Category: British Library
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By now everyone who visits Random knows I love crime novels. I have done all my life and it is such a joy to have the British Library reprinting so many of the classic stories and making them available again. The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley is one of the most famous classic who…
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Lots of books to read and several to bring to your attention. My TBR pile is gradually spreading and I really need to sort it out. Two books from the British Library. No I do NOT work for them nor do they pay me a retainer but hardly surprising if anybody thinks so as I…
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I am the lucky recipient of many books from the British Library and am eternally grateful to them for their kindness and generosity. The majority of them are the glorious Classic Crime series but other gems come my way as well and the other day I received The Haunted Library – classic ghost stories edited…
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I seem to start every post with an apology these days when I realise that I have not written for a week. I am so sorry but I have been so busy it is just daft and I am off to London again tomorrow for another mad few days so thought I had better do…
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This marvellous series continues to beguile. Another two titles which I have read over the last few days and hugely enjoyed. Miles Burton's real name was Cecil John Charles Street. Born in 1884 in Gibraltar and awarded the Military Cross during his army service, he turned to writing. His first pen name was John Rhode…
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Finally able to spend some time on writing a post. I have had a difficult time recently and then Christmas took over and I am currently at home trying to regain some peace of mind and have a rest. I am sorry that Random has had to take a back seat but my brain was…
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Apart from loving the content of this series, though I do think there are reasons why some of the authors have been forgotten, I also love the covers. Very thirties and beautifully produced, eye catching and almost impossible to pass by in a bookshop. Two more popped through my letter box this week. Serpents in…
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First on my list is Bill Bryson The Road to Little Dribbling which I have already reviewed here. No matter how grumpy you may feel on Christmas Day (especially if you are cooking up a storm for a huge family gathering) and are fed up with all the pud and turkey, then find a quiet…
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Oh I must post more regularly but, as you know, this last month has been a blur and a write off and sloth has set in. So another catch up and then I will try and get back into the regular habit of posting more often. Blade of Light and Game of Mirrors by Andrea…
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I am pretty sure that if you searched for the words 'sheer delight' on Random Jottings it would pop up on multiple occasions. I always like a cliche or two, Pure Gem being another, and I have no compunction in using them whenever I want. So here we go with two books by Alan Melville…
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A few weeks ago I was delighted to welcome Martin Edwards to this blog. If you missed his post, the link to it is here. I knew this book was up and coming and I awaited it with eager anticipation and when it arrived started reading immediately. I read it solidly over two days, surfacing…
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I am sitting upstairs in my room at Ealing looking out the window and after yesterday's torrential rain which made the drive here pretty vile, the sun is now shining. Cup of coffee to hand and more Christmas recommendations. Struck me the other day I had better get my skates on as not long to…
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I hate to mention this word. If I had my way the Christmas shopping frenzy would be restricted to December only but I know the stores have a living to make and so it has begun. I was in Cambridge yesterday and wandering through John Lewis, my favourite store, all their Christmas gifts etc etc…
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As per, I am behind with heaps of books hanging around waiting to be read and reviewed. Here are a few I have enjoyed recently. A Colder War – Charles Cumming. I have read all of the books written by this author as I do enjoy a good spy novel and his are very good…
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Grandchildren, bad back, gardening, bad back, out and about, bad back and this has been my lot over the last month and only just emerging from feeling pretty dire. So I need to get a grip and to catch up on books read though most of the time I have been lying flat on my…
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As an antidote to all the dross that appears in book shops around this time of year and the plethora of 'sleb' biographies and the onslaught of 'sleb' cookbooks I have been hunting around for books that I would be happy to receive if anyone gave them to me. I hasten to add that my…