Hobbies and Crafts

As long as you are happy Dermot. I have read books more than once,usually when I have forgotten I read it he first time.

I just wondered if anyone, apart from myself, has ever read the same book more than once?

I don't mind admitting that I'm on my 3rd reading of my favourite ‘ancient history’ books - 32 volumes. And I still find many of them fascinating.

I know I'm a sad person - but I'm happy!

Have just read Carve Her Name With Pride by R J Minney. It's the life story of Violette Szabo. I knew a little bit about her bravery in WW11 but wanted to know a bit more about her. There's no doubt that she was extremely courageous and it was tragic that she was killed at such a very young age, leaving behind a four year old daughter whose father had already died in the war. I expected to be reaching for the tissues but I didn't feel any emotional involvement with the book. I think it was written in the early 50s. It's very factual though the author is clearly besotted with Violette and so she seems almost too perfect a heroine. Having said that, her life story is amazing and I'd like to read a biography by a different author.

As a complete change I'm now reading Whispers Underground by Ben Aaronovitch. It's the third book in the Rivers of London series and is a good read if you like fantasy books. I think it makes more sense if you read the other two books first though.

Have just downloaded the Agincourt Bride as it's a kindle freebie at the moment.

Happy reading everyone.

Hi Emms...I did have to google Bess Truman :-S, I dont think its
my cup of tea but let us know what you think :-) <3

Im going to check your other book out ...............

Have finished Agincourt Bride which I enjoyed,
See there is a programme next week on TV
about them from the 12th century.

Now reading Bess Truman by her daughter Margaret Truman.


Edit.....Thursday 26th ch5 at 9pm...Britain's Bloodiest Dynasty,
four programmes. :-)

Hi Bookworms and Kindle Tarts :-D <3

Today I have started reading The Art of Hearing Heart Beats - Jan Phillipp Sendker 99p on kindle

‘Set in Burma, The Art of Hearing Heartbeats is a rare novel. Telling the story of a young blind man’s journey through a world of auditory intensity, Jan-Philipp Sendker renews one’s faith in the possibility of real, pure love. I finished the book in tears’ – SHAWNA YANG RYAN, author of Water Ghosts

Happy Reading to one and all <3

I have just finished an excellent book on kindle by Diane Chamberlain called necessary lies. Based in N Carolina USA it is about a welfare social worker who is horrified that she is expected to put her clients, poor whites and blacks, forward for the Eugenics programme. This meant getting them, mostly young girls and boys sterilized so they would not have more children. The story is how she rebells against the system.

I was not aware of this programme which was actually performed in N C from 1929 until 1975. This book was an eye opener.

Hello Readers
Well I've started reading an old story that I read years ago and I'm hoping I still find it as funny!
First published in 1888 - 89 ...( not that I'm that old lol ) and have read that it's never been out of print.

'The Diary of a Nobody'

The diary records the daily events in the lives of a London clerk, Charles Pooter, his wife Carrie, his son Lupin, and numerous friends and acquaintances over a period of 15 months.

Only thing different is Kindle has no pictures :-D

Raven Black sounds just my cup of tea. Thanks for that Vera. :-)

Like Det. I'm still reading plenty but mostly it's been pretty rubbishy and nothing I would really want to recommend. There are a couple of Kindle books I'd like to download but they are still a bit on the pricey side for me. I think I'll have to get back to using the library more.

I have just re-read Bill Bryson's "Made In America", which is about American English and how various words and sayings came about or why some words are pronounced differently in England and the USA. Like all his books it is full of stories and anecdotes. Not to everyone's taste but I like his writing style and can always re-read his books.

I'm currently reading "Raven Black" by Ann Cleeves. It's one of her Shetland series of crime novels with Inspector Jimmy Perez. After I started reading it I realised I must have seen a bit of it on television some while ago. I remember finding it a bit confusing but the book is much clearer about how the various characters fit together. I don't think I saw it all so I have no idea who the murderer is and am looking forward to getting to the end of the book to find out whodunit. A good read if you like novels of crime and detection.

Helloooo lovely Kindle Tarts and Bookworms :-D <3 <3

Have to say I have not read as much lately, and have decided to really get back into it.......There have some great books ive really enjoyed and some not worth downloading but I did and were a waste of time.......
These are the few I have enjoyed since last posting.......

The Other Girl - Pam Jenoff (Kindle Freebie at the moment) Short story

One woman's determination to protect a child from the dangers of war will force her to face those lurking closer to home...

