tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69062780984171193622023-11-15T22:12:53.732-08:00Bookmark ThatFor fellow bibliophiles who enjoy reading,language and all things related to booksUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-55989020641274858232015-07-11T06:18:00.000-07:002015-07-11T06:18:12.452-07:00Just one evil actI am a passionate Elizabeth George fan and when my husband came home with a belated birthday present of her latest book, <a href="http://www.elizabethgeorgeonline.com/books/just_one_evil_act.htm" target="_blank">Just one evil act</a>, I was overjoyed. Unfortunately life got in the way and Inspector Lynley sat on my bedside table for a few weeks while I juggled a crisis at work,flu and end of term concerts. Once I started it was a bit like watching a train wreck, you want to look away and at the same time you have to know what happens.<br />
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This riveting tale of love, betrayal and how an innocent little girl is caught up in the affairs of the adults who love her is one that is heartbreaking and so well told. Hadiyyah, the daughter of Barbara Havers' neighbour, disappears with her mother and nothing can be done, as Taymullah Azhar's name does not appear on the child's birth certificate and they were never married. A private detective is hired but the trail goes cold. Six months later Hadiyyah is kidnapped in an Italian market place and Angelina rushes back to England with her new lover to confront Taymullah, who is as shocked as she is at the child's disappearance.<br />
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In her inimitable fashion Barbara Havers plunges in to help Taymullah find his daughter, at the risk of losing her career and her friendship with Lynley. Nothing in this tale is really as it seems and as new secrets come to light Barbara is plunged deeper and deeper into conflict with her superiors. There is also a twist in the tale that I never saw coming but Elizabeth George has this gift of keeping her readers entranced to the last page.<br />
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<b>Just one act of evil</b> also sees Lynley finally saying goodbye to Helen and entering into a new romance.<br />
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I enjoy Elizabeth George's novels not only because she writes so well or because her plots are so well researched and believable but mainly because her characters are so rich. You grieve with Lynley when his wife dies and feel Barbara's anguish when faced with Taymullah's betrayal. I really hate finishing one of George's books as I know there will be a long wait until the next one is published. However, I know that the wait will be worth it.<br />
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If there is only one good novel you read this year, make it this one.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-72084090986628723632015-04-25T13:32:00.002-07:002015-04-25T13:32:58.222-07:00Visit to the bookshops<br />
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Any date evening normally includes a visit to <a href="http://www.exclus1ves.co.za/" target="_blank">Exclusive Books</a> as my husband and I are both avid bookworms. I love browsing and checking out what is new on the shelves and adding to my mental wish list. Two books I would love to own are <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Miniaturist-Jessie-Burton/dp/1447250893" target="_blank">The Miniaturist</a> by Jessie Burton and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Winter-Food-Provence-Marita-Vyver/dp/0624057771/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429990266&sr=1-5&keywords=Marita+van+der+Vyver" target="_blank">Winter food in Provence</a> by Marita van der Vyver. I cannot wait to get hold of a copy of The Miniaturist. It has so many excellent reviews and being an avid miniature lover as well as enjoying a good historical novel, I cannot wait to step in the pages of this book and be swept away. Marita van der Vyver's book also looks excellent. She is a wonderful author with the ability to draw her readers into her world. Combine this with delicious recipe's and photo's not only of the food but also French culture and there is a place on my bookshelf reserved for this lovely cookbook.<br />
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Hubby decided to gift me on this particular date with a very belated birthday gift and I came home with one of my favourite authors. <a href="http://www.elizabethgeorgeonline.com/books/just_one_evil_act.htm" target="_blank">Just one evil act </a>by Elizabeth George is a book I cannot wait to dive into. I have read every one of her Inspector Lynley novels and the characters feel like family friends. I will keep you posted once I have finished the book.<br />
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Another favourite bookshop of mine is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rutland-Books/154789591279512" target="_blank">Rutlands Books</a>. They have such a huge variety of books and their prices are excellent. Today I found Sue Grafton's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22V%22_Is_for_Vengeance" target="_blank">V is for Vengeance</a>. I love Kinsey Milhone, she is one of my all time favourite characters. This book is the 22nd in Sue Grafton's alphabet series. Kinsey is hired to investigate a suspicious suicide. With the mob involved and Sue Grafton's gift for drawing you into the story, I am sure it is going to be an excellent read. I also picked up an old favourite, Encore Provence by Peter Mayle. I love Provence and Peter Mayle has a unique view of the French and their way of life. My copy of this book has vanished and I am so glad that I manged to get hold of another copy.<br />
