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March Books

I have read a lot this month for me.. all that escapism I needed.

The Bronte Sisters by Catherine Rayner– Sub-titled Life, Loss and Literature. I really enjoyed this book as it explores the lives of the three sisters and links events to plot lines and characters in their novels. These women were truly remarkable in their world views and the position of women in society. A good book for my upcoming vist to Haworth later this year.

Toby’s Room, and Life Class by Pat Barker — being the first two books in the trilogy I read the third book in last month. The best parts if they can be called that are of the descriptions of life in the trenches in WW1. and of how normal life in the UK was in the early years, so unlike nowadays when civilians are impacted immediately, even when some are miles away.. I am talking about you know what here.

The Infernal World of Branwell Bronte- Daphne du Maurier– still the best book I know about this young man who had so much unfullfilled potential. A re-read for me.

Take your breathe away by Linwood Barclay– I shelved so many of his books when I was a library volunteer, but had never read any..until this book was discussed on BBC Radio 4 World book club. A Jolly good thriller.. Brie disappeared 6 years ago, her husband is suspected of murder, but no body. Then she turns up at the site of her now demolished home , causes a scene and leaves. So what is going on?

Watermelon by Marian Keyes- not quite sure how I came to own this book.. I suspect I picked it up in a charity shop. Part way through some of the characters seemed a bit familiar- I had it transpired read Rachel’s Holiday which preceeds this book. It reminds me of Bridget Jones’ diary and any book by Maeve Binchey- pure escapism and if you are angsting about something and need some froth, this could be it. It also occured to me that there is now a BBC TV programme based on the books- there are three more I believe- called The Walsh Sisters.

Haven’t they grown – by Sophie Hannah– your best friends have moved away and you’ve not seen them for years. Then one day you pass their old house and spot your friend with her children and they are not a day older from the look of them, than when you last saw them many years ago. How can that be? I made my own deduction, I was wrong, and actually think that what I thought was a much better idea! It was okay.

As I said a lot of books for me this month. I very much want to pass some onto a second hand bookshop this month, so quite an incentive to read more. I don’t plan on buying any in the shop when I visit..but who knows?

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Books- February 2026

Been a terrific month for reading…

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry– I absolutely loved this novel. I have read some reviews that found this book disappointing. The biggest criticism I recall was that it wasn’t as supernatural as expected. And yes if you were hoping for a fantasy novel this is not it. It’s set in the late 19th century- London and Essex- in particular Colchester and the Essex coast with its tidal river and mudflats. It helps that I have visited there when a son lived in the area so could picture the flat marshlands on the coast. Themes are Victorian England, a time of medical advances, interests in fossils and yes folklore. The blurb describes the novel as Charles Dickens meets Bram Stoker. Not sure I’d agree with that. Certainly shades of Mary Anning and Conan Doyle. So why did I like it.. I found it a bit of a page turner and went to bed early to have extra reading time. I know the places in the story and I love this time period. I have always found folklore and fossil hunting interesting. It was a perfect read for me and I found it well written. And the biggest compliment I could give it – I have requested another book by this author from the library.

The Family Way by Tony Parsons– This is a re-read for me from 2006. I got a copy of the book from my Mum’s house when we were clearing it. I will be taking some books with me in the Spring to Yorkshire when I will visit a second hand paperback shop which buys books to sell in the shop. Now I want to see how many I can read/re-read and take with me, after my attempt to pass on some books last year. Anyway- if you’ve not read this already. The subjects are three sisters, pre-covid days when people went out to work, and how families can cope with childcare and the need for money.. with pregnancy, relationships, divorce, casual sex, fertility, IVF etc. The book is of its’ time, well written etc. Oddly no same sex relationships or gender id. In many ways a bit outdated, already. But I enjoyed it all the same.

