Three Interesting Books

 A Christmas present book that I read while waiting for the library van day last week.  I've read a couple of his other books and 'Deep Country' about his 5 years in a remote Welsh cottage is a favourite. I've reserved it to re-read.

Neil has been gradually losing his hearing for many years and this  book is about his attempt to listen to all the birds in this country that he's never heard, before his hearing goes completely. It's fascinating how he has to plan to be in the right place at the right time and his travels to many remote places.

This is a podcast where Neil talks about the book.  

It was sad to hear that he had Lyme Disease which triggered Rheumatoid Arthritus and was unwell when this recording was made.

Completely different was this little book by Rumer Godden published in 1969. 

It's difficult to explain the story but  the definition of Fugue is about music 'in different voices' and  the book is written in many different voices through the time that the family lived in a London house. 

 Grizel Dane, a servicewoman in the US army arrives during the war to stay with her elderly Great Uncle, Sir Rollo Dane, but that doesn't happen until the last part of the book. Through Rollo's memories and voices of the others who lived there we hear the history of the Dane family and Lark Ingoldsby. Lark was adopted after being orphaned in a train crash and finds herself in the middle of sibling rivalry, loved by Rollo and his older brother Pelham but hated by sister Selina.

It only a small book and was read in an evening, once I'd got used to the way it is written in different voices and times, often overlapping and going backwards and forwards.

Maybe the earliest written book I've read for a while is this - originally published in 1898. Another very small book quickly read.

A fictionalised  account of her garden and family and how making the garden is her sanctuary from the Man of Wrath (husband), children, servants and unwanted house guests. She is a witty writer and the book doesn't seem dated at all.

Back Tomorrow

Do You Remember?

 The cars that had loudspeakers and drove around the streets before General Elections reminding people to vote?

How libraries worked before computers?

Nightdress cases, you put your nightie or PJs in it in the morning and took them out at again at bedtime? My sister had one shaped like a poodle. Youngest daughter said she had one that was a clown with bits attached like a zip and buttons and laces for learning - I'd forgotten - she said it was a happy clown and she wasn't traumatized!

Two years ago Ipswich Town Football Club went from Championship to Premiership - the  top tier of  British football. They had one season playing all the big names like Man U, Man City, Arsenal etc etc but at the end of the season they went straight back down to second tier again. On Saturday the were automatically promoted again - Whoop Whoop! I have no idea how they'll get on with the 'Big Boys' next season but for now it's made a lot of people very happy!

Have a good Bank Holiday Monday for everyone in the UK.

The Second April Library Book Photo

 Two library book photos in April this year as the van comes round every four weeks. A nice mixture of authors I know and others I have no idea why I've reserved them!

From Left to Right . The new book by Anthony Horowitz - that one I know will be brilliant. Chris Nickson's new book will be another very readable. Broken House by Louise Scarr isn't the series that I've read two of already, but hopefully it will be OK. 

The book by Ann Cleeves is one of her very old books before Vera and Shetland, they are not so well written but I've not read this one so will give it a try. 'On This Holy Island' is a book about a pilgrimages through history across the country.

'Playing Dead' are short crime stories by members of the Detection Club. 'Broken Ground' by Val McDermid is an early one from the Karen Pirie series.

 There's a non fiction book about growing up on a Scottish Island that I must have heard about somewhere. Next is the latest by Jim Kelly in his wartime Cambridge series - that will be a good read for sure. 

Far right is something that I really have no idea about ordering, -  It's a non fiction book about the beginnings of the English Civil War. I made Rachel, the library van driver smile as I looked at it and said it's got too many words!! 

On the top are two small books, one by Rumer Godden that I've never read ' A Fugue in Time' and the other is the book that I mentioned in that list of spring garden reading from the Country Commonplace book - Elizabeth and her German Garden by Elizabeth Von Arnim.

Below is what I collected from 4 weeks ago. 'The Eights' was the best and I've already mentioned a couple of others but several went back unread.

Those I did finish are on the separate Book Read 2026 page.

Have a good weekend - I'll be back Monday.