I seem to be having a very slow reading month this November.
It got off to a bad start with a book that I just could not get into at all, I persevered for about a quarter of it's pages before deciding that life is just too short to read a book that you've been told is 'brilliant', that all the reviews say is the bees knees, but that just doesn't flow well for you.
I gave up and took it shopping with me, leaving it on the charity book table when I called into Booths for a coffee with Alan one day.
... to pay for these Kyivs in the M&S near Mum's new home, we don't have an M&S near us. 😞
They would have cost me £3.75 with real money, but with my little voucher they were free. I let Alan have the left over 25p off the cost of his bottle of milk.
After the last post when I worked out that I have just £49.92 to last me until the end of year, including buying any Christmas food that I decide I have to have, I have been pondering over trying to stay within my self-imposed budget restriction or throwing caution to the Christmas wind. I had almost decided on the latter before realising yesterday that I have Nectar points that I have not cashed in for ages, a quick check on my Nectar App showed me that I have over £35 available.
Result!!
Now £84. 92 sounds like a very good shopping amount for a big Christmas shop for little old me ... I'm happy. 😁
Sue xx
I've not read much this month either, too many interesting things on TV I think and life's definitely too short to finish bad books, but what was your unreadable book?
ReplyDeleteI think it's partly because it's been so dark in the mornings this past couple of weeks. I don't like turning the 'big' light on first thing. The unreadable book was 'Hermit', it's got so many fantastic reviews, but it didn't suit me at all. 🫤
DeleteHad to do a search to see what I thought about that book from reading it in October last year. Seems I liked the parts about hermits in history and descriptions of Lundy but wasn't especially excited by the rest
DeleteI think I was tempted in to a party that I didn't enjoy by some of the reviews I saw online. Oh well, someone somewhere will have had a £1 bargain and the Air Ambulance will be a little better off.
DeleteI’ve been reading very lightweight stuff as my brain can’t cope with anything else. We finally have quite a bit of snow today so I am going to craft and read til it’s time for Strictly. Keep cosy. Catriona
ReplyDeleteStill no snow here, I think it's all bypassed us this time, but we do have high winds and very heavy rain, with a flood warning in place for further into town. The flood gates have been opened ready to divert the high waters onto the rugby pitches.
DeleteThis is where Nectar points really come in useful, isn't it. I spent some of mine earlier in the year but currently have £14 or so which I'll be saving up to use for food on Boxing day when the family come over.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently reading Ali McNamara because I needed something light and cheerful to read.
Angie x
Don't know why I'm anonymous again.... :/
DeleteI'm not sure why I have so many, but I'm assuming Alan has been shopping without me in there as lots of things that I would never buy keep popping up on my Nectar saved offers. Which thinking about it, the offers mean I have been collecting additional points for low spends. I always try and buy a single onion or banana etc when I know it's going to be worth 30 points.
DeleteI've just looked up Ali McNamara, her books sound like lovely light reading. Perhaps that's exactly what I need on these last dark days of November.
DeleteI think I remember reading Sue that you’ve been reading Claire Keegan’s novels too. What did you think? We read “Small Things Like These” for book group last month and everybody loved it and I now have “Foster” from the library on my pile which is also small but perfectly formed. Another slim novel I am enjoying is “Whale Fall” by Elizabrth O’Connor (going to be reviewed on Sara Cox’s Between The Covers next week - I’m really enjoying this current series) and I cannot wait to read “Orbital” by Samantha Harvey which won this year’s Booker prize and is something like 180pp long and is my choice for book group next year. Size isn’t everything! Plus having read Adam Bede and Daniel Deronda by George Eliot this year I am enjoying ending the year with these more concise novels. Reading is the most wonderful and relaxing activity and I love the way it gets me out of my head and problems and into someone else’s. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I absolutely LOVE Claire Keegan's books. Her writing is so clear and concise and she tells a perfect story with few words. Foster is one of my favourites. I even bought the film that was made from it, The Quiet Girl,. A magnificent film version that for once mirrors the book beautifully, although it's in the original Irish, so I had to read the film too. :-)
DeleteAgree with Sarah about Whale Fall and with you both about Claire Keegan's two short books.
DeleteI've just checked it out on Amazon and Whale Fall sounds like a really good read.
DeleteI am completely different, if I start a book I need to finish it in the hopes that the read becomes better. Sometimes that works, but a great deal of the time it does not.
ReplyDeleteI love that you found more money for your December purchasing power. Good for you.
God bless.
I can't afford to waste time on books that don't suit me, when I own so many more that either definitely do or potentially will. 😀
DeleteYep, for me, if you're not really enjoying a book it's time to move on to another one. My husband and m in law both love fantasy and sci fi - I just don't have that gene 😄 They just don't get it but we're all different aren't we?
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing what you get with those nectar points.
Alison in Wales x
I read so many different types of books, but I stopped with sci-fi and fantasy many, many years ago. I still enjoy the odd murder, mystery or detective read. My younger son has a massive collection of detective, murder mystery and forensic science books.
DeleteGosh you do do well with your budget, yes life's too short to read a book you don't like!
ReplyDeleteIt really is. 😀
Delete