My latest Read.

It does seem to take me ages to read a book at the moment but yesterday i finally finished "A week in Winter" by Maeve Binchy.

I like these books as they are easy to put down and pick up and you still remember where you got to and what has happened so far.  They feature what I call real situations and people that could easily be living next door to you.  There is some humour, tragedy and surprises in each book. 

This book has a more complicated start to it that sets it up for the latter stages of the book but centres around a woman who sets up a holiday house and looks at the very first week of opening and the guests that book.  The life and background of each visitor and how they came to book their week away is studied as the book moves on.  it is very cleverly done and all makes complete sense.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend picking it up at the library or a local book stall which is where I bought this copy.

Right at the very end there is a series of black and white photographs which link to some of the scenery described within the book which is a nice touch.

I really good read in the evening after a long day.

So what is next?

Well my SIL partner has just passed on a copy of 

WolfHall which is where the recent series is based upon.  it is about 2 inches thick and I dread to think how long it will take me to read but I shall be starting it this afternoon after I have completed some work for the day job.

Have a lovely Sunday!

xx

Have you read this book?

Has anyone read this book?

My sister in law passed on three books to me back around February time and suggested that I read this one first.  A new author for me and the title did put me off a little, 

"The Hundred Year Old Man who climbed out of the window and Disappeared"

by Jonas Jonasson, quite a mouthful and a title not to be attempted after a couple of glasses of wine!

Anyway itt actually turned out to be quite a page turner and it looks at the present day life of Allen Karlsson but also his past and as far back as the 1920's.  How the author planned the storyline of this book I will never be able to start to fathom  as iy goes back and forth with each chapter but I did not find it confusing at all.  So if you get a chance to read this I would certainly give it a go and do stick with it.  It made me laugh and groan in a I" do not believe it! way all the way through.  It cleverly links it real events and people with Allan's life and how he may have influenced  those events.

Ironically just after I had started it a colleague at work came out of her room with a copy of the same book and was going to pass it on to someone else in her department.  She also enjoyed it and thought that the story line was very original.

It does take me sooooo long to read a book but I did manage to start the next one of the three my sister in law passed on last evening, but more on that once I have finished it.

Many thanks for the lovely comments regarding my finally completing my A level evening class and exams. 

I will not get the result until August but I hope to take part in some online swaps (anyone now of any?)  and make a set of curtains for the living room  and generally be around blogland more often.  I still need to continue my 2014 resolution of progressing with my crochet skills and I wanted to do a mini Spring swap but work stepped up, Ofsted visited and I broke my finger, so I had to postpone it.  May be I could try again.

Best go as I need my beauty sleep it has been a very busy day and my hip is just reminding me that it is still there!

xx

Rebecca Shaw - The Village Newcomers

This is another of my uploaded books on to my kindle and I read this on my holiday (which I still need to post about).  Again this book is a bit grittier than previous books and I have noticed a different tone to these books recently.  A real page turner which costs less on the kindle if you have one or the app for the ipad.

It follows the villagers and of course some newcomers who arrive with a secret that very very gradually unfolds.

I like these series of books and may not be on a higher level, but for me I need books that are entertaining and make me want to turn the page without needing a PHD to fathom out what is going on.

I have already uploaded the next book but I am keeping that for a bit as I am now reading a paperback given to me by my SIL.

I love the summer.........reading is a great pastime I just wish I could devote more time to it.  If you find it in your library it is worth booking it out.

Best wishes

xx

Recent Read - A Village Affair by Rebecca Shaw

I am certainly on a roll with my reading lately.  That could be because I have not have any Internet for nearly two weeks.  It was severed by BT trying to put in a business line for my husband;s job.  The land line is still not working but we do have some use of the Internet.  I was just about to do the Harry Potter post when it all went down.

Anyway, reading has had a chance to creep in so this is my second book in 3 weeks!!!

Quite a page turner just like the last one with different characters taking centre stage.  Crime and a death featuring in this book.  I have noticed that the theme of the books have taken a slightly darker turn but the cosiness of the books still remain.

I really enjoyed this book and I enjoy going back to "visit" the village of Turnham Malpas to see what they are all up to.

I read this again on my kindle and I have found that the lack of actual pages means that I do not notice how far through a book I am.  Although there is a % number on the screen if I really want to know.  I have really liked using my kindle and I hope to take it on holiday at the end of July.

