Wednesday 5 December 2018

Rediscovering Reading, Part Two

Hello lovely readers, thank you for dropping in.  In July I wrote about how I had rediscovered my reading mojo after it went missing a couple of years ago - that post is here.  At the beginning of this year I set myself a reading target of twelve books, one each month, a great improvement on the two books I read last year, and in July I was excited to report to you that during the first six months of the year I had completed nine books, three quarters of the journey with a whole six months to go.  

I finished the twelfth book on 16th August and at that point I considered resetting the target but decided against it because I didn't want to put myself under any pressure, I wanted to enjoy and savour each book I read without feeling the need to rush to the end and pick up another.  However, nagging away at the back of my mind was the thought that as I had read nine books during the first half of the year, I should be able to read another nine during the second half, giving me a definitely-not-a-target of eighteen books.  At the end of September I finished book number fifteen and a sneaky thought entered my head: as I seemed to be reading at the rate of one book per fortnight, could I read another six books before the end of the year, taking the total to twenty-one?  I really wasn't sure because December is usually a very busy month, and twenty-one seems a humungous number compared with twelve, so I tried to stamp on this thought, but it was resilient and kept springing back up.  I continued to read at an enjoyable pace and last Saturday, the day before Advent Sunday...I completed book number twenty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Would you like to have a look at the eleven books I have read over the last five months?  Here they are - 




It's an eclectic selection.  If you read my summer posts, you might remember The Tale of Beatrix Potter, an excellent biography published three years after Beatrix's death and updated in the 1980s, and Pat Barker's Regeneration trilogy, set during The Great War.  Margaret Atwood is one of my favourite authors although I read Life Before Man slowly as it is very textural, if that makes sense, each sentence making me think, "Why has she written that?  What is the hidden reason?"  All of these books have earned their places on my bookshelves and will be staying.  My daughter lent me Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and I had read so much about it that I didn't let it linger but read it straight away.  It is an easy read but Eleanor will stay with me for a long time; I think everyone should read it.  Have the Men Had Enough? is about a family's struggle to look after Grandma as she becomes too frail to live independently and, sadly, I don't think society has moved any further forward with the issues the book raises since Margaret Forster wrote it thirty years ago.  It's a sobering tale.

For as long as I can remember the boxed set of books by Lillian Beckwith stood on my mother's bookshelves (that has made me giggle because I think the phrase "boxed set" means something completely different to many people nowadays) and I have often glanced at it and thought, "I'm going to read that one day," although I don't remember ever voicing that thought aloud.  So, I was surprised when my mother gave it to me on my fiftieth birthday, saying that I could read it and then pass it on.  I had absolutely no idea what these books were about.  Have you heard of them?  They are about a young English woman who moves to the Hebrides in the 1940s and lives on a croft (and for that reason I kept thinking of Mamas Mercantile, if you are familiar with her blog). They are entertaining anecdotal tales which reminded me very much of James Herriot's books, which I read in the 1970s.  That is actually Lillian Beckwith's story, although these books are apparently fictional.  

Of these eleven books, five are staying in my house and six are moving out.  I have enjoyed every one of them and now I shall enjoy the space which the departing six will leave behind.  My reading mojo is fully restored and I shall carry on next year; my target, again, is to read twelve books in 2019 because I am going to start working my way through the fat ones and I have already picked out the first.  In the meantime, there are almost four weeks left of 2018 and I have one book left to read.  It is this one. - 



See you soon.
Love, Mrs Tiggywinkle x

17 comments:

  1. I used to read a lot, ever since I was a child. For the past couple of years, I've hardly read much at all...just don't seem to have the time or, like you, most likely lost my mojo. Perhaps I should set a reading target too!

