I love books and book shopping (just in case you haven;t already guessed from reading this blog!) There was a fantastic book related article in tonight's thelondonpaper detailing some of London's unique bookshops. I've written before about Daunt Books which is mentioned in this article, but mention is also made of Persephone Book's shop which I have been meaning to visit for ages (ever since reading about it on yarnstorm's blog). It's quite funny that when they recommend one book to buy in each store the ... read more

When ever I go into town I can't help but go into the charity shops, just in case there's a bargain there with my name on it. I had to go into town on Saturday to pick up some more medication for Mr C. It was only supposed to be a quick trip so I limited myself to only popping into one charity shop, but I chose my favourite, the Scope shop in St Albans.I'm so glad I did as I managed to pick up a copy of Michael Palin Diaries 1969-1979: The Python Years for a grand total of £6. I was thrilled. Both Mr C and I have been wanting to read this for ages - and now ... read more

It's almost embarrassing to admit to this, but I've just found some books that I'd forgotten I owned!A few years back I'd bought a load of Penguin Classics and the green and white Penguin Crime books at a local charity shop. I knew that I'd kept them all when Mr C and I moved house about four years ago, but couldn't remember seeing them since. The other day I pulled a travel guide off the shelf and realised that there was a whole second row of books behind it. Oh the feeling of excitement at that point!I'm particularly looking forward to reading the ... read more

Stephen Fry's The Liar had been sitting on my bookshelf for a while before I picked it up to read last week. I bought it in a secondhand bookshop a few years back along with his other novel, The Hippopotamus, and whilst I got round to reading the latter straight away, the Liar never quite made it to the top of my reading list until now. The Liar was Fry's first novel and many describe it as being semi-autobiographical; certainly the main character, Adrian Healey bears many Fry like characteristics. The book jumps around a bit, but we see Healey as a both a public school boy and ... read more

In the Company of Cheerful Ladies is the sixth book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detectve Agency Series from Alexander McCall Smith. Anther delightful tale, but one that has a few darker edges than some of its predecessors. In this book Mma Ramotswe learns that her ex-husband Note Mokoti is back in town and it soon becomes clear that he think he still has control over her. Mma Ramotswe's little white van also leads her to (literally) bumping into Mr Polopetsi, a former convict who ends up being offered a job at Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors and also proves his detective skills in finding ... read more

  My Mother in Law, S, lent me her copy of Kim Edwards' The Memory Keeper's Daughter a few weeks back, having read it herself as part of her local book group. I wasn't at all sure what to expect, but just reading the back cover made me want to start reading it immediately.In 1964, Dr David Henry is required to deliver his wife's twins on a snowy winter evening. Paul is born first, followed by Pheobe. Paul is a "normal", healthy boy, yet Pheobe is born with Down's syndrome. Being the first to set eyes on his daughter David makes a decision that ... read more

  It's taken me a while, but I've finally got round to reading the first in the Alexander McCall Smith series The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Having already read several others in the series it was a bit strange going back and being introduced to Mma Ramotswe, Mr J. L. B. Metekoni and Mma Makutsi but the book did pull together several background bits that helped me understand some of the small details in the later books. Going back a step in this way has really made me realise how much Alexander McCall Smith's style has matured as he has progressed through the ... read more

  I'm not too sure where to start writing about Engleby except to say wow! By far this has to be one of the best books I've read in recent years and so, so different to No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series that I've been recently enjoying.The book is all written in the first person by the character Mike Engleby - a slightly awkward man who is always aware of his struggle to fit in with his surroundings. He takes the reader through his time at public school, after arriving there from his small terraced home in Reading. We then follow him to ... read more