember the heady terrifying years of my twenties and now that’s thankfully all behind me, I can sit back and read this with an air of relaxation. How… Continue reading Review: How to be a Grown Up

To read: 2017

My ‘to read’ list currently looks like this: Every New Year I resolve to read more non-fiction, so am feeling pleased that I’ve already put a history book on my reads of January list. Four biographies on this list, a book of essays and a book about sport is a good start. I also resolved… Continue reading To read: 2017

Best books of 2016

I have read 60 new books this year. That is, books that are new to me, not just books published this year. There have also been 9 re-reads. I’ve amazed myself in how much I’ve read this year – my challenge was to read 50 books and I thought I’d struggle. As usual the number… Continue reading Best books of 2016