[Your Book Activity - March 2017]

I finished Family Roundabout this afternoon.  So enjoyable, and surprising for me, as there's not much of a plot, it's more of a meandering look at two intertwined upper middle class families between the wars.  Another to chalk up on my Persephone books list, and thanks to poppyshake for giving it to me for my birthday.

Awww .. so glad you enjoyed it It always gets such good reviews so I thought I'd be pretty safe with it but you never know. Most Persephone books meander along though don't they? .. the ones I've read have anyway, but I love them for that. They're not hectic at all .. it's always so relaxing to read them

[Claire's Book List 2017]

 

 

I think you'll enjoy it, Kay  Al's got good taste

Of course he has

[Poppyshake's Reading Year 2017]

I loved A Kestrel For A Knave too, Kay.  Like you, I don't normally like having to read dialect, but it's so well done in this book, I barely noticed it and it certainly didn't take me out of the story, it just helped immerse me in it more.

Yes, definitely. I'm glad he didn't make changes

While I enjoyed reading your review of Bill Bryson's book, I won't be reading that one.  I've only read one of his, but I found his style irritating and didn't share your view of the humour.  Isn't it odd how our senses of humour can be the same on some books and completely opposite on others!

Oh well, that's what makes the world go round You're not alone in your opinion of Bill's writing .. but then neither am I  

[Poppyshake's Reading Year 2017]

A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines
 
Synopsis: With prose that is every bit as raw, intense and bitingly honest as the world it depicts, Barry Hines's A Kestrel for a Knave contains a new afterword by the author in Penguin Modern Classics. Life is tough and cheerless for Billy Casper, a troubled teenager growing up in the small Yorkshire mining town of Barnsley. Treated as a failure at school, and unhappy at home, Billy discovers a new passion in life when he finds Kes, a kestrel hawk. Billy identifies with her silent strength and she inspires in him the trust and love that nothing else can, discovering through her the passion missing from his life.

Thoughts: This was so harrowing and painful. I knew the content would be hard hitting as I'd seen the film Kes .. many moons ago and once seen never forgotten but there was so much more here. The author has really captured what it means to be lonely and outcast. I wanted to shake the people in it until their teeth rattled. It came close to being unbearable at times but the writing is sublime and Billy, though constantly un-appreciated and bullied, is not entirely cast down. He's a survivor, he'll stick two fingers up to the world and give back as good as he gets. That doesn't mean to say that you don't feel immense sympathy for him. I felt in pain reading most of it. Billy lives at home with his mum and brother, it's not what you would call a loving home. They are poor and there's nothing in the way of home comforts. It's the sort of household where your morning greeting might well be a slap. At school Billy has got a champion in Mr Farthing, his teacher, somebody who can see that all he lacks is encouragement but sadly there are far too many tormentors.

There is one gleaming beacon of light in Billy's life and that's his kestrel, Kes. Billy took Kes from her nest when she was just a young chick. He's trained her and lavished upon her the sort of care and attention that is entirely missing from his own life. She's not the sort of pet that will love you though. She's not really interested. She's an independent spirit and Billy loves that about her. 

 

There's an afterword in this edition by Barry and in it he says that he wouldn't use dialect if writing it today (alas Barry died last year ) but I liked the dialect, it gave such a strong sense of place and added to the authenticity.

 

Such a raw and biting story and so painfully honest. The ending will shake you. 

This is a book from the English Counties Challenge list (and the 1001) so hooray, I've ticked another one off and, by doing it, read one of the most outstanding British novels ever. It's a constant on school curriculums and rightly so. 5/5 

[Poppyshake's Reading Year 2017]

The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson
 
Synopsis: Bill Bryson's The Road to Little Dribbling marks the return of the world’s favourite anglophile to his beloved Britain, and the result is a still properly-funny, and sometimes withering, summary of where we are today.
Two decades ago saw the publication of Notes from A Small Island, Bryson's often-ascerbic and sporadically baffled gazeteer of our fair isle; his humour and evident love for Britain found a legion of fans, with Waterstones in particular providing a certain kinship for Des Moines' most famous son. Now many, many shop events and a number of equally-superb books later, The Road to Little Dribbling reminds us of just how clear-eyed his vision is: there's much humour here, but it's a humour laced with a certain quiet truth that Blighty has undergone massive change - and not all necessarily to the good.
In a journey that takes us from Bognor Regis to Cape Wrath (by way of a myriad of other destinations, largely as yet unobserved by the gimlet-eyed Bryson), we are served with his unequalled delight in obscure fact and ability to cast a new light on the deeply familiar, presenting a version of Britain that is at once revealing and strangely compelling.

