Monday 13 October 2008

The Gift

Recently, I set myself a task!!
Amongst so many things to do, on my never ending list,
I decided that, whilst Nich was away, I would read, 'Around the World in 80 Days' by Michael Palin ...and finish it by Nov 7th...(a date that I will not forget as I will be at Plymouth Docks at 5pm, with a pint of Carling in one hand and a box of tissues in the other!)
It seemed rather apt, although Nich is only away for half that time and only in Europe.

So, I snook into Nich's room and I borrowed it.
Mind you, it was quite a hard choice as he has so many quality books, being an avid reader.
Anyway, I am loving this book!
Each night, once in bed, I snatch fifteen precious, reading time minutes and I travel.
I've reached Egypt!
As soon as I finish that one, I am going to read this version again.
But I really have to get a move on with my reading, because, having recently enjoyed this...(oh I loved it and oh I so want to have a day like Miss Pettigrew had!)
Persephone books are such a treat!
'Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day' by Winifred Watson
and this next one ... (a storyline quite similar to part of my own life. How I cried!) ...
'Someone at a Distance' by Dorothy Whipple.
...I now have yet more to read!
Whilst purchasing the CK 'Make' book,' I found two more Persephone books on my list,at a well reduced price too!
(Into the basket they went, to give me my free shipping!)
'Mariana' by Monica Dickens
Amazon says..'This is a funny, intensely readable 'hotwater bottle' which is a great Persephone favourite.This 1940 novel is the touching and often extremely funny story of a young English girl's growth towards maturity in the 1930s. We see her at school, on holiday in Somerset, her attempt at drama school, her year in Paris learning dressmaking and getting engaged to the wrong man, and finally the arrival of Mr Right. '
And this...


'Little Boy Lost' by Marghanita Laski

The story of a man's search for his son, lost in France during WWII
(The sobbing woman of the house will need shares in Kleenex for this one, methinks!)
Finally, I've had the next book earmarked for ages! Persephone have also published it but I was lucky enough to win this on ebay for ...(wait for it!) 50p!(In very good condition too!)

Books..who'd be without them?!

2008 will soon be at an end. I remember back in January, when I read Nich's blog, he wrote :

''My main New Year resolution for 2008 is to read more books for pleasure. I have seen the pile of books grow constantly in my room, as more and more novels, short stories, and autobiographies are added that I, although having the will, have never found the time to read. I find reading is one of the most relaxing and worthwhile things you can do with your leisure time and so, in order to rectify this situation, I am declaring 2008 the Beer, Football, and Mr Peanut Year of the Book''

But it was this next bit that has been ringing in my ears ever since...

''The ability to read is a gift, and it’s one that I am no longer willing to waste.......''

And I think that says it all,doesn't it?!!

21 comments:

  1. you can never have too many books!

    April xx

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  2. Books, books glorious books! Can never get enough and I exhaust myself by staying up far too late into the night reading.

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  3. Oh well said that man!! I too have a monstrous pile growing by my side of the bed. 'The Memory Keepers Daughter' and 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night' are both calling to me and tonight I can start one of them as I finished my last book last night.
    I have books in every room in the house. You can NEVER have too many, and I hate getting rid of them. It's just when you come to move house that the nightmare begins... :o)

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  4. I think we have books in every room of the house - except the bathroom! Earlier this year I read Dorothy Whipple's 'The Priory' and enjoyed it so I must look for 'Someone at a Distance'. 'Miss Pettigrew lives for a day' looks good,too :)

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  5. I remember The Children who Lived in a Barn from childhood. I have been reading my childhood favourites over the last few months - Swallows and Amazons, The Secret Garden, Little Women - but I must add that to my list too.

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  6. Lovely of you to pop in!
    I'm going to sit and blog read tonight after big cat live.....
    thank you for the lovely comment!xxx

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  7. I will have to look for that Michael Palin book. I read the original and loved it. And the Mrs. Pettigrew books. I am always looking for a good book to read! Have you ever read A Tree Grows In Brooklyn? It is an old book but I recently read it and loved it!

