2022

Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club. All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.

Hello!

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone has had a good start to the week so far.

My chosen book this week is one I have wanted to read since I heard it mentioned on Downton Abbey. I actually found a copy a couple of weeks ago at my local church so plan to read it soon.

Set in 17th-century Puritan Boston, Massachusetts, during the years 1642 to 1649, it tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives a daughter through an affair and will not reveal her lover’s identity. The scarlet letter A (for adultery) she has to wear on her clothes, along with her public shaming, is her punishment for her sin and her secrecy. She struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. Throughout the book, Hawthorne explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt.

Purchase Links

Book Depository | Bookshop | Foyles | Waterstones | Wordery

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Please drop me a comment if you have taken part in Goodreads Monday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Afternoon Tea Book Tag

Hello!

Tomorrow I am going out for afternoon tea as one of our Summer treats so I thought I would do the Afternoon Tea Book Tag that I have been seeing on different blogs.

Finger Sandwiches – A Book You Savoured Every Minute Of

Firstly, who loves finger sandwiches? They are my favourite part of an afternoon tea.

Anyway, I adored this book and loved every minute of it. It got me hooked on Alison Weir and this series.

Here is my Review

Scones – A Book Everyone Should Own

Plain or fruit? I much prefer a plain scone but I know a lot of people prefer a fruit scone. I also don’t like cream so I only have jam on my scones.

I love this book and I think it is one everyone should read because it could be the story of so many people.

Review

Biscuits – A Book That Can Be Finished In One Sitting

I could not put this book down and it is easy to read in one sitting. I am completely addicted to this series and have read each book so far in one sitting.

Review

Patisserie – A Book That Is Light and Easy to Read

This was a super easy read and very funny. I know it involves a murder but it isn’t dark and the story and humour really make it a fantastic read.

Review

Showstopper – A Book That Blew You Away

I could not put this book down and absolutely loved it. I have read The Martian and Project Hail Mary and both have blown me away.

Review

Tea – A Heart Warming Classic

Tea, I love tea and the fact you usually get to try loads of different teas is even better.

I love this book and have read it many times and will read it many more times.

If you have enjoyed this tag consider yourself tagged.

Happy Reading

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

WWW Wednesday: 17/08/2022

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you will read next?

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good week so far. Reading has been going well this week but I have been a bit naughty and ignored the hoovering to get extra reading time in.

What I am Currently Reading

I last read this in 2014 but I had forgotten how good this book was. I have not put it down since I started it and think it is the best of the series so far.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

I love this series so far and this book did not disappoint.

What I Think I will Read Next

As usual I am never sure what I will read next but I might choose one of these.

Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Love That Were Written Over Ten Years Ago

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. For more info please check out Jana’s blog.

Hello!

This is a perfect prompt for me as a lot of books I read and love are nowhere need modern.

So here is what I have come up with:

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas – This is one of my most loved books, in fact I have read it so many times my copy has fallen into bits so if I drop it and the pages all fall out I have to put them all back in the right order.
Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher – This is the first book I read by Pilcher and one of my absolute favourites.
The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann – This is my favourite Christmas book and one I read every Christmas without fail.
The Lord of Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien – Yes I know this is three books but they are my all time favourite books.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy – Another favourite of mine by one of my favourite authors.
Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett – This is the first Discworld novel I ever read and is still my all time favourite, it is probably my all time favourite because it introduced me to the Discworld series.
Do Androids Dreams of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick – Philip K. Dick is another favourite author of mine and I have many favourite books but I have chosen a well known one for this prompt.
Harlequin by Bernard Cornwell – I was only talking about this series to my friend the other day so I decided to include it as it is one of my favourite series.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling – I bought the 25 years anniversary edition of this book last month. My well read copy is another book that is falling to pieces.
Hood by Stephen R Lawhead – I love this book but I have still yet to read the rest of the trilogy! Must get around to it soon.

What books do you have on your Summer TBR?

Happy Reading

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Goodreads Monday: 15/08/2022

Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club. All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.

Hello!

Happy Monday my fellow book lovers,

My chosen book for Goodreads Monday this week is one that I read as an abridged version when I was a child and would love to read the full version in the near future.

The sole survivor of a shipwreck, Robinson Crusoe is washed up on a desert island. In his journal he chronicles his daily battle to stay alive, as he conquers isolation, fashions shelter and clothes, first encounters another human being and fights off cannibals and mutineers. With Robinson Crusoe, Defoe wrote what is regarded as the first English novel, and created one of the most popular and enduring myths in literature. Written in an age of exploration and enterprise, it has been variously interpreted as an embodiment of British imperialist values, as a portrayal of ‘natural man’ or as a moral fable. But above all it is a brilliant narrative, depicting Crusoe’s transformation from terrified survivor to self-sufficient master of his island.