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Two practical books I came home with are <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Make-Minutes-Mini-Boxes-Marian-Ballog/dp/B008SMJZS0" target="_blank">Mini-boxes</a> by Marian Ballog and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/365-Easy-One-Dish-Recipes-Everyday/dp/1597690309/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429992172&sr=1-2&keywords=365+easy+one+dish" target="_blank">365 Easy one dish </a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/365-Easy-One-Dish-Recipes-Everyday/dp/1597690309/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429992172&sr=1-2&keywords=365+easy+one+dish" target="_blank">recipes</a>. I cannot wait to try out some of the boxes, particularly the get well kit and the chocolate kit. I am sure they will really make someone's day. The instructions are clear and include pictures and Chapter 1 clearly lays out what is needed to create these boxes. If you enjoy crafts or know someone who does then I recommend this book.<br />
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The title of <span style="font-size: large;">Easy one dish recipes </span>is what caught my eye. I work full time and have two very hungry little mouths to feed at the end of the day. Lots of dishes and complicated recipes are two things I really do not have time for at the end of a stressful work day.Main meals,sandwiches,soups and even dessert are covered in this book. There is one recipe to a page and they are easy to follow. Recipes are given with metric as well as imperial measurements. I cannot wait to try out some of the recipes. They will make a change from fish fingers and chips.<br />
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And last but not least an easy read novel to curl up with on a cold winter's night. I am not a chick lit fan but <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shelter-Me-Juliette-Fay/dp/0061673390/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429993078&sr=1-1&keywords=shelter+me+juliette+fay" target="_blank">Shelter me</a> by Juliette Fay jumped out off the shelf and yelled TAKE ME HOME. I am a real sucker for stories of grief and loss and rebuilding your life afterwards. Janie LaMarche receives a very unexpected birthday gift from her husband 4 months after his death. A builder arrives to add a porch to her house. Grief still has her tight in it's reigns and she is living in self imposed isolation. Unlikely friends help her navigate this unknown future in a way she did not expect. Doesn't that sound like a great read. I am so looking forward to settling in with this book.<br />
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I hoped that in this mishmash of reviews that there is at least one book that captures your interest. Do you have any favourite neighbourhood bookshops? Please share, as I am sure there are many avid bibliophiles out there who love the smell of books ,old and new, who would love to discover a new hangout.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-57361266273068075672015-04-07T11:45:00.001-07:002015-04-07T11:45:23.084-07:00A new world<a href="http://www.leechild.com/" target="_blank">Lee Child</a> is one of my all time favourite authors. I am busy reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gone-Tomorrow-Jack-Reacher-Child/dp/0440243688" target="_blank">Gone Tomorrow</a> and it is quite chilling. A woman Jack Reacher profiles as a suicide bomber on the New York subway commits suicide by shooting herself. Reacher refuses to let go until he understands why she felt she had to kill herself. The more he investigates the deeper the mystery.As always there are twists and turns in the plot, with post 911 security making things even more difficult for him Throw in the FBI, a potential presidential candidate, a missing football student and a particularly nasty female murderer and it makes for a great page turner as always.<br />
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Lee Child's books are never boring and it is VERY difficult to switch the light off once you start reading, so be warned. His latest book <a href="http://www.leechild.com/books/personal.php" target="_blank">Personal</a> is on the shelves but be warned. Make sure you have the next 24 hours cleared to finish this book.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-30322712453775247342012-09-05T12:11:00.000-07:002012-09-05T12:24:43.815-07:00CJ Box and Yellowstone National Park<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2U6NowL-1VxEDTiNor1oXruo3_JViccyuNbxMaGIZnh_mzj0PnqrhgUEke9mfbmjkrkxpwNB1Bq_P55lDLuv96cke2CStGZf7mATbUtbABYrrbiLpt26hZvA3faxPG2VH_cTGgmALrxPc/s1600/Free+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2U6NowL-1VxEDTiNor1oXruo3_JViccyuNbxMaGIZnh_mzj0PnqrhgUEke9mfbmjkrkxpwNB1Bq_P55lDLuv96cke2CStGZf7mATbUtbABYrrbiLpt26hZvA3faxPG2VH_cTGgmALrxPc/s200/Free+fire.jpg" width="200" /></a>I have recently finished reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Free-Fire-C-J-Box/dp/0399154272" target="_blank">Free Fire</a> by <a href="http://www.cjbox.net/" target="_blank">CJ Box</a> and I can definitely recommend it. I have not read many CJ Box books so it is difficult to compare it to others he has written but as a book on its own it was a very enjoyable read. </div>
