Blog No 150 – 2019 Reading List

My goal for 2019 was to read more than 24 books. If I achieve 24 books or more, I was going to be happy. The target was to read 2 books a month and in some cases it was more. My reading last year took a real boost with a total of 46 books.

Here is my reading list: –

1. The Tattooist – Heather Morris
2. Christmas Rose – Dilly Court
3. Always Smiling – Georgia Toffolo
4. The Hiding Place – Trezza Azzopardi
5. The Choice – Edith Eger
6. Spitfire Girl – Lily Baxter
7. Poppy’s War – Lily Baxter
8. Wartime Girls – Anne Baker
9. The Shopkeepers Daughter – Lily Baxter
10. Whistledown Woman – Josephine Cox
11. A Song for Bridget – Phyllis Whitsell
12. The Empty Hearth – Kitty Neale
13. After the war is over – Maureen Lee
14. A Christmas in Disguise – Katie Fforde
15. Into the Fire – Edric Kennedy-Macfoy
16. The Barefoot Girl – Cathy Sharp
17. The Little Orphan Girl – Sandy Taylor
18. Liverpool Sisters – Lynn Andrews
19. The Librarian – Dita Kraus
20. Nettie Secret – Dilly Court
21. Kitty and her Sisters – Maureen Lee
22. I spy – Tom Marcus
23. Under the Hawthorn Tree – Marita Conlon McKenna
24. My Not So Perfect Life – Sophie Kinsella
25. In His Father Footsteps – Danielle Steel
26. Come Rain or Shine – Pam Weaver
27. Eminence – Morris West
28. Brutal Honest – Melanie Brown
29. Daughters of Courage – Margaret Dickinson
30. Sing Them Home – Pam Weaver
31. Christmas to Come – Carol Rivers
32. This is Going to Hurt – Adam Kaye
33. The Butlin Girls – Elaine Everest
34. Becoming – Michelle Obama
35. The Orphans of Bell Lane – Ruthie Lane
36. The Winter Orphan – Cathy Sharp
37. Bicycles & Blackberries – Shelia Newberry
38. A Family’s Heartbreak – Kitty Neale
39. Light Out Till Dawn – Dee Williams
40. The Collaborator – Diane Armstrong
41. A Precious Gift – Rosie Goodwin
42. The Secret Orphan – Glynis Peters
43. Clika’s Journey – Heather Morris
44. The Titanic Sisters – Patrica Falvey
45. The Orphan Thief – Glynis Peters
46. Twas the Nightshift Before – Adam Kay

Last year, I wanted to open up my mind to new authors. I had introduced approximately 23 new authors of various genres

The books I had read were so varied from The Tattooist to I Spy. Reading books expands the mind and triggers imagination.

Books make me happy and give me immense pleasure. My well being is surely improved by reading. My goal this year is to be 46 books.

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Weekly Blog No 113 – 2017 Reading List

Last year I attempted to read 24 books again but to my disappointment I have failed. As previously mentioned, my reading was at a slower pace last year. Despite the slower pace I did reach some reading goals by attempting to read some new authors.

Here’s my reading list for 2017.

1. A Little Leaving – Anne Bennett
2. Pie n Mash & Prefabs – Norman Jacobs
3. Solider Spy – Tom Marcus
4. A Street Car Named Bob – James Bowen
5. The Mistletoe Seller – Dilly Court
6. The Christmas Card – Dilly Court
7. Forget Me Not Child – Anne Bennett
8. Eve of the Isles – Carol Rivers
9. The Button Box – Dilly Court
10. When Breath Becomes Air – Paul Kalanithi
11. Queen of the Mersey – Maureen Lee
12. Lizzie of Langley St – Carol Rivers
13. The Fight for Lizzie Flowers – Carol Rivers
14. Don’t Ever Tell – Kathy O’Beirne
15. Christmas to Come – Carol Rivers
16. Fighting To The End – Jade Goody
17. The Girl From Seaforth Sands – Katie Flynn
18. Gypsy Boy – Mikes Walsh

Until I wrote the above list, I hadn’t realised how much I had read last year. You can see who my favourite authors are. I did try some alternative authors last year but I keep going back to my favourites. Let’s see what happens this year.

Weekly Blog No 89 – My Reading Challenge

In the last twelve months, I’ve attempted a challenge to read as many books in a year. My goal was 24 books and to experiment with some different authors. I have about a month to go and about 3 more books left to read.
Here is my list to date:

1. East End Jubilee – Carol Rivers
2. Pam Weaver – For Better or Worse
3. The Kelly Sisters – Maureen Lee
4. A Summer Promise – Katie Flynn
5. The New Arrival – Sarah Beeston MBE
6. War Baby – Lizzie Lane
7. Without Trace – Lesley Pearce
8. The Ophran’s – Dilly Court
9. Sins of the Mother – Irene Kelly
10. Too Close to Home – Susan Lewis
11. The Buffer Girls – Margaret Dickinson
12. Me Me Me – Charlotte Crosby
13. Ragged Rose – Dilly Count
14. Lights Out Liverpool – Maureen Lee
15. Love Me Tender – Anne Bennet
16. The Swan Maid – Dilly Court
17. The Girl With No Name _ Diney Costeloe
18. A Family Scandal – Kitty Neale
19. Our Country Nurse – Sarah Beeston  MBE & Amy Beeston
20. Finding Tipperary Mary – Phyliss Whitsell
21. Polly’s Angel – Katie Flynn (Still reading)