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  8. What lovely books, you've given me some grat ideas now for Christmas gifts. Thank you.
    We've just spent a great week-end in Devon enjoying your marvellous sunshine.
    Jane. x

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  9. I have kept books for twenty years now.
    It's dull. Dull. Dull. My God it's dull, it's so desperately dull and tedious and stuffy and boring and des-per-ate-ly DULL.
    I want something exciting.I want to make something of my life.
    I want to be a ...........................
    Lion Tamer
    (tic)
    PS
    Is Nich in?

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  10. Good Evening
    I thought this was a craft blog site
    Nuff about books and travel
    What about the gentle art of flower arranging
    I could help as I have talked about the subject on the television
    Good evening. First take a bunch of flowers. (he grabs flowers from the table) Pretty Begonias, Irises, Freesias and Cry-manthesums...then arrange them nicely in a vase. (he thrusts the flowers head downwards into the vase and stuffs them in wildly; he even bangs them with a mallet in an attempt to get them all in) Get in! Get in! Get in!
    Good Evening

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  11. Good evening!
    Thank you Mr Anchovy and Mr Gumby. Your humour has me in stitches ;-)

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  12. Good evening - you are a bad influence! thanks to you I have just received the new CK making book, and a few little bits - lables and notebooks, to make the bill up so no postage from the wonderful Amazon, I also have Mrs Pettigrew waiting on my pile (did you do a posting on this book or was it someone else?? and now you have inspired me to read the lovely Michael - (such a hotty!!) and I love the idea of the book about drama school - gosh my pile is going to reach the celing soon.so many books and so much knitting - work does get in the way!!
    love and hugs H

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  13. I've just made a promise to myself to go to bed earlier so that I can get through the books I want to read. Perhaps it should be my New Year Resolution too.

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  14. I keep rememberig all the books I have passed on befroe and after this move - I must stop doing it. I am slowly getting shelves in extra places to start building up the collection again. At least by them going to charities someone else gets the pleasure don't they. I must start on the Persephone - though thay are for keeping arent they. Re the photos - that would be fantastic. I loved the Barn book and still have boxes of my own books. They will be down out of the loft soon. How about the Treasure Seekers? did you read that? My son Adam moved out last year and lives with his partner - I miss him so much and when he goes after he visits I go and have a little quiet weep - in fact here I go now - its 7.42 am have to pull myslef together.

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  15. Hi Sal, thanks so much for visiting my blog! I can't imagine a world without books, they are everywhere in my house and my biggest fault is starting two or three at a time and then not knowing which one to finish first!!
    Willow x

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  16. So it was you!!!!! I was watching that book on ebay and forgot about it just before the end and saw that it had been snapped up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a day like Miss Pettigrew? I enjoyed Marianna, hope you do too. Michael Palin is such a lovely man I can imagine that his books are very readable. hope they're all helping you get through to November
    Kimx

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  17. Oh so many wonderful books there! I love all of them...I am book mad. I have such a list now that I want to order on Amazon.
    I have never thoought about looking for books on ebay...silly me, but do buy used from amazon.
    Thank you the great books tips.
    Carol x

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  18. I have been intending to start the Persephone books and registered last night for their newsletter/ mailing list - so thats a start. When I go on Amazon most of them are paperbacks but if they are books I am going keep and they special aren't they, then I really need to purchase the hardback versions don't I?? The thing is the paperbakcs aren't really cheaper are they - I assume that of oyu buy them direct from Persphone they are going to be hard backs, am I wrong to assume? I have read the website and can't find out the info I need! By the way my email address is catherinemaudsley@hotmail.com

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  19. So many books too little time. Love to read and I'm about to start reading Anna Karenia by Leo Tolstoy. I need to finish up a few things in the sewing room before I start. Love the covers of the books you put on the post. Happy Reading!

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  20. There really are not enough hours in the day to read everything you want is there? I could just do that and nothing else! The persphone's are great...you'll love them x

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  21. Thanks for your comment about the 'make' book. I haven't received any reply from the book people...naughty company! Just had a look at your blog, it's so nice to see someone else from Devon!!! I live in Exeter, I haven't found that many people from our part of the country!!! :)

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Thank you for taking the time to comment! ;-)