A bit of home

The News Where You Are by Catherine o'Flynn.

Set in Birmingham where the main character is an anchorperson on the local news. An insightful, surprisingly tender yet very funny story about how we age and the legacy we each leave behind. Not based on Midlands Today.

Cathy and Sarah in the Bull Ring, Birmingham

A Summer Treat

Excellent Women by Babara Pym

How can a whole chapter about a jumble sale be engrossing, funny and poignant, leave it to Barbara Pym to describe. Set in post war England it tells the everyday story of Mildred, who is so endearing I felt really sad the book had to end. A very gentle yet satisfying read.

The photo is of BUNCO at Rogene's Abba party, more Excellent Women!

More Summer Reads 2010

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
I loved this book. It was a very gentle and charming story of a very proper English gentleman and the values and possessions he holds dear and the unexpected friend he finds in his attempt to hold on to them.

In May Pete took this picture of bluebells in the fields of Lyme Hall where they filmed the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth.

Summer Reads 2010

One Day by David Nicholls
What a rollercoaster, really funny, really sad, really good! This is the story of Dex and Em who meet as college students and then we have a snapshot of their lives on one day each year for the next 20 some years. I hear they are making it into a movie.

Holiday Reading

The Last Queen

by C.W Gortner

Historical fiction about the life of Queen Juana, (sister of Catherine of Aragon, who was the first wife of Henry VIII). Amazing tale but rather sad.

Read this while on holiday in Spain. Here I am with Chris and MaryJo on our way to the Picos de Europa Mountains in the north of the country.

Summer in the kitchen

Julie and Julia by Julie Powell and My life in France by Julia Child.

I was really grossed out by reading about Julie Powell's kitchen but became quite fascinated by reading about Julia Child's recipes. Loved Julia's book about France. Saw the film which was charming, Julie seemed much nicer in the movie than she came over from her book.

One of my favorite holiday films is 'The Christmas Story' and the book that it is based on 'In God We Trust and All Others Pay Cash' by Jean Shepherd is charming also.