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Janet

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  1. Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey The ‘blurb’ A short novel that was first published in 1932 by a niece of Lytton Strachey: in this 'sharp, unsentimental domestic comedy, the weather is something less than cheerful the day Dolly Thatcham marries the Hon Owen Bingham: "In the furious March gale, everyone felt as though they were being beaten on the back of the head and on the nose with heavy carpets, and having cold steel knives thrust up inside their nostrils."' I found this short novella on Waterstone’s sale shelf for £1.99 - it had been on my wish list for some time. I know I enjoyed it because when I look at my posts about it I’ve said so, but it’s been a couple of months since I finished it and the story has completely faded from my mind. This seems to happen all too often these days, unfortunately. I know that it’s not really the story that makes this book so enjoyable, but rather it’s the beautiful prose. It’s a sort of comedy of manners and class. The only bit I really remember is two of the young characters, one of whom insisted on wearing coloured socks to the wedding, which the other (his brother, I think) is horrified that it might get back to their school that he behaved in such an outrageous way! So there you go – I have nothing to say to recommend this book, but I did enjoy it! The paperback edition is 128 pages long and is published by Persephone. It was first published in 1932. The ISBN is 9781906462079. 3½/5 (I liked it) (Finished 07 February 2015)
  2. It picked up for me too, eventually, but it took me so long to get into it.
  3. I finished a book! Yesterday, in fact. I finally finished The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón - it took me a month to read it! I hope it doesn't take me as long to read the next one.
  4. Thanks kind of you, Claire. I'm going to start my Book Club book soon, so I'll see if my mojo improves after that, and if not then I might well do that.
  5. I'm not really being fair - I'm not hating it either. It's certainly picked up now, but I found it took me aaages to get into. So many people told me I would love it (including my Mum, who did, and we have similar tastes in books) that I think I put too much pressure on myself. Does that make sense? I know lots of people love them but comics are not something that appeals to me. If I did read them I don't think I would count them towards my yearly reading total because they tend to be short (that's a sweeping generalisation, I know, but I'm thinking of things like the Beano). I feel bad if I read a novella that only has 60 pages and count it towards my total, but then I guess I have read them, so they should count. It just feels a bit like cheating.
  6. I'm *still* plodding through The Shadow of the Wind. I'm enjoying it more than I was, but I'm not loving it. My mojo is still poorly (although I feel I could quite happily read Middlemarch quickly if I wasn't doing it as a group read). I think maybe I should read a couple of comics like The Beano to increase my reading numbers for the year! Just kidding!
  7. Thanks, Sari and Claire. I'm glad you've enjoyed your walk, Sari - and discovered a new library. I hope you like it when you manage to catch it open. Claire - other stuff I did definitely takes a bit of a back seat now I'm walking, but I really, really enjoy my walks (although I'm definitely a fair-weather walker). I hope you do too when you are able to do some.
  8. I've acquired 11 new books this year. I'm not sure how that compares to last year, but I guess it's not too bad! Edit: 13 this time last year, so not far behind. I acquired 48 in total last year. I'm determined not to equal (or 'better', if that's the right word!) that total this year!
  9. I'm disappointed they've used an image of Disney Pooh rather than the proper one. I'm not sure, tbh. I adore Pooh but I haven't read the last sequel yet - I guess I will at some stage, but it almost feels like sacrilege.
  10. Thanks, Gaia and Noll. You're right, but in the end I didn't go back for it. There are lots of Book #1 around in charity shops so hopefully I'll find it again.
  11. My Fitness Pal has been brilliant for me. I hope it works as well for you.
  12. My Mum and I were drawn to that gorgeous cover in Waterstone's a few weeks ago , Kay. You've had a great month. I wish I could say the same!
  13. I've just seen The Rosie Effect in a charity shop for £1 I didn't buy it as my mojo is still poorly - and besides, I haven't read the first one yet... but I'm wondering if I should go back and see if it's still there...?
  14. Are you training for your City2Surf day, Kylie? How's it going? In the UK the Simon Pegg film you mentioned is called Run Fatboy Run. Your title is much kinder! I lost the weight I had gained and another 4lbs at my next monthly weigh in. I have lost 64lbs so far. Your journal sounds a great idea, Sari. I hope it's working out well. I hope you're back on track, Noll. Kay - I have problem skin (in terms of what I can tolerate cream/moisturiser-wise. I tend to stick to Simple products. My skin has improved immensely since I started drinking more water about a year ago. Tiger. Malaysia sounds exciting. I hope you get to the bottom of what's causing your medical problems. I'm glad things are going well for you, Gaia. I hope I didn't miss anyone. I have asked my children not to buy me chocolate for Easter so I shan't get too much this year (probably some Lindor truffles from Peter).
  15. Yay for holidays! Enjoy. The only Easter weekend I have had off since 2005 was in 2012 when I accidentally booked it as annual leave (the clocks went forward on Easter Eve so I hadn't specifically booked it off for that reason!) so I'm looking forward to this one.
  16. This sounds great - I've added it to my wish list.
  17. Thanks, Claire. I finished Book 3 today so I'll have to wait impatiently for the next instalment now!
  18. I can't find where we talked about the date for Book 3 of Middlemarch but I'm nearly at the end of it already. I'm really enjoying it and it's not as challenging as I thought it might be. Can someone please remind me when the deadline is, please?
  19. I don't listen to music whilst reading. I can switch off from it if it's a really good book but I'd rather have silence!
  20. I'm sorry it took me so long! It came on my walk with me yesterday and I posted it after about 3 miles of walking!
  21. We got lucky too. We actually nearly didn't make it to our second anniversary - we both found adjusting to marriage very hard - and I think it was doubly hard for me as I moved away from the place I'd lived all my life (150 miles) and I was very homesick for the first year. We at least had the advantage of knowing each other for far longer than Dorothea knew Casaubon (we've known each other all our lives as we lived in the same village until Peter moved away when he was 14) but we had to work hard to get back on track. I know someone who got married at the age of 20 (about three years ago) but that's definitely not the norm these days. I'm sorry I went off at you yesterday. It's just that you seemed rather dismissive and it felt like you were telling me I was wrong and that you were right and that was that, but I apologise for misunderstanding.
  22. Not at all. I just don't think things are always black and white. I was only 21 when we got married (nearly 22) and Peter was a year older. When I look back I think we were so young I'm not sure I'd be so keen on my two getting married so young (that would be Luke in 18 months time! ). I can't see Dorothea and Casaubon's union being a lasting... or happy... one, but time will tell. If Casaubon dies choking on a mini cheddar I'll give you £1!
  23. I think 12th *should* be achievable. We can always review later. I haven't started book 3 yet - I'm not sure how long it is.
  24. Thanks, Noll. I love it just a little bit more this morning after last night's instalment mentioned Tess of the D'Urbervilles!
  25. I'm feeling a bit fed up at the moment. I just don't seem to be able to find (or is it make?) the time to read. I'm enjoying The Shadow of the Wind but my progress is painfully slow. If anyone sees my mojo perhaps they'd be kind enough to send it home to me?!
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