Reading and Things

Apologies in advance, but can't resist ...

Roses are blurry,
Violets are pink
Time for my retinopathy exam
I think.

sanguine wrote:Apologies in advance, but can't resist ...

Roses are blurry,
Violets are pink
Time for my retinopathy exam
I think.

+1 I like this very much

zand wrote:

sanguine wrote:Apologies in advance, but can't resist ...

Roses are blurry,
Violets are pink
Time for my retinopathy exam
I think.

+1   I like this very much

Hey +1 from me too

All the best Jan

sanguine wrote:Apologies in advance, but can't resist ...

Roses are blurry,
Violets are pink
Time for my retinopathy exam
I think.

Love it Rod ! As for reading, I'm currently struggling with Winston Churchill biography. Amazing man and a military genius but the book is not an easy read.

A light hearted Christmas Read may be Katie Fforde 'A Christmas Feast' available on the 4th Dec. it contains short stories, just right for the Festive Season  

Has anyone got any favourite Authors?

Jan

Hey ...... just wondered did anyone get a good reading book for Christmas ?

Light reading I like Elizabeth Gill.

The Russell Brand book Revolution is not on my radar, although many may like to read it.

All the best Jan

Upset that I finished the Arthur c Clarke Rama series on audio book  

Just finished the Martian which was quite good and just started the thief which is good so far

Sorry it's not really reading..... Or not at all in fact lol

I think it is still reading Andy. Your brain is still absorbing the spoken word which leads to your own interpretation of the story/characters etc. It's a great way to still be able to enjoy books and I always take an audio book on hols. They're also great if you go for long walks or runs, time flies.

Jan1 wrote:
Has anyone got any favourite Authors?

I tend to like darker/quirky authors so, for example, Ian McEwan, Will Self, Julian Barnes.  Scandi Noir authors are also favourites and are generally better than any films made from them (Stieg Larsson).  I've read most of Jo Nesbo.  At the moment I'm working my way through Iain Banks, something I should have done before he died so young - a huge range from science fiction to dysfunctional Scottish families and the downright disturbing.  Chris Brookmyre for crazy crime novels which can be excruciatingly funny.

PS just realised I posted virtually the same on this thread back in August ...

Interesting you mention Stieg Larsson ...... it was one of our sons who introduced him to us. There are of course his films but his books are so well written.

Sometimes I think I must try a different author and I do - but invariably go back to one of my favourites.

Reading - whether by book, kindle or audio is a good way to relax and you never know what you will learn, further understand about human relationships etc. Reading offers many different aspects.

I've never belonged to one of these reading book clubs where you have titles to read and then discuss - has anyone had experience of this type of thing, would you recommend it?

All the best Jan
       

Will this be on your 2015 summer reading list I wonder?

Harper Lee to publish new novel, 55 years after To Kill a Mockingbird

"Go Set a Watchman, completed in the mid-50s but lost for more than half a century, was written before To Kill A Mockingbird and features Scout as an adult.
When an author’s debut novel wins the Pulitzer prize and goes on to sell 40 million copies, perennially topping lists of the world’s best-loved books, it’s understandable that they might be apprehensive about the reception of a second.

Harper Lee, who sent the literary universe into a spin on Tuesday after she announced she would be releasing a sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird this summer – 55 years after her debut – appears to have no such fears. “It’s a pretty decent effort,” she said of Go Set a Watchman."

More on this story here http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/feb/03/harper-lee-new-novel-to-kill-a-mockingbird

With more snow on the way ........ why not curl up with a good book ..... this one featured is not out 'til later this year, so perhaps you are reading a good book now?

All the best Jan

Books or magazines ... do we read more of them in warmer summer months?

I know many who are going on holiday like to take ' holiday reads,' and these may be paperback or 'kindle'.

One book that has recently had good reviews is 'Shoes for Anthony' by Emma Kennedy.
Another book that was discussed on the Jimmy Moore blog recently was by Dr Kendrick 'Doctoring Data'

Of course you may not choose to read either of these books and instead just pick up a magazine!

What book are you reading at the moment? Would you recommend it?

All the best Jan

It seems all my friends have read this book ... I haven't yet ... will I

The book in question is 'The Girl on the Train' by Paula Hawkins.

It is the Number One Bestseller.
"You Dont Know Her. But She Knows You. Rear Window meets Gone Girl, in this exceptional and startling psychological thriller "Gripping, enthralling - a top-notch thriller and a compulsive read." (S J WATSON, bestselling author of Before I Go To Sleep).

