chesilbeach

Winnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne Synopsis: Winnie-the-Pooh may be a bear of very little brain, but thanks to his friends Piglet, Eeyore and, of course, Christopher Robin, he’s never far from an adventure. In this story Pooh gets into a tight place, nearly catches a Woozle and heads off on an ‘expotition’ to the North Pole with the other animals. Review: Another book from the English Counties Challenge, and surprisingly, a classic children's book I've never read (I've also never seen the film adaptations either). Winnie-The-Pooh is obviously a well-known, well-loved character, so it's not like I wasn't aware of him, and I'd maybe heard the books read on Jackanory when I was little, but I'd never actually read one myself. What an utterly charming book this was. A delight to read from start to end, and a lovely introduction to all the characters of the Hundred Acre Wood, I can't imagine anyone would fail to fall in love with this book and all the characters in it, and it would make absolutely perfect reading as a bedtime story for young children. Lovely.

The Bride That Time Forgot by Paul Magrs Synopsis: Necks are being bitten all over Whitby, and only Brenda knows why. She's preparing for a packed festive break at her B&B, but Effie just hasn't been the same since her suave gentleman friend reappeared. Meanwhile, Penny joins a book group in Whitby's new mystery bookstore. As she's drawn into the strange works of Edwardian lady novelist Beatrice Mapp, she makes some surprising discoveries that will impact on all the ladies of Whitby. When unexpected help arrives to illuminate the dangers awaiting them, Brenda realises that unless she finds a way to save Effie, the consequences may be eternal. Review: Oh how good was it to be back with Brenda and Effie! Except, where was Effie? I love the everydayness of these books, and how a supernatural presence could be lurking under the ordinary English seaside town of Whitby. The characters are great, and I love coming back to visit them regularly, but what I love most are my heroines - two old ladies who have bravery, heart and are very comedic at times, whose friendship has given them this new lease of life - but for the most part, Effie is missing. She's at the heart of the story to an extent and Brenda has to save her, but without these two working together, I felt a bit lost at times. Still a very good story, and I did enjoy it, but I'm hoping the next book (which I think is the final one) will bring them back together for a joyous finale to their sleuthing ways.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender Synopsis: On the eve of her ninth birthday, Rose Edelstein bites into her mother's homemade lemon-chocolate cake and discovers she has a magical gift: she can taste her mother's emotions in the slice. All at once her cheerful, can-do mother tastes of despair and desperation. Suddenly, and for the rest of her life, food becomes perilous. Anything can be revealed at any meal. Rose's gift forces her to confront the truth behind her family's emotions - her mother's sadness, her father's detachment and her brother's clash with the world. But as Rose grows up, she learns that there are some secrets even her taste buds cannot discern. Review: This was a reading group book that I just didn't get on with. I loved the title and the premise, but as I read through the book, I just found it more and more frustrating. It certainly provoked quite a discussion at the group, and I was probably one of the more vociferous in my feelings. I did read it to the end, and I'm glad I did so I could fully participate, but when there is a revelation about one of the characters, it was just a step too far. I could have suspended disbelief for the story of the rest of them, but this one was just too much for me, and if it hadn't been a library book, I might have tossed it across the room. Not for me.

C'est Modnifique! by Ian Moore Synopsis: After six years in the idyllic Loire Valley, comedian Ian Moore, his family and their ever-expanding menagerie feel like they’re on the cusp of the peace and tranquility they hoped for when they moved from dreary suburban England. Their grand project, a writing school called Les Champs Créatifs, is finally complete – only, nobody’s signed up. On top of contending with the ever-colourful locals, including a Sicilian faith healer, threatening hunters and the ‘Christmas Pudding Man’, Ian must now test his mod mettle against a pair of disappearing goats. Meanwhile, his family stand back and wonder just how he manages to make things so hard for himself… Review: It was lovely being back in the Loire with mod comedian Ian Moore and his family and their assorted animals. After the first book was all about resettling in a new country, this book was more of their day to day life, and really, more about how the animals of the family rule the show. No matter how many times he says no, his wife always gets her way and more animals find their way in to the family life, but inevitably there are going to be sad goodbyes at times, and this is when Moore reveals how much the animals mean to him to. A lovely memoir to read, plenty of humour with a dollop of sadness mixed in, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Resistance is Futile by Jenny T. Colgan Synopsis: Connie's smart. She's funny. But she's only human . . . As a high-ranking mathematician in a male-dominated field - with bright red hair - Connie's used to being considered a little unusual. But she's nowhere near as peculiar as Luke, who is recruited to work alongside her on a top-secret code breaking project. Just what is this bizarre sequence they're studying? It isn't a solution to the global energy crisis. It isn't a new wavelength to sell microwave ovens. The numbers are trying to tell them something . . . and it seems only Luke knows what. The truth is out there. Will Connie dare to find it? Review: A science-fiction book from one of my favourite romantic comedy writers … there is no way I could resist! All the charm and humour of Jenny's romcom's but with a mathematician heroine and a mysterious problem to solve, I loved this book. I loved the characters, the story and the SF elements, an altogether enjoyable novel. Really hope she writes more of them.