Purchase Links

Book Depository | Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | Wordery

Please drop me a comment if you have taken part in Goodreads Monday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

5,4,3,2,1 Book Tag

Hello!

I’ve been seeing this book tag a great deal on instagram but I thought it looked fun to do on my blog as well. If you like the post consider yourself tagged!

5 Books You Love

These are just a selection of my favourite reads and they are books that I will happily read again and again.

4 Autobuy Authors

Andy Weir – After reading The Martian I knew that I would buy any book that Weir published and so as soon as I hear a book is coming out I get it preordered.

Elly Griffiths – I adore the Dr Ruth Galloway series by Griffiths and it was through this series that I first came across Griffiths. This has meant for the last 3 years I have bought any new books and past books by Griffiths.

Philippa Gregory – I have loved reading books by Gregory since I was a teenager and she has been an autobuy author since then. It doesn’t mean I have read all of her books yet but I am working on it.

Alison Weir – I had read a few books by Weir but then I read her Six Tudor Queens series and I just fell in love with her writing and ever since I have been buying all her newly published books and working my way through her back catalogue.

3 Favourite Genres

Fantasy – My love of fantasy started when I read The Lord of the Rings as a teenager, ever since it has been one of my favourite genres that I always go back to.

Historical Fiction – I love historical fiction and I will read about any time period. My love first started with historical fiction set in the Tudor period but now I will happily read any time period.

Classical literature – The first books I ever really read were classics and this has always been my first love.

2 Places You Read

Bed – I always read before I go to sleep as it helps calm me.

Sofa – I always like to start my day with a bit of reading whilst drinking my first mug of tea of the day and this always happens on the sofa in the lounge. Sometimes I have a cat companion as well which is nice.

1 Book You Promise to Read Soon

This will be my next classic read for this year so I hope to start reading it soon.

Happy Reading

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

WWW Wednesday: 10/08/2022

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you will read next?

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I’ve been having a good week catching up on jobs around the house and in the garden and doing some teaching. I reward myself with reading which has been very nice.

What I am Currently Reading

Another Murderbot book that I can’t put down.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

I absolutely loved this book. Every book I read by George Eliot I fall more and more in love with her writing.

What I Think I will Read Next

There are so many books that I want to read, I am struggling to choose what to read next every time I finish a book.

Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Goodreads Monday: 8/08/2022

Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club. All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.

Hello and Happy Monday!

I have spent a lovely day working in the garden and reading. I also did a little bit of teaching which was good.

My chosen book today is one I should have no excuse to read. My husband has also never read this book but he owns many copies. Every time we go to a second hand bookshop my husband looks for The Vicar of Wakefield and if there is an old copy that is particularly nice he buys it. Hence, we have a lot of copies in the house.

Oliver Goldsmith’s hugely successful novel of 1766 remained for generations one of the most highly regarded and beloved works of eighteenth-century fiction. It depicts the fall and rise of the Primrose family, presided over by the benevolent vicar, the narrator of a fairy-tale plot of impersonation and deception, the abduction of a beautiful heroine and the machinations of an aristocratic villain. By turns comic and sentimental, the novel’s popularity owes much to its recognisable depiction of domestic life and loving family relationships.

Purchase Links

Book Depository | Foyles | Waterstones | Wordery

Please drop me a comment if you have taken part in Goodreads Monday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

WWW Wednesday: 3/08/2022

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you will read next?

Hello!

I hope this post finds all my fellow book Dragons well. My reading has slowed down a little this week because I have been going on some adventures.

What I am Currently Reading

I am really enjoying this book so far. I have just started the third and final story of the book and I am hoping it is as good as the first two.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

Really enjoyed this and will post the review soon.

What I Think I will Read Next

I think my next read will be Rogue Protocol because I am really missing the story. Still leaning towards smaller reads at the moment.

Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

First Lines Friday: 29/07/2022

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

Hello!

Apologies for the break from blogging. I just decided I needed a little break but hopefully I am back to normal blogging routine now. I started a new book today so I thought I would use it for my First Lines Friday post. Answer will be below the cat pictures.

Shipperton Church was a very different-looking building five-and-twenty years ago. To be sure, its substantial stone tower looks at you through its intelligent eye, the clock, with the friendly expression of former days; but in everything else what changes!

and the answer is…

When Scenes of Clerical Life, Eliot’s first work of fiction, first appeared in print anonymously in 1857, critics immediately hailed it for its humorous irony, the truthfulness of its presentation of the lives of ordinary men and women, and its compassionate acceptance of human weakness. The three stories that comprise the volume foreshadow Eliot’s greatest work, and an acquaintance with them is essential to a full understanding of one of the greatest English novelists.

Purchase Links

Book Depository | Foyles | Waterstones | Wordery

Please drop me a comment with your First Lines Friday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you