Moved to Wordpress

Hi!
I'm moving this blog to Wordpress, my new blog can be found here:
https://bookwormjenblog.wordpress.com

Most blogs I follow on on there. It's a work in progress at the moment.

Work In Progress

So no book review just yet. I'm reading and enjoying: The Secret Keeper by Ruth Hogan and The Book of Forgotten Authors by Christopher Fowler and finally getting to grips with a novel I've been meaning to start for a while. I have so many short stories to finish. How do people find the time?

Seas of Snow by Kerensa Jennings

Synopsis:

"A psychological thriller that explores whether evil is born or made

Is evil born or made?

Seas of Snow is a story of broken trust and shattered dreams. Of consequences. Of a life lifted and liberated by poetry. Of a life haunted by darkness and lived in fear.

This is the tale of Gracie Scott, who becomes fascinated by the work of Rainer Maria Rilke and delights in his words for guidance and succour. But when her psychopath uncle Joe enters her life, is poetry enough?

Alternating between contemporary North Tyneside and around the time of World War Two, Seas of Snow dances through time, backwards and forwards between the literary reveries and troubles of the young girl, and the old woman of today, frail and isolated in a nursing home.

Seas of Snow is a bleak psychological thriller about trust and betrayal told with a distinctive and complex narrative voice"

The publication of Seas of Snow was made possible through a crowdfunding website called Unbound. I heard about it on a facebook group and watched a video trailer of it which you can find here. It was this video, the synopsis and reading the first few pages of this novel that made me buy it straight away, although of course I took a while to get around to reading it. I am interested in psychology myself and this book got my attention.

Here's My Review:

This is a shocking thriller but also a deeply moving and poetic story. Throughout the novel poems are quoted as the character Grace develops an interest in poetry which helps her to cope with life. The novel itself uses poetic imagery throughout that adds depth to the story. 

I love the authors style:

"There was something deliciously intoxicating about squirreling yourself away for a while and letting your thoughts take flight."  

"If something is written beautifully, it can spark something special in us, make us feel a little bit more alive"

I never expected a thriller to make me love the words and to make me want to quote the book! 

Although as I've said it's a poetic story it's chilling when it needs to be, some of the scenes are so shocking that at some points I've wanted to turn away and stop reading. But the story is so riveting that I couldn't stop. This story shows you the inner workings of a psychopaths mind, it's very interesting if disconcerting.

 Wonderful read from beginning to end. Will have to read more by this author. 

A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES REAL-TIME READ

Today, 18th September, is the start of the A Discovery of Witches real-time read. We start reading the same date that the book starts, continuing right through to the second book: Shadow Of Night and then The Book Of Life.

Sometimes we can go weeks without reading a chapter 😧 But then sometimes you have no willpower and find yourself skipping ahead because the books are so good.

I did this for the first time last year.

The Real-Time Reading Companion features history and facts about the characters and interesting information. The Facebook group is full of discussions as we make notes and hunt for Easter eggs in our favourite trilogy. Deborah Harkness also puts things up on her social media!

What makes this year so different is that the All Souls Con is at the end of the week and the Facebook group has increased due to the news of the TV series. It's going to be an interesting real-time read.

This will be my third read of this series and I have been waiting eagerly, trying not to start reading. Sadly, I'll have to wait until I finish work to start my real-time read.

What's the book about?

"When historian Diana Bishop opens a bewitched alchemical manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library it represents an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordinary life. Though descended from a long line of witches, she is determined to remain untouched by her family’s legacy. She banishes the manuscript to the stacks, but Diana finds it impossible to hold the world of magic at bay any longer." Description from Deborah Harkness' website

It's a compelling read with amazing characters that you will love. Exquisite writing and a unique fantasy world that  you will not want to leave. There's not just witches like Diana but Daemon's and Vampires. There's alchemy and magic. Science and history. Drama and love.

If you are a fan of urban fantasy or love the supernatural this book is for you.


More info here:

https://deborahharkness.com/ready-years-discovery-witches-real-time-reading/
http://www.thetenthknot.net/reading-the-books-in-real-time/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/allsoulstrilogy/

More books? Can't resist.

I said that I wasn't going to buy anymore books. Why:

• I have a massive TBR list that isn't getting any smaller
• I have two books to read and review and reading two others, one of which will also be reviewed.

But classics don't count do they? 

I've been meaning to visit this charity shop for a while and finally went after plans went awry twice. It's in Porthcawl, which isn't too far from where I live, it's a charity shop called Paws and upstairs it has a massive selection of books. Including: OLD CLASSICS! I'm talking lovely old hardbacks and battered old paperbacks. Yes, I'm one of those bookworms who love old (VINTAGE) books. 

So I found these three... 

These will be added to my small collection of pretty hardbacks(more on my others in another post) I can't wait to read more Dickens. I've already read Great Expectations and I have David Copperfield in paperback, I couldn't remember at the time. But they are lovely books.

