Happy New Year

After a few months break from blogging, I might be back.... I say might because I have all the best intentions to begin 2011 blogging, making jewellery etc etc! But you know how things get... busy!
Beginning my first teaching job has taken up a lot of my time over the past term but having been thrown in at the deep end back in September I now feel a bit more organised and on top of things, so hopefully I will have some more free time to get back to doing some normal things.
I neglected both of my reading groups last year and I am hoping to get my enthusiasm for them back. I received some good books for christmas so I already have my interest piqued and I am ready to get reading... well I just need some free time!
Also for christmas I was given a Cath Kidston sewing book so everyone this year will probably be receiving a homemade item for their birthday or any event that requires a gift!
Hmm, I began writing this yesterday and now coming back to it I have kind of lost my train of thought... anyway Happy New Year!!

Bleurgh

Well that is how I feel at the moment.... bleurgh. After a not so sunny summer autumn seems to not too far away and I am feeling quite grey. After completing my PGCE (yeah!) I am looking for a job (not yeah!) and getting more and more grey as the days go by. Hopefully something will come up soon or I will have ran out of house things to do!
I have been decorating our flat, the two bedrooms are now a newer looking shade of magnolia with bright, shiny, white woodwork making them lovely, clean and new. I have also been doing some sewing and made a wonderful (almost anyway) purse and am at the present time undoing some stitching on another one. I will continue un-stitching before re-stitching it correctly and then will show you what I have been making!
As you have probably guessed from previous posts - I love to read! So I have been reading my way through my bookshelf. I didn't want to bore you with too many book reviews so they will come one at a time later on.
My lovely kitten also keeps me busy - she has developed a keen liking to my new cardigan and keeps getting it out of everywhere I hide it! She is most mischievous but also too cute so I can't stay mad with her.

Lastly I am enjoying watching CSI....... it is on many times throughout the day so I can indulge frequently. My husband dislikes it, (or so he says... he seems to have been unable to leave the room while it has been on a few times now) so while he is busy studying I am taking full advantage of having the TV remote to myself!
One thing does seem to be missing from my list of past-times... jewellery making! Well I have done a bit and intend to do more. I am aiming to get everything photographed this week so if you don't see any new pictures by Monday please tell me off.
Although all these things are fun and I am enjoying my beautiful home, I would just love a job. But enough sadness... I am off to watch CSI!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

(2008) ISBN 9780747596684

Flicking through this book before I began, I saw quite a bit of white space on the pages and the fact that this book is written as many letters to and from the main character Juliet. This pleased me after my attempt at reading The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco (if you know the book you will know why I only attempted it!), I wanted something that wouldn’t take me ten years to plough through. As I began reading, I quickly warmed to Juliet and the other characters she is writing to. 

The book is set after World War II and everyone seems unsure of themselves and the times, quite understandable in the circumstances. Juliet receieves a letter from a resident on Guernsey requesting information about an author – Dawsey Adams has acquired a book that once belonged to Juliet. This first letter sees a strong relationship grow between Juliet and all the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, resulting in Juliet visiting Guernsey.

This book is a wonderful read that really captured a different light of life after the war. It is uplifting, giving a story about hope and love with great heartache, but most of all it is about friendships. We take for granted now that we can call, email or text our friends but this book reminded me of the pleasure you receive when opening a letter from a friend – something that rarely happens now. It has inspired me to pick up my pen and paper and get writing – it is always on my to do list but just gets put to one side in the business of everyday life.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, a lot of what was written in the letters had meaning for me and I hope when you read this it will for you too. 

I am currently reading The Reader by Bernard Schlink, what are you reading right now?

The Resurrectionist - James Bradley

(2007) ISBN 9780571232765

I read this for my book club, it had been recommended to a member and from the blurb I assumed we would enjoy it. The blurb enticed us with a sinister and mysterious tale about the underworld of Georgian London. The book started off promising with the beginning descriptions of an anatomists trade but this fell short after only a few unimpressive sentences. The story continued to disappoint and unfortunately never really delivered it's promises of a sinister and mysterious chiller.
At the end of the book you are left confused and need to re-read the last part to try and understand what just happened. Unfortunately the book is so dull you won't re-read that last part leaving you still confused and unsatisfied. What could have been a great read with exciting adventures and descriptive text disappointed our book group but after a bit of internet research it seems we are alone in our thoughts on this book! What did you think about it?
Author site

The Memory Game - Nicci French

This is French's first novel and by no means does that make it any less of a great read. Although I found it wasn't as fast paced as their other novels, as the story unfolds it keeps you guessing and reading on. The gripping storyline reveals an intriguing web of relationships between two families. With twists emerging throughout the book and likeable characters I would recommend this if you enjoy reading thrillers. It was quite an easy read that showed French's writing style which I do enjoy.
This book served to remind me how much I enjoy French's books and I am now on the lookout for another of hers that I haven't yet read. Although this review is short and sweet it is only because I don't want to give too much away about the plot! I have a habit of doing that and don't want to spoil it for anyone. Have you read this? What did you think?
Author website