With plenty of time, we’ve been enjoying some literary indulgence. Here’s what’s kept us entertained. Maybe an eclectic mix, and I feel like I may expose some guilty easy reading but here goes……
The Vinyl Detective: Written in Dead Wax, by Andrew Cartmel
Audiobook – Audible
Enjoyable listen whilst driving, so much so that we had to listen to the final 40mins in the campsite the following morning.
A tale of a vinyl enthusiast and collector, an intriguing web of jazz history that unfolds through the search for specific records. With some interesting characters and relationships, an easy listen (or read) with enough to hold the interest of us both.
Fish Bowl, by Bradley Somer
Paperback – real book!
Brilliant read. I could barely put it down. Shared by my pal Minty, a wonderful tale of the interwoven nature of the apartment block inhabitant’s lives. Writing too much more, I would be afraid to give too much away, so worth a read!
The Lido, by Libby Page
Paperback. Another real book!
I bought this as the Thames Lido is my new favourite place at home and there is nothing that dissipates the affects of a London commute than a swim in such a lovely place. It was a speedy, easy and enjoyable holiday read. Although fictional, I am sure there are parallel stories to my Lido with this one up until it’s closure in 1974. Now our place is privately run rather than by the local council and open to all but I’m pretty sure a similar sense of community is developing. At least there are a good few of us benefitting from its loveliness :-).
The Stolen Marriage, by Diane Chamberlain
Back to the Kindle.
A cracking bit of chick lit style historical (ish) fiction. A little cheeky light relief from the “D” that required limited brain power (when drained) and concentration (when Andy had Le Mans on the laptop). It didn’t take very long to read!
Kondor: The Betrayal, by Raymond E. Feist
Audiobook – Audible
Well. If you had ever told me that I would spend so many hours of my life listening to a fantasy book, i would have laughed really rather loudly. But listen I did. Perhaps not for all of it (I may have had a few naps) but although there were all kinds of random creatures and accents in the story, I managed to keep up. A welsh sounding wizard called Owen, an elf that had gone good and much chasing around the kingdom on horseback.
There are quite a few books in the series I understand and although this was a driver’s choice, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it. It took a bit of commitment, and I don’t think I would have the staying power to read the whole thing through choice or pursue the trilogy. From the oracle though, if you like fantasy, it is pretty good!!
One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Paperback. A real book.
I read Love in the Time of Cholera a couple of years back and really enjoyed it, so thought I would give this a go. I have to admit, with the old d and a bit of brain ache I had to pause and return to trash for a bit of light relief in the middle but it was a great book. An engaging story about a family and their trials and tribulations across generations and a couple of wars. I always find Marquez’s descriptions so clever and alive, you can really imagine yourself watching what is taking place first hand even though it is really a world away.
The Little Cornish Kitchen, by Jane Linfoot
Kindlebook
OK, so a little guilty pleasure light relief. More chick lit (I am not sure that I should be admitting to so much but I reckon its good for the soul !!). A good solid romance where you might expect the ending from the very beginning but a few enjoyable to read twists along the way.
Forever and a Day, by Anthony Horowitz
Audible – Audiobook
Horowitz has done it again. He has brought to life another classic (I’ve recently read one of his Sherlock Holmes books) and done it as though the original character was his. Although there is material in here that was Fleming’s its a new 007 story and listening to the narrative, you could almost picture it as a film. It helped, I think that we had been on the South Coast of France so had a fresh image of some of the locations but still a great listen. All the ingredients of good bond with some inklings as to why he turned out to be the character he did.
Meanderings in Merfyn 