Thoughts: Oh how I laughed  I do love comedic ranters and especially those whose bark is worse than their bite and Bill is definitely one of those. He says it all with a twinkle in his eye so you can't get too offended even if he does rubbish your favourite places.

Actually he pretty much said what I was thinking .. that the place is going to the dogs!! That a lot of what we should have held dear has been thrown away or is in the process of being thrown away and that nothing is as good as it was (well, a few things/places are .. Oxford has gone up in his estimation for one.) Places that were once thriving and busy (Dover for example) are now suffering a slow and painful death. We don't value our countryside as much as we once did, ditto the butcher/baker/candlestick maker, we are one of the worst litter droppers in the world, we are not the polite apologists we once were .. we don't want to spend any money on infrastructure (well .. not us .. the powers that be) .. and the National Trust want to fleece us of every penny we have ( .. they did come in for some stick here but I believe he re-joined at some point so he wasn't as anti as he was making out and it's true they do clobber you with charges .. you can't even breathe without it costing you ) God bless them though. 

Yes he is grumpy about it all but he's very funny when he's grumpy and he still loves this island just as much as he ever did. His love of it actually shines out. There's plenty of really informative history too which I always like reading about. If you like him already I think you'll like this (although it seems to be a bridge too far for some former fans) but if not then this definitely won't convert you. I laughed so much though and read bits out and basically annoyed anyone who was sharing room space with me. Long may Bill continue to rant and grumble   5/5

[What are you listening to?]

 

You've got to love a song that includes the words 'bibbity-bobbity hat'!!  

[Frankie reads 2017]

Ooh yay, I've just got news that my lease for the apartment will continue from current 31.5. to at least 31.7. I don't have to move out after May! I get to stay here for the summer... I don't know what happens after July, I might have to move after that, but at least I've now got a two months' extention Relief! 

Excellent news .. what a weight off your mind  

 

I like the sound of your traveller's notebook .. you will have to travel now or else what will you write in it?  

Hope you enjoy your new books .. I've read A Man Called Ove .. it's delightful  

[Claire's Book List 2017]

The hero of Who Let The Gods Out? by Maz Evans is Elliot, who cares for his ill mum in their farmhouse which is under threat by their unscrupulous neighbour who wants to buy it to develop the site for profit.  One fateful day, Virgo who has descended to Earth on a mission, meets Elliot and the two accidentally manage to release a daemon who has been held prisoner beneath Stonehenge, and they have to call on the Greek gods to help save the day.

 

This middle grade book was a cracking comical story of Ancient gods and humans, with a quest at the heart of it, but all in a modern day setting.  While it is quite a funny book with a great adventure, there are some heartbreaking moments of Elliot and his mum, and it's lovely to see a young boy as a carer at the heart of a story, showing how tough it is to try to keep up with school and have to do all the housework, shopping and cooking plus the emotional strain of having to be grown up before your time.

Al bought me this for my birthday I only half read what you've just written but I can tell you liked it which is encouraging

[Health and Fitness]

Kay, i was put on beta blockers to try and help my migraines but they made me so exhausted I couldn't hack it. That was one of the reasons I had a complete overhaul of my diet which has helped more than I'd hoped. Still not amazing but I just couldn't cope with feeling so tired all the time.

It is a big problem because I feel tired all the time anyway .. so they've not helped .. the first time I took them it scared me half to death because my heart felt like it was only beating once every hour!!!! A really strange feeling. Like being slowed down to an almost stop. To a certain extent I'm used to them now but they take all the zip out of you. 

I've hit the age now (actually I hit it a long time ago   ) where high anxiety will take its toll though (I once went to a course of relaxation classes at the local hospital .. I was never so stressed in all my life!   ) so adjustments have to be made.

You're doing amazing with your new diet and everything Hayley You're so disciplined too .. that's key I think.

That's a really good idea.  I haven't been feeling consciously nervous about the testing, but I wouldn't put anything past my sub-conscious!  If I had a testing unit at home, I could also keep a closer track of what's working and what isn't.  Thanks, poppy!

You're welcome .. hope it helps You might notice patterns etc. 

[Claire's Book List 2017]

It was called Virago: Changing The World One Page At A Time just in case you spot it.  I think you'd enjoy it, Kay, as it's about feminism and women's changing roles in the business world as well as the authors and the books, and obviously about the company as well.

Definitely sounds like my sort of thing. I watch anything about books/authors .. even if I'm not keen on the author I watch because usually it's still interesting. Hope they do put it on again. 