Rachel catches the same commuter train every morning. She knows it will wait at the same signal each time, overlooking a row of back gardens. She's even started to feel like she knows the people who live in one of the houses. 'Jess and Jason', she calls them. Their life - as she sees it - is perfect. If only Rachel could be that happy. And then she sees something shocking. It's only a minute until the train moves on, but it's enough. Now everything's changed. Now Rachel has a chance to become a part of the lives she's only watched from afar. Now they'll see; she's much more than just the girl on the train...

It does sound intriguing

All the best Jan

Don't know if I've mentioned that I grow Orchids as a hobby, and whilst busy with them have got into listening to Audio Books, enjoy Lee Child, but the one Series that has had me going for over a year is
Diana Gabaldon The Outlander Series.
If you have seen any of them they are enormous run into excess of 500 pages, and there are Eight in the series so far, I'm on number 5.
Once you start on them they difficult to stop

http://www.dianagabaldon.com/books/outlander-series/

Anyone reading them ?

RANDBURG wrote:Don't know if I've mentioned that I grow Orchids as a hobby, and whilst busy with them have got into listening to Audio Books, enjoy Lee Child, but the one Series that has had me going for over a year is
Diana Gabaldon  The Outlander Series.
If you have seen any of them they are enormous run into excess of 500 pages, and there are Eight in the series so far, I'm on number 5.
Once you start on them they difficult to stop

http://www.dianagabaldon.com/books/outlander-series/

Anyone reading them ?

I'm not reading The Outlander Series though given the time it looks like a good read, I do like the audio book concept one way of fitting in books into a busy life

I know many speak highly of The Outlander Series but for some reason it's not a series I've considered reading. Using Randburgs link I did read up on the series and it does look very good. Perhaps I should give it a try ...

All the best Jan

The final novel by author Sir Terry Pratchett has been released, almost six months after his death.
The Shepherd's Crown, the 41st novel in his Discworld series, went on sale in the UK and Commonwealth at midnight BST (23:00 GMT Wednesday).
In the UK, fans gathered for midnight openings at stores in London, Oxford and Newcastle. More shops will open earlier than usual on Thursday.
The Shepherd's Crown will be published in the US on 1 September.
The release will be an emotional moment for many fans. One book shop in Perth, Australia, is giving away a free packet of tissues to every customer "because this really is goodbye".
Sir Terry died at the age of 66 in March, eight years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

He built up a huge following for the Discworld series, which started as an affectionate parody of fantasy novels and became a vast satire on modern life.

Story from here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34067207#?foo=bar&

All the best Jan

In today's modern world books are available to us in different forms. From the actual printed book, to a kindle, to some being available on-line we are open to choice... and that has to be good, doesn't it?

I have spent time with the grand-children again recently and they have such a love for books, which I think is so good. They like to read and even those not old enough to read do talk about the pictures they are looking at. Time shared reading can not be bad!

We may perhaps be guilty of taking books for granted, and perhaps not taking time to enjoy them.
Libraries provide such an excellent service, but many areas have seen cuts in their library services in recent years, with volunteers helping to keep some libraries going.

Do you read as much now as you used to?
Have your reading choices changed?
Can you recommend a good book?

I've never belonged to a reading group, although many do find this beneficial and interesting. For some reason I seem to do more reading during the winter months ... must get a good selection ready soon  

All the best Jan

Both my parents spent a LOT of time reading, a habit I picked up decades ago. I quickly graduated to the adult library from the childrens' section. Believe it or not Boots the Chemist had their own library, and when it closed my old man swooped in and bought up a lot of their Science Fiction section.

It's great to hear that other children in this modern age still read books.

These days I probably spend too much time online reading blogs and the research papers they refer to. Also too many magazines, mainly about vintage agricultural machinery and the like.

One place I lived, the landlord had a massive collection of Science Fiction which I devoured, along with "alternative" stuff from Jack Kerouak on from a couple who also lived there.

When a friend went to work abroad for a few years he lent me his collection of books, again largely Science Fiction. I was sad to part with them when he returned.

I also built up a library of non-fiction, from birds, flowers and nature in general to the likes of Taubes and Bernstein, plus a lot I inherited from my parents. I'm ashamed to admit most of them are still stored in the garage.

