RIP to another author, and another entry on books in Back entries: 2013 - 2015

RIP to another author: Firstly, RIP to Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Another great author. I read Strange Pilgrims this past week, which I loved. A definite keeper. When I heard the news, I dug out my copies of One Hundred Years of Solitude (which I need to re read at some stage), and Love in the Time of Cholera, which I really do need to read. It’s been sitting on my bookshelf for a while now. I’d started reading it a while back, but put it down as I wasn’t in the mood for the subject matter.

OHYOS was one of the best books I’ve ever read, and the first Marquez book I’d picked up. This may sound strange, but it’s a book I’ve associated with two people who’ve both read his work and it introduced me to Latin America and it’s authors.

What I’ve read this week: I really have too much free time. Strange Pilgrims took me a couple of days, in between doing other bits and pieces. Today I finished Rebecca, and wondered why it took me so long to get round to reading du Maurier. It’s interesting, and I need to review that at some point.

Of Book Sales: I noticed earlier in the week through Facebook that my favourite book chain was doing an Easter book sale. Today through to Easter Monday. I figured I’d definitely go today, and if I have time on Monday I may go again. I’ve got work over the weekend, plus housework.

Today I picked up five books. Three of which were on the specials tables - Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood (which will be a re-read for me), Marvels and Mysteries of the Unexplained by Karen Farrington, and Possession by A.S. Byatt. The other two are Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier and Queen Emma and the Vikings by Harriet O’Brien.

My reading is changing. I used to read a lot of general fiction, and when I was at school I didn’t really read many book series. The main series I did try and get through was the Sweet Valley High one, and the odd Worst Witch book. I only read the first Adrian Mole book in the late 80s/early 90s and only picked up the rest when I was in my twenties.

Nowadays I read the odd science fiction/fantasy, and have more of a leaning towards classics and history (outside of the Tudor history of England - I used to love reading Tudor history in the last decade). I fell in love with Tudor history in my early teens, mainly due to what Henry VIII’s wives are viewed wearing in their portraits. That’s not to say I won’t read contemporary work, I do. I do find myself a little less patient nowadays with what I read. If it doesn’t grab me within fifty pages, then I’m sorry but the book gets put down.

I do have a “to read” pile, and maybe one of these days I’ll go through it and decide what to keep and what to discard. I might end up going through the list and posting an entry on what’s in there one day.

Last updated January 01, 2015