chesilbeach
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Posts posted by chesilbeach
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5 hours ago, willoyd said:
Claire - Thank you for my challenge - it's slipped under my radar a bit, so I'm glad you've brought it forward. Hayley beat me to it on To Serve Them All My Days (I sort of remember the television series, and have meant to read it for a while now - it's a chunky book, but I think it'll be an easy one), so, instead, my challenge to you is a bit different (!): The Year of Reading Dangerously by Andy Miller. It's been sat on my shelves a while, and looks a fairly light but interesting read about even more books (as long as it doesn't give us ideas for adding to our TBR lists)!
Thanks @willoyd. Coincidentally, Andy Miller is one of the hosts of the podcast I mentioned which caused me to buy To Serve Them All My Days in the first place!
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@Alexi, my challenge to you is Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters, as she’s an author that’s been on my radar for a long time but I’ve only read one of her books, so I’ll live vicariously through you!
9 hours ago, Alexi said:My challenge to Claire is The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry because it is on my TBR and I have heard great things about it
Thanks. I’ve seen so many people recommend it, and it won one of the big awards last year, but has languished on my TBR for a while, so I’m glad you’ve picked it for me
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Thanks Hayley - I only recently bought it as it was discussed on my favourite books podcast, Backlisted, a few weeks ago. It's a real doorstop though ... over 600 pages I think!
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Claire's (chesilbeach) Challenge list
Challenges to me
1. Willoyd:
The Year of Reading Dangerously by Andy Miller2. Madeleine:
Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart3. Karen.d: Winter by Ali Smith
4. Alexi:
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry5. Chaliepud: To Serve Them All My Days by R. F. Delderfield
6. Little Pixie:
Touch Not The Cat by Mary Stewart7. Frankie: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
8. More Reading Time Required:
The God of Small Things by Arundathi Roy9. Ben:
The Hate U Giveby Angie ThomasChallenges by me
1. Willoyd: Field Notes From A Hidden City by Esther Woolfson
2. Madeleine: How To Stop Time by Matt Haig
3. Karen.d: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
4. Alexi:
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters5. Chaliepud: My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier
6. Little Pixie: A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark
7. Frankie:
Miss Hargreavesby Frank Baker8. More Reading Time Required: Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
9. Ben: Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys
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My challenge to willoyd is Field Notes From A Hidden City by Esther Woolfson, as I loved her book Corvus and would love to hear your thoughts on this one.
And to chaliepud, I challenge you to read My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier, as I loved Rebecca and also the film version of My Cousin Rachel. Good luck to you both!
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My list of books is in my book blog here, split over two posts: Kindle books and Hardback and Paperback books. At the moment, it's a bit lightweight, but I'm hoping for something to get my teeth into for Christmas, so hopefully I'll be updating it soon with some more options.
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Went and bought our tree this morning. Not sure what the point is, as we won't be able to use the living room until the new year when the plumber has installed the new radiator, so we'll put it up in there and then never see it unless we walk past the house and see it from the outside looking in.
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I've started The Bear and the Nightingale this morning. Need to read it for my book group meeting early next month, and it sounds like an interesting read, but thought I'd better read it now before I get distracted by Christmas books!
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Congratulation Brian.
Quietish day today, collected some more books from storage and our new shelves are now groaning! Also picked up a Christmas tree, and splashed out on a little bit of chocolate for Christmas too.
This afternoon will see me try to conquer the ironing mountain that has built up while renovation works have been ongoing.
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After high winds, heavy rain and hail last night, it's calmed down today, with blue skies and sunshine and above freezing temperatures ... it could be summer!
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Pompeii by Robert Harris set in the 1st century BC, and The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is a retelling of the story of Achilles and Patroclus in the Trojan War (which I think was 12C or 13C BC?)
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35 minutes ago, Talisman said:
That's a lot of books - you must do nothing but read, unless they're all very short books!
I wish I did nothing but read! I work full time and have other hobbies too, but I do read almost every lunch break, and as much time as I can squeeze in outside of work. This does include some audiobooks, which I listen to in the car or while walking as well as when I’m doing things like sewing. Just taken an average of the number of pages per book for this year and it is currently 317 pages, so pretty average for most books nowadays.