This time of year, with only seven weeks 'til Christmas (it may be eight - who's counting?) you start seeing books, dvd's, games, perfume so much 'stuff' that we all need for Christmas ... well the advertisers like to think we all need to rush out and buy their items...but will we?

I do seem to read more during the winter months and just out of interest I took a peep at the bestsellers lists - a little to my surprise the number one selling book at the moment is this one pictured here by David Walliams.



Jack’s Grandpa…

wears his slippers to the supermarket

serves up tinned tongue for dinner

and often doesn’t remember Jack’s name

But he can still take to the skies in a speeding Spitfire and save the day…

An exquisite portrait of the bond between a small boy and his beloved Grandpa – this book takes readers on an incredible journey with Spitfires over London and Great Escapes through the city in a high octane adventure full of comedy and heart.

Illustrated by the award-winning Tony Ross.

It is aimed at children but deals with a situation very common in families. Jacks Grandpa has Alzheimer's ...

One reviewer said " In all this is a fun tale that is in some places quite poignant and is certainly a great read. This is fully illustrated throughout by Tony Ross, and there is a glossary at the rear which will help children understand certain things to do with the Second World War"

I wonder how many children will end up with this book in their Christmas stocking?

Have you any 'want to read books'

All the best Jan

Not so much "want to read" but "should read":-

the handbook for my car, and the second handbook for the car's computer and other gadgets, which is nearly the same size.

Also I should re-read the handbook for my camera, my phone, my TV HD recorders and a whole bunch of other stuff I use but undoubtedly have "other features" I haven't bothered with.

Probably re-reading Bernstein, Taubes, Gretchen Becker etc. would be a good plan - the nearest thing to a Handbook For Me.

Favourite of the moment is Simon Scarrow's Brittania, which I have 'sampled' and hope that it will be a Christmas gift, as it is not available to buy here yet. I am an omnivore when it comes to reading, which I do widely and in all directions. And I have favourites too- Charles Lamb's A Dissertation on Roast Pig,always makes me laugh, as does Three Men In a Boat, by Jerome K.Jerome. I generally read several books in a week, as I am a fast reader.At present I am reading
The Madonnas of Leningrad. By Debra Dean
Hearts of Stone by Simon Scarrow
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Queen's Conjuror by Benjamin Woolley ( non-fiction)n
Mechanisms of Disease- neurodegenerative disorders by P. G. Ince (non - fiction )
Also I like to listen to audio books when busy at some task. Presently, I'm listening to Flasman and the Great Game, but I have a collection of Shakespeare plays, which I like very much,

I was interested to read your comments on poetry@Jan1, I learned a great deal of poetry at school, and so did my first children whereas my later children were not exposed to very much, except that when they had their baths, I would often recite water-themed poems to them, with the result that they are familiar with The Lady of the Lake, La Belle Dame Sans Merci, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and many more. Mostly narrative.They began to join in, at various points which appealed to them, and surprisingly, found other poems to learn, for
themselves.
On the other hand, the youngest family members seem never to be asked to memorise anything at school, so I have had to institute the Performance Award at our Advent Party on 1st December, with a monetary award for memorising poetry or piano playing. Now in its 3rd year,it has proven a success, as money before Christmas is always popular.!

@merrylizard1314
I had to look back to re-read the comment I'd put on about poetry, and this was it

"Looking back, I can't really remember reading a lot of poetry at school - but I'm sure we did. Perhaps if we'd read more I may have followed it through. Yes, we have the Poet Laureate ...does anyone know his/her name? One of my children loved Michael Murpurgo who at one time was the Childrens Laureate.

At present I only have two poetry books in the house that I sometimes do turn to and read. Whereas fiction and non fiction books are many.

Just thinking out loud .........."

I do enjoy reading poetry and there are so many diferent types. We are fortunate to have the interweb ... there are many poems available to read on-line.

I think it's great to share stories, poems, songs with children - it's all about language isn't it.

The advent party sounds fun and money before Christmas can come in very handy!

All the best Jan

Among my favourite poetry - Crow by Ted Hughes, That Be The One by Philip Larkin, and just about anything by Spike Milligan.

Then I got sucked into song lyrics by the likes of Robert Hunter (Grateful Dead) and Pete Sinfield (King Crimson)

There are times when all you want is a nice light read, and today for me this one fitted the bill, it was a Christmas present , just right for a good Sunday read  !


Did you get any books for Christmas ?

All the best Jan