A library book and one from my shelves.
The Edinburgh Mystery and Other Tales of Scottish Crime is another British Library Crime Classic and has 17 short stories from Robert Louis Stevenson in 1885 to Jennie Melville in 1974.
After reading two more of the Alexander McCall Smith Isobel Dalhousie series from my shelves and putting them out into the car ready for the next charity shop visit, I picked a book off my World War II Home Front shelves.
Carry on Coping; Diary of a Doctor 1942-1945 by Joan F Hickson was a really good read giving a fascinating insight into the world of GP's before the NHS came along. Joan Hickson had specialised as an Eye doctor and worked in various locations. Her husband Eric was a traditional GP and they worked from their home in Chippenham, Wiltshire.( I'm old enough to remember when all doctors had their surgery, office and dispensary adjoining their home, seems so odd now). Back in the 40's doctors were often called out during the night and Eric delivers lots of babies during the 3 years covered by the diary. Eric and Joan had 3 children and also had live in help both for the doctors practice and for the house.
There was an interesting chapter about the holiday they had taking a punt down part of the Thames.
Joan had one strange side to her - she hated anything to do with the church, especially Catholics, with a vengence. She wouldn't go to weddings or funerals in churches. Her daughter Ruth who writes a final few pages about Joan's later life said they never really knew the reason for this.
This book isn't going to a charity shop but back on my shelves with my other WWII Diaries.
Still no rain here this week and it's been very hot and humid - especially Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons although thunderstorms are forecast for us today - Thursday.
Back soon
Sue
I made a note to look for Carry on Coping.
ReplyDeleteIt's probably still around on Amazon
DeleteI have this book, read it about nine years ago, and kept it. Like you I enjoy WW2 diaries and this was an interesting one. I hope you don't mind me commenting. I read your blog often but don't comment, but couldn't resist it today.
DeleteHello and welcome to commenting. It's lovely to hear from someone who hasn't commented before.
DeleteNot raining here either and we could really use some.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
There was a few minutes of heavy rain here that woke me in the night but dry again this morning - hope we get the predicted storms
DeleteMy library at home has the ‘Scottish’ book so I’ll be ordering it when we get back….sometimes short stories are more interesting than novels
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge fan of short stories but have read all the British Library Crime Classics. Some of these were very strange tales
DeleteWe have had our storms over Wednesday night - thank goodness, because it was unpleasantly humid at times yesterday.
ReplyDeleteCarry on Coping looks brilliant - must look out for it. xx
I think just one heavy downpour overnight here, dry again on the ground this morning. No help at all
DeleteCarry on Coping sounds one I'd be keen to read. And I am a Church-going Catholic.
ReplyDeleteSue, have you come across Mary Mann who was very popular in the late 1880s through to Edwardian times? I ask because she spent her life in not far off Shropham and wrote stories mainly about the agricultural labourers and their families (she was a reasonably well off farmer's wife). She uses a lot of the local dialect in her stories which might interest you. Most of of her work is out of print but there is a collection of short stories Tales of Dulditich (Dulditch was a pseudonym for Shropham) that is published by Lark Press in Dereham.
It's so strange that she was so anti church. They did wonder if it was caused by something in WWI when clergy were not called up . It makes her sound quite odd but otherwise she seemed a busy doctor and mother.
DeleteThought I'd heard of a Mary Mann but then remembered that I was thinking of the name of a teacher back in the 60's! So not the same one at all.
Suffolk libraries have Tales of Victorian Norfolk so I've ordered that to have a look.
You have been doing some good reading I on the other hand am reading pure fluff. I guess I needed a break.
ReplyDeletecathy
I'm looking forward to collecting library books at last later
DeleteI don't know which I prefer, reading a really 'light' book that I can then very easily part with or reading one that has me so enthralled that I just HAVE to keep it. I know which my bulging bookshelves prefer though!!
ReplyDeleteI've got rid of a lot of fiction from my shelves while the mobile library has been missing. Actually have empty spaces now!
DeleteCarry on Coping sounds fascinating, truth stranger than fiction
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
I do like war diaries and they are all so different
DeleteCarry on Coping sounds really good. Not enough rain here either. Mornings are cooler and this is pleasant. By noon it is hot and humid again. I heard our Fall and Winter are not going to provide the moisture needed.
ReplyDelete90% chance of rain the forecast said - there wasn't even enough to run into the water butts at all!
DeleteWe are getting rain this morning here but it should let up soon. I may head to the grocery store then. I have library books to read and maybe laundry to do.
ReplyDeleteHope your mobile library gets back in business soon.
Library Book Photo tomorrow!
DeleteJoan Hickson, the actress who played Miss Marple, was also married to a doctor named Eric. And she was in a movie or play called Carry On Nurse. This book looks good. Thanks for recommendation.
ReplyDeleteThe Joan Hickson sounds interesting (though when I first heard Joan Hickson, I thought it was the actor who played Miss Marple so well!). I like WWII diaries. The mysteries, too. Martin Edwards' intros are worth the book themselves!
ReplyDeleteSome nice reads. I hope you get rain soon!
ReplyDelete