[Your favourite narrator]

It definitely is.  It's too good an opportunity to miss, his delicious delivery coupled with the classic detective stories ... I can't wait to start!  I'm still listening to Lorna Doone at the moment, but as soon as I've finished that, I think I'll make a start on these.  It's lovely that they're all in one place too, so you can dip and and out in between other books too.

It's broken my computer :lol: Audible have split it into six parts and I downloaded the first three no problem .. then things got sticky and I can't download the rest It'll be fine on my phone but to get it onto iTunes now is going to be tricky and that's how I usually get it onto my iPod. It's the computer .. it's limping on and basically doesn't want to know if you ask it to do anything. It'll sort itself out I expect but if it's on my phone (which it is) then I can always listen on that. 

I'm still stuck listening to The Muse .. but it's dragging   

[Health and Fitness]

Thanks!  Yes, I'm being careful and logging my intake of everything on Cronometer.  

Are you able to check your blood pressure at home? Sometimes just being at the doctor's can raise it .. even if you think you're not worried about it. My OH has had trouble with his blood pressure but found it was a lot better when he was at home than when at the doctors. He then found that making time to go for a walk before his appointment helped. Obviously doing all the right dietary things is the most important thing though. 

Just wondered if you were able to check it yourself? 

Hope it lowers soon. 

 

I've been on beta blockers for donkey's years though and the doctor told me, when I went on them, that I would most likely never come off of them. Al (OH) actually thinks my blood pressure is too low .. when he's checked it with his monitor but the doctor says it's fine (again .. probably it raises when I get there sto almost normal.) I've lived on my nerves for ever though .. total nervous Nelly .. so I can't see that changing and Mum has had a heart attack and her sister had one at around the same time and well .. I suppose it's better to try and prevent these things but the tablets make me feel sluggish. Like a fly in treacle sometimes.

 

I'm going to attempt to eat more healthily in March. I have a school reunion to go to in April (I think I say this about this time every year ) and I need to lose a few pounds. I lost quite a lot of weight last year, then I went and stayed at Mum and Dad's for three months in order to help them after Mum's hip op. I thought I'd pile the weight back on there but I actually lost some because I was quite disciplined and also on the go 24/7. But then came Christmas .. and the added pleasure of being home again and .. well .. I've been going backwards since   I bought a dress to wear to the reunion back in November .. it fitted fine but it's a little on the tight side now   

Still .. there is time. I don't want to buy anything new .. and I know I can do it if I just stop eating junk. I don't often eat takeaways or anything but going out to coffee shops etc is a bit of a temptation .. also chocolate .. and cakes in general. I like baking and that's a bit of a no-no. I'm an all or nothing sort of person. I'd rather go completely without than go for a healthier option or smaller portion (cake/biscuits that is .. not food.) I don't drink fizzy drinks .. I don't like them so that's a plus. I only really like de-caf tea and water. I do like white wine and gin and tonic but try to keep drinking them to a minimum. 

 

Will try and up the amount of walking I do. I walk for about three miles a day though sometimes less ... if the weather is awful (which it is!!) but in the summer I was walking twice a day and amounting to six miles etc. 

I'm going to log it down somewhere .. to try and keep on track. 

 

Well done Shirley So encouraging when the weight comes off and you can see progress. 

[What's for Dinner?]

Yes, pancakes, with lemon and sugar But before that I had some chicken and rice ( ) and Al had a Pieminister chilli con carnage pie .. and of all weird things .. rice. Rice and pie .. it doesn't go together does it but then it is basically like chilli and rice .. with a bit of pastry. He needed a pint of water. It is seriously, seriously, HOT! 

[What's the weather like?]

Horrid! End of.

[Favourite box of chocolates?]

It was my birthday last week, and someone kindly bought me another box of the Lily O'Brien chocolates!  Thanks, Kay.  Although, there are only two left now

You're welcome and chocolates are there to be eaten. I mean, who hoards chocolates!?! Eat them up!!  

Actually, I have a chocolate orange in the cupboard. I was going to do a chocolate orange cake for my birthday and then I thought better of it as I was already at cake overload. I don't really want to eat ANY chocolate in March .. I'm going to try and give up snacky food in March (ha .. deluded idiot) so obviously .. I had better eat it tonight :lol: 

[Your favourite narrator]

Oh my goodness, Stephen Fry has just recorded Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection for Audible.  It's all four novels plus the five collections of short stories and is almost 72 hours long!!!    The full price is £69.99 but if you are a subscriber, it's just one credit.  I still have a credit from last month I haven't used, so I think this might be winging its way down to my Audible account later today.

