-
Now Reading: Adelbert Von Chamisso – Peter Schlemihl
I’m taking it in turns between trashy books and ones that have a bit more substance, so this is the first of my set of books that are apparently ‘lost classics’. It’s about a man who makes a deal with the devil to exchange his shadow for everlasting riches. It sounds different, so we’ll see how it goes!
I had a couple of requests to post a review of the Sophie Kinsella/Madeleine Wickham book that I just read – ‘The Wedding Girl’. I don’t want to spoil the story for those that haven’t read it (I hate reviews that give you the ending in the first line), so these are just my opinions.
I’m a big Sophie Kinsella fan – her shopaholic series was good, and she’s written some other books that I really liked too. Madeleine Wickham is her real name, the one she used before she ‘rebranded’ herself as Kinsella. Apparently she did it because she wasn’t sure about the new direction her books were going in. To be honest, she would have been better keeping her name, seen as though no-one has heard of Wickham. I can see why her books have been re-released as ‘Sophie Kinsella writing as Madeleine Wickham’.
Reading this book, you could tell she was younger and less experienced when she wrote it. Some of the character descriptions seemed a bit forced or exaggerated, which I think disrupted from the flow of the story. The plot was good, although the end seemed quite rushed. There was a lot of build up, and then it seemed to just fizzle out. Wickham made an effort to intermingle three different stories, and while most of the book was written from the main character’s perspective, there were also chapters written from the perspective of the other characters, but I don’t think these stories were developed enough. I would happily have read a longer book to get more of a complete story.
Regardless of all this, I still really enjoyed the book. The story was good for the most part, and it was just like most chick-lit books in that I got to the end and just wanted to keep reading to see where the story was going to go.
I’m looking forward to reading the other two Wickham books to see what they are like, but at this stage I have to say I prefer her as Kinsella.
-
Sometimes, the answer is no
On the day that Brad Paisley’s new album has been released, I wanted to share my favourite Brad Paisley song – No. I love the words to this song. It is very easy to think that God isn’t listening if you are praying for something and it doesn’t seem like you get want you want, but God knows how your life should go, and sometimes, the answer is no. We just need to realise that this God has a plan, and everything will work out.
Make no mistake, every prayer you pray,
gets answered, even though,
sometimes, the answer is no.When I think of all the answers in my life, I would have to say,
There’s no doubt it was always for the best,
When I didn’t get my way. -
Now Reading: Madeleine Wickham – The Wedding Girl
Another chick-lit book, this time an old book (1999) by Sophie Kinsella, writing as Madeleine Wickham.
-
Road Trip
I was doing a training session for work today in Devizes. The Train Line website reckoned it would take 11 hours 59 minutes on the train, so I decided driving would be a better option(!) Devizes is about an hour from Bristol, so I drove down last night and am staying with my Uncle Alan until Sunday.
I’ve not been to Wiltshire before, but it was lovely, and the people were so friendly – I even got called ma’am in Somerfields! I found a nice little park to eat my lunch, and had a walk around to look at some of the grand old buildings! I should have taken my camera but you’ll have to make do with a couple of iPhone pictures!
When I got home from Devizes, I went for dinner with my Uncle at his friend’s restaurant – Ronnies in Thornbury. It was the most delicious meal I’ve ever eaten! I had mushroom soup and prawn ravioli, and it was lush! I also tried scallops for the first time and they were yummy! I think I overdid it on the wine though. I don’t usually drink, but we shared a bottle of wine – I think I’ll feel it in the morning!
If only I could switch Bradford Thornbury with Bristol Thornbury, I’d never leave the place!
Lush food, good company and great service – could you ask for a better Friday night?
-
Ouch…
I had one of my wisdom teeth taken out this morning. It wasn’t as painful as I expected, but it was very unpleasant! The anaesthetic injection wore off after a few hours so my jaw is aching now! I have another appointment in June, but at least I will know what to expect!
On the plus side, my books had been delivered when I got home after work tonight, which I am really glad about.
