I started off puzzling over what to write about for N............ Another letter difficult to fill. In 2022 I used all sorts of N words and in 2023 found some Norfolk Cheese for a taste test.
In childhood A,B,C picture books N was often a nail (woodwork sort)- how many children have much to do with hammers and nails nowadays?
Say nails to anyone young now and they would think about the sort for which you need a 'nail bar'. But in rural Suffolk the words 'nail bar' would have been a mystery 20 years ago, there might have been places for a manicure - perhaps included at a hairdressers but a whole shop for painting nails was unknown and those weird long fake nails that people have are not for me - I don't even like nail varnish - it feels horrible.
I had to help a woman with inch long nails get her £1 coin out of the trolley at Aldi recently - made me smile.
THEN the library van came and of course it was obvious what N was - The November Library Book Photo!
Twelve books and every one is a crime novel. I think I have a serious problem!
They are all books I'd reserved online so it's just coincidence that all of this month's are crime fiction.
Some are authors that are favourites, others are authors I've not tried before and one or two are authors I've failed with in the past and I'm trying again.
On the left is the tenth and last - at the moment - of the Christina Koning stories involving The Blind Detective. I've really enjoyed these so I hope she writes more.
Back Soon
When i begqn blogging in 2008, and American minister's wife asked me to review her book on my blog. It centred around a group of church ladies who met every Friday evening at a Nail Bar. I did review it, but said I didn't think it would go down well in the UK, because I wasn't aware of any church ladies who did such a thing. She was really annoyed with me! But nail bars are becoming much more common now. [I still don't know any church ladies who have manicure-meet-ups]
ReplyDeleteInteresting to know nail bars were a thing in 2008 US - now there's one or two in most towns here so we re 20 years behind!
DeleteI have my mother's manicure set somewhere, a large leather zip wallet with all kinds of weird little metal tools with matching handles. I remember her sitting at the table 'doing her nails', ending with buffing them all with a soft leather buffer. I couldn't imagine spending hours on my nails...
ReplyDeleteI notice many of the books are wintery - very seasonal.
My nails are always short - gardening doesn't help - I wouldn't spend hours on them either.
DeleteI'm going to enjoy all my winter crime!
I have grown my nails long a few times but I soon get them annoyed with them and go back to having short ones. Long nails are totally impractical and I have never been into painting my nails either. I don't mind clear or shimmery nail polishes for very special occasions, but brightly coloured talons just seem bizarre. Then again, my husband often jokes that he is married to a man!
ReplyDeleteI've never spent time on 'doing my nails' and long nails would never have worked with milking goats!
DeleteI have never liked the feeling of nail varnish and long nails now seemed to split. Keep on reading those murder books and you might learn how to murder without detection, which occasionally is a plot line but then.....
ReplyDeleteAt the moment there is no one I plan to murder but you never know..............!
DeleteThis reminded me of a girl who I tutored in English, about ten years ago. She was desperate to leave school and I asked her what she wanted to do..she replied, ‘ I want to do nails!’ I’m not sure if she did actually pursue that.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to know that even 10 years ago 'doing nails' was a job to want - I'm sure nail bars weren't in rural Suffolk that long ago
DeleteI can't stand my nails to be long, as soon as I can see the tips protruding over the ends of my fingers I cut them. My daughter doesn't have nails as long as she used to, they used to be really long. I always chuckle to myself when I remember my mum asking her how she managed to wipe her bum when she'd been to the toilet, haha.
ReplyDeletePainfully I reckon!
DeleteGreat selection of books and hopefully they will give you plenty of reading material this month. I am doing a lot of crafting this month so cut my nails short yesterday after breaking two! Catriona
ReplyDeleteAlways good to come home from the library van with lots to read.
DeleteI really don't like the very long nails that some women have now I think they look ugly rather than beautiful
Ditto with the trolley coin outside Aldi on Saturday. The poor lady just couldn't get a grip and was about to call her husband who was already in the car. xx
ReplyDeleteI thought to myself that getting the coin out of the trolley was yet another reason not to have long nails!
DeleteI've gone through phases of doing my own nails with varnish or having them done for me, consequently one or two of my nails are weakened which is a darn nuisance at times. I never went in for it in a big way either - just once or twice.......it's a bit of a status thing now I think......... some of these folk that have regular visits to the nail bar are going to regret it when older!
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
I didn't know that about making nails weaker - bit like what perms did for hair years ago
DeleteI've never had a professional manicure. After biting my nails until I was around 14, I then suddenly stopped, grew them quite long and would always wear nail varnish ... green was a favourite colour, but it didn't go down well at school. These days I can't stand my nails long, I think it's after so many years of gardening and having to wash dirt out of them, so a little sliver of white is all that is usually visible at the end of my nails these days. It's better for typing too.
ReplyDeleteSome of us might think you have a 'serious problem' with all your crime reading, but we are all too scared to mention it. You would be a dab hand at finishing us off and hiding the evidence!!
I promise I'm not planning any murders..... at the moment!
DeleteThere are already 5 books for me to collect in the December van visit and 4 of those are crime as are several of the 20 other books I have reserved! It's very worrying.
I've never had my nails done and have been a nail nibbler all my life. Shame on me!
ReplyDeleteI recently finished A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith so thanks for that recommendation. I really enjoyed it and hope she writes more!
Too bad I can't get the Christina Koning books here as you make those sound good.
I'm on the library waiting list for 'A Case of Life and Limb' the second in the series.
DeleteHopefully once they've been around a while you'll be able to get the Koning books
I like my nails short and no polish too.
ReplyDeleteI've seen women with tiny flowers or rainbows painted on their nails. The nail bars are busy.
You should be all set for November with the new book delivery.
I think anything goes for nail designs now - but not for me.
DeleteI gather that many nail bars are staffed by women who are working for minimum wages. They don't chat as they generally don't speak English. Worrying.
ReplyDeleteThere have been stories of illegal immigrants and slave labour too
DeleteTrue story. My sister was an OR nurse. A woman who had surgery for carpal tunnel had extremely long nails. My sister said the surgeon refused to do the surgery until her nails were cut short, citing infection risks. My sister cut her nails and said that the amount of 'crud' beneath them was revolting. Like Jo, my question is how on earth do you wipe yourself with nails like that???@@
ReplyDeleteI can never understand why women want nails that long. Mine are kept fairly short (used to bite them as well) and when they get longer snip, snip.
ReplyDeleteLove the November books.
God bless.
Another one here voting for short nails. They are much more hygienic in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteGolly, Sue, how do you get through so much crime fiction ! I wouldnt sleep at night 😂
Angie
I always add titles to my list after reading yours!
ReplyDelete