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It's been a bit busy this week with lots of trips to collect our books and DIY shops to try and get as much done on the redecoration of our living room. It's getting very close to Christmas and the house is a mess at the moment, so fingers crossed we can get it a bit better sorted soon and start to enjoy the holiday season. Thankfully I've been more organised this year and have all my shopping and wrapping done, so I've got plenty of time for sorting and cleaning.
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Warmer and much wetter than the past few days. It's back above freezing and almost making double figures at the moment, but it's pouring with rain.
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Despite having planned to not buy any more books until after Christmas, I found a copy of a book on my wishlist in the charity shop yesterday, so came home with a very good condition of Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans.
Plus, in rather awesome news, my books are coming out of storage and we're filling the bookshelves in our newly (partially) decorated living room! I was hoping to be in my Christmas, but the plumber isn't coming to install the new radiator until the New Year, so we've decided to put the books back now and decorate the shelves for Christmas, but just not use the room as a living room yet. The only problem is we've haven't bought him anywhere near all the boxes of books home yet, and the shelves are nearly full already - how did that happen??? Will need to do a serious cull and get rid of some to the charity shop when we organise them properly.
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I finished my 150th book today. I didn't really have a target, but this is around average for the last few years for me. Still a lot of the month left, and hoping to squeeze in a few more yet.
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Yes, this sounds great. Count me in!
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On 11/30/2017 at 11:17 PM, poppy said:
Loved all of the Merchent Ivory productions of E.M Forster's books. Wonderful actors and beautiful cinematography. Is this a TV series you're watching? Would love to see this.
I haven't seen it myself, but based on the clips I've seen, it doesn't look a patch on the Merchant Ivory film. My friends have been watching, and they say it's almost like a scene for scene remake of the film, but without the same quality of acting. On the other hand, some other friends who've never seen the film or read the book are really enjoying it. I have to admit, I've avoided it as I don't like the actor in the lead role and I'd rather just watch the film adaptation again, but that's just me!
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Finished listening to The Summer Seaside Kitchen by Jenny Colgan this afternoon, and I'm halfway through How To Be A Heroine which is fantastic.
Spent a bit of time this morning planning some reading lists for next year. There's a few authors I'd like to read more of as well as starting some lists based on some book podcasts I listen to, so I've been starting getting some lists together.
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I was most of the way through listening to an audiobook version of Jenny Colgan's The Summer Seaside Kitchen so decided to finish that rather than start a Christmassy story instead while doing my wrapping today. I've finished it this afternoon, so audiobooks will be Christmas ones for the rest of the month now!
I'm halfway through How To Be A Heroine by Samantha Ellis and it's fantastic. Will definitely be recommending it when I've finished.
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Have spent most of the day inside today, but it seems to have been bright and cool but not cold.
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I got all my wrapping done today.
I'm trying to get as much prep done as early as possible, so that I can just enjoy my time off work over Christmas. I don't have many people to give presents to, so it only took me a couple of hours to finish everything and tidy up afterwards, although there was glitter on one of my choices of wrapping paper and it's EVERYWHERE now!
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Felt much better today, thanks Madeleine.
Not much on today, just a few jobs around the house, so I've been listening to a book rather than reading, and just settling down for the evening now. Back to normal routine tomorrow, so up early for work and counting down the days to my holidays for Christmas! :D
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9 hours ago, willoyd said:
Thanks for that! On potential books for the Wainwright prize, I will be amazed if Adam Nicholson's book The Seabird's Cry doesn't make it at least onto the shortlist - for me it was a very easy 6 stars, and a strong contender for my non-fiction book of the year.
Yes, I've got that one on my list already!
I loved his book The Sea Room (that must have been a long time ago now though, maybe 15 years?) so it definitely made it on to my potential nominees list. :)
Round Robin Year-long Challenge
in Reading Challenges
Posted
I think this podcast was made for you! Their first ever episode was about A Month In The Country, and I’m sure you would love it.