I finished reading the last Charlaine Harris book this morning in the waiting room, so I am really looking forward to reading the next one – Dead Reckoning.
-
Now Reading: Charlaine Harris – Dead in the Family
As I am getting the latest Charlaine Harris book on Tuesday (I hope), I thought I would read the previous last in the series to get back into it again.
-
Must. Not. Buy. More. Books.
My room is already starting to resemble a library, but I seem to have a problem with buying more books. I find that the best places to buy books are the RSPCA shop in Pudsey (most fiction books are 25p each) or from The Book People. They often have good offers, and most books tend to be cheaper than Amazon or other shops. I particularly like the collections that they do, as it gives me chance to read books that I wouldn’t usually read, without having to spend lots of money. My last order included a couple of sets, and the latest Charlaine Harris which I have been waiting to be released for ages.
Here’s a full list of what I bought this time (and links if you want to have a look!)
The Man Who Broke Into Auschwitz – Denis Avey
The Lost Classics Collection- The Last Day of a Condemned Man – Victor Hugo
- Peter Schlemihl – Adelbert Von Chamisso
- The Haunted House – Charles Dickens
- Notes From Under The Floorboards – Fyodor Dostoevsky
- The Good Soldier – Ford Madox Ford
- The Devil’s Elixirs – E. T. A. Hoffmann
- A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder – James De Mille
- The Sorrows of Young Werther – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- The Monk and the Hangman’s Daughter – Ambrose Bierce
- The Black Spider – Jeremias Gotthelf
3 book collection – Sophie Kinsella writing as Madeleine Wickham
- Cocktails for Three
- The Wedding Girl
- Sleeping Arrangements
- North and South
- Cranford
- Mary Barton
The Aurora Teagarden Mysteries Omnibus 1 – Charlaine Harris
Dead Reckoning – Charlaine HarrisThat’ll keep me busy for a while! 🙂 -
Now Reading: Cora Harrison – I Was Jane Austen’s Best Friend
-
Glad you’re not a catcher?
-
Decade of the Pitcher?
Congratulations to Justin Verlander on his no-hitter tonight, a fantastic game! I tuned in during the eighth inning, when he was still on track for a perfect game. That was broken up by a walk, but a no-hitter is a fantastic achievement! The excitement in the ballpark was amazing, but I can’t even begin to imagine what it is like for the players. I’m sure Verlander was about 50/50 excitement and nervousness. I’m equally sure he’s enjoying the celebrations now!
I was watching the Brewers/Cardinals game tonight. Yovani Gallardo was coming close to a no-hitter too, but not quite close enough. He gave up a hit in the 8th, and by that time, his pitch count was getting quite high, so there was not much chance of him coming out for the complete game either.
It’s been a week of strong pitching performances, and the trend in general seems to be leaning away from power hitting and back towards the pitcher. First of all there was Liriano’s no-hitter. I don’t really want to dwell on that because it was against my White Sox, so we’ll move on quickly. There was also Cliff Lee’s game with 16 strike outs. Unfortunately, he still took the loss in that game, which just goes to show that no matter how good you are as a pitcher, you need the offense behind you to back you up (just ask Danks, Buerhle, Floyd, Jackson or Humber).
I much prefer to watch a good pitchers duel rather than seeing home run after home run. Don’t get me wrong, I love the fireworks, but I prefer the continuing anticipation of a good pitching battle than the momentary excitement of a big hit.
Saying that, the story of Andre Ethier’s hitting streak is keeping my interest. Currently at 30 games, he is only one game away from tying the Dodgers record, and more than half way to Joe DiMaggio. Still a long way to go though!
The White Sox are on a west coast trip at the moment, meaning they don’t play until 2am UK time, so I won’t get to watch the game. I’ll just leave this out there: wouldn’t it be nice for Floyd to get the second no-hitter of the night?
Scratch that – I’d just like the Sox to win, please. Pretty please?
Louise Douglas
(I've got no) Shelf Control…
Louise Douglas 