Bookworms 2020

dolly84

I have shelved The Luminaries, I read 100 pages and thought is it just me, I had a look at some reviews and most people felt the same, not particularly interesting, long winded and overly flowery writing.  It is a library book so it is staying with me for a bit, I have moved onto another library book - The Familiars based on recommendations on this thread.

rosewoodspa

Ive just read Perfect Kill by Helen Fields. I'd read the rest of the series from the library and this one is on a limited time deal for Kindle for 99p so I grabbed it. A bit gruesome, I always feel vaguely guilty about enjoying books like this, but it was an enjoyable read. I'm also raiding my Mum's bookshelves. I've read all my books and don't like always using a Kindle so am looking through hers to find something. I re read Winter Solstice by Rosamund Pilcher earlier this week. That was a very comforting and easy read so I might look to see if Mum has any more in that vein.

Charly27

I finished Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living on my Kindle yesterday. It had some interesting ideas and some lovely recipes I would like to try. I think the two ideas I could try are Fika, making time for a proper coffee break even whilst working from home and  Fredagsmys cosying up with the family on a Friday and switching off completely from work. I’m now reading The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver on my Kindle.  Rosewoodspa thank you for the recommendation for Rosamund Pilcher book. I’ve not read that one. I loved ‘The Shell Seekers’ which I only read last year.

greenbee

@Charly27 - I work for a Swedish company and we do Fika a lot. It's a great way to network, and we usually have cake. Now we're having remote Fika we have to make our own coffee, and there's no excuse for cake But it's a lovely thing to do, and gives you time to share ideas or just think if you're doing it on your own.

Charly27

Thank you greenbee how lovely. I might start it when we get back to work. Probably on a Friday when the whole team would be in at the college. Our first Fika today was tea, as I only drink one coffee a week - usually a Costa soy milk latte. DH and I had a couple of milk chocolate digestives as I’ve not baked this week. If I can lay my hands on some yeast and strong plain flour I fancy making cinnamon buns. They sound gorgeous.

phoebe1989seb

Charly27 said:

I finished Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living on my Kindle yesterday. It had some interesting ideas and some lovely recipes I would like to try. I think the two ideas I could try are Fika, making time for a proper coffee break even whilst working from home and  Fredagsmys cosying up with the family on a Friday and switching off completely from work. I’m now reading The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver on my Kindle.  Rosewoodspa thank you for the recommendation for Rosamund Pilcher book. I’ve not read that one. I loved ‘The Shell Seekers’ which I only read last year.

Stealth boast alert, lol - we sold our last house to Josie Silver and her family - a lovely lady.....I feel bad that I've never read her books and keep meaning to pick one up....do report back and share what you thought of The Two Lives of Lydia Bird 

Meanwhile, I'm still wading through The Mirror and The Light....my DH offered me a sack truck to carry it on the other day!!!

pollypenny

dolly84 said:

Drum roll please.  I have finished The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber.  Does anything need to be 800+ pages long?  This certainly didn't, it is well written and the characters are great but you know every thought they had, just too much rambling detail really and a very unsatisfactory ending.  I'm glad I stuck with it sort of and just to be perverse I have chosen The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton as my next book, it is the same length, set in a similar period, if I don't get to grips with it I won't carry on with this one.

Actually, I hated both those books. 🤪

Neither do I like Carrie's War.  Set in South Wales and based on Nina Bawden's own experience as an evacuee, it's quite anti-Welsh. The only three welsh characters are the nasty Mr Evans, his feeble sister and the bed-ridden old woman, looked after by Hepzibah. 

Charly27

Meanwhile, I'm still wading through The Mirror and The Light....my DH offered me a sack truck to carry it on the other day!!!
That’s so funny phoebe1989seb. I gather it’s a large book. I will definitely report back re Lydia Bird. I’ve followed Josie on Amaz@n authors now.
Where do other people get their recommendations from? I generally used to browse the CSs and library. Now I rely more on pointers from others.
 Gretchen Rubin author of The Happiness Project, and loads of other books, posts ‘what I’ve read this week.’ Lydia Bird was recommended by Courtney Carver, Project 333. Also Alison May, in her Seasonal Books series like ‘The Spring House’ gives recommendations for each season. Her books are all Ebooks & only cost 99p. I’ve read so many new authors who I’ve LOVED and would never of heard of. So looking forward to hearing your ‘methods’ of selection and whether your methods and your ‘tastes’ have changed recently.

rosewoodspa

I normally go to the library and pick up books that look good and then they either become an author I read everything else by or just read and not followed up on. If I like an author I try to read every book they've written. I'm really missing the library. I read Gretchen Rubin's lists of books too which gives me good ideas and I look for deals on Kindle too.

Charly27

Quick update during my lunch hour. I do find I’m more likely to take a proper lunch working  at home. I’ve finished The Two Lives of Lydia Bird. I really enjoyed this and gave it four stars. It’s a modern romance but has more depth than most. I thought it was well written, unusual structure where the chapters alternate and she has beautiful descriptions. I found it hard to relate to Lydia initially, at the age I am now, but as the story progressed it was the Universal story of grief, love and loss that I  began to connect to. Her family walk a tightrope between helpfulness and helplessness in their attempt to support her. I’d recommend it. 
Now reading ‘After Julius’ by Elizabeth Jane Howard. I loved her Cazalet Chronicle super family saga spanning both wars and 4 books.