My tardy relationship with books

I have given the title 'The Tardy Reader' to my blog as it best describes my relationship with reading. You will see in my previous posts that I have a reading history from school, but then there is a very large blank. I have never been much of a reader until this year when I discovered Amazon's synchronised audio facility.

Apart from reading Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier when I was ill in hospital for a week, my reading past is only just getting established, so hence I have used the word tardy in the name of my blog.

Due to my youngest daughter intending to study English Literature at university, I have found myself recently daring to read a few classics, as I am interested in what she is doing! My eldest studied music, so for a few years I was educated in choir music and composers and often now listen to composers such as Herbert Howells and Thomas Tallis who have found their way into my i-tunes library.

During this past summer I read Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, Emily Bronte novels, and I have discovered a real love of Virginia Woolf's writing. Who would have thought that I would have been reading these this time last year!

I feel that I read the Hardy novels in the wrong order, starting with one which I found a bit of a challenge. 'Two on a Tower' took me ages to finish, but I did enjoy the love story between Lady Constantine and Swithin St Cleeve. I had to look up a lot of the astronomical terms and various other words that I had not come across before. The second one that I read was' The Return of the Native' which I enjoyed more than the first. I found the story line more interesting and loved the characters. Eustacia is my new favourite girls name! Here is a link to my Goodreads review. The third one was 'The Mayor of Casterbridge', which I enjoyed equally as much as the second and my review for that one is here.

The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens took me quite a while to finish. I learnt about the barbaric use of the guillotine and until recently thought how lucky I was to live in such a civilised society,  the recent terror attacks in Paris however has reminded me how very precious a peaceful society is.

I was only able to finish Wuthering Heights, with the help of Patricia Routledge's audio recording. Her Yorkshire accent made the conversational text understandable. I did get in a bit of a muddle with the characters as Emily Bronte's clever story spans a few generations. I was given some very good advice recently about making notes of the characters and I would advise anyone who has not read this to draw out a family tree so as to not get in a muddle with who is who. I would read this again, it is brilliant!

I am giving classic literature a rest for a while but now that I have got a taste for it, I  have so much that I want to read. I am currently reading Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood, so I will write about that one in my next blog post.

A masterclass in blogging

My first introduction to blogging was during part of the Purbeck Literary festival in 2014, when I attended a course in Corfe Castle, Dorset. The friendly training session was led by Rachel Knowles.

Rachel has used her blogging expertise to produce a book 'A Perfect Match'  how very inspiring.

Another friend set herself a challenge, and set up a 100 happy days blog. This was also inspiring, and her personal development books: 'Celebr8Success' and the 'A-Z The Imposter Syndrome Guide'  are both available from her website Successful Women Training.

I was lucky enough to be able to take part in another course on blogging held at Max Gate recently. You can read my blog about Dorchester to find out more about who I met there.

Lynne, who ran that course, told us that she was inspired to set up a blog 10 years ago, after reading all of Margaret Atwood's novels. Thank goodness she mentioned an author that I was familiar with, after all I am a somewhat tardy reader, and finding myself on a literary course, I was a bit worried I may not fit in. Thankfully I did, and there people on the course with many different interests.

I read my first Atwood novel this summer, with the help of an audio version. I downloaded 'Alias Grace' almost by accident. I was going to Newcastle for the weekend and had started using the library's digital service: 'Overdrive'. Some of the titles that I wanted to reserve were not available, so this one found its way into my downloads! I loved it, so much and was absorbed and couldn't believe I had found something so good, just by accident.

During the summer I went on to enjoy 'The Blind Assassin' which was quite different and turned out to be 2 books in one, as it was cleverly written, about a woman who had written a book, and her sister.

Then I read 'The Handmaid's Tale', as my daughter told me it was her favourite book. Well that was completely different again, and I had to pinch myself when I realised I was reading a genre that I would never have chosen. It reminded me a bit of George Orwell's '1984' which I have remembered  that I also read at school.

