Short of things to write about on the blog so here's another list of reading ideas from the Country Commonplace Book by 'cosy' youtuber and book reader Miranda Mills. (https://www.youtube.com/c/MirandaMills) She's much too cosy for me to watch more than a minute! I won't be buying her second book.
I've only actually read two of these although once owned two others and I have read Mark Cocker's second diary about Claxton ( Still own a copy of A Claxton Diary). 'Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady' is everywhere secondhand and I still have a copy here. The two old diaries by the clergy are classics but I'm afraid I've not read either. 'All Around The Year' by Michael Morpurgo was a good read from not so long ago when Little Toller Books reprinted it. 'Notes from Walnut Tree Farm' is one I ought to have read as he lived not far from here. We had a copy once and I'm sure Colin read it years ago.
Like the other lists in Miranda Mills' books I don't know her criteria for her choices. I'm sure over the years I've read many other diaries about country life.
Oh do read Kilvert's Diary. It is absolutely lovely and captures a time so succinctly. He was a curate in Clyro, a mile from Hay-on-Wye and describes the countryside and its people so well. My desert island book I reckon.
ReplyDeleteI was 99% sure I had a copy to read sometime but searched the shelves and it's not there anymore
DeleteParson Woodforde lived 12 miles from here. He belonged to an informal supper club with other clergy. Much of his diary is about his meals! It is a competent record of Georgian life, and he was a thoughtful, charitable man, kind to his servants and his neighbours, not at all sanctimonious. We were obliged to study his diary at school, because he was a local guy. i found it interesting and informative,but not exactly a riveting read!
ReplyDeleteI'm so bad at getting to read books that are thought of as classics.
DeleteDo you think Miranda Mills should have listed her "criteria" then?
ReplyDeleteNo, it's just me short of blog post ideas and being pedantic!!
DeleteOut of curiosity I visited Miranda Mills' YouTube. She does go on a bit, doesn't she?
ReplyDeleteTwee is what I thought. I must stop being so mean about so many youtubers when I wouldn't want to do it myself!
DeleteI mostly read mysteries...
ReplyDeleteSo do I
DeleteNo more church visits to share? How does your garden grow? No projects to share? Just trying to give you suggestions, but I've hit a blog block too on occasion.
ReplyDeleteThe unusual hot weather we've been having hasn't been conducive to adventures and the garden is suffering too.
DeleteI have enjoyed your blog for quite a while, but haven't commented before (or maybe once?)...
ReplyDeletebut did want to add Richard Adam's A Nature Diary to the above list. Perhaps you might enjoy it.
You inspire me with your reading lists...I keep a book journal but sometimes find I've read a book before anyway. Will be looking up the Kilvert classic at the library.
Thanks for your wonderful blog!
P.S. I lost my husband just a couple of months before you lost yours after almost forty years of marriage. Some days the absence feels so deep, doesn't it? Sorry to go on so....
Mary