Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 28233 Location: escaped from Swindon
Posted: Sun Nov 07, 04 1:05 pm Post subject: What are you reading now?
I'm rereading Uncle Toms Cabin, a book which can be unfairly maligned these days :(and is a seering indictment of the American slave trade. A level on inhumanity that is hard to conceive, and which the book brings to life exceptionally well.
It can be criticised for its stereotypes of course, but it still deserves a place on the bookshelf.
Just finished "Home Time" by Jocasta Innes, on how to have a well-run and dusted houselhold. Not that I need it................*
Also reading "In praise of Slow" by Carl HOnore.
Next up will be "Walking Across Ireland" by Michael FEwer and "Touching Tibet" by Niema Ash.
*I wouldn't need it if I spent less time reading........
I'm trying to get through A Short History of Nearly Everything which I was bought for my birthday several months ago. I'm under the probably mistaken impression that I have to understand everything which is keeping me back a bit.
I've been getting back in to borrowing things from the library - sometimes I'll then go and buy the book afterwards (Plants for A Future is in my Amazon basket) but I've borrowed several I'm glad I didn't pay for.
Most recently I really liked the Wartime Kitchen and Garden, with the cook from Victorian Kitchen and Harry Dodgson from the Victorian Kitchen Garden. That was very good, lots of useful ideas and recipes and I was sorry to have to give it back!
My current batch includes two beekeeping books and one on making cheese which I've discovered is too advanced and too narrow for me - I want something with quick results (one that I can experiment with and have material for a ds.net article!). Bees won't be for some years yet though.
I really like books on housekeeping stuff - I get all sorts of ideas of domestic goddessness from them, then find I'm too late to do the washing up today...
jema Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 28233 Location: escaped from Swindon
Posted: Mon Nov 08, 04 8:57 am Post subject:
I like a short history, but then I like everything Bryson
Interesting to note that I am reading about, among other things, the failure of the first call for a Northern parliament. Five hundred years later, I wake up & hear on the radio news that the present attempt has been unsuccessful- what's changed?
The Habit of Rivers. Ted Leeson.
Just finished reading it last night, for the second time, right after the first time. So much complexity in his writing that I needed to read it twice to get
a handle on it all.
Sad git that I am: The Haynes Guide to the Land Rover Defender.
I'd love to start reading real books again, but I'm always too knackered at night, and all the books are in store in one of the barns until such time as we get the study done.
Mind you, the mice round here have become extremely literate!
eldest brought home Winne the Pooh by A A Milne from school - I had a lovely afternoon reading it from cover to cover! OH has brought me swallow and amazons and thats next!
Slightly between books at the moment as am not travelling and enjoying pottering at home, and knitting! - had started Alexander McCall Smith's Professor series but not got in to it yet.
Do not let anybody convince you to read Life of Pi which I have just, thankfully, finished. It's atrocious and has no redeeming features that I can think of . You are much better off with Winnie the Pooh, in fact I might have to dig out some old Paddingtons to cleanse my mind with .
been decorating in Cheltenham for the weekend. - finished though. 
(Mrutty will understand!)
. You are much better off with Winnie the Pooh, in fact I might have to dig out some old Paddingtons to cleanse my mind with 
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