I should've stopped looking but:

 I have this problem: when I'm shopping for books my brain switches off, it does, I can't even remember what books I own or need, I don't have the willpower to say: no you don't need anymore books. I can't leave them behind! So I also picked up these...

...battered old paperbacks.Nothing like having classics in hardback but I also like the old paperbacks.

 I've read The Mayor of Casterbridge and Far from a Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy but I didn't own copies. I keep meaning to try reading Chaucer, so here's an incentive it's now on my shelf. And The Professor by Charlotte Bronte, I've heard about it and since Jane Eyre is one of my favourite books I keep meaning to read more of Charlotte Bronte's books.

I did not intend to buy this many books, 

I really didn't ! My boyfriend by this time had found a seat waiting patiently for me to finish looking, he's not a reader. I turned to him and said 'maybe I should put some back'. I couldn't. 

In my defence:

I knew I wouldn't be going to this shop again for a while and how can I resist buying more classics? It's a charity shop and all this came to under £5 so they were all so cheap and money going to a good cause.

Classics are not the same as regular books. 

They're just not. They are books you collect (and read! you have to read them!) it's not as if I bought contemporary books to add to my TBR, it's not the same I tell you. I'm adding to a collection not just a TBR (oh dear, that's a justification I could make to any book, wish I hadn't thought of that).

I broke my rule again! I can't help it, I need to go to some sort of book addicts support group, however:

I did resist buying two signed books on pre-order recently and another book which looked interesting, all three advertised on twitter. 

I really don't need anymore books now. I have plenty on my shelf and ARCs to look forward to. October reading is sorted. 

Maybe I should either stick to buying classics in hardback or paperback and not both, this is why I need rules. Or professional help like an addict. What do you think?

Do you collect classics or gorgeous hardbacks? Make me jealous! Have you told yourself you're not going to buy more but did? Are you just as addicted as me? Or maybe you were good and had willpower, how? 😟

The Coffin Path by Katherine Clements

Release Date: 8th February 2018

Genre: HorrorType of books: ebook, from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Description from Netgalley:

The Coffin Path by Katherine Clements is an eerie and compelling seventeenth-century ghost story set on the dark wilds of the Yorkshire moors. For fans of Michelle Paver, Helen Dunmore and Daphne du Maurier's My Cousin Rachel, this gothic tale will weave its way into your imagination and chill you to the bone.

My Review

Sometimes you get a good feeling when you start reading a book, like a gut instinct, that it's going to be good. 'The Coffin Path' is set on the moors and this atmosphere is the perfect place for a gothic story. The first scene dives straight into action with Mercy helping a ewe who is struggling to give birth. It's the beginning of a chilling story. When she's going home after helping the ewe Mercy feels like she is being followed, later on there is a hint that there has always been a curse at Scarcross Hall.

The beginning drew me in and I was hooked until the viewpoint change to a new character which also changed the tone of the story from the gothic but not for good. The mystery surrounding the new character soon kept me riveted allowing me to put my doubts aside and not stop reading until the surprising conclusion. I really enjoyed this book. It's a gothic ghost story with mystery and drama. The atmosphere and setting is amazing and the characters are people you will care about. It's one of those books where words fail me, how can I capture it in one sentence or paragraph? The one thing that stays with me besides the character of Mercy, is the imagery of the moors.

Mystery Package Arrives

The mystery still isn't solved. Can't remember if I entered a competition and ARC copies usually come from publishers. I definitely didn't order it my proof is the invoice it says " please accept with our compliments". I must have a terrible memory 😞 Maybe I'll figure it out eventually.
I remember seeing this book online somewhere and was interested in it. But heard nothing about recieving it. Oh, dear. Did I enter a competition? I must have. I remember something.....

An email search later. I forgot it's an ARC I requested weeks ago. Oh dear what a terrible memory. I forgot about the website and had no notifications it was coming recently. Completely forgot. Should I be worried about my memory? The email was dated July 23rd though

Mystery parcel!

So I've just come home from work to find a note from dpd saying they missed me! I haven't ordered anything. It's from Book Point, a shop in Scotland I've don't know anything about.
Weird. I don't remember entering any competitions recently.
My boyfriend says that it must be one of those books I keep getting... I used to get advanced reader copies from lovereading but tend to use netgalley these days and get ebooks. So it's not that.
What is it?
It's being redelivered on Friday so I'll have to wait until I finish work Friday and get home (8:40!pm) to see what it is.
What a mystery!

Special Books, Favourite Books

There's something special about books, you start reading them and you're transported into a different world. But do you ever get that one book which is more special than the others? A book that means something to you?
I have a lot of favourite books that I reread when I can (Jane Eyre, The Lord of the Rings). But one in particular stands out for me.

I bought The Historian years and years ago when I was visiting one of my favourite places Tenby (in Wales).

