Happy New Year! :)
This post contains a round-up of the things I read in the Christmas week from Christmas Eve to New Year’s day. One of the things I really love about Christmas is having time to read. I should also explain that I’m an extremely fast reader, though I do try to slow down for books I really love as it is nice to savour the words and go back and re-read really good passages. In truth I could have probably read even more but I also had a nice time cooking for the family, going on walks, chatting, and doing craft things with my sister, etc ;) I’m also not to be trusted around books as I’m not good at putting them down, I’d rather read right through in one go, like with a movie I’d rather have it all in one in an hour or two.
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
I’d fancied reading the Harry Potter books again and got through the first 6. I’d read them at the time they came out but it was nice reading them in one go. I actually prefer the later ones where they get really sad and long and there is less of the Dursleys. I’m on 7th and last one now.
The Gentlewoman
I’d bought this for the Angela Lansbury interview and really enjoyed the whole thing. I’ll definitely look out for future issues.
Building Stories by Chris Ware
My aunt gave this to me and my sister at Christmas. It’s a graphic novel made up of 14 separate parts, it’s an interesting read.
Old Filth by Jane Gardam
This was well written and an interesting perspective of an ex-Hong-Kong-expat reminiscing on his life but overall not so much up my street.
The Sprouted Kitchen: A Tastier Take on Whole Foods by Sara and Hugh Forte
Simon’s family gave me a few lovely books from my wishlist this Christmas, this is the first one I’ve got around to reading and it has so many inspiring recipes. I’ve made one thing so far (the soba tea salmon) and it was great.
Gillespie and I by Jane Harris
Again not so up my street though it was clever and I enjoyed the Victorian setting. On the whole I prefer a likeable main protagonist which this didn’t have.
New York: The Big City by Will Eisner
Will Eisner’s portrait/snapshots of New York.
Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd
I enjoyed this and it made me want to rush out and by William Boyd’s other books. I’d expected more of a traditional spy thriller but the characters were more complex.
The 1950s Kitchen (Shire Library)
A nice overview of the changes and new inventions and ideas of the 1950′s kitchen.
Magazines! I had a good catch up with the three mainstream magazines I subscribe too. On the whole I read books and the internet over paper magazines but these three help inspire me in the garden, in particular Gardens Illustrated can have beautiful ideas. A magazine format works really well for gardening as the monthly delivery gives a good reminder of what to do in each month and what should be in season.
I should also mention too that I also enjoyed the Rivers of London
: A central crime story with interesting description of expat life in Russia.
: Maybe not the best Isherwood? But it kept me reading, again it is an expat story, this one set within Berlin during the rise of the Nazis.
: My sister got this from Santa :) It’s a short book of inspirational statements, you might know the author from his setting up of the 
: The first PD James book, a whodunnit introducing us to Inspector Dalgliesh. After starting it I realised that I’d read it before but as I couldn’t remember who had done it I read it again. That sandwich is my Christmas sandwich which I look forward to it all year :) It contains a tiny bit of everything from the Christmas meal. That’s my dad in the background.
: An interesting book, part autobiography, part rant, part making very good sense, it’s good to see gender issues being discussed and in an accessible way.
: The wives and children of Wordsworth, Coleridge, Southey, and the other surrounding figures of that circle, had difficult domestic circumstances and had to deal with illness, addiction, and hardly any money. An eye opener as to what it must have been like.
