I was in the mood for something slim. Something with pictures. A book with each page dedicated to a new topic. This really hit the spot. The format is limiting, of course, but sometimes boundaries are helpful, aren’t they? This book is the partner to a tv show of the same name. Giving the sameContinue reading “March(ing) with books”
Tag Archives: writing
Glad that’s over
The worst of the winter is behind us. January, what a month – lasts 7 weeks, all of them cold and overcast, and all the big events are disasters. February, short but bitter. Good thing we have books. This wasn’t a comfort read or comfortable, but highly enjoyable. Set in Kyiv in 1919 it concernsContinue reading “Glad that’s over”
Words in Winter
This was the perfect winter read. Set on hot humid days (and nights) in New Orleans, the novel perfectly captures the dreamy, hazy, insubstantial quality of that place. The characters are charming, funny, doomed. The scale of the story is small, but the emotions and consequences are epic. The novel was published in 1997 butContinue reading “Words in Winter”
January
I’m not sure why I selected this book and having finished it I’m still bewildered by it. With a weirdly complicated and meandering plot and a large family of only mildly pleasant characters it held me in thrall despite myself. It was overwhelmingly moving at times and perfectly captured the haunting power of a favourite children’s book.Continue reading “January”
Recumbent reading
Why is reading different on holiday? We have more time, yes, but there’s more to look at, new experiences, unconquered territory. And why should we read different things? The classic “beach read” is a glossy paperback, usually based somewhere exotic, and often sporting some sun-tanned flesh on the cover. It might be easy reading, butContinue reading “Recumbent reading”
What I Read in Feb
Most of the month was taken up with this whopper and I have to admit I was glad when it was done. February is a short month, but filled mostly with this book, and a couple of other delights. I wanted to find out how this reserved and private man managed to assemble and leadContinue reading “What I Read in Feb”
Join the Club
Writing’s a solitary business, which is why writers never need an excuse to turn off the screen and hurry to gather in groups to talk about…writing. Finding the right writing group can change everything. Sharing your writing with like-minded people is helpful, but finding a good critic who doesn’t share your world view is evenContinue reading “Join the Club”
Enough books?
In 2010 I started recording the books I read each year in a slightly feeble attempt to simplify my life. Once read and recorded, the book could be passed on, kept or (mostly) returned to the library. As always, my list contains some classic and classic-style crime (I’m not into gore) and some re-reads ofContinue reading “Enough books?”
Suzy D Harris 