Armistice Day – Lest We Forget. Two Poems

Often recited for Armistice or Remembrance Day; this poem - and particularly the highlighted stanzas - provide a tribute to all the causalities of war - regardless of state. For The Fallen - Ode To Remembrance With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh … Continue reading Armistice Day – Lest We Forget. Two Poems

Point Horrorween

Coming up to Halloween this year, I was feeling a bit uninspired by the season. There's been a real lack of good horror films this year, and I longed for the days when a Point Horror book could leave me so scared I'd sneak downstairs to hide it under the dog's bed so it wouldn't … Continue reading Point Horrorween

Canongate Book 5 – Dream a little dream of me…

After some delay; the next book in the LeedsBookClub Canongate Challenge was Dream Angus by Alexander McCall Smith. A huge fan of Alexander McCall Smith (Please read his wikipedia page - he is fascinating); I discovered the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency a few years ago and read about six books in the series over … Continue reading Canongate Book 5 – Dream a little dream of me…

The Song of the Wandering Aengus – W.B. Yates

The Song of the Wandering Aengus  W.B. Yates I WENT out to the hazel wood, Because a fire was in my head, And cut and peeled a hazel wand, And hooked a berry to a thread; And when white moths were on the wing,And moth-like stars were flickering out,I dropped the berry in a streamAnd … Continue reading The Song of the Wandering Aengus – W.B. Yates

Remember Remember

1742 Ditty   Don't you Remember, The Fifth of November, 'Twas Gunpowder Treason Day, I let off my gun, And made'em all run. And Stole all their Bonfire away. Not a huge fan of Guy Fawkes myself (I'm all about Halloween and sweets!) but would like to wish everyone a very happy night! 1903 The … Continue reading Remember Remember

Christmas Read-A-Long – Stave Two

Hope you are all enjoying the Christmas Challenge as much as I am. I'd forgotten how beautiful this book really is!! (I'm trying to include relevant Muppets songs, but sometimes it's just not possible) A Christmas Carol Rough Guide Stave Two   - 4th November Stave Three - 18th November Stave Four  - 2nd December Stave … Continue reading Christmas Read-A-Long – Stave Two

2009 – the year of the Kate – Pt 2 – Mosse

Kate Mosse - author, broadcaster, theatre director and co-founder of the Orange Prize for fiction - was named the 2000 European Woman of Achievement for her contribution to the arts. She has long worked to make reading accessible - raising money for Dyslexia Action - and has recently become one of the most vocal authors campaigning against the closures of the … Continue reading 2009 – the year of the Kate – Pt 2 – Mosse

No Sanctuary by Seamus Heaney

No Sanctuary It’s Hallowe’en. The turnip-man’s lopped head Blazes at us through split bottle glass And fumes and swims up like a wrecker’s lantern. Death mask of harvest, mocker at All Souls With scorching smells, red dog’s eyes in the night- We ring and stare into unhallowed light. From North, 1975 Many many moons ago, … Continue reading No Sanctuary by Seamus Heaney

The Hunger Games – Book 1

As my non LeedsBookClub self on twitter, I noticed that a number of my American friends have been positively GUSHING about the Hunger Games trilogy. I'd never heard of the series so naturally I asked about the books; once I did, I was positively bullied into agreeing to read them*. After I read the most … Continue reading The Hunger Games – Book 1

Richard Nottingham Book 2 – Cold Cruel Winter

The second in the Richard Nottingham series; Cold Cruel Winter  follows the continuing caseload and life of the Chief Constable of Leeds. This book is set during the brutally cold winter of 1732. The ground has frozen solid, disease is rife, food is scarce and - as in The Broken Token - the distinctions between the … Continue reading Richard Nottingham Book 2 – Cold Cruel Winter