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Joe Pickett , after having been fired, is working on his father-in-laws ranch. He is rehired by Governor Rulon, of Wyoming,to help investigate four murders which took place in Yellowstone National Park. A man has committed murder, and due to a judicial loophole, cannot be prosecuted. While he is quite willing to admit to the murders, what is his motive? It is with this in mind that Joe once again returns to uniform. This detective story is compelling and the pace is good. Set against the backdrop of Yellowstone Park, which I have always found a fascinating place, with doomsayers and some ancient history that catches Joe completely off guard, this really is a must read for all of you who enjoy a good detective novel set in the great outdoors. I found it a bit gruesome in parts but that is just a personal opinion, so make up your own mind on this score.<br />
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The one thing about a great read is that it opens your mind and inspires your imagination. It takes you on an armchair journey and wakens your curiosity. Some of the places this book led me to were <a href="http://www.kenrockwell.com/trips/2009-08-yellowstone/index.htm" target="_blank">Ken Rockwell's</a> exquisite photographs of some of the hot springs found in Yellowstone as well as photo's of the <a href="http://www.yellowstonetravelchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/usa-wyoming-yellowstone-old-faithful-inn-lobby.jpg" target="_blank">Old Faithful Inn</a>. I also find the idea of the whole of Yellowstone as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone_Caldera" target="_blank">super caldera</a> waiting to blow at any moment very interesting.<br />
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Although CJ Box's stories are set in a similar environment to Nevada Barr, his style is very different. If you are a Nevada Barr or a Tony Hillerman fan, then I am sure that CJ Box is going to become a firm favourite on your must read list.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-81173393775507879262012-08-10T13:02:00.000-07:002012-08-10T13:02:22.723-07:00Some more children's books....<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of nickutopia.com</td></tr>
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The cycles we go through in what the children love to read is very interesting. They will often return to favourites and read them over and over and then forget about them for a while until they are " rediscovered". <strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Green-Eggs-Myself-Beginner-Books/dp/0394800168" target="_blank">Green eggs and Ham</a> </strong>and <strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Cat-Hat-Dr-Seuss/dp/039480001X" target="_blank">The cat in the hat</a> </strong>by Dr Seuss are both firm favourites at the moment. The <a href="http://www.peppastore.com/" target="_blank">Peppa Pig </a>books are also a good choice. The illustrations are bright and cheerful and the stories are simple and easy to follow. </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Fish-Who-Could-Wish/dp/0916291480" target="_blank">The fish who could wish</a> by John Bush and illustrations by Korky Paul is a great read. A fish who could wish for anything finally wishes for the silliest thing of all. The children really enjoy the story and I love the illustrations. </div>
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Another book getting a lot of lap time at the moment is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/It-Was-You-Blue-Kangaroo/dp/0553112805/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344628585&sr=8-1&keywords=It+was+you%2C+blue+kangaroo" target="_blank">It was you, Blue Kangaroo!</a> by Emma Chichester Clark. Lilly has a blue kangaroo that is very naughty and gets up to all sorts of mischief until he gets banished to the top of the bookshelf. Lilly has to sleep without him and is very heart sore. For any of you with little one's, this is a very sweet story and my children enjoy it very much.</div>
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Happy reading!<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-89228422978347959002012-07-12T02:06:00.000-07:002012-07-12T02:06:23.678-07:00A whole lot of reading going on<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I have been on holiday for nearly three weeks and have managed to pack in a number of good and not so good reads in that time. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bodies-Behind-Center-Platinum-Mystery/dp/160285324X" target="_blank">The bodies left behind </a>by Jeffrey Deaver is one of the books that I recommend. Jeffrey Deaver, as always, keeps you guessing until nearly the last page. A 911 call cut short leads deputy Brynn to a house on Lake Mondac, where she discovers two bodies and nearly becomes a victim herself. On the run from the murderers with only her wits to keep her alive, Brynn's fight to survive keeps you turning the pages. Deaver writes a good story and I was not disappointed. If you need a good page turner for a chilly winter's night ( or a lazy day on the beach for those lucky souls in the North) then you this is a good choice.</div>
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<a href="http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/michael-thomas-ford/z/_/R-400000000000000317720" target="_blank">Z</a> by Michael Thomas Ford was one of the books that I reviewed for my husband's slibrary. If you are a teen reader and enjoy a good zombie thriller, then this might be for you. The plot is good and it is well written. It does however highlight the depths to which we as so called " civilized" beings can and do descend and is a bit gruesome in places, but then what can you expect from a book about zombies.</div>