The kindle version cost £4.99 and I have decided to try and buy more this way so as not to add to the book build up our house.  As long as the author still gets their fee I hope to be saving a few trees as well.  I still have a book pile to go through and I do like holding an actual book but I think that there is room for both in my life.

I will also be having a giveaway soon once I have sorted it out as I have passed a landmark here at Indigo Blue and I let it slip through my keyboard. so to speak so I shall get back to you on that.

Hopefully we shall be in for some better weather tomorrow....I hope so as Sophie needs me to help her find a few shells for her latest homework project.

Take care all and take a look at this book if it is in your library.

xx

Latest Read

Well, I do not know where today has gone.  It has been quite busy here and typically just as it was the gardens turn next for some attention it started to rain, and I mean rain!  So hubby tidied the garage which is a never ending job, I scouted out more possible suppliers for the website and left my details with a few,took a risk and ordered some ribbon from Ebay which is soooooo cute and Sophie had her fill of watching Horrid Henry.

Then it was off to my in laws for a great homemade curry from a recipe linked to the Come Dine with Me series which has been getting really good feedback from others who have tried it.  It was gorgeous!!

So, full of  curry we then sat down and Sophie spent ages playing with their new i-pad.  I have to say that the drawing and photo apps are really good.  I shall try and upload some pics which we emailed to my phone.  I also feel a Plaroid Pogo moment coming along as well.

I am having trouble changing my current read picture in my side bar so I shall put it here instead.  Another in the series of  the Turnham Malpus village and this time it covers some darker topics such as drug dealing and gangs in cities.  A bit grittier this time but still keeping the village spirit going.  The roles of some of the key characters has changed too and I think that this may affect future books.  I now need to track down the next one.  "A Village Dilemma" by Rebecca Shaw.  I read it quite quickly with my new glasses, much easier.
  I did read another before this one and  it was set in the Tudor court of Henry V111 which I found very gripping.

A different type of book for me and I shall look to reading some more by this author.  It centres around the life of one girl  and how she and others are manipulated to the gain of others.  It put cross how unhappy lives might have been at this time and how lives could be so controlled and the outcomes fatal.  Excellent book.
 I have always loved anything to do with Kings and Queens right from when I was a child.  It was the main reason I took history, so you can imagine my disappointment when it was not on the study list at exam level!
What are you currently reading at the moment?
I wonder if a blog book swap is possible?
xx

A Relaxing Read...........

I do not get the chance to read as much as I would like. Certainly not during the day but I do try and make a point of having a cup of tea in bed at night with a few pages.

I am looking for the next Rebecca Shaw book in a series that I am reading so in the mean time I picked up the book shown above.

It has been good and some nights I have forgotten about the time and maybe put the light out later than I should.  I follows the life of a young courtier, Mary, in the reign of Henry the VIII and all of the plotting and beheadings that happened during that part of history.

It starts when she is about 11 years old and traces her life, loves, tragedies and horrors of the time.

How factual it is in certain places I do not know although the author does have a history major.  But to be honest I am not bothered, I really enjoyed it and did find it hard to put down.

If you like Philippa Gregory then you will probably like this too.

I am in-betweeen books now as I have a magazine article to do before I get distracted with another "Relaxing Read".

xx

A sneaky peek...

Twiggy asked if she could see inside the 'Bend the rules' sewing book by Amy Karol, (the cheek! seeing as you asked so nicely..) well as requested here are a few pictures.I had a go at this clutch last night and came up with my own version. I shall post about them later because I want to make one more first.

A little wallet for coins, notes and cards.

Different types of totes and bags with step by step instructions.

I think that this bag would also look good as a mini version.

Straight forward quilts for anyone who has not tried on before. Good for using up all of those lovely scraps that many of us have tucked away.

Items for the kitchen such as tea cosies, coasters, place mats etc.

I will finish my clutch efforts and post those tomorrow. I am in the middle of marking another set of files and I want to finish those first.

So Twiggy.... tempted? Go on treat yourself or maybe someone else will. I do not think that you will be disappointed, it is a book that you will come back to again and again.

All the best to you.

xx

PS. Josie wonders if anyone has bought 'Sewing in no Time' to make projects in a weekend and is it worth buying? Leave a comment if you can help. I would be interested too. Would be nice of we could help each other with this type of question. Twiggy, you may have started something here.