If you’ve been reading my (not so) recent posts, you’ll know that I’ve been going through a fair old time of it lately, but I’m back on track again, and hopefully back to the blogosphere.
The one good thing about my recent move is that I’ve started some of those ‘monster’ books I’ve been putting off. I don’t mean Grrr type monsters, but the huge tomes that you think you’ll never have time for.
I moved 90 miles from Hampshire to Cambridge, and that has meant some long car journeys. Even though I have 700 or so songs on my little iPod you soon get tired of them, so I decided to try an Audiobook. I don’t normally get on with them, partly because I never used to have that many long journeys, and a long story in short 10-20 minute bursts just wasn’t worth it. So my first foray into Audiobooks is The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. It’s much more pleasant than radio travel updates about M25 jams I’m already stuck in!
When not stuck in traffic jams listening to The Goldfinch (which is really good by the way), I’m reading on the bus. It’s between 40 minutes and an hour each way, so plenty of time to get stuck into a long book. The selected tome for this is a not so slim 734 page Stephen King novel called 11.22.63, which is also turning out to be really good. In fact this morning I was disappointed as I had to drive to work and couldn’t read some more.
At night I’ve been reading my kindle books, as my new paperwhite kindle doesn’t require the use of a lamp. I just finished The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood. Another excellent read, and I’m having trouble finding another story on my kindle that grabs me as much as that one did.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Bookish Sacrifices
Sorry for the long absence, new job, new city, new home etc etc… all take their toll and blogging has had to take a back seat for a long old time.
Things are beginning to settle down now, I started my new job a few weeks ago, and I have now completed my relocation to Cambridge and moved into my new home. I forgot how many books I have, and will need to have a serious clear out as the new flat is a fair bit smaller than the house I was in before. When you have to sacrifice some of your precious books how do you dispose of them? I’m considering various options (it will be almost completely paperback fiction)…
1. Donate to the local library
2. Donate to a charity shop
3. Sell online (ebay? Gumtree? Green Metropolis?)
4. Give to friends?
5. Any other options, please add suggestions below...
Option 4 above would be lovely, but I've moved 90+ miles from most of my friends, and I have no local friends here yet.
Things are beginning to settle down now, I started my new job a few weeks ago, and I have now completed my relocation to Cambridge and moved into my new home. I forgot how many books I have, and will need to have a serious clear out as the new flat is a fair bit smaller than the house I was in before. When you have to sacrifice some of your precious books how do you dispose of them? I’m considering various options (it will be almost completely paperback fiction)…
1. Donate to the local library
2. Donate to a charity shop
3. Sell online (ebay? Gumtree? Green Metropolis?)
4. Give to friends?
5. Any other options, please add suggestions below...
Option 4 above would be lovely, but I've moved 90+ miles from most of my friends, and I have no local friends here yet.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Confessions of a returning blogger.
I'm back online, back in the UK, back to blogging (I hope), and back to reading.
You can blame this new post on a goodreads reviewer who mentioned reading aloud...
Confessions of a reader:
When alone I sometimes like to read aloud. There, I said it.
When I do read aloud, I try to speak in the accent of the character. So when reading The Color Purple I tried a southern american accent. It's easier with some than others. The Color Purple for example is particularly easy as it's written as it would be spoken.
I have no delusions about my vocal ability, or that I get all the nuances between Celie in The Color Purple and Sookie Stackhouse in the Southern Vampire series for example, but I kind of enjoy it, and find it sometimes helps me immerse myself in the story or character.
Sometimes I sound dreadful, and then I stop, as that's no help at all. For instance I know my Irish accent it awful, and my Scottish drifts into Scouse after a little while.
Anyway there you have it. Do you do it too?
You can blame this new post on a goodreads reviewer who mentioned reading aloud...
Confessions of a reader:
When alone I sometimes like to read aloud. There, I said it.
When I do read aloud, I try to speak in the accent of the character. So when reading The Color Purple I tried a southern american accent. It's easier with some than others. The Color Purple for example is particularly easy as it's written as it would be spoken.
I have no delusions about my vocal ability, or that I get all the nuances between Celie in The Color Purple and Sookie Stackhouse in the Southern Vampire series for example, but I kind of enjoy it, and find it sometimes helps me immerse myself in the story or character.
Sometimes I sound dreadful, and then I stop, as that's no help at all. For instance I know my Irish accent it awful, and my Scottish drifts into Scouse after a little while.
Anyway there you have it. Do you do it too?
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Reading Frustrations...
I know I said no blog posts for a while, but I've been on my own all day with little to do but read, and decided what the heck.
