Lockdown reading. I seem to recall muttering something about taking more photos last time I passed this way. What I actually meant was for next time...
Has anyone read Where the Crawdads Sing? It has such good reviews, I was so excited about the idea of reading it. Then I started it and it was so utterly dismal at the beginning I couldn't stand it. Lockdown reading has to be very carefully selected I've found. But I did wonder if I should have persevered. Then the library asked for it back, so that was that. If anyone can persuade me to give it a proper go I shall be happy to hear from them. I have annoyed myself rather.
I thought Three Hours was excellent. Hard to say much about it without spoilers, but one line in particular was very damning I thought. More than just a simple entertaining story.
Sir Philip Pullman remains my favourite writer and his Daemon Voices On Stories and Storytelling is exceptionally promising so far. The sort of book where I want to write down all the quotes.
And hopefully Intuitive Editing will help me faff around with the manuscripts. Tiffany Yates Martin seems very knowledgeable on the subject.
And with that, my to be read pile is looking a bit small. Do send any recommendations my way.
In other news, the frogs have gathered in the pond and there is frogspawn. I always feel so sorry for them at this time of year, I see them wandering the streets in the evening, desperately searching for a pond. They are so few and far between. I told a group of teenage boys the other evening to mind the frog, who was sat in the middle of the pavement trying to be invisible. I looked back to check they'd obeyed and found them giving it a ten-foot berth, which made me laugh.
The Bewick's swans have headed back to the Arctic tundra for the breeding season. They had a bit of a false start this year, when the cold weather swept in from the East. Four days after leaving, they turned up again, which is really unusual. Safely on their way now though.
And one final sign that spring is in the air, the clunky, ringing crash of a skateboard shooting across the patio at high speed and smashing into a terracotta pot. Sigh. I spent Sunday afternoon sticking them back together - the skateboard one and the ones that the frost got. Everything is (briefly) together now.
The urchins may be on their way back to school next week. It will be strange without them. How are things in your neck of the woods? Frogs? Books? Skateboards? Do tell. CJ xx
Persuaded by a persistent friend I tried Rosamunde Pilcher's "The Shell Seekers". Absolutely not the kind of book I would usually consider but it was just the kind of life enhancing story a locked-down person needed.Give it a go! Didn't know you could mend terracotta pots, I will " give it a go" with my pile,thanks, Megan.
ReplyDeleteI actually loved "Where the Crawdads Sing" but I can't remember the beginning which turned you off. Have you read "The Light Between Oceans" by M.L. Stedman? Very good. I love lighthouses. I hope your frog made it before someone squished him! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteWhere the Crawdads Sing is the best book I have eve4 read! The descriptions of the landscape were spectacular. I’ve never visited that part of the world but as I read I could “see” it all before me. A super story, so beautifully written. Do give it another go. I raved about this book to so many friends and everyone who read it raved about it too. Another book you must read is “American Dirt” by Jeanine Cummins - I literally couldn’t put it down and now my husband is hooked, he is racing to the end too.
ReplyDeleteI listened to the sample of 'Where the Crawdads Sing' on Audible one month but decided against it. I can't remember why now - sometimes I'm just put off if I'm not keen on the narrator's voice, so it may have been that. I've heard such good reviews though that I may hunt it down at the library. 'Three Hours' sound intriguing, so I'll keep an eye out for that one too. Love the idea of the teenagers giving the frog a wide berth! Also, well done on the terracotta pot repair. I've got one broken one artistically arranged in a border - narcissi grow out of it faithfully every year. Another one, that was obviously not frost resistant, just crumbled into hundreds of shards. I'd need a awful lot of glue and I'm absolutely hopeless at jigsaws! :O) xx
ReplyDeleteI felt let down by Where the Crawdads Sing - the way the plot twisted at the end seemed completely implausible to me and after all the misery I wanted to hear more about a happy life of bliss to cheer me up after the torturous slog through the book - but no, it left on a down note.
ReplyDeleteI can highly recommend West with giraffe by Lynda Rutledge based on a true story.
ReplyDeleteAlso The puzzle women by Anna Ellory. Completely different styles but both books that kept
me awake reading when I should have been sleeping :-)
I envy you the frog spawn, I have a pond but sadly after 2 yrs still no frogspawn for it :-(
None in the pond at the park either though they do have newts.
Hi CJ,
ReplyDeleteAlice here from Thompson & Morgan.
Just checking you saw my email from Tuesday?
We’d love to feature you in in our new tomato masterclass, but we want to make sure you’re happy with our write-up?
If you could drop me a line at blog (at) thompson (hyphen) morgan (dot) com, we can pick up our conversation there!
Best wishes,
Alice
I'm currently rereading some of Len Deighton's spy novels as I've been prevaricating over what new books to read. Happy reading.
ReplyDeleteAll okay here, I've been a busy boy plotting. Take care. xx
Not one to comment but...I could not get into Where the Crawdad either. Believe me, I am a life long reader but I just couldn't get through it. Someone mentioned West with Giraffe...my husband just finished it, he couldn't put it down!