Noonday by Pat Barker– I bought this book last year from the library as part of a job lot- a bag full of books for £1. Turns out it is number 3 in a triology, and credit to the author I had no problem picking up the characters and plot lines. Three main characters- who met at Art College in the early 1900s. First book covers their college days, part two the First World War and this book- the Second World War. In particular the blitz in London, and the work of two people- Elinor and Paul who are now married, both work as artists and volunteer with the war effort. Elinor on ambulances and Paul as a fire warden. Kit is a civil servant , and hasn’t made a name for himself in Art. I enjoyed this book because it really gave a feel what it was like to be in the blitz, the destruction and the sheer mess. The word gritty was used rather a lot, and initially this annoyed me until it dawned on me it may have been deliberate over use of the word to demonstrate just what it would have felt like to work night after night in these circumstances, to dig people out of rubble, to have to find accomodation after your home was destroyed. It had never occured to me that not only might you be covered in plaster dust but with burst gas and water mains, the water would mix with the dust and set hard over your body and hair. It gave me some incline of what might be felt by people in Kiev right now. I have requested the first two books in this series from the library.

After me comes the flood by Sarah Perry- Chosen because I enjoyed the Essex Serpent. So disappointed by this book. I spent the first few chapters thinking I was reading about ghosts. No I wasn’t. John Cole sets off to visit his brother and breaks down. He finds a lovely old manor house where to his surprise the strange mix of people welcome him as they were expecting him. Of course they weren’t expecting him but someone of a similiar name. But who are they and why are they there? It won the East Anglian book of the year award in 2014 and for a first novel was okay..ish

A short history of the world according to sheep by Sally Coulthard– So I did buy this book for the picture on the front cover and the amazing title, and oh my I totally love it and it recommend it to anyone who enjoys history and wool. Talk about wide ranging. It starts way back in the days when sheep were first domesticated for their wool and meat. Takes you through just about every change in how they were kept, the uses their wool was put to, the innovations that came about because of sheep- like Scissors! How they transformed life in the States, the UK, Austrailia and New Zealand, created new industries, powered economies, changed the clothing we wore, … I’ve checked it is available in the USA- do read it and let me what you think.

Have you read any good books this month?

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January Books 2026

I haven’t written a post about books for quite some time. Time to start again as I try to be more reflective and careful with my time.

Self Care for Winter By Suzy Reading. Full of practical help and advice if like me you dread Winter. The illustrations are sublime.

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens– a re-read for me. It took me a long time to read this. It is a big book, and you can tell that it was first published in installments in a magazine. It’s one of my favourite novels by Dickens.. my favaourite screen version of the novel with a stellar cast is the BBC version with Maggie Smith and Daniel Radcliffe (years before he was Harry Potter). My favourite character is Betsey Trotwood, who was so disappointed when David was David and not a girl, but who turns out to be just who he needed a few years later. My only issue with her is her dislike of donkeys. I am very fond of donkeys, but I’d probably not like them wandering over my garden either.

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell– bought last Summer from a second hand bookshop. I enjoyed her descriptions of life in Tudor England and medical knowledge of that time. I would have liked more about Shakespeare’s life in London as an actor and playwright as the events in the book led to the writning of the play Hamlet, or at least to his naming of that character. It felt that a vital part was missing. But what do I know- it won the Women’s Prize for fiction and is now a film, which I should try to see.

Not many books but that’s down to my reading several non-fiction books at once and a novel for bedtime reading. Hopefully I will finish one in February to write about.

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One Word 2025

I’d like to begin with thanking Carolyn once more for having hosted One Word and Kat for continuing the link ups. Reading the posts from others is truly inspiring.

A new One Word gradually made itself known to me during the previous year. Someone asked how I remember everything that occurs to me on my One Word. The answer is I don’t..I do not have a particularly good memory, so I write things down. It’s why I have endless lists in a huge amount of notebooks. I have one especially for my thoughts on One Word. I read back through the notebook several times a year and certainly the current month’s thoughts before I write my monthly update. At the end of a year I go back through everything and carry forward any thoughts of my own, quotes from books and ideas that I think I should follow up.

So I can tell you with absolute confidence that my 2025 word first appeared at the start of August. At the end of July I posed myself the question “How to reflect and process travels?” The answer I gave myself was “It’s enough to enjoy”. Why did I need to process or reflect anything?

A glimmer of a word-APPRECIATE. Stemming from the idea of not only enjoying things but to appreciate what I have in life. 2024 the word was Yield- one meaning of which is to create a result. Appreciate can also mean to add value.