I did read on social media the other day that a woman had read 70 books so far in 2016. Kudos to her, however 70 books is an incredible amount of reading. I have experimented with some new authors in the last 12 months, however my genre doesn’t seem to have changed. I have read a few biographies as you will see from my list above. It’s always a learning experience when reading about someone else’s life.

The books, I tend to read always have a historical and cultural element, which I find very intriguing. It certainly makes you appreciate the life you have today. I feel the only way I could beat 24 books a year, is if I stop watching television. I really don’t think that is going to happen. I shall attempt another reading challenge once this one is complete.

Weekly Blog No 69 – Reading Books

Books are a marvellous pastime of mine. I do have my own little library and assortment of books from fiction to construction.

My personal library has been back and forth to Canada with me. I believe I brought back about 300 books on my return to the UK last year and I’m sure its nothing to some peoples collections. The UK retail pricing for books is outstanding compared to Canada.  I can buy 3 paperback books for the same price as one in Canada. I’m grateful to the UK for competitive pricing. I have since added more paper hoarding to the collection and seem to have added more in the 8 months in the UK than my whole 6 years in Canada.

I have attempted this blog like a Q&A scenario for a change

Who is your favourite author and why?

I have to say Dilly Court, she also writes under the name of Lily Baxter. I have only read Dilly Courts books to date. She has me completely immersed in her work from start to finish. She is consistent, I’ve enjoyed every book so far.

What was the last book you read?

“Ragged Rose” by Dilly Court published Feb 2016, so you will find it on bookshelves now. A story of secrets, heartache, poverty, love and 20th century history. Incredible read.

Which book are you presently reading? 

“Me Me Me” by Charlotte Crosby

The book is about Charlotte’s life as a child leading into her reality tv career on Geordie Shore. I know Charlotte is like marmite, you either love her or you don’t. I do find her hilarious and her one liners always has me in giggles. I would give her parents a trophy for their dedicated love & support for their daughter.

Your reading material does seem quiet varied?

Yes that is very true, my genres are from historical romance, autobiographies to true crime only to name a few. I would say that I consider myself diverse but not diverse enough.

What other authors do you read?

Katie Flynn

Maureen Lee

Pam Weaver

Rosie Goodwin

Gemma Townley

Danielle Steel

Your choice of authors seems more about historical romance?

I do enjoy cultural history, a lot of my reading material does involve the Irish, which I can relate to coming from an Irish Catholic family.  I am extremely passionate about history so by reading this material, I do learn something new too and widen my knowledge base.

You also said you read autographies too, why?

I love to read about life experience,  good or bad. No one has a perfect life. We all tend to make a lot of assumptions about things and people, therefore reading these types of books can broaden your opinion to be more open-minded.

Is there any books that you read recently that touched you in some way ?

Yes most definitely  “Sins of the mother ” by  Irene Kelly

OMG the book had me in tears, what an incredible woman on so many levels. She deserves happiness and her family too and I hope she is achieving that.

This is one book that I would give to people who are constantly negative about their life and don’t appreciate what they have now or had previously.

Is there any books you are waiting to be published?

Yes last year I read “The New Arrival” by Sarah Beeson MBE

Again amazing insight into nursing in the 70’s and how her career developed arriving in Hackney, London from Staffordshire. A dedicated nurse who writes about her career progression. The follow up book is going to be the next stage in her career.

Do you have a favourite book?

Yes, ” The diary of a young girl” by Anne Frank. It should be on every child/adults reading list.

Do you prefer a book or e-book reader?

I like a physical book but I do like an e-book reader when I’m on holiday for convenience. I could not bring myself to read all books on a e-book reader, call me old-fashioned at heart.

Are you likely to read a book and then watch the movie or vice versa?

No not anymore. I had read the book “lovely bones” by Alice Sebold. I bought the book after seeing it on Richard & Judy’s Book List, it was a great book. I was so disappointed when I had watched the movie. I’m sure if I hadn’t read the book and had just watched the movie instead, there wouldn’t have been an issue. I kept comparing the movie to the book. Following that movie, if I have read the book I won’t go see the movie or if I have seen the movie I won’t read the book.

Is there any books that have captured the world, which you haven’t read?

Yes Harry Potter collection, which has never caught my desire.

Another one is ” Fifty shades of grey” by E L James. I think I’m the only person that hasn’t read this book.  I just don’t have the craving to read this book although I have heard mixed reviews.

I am open to new authors or books, which you would recommend. Please send me your recommendations.