 I started reading it straight away, we were sitting on a bench and I started reading it, I don't usually do this. And I couldn't stop reading.
Now every time I read The Historian I remember where I was when I first started reading it. And when I visit Tenby I might think about The Historian, it's a riveting read.
Does anyone else have that sort of connection with a book? That you can remember the very first time you read it? Where you were? I don't often get that. I do remember reading books in my teens and how much I loved them, in fact I read The Historian in my teens.

Off on a tangent for a moment: I knew about The Historian a while before I decided to read it, I was put off by the idea that it was a story featuring Dracula (I hate it when they pinch other people's characters) but I loved it! I was put off reading A Discovery of Witches because of negative reviews, but I loved it. I'm rereading it this year and I'm a member of the facebook fan group.
I also this year read books I would never read as I thought that I'd hate them. There's a lesson here somewhere, maybe I'll learn it one day.

Happy Reading!

Are you ever too tired to read? This week I was, I couldn't concentrate on the words on the page. I'm still reading: A Pair of Blue Eyes by Thomas Hardy, A Dance of Dragons by George. R. R. Martin and an ARC of The Coffin Path by Katherine Clements. I tried to post an update yesterday but the blogger app kept crashing :(

I've just signed up to do the Ninja Book Swap after much thinking. I have way too many books and have had to stop buying but I couldn't resist. I've signed up for the 'trick or treat' so you have one book you'll love and one you won't, which is another way for to me read out of my comfort zone. I'm so excited about it. I love the idea of buying a book for someone that might make them rethink a genre they don't love!


Another thing I've been getting excited about and looking forward to this year is The All Souls Trilogy real-time read! Every year in September fans of the books start reading when the scenes in the books unfold. We chat about it in the facebook fan group and there's even a real-time reading companion guide and the author Deborah Harkness posts on social media. Us All Souls fans are really excited this year with the news of the tv series in production and the convention in New Orleans. If you haven't read the books join us, more info here or follow #discoveryofwitches on twitter. Can't wait to start reading these books again! I've been getting ready by buying some new notebooks as most people take notes as they're reading. I didn't last time but I'm prepared:



Just which one?

I'm also looking forward to the special birthday Ninja Book Box  I ordered the May box review here but this next one is extra special and I may have to treat myself again. Single box purchases haven't opened yet but I'm tempted to subscribe.

I'm always saying to myself: you have too many books, you shouldn't buy this or that! But now I'm thinking, well why not join the Ninja book swap and get to know other book lovers, I've already signed up for that and bought this jewellery I've been thinking about getting for ages. I worry too much.

Happy reading!

Pocketful Of Crows by Joanne M. Harris

Title: A Pocketful of Crows
Author: Joanne M.Harris
Type of book: Ebook, free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Description from Netgalley:

 "am as brown as brown can be,
And my eyes as black as sloe;
I am as brisk as brisk can be,
And wild as forest doe.
(The Child Ballads, 295)

So begins a beautiful tale of love, loss and revenge. Following the seasons, A Pocketful of Crows balances youth and age, wisdom and passion and draws on nature and folklore to weave a stunning modern mythology around a nameless wild girl.

Only love could draw her into the world of named, tamed things. And it seems only revenge will be powerful enough to let her escape.

Beautifully illustrated by (TBC), this is a stunning and original modern fairytale."

My thoughts

This story has me lost of words, so the review is short. I enjoyed it and it's stayed with me. I think it's one of those stories I'll have to read again to discover more about it. 

My Review

This story is like a rhyme or a ballad, a folk tale and mythology. It’s a pagan story of magic, the seasons and nature and love. It’s starts telling us about this woman and her people, it’s rhythm like a rhyme or poem with it’s own beat, until it turns into a tale of a girl falling in love. But it’s not a love story, it feels like an old story, like a story of the seasons. A witch story. It’s an imaginative tale with vivid descriptions, it has a sense of a folk tale or a fearie tale. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like this. 

 You can't really pin this story down with words, it has to be experienced for yourself, to understand the magickal quality that it has. This will be one of those stories that stays with me and that I’ll have to read again to take in. 

The Travelling Bag by Susan Hill

Title: The Travelling Bag
Author: Susan Hill
Type: Short stories horror
Ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Review:
It is with great regret that I must write my first negative/critical review for this blog.

Susan Hill may be most well known for ‘The Woman In Black’ a novel which I enjoyed. Her novels are set in the past and are excellent ghosts stories. I enjoyed her other novel ‘The Small Hand’ is was a really good read but I didn’t enjoy her novella ‘Printer Devil’s Court’ for the exact same reason why I didn’t really enjoy ‘The Travelling Bag’. I hoped that this book would be better but in her short fiction although you get the amazing horror writing that you can expect from this author, some chilling scenes that resonate in the mind after you’ve finished the book, the plot and ideas don’t seem fully formed or properly finished just like ‘Printer Devil’s Court’ and and they have disappointed me.