ReplyDeleteI’ve also just finished The Shell Seekers, again not my sort of book, but something that was perfect for this tumultuous time. I have also recently read Hamnet which was probably one of the best books I’ve read in a long time and The Murmer of Bees which was very good. I couldn’t get into Where the Crawdads Sing, didn’t like it at all, I gather it’s a marmite read, you either love it or dislike it and that would be me. Life’s too short to read something I don’t like.
ReplyDeleteExcited for a bit more freedom next week, I’ll be able to see both of my grown up children for a walk in the park. My 6 foot son says he’s desperate for a mummy cuddle, I know that’s not ‘allowed’ but it’s going to be difficult to simply say hello and not grab him for a hug. I think I’ll keep my hands in my pockets. Then at the end of the month, meeting grandchildren that I haven’t seen for many months, exciting times to come.
Fingers crossed on the school front, bet they can’t wait. Yes I remember those skateboard days but it sounds like repair work is your thing. I’m in a murder reading rut at the moment and feel I need something a little more unusual, couldn’t help noticing a new one by Jane Harper set in Tasmania will have to order from the library. One of my favourite authors thanks to you. Not read Where the Crawdads sing although I’ve heard lots of favourable reviews. I’m reading a kindle bargain by Val McDermid called The Distant Echo. The first in a cold case series. Feeling a bit indifferent about it at the moment but that could be just me . Biggest excitement today was a delivery of sock wool....yeah. Enjoy the rest of the week watching for frogs. B x
ReplyDeleteI've heard that people either love or hate the Crawdads...there seems to be no lukewarm opinion. As such, I have yet to venture into it. I'm currently wading through some non-fiction of various sorts, always on the lookout for a good fiction read (that the library has in stock).
ReplyDeleteA few valiant bulbs are poking through the soil where the snow has retreated -- no idea what they are as I moved everything around last autumn and naturally didn't bother taking note of what's where. I'll call it Spring Surprise.
Poor wee frogs....I always hated that part of spring when we lived in the country.....seeing the poor beasts sitting all over the road when it was raining...utter carnage. Ugh.
You'll be rattling around the house like a lost soul when the childebeests go back to school...xo
I love seeing what other people are reading. A lot of what I read I've either seen mentioned on someones blog or recommended in a book section of a magazine. I still have a mountain of books to get through - I've just finished The Chalet by Catherine Cooper which was good and before that read the new Dawn French -Because of You which was ok, nothing special. Last day of home schooling today - it will be very quiet here next week, same for you CJ, but they need to get back to their friends and face to face teaching.
ReplyDeleteI love Chris Stewart’s books from Driving Over Lemons, to 3 Ways to Capsize a Boat Perfect live escapism for trying times.
ReplyDeleteNo frogs or skateboards here. The frogs I look forward to seeing soon - the skateboards I an glad to avoid. I've read lots of Kindle novels. Recommending books is quite difficult but I particularly like the Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley
ReplyDeleteI’ve read more over the last year than I have in 8 years. I’ve enjoyed re-reading Rebecca and am currently reading Tess. My favourite new read has been ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ by Celeste Ng.
ReplyDeleteOur frogs are avoiding our cold pond at the moment, but I do hope we get some spawn this year
I did read Where The Crawdads Sing and I have to say that I liked it, didn't love it. It was slow but I liked the pace I just didn't like the ending and I felt a bit let down after that long investment of reading time.
ReplyDeleteJust finished reading all three of Anton du Beke's novels, set around a hotel and dancing during the years between the two world wars. Thoroughly enjoyed them. Not heavy reading at all but perfect for these times. I have Martin Chuzzlewit on audible for in the kitchen when I'm busy. I read The Shell Seekers many years ago and followed on with more from the same author. I tend to do that. If I like a book I go for more of the same!
ReplyDeleteI've finished making my Meadow blanket (see attic24's blog) so now I'm starting on some more masks.
I didn't much enjoy reading Where the Crawdads sing. I didn't hate it either, it was just not quite speaking to me. We continue to learn at home. I am ok with that, for now, but I do look forward to being able to work without having to also think about French vocabulary and the difference between similes and metaphors. No frog spawn yet but plenty of signs of spring here in Glasgow. Have a lovely week xx
ReplyDeleteI found the beginning of Crawdads slow but persevered. Although I quite enjoyed it in the end I do not understand the hype and rave reviews surrounding it. My favourite books recently have been The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes, Home Stretch by Graham Norton and Grown Ups by Marian Keyes.
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ReplyDeleteI LOVED Crawdads and couldn't recommend it highly enough. Little Fires as well. Both excellent. I came late to A Gentleman in Moscow and loved that too. Have you tried So Much Life Left Over by Louis De Bernieres? Great title and delivered superbly, to my mind. Enjoy the peace and quiet of school starting up again and stay safe and well. Kim
ReplyDeleteSome broken terracotta pots here, but as a result of frost rather than skateboard antics. Sadly, no pond either as frog spawn sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteBroken lamp this end was a casualty of home schooling. I am not much of a reader, I used to be and then when my eyes needed glasses I could not connect with the relaxation of reading anymore. I do read every now and again to give my hands and shoulders a rest from crafting. Urchins, honestly!
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