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Yet another zombie book that I reviewed is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Island-Zombie-David-Wellington/dp/1905005474" target="_blank">Monster Island</a>, the first in a trilogy written by David Wellington. This book was a bit too weird for my taste, although it is a great page turner and will certainly keep you reading. A small band of Somali girl soldiers accompany a former UN inspector to New York city to look for AIDS drugs. The catch is that all of the civilized world has fallen to a zombie infection and Manhattan is crawling with the undead. Join Dekalb and his girl soldiers as they invade New York in their quest for these drugs. Besides these newly undead, a greater threat awaits them, as one of the undead is not quite as mindless as one would assume. A thinking zombie is far more of a threat than the other undead and this twist in the tale lends itself to all sorts of action.Throw in an ancient druid, a couple of mummy's and this all makes for a good but disturbing read.</div>
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Finding a book by an author you enjoy that you have not yet read is like coming home. I have not read a Tony Hillerman in a long time and I really enjoyed reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Talking-God-Tony-Hillerman/dp/0061967831" target="_blank">Talking god</a> . What do a corpse and a grave robber have in common? This question brings Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee together and as Joe tries to identify the victim and Jim arrests the grave digger. This story is well written and the plot all comes together in the last pages, leaving the reader guessing. I love a good detective novel where the plot is not given away in the first half of the book. Tony Hillerman hooks you and keeps you to the last page. It is also fascinating getting a glimpse into a world so far removed from my own, which is one of the special joys of being a reader and an armchair traveller.</div>
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As my holiday draws to a close, I find myself intensely wrapped up in the world of Henry and Claire in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Time-Travelers-Wife-Audrey-Niffenegger/dp/015602943X" target="_blank">The Time traveller's wife</a> by Audrey Niffenegger, as they fight to live a normal life with Henry time travelling throughout their relationship. They meet when Claire is 6 and Henry 40, get married when Claire is 22 and Henry 30. While this is a beautiful love story , there is nothing typical about it and you keep reading , wanting to know how they resolve the fact that Henry keeps disappearing. I have an allergic reaction to most love stories and while I am not immune to chic lit, I generally avoid these types of books. However, this story is lovely and I would recommend it to anyone who is a romantic at heart.</div>
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Still on to read list is a Sue Grafton omnibus, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Worst-Hard-Time-Survived/dp/061834697X" target="_blank">The Worst Hard time</a> by Timothy Egan and two murder mysteries by authors that I have not read before, which is always something to look forward to. What are the books you are reading these holidays or the ones still on your bedside table, waiting like a large box of chocolate allsorts? I would love to hear from you. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-77626319187288210552012-06-02T11:56:00.000-07:002012-06-02T11:56:19.655-07:00A different take on the art book<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Having been off for a while, I thougth I might post something a little out of the ordinary<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeP_CVcLmqRCuIjCnjvn8Lv1Qndkb-O3eNsVrlQuiqkcRjoxsV6ERUtmHHr3xOexhe1rY_s3oKfld_p_ubjMH26ppXFgn8jP116mtG7LuECI4Xno2mgX9paaWJEvac7rRDLt1P97svbvY/s1600/book-waterfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeP_CVcLmqRCuIjCnjvn8Lv1Qndkb-O3eNsVrlQuiqkcRjoxsV6ERUtmHHr3xOexhe1rY_s3oKfld_p_ubjMH26ppXFgn8jP116mtG7LuECI4Xno2mgX9paaWJEvac7rRDLt1P97svbvY/s400/book-waterfall.jpg" width="267" /></a>. I came across this list of books as artwork. It is truly bizarre and thought provoking. From nail encrusted books to books as three story high sculptures, this link is just plain weird on one level but some of the art work is also quite beautiful. In a world where books seem to be rapidly being replaced by the one minute thought bite, I love the idea of books as pieces of art, not only for the words between their covers but also as a solid object occupying a three dimensional space. Follow this link to see some of the other works of art.</div>
<a href="http://www.flavorwire.com/292899/10-incredibly-bizarre-works-of-book-art/comment-page-1#comment-135048">http://www.flavorwire.com/292899/10-incredibly-bizarre-works-of-book-art/comment-page-1#comment-135048</a><br />