I've finished First Class Murder this morning, and I've now started on A Robot in the Garden by Deborah Install. I've read about 50 pages so far, and I love it.

I posted that this morning - I'm not meeting my friend until later today.

Thanks everyone, I'm dead chuffed!

Raiders of the Lost Ark. I love that film The use of shadows throughout is brilliant, and the HD version looks amazing ...

I love reading M. C. Beaton books too. They're fun books to read, I use them when my reading has gone off the boil a bit to get me back in the swing of things, or if I'm feeling a bit down in the dumps then they'll cheer me up no end. I've read 103 of her books now, and I've got the last two Agatha Raisin books to go, plus 32 of her historical romantic comedy books on my wish list, but I'm saving them as treats for when I next need a pick me up. I've only read a few of the Hamish Macbeth series, and I do enjoy them, but not quite as much as the others, but I think I'll get around to them eventually. Happy reading!

I'm in the process of upgrading a website, so that's taken up most of my weekend. I hate change, but it needs to be done, and I'm struggling with the new interface at the moment, but I know once I get used to it, it'll be better, it's just that transition process that's so frustrating. More irritating, it's left me little reading time, and will continue to do so for a good few weekends yet! I'm meeting up with a friend later to go to the cinema, and getting a few other bits and pieces sorted out, so I'm going to be busy most of the day, but looking forward to a catch up with my friend and can't wait to see the new Mission Impossible film!

Been busy with other things this weekend, so am still reading First Class Murder, but absolutely loving it!

Book Art Is Awesome: Around The Home http://bookriot.com/2015/07/20/book-art-awesome-around-home/

How to spot whodunnit: academics crack Agatha Christie's code http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/aug/02/academics-unlock-formula-agatha-christies-mysteries

Fantastic!!!! Thanks, Michelle, that's made my day!

Started reading it this morning Seriously I can't, Janet … the bookshelves in the living room are being dismantled as we speak, there's no room in any of the other bookshelves and we've run out of storage boxes!!!

Started First Class Murder this morning

I've sorted out my TBR list now that most of my books are in storage boxes, and I'm left with 20 books. Can't deny, I'm much happier with this number, and think I can make a good dent in it over the next few weeks. Fortunately, most of the ones in storage are from some of the challenges I'm working on, so it doesn't matter too much as these were always intended as long term reading, but I still want to work on the rest of the book on my TBR, particularly the tree books as I'd like to get back to my Kindle which I do still find easier to read on.

I finished it this afternoon - thought the end was a bit too drawn out, but on the whole, I thought it was really good! Let's hope so! Might read it this weekend

Ashes Third Test, Day 2 highlights … blimey, I wouldn't want to see Mitchell Johnson running in to bowl to me - Bairstow and Stokes had no chance!!!

Watched Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol this evening in preparation for seeing Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation next week!

Picked up The Wimbledon Poisoner again today, and I'm enjoying it so much! Actually chuckled out loud a couple of times, really good comic writing. Also made a detour to Waterstone's on the way home and picked up Robin Stevens new Wells & Wong Mystery, First Class Murder, and it was in an offer, so also bought Darkmere by Helen Maslin.

I bought this one today - I went in to buy another book which happened to be on the buy one get one half price offer, and I remembered you'd written a review of this one, but couldn't remember what it was like, so thought I'd give it a go anyway! Just got home and read your review, so glad I decided to go for it

Finished Clay by Melissa Harrison today and it's one of those books that'll stick with me for a while. Although a novel, contains wonderful writing about the observations of nature all around us.

I ended up reading nothing yesterday, as got caught up in some work on my website, so have only been able to read more of 2am at The Cat's Pajama's during my lunch break today, and yet again, ran out of time with just 8 pages left!!!!!! Will finish it of in a moment.