The Travelling Bag is a collection of four stories of horror:

The Travelling Bag is a story of revenge, which at first reminded me of a Sherlock Holmes story. A psychic investigator is telling the story of this “intriguing” case. I enjoyed the way that the story was told but didn’t get the point/plot in the end. It seemed a bit of a yarn although there was a chilling resonance at the conclusion.

The second story is Boy Number Twenty-One, it starts with a fire in an old house, Cloten Hall, and a man thinking back to how much it meant to him and if someone he knew was still there. We are told the story of how he met that person. I did not understand from the beginning what/who the boy was that meant so much to him and at the end of the story I was still uncertain.

Alice Baker is a more modern story of a new member of staff in an office and a weird smell and sense of oddness around her. It was an interesting story but it meanders and ends on an old cliche, I expected more to happen.

The final story in this collection is called Front Room. It starts off a bit ambiguous from the rest of the plot with a couple musing over a sermon they’ve heard in church about helping people less fortunate. They fix up their front room and suddenly a relative is mentioned who they can help. It is a very creepy story, with this evil woman. The horror scenes-towards the end- were not tense probably because they felt rushed and the ending also felt a bit sudden.

Each of these stories I’ve felt that I didn’t quite understand the point. I often read short horror stories and they usually leave me with a feeling of satisfaction at the conclusion, where some horror has been revealed or conquered. But Susan Hill’s stories while chilling they don’t have that satisfying conclusion. With each story I expected more from the beginning which the middle and end did not deliver. I can’t quite put my finger on what it was that didn’t make these stories work for me, whether it was the pacing, or whether they were just overwritten for short stories.
  Susan Hill is a good horror writer, these short stories and her novels prove that she can write horror but I I won’t be reading Susan Hill’s short fiction anymore as I really don’t enjoy it, I will stick to the writers I do enjoy.
However, please remember this is all my opinion and you should always try a book for yourself.

And if case you're wondering who I do enjoy/prefer: Helen Laycock, Patsy Collins anthologies from Dark Tales.

UPDATE

Wow, it's been a long few weeks. Just a quick update so you know I've haven't disappeared into one of my books (don't you sometimes wish that you could). So I've been busy with my part time job which decided to become full time-it does that sometimes but lets not talk about that. I had toothache, not nice no sleep and was hard to eat. Get a dentist. But I don't think you want to hear my dramas.
Finding time to read has been tough. I finished 'Summer At Little Beach Street' and reviewed it on here.
I've been trying to decide what book to read next and I ended up choosing these two:

I bought A Pair of Blue Eyes by Thomas Hardy when I was on holiday this year, I read that Hardy met his wife in the area that I was staying (Boscastle) and after reading that I found the book in a secondhand shop right opposite the cottage. I've read a few by Hardy and hadn't heard of this one. I really need to read more classics! If you're a Hardy fan tonight Sunday 20th August they're showing a tv adaption on BBC1 of Far from the Madding Crowd.

I've had A Dance with Dragons for a while, I stopped reading the books to avoid spoilers for the tv show. But it's changed from the books now and they're way ahead, I forgot how amazing George. R.R Martin's writing is and how quickly I get sucked into his books. I forgot what happened in the previous book I shouldn't have waited so long, I wish someone would write a companion guide for the books because there's so much going on you need a guide.

On about companion guides, I've pre-ordered the companion guide to my favourite trilogy (http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/539231/the-all-souls-real-time-reading-companion-by-deborah-harkness/9781101992968/) The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness.

They're now in production of the tv series which I'm excited about. I'm also thinking of joining up with the real-time read in September. I love this series.
Have to talk about that on my blog one day. If you love witches and vampires and urban fantasy in general you have to read A Discovery of Witches! The fan page of facebook is filling up now because of the tv series (I'm also a member of the Poldark fan club by the way).

 I've finally adding my new page of bookish/literary merchandise so have and look here and tell me what you think and what you love. Maybe I'll have to find a way for people to add their finds too! Thanks for taking the time to read my update, happy reading!

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

Title: Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery
Author: Jenny Colgan
Type of book: Paperback
Library Book

Synopsis from Goods Reads:

Summer has arrived in the Cornish town of Mount Polbearne and Polly Waterford couldn't be happier. Because Polly is in love: she's in love with the beautiful seaside town she calls home, she's in love with running the bakery on Beach Street, and she's in love with her boyfriend, Huckle.

And yet there's something unsettling about the gentle summer breeze that's floating through town. Selina, recently widowed, hopes that moving to Mount Polbearne will ease her grief, but Polly has a secret that could destroy her friend's fragile recovery. Responsibilities that Huckle thought he'd left behind are back and Polly finds it hard to cope with his increasingly long periods of absence.

Polly sifts flour, kneads dough and bakes bread, but nothing can calm the storm she knows is coming: is Polly about to lose everything she loves?