Life in rural Poland during WWII brings a new set of challenges to Maria, estranged from her own family and left alone with her in-laws after her husband is sent to the front. For a young, newly pregnant wife, the days are especially cold, the nights unexpectedly lonely. The discovery of a girl hiding in the barn changes everything... Hannah is fleeing the German police who are taking Jews like her to special camps. Ignoring the risk to her own life and that of her unborn child, Maria is compelled to help. But in these dark days, no one can be trusted, and soon Maria finds her courage tested in ways she never expected and herself facing truths about her own family that the quiet village has kept buried for years.


A Dog Called Homeless - Sarah Lean

The reason I read this book was because my nephew picked it up, and it was the
first book he actually said he wanted to read.......So I bought it for him and he has started to read it, hopefully this will start the love of books for him....I wanted to read it to see what its like .....I adored it although a childrens type book it really blew me away .....Hopefully if nephew likes it as much as I have then I can get him the authors next book Jack Pepper....

Heartbreakingly beautiful... I loved it." Cathy Cassidy "A DOG CALLED HOMELESS is a tender story of heartache and hope, doubt and courage, silence and song. Sarah Lean's graceful, miraculous writing will have you weeping one moment and rejoicing the next. A luminous debut." Katherine Applegate, author of The One and Only Ivan


I have read my books for the G Readers so will put them down on Anns thread ...

At the moment I am reading The Mill River Redemption - Darcie Chan

I was waiting in anticipation for this book as I had enjoyed her first book Mill River Recluse......I cannot say I am disappointed and looking forward to more pages...

Josie DiSanti has lost her husband and house in the fire and we meet her when she and her two little daughters Rose and Emily are on their escape from New York to Josie`s only living relative, her mother’s sister Ivy, to Mill River. Ivy has her own bookshop and decides to take her niece in although they don’t know each other at all.

Josie and the girls easily settle to their new life in Mill River, and it’s also thanks to an anonymous person, who tends to help people of Mill River in their hour of need. Josie gets a house across the street from Ivy and the life goes on, with Josie starting to train to be a real estate agent after the girls went to school. But when the girls are adults, a tragedy happens, a tragedy that tears the sisters apart for years.

Fast – forward some years on and we meet the sisters and Ivy at Josie’s funeral. Desperate to bring her daughters together even from beyond her grave, Josie writes a will. Rose and Emily will get their inheritance but first they must move to Mill River again and work together for clues that are going to allow them to obtain the inheritance.

Is this possible to bring the girls together at all? Are they able to work on their differences and their grudge? Would it be possible for them to find the hidden key? What else are they going to discover?


Happy Reading <3 <3 <3

Lol some of those freebies are rubbish aren't they? Easy holiday reads though I suppose. I have found a few thatw ere worth reading though. And fun downloading them just in case. :-) :-)

Stil reading, Ann. However as most of them were 'rubbish' freebies I'd be embarrassed to suggest them :-D

One that was worthy and probably mentioned before was Roman Holiday a short story by Jodi Taylor.
This time the team from St Mary's observe Julius Caesar's home in Rome where he had installed his mistress Cleopatra alongside his wife. As usual, mayhem ensues :-D

Not so many people seem to be reading or contributing books to this thread now whiah is a shame.

I have just finished Sea Sisters by Lucy Clarke. After I finished a Single Breath by her I decided to look at any others she has written and Sea Sisters was her first book I think. Well!!! I can't wait for her to write more. I just couldn't put this one down

Two sisters, one life-changing journey…

There are some currents in the relationship between sisters that run so dark and so deep, it’s better for the people swimming on the surface never to know what’s beneath . . .

Katie’s carefully structured world is shattered by the news that her headstrong younger sister, Mia, has been found dead in Bali – and the police claim it was suicide.

With only the entries of Mia’s travel journal as her guide, Katie retraces the last few months of her sister’s life, and – page by page, country by country – begins to uncover the mystery surrounding her death.

What she discovers changes everything. But will her search for the truth push their sisterly bond – and Katie – to breaking point?

The Sea Sisters is a compelling story of the enduring connection between sisters.

I thought it was beautifully written, not just the characterisations but the descriptions of places visited. I do hope she writes more.

:-D :-D

It's ok Ann, I was there before you !!!! You got me wondering for a moment though.

M. :-)

I have edited my last post.

I liked The Butterfly Box but wasn't so keen on The Summer House.

M. :-)

I am reading Sea Sisters at the moment by her. Just started it. Not read any by her before. you will love the Kasmir shawl.

Edit for a senior moment. Sea Sisters is by Lucy Clarke who wrote A single breath another book read a week or so ago. I had not read any by S Montefiore before either but will look out for her now.

I enjoyed that one as well, Ann. I have got " The House by the Sea " by her, waiting to be read but I think my favourite is " The French Gardener ".

Bought " The Kashmir Shawl," so that is another one in the queue.

M. :-)