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Don't you just love this waterfall of books by Alicia Martín. It gives me the idea of a house that is so overflowing with books that the walls cannot contain them anymore.As a book lover I find this a wonderful idea ( or am I just a bit peculiar?)<em> </em>I spent a pleasant twenty minutes in the car yesterday wondering what I would do if I won the Lotto. Filling a house with books would probably be high on my wish list and this image gives a visual idea of what that might be like.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-50963676382401366432012-05-24T05:35:00.001-07:002012-05-24T05:35:53.420-07:00Cookbooks and mystics: The cookbook collector<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have just finished reading the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Cookbook-Collector-A-Novel/dp/0385340850" target="_blank">Cookbook Collector</a> by Allegra Goodman. I really enjoyed the book. She makes beautiful use of language, weaving words together to create vivid mind pictures for her readers. The book focuses on the lives of two sisters, Emily and Jessamine Bach. Emily is practical, intellectual and business minded.She is engaged to a fellow dot com entrepreneur. Jessamine is studying philosophy and is dating a tree hugger. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ59x05CgGXD-4zrRWcND8h4tzuuLzk9eW-jqVIUjpGNJgw_eXorZc5iMWJ3o9uE6sZOpEM1QOmw4dHKeyDfzY1CAzsGEzVHQ2f_eVSxtkBxi7lZWu6kNhjHMhYqhx3e8nXQalHtQSG-sR/s1600/the+cookbook+collector.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ59x05CgGXD-4zrRWcND8h4tzuuLzk9eW-jqVIUjpGNJgw_eXorZc5iMWJ3o9uE6sZOpEM1QOmw4dHKeyDfzY1CAzsGEzVHQ2f_eVSxtkBxi7lZWu6kNhjHMhYqhx3e8nXQalHtQSG-sR/s1600/the+cookbook+collector.bmp" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The book is about cookbooks and cooking, mysticism, finding love in very unexpected places and putting your life together again when it does not go as planned. This is the first of Allegra Goodman's books that I have read but it will not be the last.She has a lovely way with words and she transported me to a very different world from my own</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-79079714707268818042012-05-04T12:21:00.001-07:002012-05-04T12:25:29.720-07:00So sweet<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1PquODJJB1Rnq6ppG6ZCkNB5PBeKna75Qite-gzWgANa2_2EY5x1O7WmhWbg2CC9tuHGbou4Myw419WGfU1kZIqg2U8T58CTEwHggm4IlJ3-TsgEua7Yvra9Jo4MF6QEh9EYVWwt9d1M/s1600/Guess+how+much+I+love+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1PquODJJB1Rnq6ppG6ZCkNB5PBeKna75Qite-gzWgANa2_2EY5x1O7WmhWbg2CC9tuHGbou4Myw419WGfU1kZIqg2U8T58CTEwHggm4IlJ3-TsgEua7Yvra9Jo4MF6QEh9EYVWwt9d1M/s200/Guess+how+much+I+love+you.jpg" width="200" /></a>It is seldom that one gets to combine sweetness so well in a book blog. For those of you who love sentimental stories and have a sweet tooth, look no further than today's installment of Bookmark That.</div>
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Here is another of my favourite children's books. <span id="goog_1337445427"></span><span id="goog_1337445432"></span><em>Gue</em><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1337445423"></span><span id="goog_1337445424"></span><em>ss how much I love you</em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guess-How-Much-Love-You/dp/076360013X" target="_blank"><em>http://www.amazon.com/Guess-How-Much-Love-You/dp/076360013X</em></a>, written by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram,<em> </em>tells<em> </em>the charming story of Little Nutbrown Hare trying to outdo his dad in telling him how much he loves him as a stalling technique before bedtime. Big Nutbrown Hare always manages to go one better in his declaration of love for his son. Children need to be reassured of their parents love and this book gives this reassurance abundantly. It is charming and beautifully illustrated and you should have it on your bookshelf if you are a parent or grandparent. It makes a lovely gift for a young family as well.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDctwNQpclwOocHA_VIgxa5jeBXWOcl-gEeVoeG0G6QusSk7gcgjHBOYF3pcrvGie2NH8s7hs1K_SVyiABizL5Mh3lq8XZPvH0h6AWOUcGk1DP-ZHHeBm0RyjTEg73hBPUzBNWmVleIUcG/s1600/To+the+moon+and+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDctwNQpclwOocHA_VIgxa5jeBXWOcl-gEeVoeG0G6QusSk7gcgjHBOYF3pcrvGie2NH8s7hs1K_SVyiABizL5Mh3lq8XZPvH0h6AWOUcGk1DP-ZHHeBm0RyjTEg73hBPUzBNWmVleIUcG/s200/To+the+moon+and+back.jpg" width="133" /></a>I found this birthday cake on one of the baking <a href="http://blog.pinkcakebox.com/childrens-book-birthday-cake-2012-05-03.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PinkCakeBoxPastries+%28Pink+Cake+Box+Pastries%29" target="_blank">blogs</a> I follow and thought I would add it, as it combines two of the things I enjoy the most, namely reading and cakes. The cake was baked by Anne Heap of the Pink Cakebox and I think it is gorgeous. If you are looking for some inspiration, you have to visit her blog. Jacob is definitely a lucky birthday boy.</div>
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A sweet book and an even sweeter cake. Two of life's greatest pleasures. Enjoy!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-69631328439139484752012-05-03T12:32:00.000-07:002012-05-03T12:32:10.432-07:00Where to put my books?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkhVdfy-ajUB1TofA6YBBhp5cKclsegBMn9nWS2yGsyW1I0NHPxJDYG-phr85_L8z8G4x41zyO0g7pwevYZEy5C4RsT_aHk618Iso9KShhhGdhSAqPI9-eQgru3mF-GDbIBV0DZH3rU37/s1600/falling+bookends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkhVdfy-ajUB1TofA6YBBhp5cKclsegBMn9nWS2yGsyW1I0NHPxJDYG-phr85_L8z8G4x41zyO0g7pwevYZEy5C4RsT_aHk618Iso9KShhhGdhSAqPI9-eQgru3mF-GDbIBV0DZH3rU37/s320/falling+bookends.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTKKEvEJwaj-fED2KBFO0WFrvBavIez3pMTt64H_ipi2o_PgceBbO80n4lI2sXFKqW_UzGH7aXAWJddNRpTnBHCfTG7Sfb4Er_osadCGrjPMeg2O92dbR2I_AnO-1zhQhyphenhyphenNp3UcLW09mN/s1600/Read+you+bookcase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTKKEvEJwaj-fED2KBFO0WFrvBavIez3pMTt64H_ipi2o_PgceBbO80n4lI2sXFKqW_UzGH7aXAWJddNRpTnBHCfTG7Sfb4Er_osadCGrjPMeg2O92dbR2I_AnO-1zhQhyphenhyphenNp3UcLW09mN/s320/Read+you+bookcase.