Luckily I was left to my own devices with a fridge full of food, and my eReader, so it's not all bad! Though my plan to get back on track with my weight loss didn't account for the Portuguese custard tarts left over from last night. They're calling to me now.
So between custard tarts I've been reading (Aussie TV hasn't got much better in the last 6 years), and am thoroughly enjoying re-reading The Hobbit. I've loved the recently released movies, and now I hear Martin Freeman's voice in every word and thought that Bilbo has. Love it!!
My other frustration was with a friend who keeps correcting me... Firstly about the old saying of Aussies throwing another shrimp on the Barbecue, but mostly because I set a goal on GR of reading 48 books this year. Last years goal was 36, which I just about managed. I'm sure that I'm reading it wrong, but she commented that she reads 48 a month. The woman doesn't work and I just felt that she was somehow judging me for setting a goal so low. I wanted each time to respond and felt like I was defending myself, surely it shouldn't be that way? I didn't respond, but it has just stuck in my mind. Anyway, whinging Pommie time is over now.
Tomorrow I will ask my Aussie friend to take me to the station so I can get out of the house. Not sure yet precisely what I'll do, but apparently it's likely to rain, so I may check out my old faves like the QVB...
Luckily I was left to my own devices with a fridge full of food, and my eReader, so it's not all bad! Though my plan to get back on track with my weight loss didn't account for the Portuguese custard tarts left over from last night. They're calling to me now.
So between custard tarts I've been reading (Aussie TV hasn't got much better in the last 6 years), and am thoroughly enjoying re-reading The Hobbit. I've loved the recently released movies, and now I hear Martin Freeman's voice in every word and thought that Bilbo has. Love it!!
My other frustration was with a friend who keeps correcting me... Firstly about the old saying of Aussies throwing another shrimp on the Barbecue, but mostly because I set a goal on GR of reading 48 books this year. Last years goal was 36, which I just about managed. I'm sure that I'm reading it wrong, but she commented that she reads 48 a month. The woman doesn't work and I just felt that she was somehow judging me for setting a goal so low. I wanted each time to respond and felt like I was defending myself, surely it shouldn't be that way? I didn't respond, but it has just stuck in my mind. Anyway, whinging Pommie time is over now.
Tomorrow I will ask my Aussie friend to take me to the station so I can get out of the house. Not sure yet precisely what I'll do, but apparently it's likely to rain, so I may check out my old faves like the QVB...
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Best Laid Plans.....
Well, I got part of my way through the November challenge, just couldn't complete it.
I am in the process of being made redundant along with a colleague, and I'm two weeks away from finishing my job. The last two years feels like a bizarre turn of events, but right at the time I'm meant to be closing down my job, handing over and just being on call for my India based replacements it has transpired that they can't take over just yet and I am covering for them! My colleague has left already, and now my workload has doubled!
It's been a stressful couple of years, and I'm leaving just before Christmas, then there will be New Year, and then in early January I am on a long vacation to Australia to my 2nd favourite place in the world - Sydney. I'll be back in the UK in February in time to celebrate my 40th birthday, and then job hunting will begin in earnest.
I may find that I have plenty of time to blog, but also no time, so I thought I'd post my excuses and have a break from the blog, to resume hopefully in February.
In the meantime - have a lovely Christmas and New Year, or if you're not that way inclined - Best wishes of the season to you.
During my time off from blogging I will endeavour to read through my 'Started' pile of books and plan my reviews...
The started pile looks like this at the moment:
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott
The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
What was lost by Catherine O'Flynn
Epitaph for a spy by Eric Ambler
Game of Thrones by George RR Martin
Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguru
I am in the process of being made redundant along with a colleague, and I'm two weeks away from finishing my job. The last two years feels like a bizarre turn of events, but right at the time I'm meant to be closing down my job, handing over and just being on call for my India based replacements it has transpired that they can't take over just yet and I am covering for them! My colleague has left already, and now my workload has doubled!
It's been a stressful couple of years, and I'm leaving just before Christmas, then there will be New Year, and then in early January I am on a long vacation to Australia to my 2nd favourite place in the world - Sydney. I'll be back in the UK in February in time to celebrate my 40th birthday, and then job hunting will begin in earnest.
I may find that I have plenty of time to blog, but also no time, so I thought I'd post my excuses and have a break from the blog, to resume hopefully in February.
In the meantime - have a lovely Christmas and New Year, or if you're not that way inclined - Best wishes of the season to you.
During my time off from blogging I will endeavour to read through my 'Started' pile of books and plan my reviews...
The started pile looks like this at the moment:
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott
The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
What was lost by Catherine O'Flynn
Epitaph for a spy by Eric Ambler
Game of Thrones by George RR Martin
Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguru
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