My Review




Summer seems to have been short and sweet as usual, blink and you miss it. Hopefully you've enjoyed some of the sunshine. I was reading this book in the rain, it was my summer read. After reading Little Beach Street Bakery earlier in the year as part of a challenge to myself to read outside my comfort zone (more here review of first book) I fell in love with the characters and had to read this book.

It did not disappoint. I may have even enjoyed this more than the first as it was less of romantic-comedy style story and seemed more realistic to me. I enjoyed the realism, how life can knock you down and how even people like our Polly can struggle to get back up again (if you'll excuse the cliche). Just as the first book in this series, it was a teary story and a book that I could not put down.

However it was an uplifting read, maybe it's the setting is amazing or the characters who are like old friends, despite the tough times they go through in this book it's still an uplifting read and I will be looking forward to reading the next one: Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery, I could read books featuring these characters for years!

"Life is Sweet with Jenny Colgan".

Update and Review of The Rules Of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Update:
Finished: The Rules Of Magic by Alice Hoffman, from Netgalley review below.
Currently Reading: Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan (couldn't resist after enjoying the first book, read outside your confort zone!)
The Travelling Bag by Susan Hill, from Netgalley.

Review of The Rules Of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Title: The Rules of MagicAuthor: Alice HoffmanType of books: Ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: 10th October 2017

The Rules of Magic is a prequel to Practical Magic, I’ve never read Practical Magic although I’ve watched the film and loved it. When I started reading The Rules of Magic I wanted to skip through until I found some action. The novel is written in the past tense and often it reads like a report rather than a narrative- you are told about something happening rather than witnessing it unfolding on the page. (Please note that there are just my opinions and everyone is different, so please read this novel yourself to see what you think.)

However, Alice Hoffman is a good storyteller and tells the story of three siblings who are learning about themselves and the magic that’s in their blood. It’s a sad and melancholy story. It’s not a fast paced tale but more of a slow burn.  We are taken through the lives of Jet, Franny and Vincent and introduced to the magic of herbs and spells. The characters are very real and I enjoyed reading about them and learning more about their world, the story really is about them it’s not about magic or witchcraft.

It doesn’t seem to have any conflict/problem that stands out, although there is a curse that needs to be broken which is given some thought. But having seen Practical Magic I know the curse won’t be broken so knowing the outcome I can’t get too involved in the conflict, in this way it feels like a prequel rather than a story you could read on it’s merit - things that are resolved in Practical Magic can’t be resolved in this novel. The history of the Owens’ and their ancestry is different to the film which isn’t a bad thing, I think I’d have to read Practical Magic to better understand how these books fit together, especially with regard to the curse and the family history before I can really form an opinion.

I have mixed opinions of the style of this book sometimes the past tense report-like narrative frustrated me. But then the description of the places made me feel like I was actually there. There is no dominating conflict or problem, but maybe it’s not meant to, it’s a good story of three very real characters, whose lives I was drawn into.  There are tense scenes and mystery told at it’s own time and pace, in keeping with the feel of the novel. In making me care about the characters and making me feel sad Alice Hoffman has done her job as a novelist.

I will definitely read Practical Magic. The Rules of Magic is a sad but enchanting story and it has stayed with me after I’ve finished reading.

Review of American Gods

Title: American Gods

Author: Neil Gaiman

Type of book: Paperback, with the tv cover

Note: THIS EDITION IS AN EXPANDED EDITION FIRST PUBLISHED IN 2005. THE TV COVER EDITION PUBLISHED IN 2017

This book grabbed me and drew me in instantly. 

When I read the first chapter of this book I couldn't stop reading, I hadn't meant to read the chapter only the first page to see what it was like. I had to buy it and finish it despite all the books on my TBR.

It was the little shocking scenes at the start that grabbed my attention. And the mystery of it all: the fact that you never really know what's going on, made me want to continue reading to figure out what it was all about.  

It starts with Shadow leaving prison and then meeting a strange person called Wednesday, it's the start of a journey where you wonder what's going on and what's going to happen. 
The things that are happening in this novel are not of our mundane world and I loved that, Shadow meets various gods/characters who each stand out. 

The writing is both to the point and atmospheric and exquisite. I love Neil Gaiman's writing style, it's very hard to explain how good a writer's style is unless you've read the book yourself. Also everyone is different and each has a different preference, some prefer fast paced action books. I prefer books like this where the words are as poignant as an intoxicating perfume and the narrative just draws you onward.

It's not often you read a book and stop for a moment to appreciate the information on the page. There are many good quotes in this novel (quotes here) and interesting facts that may or may not be true:

"5,000 years ago the lobes of the brain fused and before that people thought when the right lobe of the brain said anything it was the voice of some god telling them what to do. It's just brains."


American Gods is a unique, original, not possible to be replicated book. Neil Gaiman is one of those genius writers who you cannot emulate and who has a wonderful world view or imagination, a world you are drawn into.