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here are one or two bookshelves/bookends that I found on the net and thought I would like to share. Don't you just love the books "<a href="http://www.thefancy.com/sales/4497/falling-books-bookend-by-art-ori-black">falling" </a>over. Just putting a book on a shelf is never quite as interesting a finding somewhere quirky or unusual to store them. See if you can spot what is so different about the<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150687754566775&set=a.284349836774.144893.117420871774&type=1"> bookshelf on the left.</a> If you can, let me know what it says.While my books line shelves in our home, I am always trying to find new and unusual book shelves or bookends. Do you have any quirky bookcases to share? Please send in the photo's.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-24667219010977027012012-04-19T11:33:00.000-07:002012-04-19T11:33:35.014-07:00We're going on a bear hunt..........I have decided to start a series on some of my favourite children's books. Some of these I enjoyed as a child and am rediscovering them with my own children, others are new books and authors that I love to share with my children. My two pre-schoolers have just received a book as a gift from their granny overseas and they have enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoy reading it to them. <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Were-Going-Classic-Board-Books/dp/0689815816">We're going on a bear hunt</a></em> is retold by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. It is a lovely read and takes me back to sitting round the campfire on youth camps, doing all the actions and shrieking with laughter. I enjoy the story as it makes a family outing of going to go and look for the bear, with much splashing and squelching and swishing as the family traverse fields, mud puddles and streams on there expedition. The children love finding the bear and all the running back to the house, especially when their dad makes big growly noises and adds the sound effects( you can tell who the extrovert is in our family). This is a great read and is beautifully illustrated. It is published by Walker Books and is a must have for the bookshelf.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-76422017670766029492012-04-19T10:02:00.001-07:002012-04-19T11:13:51.268-07:00Book sculptures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbqSopy8amkcoLWQ2Bk7RD7EqpH-PeSAGdp2OfpAIvGxma5gK0cxW7j5lUQ139gj7ISsoNAuSkg9ChwR-Z-HzHy7KBPx_nKiRwzv4cGf-g_fDwQhgsTpZmOhDeNc0IE3H1ZdNy39vesar/s1600/canis_2196646k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbqSopy8amkcoLWQ2Bk7RD7EqpH-PeSAGdp2OfpAIvGxma5gK0cxW7j5lUQ139gj7ISsoNAuSkg9ChwR-Z-HzHy7KBPx_nKiRwzv4cGf-g_fDwQhgsTpZmOhDeNc0IE3H1ZdNy39vesar/s320/canis_2196646k.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
Book sculpture is not what you do when that pile of unread books next to your bed reaches gravity defying heights and you try to rearrange them so that they do not all come crashing down. If the idea of taking a pair of scissors to a book horrifies you, STOP READING NOW. For those book lovers out there who can bear the thought, this beautiful work of art has been done by taking an old Boys Own manual and cutting out the inside pages to form a collage. This artwork is done by <a href="http://www.alexanderkorzerrobinson.co.uk/statement">Alexander Korzer- Robinson</a> and I think it is exquisite. He makes use of antiquarian books in his sculptures, giving us a glimpse into a forgotten past and making what is old and forgotten, new again. If you want to see some more of his work , follow this link to <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/9211702/Book-sculpting-by-Alexander-Korzer-Robinson.html?frame=2196639#?frame=2196646">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/9211702/Book-sculpting-by-Alexander-Korzer-Robinson.html?frame=2196639#?frame=2196646</a>. Tell me what you think. I would personally love to have one ( or two) of these in my Christmas stocking ( hint,hint).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-6434362950337033442012-04-18T10:58:00.000-07:002012-04-18T10:58:41.318-07:00How to show off my booksI love Book Riot. Here is a link on displaying your books, this time a bit more doable for us mortals than those libraries features in the Rich and Famous section ( see previous blog post <a href="http://bookriot.com/2012/04/18/mouth-watering-book-nooks/">http://bookriot.com/2012/04/18/mouth-watering-book-nooks/</a>. I live in rented accommodation so I cannot do anything to the structure but really enjoy seeing how other people display their books and dream about what I would do with a bit of money and my own house. Which one is your favourite? Please share, I would love to hear what you think. You could even post some of your ideas here or send in photo's. I just love the bedroom book nook. I think I would never want to leave my bed, at least until all the reading is done.