Our little book club was set up with a few core aims and goals in mind - cake and books (naturally) were probably the primary focus, along with the chance to chatter with fellow book lovers about a book we had all read (rather than our more usual very diverse cross section discussions), but included somewhere near the top of this virtual list was … Continue reading Booker Challenge
2010
Warning: contains gush *
This year is either hence to be know the Year of the Swedish Detective or the Year of Discovering Books. Like 'A Thousand Acres' by Jane Smiley, which I loved, I have read soooo many books this year that otherwise would have passed me by had it not been for a)relentless buying of them in … Continue reading Warning: contains gush *
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
‘The Help’ by Kathryn Stockett has been looking at me in my work library for the past six months, from when we bought it as part of the Richard and Jody summer book club selection. The cover of two women in maid uniforms and a baby, plus the gurning reviews front and back, plus the … Continue reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Wolf Hall – finally finished
As regular readers to the blog will know, I've been alternatively loving and loathing Hilary Mantel's epic tome 'Wolf Hall' for the last fortnight...and the rest. Well, I've finished it. Finally. What an all consuming story - covering one of the most fascinating periods of history. When I wasn't hurling the book away from me in … Continue reading Wolf Hall – finally finished
Wolf Hall – a book in progress review
As I fell instantly in love with the Tudor setting while reading C.J. Sansom's Shardlake series ( Dissolution, Dark Fire, Sovereign, Revelation and, as yet unread, Heartstone), I requested, and received, this tome from my local ever friendly BookElf. Although I had never read any of Hilary Mantal before, her previous works - most notably Fludd and her … Continue reading Wolf Hall – a book in progress review
Never let me go Review
****LIGHT SPOILERS**** Whilst on holiday last week, I took the opportunity to catch up on some light (!) reading, as recommended to me by my mum. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro was one of those books that I always knew I'd need to read. Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, nominated for the … Continue reading Never let me go Review
In praise of… Sarah Waters
This is a piece I've wanted to write for *ages*, but having not finished all her books I always felt it would be wrong to. Now I have, so I can. Hooray! I loved Tipping the Velvet. Loved it. Every single sentance was like a petal falling off a rose. The evolution of Nan, one … Continue reading In praise of… Sarah Waters
Remember Remember
Anyone who has trouble placing the whereabouts of their keys, or can't quite grasp the current East Enders plotlines has their work cut out in November. What with Rememberence Day (which is also my Book Club month choice, and have a highly appropriate book I think...) on the 11th and Bonfire Night on the 5th, … Continue reading Remember Remember
Almost Gold-Star Books
You know sometimes you start a book and you think, yes, this is it, this is me for the next week happy as larry because I am going to be wrapped in fairy cotton bliss wool niceness that getting really immersed in a fictional world does to you. Then you get about 150 pages in … Continue reading Almost Gold-Star Books
Why Libraries in Leeds are so important.
Ahem, as featured on today's Guardian Leeds "Reading makes immigrants of us all. It takes us away from home, but more important, it finds homes for us everywhere..." - Jean Rhys For longer than I can remember, I have loved books. Not necessarily stories, but always books. I think that my favourites are old, original … Continue reading Why Libraries in Leeds are so important.
LeedsBookClub 