It's is one of those books that I want to reread just to understand the layers, the themes and the foreshadowing. I am going to reread it one day.

Review of: Poldark's Cornwall by Winston Graham

Poldark's Cornwall is a memoir of Winston Graham's love and life of Cornwall. He lived in Perranporth for a time and was inspired to write his Poldark series, which I love. The book is full of historical information and anecdotes of his life as well as information for the Poldark fan (of course) about places that inspired the locations in his books and the characters.

Reading this book you don't just gain the urgent need to discover Cornwall for yourself but you also gain an insight into the mind of this amazing writer. His humour comes across in his opinions: "Superb beaches if you could only ignore the town." I love his honesty, that he holds nothing back in his opinions of places. He says of Tintagel that: "It's no worse or more vulgar than Jerusalem; but to attain any sense of linkage with its mythical or semi-mythical past you have to go out of season and preferably at night when the moon is up and the wounds of cheap building are part healed by shadows."

Although writing a factual book his writing is still as beautiful and scenic as Cornwall itself: "... which in sunshine has an emerald sea and dazzling sands, and much further east Lamorna Cove at the foots of its bracken-and fern-grown valley, the walnut brown cliffs giving depth and quality and iridescence to the sea they guard."

This book is a great memoir of Cornwall, it's obvious how much Winston Graham loved the place, he says that the "scenery of Cornwall that had got into my blood". You can see for yourself how beautiful the 'scenery of Cornwall' is, throughout the book are stunning photographs worthy of setting on canvas and framing.

I picked this one because it's of Boscastle where I stayed.

I dare you to read this book and not want to visit Cornwall, I booked a holiday myself and long story short I am now in love with that glorious place.
This is a must-read for any Poldark fan: it's not a serious history of Cornwall but I'd say more of a memoir with interesting facts and anecdotes. An absorbing read: the work of a great writer!

New Page

Today I was brave enough to set up a new page on here about my writing. I've thought about it, always kept it sort of a secret, or don't talk about it. But I've learnt so much about writing I'd like to share and if I write about it on here and tell people about what I'm doing I'll be more likely to get things done, by being accountable to those who are interested.
Still not sure if I should keep my writing and book reviews separate but for now I've taken the plunge

Not A Drop To Drink

Some technical difficulties with my Blogger app meant I had to rewrite this post, otherwise it would've been published days ago. It's been a week of technical difficulties, of spending more time trying to do things than actually doing things. And having less time to finish my books. 
 Complaining aside- I did manage to finish this book. 

Review of Not A Drop To Drink by Patsy Collins

Short story anthologies are the best thing to read on your lunch break or when you're commuting, they're a great way to enjoy reading if you're short on time. I recommend reading more short stories if you intend to write them.     

There's something for everyone in this anthology by Patsy Collins, chilling tales, drama and love. They stay with you long after you've turned the last page. My favourite was 'Don't touch the water' because it's a eerie story and I loved it. The characters in each story stand out and you are instantly engaged with them. 

After finally finishing this ebook-I've had it for a while- I've started reading 'Up The Garden Path' by Patsy Collins, I'm seven stories in and I'm hooked. Such good quality stories: characters, ideas and style. I'm really enjoying them and I recommend them. And if you aspire to write short stories this is a must read an example of how it should be done. Download now. If you don't have a Kindle get the free app.

🌟

If you want more great short stories I also recommend Helen Laycock, she writes fantasy stories and children's stories. They are amazing. Download here. I've read this story and my review on Amazon is on the top of the list😊

Post-holiday blues

Can't believe it's been over a week since I came home from my holiday in Cornwall. Something about having an amazing holiday makes you reevaluate everything when you get home and back to reality. And inevitably makes you feel down. Makes you remember all the negative things you can't change but want to. I keep meaning to finish my book 'Poldark's Cornwall' by Winston Graham and review it on here but I keep putting it off as I miss my holiday.

I am fortunate really as some can't afford a holiday, although I know there are some who have more than one a year (rich! or not restricting job) I am fortunate to be able to go even if it is only once a year. I remember one year we didn't go away and then we went away in the September the following year. I hated it, being used to always having at least one holiday a year since I was a child-my parents using all their spare money to afford holidays- it's hard going when you don't have one.
So that year I hunted for some books to make me feel like I was on holiday. And for all those who can't afford a holiday books are the perfect escape.

 
I read this book that year and loved it. It's a memoir of a man who left the UK to start a new life in Andalucia, I still haven't read the other books in the series and I must because I enjoyed this one. I remember that I felt like I was there reading this book and loved the characters.

Here's some other books that might make you feel better or whisk you away:
Fantasy:

I read The Mists of Avalon years ago and loved the world and the re imagining of the King Arthur story, it's a lovely story a perfect fantasy. Assasin's Apprentice I haven't got around to reading yet but I loved another book I read by Robin Hobb, the fantasy world is great with believable and loveable characters. Of course there are so many others to read: The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter are great books to whisk you away.