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-20894573575697793232012-04-13T11:00:00.001-07:002012-04-13T11:01:43.408-07:00A bit off topicDear all ( making the assumption that there is an " all" reading this blog, as I have as yet had no comments or followers) don't you just love getting mail? By this I mean the physical, letter in an envelope in your mailbox kind of mail. I love receiving letters and for years and years felt letdown every time I went to the mailbox, as there is only ever accounts or junk mail.Then I had a brainwave ( this does not often happen). If I love getting mail, then surely other people also like receiving something other than bills. So I searched the Internet for other mail mates, which is ironic considering how many people have stopped writing letters, as sending an e-mail is so much easier, cheaper and far less time consuming. I found one or two good sites, namely <a href="http://www.sassociations.net/">http://www.sassociations.net/</a> and <a href="http://www.sandbook.net/">http://www.sandbook.net/</a> and then started writing. Some people answered and some did not. I have not been as faithful a pen pal as I could be, as sometimes life just gets too busy too keep up with writing letters. Nonetheless, I am slowly building up a worldwide friendship network of like minded letter writers. I look forward to getting the post, as I never know who will be writing to me today. I know this is a book blog but anyone who loves books loves words and letters and paper and stories. Letters are just a different kind of book, a personal book written just for you, telling someone's story. Isn't that an exciting thought? How many people can say they have received a book written specifically with them in mind? If you are a bit tired of corresponding by e-mail, which is convenient but far less exciting than receiving an actual handwritten letter, why not pick up a pen, buy some pretty notepaper and join the revolution!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-26839888331973258922012-04-10T11:44:00.000-07:002012-04-10T11:44:52.506-07:00Katniss EverdeenI am always wary of the hype surrounding a movie based on a book, as the movie rarely is an improvement on the written word (yes I know, I am a bit of a snob when it comes to the movie versus book debate). Having read <em><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Hunger-Games-Suzanne-Collins/dp/1407109081" target="">The Hunger Games</a></em> long before there was even a suggestion of a movie, I was taken in by Katniss. She is a strong, intelligent female protagonist who is not afraid to take chances to protect those that she loves and to stand up for herself. She is a complex character and does not just swoon into the arms of the leading man and expect him to save her. She also brings hope to a people who are oppressed at great cost to herself. I was intrigued by the books because they also made me think about our society's lust for reality television and how far we would be willing to go to be entertained. Is a battlefield arena where the last person standing takes the prize so very far fetched? How far would we go to get our kicks in a society that is becoming increasingly jaded? I am not saying do not watch the movie but rather suggest that you do yourself a favour and read the book first, so that you are not so caught up in the Hollywood glitz and glamour that you forget to think and question what the movie says about our society.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-73076676076782626372012-04-08T13:22:00.000-07:002012-04-08T13:22:44.974-07:00Stumbled upon Library ThingHi fellow bibliophiles, I just had to share this link with you. I was looking for creative ways of storing books ( something I know that all book lovers battle with ) when I came across this new site. It allows you to catalogue your library, share it with others, they have free book giveaways ( yes FREE) and it allows you access to the libraries of thousands of other readers. They also have a number of groups and forums that you can join. The link is <a href="http://www.librarything.com/">http://www.librarything.com/</a>. Visit Library Thing and tell me what you think. Happy browsingUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-23945410131499170072012-04-06T12:39:00.001-07:002012-04-06T12:39:20.576-07:00Jay Walkers libraryhttp://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/16-10/ff_walker?currentPage=all<br />
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Follow this link to read the full article on Jay Walkers libraryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-73169494258513633232012-04-06T12:35:00.001-07:002012-04-06T12:35:35.196-07:00Libraries of the Rich and Famous: Part ThreeHere is part three of Libraries of the rich and famous. There are no words.....<a href="http://bookriot.com/2012/04/04/libraries-of-the-rich-and-famous-part-three/#.T39FJDU0tm0.blogger">Libraries of the Rich and Famous: Part Three</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-32355818062347436412012-04-06T11:35:00.000-07:002012-04-06T11:43:12.813-07:00Elizabeth George has a new novelI love Elisabeth George and was really excited to hear that her new novel,Living the lie, has been published. Hear her talk about it at http://www.authormagazine.org/interviews/interview_page_georgia.htm. I love her rich characterization and the way she draws you into her stories. You develop great compassion for her killers,as often their motives are never simplistic. Her detectives and their families are also complex characters and I always finish a book feeling as if I have left in the middle of a conversation. Watch this space for a review as soon as I can find a copy of Living the leUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-79727063625430166382012-04-03T12:42:00.001-07:002012-04-03T12:42:15.225-07:00I am busy reading <em>Last child in the woods </em>and it makes fascinating if somewhat scary reading. I am only halfway through but it is eye opening in terms of the link between nature and children's growth and emotional development. Children today are being isolated from nature due to the technological growth ( Internet, games, television,Wii,Ipods to name a few) that has taken place in the past few decades as well as the physical isolation that has been imposed on them by the move to built up urban and suburban living spaces.There is either no "nature" available for children to experience or we as adults have imposed so many rules and regulations on children that they may no longer enjoy nature as we did as children. This books also looks at the link between what the author calls nature deficit disorder and ADHD. He has some very practical guidelines as to what we can do as individuals,communities and business to reintroduce this new generation to nature and help them to love and experience it as we did when we were children.If you have children this book is a must read. Even if you do not have children, it is a thought provoking look at what we as a society are doing to ourselves by isolating us from what has been for thousands of years our natural habitat. Do yourself a favour and read this book.