The quote I had to think about at the end of August was “Better to die living, than to live dying.” In September I have written “Enjoy what you have and hope for what you Lack”

In November my photo challenge died a death- the weather was against me, when it was nice I was busy, when I wasn’t busy it poured with rain. I thought to try again in December , but I didn’t. I enjoyed the first ten months but it no longer held an appeal. I also realised that I wasn’t going to visit all the places I’d planned to do this year. However I had been to lots of places I’d not thought of when I compiled the list back in January. I questioned why I had chosen to not visit the places on the list but to go somewhere else. At that point I knew that I loved the spontaneity of deciding the night before to have an adventure- the National Trust membership greatly aids this. So this led me to thinking about the best things of 2024, and writing the previous post.

I also thought about my previous One Words- 2022 Balance- learning to live alone as a widow, 2023- Divest- clearing out the past, 2024- Yield- coming to terms with an embracing my new role and producing a positive something from all my craft supplies, of which I still have far far far too much.

2025- Appreciate..mmm

More quotes- from Robert Louis Stephenson” Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you sow”

From Mortimer and Whitehouse- ” the secret of success is not how to catch ( a fish) but how to enjoy”

Abby Wynne- “A big part of being well is relaxing and accepting who you are”

Ronald Blythe from his book Akenfield-” Never you mind the song, it was the singing that counted”.

How about these two from Ru Paul Charles” There are no mistakes in life, only the opportunity to grow” and “Find the joy in this moment”

Or Patrick Grant from his book Less- on nature “Slow down, tune in and enjoy it.”

And so that was decided my word for 2025 would indeed be Appreciate- the who, what, why and how will be my focus for this year.

There will be no 25 for 2025 list this year, but I do have an 18 for 2025 list- I have my limitations.

I’ll do my January round up on the last Monday of the month. Meanwhile here’s a link to Kat’s word- it’s Japanese and all about Time and Space-https://askatknits.com/2025/01/03/welcome-to-yutori-1-3-25/

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Unraveled Wednesday

Well America, what has happened there? I wish you all well after today’s results.

Moving swiftly on to pleasanter matters it’s Wednesday and time for all things yarny.

The Knitting.. or lack of knitting. I have done something to my upper right arm, sometime way back in September. Maybe lifting my suitcase? Maybe saving myself from falling out of a single bed on the first night in Greece when I nobley took the room with single beds, allowing my travel companion to have the room with the double bed? Who knows? I thought it got better last month.. that turned out to have been a side benefit from the pain killers I was taking for that tooth extraction.

I managed one row of this hat I am attempting to make for the Big Knit, before my arm hurt a lot. Honestly I am falling to bits. Did I mention that I now need new glasses, having gone from being long sighted to short sighted.

So lets turn to books. I managed to read this heap last month.

Even the library books you can see here are actually ones I purchased from the libraries destash book sale. All will be passed onto a charity shop for resale.

Another World by Pat Barker– Geordie a First World War veteran aged 101, is now dying and is haunted by the past and the death of his brother in the trenches. Meantime his grief stricken grandson is trying to make sense of a sinister Victorian drawing hidden below layers of wallpaper in a house he and his family are renovating. Thoroughly enjoyable read.

Below Stairs- Margaret Powell– I first read this in 1972..I am that old! This is the memoir of a 1920’s kitchen maid and she pulls no punches. Forget everything you saw in Downton Abbey, she writes well and the authenticity of her book shines through. I was gald to have the chance to reread this.

Enduring Love- Ian McEwan– Another great read, and an opening chapter detailing an incredible accident won’t be forgotten. And I can’t say more because I don’t want to spoil it.

Basil- Wilkie Collins– I think we were given this for Christmas one year, and I’ve just got round to reading it. Wilkie Collins has been over shadowed by Dickens somewhat. He sets his novels in 19 Century London, but I find them easier to read as he doesn’t attempt to write in dialect. Anyway, Basil makes a hasty and unfortunate marriage and all manner of dastardly schemes have to be thwarted, or not, maybe. I enjoyed it but will be passing the book on with the others.

Which turns me to the one I had started last week.

To my mind this book shows why it is hightime we got rid of the so called Upper Class, and it is no surprise that the 9th Duke of Rutland locked away his family papers after carefully culling some which showed his family in a very strange light. His redeeming feature is that he hung onto Haddon Hall and began it’s restoration..it having been untouched and unlived in for 200 years, and one of the properties I visited in the Summer.