It was such a joy to see bibliotherapy in mainstream action recently. Philippa Perry, the psychotherapist who also does The Observer’s Agony Aunt column recommended a dose of Persuasion to one of her correspondents. Persuasion is Jane Austen writing for grown ups. Pride and Prejudice and Emma etc are all very well but have an… Continue reading Bibliotherapy: Persuasion by Jane Austen
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Grist to the Writing Mill
I’ve been going to an online writing group for the last four months. It’s been run by Vanessa Gebbie, writer and teacher extraordinaire, and is called Grist to the Writing Mill. Essentially, for one evening each month we sat on Zoom and wrote all sorts of exercises for two and a half hours, using a… Continue reading Grist to the Writing Mill
December reading round up
I have read very little this month. I never do manage to get through much in December – the week between Christmas and New Year is not for reading as we’re always visiting people and the rest of the month is hectic. So this will be a short round up: A Thousand Tiny Disappointments –… Continue reading December reading round up
Review: The Winter Guest by WC Ryan
A cold night. You, curled by the fire, glass or mug of something warming by your side and in need of a good read to match the atmosphere as winds howl around your house. May I recommend The Winter Guest by WC Ryan? Funnily enough, it wasn’t that long ago that I was ranting about… Continue reading Review: The Winter Guest by WC Ryan
Christmas character book tag
Today I thought I’d a festive book tag to share with the Christmas Character Book Tag. This tag was designed by Anthony from Keep Reading Forward but I got it from @AndOnSheReads Santa Claus – A gift you received or want this yearWell, I’ve asked for the new Nigel Slater and the Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen books,… Continue reading Christmas character book tag
Books of the Year! 2021 round up
Happy end of 2021! Isn’t it amazing how every year now feels less like the passing of time and more like a major achievement to tick off? I hope this blog post finds you well or at the very least, managing, which feels like as much as we can expect. So I come to my… Continue reading Books of the Year! 2021 round up
November round up
As I write, an icy blast is sweeping the country and it feels the right time to curl up with a book. The below is what I’ve got through this month: The Uninvited Guests – Sadie Jones I got this out of the library, having recognised her name from somewhere – she is loved by… Continue reading November round up
October reading round up
I got a good bit of reading in this month and tried to limit book buying, a mostly unsuccessful enterprise. A week’s holiday gave me a little bit more time to read though the times when I took 6 or 7 books away for a week and got through them are in the past. All… Continue reading October reading round up
September reading round up
Happy October! If you can have such a thing. My favourite month has passed and it’s all the way to the cold months now. But here is a round up of the books and things I loved in September. Broken Greek – Pete Paphides Music journalist Pete Paphides wrote a stonking great book detailing his… Continue reading September reading round up
Separation anxiety
This week, I went into town for a work meeting – not once, but twice. This was only the third time I’ve been into an office for a meeting in the last eighteen months, having otherwise been working from my dining room desk. It was strange, I’ll admit. We visited another office, cool and air… Continue reading Separation anxiety
Susan E Barsby 