Oh it's a must isn't it Claire. I'm definitely downloading it with my next credit which I think is already waiting for me. Oh happy days!! 

[Claire's Book List 2017]

That sounds interesting Claire and the sort of programme I love. I'll keep an eye out for it .. hopefully it'll turn up on iPlayer at some point  

[Poppyshake's Reading Year 2017]

Happy Birthday for Saturday

Thank you Lau-Lou  

Lovely to see you all too.  Shame about the weather ... it's not really getting much better now, is it?!  Hope you had a good birthday 

Weather was awful wasn't it? .. not quite as bad as the following day when storm Doris blew our gate down .. she was only just getting started .. but pretty awful just the same. It's got to cheer up soon surely   

I did have a nice birthday thanks Claire .. hope you had a nice week's holiday  

 

Will put my birthday books up soon .. I'm waiting for those nice people at Amazon to deliver a few bits and pieces still   

[Favourite box of chocolates?]

I like Roses because they have fudge, truffle, caramel, orange and strawberry flavoured sweets. I love praline, which is why I love Dairy Box - it's just a giant box of pralines heheh. I hate toffees and chewy things - they're the ones that get left behind in any box of Roses I get.

Oh!! It's your fault is it Noll? .. I wondered who they were appealing to   

[The Last Film You Saw - 2017]

I have this on the Sky planner to watch, though suspect I should read the book first, which is sitting on my TBR shelves, so really wouldn't require too much effort!

It's a whopper though isn't it Hayley?   

[Poppyshake's Reading Year 2017]

Jealous....  you three meeting up again.

Ahhh .. one day Diane

Happy birthday, dear Kay. 

Thank you lovely Janet I feel a bit sick now  ... cake overload   

[The Last Film You Saw - 2017]

Testament of Youth which was/is on the BBC iPlayer. Sobbed through most of it .. excellent (the film not the sobbing .. though I do like a good cry every now and then ) I want to read the book, I've been meaning to for ages. I remember hearing an extract years ago and it absolutely rocked me. 

[Poppyshake's Reading Year 2017]

Met up with lovely Claire and Janet on Wednesday in Bath .. perfect day except for the weather but we were all snug in the bookshop cafe so it mattered not. Lots of tea, coffee, cake and booky chat .. wonderful! Al bought me some books afterwards .. I'm not quite sure what they are yet, I'll find out tomorrow but I dropped lots of hints and did the usual pointing and making sheep's eyes thing so fingers crossed

[Favourite box of chocolates?]

Someone bought us the Lily O'Brien's Chocolate Dessert Collection at Christmas .. yummy!!

I really like the M&S Swiss Chocolate Selection. I've been really lucky to receive it a couple of times along with flowers. 

The problem with nearly all chocolates these days (hmph!! .. fings was better in the old days .. mutter mutter ..) is that there's hardly any variation. It's caramel this and caramel that and no hard centres and nothing ear splittingly crunchy or tooth breakingly hard. It's like they think we have no teeth or just can't be bothered to chew!! Everything centres around nuts and caramel and while I'm a fan of both it would be nice to get some variation.

Having said that the M&S ones don't offer much variation .. but they are very yum!!

 

Let's face it .. all chocolate is good. I haven't met one that I didn't like  

[Your Book Activity - February 2017]

Oops, I've had a bit of a splurge this weekend.

 

I was going through the different Kindle sales and bought:

 

The Ashes of London by Andrew Taylor

The Bookshop on Rosemary Lane by Ellen Berry

A Very Distant Shore by Jenny Colgan

Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine

The Love Detective by Alexandra Potter

 

And then I had to go to town to get some birthday presents for my goddaughter (books, obviously) and ended up buying these for me:

 

Beetle Queen by M G Leonard

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

The Secret of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange

 

I have managed to finish reading a book as well - The Painted Dragon by Katherine Woodfine - but haven't picked out what I'm going to read next yet.

Splurging is good Hope you enjoy your new books Claire .. well done on finishing the new Katherine Woodfine already .. you woofed that up!! Was it as good as the other two?

Your goddaughter is a very lucky young lady! Such treasures  

 

Co-incidentally I've just finished The Secret of Nightingale Wood .. lovely read .. thanks Claire xx I'm reading The January Man: A Year of Walking Britain by Christopher Somerville. I was going to read it in chunks .. taking me through the year but it's so good that I'm going on with it. Also continuing with Flight of the Mind: The Letters of Virginia Woolf Vol 1 and reading from A Poem For Every Night of the Year by Allie Esiri.