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    1. I think my reading really slowed down once I took up knitting again and learned to crochet, because I can't do both at the same time. I set aside some time for reading almost every day now and I have enjoyed it SO much, but having a target really helped me to get going. x

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  2. Well done you! I loved Elinor Oliphant too and I agree it will stay with me. The Margaret Atwood is a new one, I do love her books. Not heard of your ‘box set’ but the theme sounds intriguing. Looking forward to seeing your next selection of books. B x

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    1. I hadn't heard of Life Before Man, I picked it up in a charity shop and it turns out to be quite an early one, written in the 1970s. When the Best Beloved asked me what it was about I said, "It's about a woman whose husband is a bit useless so she takes a lover," rather pointedly, and he scurried off to do the washing up! x

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  3. Fantastic. For a moment I thought we were off on a trip to Reading but in the end we travelled much further! I have two birthday books ready to read but am not sure when I'll be able to get cracking with them. x

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    1. You are funny! You are not allowed to start reading your books until you have sorted out your Australia photos, and don't forget that you need to show us how to make your special Christmas dessert. x

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  4. When I was a child I went to the library every week and read 8 books a week.i had to check some out on my Mums ticket as children were only allowed 2 books. If only I had the time now. I belong to a book group so read one book a month with them and probably another 2 of my own. I may have a look at the Margaret Atwood as my Mum has justmoved into a flat in an assisted living development in Manchester. The stress was incredible before she was offered her flat as she was having to live with me or my brother for the 6 months after Dad died in June. Not great for either her or us.
    We are about to read a Maggie O’Farrell novel, The Hands that once held mine, I think it is called. Also just finished browsing through Nigel Slaters Christmas Chronicles that I bought last year. A great read with recipes for the season too. Enjoy your reading.

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    1. Oh my goodness, you have had a stressful time! You are the third person who has mentioned The Christmas Chronicles this week and it's now on my wish list. x

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  5. I haven't read the books you refer to about the Hebrides, you have me intrigued now. They are now on my list for reading as soon as I can track them down. I am back into reading now that all my Christmas crafting is complete. Thank you for mentioning me.

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    1. The Hills is Lonely is the first book, then The Sea for Breakfast and it's wise to read them in that order. The first was written in 1959 and I think there were a couple more after the original quartet, written in the 1970s, but I think she eventually had to move away because she upset her neighbours who didn't like the way she portrayed them. Oops! x

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  6. Well done on your reading goals! A few years ago I realized that I was not reading like I used to and I attributed it to the jumpy rhythm of reading so much on line. So I made a deliberate effort to change that. Now my reading mojo is fairly steady. I average about 4 books per month, and more during the summer months when I'm not teaching. The Lillian Beckwith books intrigued me and I'm adding them to my list of books to look for. I'm currently reading Nigel Slater's Christmas Chronicles on the recommendation of Barbara at Coastal Ripples. It's a great one for dipping in and out of.

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    1. Four books a month and a teaching job is admirable, well done! The Hills is Lonely is the first Lillian Beckwith book, then The Sea for Breakfast and it's best to read them in order. My copies cost 30p each in 1972! I have put Nigel Slater's Christmas Chronicles on my wish list as I've seen it mentioned three times this week and I like his writing, I read his column in the newspaper every Sunday. x

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  7. You certainly have got your reading mojo back. I keep seeing Elinor Oliphant popping up on various reading lists, I must give it a try:)

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    1. Do try it, Rosie. I read it in three days because I couldn't put it down. x

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  8. I'm glad that you're enjoying your reading. There are so many new publications that I would like to read as well as others waiting on my bookshelf. I have the Eleanor Oliphant audiobook version. I left it in Italy to listen to when there along with other audiobooks. It's soothing to hear the spoken word in English instead of my head being full of Italian phrases! Otherwise I like the feel of a book in my hands especially old hardbacks. Your Lillian Beckwith collection sounds interesting.

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    1. I love proper books too, and the smell of old books is one of my favourite smells. I don't have an e-reader, although my aging eyes would probably be grateful for the facility to increase the size of the font, and I rarely listen to audiobooks, although I can see why you would like to listen to a bit of English in Italy. The Lillian Beckwith books are fun, and could make an excellent television series, I think. x

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