When I read '1984' I could never have imagined that some of the futuristic ideas Orwell described, when he wrote it in1949 are now part of my every day life. The same thoughts struck me reading this novel, when Atwood described her characters, as having to wear wrist bands for personal identification. It is really thought provoking that Atwood's book written in1985 describes the use of technology that companies like Apple are now using regularly such as Apple pay.  You can read my 'Goodreads' review of ' The Handmaid's Tale' here, and as for Apple pay, I think that is wonderful, I can now buy my Marks and Spencer sandwich with my watch!

Which Margaret Atwood novel should I read next? I would love to hear your suggestions.  

Books from school

These lovely unusual flowers arrived a few days ago from a friend, what a vivid colour! 

I was also pleased to receive this book in the post, in a competition.  I will be able to use this in my work with digital bereavement for Social Embers. 

I didn't have much time to look at it when it arrived as I had tickets for the encore of Hamlet that evening at our local Odeon Cinema.

I enjoyed it, having never seen if before and no idea of the story. 

I had a quick read of the storyline on Google before I went, which helped to follow the plot. 

I was amazed how many lines Benedict Cumberbatch had to learn, how does he remember them all?

Everyone seems to study at least one Shakespeare play at school, mine was Macbeth.

I remember being quite excited at the time as it included a trip to London, to see it performed. I don't remember so much about that trip, other than it included an interactive lesson, that had us taking part and going up on the stage.

I went to watch the recent film and have to say that some of the quotes suddenly seemed familiar, and I have not seen it in the mean time so I must have been listening for some of the lesson.

My class read John Wyndham's The Day of the Triffids, and Lord of the flies by William Golding, I also remember enjoying HE Bates Fair Stood the Wind for France.

We also studied Thomas Hardy's short story The Withered Arm, which I intend to read again, to see if I was paying attention in those lessons too!

I remember enjoying poetry classes, but I am not able to remember what we studied.

I do however remember, singing the Wraggle Taggle Gypsies O on the stage, I can still remember the tune! I have linked a lovely version by Alison Moyet via You Tube.

Which were your favourite books from school?

First books

What is the first book that you remember reading by yourself?

I remember having books read to me, when I was very young,  and I listened to an audio version of my first book, which came with a record in the back of the sleeve. That particular book is now considered racist,  it was called 'The story of Little Black Sambo'  by Helen Bannerman. I did not buy it for my children as I agreed that it was unsuitable, however, I remember it fondly, and I particularly remember a tiger running around and around a tree until he eventually turned in to butter, a vision that I still picture now when I think about it.

I loved Rupert annuals that were always bought for me as Christmas presents, and with so many lovely pictures to look at, Rupert and his friends were a very important part of my childhood imagination.

Mrs Tiggywinkle was a favourite, I had 2 small hardback books written by Beatrix Potter, the other was the Tale of Squirrel Nutkin.

Enid Blyton of course was popular, and I remember my mother encouraging me to read 'The Mountain of Adventure', which I think is my earliest memory of reading a whole book.

My Gran kept annuals for her grandchildren to look at when I slept over, and they contained comic strips and short stories which I enjoyed. I think she also had Brer Rabbit stories, and I was always permitted to take the books to bed, but never to take them home, that way they remained special Nanny's house books.

I remember my Dad telling me he was going to read me Robinson Crusoe. I remember him starting it, but I don't think it got finished. I had the top of bunk beds, so it would have been tricky for him to read to me in bed, and I am sure it did the trick getting me off to sleep, as I have no recollection of the story, I will put Daniel Defoe on my read-again list.

A book that I do remember reading alone was 'Gobbolino the Witches Cat'. My parents enjoyed sailing, and sometimes we sailed to France from Weymouth. I remember reading 'Gobbolino' while snuggled in a pipe cot berth on the return journey. I did purchase that one for my daughter and I think she enjoyed it too.
The copy that I remember had a pink cover, and I found it here on Goodreads.

In my next blog post I am going to have a think about which books I can remember from my school days. I would love to hear which books you think you read first, and if you would still buy them for children now?