Had. a trip to Cambridge this week. Collected some shoes which the shop would not post to me or let me purchase over the phone. This was something to do with 'data protection' I gather. Don't ask. Still, I never mind going to Cam even if only for a few hours so I collected my shoes, went to EAST whose clothes I love and bought some stuff for my upcoming cruise – I have never bought so many clothes in my life as I have in the last few months – they will last me for yonks afterwards, and then hied me off to Waterstones where I had a coffee. And looked at some books. And bought a couple. Natch.
When I came back my lovely postman had left a note for me that he had left packages in my cupboard which harbours my electricity meter and he often leaves stuff in there for me. Knows me well now with all the parcels he delivers. So I collected them and decided to post today about the books I have awaiting my attention. I like to do this as I am not sure when I will get round to reading all of them and feel that as they have been sent to me, I should flag them up.
Here we go.
The Red Ribbon by Lucy Adlington. I have started reading this and know that I am going to find it difficult. Not because it is badly written, au contraire, but because of its setting. Fourteen year old Ella is a prisoner at Auschwitz and she is a dressmaker. No ordinary workshop for her. Every day is a fight for survival as she tries to forget the horrors surrounding her as she works amongst fabrics, silks and sewing thread.
Published 21 September
Train to Nowhere by Anita Leslie, a war memoir. Anita was the daughter and cousin on WInston Churchill and the joined the Transport Corp as a fully trained mechanic and ambulance driver during WWII. She served in Libya, Syria, Palestine, Italy France and Germany.
First published in 1948 and now republished by Bloomsbury 24 August. looking forward to reading this.
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell sounds a tad creepy featuring a locked room containing a 200 year old diary hinting and the house's dark past. Got to get stuck into this one as Laura, who I discover, lives in Colchester is giving a chat at our Waterstones in a week or so and I would like to turn up and ask intelligent questions.
No comments at the back please….
Publication date 5 October 2017
Land of Plenty by Charlie Pye-Smith is flagged as a Journey through the Fields & Foods of Modern Britain. The author has travelled around the UK visiting indoor dairy units producing millions of litres (what is wrong with pints I ask myself??) to small old fashioned farms making cheese with twenty or thirty cows. I have been dipping into this with great enjoyment as apart from being really interesting, it is a rather lovely book, with that smooth paper that makes you want to stroke it and packed full of photographs. This is already published on 27 July and I think you will love it.
John Suchet – Verdi. Another gorgeous book which is eminently strokeable with stacks of great pictures and illustrations. I adore Verdi's music, my neighbours have, over the years, had to listen to me singing O Patria Mia from Aida in the bath and the Drinking Song from Act one of La Traviata amongst other gems. They are very forgiving as they also have to listen to me yelling and shrieking when Wimbledon is on and last Saturday when the John Wilson Prom of Oklahoma was on telly, had to suffer my rendition of Oh What a Beautiful Morning.
I digress. Last year I read John's book on the Strauss family, another lavishly illustrated (love that word lavish) tome and just so interesting and so easy to read. I always listen to John on Classic FM, he is one of their best presenters and he loves Beethoven as well so no further recommendation is needed. Publication date 5 September
The Mistresses of Cliveden – Natalie Livingstone. I have already read this but did not have a copy but now have courtesy of the Literary Festival at Cliveden committee. You will remember if you have read my post here that I recently attended a superb tea and visit to discuss the book festival and we all came away with this book. A wonderful read and I highly recommend it. It led me on to reading more about Nancy Astor, not a lady I am sure I would like to share a cup of tea with, but fascinating and formidable. Now available in paperback.
I am not discussing every single book in this heap but simply have to mention this one which I have already gloated over. A Week on the Broads – Four Victorian gents at sail on a Norfolk gaffer in 1889 by S K Baker. The author was a keen diarist and artist and recorded their travels in watercolour. Just look at this delightful book, I mean just look at it. How can you resist? Already published and available
This is published as a facsimile and I shall be reviewing in more detail later as I know I am going to love it.
So a few for you and me to be getting on with.
Go on and buy and order
You know it makes sense….
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