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-72162409085449658502012-03-28T10:44:00.003-07:002012-03-28T10:44:51.053-07:00Libraries of the Rich and Famous: Part OneI am doing this a bit back to front but check out part one of <br />
<a href="http://bookriot.com/2012/03/14/libraries-of-the-rich-and-famous-part-one/#.T3NMlvgkwmU.blogger">Libraries of the Rich and Famous: Part One</a>. Keth Richards library would fit so well into my home, although I am not sure which part unless I added on a rather large extension. It is messy and casual and I would feel really comfortalbe plopping down on a couch with a cup of tea and my latest bestseller. I also love the Hearst library but I would be too scared to breath in case I damaged something. Not a place for a busy young family to curl up with The cat in the hat or Maisy. One can but dream...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-70628098701231306132012-03-28T10:44:00.001-07:002012-03-28T10:44:48.853-07:00Libraries of the Rich and Famous: Part OneI am doing this a bit back to front but check out part one of <br />
<a href="http://bookriot.com/2012/03/14/libraries-of-the-rich-and-famous-part-one/#.T3NMlvgkwmU.blogger">Libraries of the Rich and Famous: Part One</a>. Keth Richards library would fit so well into my home, although I am not sure which part unless I added on a rather large extension. It is messy and casual and I would feel really comfortalbe plopping down on a couch with a cup of tea and my latest bestseller. I also love the Hearst library but I would be too scared to breath in case I damaged something. Not a place for a busy young family to curl up with The cat in the hat or Maisy. One can but dream...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-58954314403416546282012-03-22T11:08:00.001-07:002012-03-22T11:09:25.354-07:00Discovering a new authorI was introduced to Geraldine Brooks by my husband. I am smitten.She writes so beautifully and her characters are full of life and complexity. If you enjoy historical fiction, then this author is for you.She is a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and this honor is well deserved. In <em>Year of Wonders </em>she explores the effect of the Plague on a small English hamlet that isolates itself from the world when a bolt of cloth infected with the Plague arrives from London and decimates the villages' population. The story is told from the viewpoint of Anna Frith, a housemaid. Courage, fear and a struggle for survival bring out the best and worst in her fellow villagers and the story makes villains and heroines of the most unlikely people.The story is beautifully told. I love Anna, the main character. She is strong and resourceful, even as she battles her own grief. This book is definitely going on my list of favourites. Other books written by her include <em>March</em> and <em>People of the Book.</em>Watch this blog for further reviews.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-47908501157314303872012-03-22T10:44:00.000-07:002012-03-22T10:44:58.170-07:00Of robots and riotsWhat would happen if the entire network of technology that we use to make our lives easier were to rise up against us and try to destroy the human race? In ROBOPOCALYPSE by Daniel H. Wilson this idea is turned into terrifying reality, as man and machine battle for survival. Killer cars, buildings bent on destroying their inhabitants and a mastermind bent on destroying the human race while preserve life on the planet. This all makes for an interesting read.The writing is a bit stilted and is written as if it were a non-fiction account of this technological rebellion but I think this adds to the reality of the book. Initially did not think I would enjoy it but after the first few pages I could not put the book down. It is really creepy and a bit gruesome in parts but it is not your typical end of the world novel. Mankind fighting for survival against a common enemy is not a new theme in fiction but Daniel Wilson has a way of keeping you turning the pages. His characters, both human and electronic, are sympathetic and the reader actually cares about what happens to them. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Robopocalypse and if end of the world novels are not generally your cup of tea, why not give this one a try. It makes a riveting and scarily plausible read.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906278098417119362.post-42609880750757015802012-03-22T00:24:00.001-07:002012-03-22T00:24:27.988-07:00Libraries of the Rich and Famous: Part TwoDear all,<br />
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I found this link from Bookriot and I had to share on my blog. This is a dream for any bibliophile out there.<br />
<a href="http://bookriot.com/2012/03/21/libraries-of-the-rich-and-famous-part-two/#.T2rTDDWXe_M.email">Libraries of the Rich and Famous: Part Two</a><br />
Do you have any links to famous or favourite libraries? Please shareUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0