Read a book set somewhere else:

Sorry I love this series and the books. There are many books set in Cornwall, Daphne De Maurier, you may know?, wrote gothic novels set in Cornwall. I loved Rebecca of course but Jamaica Inn was a good read, you have to ignorethat it's not historical fact about the wreckers though (Winston Graham mentions this in his Poldarks' Cornwall book). I also loved reading Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan (my review is here: https://jensbookworm.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=little+beach+street+bakery) which was about a woman who moves to an island in Cornwall, one of those books about people who up sticks and leave it all behind. There's probably a lot of other books set in different places but I've got Cornwall on the brain, sorry.

 And there's A Room with a View, I don't know whether this is classed as a love story but it's lovely. You got the scenes in Italy and the compelling characters and ideas, full of metaphor really. I can't help but love it despite studying it at school(you tear the book apart it's dreadful!).

So there you go. There's definitely more that's all I could think of on this spur of the moment post. I will get my review finished asap of this book:

I just need to stop brooding and get on with it. (Brooding, hmmm, hope that's the right word there, post-holiday blues). Maybe I might read a book to get over the blues? There is actually a book out there that prescribes books to various ailments, I haven't bought it yet, (I sent an email to have a personal remedy but they never got back to me so I didn't bother 😟 ) but I like the idea. Books can uplift you, make you think, make you feel and make you happy.
And they are the perfect escape from the humdrum of our lives and the problems of society.
Happy Reading!

Currently reading or a bookworm's dilemma

I'm currently reading this book, 'Agnes Grey' by Anne Bronte. I've been meaning to read this for a while.

I love classic books and have many sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read. My favourite classic book is Jane Eyre and I love to reread Jane Austen's works. 

I've read some that haven't lived up to the hype -Great Gatsby being one. And sometimes some that are like Agnes Grey.

Some thoughts about Agnes Grey

Unlike the classics I've enjoyed this story does not seem to have any obvious plot, I'm reading on with no motivation, there's no conflict to resolve. The story reads like a report and often scenes are not involving me but just reporting to me what's going on. Characters come and go and some of the scenes are anecdotal. I mean they just occur with no warning and the characters involved have not even been mentioned before. So far Agnes has been with two families and I still have no clue what the point of this book is. The 'heroine' or narrative voice isn't somebody I am relating to or feeling sympathy for. I'm starting to wish I hadn't bothered to read it and I have her other book to read too.

So that brings me to the DILEMMA

Every now and again I read that one book that at some point in the novel I start to think- is this worth continuing with? So many other books to read and I would've finished it ages ago if I'd been enjoying it. I wonder will I regret not finishing it and if I continue will it get better. 

Another example of this is The Witching Hour by Anne Rice, I gave up with this book as I could not get into it and I read probably over half the book (very strange as I love her vampire chronicles series). I wish I'd preserved with that book now but at the time, like Agnes Grey now, I really wanted to put it aside and read something else. 

I've written about this dilemma before on book forums, probably a lot more eloquently than this post,  but I'm never prepared for it when it happens again. 

It's so frustrating when you get that book that is annoying you so much yet you don't want to not finish a book. 

Some people will not give up on a book, others feel that if they're not enjoying it they won't bother with it. 

If I've just started a book I will give up but when I've got some way through- it just ends up being a dilemma. 

So, I'm off to carry on with Agnes Grey, I might start getting frustrated and I might give up. I am going to try. Wish me luck 

Happy Reading😄

Holiday Book Haul!

Yesterday I got back from a lovely weeks holiday in Cornwall, I stayed in Boscastle.  It's been thirteen years (or so) since I visited last and wow I waited too long! I always say I'm not allowed to buy anymore books, I have so many but... I'm allowed to on holiday 😀

No idea where I'm going to put them though.

I bought:

• The World of Poldark- I love Poldark books and series. Currently reading 'Poldark's Cornwall' which I am so close to finishing and will be reviewing here very soon. (Probably one of the reasons I visited Cornwall too!)
• I found a second hand book shop in Boscastle! Trust me! So excited. Picked up a copy of Thomas Hardy's 'A Pair of Blue Eyes' which conveniently enough was mentioned in Boscastle guides because Hardy met his wife there and the book is based on her. I'm a Hardy fan so this was a good find. 
• Same second hand book shop: 'The Clan of the Cave Bear' by Jean M. Auel. I've heard about this and I'm sure someone recommended it too?

The British Heart Foundation always have great old Classics, sssh don't tell anyone we don't want everyone to know and I found three  books in the one in Truro (Poldark exhibition in the museum by the way. More info below), I got 'Jo's Boys' and 'Little Men' lovely editions and I've been meaning to read them for a while. BUT. When I got back to the cottage (lovely cottage) I noticed that they are abridged editions! 😱 That is not good, so I'll keep them because they look pretty but I'll be finding the unabridged (proper!) editions, maybe a Kindle freebie (I might already have them who knows, so many books you see). And lastly I found a copy of 'Howard's End' by E.M. Forster in the same charity shop, I've been meaning to read this for a while and I love 'A Room With a View'. 

