TSS: New arrivals and looking forward to February

I’ve been wanting to read more Somerset Maugham ever since loving The Painted Veil.  January’s Book People catalogue is always good but this year’s was spectacular!  All of these for just £9.99! Aren’t they lovely?  But much as I wish to dive in, they remain untouchable for just two more weeks …. I’m still on [...]

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Steal You Away – Niccolo Ammaniti

Today’s destination is Ischiano Scalo.  Where?  A village in Tuscany, not really on the tourist trail and never likely to be. There’s nothing to do here — no houses to rent, no air-conditioned hotels, no esplanade to walk along, no cafes to sit in drinking of an evening. In the summer the plain gets as [...]

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Book Lust: The Unrequited Edition

Book Lust is a regular and favourite feature on Nonsuch Book and I’ve lost count of the number of additions to my TBR as a result of that. Frances is such a generous soul that I’m sure she won’t mind me borrowing her feature for just one very special post.  My 500th! In it I [...]

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Chosen by you #1: The City and The City – China Miéville

As I attempt to shorten my TBR during 2011, I will be asking the blogosphere to pick out some reads for me.  From a selection of books that were chosen on blogs in my google reader as the best of 2010, you picked an initial batch of 4.  This is my review of  book 1. —————————————————-  The City and The City won the 2010 [...]

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TSS: The TBR Dare Week 3 and first purchases of 2011

Half-way there now!  (I signed-up for 6 weeks.)  And I’m thinking that I may do this again at the beginning of quarter 2, quarter 3 and quarter 4 of 2011.  There’s some good reading material in my TBR! Reading wise I’m currently in Italy alternating reading between City-Pick Venice (a place I have never been [...]

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A Nordic Crime Wave Part 2: Norway

Varg i veum is, I believe, the  Norwegian idiom for a lone wolf, an outsider.  From it Gunnar Staalesen has derived the name of his private detective, Varg Veum. An ex-social worker, Veum’s social conscience is perhaps more more pronounced than his many fictional counterparts.  Having spent many years of his life trying to prevent youngsters [...]

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TSS: TBR Dare Week 2

I almost forgot.  There I was between books, contemplating the next read when this arrived on the doorstep, courtesy of Icon. I haven’t read any Pulitzer prize non-fiction before and my, do I want to read this!  I’m beginning to enjoy non-fiction more and more these days and it’s an interest which, in a very [...]

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The London Train – Tessa Hadley

The first book of 2010 was chosen for me by the BBC.  I was excited and worried at the same time. Whatever was I going to say on the radio if I didn’t like it!  In the end there was no cause for concern. I hadn’t read Tessa Hadley before but the title of her [...]

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BBC Scotland The Book Cafe … The star of the show was ….

the book of course.  And will remain so on BBC iplayer for a week or so.   My book group was asked to review it, so we did.  It starts about 17.00 minutes in. … and it’s not too difficult to spot the Lancastrian nomad …. Listen here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00x914m/The_Book_Cafe_10_01_2011 Book bloggers may wish to keep listening [...]

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TSS: The TBR Dare – Week 1

I signed up to read only books from my TBR for 6 weeks.  No point trying for the full 3 months as March is the Glasgow AyeWrite literary festival and there is bound to be something new that I’ll want to read in preparation for that.  The programme is due any time now.  I hope it is more enticing [...]

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