I’ve just finished reading South Riding by Winifred Holtby. I loved it and raced through all 525 pages at breakneck speed. It was a reading group choice and wasn’t in stock at Waterstone’s when I went to buy it. The girl behind the counter placed an order for me but when it arrived it was… Continue reading Can a TV tie-in change your reading?
Category: reading
Review: Melissa by Jonathan Taylor
It’s not a spoiler to tell you that the Melissa of the title dies at the beginning of the book – everything that follows is a result of this tragic occurrence. As she does so, all her neighbours experience a musical hallucination – most find it beautiful if perplexing, only a few dislike it. The… Continue reading Review: Melissa by Jonathan Taylor
February reads
A short month and two books to read for reading group this month means I only read four books this month. 1984 – George Orwell and Brave New World – Aldous Huxley It was a dystopian double bill for reading group this month, though I can’t remember why. One line of thinking was that people… Continue reading February reads
National Libraries Day
It’s late, I know. My blogging has fallen off in recent weeks and I can only blame the day job workload and a stinking cold. But a quick few words because it’s National Libraries Day. My first library was a bus. A mobile library that came to the close where I lived. I on’t remember… Continue reading National Libraries Day
January – the read pile
A belated post but here’s what I read in January. Bill Bryson – The Road to Little Dribbling I once had dinner with Bill Bryson. I worked for Waterstone’s events team, he was on a book promotion tour and we had a two-performance night at Newark Theatre. We had a tight turnaround for food between… Continue reading January – the read pile
The to be read pile…
There’s no real need for New Year resolutions when it comes to reading. I did set my Goodreads challenge as 50 books this year so we’ll see how I get on. The days of reading 100 books a year are long gone, but 50 is tough but not impossible. Anyway, here’s the current to… Continue reading The to be read pile…
2015: Books of the Year
I am expecting masses of hardbacks as a Christmas gift – the bonus of cycling to work means that I mainly read at home and therefore don’t have to worry about carrying them – so this books of the year list is not going to feature many published this year. Instead I’ve had a look… Continue reading 2015: Books of the Year
To re-read or not?
I’m re-reading Cranford at the moment, as it’s my reading group’s choice for December. My main memory from the first time I read it was that it was very funny, and so I’m rather disappointed to find I’m not laughing as much this time round. It is still full of delightful observations and little… Continue reading To re-read or not?
Review: Between Here and Knitwear by Chrissie Gittins
Anyone who knows me will realise that a book with the word ‘knitwear’ in the title was bound to pique my interest. But Chrissie Gittins’s book has so much more to recommend it than just its name. The book is a memoir of Chrissie growing up, and then as an adult who has to deal… Continue reading Review: Between Here and Knitwear by Chrissie Gittins
The joy of libraries
It’s National Libraries Day! Here are some reasons I love them: They’re one of the last places you can spend time where you aren’t being sold something. Every time I read an article talking about how libraries can diversify their income in tough times by putting in a coffee shop a small part of me… Continue reading The joy of libraries
Susan E Barsby 