Just a quick post today as I am hitting the North Circular in an hour or two and joining up with the Other Grandparents to look after the girls over the weekend. I always take a book with me, force of habit, but never have a chance to open it. Not complaining though. Time with grandchildren is precious.
I have quite a few books lined up on my TBR pile and future purchases to look forward to and here are just a selection.
Yesterday there was a knock on the door and my postie was clutching a parcel. "Blimey what have you got in here" was his cry and I guessed straight away what it contained. Yes and I was right. Volume 2 of the Chips Channon diaries covering the years 1938 to 1943. Over 800 pages and weighing in at 4 lb (out of interest I put the book on my bathroom scales) this is going to keep me busy for a while. I really enjoyed Volume 1 after a sticky start when I tired of his endless descriptions of high society but once he was in Parliament his insight was fascinating. And at the end of Volume 1 was a memorandum he had written on the Abdication which made for a compelling read.
These cover the war years jup to 1943 and the only way to tackle this is to read one year at a time which I have already started to do. I am keeping a note book by me to jot down references and thoughts. If I start with post it notes the book will be bristling with them. Will review in due course but "I may be gone some time..."
Another title on my list is George V by Jane Ridley. A couple of years ago I read her biography of Edward VII which I loved. Insightful and full of interest the author has a knack of bringing her subjects alive and I ended up loving Bertie warts and all. I have been lucky to receive an advanced reading copy but it is not due to be published until 4 November and I await that date to review. Again, I have copious notes already taken and I am thoroughly enjoying it. A full review will be written in due course but I can already say it is excellent and I can recommend its purchase. Nothing to stop you pre-ordering...
I have already mentioned Val McDermid. I have her latest by my side entitled 1979 which gives a clue to its time and setting lest you be in any doubt. I have read all her Carol and Tony Hill books and think that she was right to finish them as not sure their tale could have been taken any further, but pleased that she is still going to continue with the Pirie series. Saving this up which sounds daft but just knowing it is waiting for me is a nice feeling.
You know when you log onto Amazon and they come up with recommendations based on your previous reading? Most of the time I skim through but now and then I spot something that I think might be interesting and the other day picked up on one they thought I might like. Mr Finchley Discovers his England by Victor Canning. I know of this author mainly through my teenage years spent shelving books when I worked in the library service but know nothing about him. I will be honest and say the reason I bought this was I loved the cover and thought that looks fun.
"Mr Edgar Finchley, unmarried clerk, aged 45, is told to take a holiday for the first time in his life. He decides to go to the seaside. But Fate has other plans in store. From his abduction by a cheerful crook, to his smuggling escapade off the south coast, the timid but plucky Mr Finchley is plunged into a series of the most astonishing and extraordinary adventures"
I mean how could I resist?
And with the knowledge of a reboot of the series The Darling Buds of May based on the novels of H E Bates which I loved, the Pop Larkin books are now also awaiting my attention. I have a feeling Mr Finchley and Pop will provide a balance to the hefty tomes sitting on my table as I write.
Happy reading everyone.
