The first 'book' that I read last month was an unusual one ... my own, in a way.
In 2016 I did an almost year long Challenge that I started a fresh blog for and called 'A Year Without ... Clothes, Books or Housekeeping Money'. Over the course of that year I didn't buy any new clothes, books or anything for the house. My housekeeping/food shopping money came from our Sealed Pot cash saved up for over the previous year, and lots of M&S and Tesco vouchers and Nectar points, a total at the start of the year of just £504.18 for the two of us. We did get some more vouchers over the course of that year as we were paying for building work on our old Welsh house with the M&S credit card.
Throughout the year I kept this diary, printing out the blog page for each day and sticking it in. It made for fascinating reading for me over the course of more than a week of last month.
It was good to have something that I could pick up and put down at the drop of a hat while we had so much going on. I've kept it, so that I can read through it again in a few years time. It really doesn't seem eight years since we did that Challenge.
The first real book that I read was this one. It was an unusual book and one that after reading about it in a few places, I fully expected it to be.
I really enjoyed reading something so different.
I am currently just about half-way through this book. It took me a while to get into, but now that I am, I'm really enjoying it, and if there's one thing I really want to do at the moment it's hunker down for Winter.
What book do you have on the go at the moment?
Sue xx
I remember your Sealed Pots, I used to do something similar but now that I go into physical shops so rarely and most purchases are by card it has gone by the wayside.
ReplyDeleteIs your "year without" blog still online? Re-reading old blogs is a wonderful thing, we've discussed it before 😘. I love reading about the little moments which would otherwise be forgotten, don't ever get rid of them, xx
Sadly I deleted most of my old blogs, only the ones on my sidebar are still available. 🫤
DeleteI'm re-reading "Wintering". It's speaking very differently to me second time around.
ReplyDeleteBooks sometimes do that don't they, which is one of the reasons that I keep so many after reading them the first time. 🙂
DeleteI just finished a Felix (son of Dick) Francis book from a CS. It was quite disappointing. Murder in chapter 1. I decided a character in ch 2 was the killer. Two more murders and two attempted... And in penultimate chapter the guy from ch 2 suddenly appears again and is revealed as the baddie. Not the best Francis book, but it sent me off to sleep on three nights so I guess it achieved its purpose!
ReplyDeleteYou've got to love a book that both sends you off to sleep AND proves you right. 😄
DeleteI like the idea of printing out old blog posts and making a "book" with them.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently reading two e-books I've borrowed from the library and skimming through several of my own books as I decide if I should keep them or declutter them.
It obviously used up a lot of ink, but I put it through our company as we do LOTS of printing out of documents and diagrams. Tax deductible blog printing. 😄
DeleteGreat idea to print out your posts-I remember that challenge so well! it’s our u3a readers’ group this afternoon and I am looking forward to seeing what book we are given by the library. I have also downloaded The Figurine by Victoria Hyslop to read as my bedtime snack. Catriona
ReplyDeleteOoh, that's exciting not knowing what the book will be, I hope it's a good one for you. 😀
DeleteWhat a good idea you had in 2016 with turning the blog into a book, and that was a really good challenge.
ReplyDeleteI find looking back at blog posts now makes me incredibly sad.
Looking back is something I daren't do yet too.
DeleteIt was a bit of a brainwave at the time, I'm glad I did it. I completely understand that looking back would make you sad. It's handy to have the history there in case you need it, but it wouldn't be light reading. 😔
DeleteYes, it's much too soon Jennie, but like Sue you have the information there if you ever need it in the future.
DeleteI've just finished the latest Barbara Erskine book, The Story Spinner, which is set in Wales again. A good read and I am grateful to my friend Gay who loaned me her copy so I could read it first. I've just started on one she also sent me A Litter of Bones by J D Kirk, which is a crime thriller. Upstairs I am reading The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn, which is brilliant and I recommend. Then I've got the five local history books from the Library. I'm learning more about Builth as the History Society have asked if I would help by volunteering in their shop. Am considering it.
ReplyDeleteA Litter of Bones sounds good, and you've crossed a couple of borders with a Scottish thriller. 🙂
DeleteYou have so much local and Welsh knowledge that you would be a perfect fit for the History Society. You also seem to be able to delve deep into things that interest you and retain the information, something that will also come in handy. 👌
What a brilliant idea to print out your blog posts! I need to follow your example asap. The photos on my blog disappear after one year, leaving only text. I don't know why. It's something to do with BlogTouch, the app I use for blogging on my iPhone. Margaret Butterworth.
ReplyDeleteIt was a brainwave that I'm glad I had. The way I did it was to copy and paste each post onto a word document and then I could play with spacing and shrink photos, to mostly have each post as a single A4 sheet. 😀
DeleteJust reading the Sustainable Home by Christine Liu, very interesting (Sandy mid wales)
ReplyDeleteI used to read her blog regularly and watch her on YouTube, the book looks good. 😀
DeleteStill working my way through the Alison Weir Tudor Queens series - in no particular order I might add , thoroughly enjoying them.
ReplyDeleteIt was nice to see what you had been reading, and as always, thanks for sharing.
Alison in Wales x
It's brilliant when you find a series of books that is really good isn't it. I hope you continue to enjoy them.
DeleteJohn Boyne's - The Heart's Invisible Furies.
ReplyDeleteSet in my home city, Dublin.
Wonderfully funny and quick, referencing so many places and institutions I left behind over 50 years ago but have remained in my memory intact.
I love reading a book or watching a programme or film with places that I know well in them. It puts you right back in the area and the memory doesn't it.
DeleteJust finished "The Last Word" by Elly Griffith and just about to start "The Cuckoo" by Camilla Lackberg
ReplyDeleteThe Cuckoo sounds intriguing, I'm pretty sure it was on the charity book table in Booths last week ... now I regret not picking it up!!
DeleteI am reading The Villa by Nora Roberts. Not really in to it yet, and sure hope it improves.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Gosh, she's a prolific author isn't she. There are over 200 novels to her name and yet I don't think I've even read one of them. I hope it improves for you, it's disappointing when a book is hard to get into isn't it.
DeleteI am reading My Life in Houses by Margaret Forster based on the houses she has lived in. I have lived in over 30 houses in my life and they all stir up different emotions and memories. I have started writing my own version as I think it will be my autobiography to leave for my daughters. Being an only child there is no one else left to fill in the gaps. It could take me a while!!
ReplyDeleteNow that sounds like a fascinating book ... I could be tempted!!
DeleteI am obviously a novice compared to you as I have only lived in 19 different homes up to now, but I can still walk through the rooms of each and every one of them in my mind. What a great idea for you to write your homes and life as an autobiography to pass to your daughters.
I loved Wintering, I've just finished a Romantic Novel, a new genre for me but I really liked it.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to read something totally different sometimes isn't it. I enjoyed a romantic chick-lit a couple of months ago. It was a very relaxing read. 🙂
DeleteI love that you made a book of your blog entries. I’m sure it was fascinating to look back. June
ReplyDeleteIt really was, but it's a heavy book to carry about. 😄
DeleteIs it really eight years - my goodness!! xx
ReplyDeleteI know!! It's scary how time has flown isn't it. 😬
DeleteJust started The Secret Hours by Mick "Slow Horses" Herron, I do love a good spy novel. xxx
ReplyDeleteYou really do don't you. 😀 Enjoy. Xx
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