No idea, where I'm going to put all these books though. I really MUST NOT buy anymore 

 Before this holiday haul I bought a copy of 'America Gods' by Neil Gaiman, I couldn't help it, I read a few pages then a whole chapter and it was only £3! I was hooked and it was cheap.

The last book I bought was about the flood at Boscastle in 2014.  I visited the witchcraft museum there the same year. I had to buy this book, there was a copy in my hotel and it was a heart wrenching read and I didn't have time to finish it. Nobody died during the flood thankfully but there was a massive clean up and rebuild of people homes and businesses. I felt sad about it then even though I'd only been there for a short time. It's been a while though and:

Boscastle is a gorgeous place and the people are lovely ! 

Moving on.....

Stationary Haul

I'm not just a bookworm but a writer and I love stationary. I could not resist this quill set, I've seen them before in Pembroke Castle (good place to visit by the way) and didn't buy one then so I did now. From Tintagel, which also has a castle but there's not much left of it. 

In the same picture below you will see a pen saying 'Doc Martin' on it ↡

it's like a syringe, clever since the Doc has a phobia of blood, I visited 'Port Issac' where it's filmed and had to get a souvenir, I've been watching the show since it started.

We were lucky enough to be visiting as they were filming! 

And I was so lucky to get my picture taken with Martin Clunes! Long story there and too many tangents.

I promise that this is the last tangent for now. Sorry about that I had a great holiday and can't resist sharing. So lastly if you're a Poldark fan this is for you:

Poldark Exhibition

 Winston Graham's Notes

 Poldark Family tree

Manuscript of 'Bella Poldark'

The next post will be my review of 'Poldark's Cornwall' by Winston Graham. Sorry for the tangents,  I'm  missing Poldark so bye for now and happy reading!

Review: Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis

Name: Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantic
Author: Anne Rice
Type of book: ebook (recommend physical book as easier to skip to appendixes and it's better)
FREE EBOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR REVIEW FROM NETGALLEY

  If you haven't read Prince Lestat then you really need to read that first. This review contains spoilers straight away of Prince Lestat.

My Review:

The story starts where Prince Lestat ends:

 Amel is inside Lestat and they are trying to build their Court, the vampires story continues and we are also introduced to a new character who's story is crucial to the narrative.

Lestat is dreaming of a city falling into the sea and so begins the story of the Realms of Atlantis.

Anne Rice is a great writer, the atmosphere in her novels! It’s as though you are right there experiencing it all for yourself. The characters as always are real and breathing (do vampires breath?) beings, our favourites are there and it feels like meeting up with old friends. I loved the continuity- Lestat thinks about his past and remembers Claudia and little moments that I recall from the previous novels. I can’t really put into words how delightful it is to read about these characters again and read about the events in The Vampire Chronicles which I so loved to read and reread in my pre-teens!

I read some bad reviews of this novel and was uncertain whether I wanted to read it. Straight away I felt that there was just too much talking and not enough action. At times the story felt directionless, there's a lot of talking and nothing much seems to happen. It pains me to give a negative review to anyone who has sat down and poured out their soul and imagination on to paper, but I like to be honest.  There's a lot of description of clothing and surroundings but that isn't always bad, it builds up atmosphere. Loyal Anne Rice fans won't be concerned. I did get into the story though and continued reading and enjoyed it immensely until the moment of revelation where Lestat is being told a story. It reads like a report and I felt that this section did not flow very well. I skimmed through some pages because there was so much information the information did not seem relevant to me, there were too many excruciating details of Atlantis which did not seem to aid the story's plot in anyway.

I was frustrated but…

I can’t say I hated this book! I enjoyed reading about Lestat again, Lestat had been and always will be my favourite literary character. Anne Rice-despite the sluggish parts- is a great writer, her world comes to life off the page. And I loved the story, I loved the ideas and how they all come together so naturally. So how can I say I hated it!

After that section of story where I skimmed, only a few pages, I was then hooked again, it was like being in my pre-teens again where I read the books at breakfast or during school dinner break (yeah, I’m a bookworm!) eager to get to the end, devouring the contents of the book. I had to know if everything was OK and then without realising I got to the final page! And I didn’t want it to end! Confusing I know, I went from skimming pages and being frustrated to not wanting to say goodbye to Lestat. Despite what I’ve said I loved this book, I felt happy and sad: I felt everything with the characters, I lived everything with the characters.

 That’s the thing that has always kept me reading, that is Anne Rice’s main accomplishment: her characters are amazing. And if you love the characters as much as I do anything that lets this book down maybe overlook. After all how can you resist Lestat? I know I can’t.