Off to London later and away for a few days staying with family. I am loaded with pressies and Easter Eggs and even the fun of driving along the A12 and North Circular to get to them will not take away the joy.
I always take a book or two with me though why I do heaven knows as I never get time to read at all, but I cannot go without a book in my bag and this weekend I shall be taking with me the Real Mrs Miniver written by Jan Struther's granddaughter, Ysenda Graham. I did not read this when it was first published, but was amused to note that Jan was nothing like her middle class Mrs Miniver at all, but had a difficult marriage and was having a mad fling for most of it with her young lover.
I am rather glad, in a way, that I did not buy that book then as it now means I can fully justify the purchase of this title which has just been issued in one of those gorgeous little Slightly Foxed editions. Now looking back at that sentence there is something wrong with it. What? I have used the word Justify. Stop it Elaine this is totally wrong, you have NO need to justify this at all. So there.
Slightly Foxed, along with Virago and Persephone, is one of my favourite places to visit and to buy books and every time I go on their website (the bookshop is now sadly closed) I find my fingers itching to hit buy buy buy on my keyboard. I have several of their editions on my shelves and now look forward to adding this one to their designated place. What I also like about these books is the binding, the paper, the clear print and the fact they are small enough to slip into a bag or a pocket.
I have also taken delivery of the latest in their reissue of all the Carey Family books by Ronald Welch. I have raved about these already on Random and will continue to do so as they are simply marvellous and historically fascinating. The latest is Mohawk Valley and this I will save for my return from London so I can sit down in my comfy chair and quietly enjoy.
I am also currently working my way through the works of George Bellairs who I have already posted about. Loads available for Kindle and ebooks from Endeavour Press and Bloomsbury reader and I am so liking their old fashioned style and content. As the Ann Cleeve books have made me want to go to Shetland, so these books make me want to visit the Isle of Man where the author lived for years. I recently discovered when reviewing The Hills is Lonely by Lilian Beckwith that she also ended up living on the Isle of Man. These things always come in threes so I wonder who I will discover next...
On another Random note, I started watching the latest Scandi drama Blue Eyes on More4 last night. Mixture of murder and politics it is already shaping up very nicely. Spent most of the first episode trying to work out where I had seen the actress playing the lead role and then remembered she was in The Bridge Series 3. Small pool of actors to choose from I gather in Sweden and Denmark so spot the familiar face is always fun.
I wish everyone a happy Easter weekend. I have purchased a Cadbury's Creme egg to sustain me on my drive which may or may not be a good thing as I always end up with most of it down my front.
Au reservoir.
